BTTH : Emperor Yang

"Brother Yang, what's wrong?" Ye Xian'er asked upon noticing Wei Yang frowning.

"This scroll is a bit strange." Wei Yang chuckled lightly.

Turning his gaze toward the somewhat anxious female mercenary, Ai Ni, he said, "I'm interested in this Black Iron Scroll. What do you want in exchange?"

Hearing this, Ai Ni's face instantly lit up with joy. She hurriedly replied, "My lord, as long as you like it, that's all that matters. As for… I'll leave it to your judgment..."

She was cautious, not daring to push her luck by making demands. She simply left the decision to him.

After all, in her eyes, a powerhouse like Wei Yang could casually toss out something from between his fingers that would already be a priceless treasure for her.

Wei Yang gave her a surprised look. "You're quite interesting."

Indeed, surviving in an environment like this, especially as a woman who had risen to lead a mercenary group, was no small feat.

After storing the Black Iron Scroll away, Wei Yang pondered for a moment before taking out the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques he had obtained from Mu She. Handing them to her, he said, "See if these are enough."

Ai Ni's eyes lit up as she carefully and respectfully accepted the items. Upon inspecting them, her heart pounded with excitement.

Wind Blade Dance – Low-Level Xuan-Grade dou technique.

Phoenix Soaring Steps – Low-Level Xuan-Grade movement technique.

Wind Dance Art – Low-Level Xuan-Grade cultivation method.

Gale Thrust – High-Level Huang-Grade dou technique.

Her heart surged with joy. Three Low-Level Xuan-Grade techniques! A complete set of cultivation method, movement technique, and Dou technique—perfectly matched.

Although she felt a little regret that they were all wind attribute, which didn't align with her own earth attribute, she could still trade or sell them for something more suitable.

These four techniques alone were worth at least one hundred thousand gold coins!

"Is this enough?" Wei Yang raised an eyebrow as he noticed her barely concealed excitement.

The surrounding mercenaries also perked up, quietly eavesdropping with anticipation.

Ai Ni quickly steadied herself, took a deep breath, and respectfully replied, "It's more than enough. Thank you, my lord."

"As long as you're satisfied." Wei Yang nodded, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

He was quite pleased as well.

This Black Iron Scroll was clearly something extraordinary. Although he wasn't sure exactly what it was or what purpose it served, he was certain it wasn't ordinary.

Trading away techniques that were useless to him for something potentially invaluable—this was an absolute win.

It was practically a free deal.

Meanwhile, Ai Ni had also gained something far beyond her expectations.

Both parties got what they wanted, leaving everyone happy.

On the horizon, the silhouette of a city gradually came into view.

As they drew closer, the towering city walls became visible, their massive structure exuding a sense of fortitude and resilience.

This city, standing tall in the middle of the desert and serving as the frontline border near the Snake-People Tribe, was naturally quite different from the inner regions of the empire.

It carried an air of solemnity and grandeur, filled with a sense of iron-blooded determination and unwavering strength.

"My lord, up ahead is Rock Desert City," Ai Ni said respectfully.

"Mm."

Wei Yang nodded and took Ye Xian'er's hand, stepping away from the mercenary group.

Despite his seemingly slow pace, each step he took covered dozens of meters.

As Ai Ni and the mercenaries watched with a mix of admiration and regret, Wei Yang and Ye Xian'er quickly arrived at the city gates. After paying the entrance fee, they followed the flow of people and entered the city.

It was only when the two completely vanished into the city streets that the mercenaries finally reluctantly withdrew their gazes.

Ai Ni let out a soft sigh, her heart filled with admiration for the ethereal beauty that was Ye Xian'er.

But admiration was all it was.

She understood well that they belonged to completely different worlds.

Though Ye Xian'er appeared delicate and fragile, seemingly without any sense of threat, how could a girl who followed such a powerful young lord possibly be simple?

"Boss," one of the mercenaries called, the excitement in his eyes mirroring that of the others.

Seeing her companions' eager expressions, Ai Ni's delicate face broke into a smile.

