Chapter 134: The Ancient Kingdom of Loulan

Upon returning to the inn, Ning Xiu discovered that the lobby was suddenly filled with many martial artists. Those capable of surviving in the Great Death Desert were rarely weak; most possessed at least the cultivation of the Second Grade or higher, and the majority were seasoned in life-and-death combat.

Ning Xiu sat in the lobby and listened for a while before realizing that everyone had come for the legendary treasure of the ancient Kingdom of Loulan. Legend had it that in this vast expanse of the Great Death Desert, there once existed a powerful nation called Loulan. Yet, no matter how prosperous a nation might be, it would eventually face decline. Nothing in this world could withstand the erosion of time. The ancient Kingdom of Loulan was no exception; it slowly decayed and perished until it was completely buried beneath the endless yellow sands. Buried along with it were staggering riches and the legendary cultivation methods of ancient warriors.

These remained mere legends, much like the "Twin-Life Flower" said to bring the dead back to life—no one had ever truly seen them. People had only gleaned scraps of information from ancient texts. However, three days ago, news suddenly spread that a map to the treasure of Loulan had been found and would be auctioned here in Spring Water City.

"Ancient warrior cultivation methods..." Ning Xiu murmured to himself. It seemed that not only in the Great Qian Empire but even within the Death Desert, the methods of human cultivation had been lost.

Still, anyone with a bit of sense could smell a hint of conspiracy. If the map were genuine, why would the owner choose to auction it? One could argue that the desert was treacherous and the quest for treasure a life-or-death gamble, making it safer to trade the map for money. But this reasoning did not convince Ning Xiu; it simply did not add up. Regardless, he intended to attend the auction; he would not let any opportunity to enhance his strength slip by.

Although Ning Xiu’s combat prowess had transcended the ordinary, his cultivation base remained at the Grandmaster level, which would severely restrict his future development. Had his cultivation been higher, he would not have fallen into a state of total exhaustion after unleashing the "Seven Limits," nor would he have allowed Shen Sanqian to escape.

Ning Xiu sat for a while longer, and upon learning the specific time of the auction, he rose and returned to his room. A small incident occurred on the way: an unknown brute, for reasons unknown, started causing trouble in the Dragon Soar Inn. It was the first time Ning Xiu had seen Jiuniang take action. The burly man, who possessed a peak Second Grade cultivation, didn't even have time to react before he was tossed out.

No more than three people present in the lobby could have tracked Jiuniang's movements. This single feat suggested that Jiuniang was at least a Grandmaster-level expert. Yet, Ning Xiu sensed that this woman was far more complex than she appeared. Even Old Di, who hid in his small cabin all day drawing maps, suggested that this tiny Spring Water City was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided. How did these people attain such extraordinary power? Had the path of martial arts not been severed, or were they perhaps not human at all?

With these questions in mind, Ning Xiu returned to his room. He took out the map he had obtained from Old Di and examined it carefully. Naturally, it could not cover the entire Great Death Desert; it only detailed the areas around three oasis cities, including Spring Water City. The terrain around Spring Water City was the most detailed, though many areas were shaded, likely representing unexplored regions. There were also places marked with red cinnabar crosses by Old Di, the meaning of which remained a mystery to Ning Xiu.

After imprinting the map into his memory, he put it away and looked out the window. Night had fallen. Protected by the natural barrier of the oasis, Spring Water City was spared the worst of the sandstorms, yet one could still feel the raging, frenzied air currents outside. Ning Xiu leaned against the window, the strong wind whipping his azure robes and tossing his long hair.

A storm was coming.

Spring Water City’s trading market served as an important hub for goods between the Great Qian Empire and the Death Desert. During the day, Ning Xiu had basically familiarized himself with the city. Now, he donned a wide-brimmed hat, pulled it low over his face, and navigated the familiar streets to the city’s largest trading market.

When he arrived, the market was already bustling with people chatting and trading in small groups. Ning Xiu scanned the stalls as he walked. Ordinary items no longer caught his eye; instead, he had a heap of miscellaneous goods of his own waiting to be traded. In the crowd, he spotted Peng Wanli and his companions, who were embroiled in a heated argument with a merchant.

"This batch of goods was agreed upon six months ago. Now you suddenly say you don't want them? What is the meaning of this?" Peng Wanli demanded loudly, his right fist clenched as he struggled to contain his fury.

The middle-aged man standing opposite him showed no fear. "It’s not that I’m trying to cheat you. I truly needed these goods at the time, but my stock is now full. If you really want to sell, I can only offer half the original price." He added, "I’m only saying this because of our long-standing friendship. You know as well as I do that Phoenix Beard Grass doesn't keep for long. If I can't sell it and it rots in my hands, I’m the one who loses out."

Ning Xiu knew without a doubt that this was a trap set by Fatty Meng; commercial competition was often ruthless. When it came to real profit, there was no room for friendship. Peng Wanli and his crew were still too naive.

Ning Xiu glanced at them and headed deeper into the market. He had learned from a martial artist that the secret underground auction would be held there. Passing through a dark, deep corridor and presenting a stolen token, Ning Xiu entered a massive underground trading hall.

Here, almost everyone wore something to conceal their faces. A secret trading venue, by definition, dealt in things that were often hidden from the light. Goods that could not be sold in the Great Qian Empire were brought across thousands of miles to be disposed of here in the Death Desert. It was precisely for this reason that one could often find unexpected treasures.

The formal auction had not yet begun. In the hall, several small groups were engaged in private trades. Most transactions here were barter-based, as gold and silver were rarely used; after all, one couldn't easily transport such wealth across the vast desert. Ning Xiu did not participate; he found a spot with a broad view, sat down, and waited quietly.