I rode my High Furnace Warhorse through the desolate wilderness of the desert, the swirling sand making me acutely aware that the speed of my ** warhorse had significantly decreased.

Fortunately, both my mount and I were encased in armor; the warhorse’s head covering possessed distinct wind and sand protection features, as did my own black iron helmet. Otherwise, neither I nor the warhorse would have been able to keep our eyes open!

Despite the protection, the pervasive sandstorm subjected my mount and me, along with the ** warhorse, to considerable hardship. The sky was completely obscured by a monotonous, scorching grey haze, making it impossible to navigate by the sun. A suffocating oppressiveness and heat made me feel as if my head was on the verge of boiling.

In my previous life, I had always yearned to witness the breathtaking spectacle of a long river setting against a vast desert backdrop—a scene of pure painted beauty. But now, truly immersed in this raging sandstorm, I understood that not all deserts match the alluring beauty depicted in cinematic landscapes.

It was a blessing that this intense wind and sand did not blow ceaselessly; otherwise, I truly suspected that both the horse and I would have been buried alive in the shifting dunes.

Even so, a thick layer of dust now coated both my armor and myself.

Clutching the magical directional instrument, I cautiously tried to ascertain our bearing while controlling the ** warhorse. Losing direction in this desert meant dire consequences; even with unparalleled abilities, one would inevitably die of thirst.

Honestly, at this moment, I regretted venturing into this massive desert alone so lightly. Although my Spatial Pouch contained ample provisions and water, facing the sheer, terrifying might of nature for the first time brought home the insignificance and fragility of humanity. Even as a Sky Demon Warrior—already considered a supreme powerhouse among men—I felt a profound reverence for nature.

However, I had no intention of turning back. Since I had taken the first step, I might as well see this through to the end!

Just as my thoughts began to drift, I suddenly caught a faint, urgent sound of hooves cutting through the wind and sand. As a Sky Demon Warrior, my heightened senses allowed me to easily discern that about a dozen fast horses were rapidly closing in on me. I was certain they had spotted me, as they were charging almost directly toward my position!

Could it be that the group I killed this morning had been discovered, drawing pursuit? I wondered, perplexed as to who would be so bold as to chase me with only a dozen riders! Based on the residual aura, I detected no powerful presence that caused me unease; after all, Sky Demon Warriors were not encountered every day.

Nevertheless, I instinctively placed my hand on the hilt of the Dragon Shadow Sword and activated my Body Guarding Battle Qi. Prudence was always the better part of valor.

With my Eye of Death in effect, I locked firmly onto the dozen rapidly approaching figures!

The riders seemed to sense my presence, as their horses’ pace noticeably slowed! They halted about thirty meters in front of me!

Through the swirling, dancing sand and wind, I could vaguely make out a dozen indistinct shapes!

“Esteemed warrior, we are not your enemies.” Although the surrounding noise was that of howling, indistinct sand, the voice reached my ears clearly. This person’s cultivation was not weak; at least a peak Red Moon level, I analyzed his strength in an instant. What puzzled me was the meaning behind his words!

“If you are not my enemies, why are you chasing me?” I retorted loudly, my voice equally robust.

“May we talk?” the leader called out. “I believe we share the same objective, because our enemy is the Demon Sealing Empire.”

“The same objective.” I felt a surge of curiosity, then reasoned that he might be speaking the truth. Otherwise, he wouldn't risk being killed by me to pursue me. The gap in power between a Sky Demon Warrior and a peak Red Moon practitioner was significant; with my current strength, I could eliminate him instantly. I doubted he was playing tricks.

“We can talk, but only you come forward.” Caution was still necessary. If this was some trap, I hardly believed my strength as a Sky Demon Warrior would falter!

Clip-clop!

With a series of heavy hoofbeats, one of the dozen riders ahead slowly approached me! He stopped about five meters before me, bringing his horse to a halt.

As he pulled down his thick cloak and head covering, a rugged face was revealed! He appeared to be in his early forties, with a dense beard like steel needles, a high nose, and hawk-like eyes. His hair and eyes were a striking azure blue. Perhaps due to the sandstorm, his features were lightly dusted with grey.

Although his entire body was tightly wrapped in a heavy cloak, I could still discern that his build was robust! Powerful and strong—he appeared to be a warrior.

Perhaps to signal his peaceful intent, he held both reins in his hands, allowing me to see his movements clearly, free from the worry of a sudden draw of a blade.

He, too, scrutinized me with a solemn expression.

I could feel his heartbeat quicken; clearly, his inner state was not as calm as his outward demeanor suggested!

