Ten years ago, on the tenth day of the seventh lunar month, a distinguished guest approached me with a transport order. It involved moving a box of demon beast hides and bones, intended as reserve materials for a formation, from Elder Ji of the Azure Wolf Sect to a location south of Lizhou and north of the Sand Sea—

Manager Wang, his expression showing a hint of reverence, flipped through the scrolls and said, “…Desert City.”

These records were confidential documents of the courier station, and outsiders were normally not permitted to view them.

However, the current circumstances left him with no choice but to break this taboo.

Still, he had committed many forbidden acts over the years, so one more wouldn’t make much difference.

What truly made his expression solemn was the name of the immortal city.

“Desert City.”

Mo Hua asked, “What kind of place is that?”

Elder Ji replied, “It’s a Grade 4 immortal city located at the border of Lizhou and the Great Desolate region, situated within the Sand Sea.”

“Grade 4—” Mo Hua’s expression tightened slightly.

In a Grade 2 provincial boundary within Lizhou, with his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he could move freely, kill those he wished to, and easily escape if he couldn’t.

In a Grade 3 provincial boundary, he would need to act much more cautiously.

Encountering early-stage Golden Core cultivators was still manageable. However, facing mid or late-stage Golden Core cultivators would be quite troublesome.

And in a Grade 4 provincial boundary, where numerous mid-to-late stage Golden Core cultivators gathered, and even higher-level Ascension cultivators appeared, the danger would be significantly greater.

After all, he was only at Foundation Establishment, a realm vastly different from Ascension.

Once he became a ‘target’, besieged by numerous mid-to-late stage Golden Core grand cultivators or genuinely suppressed and killed by an Ascension True Person, the situation would be extremely perilous. Mo Hua knew he didn’t have much confidence in escaping such a scenario.

After all, this was Lizhou, not like the Qianxue Province.

In Qianxue Province, with its myriad of aristocratic families and sects, things generally followed rules. Everyone cared about their reputation and outwardly adhered to the laws of the Dao Court and sect regulations.

Moreover, there was also Old Master Xun, a Void Refinement realm expert, secretly protecting him.

It wasn’t that there were no Ascension or Void Refinement cultivators who wanted to kill him, but they dared not actually make a move.

However, once outside Qianxue Province, where the sky was vast and the journey long, the Grand Void Sect couldn’t provide him with practical support, nor could Old Master Xun protect him.

He could only rely on himself.

Furthermore, the Great Desolate region was in rebellion, having betrayed the Dao Court. Lizhou was now a ‘war-torn’ land, filled with intense killing intent.

If he truly offended certain major powers, a large number of Golden Core, and even Ascension cultivators, would undoubtedly seek his life.

Mo Hua knew clearly that although many Golden Core cultivators had already died by his hand, he genuinely did not underestimate them.

This was because, up until now, no Golden Core or higher-level cultivators had used their full cultivation and methods to forcefully kill him without the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao.

Especially Ascension cultivators.

Mo Hua had never truly experienced how terrifying the full power of an Ascension True Person, capable of flight and earth-shattering techniques, could be.

Therefore, he would never rely on luck.

Qianxue Province and the Grand Void Sect were like a ‘greenhouse’. As a sect disciple, he had cultivated for nine years within this greenhouse. Now, having left it and lost its protection, he wouldn’t naively believe that he could rampage unrestrained across the turbulent Nine Provinces.

He wouldn’t genuinely think that all Void Refinement and Ascension cultivators in the world wouldn’t dare to kill him.

Hence, he must be cautious in all matters where caution was due.

Especially a Grade 4 provincial boundary, where the danger was too great, far exceeding what he, at his current Foundation Establishment realm, could control.

However—

He had raised that big tiger with dried fish for quite some time; he couldn’t just abandon it—

Mo Hua frowned slightly and asked Manager Wang, “How do I get to Desert City?”

Manager Wang replied, “The journey to Desert City is long, and the mountain paths are complex. If Young Master truly wishes to go, I can find a map for you. However, the most troublesome part is the Sand Sea—”

“The Sand Sea?”

Manager Wang nodded, “The Great Desolate region is inherently a desolate place. There’s even a saying in the cultivation world that the Great Desolate region is actually the true essence of Lizhou, the real Land of Departing Fire, with scorching heat during the day, bitter cold winds at night, continuous Gobi deserts, and three thousand perilous desolate mountains.”

“Present-day Lizhou is merely the outer fringe of the Great Desolate region, separated from the true Great Desolate by a vast Sand Sea.”

“This Sand Sea of the Great Desolate is an immense expanse of wind and sand marshes, scorching hot after tens of thousands of years of sun exposure. Birds cannot fly over it, and land beasts sink to the bottom.”

