Cultivating Through The Game

Several pillars held up the shed, with light veils hanging around to block the wind and sand. The fierce wind blew through the tavern, bringing a mix of heat waves and coolness to those inside.

Lu Yu sat alone at a table, a jar of murky wine placed on the wooden table in front of him. After taking just one sip, he left the jar untouched.

The wine here was especially astringent, mixed with bitterness, which outsiders usually couldn't get accustomed to.

This place marked the border of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Western Desert, and such uniquely shaped taverns typically served as waystations where traveling merchants could rest and quench their thirst.

Lu Yu had traveled a long way to get here, all for one person—Xue Ming.

Through Lu Hongwei, Lu Yu learned that the person who had framed him was named Xue Ming. Just yesterday, he received intel from Fu Mingcheng that Xue Ming's location had been found.

Xue Ming had been active between several cities near the Western Desert's border, close to the base camp of Iron Tomb. Yet, to this day, even the prowlers of the martial world didn't know Iron Tomb's exact location.

All they could barely discern was that Iron Tomb's base camp was somewhere in the Western Desert.

It's not that Lu Hongwei and the others were tight-lipped and unwilling to reveal information; they simply didn't know the precise location, only that it was near the Western Desert's border.

Bang~ A dust-laden Martial Cultivator in slightly tattered clothing sat before Lu Yu, looked at the jar of murky wine on the table, and asked, "Friend, if you're not drinking, could I have some?"

He had been observing Lu Yu for some time, noticing that Lu Yu's attire did not resemble that of a Western Desert inhabitant and that he had stopped drinking after just one sip of the bitter Thorn Wine. Clearly, he couldn't handle the taste.

Driven by the necessity of saving water in the Western Desert, he approached Lu Yu.

"Please." Lu Yu gestured with his hand.

"Well, I won't be polite then." The man picked up the bowl from the table, grabbed the wine jar, and poured it into the bowl until it was half-full, then stopped.

He clutched the jar, drinking directly from it, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp~~ The astringent and bitter wine disappeared into his mouth.

Bang~ The jar was heavily smashed onto the table, "Refreshing!"

"Thank you, my friend, for the treat." He cupped his fists in thanks again, then grabbed the bowl from the table and walked out of the tavern, muttering a few words towards the distant yellow sand before pouring the half-bowl of wine onto the sandy ground.

The wine was quickly evaporated on the sand, leaving no trace.

He returned, placing the bowl on the table in front of Lu Yu, and for the third time, cupped his fists in gratitude.

Lu Yu, curious about his actions, asked, "What were you doing just now?"

Huang Litian chuckled cheerfully and said, "I was paying respects to the Earth God of the Western Desert, praying that I won't encounter a sandstorm while traveling here."

Lu Yu nodded thoughtfully, although he was curious; given the man's power, which should have reached the level of the Qi Sea Realm, why was he afraid of encountering a sandstorm?

Jingle jingle jingle~~ The sound of wind chimes rang out as a group of people riding Western Desert "mythical creatures," the Western Desert Alpacas, approached the tavern. Each alpaca had a fist-sized wind chime hanging from its neck, audible several kilometers away when the alpacas ran.

Wind chimes were fitted onto Western Desert Alpacas to prevent losing them in sandstorms.

The Western Desert Alpacas were a kind of gentle mythical creature with remarkable stamina, ideal for use as mounts or for carrying goods in the Western Desert.

Each Western Desert Alpaca was very expensive, as these Western Desert "mythical creatures" had power comparable to Martial Cultivators of the Qi Controlling Realm. It required extensive manpower and resources to tame them.

Upon hearing the sound of wind chimes, Lu Yu turned towards the caravan, noticing a camel cart pulled by the alpacas.

He stood up, exited the tavern, and walked towards the camel cart.

Curious, Huang Litian followed him out. The caravan leader saw Lu Yu approaching. His attire was quite conspicuous, making him immediately noticeable.

The caravan leader approached, somewhat wary, and asked, "Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for someone," Lu Yu replied straightforwardly.

"Who?" Hearing Lu Yu was looking for someone, the caravan leader relaxed and curiously asked.

"Xue Ming," Lu Yu said flatly.

"Xue Ming?" The caravan leader asked, puzzled, because he hadn't heard of this person. He was just about to tell Lu Yu he didn't know the person when—

A noise came from the camel cart at the center of the caravan, and a figure burst from the cart, flying and quickly fleeing into the distance.

Seeing Xue Ming running away, Lu Yu hurriedly performed the Heaven's Edge Ruler Step, turning into a stream of light as he pursued him. As he passed the camel cart, he launched a punch, completely shattering the cart.

This was to prevent Xue Ming from hiding inside, letting others escape and leading him away.

Boom! The cart exploded, sending splinters and metal flying, while the Western Desert Alpacas scattered in panic. The caravan members hurriedly chased the frightened alpacas.

No one had hidden inside the cart. Xue Ming had prepared to flee at the first sight of Lu Yu. Hearing Lu Yu was there for him, he instantly bolted away at top speed.

He knew Lu Yu's strength far exceeded his own, impossible for him to confront.

But Xue Ming didn't need power to confront Lu Yu. All he had to do was escape a certain distance and then force himself offline; he would vanish amidst the sprawling yellow sands, making it impossible for Lu Yu to find him.

As for hiding directly in the cart while offline to evade Lu Yu, he couldn't be sure if Lu Yu had evidence of him being inside the cart.

If Xue Ming went offline inside the cart and Lu Yu destroyed the entire cart, he would be doomed.

He dared not take the risk, dared not gamble, so he chose to flee.