Chapter 26: Shimo City, Searching for the Green Lotus Core Flame

The sky was vast and cloudless, the scorching sun baking the golden desert until it radiated heat. No signs of life or human presence could be seen.

Suddenly, a dark silhouette swept across the sands. Upon closer inspection, it was a person with wings sprouting from their back, casting a shadow as they glided through the sky.

"Shimo City is here..." Hun Cang slowed his flight as he gazed at the city in the distance. "According to the timeline, Queen Medusa will arrive here to claim the Green Lotus Core Flame six months after Xiao Yan begins his training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range..."

Shimo City was located in the Tagor Desert, much like Desert City, though situated in a different region.

Within Shimo City, there were numerous mercenary groups of varying sizes. Aside from the power of the City Lord’s Mansion, the most formidable were the Sand Mercenary Group, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and the Storm Mercenary Group. Among them, the Sand Mercenary Group stood firmly at the top, their position unshakeable because their leader was a Great Dou Shi.

"Come to think of it, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group was founded by Xiao Yan’s two brothers..." Hun Cang mused, though he had no intention of making their acquaintance. Simply put, they were not worth his time. Two mere Dou Shis, they would have little impact on the later stages of the story and could provide him no assistance like Xiao Yan could. There was no need to know them at all.

As Hun Cang slowed his descent, the City Lord’s Mansion and the headquarters of various mercenary groups felt a sudden tremor of intuition. Men of status stepped out with solemn expressions, staring in unison at the firmament.

"Dou Qi manifested as wings! At least a Dou Wang expert!"
"Why would such a prominent figure suddenly appear in Shimo City?"
"Pass the word down: tell the boys to lay low and keep their eyes peeled. If anyone offends this lord and ends up dead, don't blame me for not warning you!"

Landing in mid-air, Hun Cang looked down at the figures rushing toward him and spoke slowly, "Who is in charge here?"

"Greetings, my lord. I am Xu Guang, the City Lord of Shimo City. May I ask what brings you from afar?" A middle-aged man stepped forward, offered a respectful bow, and asked with extreme caution.

Flicking his finger against his storage ring, Hun Cang retrieved the map he had obtained from Hai Bodong and tossed it toward Xu Guang. He said indifferently, "Find the locations marked on this map. I do not care what methods you use; I expect to hear the news I desire before dawn tomorrow."

Catching the map as it drifted down, Xu Guang glanced at it, initially marveling to himself. Such a detailed map!

He then turned his attention to the instructions. The map featured three locations marked with flames, one of which lay in the southeastern part of Shimo City. Could there really be treasure there? Xu Guang frowned. Shimo City was teeming with mercenaries who frequently carried out all sorts of missions, and the areas surrounding the city had been explored countless times. If there were anything of value, it would have been discovered long ago.

Xu Guang looked up. The Dou Qi wings continued to beat slowly behind the cold-faced youth, who clearly had no intention of providing further explanation.

Suddenly, the youth looked down, meeting Xu Guang’s gaze, and asked, "Is there a problem?"

Xu Guang stiffened, quickly bowing his head. "No!"

Some time passed, and when no further sound came, Xu Guang only faintly sensed a gust of wind passing by.

"City Lord Xu, what did that lord give you?" A voice came from nearby. Xu Guang stood up straight and scanned the area, but the youth was gone. He turned his attention to the middle-aged man beside him.

Xu Guang handed the map over casually. "Luo Bu, once you’ve seen this, organize your men immediately and start digging!"

He then turned to the other mercenary leaders and shouted, "Listen well! Call your men, bring your digging tools, and gather at the southeastern part of Shimo City!"

A pair of similarly-faced young men stepped forward. The one in white robes, exuding an air of scholarly refinement, asked, "City Lord Xu, was that lord looking for something?"

"Xiao Ding, Xiao Lie." Xu Guang nodded slightly, his expression hesitant. "The lord gave me a map; it must be related to something, but I don't know the specifics. You were all here—I know no more than you do."

Luo Bu finished looking at the map and returned it to Xu Guang, who passed it to Xiao Ding so everyone could see it. Hun Cang had demanded results by tomorrow. If they relied solely on the City Lord’s Mansion, the efficiency might not be enough. Xu Guang hoped to mobilize all the mercenaries in the city; there was strength in numbers. With so many people working through the night, they could surely dig three feet deep into the earth.

However, as soon as Xu Guang finished proposing his plan, Luo Bu coughed twice. Facing Xu Guang’s gaze, he smiled cheekily. "City Lord Xu, my apologies. Our group recently accepted a commission and I’m afraid we don’t have the time. But looking at how many people we have here, I’m sure one group less won’t make a difference, right?"

"Luo Bu, I suggest you don't court death!" Xu Guang said slowly, suppressing his anger.

Luo Bu’s meaning was clear to anyone with eyes—he was trying to shirk his duties because he didn't see any profit in it.

Luo Bu spread his hands, his smile remaining. "City Lord Xu, I really am busy."

With Luo Bu taking the lead, other mercenary leaders soon followed suit, offering excuses to avoid the task. They had heard the lord clearly: he hadn't explained what he was looking for, only tossed a map and ordered them to search. How could they possibly find it? They couldn't turn that entire area upside down. The workload was immense, and the pressure for efficiency might even require them to consume expensive medicinal supplies to sustain their stamina. Who would want to engage in a task with no guaranteed reward?

"Luo Bu, are you certain you want to offend that lord?" If looks could kill, Xu Guang would have already slain Luo Bu a hundred times over.

*Offend him?* Luo Bu thought to himself. *Only a Dou Huang is worth fearing; a Dou Wang still has to abide by the rules of the Jia Ma Empire.* Judging by the youth's appearance, he was very young. To have reached the rank of Dou Wang was a rare talent indeed, but surely he couldn't be a Dou Huang, could he?

"City Lord, our Desert Iron Mercenary Group is willing to help," Xiao Ding said with a smile.

Luo Bu scoffed, "Look at that, another fool willing to debase himself."

"Luo Bu, watch your tongue. Don't think that just because you're a Great Dou Shi, our Desert Iron Mercenary Group is afraid of you!" Xiao Lie’s face turned cold, a fierce glint in his eyes.

Luo Bu chuckled, "Go ahead, I’ll be waiting!"

With that, Luo Bu led his men away. A few other mercenaries hesitated before following, leaving only a small group behind. Profit was the only motivator in this world—a cold, hard reality.

Xu Guang gave the Xiao brothers a grateful look and summoned the others to the City Lord’s Mansion to discuss the next steps.