Three days passed in a flash. Xiao Qi used this time not only to thoroughly consolidate his own realm but also refined large quantities of poison-avoidance pills, mind-clearing talismans, and water-storing talismans called "Condensing Water Talismans." Zhao Tiezhu also stabilized his Foundation Establishment middle stage cultivation, his qi and blood abundant, his energy vigorous. The rabbit spirit somehow acquired several small, shiny compasses and a worn Western Desert animal hide map, treasuring them in its own small storage bag.
After preparations were complete, the two plus the rabbit left Wangbei City, heading west toward that infamous "Death Desert."
The further west they went, the sparser the vegetation became. Green was gradually replaced by yellow sand filling the sky. The moisture in the air drastically decreased, becoming dry and scorching. The wind on their faces carried the roughness of sand. Spiritual energy also became thin and manic, far from the warm and gentle quality of the Central Plains region.
Over ten days later, a boundless golden sand sea connecting heaven and earth finally lay before them. Heat waves distorted distant scenery. Rolling sand dunes like frozen golden waves extended to the horizon's end. This was the edge of the Death Desert—merely standing here, one could feel that deathly stillness and harshness that devoured all life force.
"Hiss... this ghost place, haven't even entered and my throat's already smoking." Zhao Tiezhu licked his somewhat cracked lips, pulling out a large water skin from his storage bag, gulping down several big mouthfuls, then carefully storing the water skin away. Here, clean water was more precious than spirit stones.
Xiao Qi's gaze was grave. He took out a self-made poison-avoidance pill containing a thread of Purification Source and consumed it, then handed one to Zhao Tiezhu. The desert wasn't just short of water—poisonous insects and miasma were even harder to guard against. The rabbit spirit also cleverly begged one from Xiao Qi, swallowing it like a candy bean.
"Stay close to me. Don't easily use divine consciousness to probe too far ahead. Space here is unstable, easy to get lost." Xiao Qi gave one instruction, then stepped first into that scorching golden sand sea.
One step down, sand instantly covered his ankles, a scorching sensation penetrating through his boots. Every step forward required more effort than usual.
The first few days in the desert were relatively calm. Besides the unbearable heat and rapidly consuming water supply, they didn't encounter great danger. Xiao Qi, with his powerful divine consciousness and keen sense of energy fluctuations, always managed to avoid quicksand traps hidden under the sand layer in advance. Zhao Tiezhu, with his thick skin and flesh, could barely withstand this harsh environment. The rabbit spirit mostly hid in Xiao Qi's clothes, only poking out its small head, tongue out to dissipate heat.
However, the Death Desert's terror was far more than this.
On the fifth day at noon, the blazing sun high overhead, the sand sea baked like a furnace. Just as they climbed over a massive sand dune, an abrupt change occurred!
The sand dune beneath their feet began flowing and collapsing without warning! A massive quicksand vortex over ten zhang in diameter instantly formed, terrifying suction force coming from below, trying to completely swallow them!
"Careful!" Xiao Qi shouted low. The "Wandering Dragon Nine Turns" movement technique instantly executed to the limit, his form rising like light smoke. Simultaneously one hand grabbed Zhao Tiezhu's arm, who reacted a beat slower, and fiercely threw him upward!
Zhao Tiezhu borrowed the force, roaring, his qi and blood erupting within. Like a cannonball, he broke free of the quicksand's suction, landing on relatively solid sand in the distance. Xiao Qi then made a nimble turn in midair, lightly landing beside Zhao Tiezhu.
Looking back, that sand dune had already collapsed into a massive sand pit. Surrounding sand still constantly flowed inward, issuing heart-palpitating "sha sha" sounds.
"Damn it, this ghost place, even the sand has become sentient!" Zhao Tiezhu cursed with lingering fear.
Xiao Qi's expression was grave. This quicksand trap had appeared without warning. If not for his quick reaction, both of them might have fallen for it.
However, the crisis wasn't over.
Just as they were recovering from their fright, a dense "sha sha" sound suddenly came from the sand all around. Fist-sized, completely red scorpions with tails raised and flashing with cold blue light drilled out from under the sand layer like a tide, instantly surrounding them! These Crimson Flame Poison Scorpions moved extremely fast, spraying poison mist with paralyzing effects from their mouths, and their tail needles could easily pierce through a Foundation Establishment cultivator's protective spiritual light!
"It's a Crimson Flame Poison Scorpion swarm! Back to back!" Xiao Qi's eyes turned cold. Red Flame sword intent instantly penetrated his body, forming a layer of scorching sword intent barrier around him. Poison scorpions crashing into the barrier made "sizzling" burning sounds, instantly turning to charred remains.
Zhao Tiezhu was even more direct. His fists covered in dense golden light, like two heavy hammers, each swing carried fierce fist energy, smashing approaching poison scorpions to pulp with juice splattering everywhere. His "Diamond Subduing Demon Divine Ability" seemed to have extra restraining effect on these poisonous creatures.
The rabbit spirit didn't hide anymore either. Jumping from Xiao Qi's embrace, its form was like lightning, sharp claws leaving afterimages on the sand, specifically attacking the poison scorpions' relatively fragile joints and compound eyes—surprisingly efficient.
The three (including the rabbit) coordinated seamlessly. Sword intent, fist energy, and sharp claws interweaved into a death net, slaughtering the endlessly surging poison scorpions. The air filled with foul poison liquid and charred smells.
This battle with the poison scorpions lasted nearly the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Only when the last poison scorpion was smashed to meat paste by Zhao Tiezhu's fist did the sand finally return to temporary calm. The ground was covered with a thick layer of poison scorpion corpses, making one's scalp numb.
"This ghost place, really isn't for humans!" Zhao Tiezhu panted, wiping the mixture of sweat and poison scorpion juice from his face, cursing. Continuous high-intensity combat and harsh environment made even him feel a trace of exhaustion.
Xiao Qi didn't speak. He consumed several qi-recovery pills, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings. He knew this was probably just the Death Desert's "appetizer."
Sure enough, just as they prepared to continue forward, at the distant horizon, a giant yellow wall connecting heaven and earth was advancing toward them at a visible speed!
It was a sandstorm! One of the most common yet deadly natural disasters in the Death Desert!
Fierce winds began howling, lifting sand from the ground, striking their protective spiritual light with crackling sounds. The sky rapidly darkened, flying sand and rolling stones, visibility dropping sharply.
"Find cover! Quick!" Xiao Qi's expression changed. He grabbed Zhao Tiezhu, his form rapidly darting toward a massive rock hill nearby shaped like a camel's spine. The rabbit spirit followed closely.
Just as they hid on the rock's leeward side, that heaven-destroying, earth-obliterating sandstorm swept in! In an instant, it was as if the entire world had fallen into endless wild sand and roaring winds. Even the massive rock was slightly trembling in the gale, as if it might be uprooted at any moment.
Xiao Qi propped up a solid spiritual power barrier, protecting the two of them and the rabbit within, resisting that seemingly endless sand impact. The barrier's light flickered unsteadily under the sandstorm's continuous bombardment.
Zhao Tiezhu looked at the apocalyptic scene outside, swallowed, and murmured: "Brother Qi... can we... cross this ghost place?"
Xiao Qi sat cross-legged, maintaining the spiritual power barrier, his gaze through the raging wind and sand still fixed westward, his eyes remaining determined.
"We can." His voice wasn't loud but carried an unquestionable power, clearly transmitting to Zhao Tiezhu's ears amid this violent wind and sand.
Crossing the Death Desert had only just begun. And the path to finding Golden Sand City was destined to be paved with thorns and trials.