Ma Hongjun and Zhu Xiaofan continued walking in the desert.
"Don't worry, your two uncles are very strong; they should be able to protect themselves."
"I still need to find them."
Finding people in the desert is difficult, especially for Zhu Xiaofan's two uncles who don't know their location and have no experience surviving in the desert.
If those two hadn't been with Hadabatel, Ma Hongjun felt that even with their strength, they might not have survived.
According to Zhu Xiaofan, there are many Yellow Sand Salamanders in this area; the depths of the desert are almost entirely their territory.
Most Yellow Sand Salamanders evolve from thousand-year-old sand scorpions, and are generally over ten thousand years old.
Some have even seen Yellow Sand Salamanders of a hundred thousand years.
Therefore, this place is not safe.
Ma Hongjun wasn't sure if he could handle a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast, but with the Wind Dragon Wing Bone, he felt that even if he couldn't win, escaping shouldn't be a problem.
This was why he dared to bring Zhu Xiaofan along to search.
On the other hand, Ma Hongjun also wanted to hunt more Yellow Sand Salamanders.
By absorbing their soul rings, he could upgrade his sixth soul ring. As expected of the territory of the Yellow Sand Salamanders, Ma Hongjun and his companion encountered two lone Yellow Sand Salamanders
not far from the hill. Judging from their appearance, both had recently broken through to the ten-thousand-year level. Ma Hongjun easily subdued them, then left one barely alive and handed it to Zhu Xiaofan. "Absorb its spirit ring. I'll protect you. You helped me obtain my sixth spirit ring, so I'll help you with your fifth." Zhu Xiaofan didn't stand on ceremony, killing the Yellow Sand Salamander, summoning her martial spirit, sitting cross-legged, and beginning to absorb the spirit ring. After Zhu Xiaofan began absorbing, Ma Hongjun also killed the other Yellow Sand Salamander, absorbing its spirit ring in a short time. Absorbing a ten-thousand-year level spirit ring was now as easy as drinking water for Ma Hongjun. Zhu Xiaofan, however, found it much more difficult; the Yellow Sand Salamander's spirit ring was already her limit. She didn't finish absorbing it until evening. During this time, two more Yellow Sand Salamanders appeared, both of which Ma Hongjun dealt with. For the rest of the time, Ma Hongjun accompanied Zhu Xiaofan in their search, but they still hadn't found them. Instead, they encountered quite a few lone Yellow Sand Sharks. On the tenth day, their food and water were almost gone. "Let's go back. It's too difficult to find someone in this vast desert. Maybe they're already waiting for you at the group's rendezvous point," Ma Hongjun said, leading Zhu Xiaofan back to where the Soul Hunting Team had initially waited. If they didn't return soon, the team would retreat, and without supplies and camels, it would be difficult to leave the desert. When the two arrived at the rendezvous point, they joined the team. Hadabatel was already waiting there, but he was seriously injured. Fortunately, there were healing and detoxifying Soul Masters in the team who helped stabilize his injuries. However, Zhu Xiaofan's two uncles were not in the team. When asked, Hadabatel didn't know either. After being separated from the Yellow Sand Sharks that night, he hadn't gone in the same direction as the other two, but had run off alone. It seemed that the two might still be searching for Zhu Xiaofan, or they might have gotten lost in the desert. Now the team wasn't going to wait any longer; after they arrived, they would set off back. "Bringing you back safely is enough to repay your ten days of companionship, even if it left you parched. " "You... heartless?!" "I have other matters to attend to; I need to enter the desert, so farewell!" "What? You're going deeper into the desert?!" "Yes, I have other things to do. If I encounter your two uncles, I'll tell them you've returned safely." Ma Hongjun replenished the group's food and water, led a camel, and continued southward into the desert. They hadn't gone far when "Ma Hongjun!" Zhu Xiaofan shouted, then ran to Ma Hongjun and whispered in his ear, "I'm in Xingnan City. Remember to come find me!" She then gently tapped Ma Hongjun's cheek. The others in the group watched with envy. They didn't understand why Ma Hongjun wouldn't go back with Zhu Xiaofan for a comfortable life, but instead went alone into the depths of the desert. Was there a woman more beautiful than Zhu Xiaofan there? Ma Hongjun smiled faintly, mounted his camel, and continued onward. Sure enough, he had a bad habit—always leaving his mark. He's practically ravaged the entire Douluo Continent. This time, Ma Hongjun is heading south. Sand scorpions rarely come out during the day, which is why the desert nights are so dangerous.
However, the unfortunate situation of stopping to rest on the sand scorpion's nest on the first night didn't happen again.
Ma Hongjun encountered many more Yellow Sand Dragons and sand scorpion swarms, all of which he absorbed into his soul rings.
Five days later, Ma Hongjun met Zhu Xiaofan's uncle,
the Soul Saint named Uncle Kun .
Unexpectedly, he had run south.
At this time, Uncle Kun was in a sorry state, his hair disheveled and yellow, his lips cracked.
He was surprised and delighted to see Ma Hongjun.
"You're still alive!"
"Of course I'm alive," Ma Hongjun said irritably.
The other party probably thought that it was impossible for a level 40, three-ring Soul Venerable to survive in that situation.
"Quick, give me some water!"
Ma Hongjun tapped his jade belt, and a water bag appeared in his hand.
He handed it to Uncle Kun.
Uncle Kun quickly took it, uncorked it, and gulped down water.
"Phew~"
After drinking some water, Uncle Kun finally felt much better and handed the water bag to Ma Hongjun.
His gaze lingered on Ma Hongjun's jade belt for a few seconds.
Spatial soul tools were treasures in the Star Sand Kingdom, few possessed them.
"Keep this bag of water, drink it sparingly!"
Uncle Kun put away the water bag, his eyes returning to Ma Hongjun's belt.
Giving him this bag of water meant there must be plenty left in the belt.
"What about the other one? Weren't there two of you?"
"Dead!" Uncle Kun said dejectedly.
"My condolences!"
"How did you survive? Did you see my young lady?"
"Your young lady saved me. She's alright, she's already gone back with the group."
"Why didn't you go back?"
"I have other things to do!"
"How could a three-ring Soul Master like you survive in the desert?"
Uncle Kun hadn't known Ma Hongjun's strength before.
Ma Hongjun smiled slightly.
"I have my own way."
Uncle Kun still had many questions, but Ma Hongjun wasn't in the mood for idle chatter.
He pointed behind him, towards the north.
"Just go back this way. I have important business to attend to, so farewell."
Ma Hongjun mounted his camel and continued south.
Uncle Kun was taken aback; this kid was just leaving like that.
His face immediately darkened, and he said coldly,
"Hey, kid, this little bit of water isn't enough for me to get out of the desert."
Ma Hongjun continued riding his camel forward, calling back loudly.
"Then figure it out yourself. You're supposed to be a Soul Saint; if you don't have enough water, go drink the blood of a Soul Beast!"
Uncle Kun suddenly leaped into the air, appearing in front of Ma Hongjun. He
said with a sinister smile.
"But I want to drink water!"
(End of Chapter)