Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

The cavalrymen were trembling with fear, but their centurion, mustering his courage, explained, "Those two specifically chose treacherous mountain paths to escape; it was simply impossible to catch them..."

The Chanyu sneered repeatedly: "It's clearly your incompetence! If my Xiongnu warriors had taken action, they wouldn't have been allowed to escape!"

Another soldier cautiously reported, "One of them seems to be the Imperial Preceptor of the Central Plains. They've come here to seek the elixir of immortality. Should we continue the investigation?"

"A miraculous elixir?" The Chanyu's pupils constricted sharply. "Are you sure it's a miraculous elixir?"

"Absolutely certain! The jade boxes they are holding are glowing and must contain elixirs of immortality!"

The Chanyu's eyes gleamed with greed: "If we obtain the elixir, wouldn't our Xiongnu cavalry be invincible? Quickly track down their whereabouts and retrieve the elixir!"

"Yes, sir!" The generals and soldiers answered in unison and withdrew from the royal tent.

The Chanyu sat alone in his tent, a cold glint in his eyes. He knew all too well the importance of the elixir to the Central Plains; if he could obtain it, he could both strengthen his army and coerce the Central Plains court. Thinking of this, a smug smile crept onto his lips.

Just then, a guard rushed into the tent: "Reporting to the Chanyu! The cavalry squads sent to pursue them have all disappeared without a trace!"

The Chanyu's face paled in horror: "The entire army wiped out? How is that possible!"

The guard kowtowed bitterly: "I have sent out many scouts to search, but there has been no news to this day."

The Chanyu's face immediately darkened: "It seems these two are indeed extraordinary. Possessing both elixirs and being skilled in concealment, they must be important officials of the Central Plains court. Order the entire army to strengthen its vigilance and closely monitor the movements in the Central Plains. We will make further plans when the time is right."

"Yes, sir!" The guard acknowledged the order and withdrew from the tent.

Alone in the empty tent, the Chanyu felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. He had thought seizing the elixir of immortality would be a piece of cake, but he hadn't expected to encounter such a formidable foe. However, he knew he couldn't afford to lose heart now; he had to regroup and lead his Xiongnu warriors on another campaign. Only in this way could he realize his grand ambition of unifying the grasslands and dominating the world!

Having escaped the Xiongnu's sphere of influence, Yang Ling and Xu Fu finally felt somewhat relieved. Although they had temporarily shaken off their pursuers, the road ahead remained fraught with unknown dangers.

"Mr. Yang, where should we go now?" Xu Fu looked at the boundless grassland and couldn't help but feel a little lost.

Yang Ling unfolded his personal map and examined it carefully: "According to the map, we need to first head north across this grassland, and then we will reach the desert area. Beyond the desert is the border of the Central Plains."

Xu Fu's expression hardened upon hearing this: "The desert? Wouldn't that be even more dangerous?"

Yang Ling responded with a calm smile: "The desert environment is indeed harsh. But with our previous experience, I believe we can overcome all difficulties."

The two continued their journey north. Several days later, a vast sea of ​​sand suddenly appeared before them. The sun blazed overhead, heat waves surged, and the sand dunes stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling a golden ocean.

"This desert is indeed magnificent," Xu Fu exclaimed. "How are we going to cross it?"

Yang Ling gazed at the sea of ​​sand and replied in a deep voice, "We need to make thorough preparations before entering the desert. You go and collect drinking water and food, and I will make sand-proof equipment."

Xu Fu immediately split up to search for supplies; Yang Ling, on the other hand, used existing materials to quickly make sand-proof masks. After a flurry of activity, the supplies for crossing the desert were finally ready.

"Mr. Yang, shall we depart now?" Xu Fu asked.

After inspecting the supplies, Yang Ling nodded in satisfaction: "Set off once everything is prepared. Remember to remain alert and calm in the desert, and do not panic in any situation."

The two resolutely stepped into the desert. The scorching, dry environment forced them to stop frequently to replenish their water. Despite the harsh conditions, their steps were exceptionally firm, for they knew that beyond this desert lay their homeland, the Central Plains.

