Eternal life begins with saving my clan

It had been two days since the defeat of the Necoris Army, and the people of Dongping City had accepted the horrifying existence among them.

Now, their shock and disbelief had turned to pride. Previously, they were the weakest city in the region, where any outsider could rule over them.

Moreover, the Boiling Desert had been a nightmare for them, but now, it had become a treasure trove, and the dreadful Necoris meant nothing to their knights in shining armor.

That's right, they had begun to regard the knights as their city's own since the Celestial Heavenly Store was stationed in Dongping City.

Additionally, more people decided to join the Knight Guild. With such power, why would they need to fear anyone?

The city had been on lockdown, but today they were free to leave and explore the Boiling Desert as long as they had the Boiling Desert Compass.

Many were confused about the compulsory compass, but their trust in the store made everyone obey the command.

Adventurers flocked in with the city gates open, rushing to complete as many missions as possible.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

While Dongping City brimmed with pride and confidence, the outside world was in turmoil.

None of the spies sent by powerful factions from other cities had returned, causing rising tension.

What could have delayed their men?

Could they have perished in Dongping City?

Perhaps the rumors about Dongping City defeating one hundred thousand Necoris soldiers were true?

With each passing hour, doubt grew.

Without hesitation, another group was dispatched to verify what was happening in the Dongping City area.

The desolate Boiling Desert became a hotspot of activity, teeming with powerful martial artists. The weakest among them was a First-Rated Martial Artist.

This time, the new arrivals did not rush into the Boiling Desert. Some paused in front of the strange-looking pagoda that had suddenly appeared in the middle of the road.

The appearance of the pagoda confused many, but they did not overthink it, focusing on their mission.

With half of the group entering the Boiling Desert—more accurately, the Bewildering Formation—the others waited in anticipation.

Nothing seemed amiss inside the Boiling Desert, and they continued confidently forward.

But ten minutes later, their confidence evaporated as they scrambled to escape the raging, boiling magma that surged toward them.

"What is this?!"

"Is this magma sentient? Why is it chasing us?"

"Damn it! We're lost!"

"Idiot! Just run!"

The group scattered like headless chickens, fleeing for their lives. They realized Boiling Desert was not as simple as they had thought.

"Aaah!"

A miserable scream echoed as a middle-aged man fell into the boiling magma.

"Stop!"

The group halted, their faces covered in fear, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. They turned to the man who had told them to stop.

"What do you see?"

The man did not respond for a moment, his eyes scanning their surroundings.

"We're not on flat ground," he said gravely. "We're standing on a mountain."

"How could we be standing on a mountain?" someone retorted. "If we stay here any longer, the boiling magma will catch up to us."

"You can try to leave…"

"Fine, I'll leave."

The group watched as the man tried to escape. He only ran a few feet before falling into the boiling magma.

"Aaah! Help me!"

His miserable scream pierced the air, sending shivers down the spines of those on the mountaintop. Slowly, they moved toward where the man had fallen and noticed the mountain edge.

What had previously seemed like flat ground now revealed the perilous drop awaiting them if they continued running.

"What's going on? Can anyone explain this?"

No one answered. Their hearts pounded heavily against their chests. Even a fool could see that things were far more complicated than they had imagined.

The Boiling Desert was messing with their minds, and it scared them senseless.

"Should we retrace our steps?"

"Yes. Yes, that would be better."

Unfortunately, the moment they had entered the Bewildering Formation, their fate had been sealed. One by one, they perished in the terrifying boiling magma.

As for those waiting outside, after hours passed with no word from their companions, another group ventured into the desert, only to meet the same fate—death.

Gazing at the eerily calm Boiling Desert, the spies felt a cold shiver run down their spines. The desert was unnaturally quiet, and the hair on their bodies stood on end.

"This desert is cursed! Everyone who enters never returns," one man muttered, terrified.

"I can't stay here any longer. I need to report to my lord."

With the first person fleeing from the desert, the others followed. Without needing to be told, they knew the Boiling Desert was far from simple—perhaps it harbored a terrifying existence.

---

"Are you sure about what you're saying?" the Clear Wind City Lord asked, his face full of shock and doubt as he stared at the trembling man.

"Yes, my lord, no one who enters the desert comes out alive," the man reported, fear etched on his face. "Standing near the desert felt like standing before a terrifying beast."

The city lord and his butler exchanged glances, noting the man's trembling figure. His experience was too vivid to be faked.

Dismissing the man, the city lord tapped his chair thoughtfully.

"What do you think is happening?" he asked.

"My lord, Dongping City is harboring a powerful existence. Sending our men without understanding the situation is suicide," the experienced butler replied.

"Could this powerful being have been responsible for destroying the Necoris?"

"I'm not sure what to make of it, my lord. We should wait until we unravel the mystery of Dongping City before drawing any conclusions."

"You're right. Let's wait a few more days. News about the mystery of the Boiling Desert will spread soon enough."

---

Three days later, news of the terrifying Boiling Desert had spread throughout the Soaring Cloud Region, becoming known to everyone. Many who doubted the claims attempted to solve the mystery but never returned.

Over a thousand people ventured into the desert, yet none came back. They disappeared into the Boiling Desert, never to be seen again.

Rumors of a terrifying existence in the Boiling Desert quickly spread, making the desert even more feared throughout the Soaring Cloud Region.