Yellow sand stretched endlessly beneath a blazing sun suspended in the sky. The wind howled from the west, bone-dry without a trace of moisture, its heat oppressive and relentless.
Standing amidst the sand, looking up, one saw only a dazzling expanse of gold—no other color existed.
This was the Extreme West Desert, the place with the harshest climate in the Tianji Region. In the Extreme North glaciers, at least there were ice houses for warmth and clear water to drink. But here in the Extreme West, there was nothing but yellow sand and scorching sun.
Mo Tiange waved her sleeve, stirring a gust of wind, yet felt not a hint of coolness.
She couldn't help but doubt, "Could anyone possibly live in this godforsaken place?"
After all, cultivators like them were impervious to ordinary heat and cold. Yet, just being in this desert, seeing this landscape, made one's heart feel parched and restless. How much worse must it be for mortals?
Qin Xi was examining a map made of animal hide. After a while, he stored it in his Qiankun Ring and said, "Of course not in the desert itself. But if we can find an oasis, we'll find people."
"The people at the Deacon Hall said the oases move. That map probably isn't accurate." The jade slip from the Deacon Hall contained an ancient map, the one Senior Xiao Zilan had used when he came to the Extreme West. Five thousand years had passed; that map was no longer reliable. Before entering the desert, they had obtained a current map from the nearby Xuanqing Sect Branch.
However, the Extreme West was a remote, desolate place with virtually no resources. That Xuanqing Sect Branch didn't know much about the Extreme West Desert either. This map was also several years old.
"No choice. We'll just have to search," Qin Xi knew this too, but the Extreme West Desert was utterly unfamiliar to Tianji cultivators. There was simply no detailed information.
"Mm, let's go."
The two rose on the wind, transforming into streaks of light as they flew deeper into the desert.
Though the Extreme West Desert was vast, for Nascent Soul cultivators, circling it would take only a day or two. However, the desert was full of mirages. They had been fooled several times already—something seeming right before their eyes, only to discover after flying for half a day that it was merely an illusion. The map's markings were even more simplistic. As for any oases, the two couldn't find them at all.
On the second day, while flying mid-air, they suddenly spotted a camel caravan on the desert below, crawling forward like ants. Overjoyed, they descended toward the caravan.
The caravan had over a hundred camels and thirty to fifty people. Everyone wore loose white robes and white caps. They were quite tall and sturdy, even the women were robust, with slightly dark skin and deep-set features.
Seeing Mo Tiange and Qin Xi descend from the sky, the caravan immediately erupted into commotion. These white-robed people shouted in a language the two couldn't understand, prostrating themselves in worship.
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi exchanged a glance. Qin Xi spoke, "Who is your leader?"
No one answered.
He asked again before one of the white-robed figures spoke up, "This... this humble one is the headman."
The headman's tone was extremely strange, his words slurred and unclear.
The jade slip from the Deacon Hall mentioned that the people of the Extreme West were called the Xirong. The Xirong had their own language, but they also traded with people from the Qin-Chu lands, so a small portion knew the common language of Tianji. This headman was likely one of them.
Seeing the white-robed people so terrified, Qin Xi put on a gentle smile and said kindly, "You need not fear. We merely have some questions. We will not harm you."
Hearing this, the headman stammered, "We... we do not know... Heavenly Gods have descended. What... what do you require? We... we will certainly do our utmost."
"Rise first," Mo Tiange said, frowning slightly at the sight of a crowd kneeling on the scorching sand.
The headman looked at her, then at Qin Xi. Seeing no objection, he kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Heavenly Gods. Thank you, Heavenly Gods."
He then stood, turned, and waved his arms, shouting loudly to his tribespeople in the Xirong language.
Once everyone was standing, the headman bowed. "Thank you for your compassion, Heavenly Gods. The Xirong people... thank you for your mercy."
Qin Xi said, "Let me ask you: is there an oasis nearby? And where do you live?"
"Oasis?" The headman's face lit up with joy. He spoke haltingly, "The two Heavenly Gods wish to go to an oasis? We are heading there as well. The oasis is not far from here. About half a day's journey. We live in Yimu. Past the oasis, another two days' travel, and we arrive."
Half a day—that truly wasn't far. Qin Xi glanced at Mo Tiange. Seeing no objection, he said, "In that case, show us the way. We will take you to the oasis."
"Yes, yes." The headman bowed repeatedly.
Qin Xi smiled slightly and summoned the Flying Cloud. The treasure expanded, reaching thirty to forty zhang in length.
Seeing this miraculous sight before them, the white-robed people began to kowtow again, crying "Heavenly Gods."
Qin Xi paid them no mind. With a wave of his sleeve, he moved the entire camel caravan onto the Flying Cloud. He glanced at Mo Tiange. The two then took flight with the Xirong people.
With the headman guiding them, they found the oasis in just two ke.
The oasis wasn't large. At its center was a clear spring, surrounded by many tents. Seeing the group descend from the sky, people poured out from the oasis, prostrating themselves and shouting in the Xirong language.
Witnessing this, the headman standing behind Mo Tiange and Qin Xi wore a look of pride, speaking loudly to these people.