“Only Ascension True Persons can rely on their cultivation to fly across it.”

“Ordinary cultivators who fall into the Sand Sea face near-certain death. If one truly wishes to cross it, they must ride a sand boat.”

“However, these sand boats, especially the large ones, require the bones of flying sand beasts for their frames and their fur for sails, making them extremely expensive to build. A ‘crossing permit’ jade slip is also exceptionally rare—”

Mo Hua asked Manager Wang, “Can you obtain a ‘crossing permit’?”

Manager Wang chuckled awkwardly, “Young Master, you overestimate me.”

Mo Hua then looked at Elder Ji.

Elder Ji also offered an apologetic smile, “That—that’s a bit difficult—”

Mo Hua gave him a faint glance, not pressing the matter, and simply told Manager Wang:

“Manager, please provide me with a map to Desert City.”

After speaking, he gave Manager Wang twenty spirit stones.

Manager Wang was overjoyed and repeatedly said, “Young Master, you are too kind. Leave the map to me. It’s just that—”

Mo Hua said, “Speak.”

Manager Wang explained, “It’s just that—these maps are only available at the courier station, and I don’t have one on hand. It’ll take some connections and a few days to acquire one. As you know, it’s too chaotic outside now, with killings everywhere, so maps that can help with navigation are in high demand.”

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then nodded.

He could understand the situation outside.

“It will take at least three days, perhaps five at most. Once I get the map, I’ll send it to you, Young Master,” Manager Wang said.

Mo Hua then gave Manager Wang fifty more spirit stones.

Manager Wang was pleasantly surprised and thanked him repeatedly.

Before they left, Elder Ji suddenly asked curiously, “By the way, why aren’t you attending to your duties at the courier station? What business are you conducting near this storeroom?”

Manager Wang merely smiled without answering.

Elder Ji snorted coldly, too lazy to bother with him further.

Afterward, Mo Hua and Elder Ji left the storeroom and walked along the main street towards the inn.

Along the way, Mo Hua looked left and right, constantly feeling that the atmosphere of this small courier town was somehow off, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong.

As he was pondering, he suddenly heard Elder Ji fawningly say, “Mo… Young Master Mo—”

Mo Hua looked up at him, and Elder Ji, emboldened, continued, “You see, the person has been found, and the information has been obtained. Shouldn’t I…”

Mo Hua didn’t answer, instead asking, “What was the identity of that ‘distinguished guest’ who bought the tiger from you?”

Elder Ji shook his head, “That’s not for me to ask. I’m only responsible for hospitality.”

“And their cultivation?”

Elder Ji still shook his head.

“Their appearance?”

Elder Ji was reluctant to disclose, but it was difficult not to answer. After all, not knowing identity or being unable to discern cultivation was excusable.

But appearance was something anyone with eyes could see.

Elder Ji could only answer, “Tall and thin, and he liked curvaceous women—”

Mo Hua frowned.

Elder Ji quickly said, “It’s true!”

“Just because you don’t like women doesn’t mean others can’t,” Elder Ji muttered to himself.

Mo Hua then asked, “Why did he want to buy a tiger? Do you know?”

Elder Ji mused, “I don’t know that, but I specifically looked into it. When doing business, I need to know how much the item I’m selling is worth so I have a good idea of its value—”

“I inquired about it—” Elder Ji lowered his voice and told Mo Hua:

“In Lizhou, or most parts of the Nine Provinces, a ‘tiger demon’ is just a type of powerful demon beast. Although strong, it’s still just a demon beast.”

“But it’s different in the Great Desolate region. ‘Tigers’ originate from the White Tiger, one of the Four Divine Beasts, and are a symbol of the Great Desolate royal family.”

“It’s said that every adult of the Great Desolate royal family, if they wish to contend for power, must tame a powerful ‘fierce tiger’ to serve as a mount, thereby showcasing their bloodline.”

“Even if a powerful tiger demon isn’t forcibly tamed as a mount, it can be used for ‘breeding’—through generations of selective breeding, constantly refining the bloodline to cultivate tiger-like exotic beasts that are closest to the divine beast ‘White Tiger’, which are also extremely valuable—”

Mo Hua’s expression shifted slightly, surprised. “You know quite a lot.”

Elder Ji chuckled, “I’m someone who loves making friends. I know all sorts of people, from all walks of life, so naturally, I know a lot.”

After speaking, Elder Ji, observing Mo Hua’s expression, said, “Young Master, you have a grand future ahead of you. How about I don’t hold you back anymore?”

He genuinely wanted to slip away.

Being with Mo Hua, this ‘star of misfortune’, truly felt like years passing in a single day.

Mo Hua simply said, “We’ll talk after we get the map.”