"Brothers, not only have we returned safely this time, but we've also gained a great fortune!"

"Yeah!" The mercenaries cheered in excitement upon hearing Ai Ni's words.

A smile lingered at the corners of Ai Ni's lips as she fought back the thrill in her heart.

"With the rewards from this trip, once I fully absorb them, I'll finally become a Dou Shi!" she thought to herself.

As a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, she was nothing special in Rock Desert City, essentially part of the lowest tier.

But once she advanced to Dou Shi, things would change—she would finally be considered a true expert in the city. No longer would she have to constantly look up to others or live at the mercy of more powerful mercenaries.

The thought filled her with excitement, and she couldn't help but wave her hand impatiently.

"Let's go! We'll talk more once we're back!"

With that, she twisted her slender, flexible waist, her long, straight legs striding forward as she took the lead.

"Move out!"

"Back to base!"

"Haha!"

Laughter and chatter erupted behind her as the mercenaries followed enthusiastically.

Wei Yang held Ye Xian'er's hand as they leisurely strolled through the streets of Rock Desert City, occasionally feeling the bold gazes from the desert women around them.

Those fiery stares were brazen, passionate, uninhibited, and even a little wild.

Of course, there were also plenty of resentful and jealous looks from the men, accompanied by the occasional cold snort of dissatisfaction.

Wei Yang, however, remained unfazed. His expression was indifferent as he led Ye Xian'er—who was curiously looking around—through the streets.

Still, he couldn't help but marvel at how bold and uninhibited the women in the desert were.

But it was understandable.

At just seventeen years old, Wei Yang was already nearly 1.8 meters tall. Dressed in a black robe embroidered with golden cloud patterns, his long, jet-black hair was tied back with a jade hair clasp. His tall and well-proportioned figure, fair skin, and handsome features, combined with an indescribable aura, made him stand out.

In this desert city, where most men were rough and rugged, his presence was as striking as gold amidst sand, naturally drawing attention.

Of course, it wasn't just Wei Yang who attracted gazes.

Beside him, Ye Xian'er was drawing just as many—if not more—fiery stares.

Dressed in a simple white dress, she was like a pure white lotus blooming amidst the vast desert sands—how could she not turn heads?

The intense scrutiny made Ye Xian'er frown slightly. She felt uncomfortable under those burning gazes.

Wei Yang could do nothing about it, so he simply sighed helplessly and quickened his pace, pulling her along.

Soon, they found a rather decent-looking inn ahead and stepped inside.

After booking a top-tier room and having hot water prepared, they both washed up thoroughly, cleansing away the dust from their journey.

That night, Wei Yang meditated briefly before going to bed early.

After all, they had flown nonstop for seven days from Wu Tan City, then spent half a day trekking through the desert—even he was feeling a bit mentally drained.

Especially after expending a considerable amount of soul power earlier due to the Black Iron Scroll, he felt the exhaustion weighing on him.

Still, deep down, he had a strong intuition—that mysterious scroll might just be another great opportunity.

He wasn't strong enough to unravel its secrets yet, but one day, it could bring him an unimaginable surprise.

This was a feeling that arose instinctively within him.

At dawn, the two followed the directions they had gathered and arrived at a shop called "Ancient Maps."

Standing before the store, Wei Yang curiously examined its simple and unassuming exterior.

Unlike other stores that advertised aggressively, this place appeared plain at first glance.

Yet, beneath that simplicity, there was an undeniable air of antiquity.

This was the hidden residence of the renowned investor—the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong.

A seasoned Dou Huang, he was much like the legendary investor Zhuge Tao from Swallowing Star.

Unfortunately, Wei Yang wasn't an alchemist, so there was no chance of forming any ties with the old powerhouse.

However, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map in his hands...

Now that was something he truly coveted.

If only he could just throw a sack over the old man's head and rob him blind…

"Ancient Maps? This shop has such a strange name," Ye Xian'er commented.

"Come on, let's head in and buy a detailed map of the desert," Wei Yang said with a smile.

"Mm!"

With that, the two stepped into the shop.