Chapter 14

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This is a desert!

Looking up, all that could be seen were endless yellow sand and undulating dunes, with the scorching sun blazing overhead. Even the occasional breeze and the faint dust it carried were hot and suffocating.

Where is Lingxia Mountain?

How could the magical teleportation array send people to such a desolate place?

Wujiao was dumbfounded. Looking back, he realized that the cave from which they had come was now half-buried underground, clearly a small hill in the middle of the sand sea. Apart from that, everything was barren. He stood there in shock for a moment, then said in surprise, "Brother Gu, weren't we supposed to go to Lingxia Mountain? What if the teleportation went wrong, what should we do..."

"Ha ha, that's right, this is Huangtian Dang!"

Gu Li stepped out of the cave, his feet on the yellow sand, and looked into the distance. After laughing, he added unexpectedly, "Brother Mu's pills are quite extraordinary..." He noticed that Wujiao, who had been in a sorry state just moments ago, was now able to run and jump, and assumed it was due to Mu Shen's efforts.

Taozi and Hongnü appeared one after another, and Mu Shen was the last to emerge from the cave.

Wujiao still found it hard to believe, muttering to himself, "Huangtian Dang? How could there be a Huangtian Dang, and where is Lingxia Mountain..."

Taozi, with Hongnü, looked into the distance. Perhaps he also had some doubts, so he explained patiently, "Huangtian Dang is the last dangerous area in the desert, named for its unpredictable sandstorms. After passing this area, crossing the Yun Ridge, you will reach Lingxia Mountain..." While showing off his knowledge, he also subtly mocked, "We are lucky to have avoided the marsh, but some people are never satisfied. Sister Hong, don't you think so..."

Mu Shen echoed, "The Shangguan family's teleportation array is not as it used to be. Now it can only send us here. Brother Wu, nothing can be achieved overnight. We must take it step by step. There will be a day when we achieve our goals, hehe..." He slowly walked to Wujiao's side, already back to his usual self, but his pale face and the coldness in his laughter were unsettling.

Although Wujiao was puzzled and bewildered, he remained cautious. Especially that eerie laughter, which had a startling effect. He hurriedly stepped back, almost stumbled, and shot a glare at Mu Shen, who had approached, saying, "If that's the case, let's wait and see..." His words were full of hidden meanings and confrontational. He knew they had already become mortal enemies. Since that was the case, there was no need to back down. They would continue to compete, and who would fear whom!

Gu Li wandered on the hill for a moment, then after determining the direction, urged everyone to set off. According to him, Yun Ridge was still a thousand miles away, and it would not be easy to cross this dangerous area in the desert.

Mu Shen, Taozi, and Hongnü had no objections, and Wujiao's agreement was ignored.

Without delay, Gu Li led the way into the desert. The originally sturdy man, with a hand gesture, moved as if on the wind, and in a blink, he was over ten yards away. Mu Shen, Taozi, and Hongnü followed suit, each taking several yards in a single step, their figures graceful.

Wujiao, with his backpack, was about to begin his journey through the sand sea. But before he could move, he was stunned. No one was around, and the four companions had already gone far, without stopping to wait. How could they move so fast? Was it magic? Showing off or deliberately causing trouble. Knowing that this young master doesn't know magic, humph...

Wujiao felt depressed for a moment, then snorted.

Traveling alone had its advantages, at least he wouldn't have Mu Shen constantly eyeing him!

Wujiao looked in the direction they were going, stepped onto the yellow sand, and took a few steps. He was already out of breath. After the ordeal with the teleportation array, his body had not fully recovered. The journey ahead was long and arduous. But ahead was Lingxia Mountain, where Ziyun Fairy was waiting. A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step!

In the desert, a figure staggered along. Although he kept encouraging himself, he was drenched in sweat and found it difficult to move.

The golden sand seemed smooth, but each step created a pit, making it hard to walk. The sun was scorching, and a paper umbrella would have been useful to provide some shade. The heat was unbearable, and he was thirsty...

After walking for several dozen yards, Wujiao stopped to catch his breath. As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, he looked ahead in surprise.

About a hundred yards away, a figure was rapidly approaching. It looked familiar; it could only be Mu Shen. Why had he returned alone? Was he trying to get rid of Gu Li and the others to deal with this young master?

This was bad. If there was a confrontation, this young master would be exposed. What could he do now? He couldn't run faster than that guy, and he couldn't just wait to die, could he?

Wujiao called out in alarm and tried to run away. Even if he couldn't escape, he would buy some time. Just as he turned, he was startled again.

Hundreds of yards away, or perhaps hundreds of miles, a huge wall suddenly rose. It appeared without warning, and in a moment, half the sky was blocked. The wall was slowly extending and undulating, a bizarre sight like a barrier between heaven and earth, or the collapse of the universe!

At the same time, Mu Shen turned to look back and slowed down. Then three more figures appeared, with Gu Li leading the way and shouting, "This is 'Huangtian Dang,' quickly return to the array for protection..."

As explained earlier, Huangtian Dang was a place where sandstorms frequently occurred. The spectacular sight in the sky was a legendary sandstorm, and even Gu Li was frightened and turned to flee, indicating the danger.

Wujiao did not hesitate and turned to run. When fleeing for one's life, speed is essential. He had just returned to the hill where they had come from when Mu Shen and Gu Li caught up. He couldn't help but look back, and his face changed.

