The Endless Desert

The Southern Iron Camp was completely wiped out. Everything was gone within minutes after Li Fang died. The camp's leaders rushed to grab whatever they could—rare martial arts manuals, magical herbs, heirloom weapons, and cultivation techniques.

"Haha! I could start a new sect anywhere I want!" Zhang Wencheng, the top staff wielder in the land, boasted.

"Heavenly Golden Lotus Fist is a huge draw for new cultivators. I could get tons of disciples and start my own sect!" Feng Xiaolian, the famous bare-handed martial artist from the south, said.

They didn't bother with gold or Spirit Jade—the currency cultivators usually deal in. They left all that behind for the sects that had helped them with the rebellion. What they really wanted were things that couldn't be bought with money, like practice manuals or ancient heirlooms. They hoped that with these treasures, they'd catch the Northern Liu Troops' attention and maybe score some important positions.

As night settled in, the cultivators started to abandon the Southern Defense Camp. By then, all that was left were corpses and shattered ruins. But The Ten Forts—the elite cultivators of the Southern Iron Wall—didn't leave right away. They stayed behind for a secret meeting after everyone else had cleared out.

"Who made sure that Li Fang's whole family was deceased?" Lian Tianming, the strongest cultivator among The Ten Forts, demanded.

 Wang Hao stepped forward and said, "I killed them all with my own hands."

"Did you check that their hearts were really stopped?" Lian Tianming asked again, a bit skeptical.

"Of course, their hearts stopped—they're dead! Are you doubting my skills?"

Everyone knew Wang Hao was one of the most talented cultivators in the Southern Iron Wall, so no one dared question him now.

"I just don't want any of Li Fang's descendants coming after us in the future," Lian Tianming explained. "But if that does happen, you'll be the first one I blame, Wang Hao."

Wang Hao arrogantly lifted his chin and said confidently, Wang Hao lifted his chin arrogantly and said confidently, "That won't happen. But if against all odds you somehow find Li Yun alive in the future, you can chop off my head right then and there."

***

Li Yun stood on a barren, isolated hill, watching the smoke rise from the Southern Iron Wall. This was the last time he'd see the largest warrior camp in the Central Continent. He turned his back and began to walk away, knowing there was no reason to return—not for now and not for several years.

"Yun, where do you plan on going?" Jiang Huo asked, his tone gentle and curious.

"I'm heading to Green Jade Village. It's the closest settlement and where my aunt lives," Li Yun explained.

"How far is it?" 

"It's about 100 miles," Li Yun answered.

"You're out of your mind, Yun?" Long Wei interrupted, clearly skeptical. "You really think a ten-year-old can cover that distance? It's like expecting a tadpole to climb a waterfall!"

"It's the only place I can rely on," Li Yun replied flatly, his face showing no emotion. "I have no one left but my aunt. I'll stay there for a while to build up my strength. When the time comes, I'll be strong enough to avenge my family."

"Yun, this might sound harsh, but you're just a ten-year-old kid out here in the middle of an endless desert with no cultivation foundation," Jiang Huo said gently, though his words were still sharp. "I'm sorry, but your meridians are broke."

Li Yun fell silent again. That statement was like an arrow that shattered all his hopes.

Jiang Huo's voice sounded again, "Can you find another option?"

"There's no other option," Li Yun suddenly replied. "I'll make it on my own." Li Yun was fully determined. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "Look, there's a horse!"

Li Yun pointed in a direction where a small black dot was slowly moving in the middle of the sandy valley.

"If I can catch that horse, I'll have a better chance of reaching Green Jade Village faster," said Li Yun.

Carefully, Li Yun began to cross the barren sandy valley toward the horse. The strong wind and swirling sand obscured his vision. After some time, Li Yun got closer to the horse. He saw that it was a stallion with jet-black fur.

"This horse looks healthy and strong," Li Yun murmured, pleased with his find.

Cautiously, Li Yun approached the horse with gentle steps. He was struck by its beauty, realizing it wasn't as wild as he'd imagined. Maybe it belonged to a soldier who had fallen in the battle at the Southern Iron Wall.

Li Yun spoke softly to the horse, stroking it tenderly to calm any worry or fear. It didn't take long for the horse to relax and get used to his presence. He moved closer and gently caressed the horse's cheek.

"You're as black as the night and as light on your feet as a cloud. I'll call you... Smoke!" Li Yun said hopefully, coming up with a name. "Smoke, take me to Green Jade Village."

***

As the sun blazed high in the sky, Li Yun and Smoke were sprawled out, exhausted, in the middle of the barren desert. Smoke, the strong stallion, was panting heavily, while Li Yun looked drained from days of travel, suffering from dehydration and sheer fatigue.

"We're almost there," he said weakly to Smoke. "We'll find some water and rest before we keep going."

Using the last of his strength, Li Yun urged his horse toward a potential water source. They trudged slowly across the searing, barren sand.

"Yun," Jiang Huo's voice called out. "Head a bit northeast. There's an oasis that way."

Li Yun couldn't help but wonder, "How do you know that, Master?"

"Let's just say I can smell the wind," Jiang Huo replied briefly.

Li Yun didn't want to question the advice of a master from the Eastern Continent, renowned for having the continent's strongest cultivators, so he quickly urged his horse toward the northeast.

Sure enough, Jiang Huo was right. After just a few hours of travel, they reached a small oasis tucked away among rocky cliffs in the middle of the desert.

Li Yun was sure this oasis had never been charted by Southern Iron Wall explorers. It made sense; its location was incredibly hidden and seemed almost absurd. Concealed by rocky hills and nestled in a deep crevice with a narrow entrance, you'd need the ability to fly to discover it.

Still, Li Yun felt a wave of relief and immediately dismounted Smoke.

"Finally, we've found water," he said, his voice choked as he struggled to hold back his emotions. "Master Jiang, thank you!"

Li Yun knelt by the lake's edge and buried his face in the water, drinking deeply to quench his thirst.

After killing his thirst, Li Yun grabbed a leather bottle from Smoke's saddlebag and filled it with lake water.

Li Yun spent two days at the oasis, regaining his strength and clearing his mind. Once he felt both himself and Smoke were back to full strength, he reluctantly mounted his horse again and headed for Green Jade Village.

The journey to Green Jade Village would be Li Yun's first real test on his path of cultivation. Both Jiang Huo and Long Wei agreed to stay mostly quiet, stepping in only when absolutely necessary.

"This boy has a will stronger than his ancestral fortress," Jiang Huo said to Long Wei.

"A strong will alone isn't enough for cultivation. As long as his meridians are damaged, he's no better than trash," Long Wei replied bitterly. "You need to fix it as soon as you can, Jiang."