Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
This air-transportation spirit artifact was completely black and had no decorations. It looked incomparably heavy, and its outer layer was even embedded with metal, giving off an indestructible feeling.
In the Outer Realm Desert, only such a sturdy air-transportation spirit artifact could be said to be safe. Otherwise, it would be unable to withstand the sandstorms.
“Are the two of you lost? Do you want to come with me?”
A green-robed man was standing on the air-transportation spirit artifact and asking with a smile.
Qin Jue and Su Yan looked at each other, both revealing astonished expressions. When did these people become so kind?
There were people willing to help wherever they went.
“In that case, thank you.”
Qin Jue cupped his fists impolitely..
Originally, he had planned to leave directly. Now that he had a free ride, why would he refuse?
This time, they wouldn’t encounter that strange town again, would they?
Speaking of which, the green-robed man should be the first living person they had seen in the past few days.
After boarding the air-transportation spirit artifact, Qin Jue discovered that there were many goods piled up inside. There were also more than a dozen fully armed cultivators standing inside, staring vigilantly at him and Su Yan.
“Young Master, isn’t it too much to rashly ask them to come up…”
The leader of the cultivators had a worried expression. Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the green-robed man with a wave of his hand. “It’s alright. These two were just lost here. It’s alright to help them.”
“Moreover, with Uncle Kun around, we’ll definitely be fine.”
“This…”
The cultivator known as Uncle Kun opened his mouth and was speechless, but his eyes were always on Qin Jue and Su Yan to prevent them from suddenly attacking.
Qin Jue didn’t care about this. This Uncle Kun was only at the middle-phase of the Supreme Stage and was unable to discern Qin Jue’s cultivation.
On the other side, Su Yan’s aura had also been hidden with the mask on. With the other party’s cultivation, it was impossible for him to see through it.
“Please sit. My uncle has always been cautious. Please forgive him.”
The interior of the air-transportation spirit artifact was very large. It could accommodate dozens of people without a problem. Furthermore, it was made of special metal and was indestructible.
It was no exaggeration to say that even if they encountered a large sandstorm, this air-transportation spirit artifact could still forcefully pass through it without being damaged at all.
“I am Ning Jie, and this is our clan’s captain of the guards, Ning Kun. I have yet to ask for your names.”
“Qin Jue!”
Su Yan :”…”
Seeing the other party being so polite, Qin Jue and Su Yan also acted in a refined and amiable way.
“Why are the two of you here?”
Ning Jie was slightly puzzled.
After all, to low-level cultivators, the Outer Realm Desert was no different from a land of death. Even Supreme Stage experts would die here if they were unfortunately ambushed by high-level fiend beasts.
Therefore, most cultivators would choose to team up or ride a specific air-transportation spirit artifact when they entered the Outer Realm Desert. This way, they could minimize the danger.
“Because we encountered a sandstorm, we accidentally got separated from our companions. If it weren’t for Brother Ning, I’m afraid both of us would have died here.”
Qin Jue revealed a grateful expression and casually cooked up a story.
“I see. In other words, are you guys going to Desolate City?”
Ning Jie did not doubt Qin Jue’s story as it sounded very natural to him.
“Desolate City?”
Qin Jue was stunned for a moment before he calmly said, “That’s right. Based on Brother Ning’s tone, I assume that you are also headed towards Desolate City?”
Although Qin Jue didn’t know what Desolate City was, it didn’t stop him from talking to Ning Jie, making Su Yan dumbfounded.
Was this what they meant by lying without thinking twice?
“Hahaha, of course. The leader of our Ning Clan and the Desolate City City Lord have known each other for generations. This time, in Desolate City…”
Before he could finish speaking, Ning Jie stopped abruptly. He had almost revealed his clan’s secret.
Seeing this, Qin Jue immediately changed the topic. “By the way, has anything major happened in the Outer Realm Desert recently?”
“Major?”
Ning Jie completed the switch very naturally. He pondered for a moment and shook his head. “No.”
“Strange. In the past two days, we’ve seen many villages and towns without a single person. It’s as if they disappeared into thin air. It’s too strange.”
Qin Jue frowned slightly.
Actually, Qin Jue didn’t want to care about this matter, but since he had encountered Ning Jie, he thought he might as well ask. He didn’t expect Ning Jie to not know either.
“What did you say?”
At this time, Ning Kun, who had been staring at Qin Jue, suddenly widened his eyes and asked, “Did everyone in the village disappear into thin air?”
Qin Jue didn’t expect Ning Kun to have such a big reaction, so he explained in detail, “That’s right. Apart from people, everything else is intact.”
“Did they leave any traces?”
“No… uh, there was a layer of sand on the floor. Does that count?”
Qin Jue said hesitantly.
“Could it be… they’re back?”
After hearing Qin Jue’s description, Ning Kun revealed a frightened expression.
“What’s wrong, Uncle Kun?”
This was the first time Ning Jie had seen Ning Kun so nervous, so he was very puzzled.
“Young Master, we have to send this shipment over as soon as possible and then leave the Outer Realm Desert!”
“What is happening?!”
Ning Jie finally realized that something was wrong.
Taking a deep breath, Ning Kun said faintly, “If I’m not wrong, the Sand Race might have returned.”
“Sand Race? What’s that?”
Ning Jie was stunned.
Qin Jue was also dumbfounded. Were they talking about racing in the sand?
“The Sand Race is a powerful race that used to live in the Outer Realm Desert. They can control the sand to silently kill their opponents!”
“Moreover, whenever they attack, apart from the disappearance of humans, everything else would be left untouched!”
Ning Kun said seriously, “If it really is the Sand Race, we have to leave the Outer Realm Desert as soon as possible. Otherwise, the consequences will be unthinkable!”
“But… Why have I never heard of the Sand Race?”
Ning Jie was at a loss.
As a direct descendant of the clan, Ning Jie was still stuck at the middle-phase of the Heaven Stage due to his poor talent.
Therefore, he didn’t care much about cultivation. In his spare time, he would often read books and had a good understanding of the Outer Realm Desert, but he had never heard of any Sand Race.
“Of course you don’t know, because the Sand Race was sealed by a supreme being more than two hundred years ago!”
Ning Kun smiled bitterly and said, “At that time, I was only in my twenties and was an ordinary guard. I also heard from others that the Sand Race had given birth to an emperor and caused a calamity in the Outer Realm Desert. They wanted to expand the Outer Realm Desert and swallow the surrounding territory.”
“Facing the powerful Sand Race, even after the several great clans joined forces, they still weren’t a match against them. Just as the sandstorm was about to swallow all the alliance armies, a super expert who was passing by suddenly helped out.”
“Under the might of that super expert, the Sand Race was forced to retreat in defeat, and the emperor was even killed on the spot. However, that super expert was also injured, so he could only temporarily seal the remaining Sand Race experts.”
“More than two hundred years have passed since then. Whether or not the Sand Race has made a comeback, we have to inform the patriarch as soon as possible, just in case.”
At this point, Ning Kun’s expression was incomparably solemn. He was clearly not making things up.