After trekking through the desert for several days, both were exhausted. But they supported each other throughout, and whenever they were in trouble, they would recall their past experiences and draw courage from them to move forward.

As dusk approached, they finally saw the edge of the desert. Bathed in the setting sun, an oasis resembled an emerald set in a golden sea of ​​sand. "Mr. Yang, look! It's an oasis!" Xu Fu excitedly pointed into the distance. Yang Ling, seeing the oasis, couldn't help but smile: "We've finally escaped the desert." The two men, their spirits high, strode towards the oasis.

They longed to replenish their supplies in that green land, and even more so, they yearned for the dawn of returning to the Central Plains.

As night fell over the desert, they finally stepped into the oasis, feeling the long-lost coolness and tranquility. Little did they know that within this seemingly peaceful oasis lurked unknown dangers and trials.
Just as they were about to reach the oasis, the sudden sound of horses' hooves broke the silence of the desert.

"This is bad! They are Xiongnu pursuers!" Xu Fu turned pale as soon as he recognized the cavalrymen's attire.

Yang Ling's heart tightened, but he quickly regained his composure: "Don't panic. Although we are exhausted, we can still fight. Remember, as long as we work together, we will be able to overcome all difficulties."

Encouraged by this, Xu Fu forced himself to remain calm: "What you say is absolutely right. Let's prepare to meet the enemy!"

The two quickly assumed a fighting stance, their eyes blazing with resolute fighting spirit as they faced the oncoming Xiongnu cavalry.

The Xiongnu cavalry arrived in an instant, and their commander shouted sternly, "Hand over the elixir at once! Otherwise, don't even think about leaving this desert alive!"

Xu Fu coldly replied, "Want the elixir of immortality? Let's see if you all have the ability to make it!"

Before the words were finished, two dazzling beams of light burst forth from their palms, shooting straight into the enemy formation like meteors.

The Xiongnu cavalry, not expecting them to still possess such fighting power, were thrown into disarray. However, due to their superior numbers, they quickly regrouped and surrounded the two men.

"Such a protracted struggle is not a good strategy," Xu Fu said urgently as he parried the attack. "We must find a way to break through."

Yang Ling looked around at the sandy ground and suddenly had an idea: "Come with me!"

He grabbed Xu Fu and ran quickly toward a stretch of quicksand. The Xiongnu cavalry pursued them closely, only to see the two of them rush straight into the sea of ​​sand.

"What are they trying to do? Are they courting death?" a cavalryman asked in surprise.

Another cavalryman's expression suddenly changed: "Oh no! They're trying to escape using the quicksand! Chase them!"

The cavalrymen who charged into the sand first found their mounts stuck in quicksand, making it difficult for them to move forward.

Yang Ling and Xu Fu, however, moved with extraordinary agility across the sand like startled swans, leaving the Xiongnu cavalry, who were stuck in quicksand, far behind in the blink of an eye.

"Mr. Yang's plan is truly ingenious!" Xu Fu looked back at the pursuers trapped in the desert and exclaimed sincerely, "I never thought that this desperate situation would become our only chance of survival."

Yang Ling smiled calmly: "It was a desperate measure. We still cannot let our guard down. We must leave the quicksand area as soon as possible and find a safe place."

The two continued their swift journey towards the oasis as they talked. Although they had temporarily escaped their pursuers, the road ahead remained fraught with unknown dangers…

After escaping the perilous quicksand, Yang Ling and Xu Fu trudged towards the oasis. Days of fleeing had nearly exhausted them.

"Look, there's an oasis ahead," Xu Fu said, pointing to the lush greenery. "Finally, we can rest properly."

Seeing the greenery, Yang Ling's tense nerves relaxed slightly: "It's definitely time to take a break."

Deep within the oasis, they found a clear spring. Eagerly drinking from its sweet water, they instantly felt their weary bodies refreshed. (End of Chapter)