“Where is this? Gan Jin’s body swayed slightly, the internal injuries flaring up again. He forced his eyes open, scanning his surroundings. The dry air held no hint of moisture; there was likely no water source nearby. However, the sand beneath his feet was not deep.

Gan Jin crouched down, sweeping away the blinding yellow sand with his hand to look at the ground underneath.

In a desert, sweeping away sand should only reveal more sand—that was the iron law of the desert! Gan Jin watched as the ground covered by sand seemed to disappear with ease, and he noticed several familiar substances mixed into the loamy earth beneath.

“Black Shajie Iron… it never buries itself deeply. It’s far more likely to be found within mountain rock formations,” Gan Jin frowned slightly, struggling to recall the mineralogy he’d learned from Uncle Black in the Endless World. If Black Shajie Iron were present on the surface, it would flow outward like a slow river, thinning the further one traveled.

Gan Jin moved another hundred meters and squatted again, only to find that beneath the sand he cleared was still only sand, and beneath that, still more sand.

“I’ve misjudged…” Gan Jin slowly lifted his gaze toward the horizon, obscured by the towering yellow haze behind him. “There should be a mountain over there. I just don't know if there are any caves on it, or what dangerous magical beasts might dwell there…”

Cekefulite caught Gan Jin as he swayed, suddenly losing consciousness. He looked toward the howling front where the sandstorm raged, then glanced at the other two beside him.

Was there really a mountain ahead? Duan Feng Buer’s doubtful eyes followed theirs. The thick curtain of sand had already swallowed all visibility; the only way to know if there was any sign of life was to push forward.

The dry, violent wind seemed perpetual. A stone mountain, perhaps three to five hundred meters high, flickered in and out of sight through the swirling dust.

Duan Feng Buer initially dismissed it as a common desert mirage. Only when he drew closer and touched the stone did he realize the massive mountain, composed of dark rock and buried under deep layers of sand, was truly there.

“He even knows about that?” Duan Feng Buer noticed the confusion in the other two’s eyes and cautiously took the lead.

The Ancient Desolate Sand Sea was a notorious place, always inextricably linked with death and mystery. After walking here for ten minutes, they hadn't encountered a single powerful magical beast, not even a Sand Rat.

This was utterly contrary to the legends of the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea! The academy textbooks on wilderness survival and exploration had taught that the calmer the situation, the more terrifying the hidden danger might be!

This area could be home to a high-level magical beast with fierce territorial instincts! Only a creature whose territoriality was so absolute could keep all other life forms away.

Go into the mountain? Or stay out?

Duan Feng Buer looked at the unconscious Gan Jin and realized they truly had no choice. Lingering in this gale would inevitably prove dangerous.

The true, powerful sandstorms of the Ancient Desolate Desert were rumored to be capable of scratching or even tearing apart the bodies of Saint-level experts.

This mountain had stood in the Ancient Desolate Desert for countless years. While its solidity compared to a Saint-level expert was unknown, the mountain itself had long since become part of the desert, thus impervious to the relentless cutting winds.

Where there is a mountain, there are usually caves—some large, some small, but always a few. Even this small hill in the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea, rich in iron ore, would have its caverns.

The cave entrance, over two meters high and one meter wide, was pitch black, offering no light. A faint, warm draft seeped out, yet it wasn't the scorching heat of the outer Ancient Desolate Sand Sea, but rather a warmth reminiscent of spring, though tinged with a slight dampness.

Cekefulite, still holding Gan Jin, looked questioningly at Duan Feng Buer, who shared his confusion. Warriors who had faced death often developed an unusual sixth sense for danger, but standing before this cave, he felt absolutely no threat emanating from within.

Could it be… because the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea was so saturated with danger everywhere else, that one’s senses became dulled to pinpoint the location of the actual threat? Fentou Kuangge frowned, surveying their surroundings.

“I’ll go in first,” Duan Feng Buer whispered, poised to unleash his bloodline power at any moment. He glanced at the unconscious Gan Jin and cautiously slipped into the cavern.

Whoosh… whoosh-whoosh… whoosh-whoosh-whoosh…

The wind of the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea still howled, its roar like a pack of wolves, while the colliding sand particles created a grating sound, as if countless stones were striking each other.

Gan Jin’s eyelids fluttered several times. He was waking up! Cannot sleep! The habits ingrained from the Endless World and the Four Seasons Valley began to reassert his consciousness after the brief blackout.

The Wind and Cloud Dou Qi within him began to circulate, bit by bit. The Dou Qi, usually easy to mobilize, now felt like a heavy millstone. It was as if some peculiar force had forcefully clamped down on the Dou Qi within his Acupoints, preventing smooth operation.