Elder Ji wanted to argue, but after glancing at Mo Hua, he didn’t quite dare, only letting out a long sigh.

In the following days, Mo Hua remained at the inn, cultivating, drawing formations, and deducing divination diagrams.

Everything was calm.

The only one who couldn’t stay still was Elder Ji.

Ever since Manager Wang was found and the clue obtained, Mo Hua had loosened his restrictions on Elder Ji a bit.

Elder Ji, who had been restrained for a long time, emboldened himself and indulged a bit.

Every night, he would secretly slip out and only return in the morning.

That day, just as night fell, Elder Ji, like a thief, pushed open his door and left.

Mo Hua happened to be a bit bored, so he also got up and left his room, curious to see where Elder Ji was carousing.

Just as he reached downstairs, he saw Elder Ji talking in a low, lewd voice with a pale-faced young master:

“Young Master Shi, where do you think women are most beautiful—”

“Naturally, the eyes. Like spring water, or an autumn moon, or winter snow, their shimmering depths hold a myriad of charms.”

“Yes, yes, some are charming, some pure, some noble—I particularly like the look of disdain in their eyes, and then in bed,”

“First disdain, then after some intimacy, a hazy humiliation. It has a unique flavor—”

“But I think the most beautiful part is still the chest—”

“Breasts that don’t reach the waist, slender like willow branches, too delicate to hold a full grasp of, swaying one’s soul.”

“Exactly, exactly, Young Master Shi truly has good taste. Actually, feet aren’t bad either, like white jade, or fresh snow, or a bright moon, or…”

Mo Hua’s forehead twitched, a speechless expression on his face.

What were these two discussing in the middle of the night…?

His sigh startled Elder Ji. He looked up, saw Mo Hua, and his expression faltered as if caught red-handed.

Then he offered an apologetic smile:

“Young Master Mo—” The young master beside him also stood up and looked at Mo Hua.

Elder Ji hastily introduced, “This is Young Master Shi, a friend I just made.”

Mo Hua looked at Young Master Shi, noting his handsome face, dignified bearing, and extraordinary demeanor.

However, his complexion was very pale, excessively so, even hinting at a subtle pallor.

Just now, he had been discussing women with Elder Ji.

Elder Ji’s expression was lewd, full of desire.

But Young Master Shi showed more appreciation, with a hint of obsession in his eyes.

Young Master Shi looked at Mo Hua with some surprise but said nothing, simply cupping his hands in a gesture of greeting before telling Elder Ji:

“I’ll go ahead. I’ll be waiting for you, Brother Ji, at the usual spot.”

Elder Ji chuckled awkwardly, “Good, good, I’ll definitely be there.”

The pale-faced Young Master Shi then departed.

Mo Hua slowly walked over to Elder Ji and sat down.

Elder Ji, being perceptive, poured Mo Hua a cup of tea. “Young Master Mo, it’s so late. Aren’t you studying formations? What are you doing out here?”

Mo Hua gave Elder Ji a warning glance and asked, “What have you been doing these past few days?”

Elder Ji’s face was serious. “With the current chaos and dangers everywhere, I’ve been out gathering information these past few days—”

Mid-sentence, he suddenly realized that ‘lying’ was useless in front of Mo Hua, so he confessed:

“I went to find women.”

Mo Hua’s gaze turned slightly cold. “Did you drain their essence?”

“No, no,” Elder Ji quickly said, “It was a consensual matter, nothing to do with draining essence.”

Mo Hua didn’t quite believe him. “Consensual?”

Elder Ji explained, “I gave spirit stones, she was willing, and I was willing. It was consensual.”

Mo Hua was puzzled. “There are places like that in a small courier town?”

Elder Ji looked smug. “Young Master Mo, this is something you wouldn’t understand. Places like that exist everywhere. It’s just that outsiders can’t tell. I’m different; I’m an old hand. Wherever I go, I can just sniff and pick up the scent of cosmetics…”

Mo Hua looked at him faintly. “Are you proud of that?”

Elder Ji quickly said, “It’s a mere trifle, nothing worth boasting about. No, not proud, not proud at all—”

Mo Hua then asked, “Did you also meet Young Master Shi, just now, at ‘that place’?”

Elder Ji sighed, “Young Master Shi is also one of us; we get along very well. However, he’s a bit strange. He only looks but doesn’t partake. He talks eloquently, but he won’t touch a single girl, what a waste of his good looks…”

At this point, Elder Ji secretly glanced at Mo Hua, thinking to himself that the one truly wasting good looks was actually Young Master Mo right in front of him.

If he had Mo Hua’s face, what kind of woman in the world couldn’t he charm?

Even if he left his bedroom door slightly ajar in the middle of the night, women would probably climb into his bed like fish.

