The intense battle unfolded swiftly, its tragic conclusion almost inevitable.
There was no suspense. The disparity in strength between the two sides was glaringly apparent.
The three young individuals trapped within the relentless, swirling sands were no pushovers. The strongest among them was only at the ninth level of the Qi Foundation Realm, with the weakest barely reaching the seventh level. Such power would have been more than enough in many parts of the world. In fact, they could have easily matched the younger generation of sect geniuses without shame.
But this wasn't just any place. This was the Yellow Sand Mountain Range.
And surrounding them were bandits—every single one a cultivator of the Soul Condensation Realm.
Gui Xinmeng's eyes, once bright and full of determination, were now bloodshot, reflecting only the despair and humiliation she could no longer conceal.
With their overwhelming power, the bandits could have ended their lives in a heartbeat, a single strike to silence them forever. Yet, they didn't. Instead, they chose to play, savoring the moments of terror before the inevitable crushing blow.
Gui Xinmeng's hands clenched into tight fists, her heart a seething furnace of both rage and helplessness, burning with a desire to escape, but held in place by the cold weight of reality.
And then, amidst the chaos, a piercing cry rang out, cutting through the desert's silence like a sword through the air.
"Aoo!"
The sound—sharp, clear, and filled with raw power—echoed across the desolate dunes. It startled everyone—bandits, Gui Xinmeng, and even the wild beasts lurking within the mountains.
In an instant, every eye turned upward, drawn by the haunting cry that seemed to reverberate through their very bones.
A fiery red shadow appeared in the sky, cutting across the evening's canvas like a comet streaking toward the earth.
As it neared, its true form became visible.
"A flying demon beast!"
Someone in the crowd gasped, their voice trembling with awe and fear, "It's a Scarlet Flame Sparrow! And it's fully grown!"
Another voice, sharper than the first, followed in disbelief, "Look—there are people standing on it!"
The leader of the bandits was the first to react, his face draining of color as he raised his hand, signaling his subordinates to halt.
"Stop!" he ordered, his voice sharp with authority.
Immediately, the bandits froze in place, their muscles tense, as they watched the approaching beast. They were aware of the dangers of underestimating the unknown. Even though they outnumbered their new opponents, the Scarlet Flame Sparrow was no ordinary creature.
Too many strange figures roamed these wild lands, individuals with power so vast they could reshape the landscape with a single thought. It was wise to remain cautious, especially when the three youths below could be eliminated at any moment. No need to risk provoking something far beyond their understanding.
For a moment, the watchers assumed the Scarlet Flame Sparrow would simply pass overhead. But then, with a surprising shift, the beast's wings slowed.
The next second, it dove toward them, its massive form cutting through the air like a falling star.
"What?!"
The bandits were caught off guard, their minds scrambling to process the sudden change.
Gui Xinmeng and her companions were just as stunned, unable to fathom what was happening.
And then, as though in defiance of the world itself, the Scarlet Flame Sparrow landed gracefully between them and their would-be executioners, sending gusts of sand swirling in all directions.
From the beast's back, a calm voice called out, devoid of fear or hesitation:
"You three, come up."
It was Xuan Yi, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture relaxed and composed.
Right behind him, Gui Yiyi, her face alight with excitement, waved eagerly.
"Sister Xinmeng! Hurry up!" she called out, her voice a mix of relief and joy.
Gui Xinmeng stood frozen, her heart skipping a beat. She blinked several times, not trusting her senses.
"Yiyi!? How could it be you!?" Her voice cracked with disbelief.
A Scarlet Flame Sparrow—an adult, no less—was something even the most seasoned experts would approach with caution. And yet, there Gui Yiyi was, casually beckoning from its back, as if it were nothing more than a common mount.
Despite her overwhelming confusion, Gui Xinmeng knew she couldn't afford to hesitate any longer. Time was running out.
"Senior Brother, Senior Sister—come on!" she urged, her voice now sharp with urgency.
Her companions, still grappling with the shock, hesitated only for a moment before following her lead. Trusting her judgment, they climbed onto the Scarlet Flame Sparrow without protest.
The beast flapped its wings with a powerful gust, shooting into the sky like a blazing comet.
Throughout it all, Xuan Yi didn't spare a glance toward the bandits. He treated them as little more than ants beneath his notice, as insignificant as dust.
The bandits remained utterly still, their bodies cold with fear.
It wasn't that they didn't want to act; they didn't dare.
When the Scarlet Flame Sparrow finally disappeared into the horizon, leaving nothing but a trail of sand in its wake, the bandits seemed to snap out of their frozen stupor.
One of them, his hands slick with sweat, wiped his brow and muttered under his breath, "That was close…"
The leader of the bandits was equally pale, his hand still trembling. The realization was clear—had they even moved an inch, their lives would have been forfeit.
On the back of the Scarlet Flame Sparrow, the reunion between Gui Yiyi and Gui Xinmeng was emotional, a rush of overwhelming relief.