What was happening? Gan Jin’s eyelids trembled again. The Dou Qi in his Acupoints, which always roared freely like wild beasts, was now shackled as if bound by countless chains, making even the slightest movement agonizingly difficult.

Why? Gan Jin immersed his entire being within his one hundred and eight Dou Acupoints. Gan Zhanxuan’s strike had heavily damaged his body, but it hadn't directly impacted or destroyed the Acupoints and Meridians. So why did the Dou Qi inside the Acupoints feel locked away?

What was this situation? He had never encountered anything like this! Even if the Dou Meridians or Acupoints were damaged, it only required gathering medicinal herbs to synthesize a potion for a quick recovery. But now, the Meridians and Acupoints were unharmed, yet the Dou Qi was locked.

If it’s locked, then unlock it! Gan Jin steadied his breath, trying to direct the tiny fraction of Dou Qi that had escaped the chains. He found that trying to gather even those wisps was incredibly difficult.

These chains, which felt like solid locks, weren't just securing the Acupoints; they seemed to coil around the Dou Meridians like a giant serpent constricting cattle, tightly binding the paths where the Dou Qi once flowed steadily.

Sealed! Completely locked down!

This is… A flash of Gan Zhanxuan’s confident expression crossed Gan Jin’s mind, causing his heart to pound violently. In that instant, he understood why the patriarch of the Gan family was so assured that Gan Wuqing would win in two months’ time!

This situation had to be his doing! Injuring the Meridians and Acupoints is easily detectable, but locking the Acupoints directly—leaving him with the vast Dou Qi from the Demon Subduing War but unable to mobilize it for explosive power—what use was that Dou Qi then?

How did he manage this? Was it his Soul Domain? Gan Jin’s lips twitched several times. It shouldn’t be the power of a Soul Domain, right? So how was it done?

In just one minute, Gan Jin realized these chains locking his Acupoints and Meridians were spread like a spider’s web through every corner of his body. All his Dou Qi was like an insect caught in that web, struggling uselessly.

Iron Smith Breathing Technique! Gan Jin noticed that the Iron Smith Breathing Technique, which had automatically activated when absorbing the Dou Crystal, was not engaging again. To draw on that power, he needed to move his body, and his broken arm prevented any movement to initiate it.

Even if he could initiate it… Gan Jin speculated the effect wouldn’t be good. Ever since the Iron Smith Breathing Technique activated on its own, the power of the Dead Acupoints had maintained a state of non-interference, never crossing over into the living Dou Acupoints and Meridians.

Did he have to enter the Endless World to solve this? The Enlak Dou Qi Chamber? Gan Jin grimaced. That place only granted full access to questions after winning a battle. In his current physical and Dou Qi state, he stood no chance of winning, and Uncle Black had advised against entering the Enlak Dou Qi Chamber until he had mastered what he’d already learned.

How to break these chain-like blocks of Dou Qi? Gan Jin kept his eyes closed, his eyeballs darting around as he frantically considered possibilities. His attention was almost entirely focused on the central Acupoint in his chest. While all the others were locked, this one retained a faint spark of life.

However, this sliver of vitality was clearly insufficient to break through the bizarre Dou Qi shackles. Perhaps submerging himself in the strange lake of the Four Seasons Valley, utilizing its extreme heat, could melt these equally strange chains?

Whoosh… A sudden gale swept over the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea, carrying waves of heat and great sheets of yellow sand that struck Gan Jin’s face. The scorching airflow rushed into his body through his nostrils, instantly threatening to boil away every drop of moisture.

The heat flow of the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea was truly brutal! It nearly sucked all moisture out of one’s body! No wonder entering required being mentally prepared to become a mummy.

Gan Jin’s slightly furrowed brow suddenly twitched sharply. Sucking out moisture? If he buried himself in this even hotter sand, perhaps there was a chance? If not, he would become a dried husk?

Risk it all? Gan Jin opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings. The area appeared relatively safe for the moment. If he didn't try to fight now to break the strange locks on his Dou Qi, it would be too late when real danger struck!

“Let me down,” Gan Jin opened his eyes and looked at Cekefulite’s handsome face at close range. “I think I have some strength back in my legs.”

The Dou Realm stored a small supply of potions mixed outside the border, with a relatively generous stock of bone-setting agents. Under Fentou Kuangge’s admiring gaze, several unused splints and clean bandages were produced.

“Reading does have its benefits,” Gan Jin murmured, repeatedly admiring the various items in his hands. The Warrior’s Manual had explicitly detailed such things.

End of Chapter.