Taozi and Hongnü were racing towards them, but perhaps their cultivation was slightly inferior, and they were still over a hundred yards away. Behind them, thousands of yellow dragons were dancing, and the sound of wind and thunder filled the air as sand swept across the sky.

Huangtian Dang, as its name suggested, was a place of certain death!

Wujiao did not stop, and he dove into the cave behind the hill. Two more figures appeared beside him, and then a scream as Hongnü fell to the ground, followed by Taozi's call. In an instant, the cave was pitch black, and the wind howled, shaking the earth!

This was one crisis after another. Would the sand bury the cave?

Wujiao hid in a corner of the cave, pulling out a short sword from his chest. Then a pearl glowed, and Taozi was tending to Hongnü on the ground. Gu Li and Mu Shen stood nearby, one watching the cave entrance nervously, the other looking back.

Although Hongnü had returned to the cave, she was a step behind her companions and had not completely avoided the sandstorm's aftermath. She had suffered some minor injuries, but after spitting out a mouthful of blood, she was fine. Taozi took the opportunity to show concern and care.

Gu Li, seeing that the cave was intact, felt relieved and said, "There is indeed a protective barrier here. We can wait until the sandstorm passes before continuing..." He sat down to rest, and Wujiao approached, with a helpless expression, saying, "My current cultivation is weak, and I cannot cross the desert. As the saying goes, even the best horse can stumble, and even the best person can have a bad day. I hope Brother Gu will show me some kindness and help me!"

Wujiao rarely asked for help, even in emergencies, preferring to jump off a cliff rather than bow to his enemies. But now he was acting out of character, actually asking for help from Gu Li, whom he despised.

As the saying goes, when human strength is exhausted, the will of heaven is revealed, and when the path is blocked, the wind and clouds will clear. Facing the desert's dangers and Mu Shen's sinister intentions, Wujiao felt helpless and saw no way out. But he had to find a way to escape the困境. Since Gu Li had the highest cultivation among them, he decided to take a chance for survival and to reach Lingxia Mountain.

Mu Shen, sitting nearby, seized the opportunity to say, "Brother Wu, why trouble Brother Gu? I can take you along!"

Not only did Gu Li look down on him, but Taozi and Hongnü did as well. The only one who showed any favor was Mu Shen, but he seemed like a wolf, always ready to devour him.

Wujiao firmly shook his head, "I admire Brother Gu's character, which is why I am trying to get closer. I hope Brother Mu will understand..." He turned to Gu Li and raised his hand, "Brother Gu, you are a role model and an elite among us..."

Flattery is always welcome, even for ghosts and gods!

Gu Li, though he looked down on the young scholar, still laughed, "Hehe! Brother, you flatter me. I'll take you along, but once we reach Yun Ridge, the rest is up to fate..."

Wujiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hand in thanks, and thought to himself: Crossing mountains and ridges is not a problem, but getting through the desert's dangers is the key. The technique they used to travel, called 'Wind Riding,' was aptly named, but unfortunately, this young master was still clueless about it!

Gu Li instructed everyone to rest, then closed his eyes and sat silently.

Mu Shen also remained silent, his pale face even more somber.

Taozi helped Hongnü take a pill, and the two of them practiced breathing and meditation together.

Wujiao, free from worry, quietly put away his short sword, but couldn't stay idle. He took out a bun and some beef from his backpack and started eating. A little later, he took out a peach to quench his thirst.

Outside the cave, the wind howled, and the sandstorm raged on. From the cave entrance, which was about as tall as a person, a faint light could be seen trembling in the darkness. This was probably the protective barrier Gu Li mentioned, which could block the fierce wind and sand. This showed that the methods of cultivation were endless...

After more than an hour, the storm outside finally subsided.

Stepping out of the cave, everything looked the same. The barrier had protected the entrance, but the scorching sun was now directly overhead, making the heat even more unbearable!

Wujiao wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked around, feeling a bit embarrassed. In such intense heat, the four companions seemed unaffected, even the least cultivated Hongnü was at ease. In contrast, he was far inferior to even a woman. This was truly a humbling experience!

Gu Li, seeing no abnormalities nearby, called out, "Everyone, let's go..." He approached Wujiao, grabbed his arm, and in a moment, the two of them were moving forward. Mu Shen, Taozi, and Hongnü followed, and the five of them rushed into the sand sea again.

Wujiao, held by Gu Li, felt as if he was flying, his feet not touching the ground. The wind roared in his ears as they sped over the undulating dunes, moving so fast it felt like flying. He couldn't help but open his eyes wide and feel excited, experiencing a thrill he had never felt before!

This is wind riding? Amazing!

However, on the seemingly calm dunes ahead, sand suddenly splashed up, quickly spreading in all directions, like raindrops falling, but with a strange and eerie quality. The sun was still scorching, and the sky was clear.

Gu Li's momentum slowed, and he exclaimed, "This is bad..."

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ps: Yesterday, I smoked in the car and burned a hole in my wife's dress. In the afternoon, I came back and took a nap on the back seat, which caused a neck injury. When I got home, I hit the security door and was bleeding. Today, I still feel dizzy and uncomfortable. I need some good luck. If you can, please vote for me. Mobile users, please visit http://m.piaotia.net

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