It’s such a pity, this Young Master Mo, he has good looks but doesn’t use them for ‘proper’ things, only knowing how to draw formations every day.

What a waste of heaven’s treasures—

Elder Ji felt deeply regretful.

Mo Hua, however, couldn’t be bothered with Elder Ji.

Elder Ji was always like this.

As long as he wasn’t forcing women or siphoning their essence, Mo Hua was too lazy to inquire about his other miscellaneous activities.

Mo Hua simply said, “Be careful not to die on a woman.”

Elder Ji, however, chuckled, “To die beneath a peony is to be a romantic ghost. If I can die on a woman in this life, I’d consider it a good end.”

Mo Hua took a sip of tea, then returned to his room to read and study formations.

Seeing that Mo Hua genuinely didn’t care, Elder Ji felt as if he’d been granted a great pardon. He happily left the door, off to find some enchanting pleasure.

Time flew by.

Four days later, Manager Wang sent word that he had obtained a map from the courier station, for traveling from Lizhou to Desert City.

Mo Hua then went to the storeroom again to meet Manager Wang.

This time, he didn’t plan to stay long. Once he had the map, he intended to leave the small courier town and head to the Great Desolate region as soon as possible.

Manager Wang secretly handed the map to Mo Hua, cautioning him:

“Young Master Mo, I’ve given you the map, but you absolutely must not say that you got it from me. Otherwise, I’ll be implicated and suffer greatly—”

“Mm,” Mo Hua nodded, “Don’t worry.”

Only then did Manager Wang visibly relax.

He personally escorted Mo Hua to the door.

Mo Hua bade farewell to Manager Wang. As he turned to leave, he suddenly noticed that Manager Wang’s philtrum, which had been fine moments before, was slowly darkening. It was a very dense, lifeless black.

Mo Hua’s pupils constricted. He felt it was possible, but he wasn’t entirely sure.

Manager Wang, seeing Mo Hua staring at him with a deep frown, felt inexplicably panicked and quietly asked:

“Young Master Mo, are you—”

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke:

“Manager Wang, your—your philtrum is dark; it seems there’s an omen of death for you soon—”

Manager Wang was stunned. He felt Mo Hua was ‘cursing’ him to die and was displeased, but due to Mo Hua’s status, he didn’t show it on his face, only managing an awkward smile.

Mo Hua saw through Manager Wang’s thoughts and said earnestly, “I’m not joking with you; you truly face a great calamity soon.”

Manager Wang stiffened, nodding doubtfully.

Mo Hua could only say so much.

He had just performed a quick divination, but it was blurry; he couldn’t clearly tell what kind of calamity Manager Wang would face.

He could only say, “Be extra careful,” and then he left.

Leaving the storeroom and walking onto the main street, Mo Hua was still thinking about the ‘omen of death’ on Manager Wang’s philtrum.

Lost in thought, after a while, he looked up and his pupils suddenly constricted.

On the bustling main street of the small courier town, without exception, all the cultivators passing by had darkened philtrums, showing signs of death.

A chill ran through Mo Hua’s heart. He immediately realized that this wasn’t just about Manager Wang; it was about the entire small courier town, where almost all cultivators were about to face a ‘deadly calamity’.

Mo Hua frowned deeply and immediately returned to the inn, calling for Elder Ji.

Elder Ji seemed to have enjoyed himself all night; his face was a bit pale, but thankfully his philtrum was clear, showing no omen of death.

“Something’s wrong,” Mo Hua said.

Elder Ji didn’t understand. “What’s wrong?”

Mo Hua was about to speak but suddenly realized that some heavenly secrets should not be revealed. Once spoken aloud, the karmic consequences might change.

Mo Hua said, “First, let’s get out of the city.”

He wasn’t yet clear what was happening in the small courier town. He could only try to leave the city first, ensure his own safety, and then act as circumstances dictated.

Elder Ji knew Mo Hua possessed some uncanny abilities, so he didn’t doubt him and nodded, saying:

“Alright.”

The two drove their carriage towards the city gate, but as soon as they reached it, they were stopped.

The city guard cultivator said, “There’s been a cultivator riot nearby, and several immortal cities have fallen. Currently, only this small courier town remains relatively stable.”

“Therefore, to ensure the safety of cultivators within the city, all entry and exit are prohibited for the next three days.”

Elder Ji was still wondering if they could be granted an exception, but he was refused.

Mo Hua looked up at the city walls of the small courier town and saw that they were covered with alert, stealth-breaking, and defensive formations.

Not far away, a powerful Golden Core cultivator was also stationed.

Mo Hua understood then.

The entire small courier town was sealed off; not a single cultivator inside would be able to escape—