From the crowd emerged a thin, wizened old man, also in white robe and cap. He bowed respectfully to the two, pressing his palms together. "Xili pays respects to the two Heavenly Gods. Have the Heavenly Gods descended with divine instructions?" This old man spoke much more fluently than the headman.
Qin Xi said, "We are merely passing through. You need not stand on ceremony."
"Yes. It is our oasis's great honor to receive the Heavenly Gods. Please accept our hospitality." The old man made a gesture of invitation.
Qin Xi looked at Mo Tiange. She gave a slight nod. They knew little about the Extreme West and needed accurate information from these Xirong people.
At the old man's invitation, the two entered a tent.
The tent was quite spacious. Though simple, it contained all necessary living utensils.
The old man invited them to sit. Immediately, a white-robed maiden served tea.
Mo Tiange looked down. The tea was a vibrant green, not the kind they usually drank. It seemed to be some sort of sap.
The old man said, "This is our Xirong Immortal Tea. Please, Heavenly Gods, partake."
Mo Tiange hesitated, but seeing Qin Xi pick up his cup without resistance and take a small sip, she followed suit.
The strange tea entered her mouth—it was surprisingly refreshingly sweet, carrying the fragrance of plants, and quite pleasant.
Seeing both had drunk, the old man said, "Every rainy season, many immortal trees grow in the desert. The sap from these trees is the Immortal Tea. Among us Xirong, Immortal Tea is only used to entertain honored guests."
"I see," Mo Tiange paused, then asked, "What do you mean by calling us 'Heavenly Gods'?"
The old man looked surprised. "The two descended from the sky. Are you not Heavenly Gods?"
"..." Who knew if the Xirong people's 'Heavenly Gods' simply referred to flying cultivators.
Mo Tiange didn't answer, instead asking further, "Does your oasis have a priest?"
The jade slip from the Deacon Hall stated that every Xirong tribe had a priest. Most of these priests were low-level cultivators. Some were low-level cultivators who couldn't make it in the Central Plains and ran off to the Xirong to become priests, enjoying their offerings.
Hearing her say the word 'priest,' the old man immediately stopped doubting. He hurriedly said, "Yes, yes. The priest has gone out. Please, Heavenly Gods, wait a moment."
Next, while waiting for the oasis priest to return, the two inquired for information from the old man.
This old man named Xili was the eldest elder in the oasis. He had once been the headman of a certain Xirong tribe. Over a decade ago, his tribe encountered a desert storm. Many died, and the survivors migrated to this oasis. The oasis wasn't a tribe and had no headman. According to Xirong custom, they all followed the words of the eldest elder.
The oasis was small, existing here for thirty or forty years. It had one priest and about a hundred people.
The entire Xirong people weren't numerous. Small tribes had dozens of people; large tribes only a few hundred. Tribes exceeding a thousand were rare. These tribes, a small portion were scattered in the oases of the Extreme West Desert; most lived on the desert's edge. For example, the tribe they had encountered lived in Yimu, not far from here, just outside the desert.
Before long, the oasis priest returned.
This person was indeed a Qi Refining cultivator. Upon seeing them, he was shocked and immediately kowtowed. "This junior Tang Zimu pays respects to the two Seniors!"
He appeared to be in his forties, with slightly dark skin, thin and wizened like Old Man Xili. Judging by his name and fluent speech, he should be from the Central Plains or Kunwu. Perhaps from living in the Extreme West so long, even his features resembled the Xirong.
"Are you from Kunwu or the Central Plains?" Qin Xi asked.
This Tang Zimu, sensing the immense pressure emanating from the two, knew he had encountered lofty Seniors. He answered tremblingly, "This junior is from the Central Plains."
"Since you're from the Central Plains, why did you come to the Extreme West? How long have you been in this oasis? How much do you know about the Extreme West?"
Tang Zimu bowed and replied, "To be honest, Senior, this junior was just an ordinary rogue cultivator in the Central Plains. My aptitude was extremely poor. Forget Kunwu sects, even Central Plains families wouldn't take me in. Feeling cultivation was too difficult, I simply came to the Extreme West and became a priest for the Xirong. Though conditions here are harsh, the Xirong revere their priests greatly. Life is actually better than in the Central Plains. Counting the years, this junior has been in the Extreme West for over thirty years. I dare not claim deep understanding, but I know the general situation."
He paused, seeing their amiable demeanor, and gathered courage to ask, "Are the two Seniors... Core Formation Seniors from Kunwu?" To him, Core Formation cultivators were already celestial figures. Back in the Central Plains, even Foundation Establishment cultivators were rarely seen. And the aura of these two was even stronger than those Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Qin Xi smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. "We have business in the Extreme West, but know little about it. Simply tell us what you know. Answer well, and there will be reward."
"Yes. Whatever the Seniors wish to know, this junior will hold nothing back." Seeing they didn't deny it, Tang Zimu was now convinced they were Core Formation Seniors. He hurriedly answered.
"First, tell us about the famous dangerous places in the Extreme West. Since you've lived here over thirty years, you must know these well."
"Yes," Tang Zimu answered without hesitation. "If speaking of dangerous places in the Extreme West, the most famous are these three. First, Wind Sand City. Second, Wolf Leap Mountain. Third, God-Falling Abyss..."