After resting overnight at the oasis and replenishing ample clean water, Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu's conditions had recovered mostly. That saved caravan left with thousand thanks after hurriedly departing, not daring to stay long. The two plus the rabbit set out again, heading toward the Death Desert's even deeper regions.
The further west they traveled, the harsher the environment became. Sandstorms grew more frequent and violent. Quicksand traps became more hidden and vicious. Even some strange sand beasts capable of spitting poison fire and drilling underground for sneak attacks began appearing. Temperatures also became more extreme—unbearably scorching by day, yet bone-piercingly cold at night, breath becoming ice.
Xiao Qi, with his powerful divine consciousness, the rabbit spirit's keen intuition for real paths, and Zhao Tiezhu's increasingly proficient Diamond Subduing Demon Divine Ability clearing the way, the three were like a sharp chisel, difficultly yet steadfastly traversing this forbidden zone of life. They experienced several more dangers, even encountering a giant sand worm comparable to Foundation Establishment late stage once, expending enormous effort to repel it.
Days passed one by one. Their carried clean water and medicinal pills ran low again. Even Xiao Qi's face couldn't hide the signs of hardship and fatigue. Zhao Tiezhu had lost a circle of weight, but his eyes grew sharper, like a honed battle saber. The rabbit spirit also lost its usual liveliness, mostly curled in Xiao Qi's embrace conserving energy.
According to that worn animal hide map's markings, plus Xiao Qi's observation and calculation of star positions, they should have already approached the rumored area where Golden Sand City might appear—the "Flowing Gold Sea." This was an even more vast area with extremely high sand dune mobility. It was said the sand here would sometimes reflect light like gold, hence the name.
However, looking around, aside from the boundless yellow sand reflecting blinding white light under the blazing sun, there was nothing. Where was any ancient city's shadow?
"Brother Qi, does that Golden Sand City really exist here? We've been searching seven or eight days, haven't even seen a brick." Zhao Tiezhu licked his dry, peeling lips, his voice somewhat hoarse, his tone unavoidably carrying a trace of impatience.
Xiao Qi didn't answer. He looked up at the sky. The sun was already slanting west, dyeing the horizon's clouds in brilliant gold and red. Tonight was the full moon night.
"Wait until tonight." Xiao Qi only said four words, then sat cross-legged on the sand, closing his eyes to regulate his breath, adjusting his state to the best. Seeing this, Zhao Tiezhu could only suppress his impatience and stand guard nearby.
Desert night came quickly. When the last trace of sunset's afterglow was swallowed by the horizon, the boundless sand sea was instantly enveloped by deep darkness and piercing cold. The sky was as if washed by water, clear without a wisp of cloud. Countless stars were like diamonds inlaid on the ink-blue canopy, twinkling with cold, mysterious light. A bright, jade-plate-like full moon slowly rose from the east. Clear radiance spilled down, draping this deathly still sand sea in a hazy silver veil.
Xiao Qi opened his eyes, his pupils appearing especially bright under the moon's glow. He stood up, walking to a higher sand dune's peak, his gaze like a torch, scanning all around. Zhao Tiezhu and the rabbit spirit nervously followed behind, holding their breath.
Time passed bit by bit. The round moon rose higher and higher, its clear radiance growing more abundant. The sand sea presented a strange texture between reality and illusion under the moonlight.
Just when the moon was at its zenith, when the moon's brilliance was at its peak—
An abrupt change occurred!
About ten-some li ahead, at the center of that huge sand basin area called the "Flowing Gold Sea," space suddenly began rippling and distorting like water waves! The originally calm sand ground moved without wind. Countless golden sand particles were lifted by an invisible force, dancing and spiraling in the air!
Then, amidst the dancing golden sand filling the sky and twisting light and shadow, a massive city outline, from illusion to solidity, from blur to clarity, slowly—like surfacing from another time-space dimension—appeared under the moonlight!
What a magnificent, what a strange ancient city this was!
The entire city's walls, towers, and palaces weren't built of ordinary bricks and stone, but completely formed by countless crystal-clear, gold-cast-like sand particles condensed together! Under the bright moonlight, the entire city reflected soft yet brilliant golden radiance, as if a divine kingdom forged from pure gold and moonlight merged! The city walls were carved with countless complex and ancient Buddhist Sanskrit characters and patterns. Faint, solemn, and majestic Buddhist chants and Sanskrit sounds reverberated in the air, forming an extremely strong contrast with this Death Desert's deathly stillness.
It just stood quietly in the sand sea's center, emanating an eternal vicissitude, immortal and indestructible mysterious aura, as if it had existed here since the beginning of heaven and earth.
"Gold... Golden Sand City! It really is Golden Sand City!" Zhao Tiezhu's mouth gaped open, his eyes round as copper bells. He pointed at that golden city under the moonlight, trembling all over from excitement, speaking incoherently.
The rabbit spirit also poked its head from Xiao Qi's embrace, ruby-like eyes wide and round, small paw pointing at the city, "squeak squeak squeak" shrieking, full of the excitement of discovering a huge treasure.
Xiao Qi stood on the sand dune's peak, his robes slightly fluttering in the night wind. He gazed at that miracle city that shouldn't exist in the mortal world, his heart also surging. After enduring untold hardships, crossing the nine-death-one-life Death Desert, they had finally... found it!
Moonlight, golden sand, ancient city. Legend had become reality, presented right before their eyes.
That city gate was tightly closed, as if waiting for the destined one to knock. The supreme Buddhist body refining secret technique "Indestructible Diamond Body" contained within the city also seemed to be emanating an invisible summons.
Xiao Qi took a deep breath of the icy air, suppressing his excitement, his eyes returning to absolute calm and determination.
"Let's go, enter the city!"
He said in a low voice, his form first to descend from the sand dune, like a night owl pouncing toward the moonlight, rushing toward that golden sand ancient city shimmering under the moon's glow. Zhao Tiezhu and the rabbit spirit followed closely behind. The three figures rapidly merged into that mysterious land enveloped by golden sand dust and silver moonlight.