Battle Through the Heavens: I can solidify the talents of all things

Chapter 67, Back to Desert City, Qinglin?!

On the edge of the Tagor Desert, the city of Mo appears exceptionally quiet under the blazing afternoon sun.

The wind swirled fine sand across the mottled city walls, making a soft rustling sound.

Xiao Qing stood alone in front of the map shop that was once run by Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, staring blankly at the closed door.

A thin layer of dust had accumulated on the wooden signboard, and the bronze bells hanging on the lintel swayed gently in the wind, but could no longer produce a clear sound.

Months have passed, and things have changed.

"It's been three months —" Xiao Qing murmured to herself.

From venturing deep into the Tagor Desert in search of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, to the earth-shattering battle with Queen Medusa, to refining elixirs in the Snake-People's Holy City for over a month.

Then, he was unexpectedly drawn into that dilapidated small world of Dou Sheng —

This experience was like a bizarre and fantastical dream.

Returning to this familiar place now feels like stepping into another world.

Xiao Qing recalled the relieved look on Hai Bodong's face when he left.

The former Ice Emperor has finally broken the seal and regained his Dou Huang strength.

He must be enjoying the honor of being a Supreme Elder in the Mittel family in the Holy City of Gama at this moment.

He ended his more than ten years of exile, which involved hiding in various places because of Queen Medusa.

Xiao Qing shook her head gently, turned around and left the map shop that held so many memories.

The most urgent thing is to find a place to rest and recuperate.

The continuous experiences, especially the life-and-death crises in the Dou Sheng Small World, kept Xiao Qing's mind constantly on edge.

Even with Xiao Qing's current cultivation level and spiritual soul, he still needs a complete relaxation.

Xiao Qing found an inn in the city called "Desert Ship".

Although the inn is not luxurious, it is clean and tidy, and there are several drought-resistant sea buckthorn plants in the courtyard, adding a rare touch of greenery to this desert border town.

"Are you looking for a room, sir?"

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man with a weathered face and calluses on his fingers from years of using an abacus.

"I'd like a superior room, somewhere quiet."

Xiao Qing handed over a few gold coins.

The innkeeper took the gold coins, his eyes lighting up slightly, and his attitude became even more enthusiastic: "Alright! Room number three, guaranteed to be quiet!"

That night, Xiao Qing lay on the soft bed, letting exhaustion wash over her like a tide.

Xiao Qing, unusually, did not cultivate, but instead fell into a deep sleep, allowing his body and mind to get full rest.

Outside the window, the night in Mo City was not peaceful. In the distance, the noise of taverns and the crisp sound of camel bells could be faintly heard, but these sounds became the best lullaby.

Xiao Qing fell into a deep sleep and slept until noon the next day.

When Xiao Qing woke up, she felt refreshed and her fatigue from the past few days had vanished.

Xiao Qing opened the window, letting the sunlight stream into the room, where the golden desert in the distance shimmered in the sunlight.

After washing up, Xiao Qing strolled out of the inn and blended into the unique street atmosphere of Mo City.

Unlike the orderly streets of Wutan City, the streets of Mo City are more casual, with shops and residences interspersed, and occasionally you can see caravans leading camels slowly passing through the streets.

Located on the edge of the desert, the city of Mo is much more open-minded than the interior of the empire.

Within a short fifteen minutes of Xiao Qing's stroll, several women dressed in exotic attire had already cast bold glances at him.

They wore brightly colored gauze dresses, with strings of silver bells tied around their bare waists. Their skin had a healthy wheat color from years of sunshine, and their eyes were fiery and direct.

A veiled dancer even deliberately stopped in front of Xiao Qing.

She lightly ran her slender fingers through the silver ornaments in her hair, her eyes sparkling with charm: "Young man, are you new to Mo City? Would you like a guide?"

Xiao Qing shook her head slightly, politely declining her sales pitch.

The dancer didn't press the matter, but chuckled and gracefully departed, leaving behind a string of clear bell sounds.

Xiao Qing continued walking and noticed a small stall selling desert specialties by the roadside.

The stall owner was an elderly man with a wrinkled face, selling dried sea buckthorn and some kind of desert-specific medicinal herb to passersby.

"Come and see! Top-quality sea buckthorn, it's the best for relieving fatigue when steeped in water!"

The old man greeted them warmly.

Xiao Qing stopped in front of the stall, his gaze sweeping over the medicinal herbs.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he noticed a few roots with a faint silver sheen mixed in with a bunch of inconspicuous brown rhizomes.

"This is... silver sand ginseng?" Xiao Qing was somewhat surprised.

This medicinal herb has a remarkable effect on nourishing the soul, which is exactly what Xiao Qing needs now.

Although it's of ordinary quality, finding it in this remote border town is a pleasant surprise.

"Young man, you have a good eye!" the old man said, giving a thumbs up.

"This was brought back from the depths of the desert by a caravan a few days ago. It was said to have been found on the edge of an oasis."

Xiao Qing bought all the silver sand ginseng, and also bought some dried sea buckthorn.

Just as Xiao Qing was paying, a small, thin figure ran past him quickly, stirring up a breeze.

It was a little girl of about three or four years old, dressed in tattered clothes, her bare little feet covered in dust.

Like a startled fawn, she darted quickly into a dilapidated, simple hut ahead.

The moment the little girl pushed open the dilapidated wooden door, Xiao Qing caught a fleeting, relieved smile on her face, a smile of relief at returning "home".

That smile was so pure it was heartbreaking, and Xiao Qing's heart stirred slightly.

But Xiao Qing did not stop and continued walking forward.

However, just as Xiao Qing had walked a short distance and was about to turn the corner, a terrified and helpless cry suddenly came from the small house: "Ah! Grandma! What's wrong!"

Immediately afterwards, the girl seemed to realize something terrible, and her cries suddenly became shrill and sorrowful, like a young animal that had lost all its support, which was heartbreaking to hear.

"Waaah—Grandma, wake up! Grandma—"

'

"Hmm?" Xiao Qing paused, her brows furrowing slightly.

With Xiao Qing's powerful soul perception, he could vaguely sense that the old man's life force in that small house had long since been extinguished without even having to investigate.

It seems that a relative of the little girl has passed away.

"Waaah, Grandma, you—waaah, no—no, waaah—leaving Qinglin all alone—"

Just as Xiao Qing sighed softly, feeling that this matter had nothing to do with him, and was about to turn around and leave this place of trouble.

The name the little girl accidentally uttered while crying exploded in Xiao Qing's mind like a thunderbolt!

Azure Scales?!

Xiao Qing stopped abruptly, a look of disbelief and shock flashing in her eyes.

He knew that name all too well!

Isn't this the little girl from the original story, with a tragic past but possessing a rare and special physique: the Jade Serpent Three-Flower Pupil?

Just as Xiao Qing was in shock, the wooden door of the shabby room was suddenly pushed open, and the little girl from before stumbled out.

Now it's clearer; the little girl is pitifully thin, clearly suffering from long-term malnutrition. Her dry, yellow hair sticks to her tear-stained face, and tears keep rolling down her big, red eyes.