"Sister Xinmeng, where have you been these past few years? You didn't contact the clan at all. We thought..." Gui Yiyi's voice quivered, her words tainted by lingering fear and confusion.
Gui Xinmeng lowered her head, a shadow of shame passing over her face. "I… I was captured."
"Captured!? By who?" Gui Yiyi and the others echoed in stunned disbelief.
Gui Xinmeng paused, collecting her thoughts before speaking again.
Three years ago, while on her way back to Half Moon City, she had encountered a strange woman—a powerful and eccentric figure. Without warning, the woman had knocked her unconscious and taken her captive.
That woman was now Gui Xinmeng's master.
A formidable cultivator, standing at the peak of the eighth level of the Soul Condensation Realm.
Gui Yiyi frowned, perplexed. "If she wanted to accept you as a disciple, why kidnap you? Wouldn't asking have sufficed?"
Gui Xinmeng's smile was bitter. "I don't know either. She did the same thing to my senior brother and sister. Master's ways… are strange. But she treats us well."
Gui Xinmeng's voice softened as she continued, explaining that her master had forbidden them from contacting their families until they reached the Soul Condensation Realm.
"Sister Xinmeng… have you broken through?" Gui Yiyi asked, her voice trembling with anticipation.
Gui Xinmeng's expression faltered. "Not yet. I'm still at the seventh level of the Qi Foundation Realm."
The revelation stunned the group.
Though Gui Xinmeng hadn't reached the Soul Condensation Realm yet, the fact that she had reached the seventh level of the Qi Foundation Realm at such a young age was a remarkable achievement—on par with the top talents of Zhennan Province.
"But if you haven't broken through yet, why were you allowed to return?" Gui Yiyi asked, her curiosity piqued.
Gui Xinmeng shook her head. "I'm not entirely sure. A few days ago, something changed. Master suddenly allowed us to return to our clans. She said she had urgent matters to attend to."
Xuan Yi, who had been listening quietly, narrowed his eyes. He had a hunch—whatever her master was planning, it was connected to the imminent opening of the Purple Moon Secret Realm.
Gui Yiyi spoke again, a look of concern in her eyes. "Sister Xinmeng, where is your master now?"
Gui Xinmeng shook her head. "Master has business in Zhennan Province. She told us to wait for her at Half Moon City."
The question now turned back to Gui Yiyi. "Yiyi, what about you? What's with this Scarlet Flame Sparrow?"
Gui Yiyi's cheeks flushed as she glanced at Xuan Yi.
"Master gave it to me," she murmured shyly.
Gui Xinmeng's jaw dropped.
"Master?"
Not just her—her senior brother and sister were equally stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Xuan Yi, so young, was Gui Yiyi's master?
Gui Yiyi quickly explained everything.
As she spoke, the weight of the revelation sank deeper and deeper into Gui Xinmeng's heart.
When she learned that Xuan Yi was an elder of the Sword Profound Sect, a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator no less, she was left speechless.
Nascent Soul Realm!
That was a level even her own eccentric master would have to bow to.
As Gui Yiyi continued, mentioning the Duan Family's troubles, Gui Xinmeng's worries began to ease. With Xuan Yi's backing, she felt an immense weight lift from her chest.
As the sun dipped behind the desert's horizon, casting long shadows across the barren landscape, Xuan Yi turned his gaze to the sky and spoke softly, "We'll find a place to rest tonight. We continue tomorrow."
The others nodded in agreement, their exhaustion palpable.
Gui Yiyi was already on the edge of collapse, her stomach rumbling as the reality of their situation caught up with her. Rest was desperately needed.
Chaos City.
True to its name, it was a city ruled by lawlessness.
Mercenaries, adventurers, fugitives, and bandits—every manner of dangerous character walked its chaotic streets.
When Xuan Yi and the others arrived, night had fully descended.
To avoid drawing attention, Xuan Yi had sealed the Scarlet Flame Sparrow's presence with a mark between Gui Yiyi's brows.
Despite their best efforts, however, the group still attracted the hungry gaze of many unscrupulous individuals.
Gui Yiyi and the others instinctively tensed, but Xuan Yi remained calm, his demeanor as unfazed as ever.
He knew that for the strong, no place was dangerous. It was the weak who feared.
They quickly found an inn, the momentary chaos forgotten.
Xuan Yi, however, did not stay long.
He had overheard whispers about an auction happening that very night, and with little else to occupy his time, he decided to take a look. Perhaps there was something useful for his purposes.
The auction house stood at the heart of Chaos City.
By the time Xuan Yi arrived, the event was in full swing.
This was no ordinary auction house.
Rumor had it that a peak seventh-level Soul Condensation expert stood behind it, one of the few factions able to survive the brutality of Chaos City.
Inside, the atmosphere was alive with excitement, anticipation crackling in the air.