Removing one’s helmet on the Mafa Continent signified a gesture of goodwill! Empty hands demonstrated a lack of hostile intent.

However, I made no move to remove my helmet, and my right hand remained firmly gripping the sword hilt, motionless! I simply observed him quietly.

“My name is Chi Long,” the knight before me continued. “I am the chieftain of the Blood Wolf Tribe of the Demon Sealing Continent.”

“Chi Long! The Blood Wolf Tribe.” I was slightly startled. I seemed to recall hearing that name somewhere before. Thinking back, it must have been during a military conference at the Quiet Heart Hall, mentioned by the leader of the Dove Group—one of the few rebel factions within the Demon Sealing Empire.

In an instant, I understood the situation!

“It seems you have heard of the Blood Wolf Tribe, Lord.” Chi Long remarked. “If I guess correctly, you are a Sky Demon Warrior from another continent.”

“That is correct.” I maintained a grave expression, cautiously sensing the auras around us while sizing up the man before me.

“Might I inquire as to your name?” Chi Long asked.

“Fire Radiance Sky Demon of the Demon Dragon Empire! Jiuyao Shenzhen!” I saw no reason to hide anything. Even if this man held ill intentions, it wouldn't matter much. Since he had shown sufficient sincerity, I didn’t mind revealing my name!

“Ah! Jiuyao Shenzhen.” Chi Long’s face went through a complex range of emotions, seemingly stunned. “The Demon Dragon Crown Prince, Jiuyao Shenzhen.” Chi Long murmured, then, as if a thought struck him, he trembled slightly, “Are you perhaps here to infiltrate the Demon Sealing Empire’s Imperial Palace to rescue your sister, Princess Shenyin?”

“No comment.” I continued, “Since you know my identity, state your purpose.” If this man truly was Chi Long, I had vaguely guessed his objective. However, I historically held little affection for people of the Demon Sealing Continent. If I hadn't constantly reminded myself that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, I would have already cleaved his head off with my sword.

My purpose in coming to the Demon Sealing Continent was simple: to kill, to continuously slaughter, and to sow terror. Therefore, my every word and action had to conform to the image of a demon. With this resolution set, I subconsciously amplified the killing intent in my heart: “You had better give me a suitable reason, or else…” I left the threat unspoken.

“Venerable Crown Prince,” Chi Long said respectfully, appearing to have regained his composure. “As is widely known, the Blood Wolf Tribe is one of the most oppressed minority groups on the Demon Sealing Continent. Both the Demon Sealing Imperial Family and other tribes wish to exterminate us. Therefore, in terms of standpoint, we share a common enemy. What does the Crown Prince think?”

“Hmph!” I gave an ambiguous reply. “Otherwise, your head would have already rolled off.”

“Indeed!” Chi Long seemed utterly unperturbed, wearing an expression of genuine acceptance. “Since we share a common enemy, why can we not join forces?”

“Cooperate.” I deliberated internally. It is said that a dragon cannot suppress a local snake; this was his territory. If he genuinely represented the Blood Wolf Tribe, cooperation seemed like a viable option—certainly better than fighting this war alone! Yet, I forcefully suppressed the secret delight bubbling within me and spoke with a cold front: “I, Jiuyao Shenzhen, prefer to operate alone. Furthermore, if we were to cooperate, your capabilities would only serve as a hindrance to me.”

“The Crown Prince may be correct,” Chi Long admitted with a look of dejection, yet he was unwilling to give up easily. “However, Your Highness is still only one person. Even if you are a Sky Demon Warrior, you cannot possibly defeat the numerous Sky Demon Warriors of the Demon Sealing Empire to rescue your sister, the Princess, and your younger brother, Prince Shenxu. But if you cooperate with us, there might be a sliver of hope for success.” To reinforce my stance, Chi Long added, “Although the Blood Wolf Tribe lacks Sky Demon Warriors, we possess the valiant Wolf Riders. The combat power of our regular formations is comparable to any of the Demon Sealing Empire’s Seven Great Legions. I believe this would be a significant aid to Your Highness.”

“Wolf Riders.” I recalled carefully. Jinyao Hong had indeed mentioned the Demon Sealing Empire’s cavalry when discussing them previously. Fifty years ago, the Demon Sealing Empire had the so-called Ten Great Legions, one of which was the dreaded Blood Wolf Legion. The Blood Wolf Knights were cavalry skilled in plains and forest warfare, mounted on massive Blood Wolves, hence the moniker Wolf Riders. The Blood Wolf was a unique, giant variant of the wolf native to the Demon Sealing Continent; its speed and stamina were in no way inferior to the High Furnace Warhorse. Even more valuable was the fact that mounting these wolves allowed them to adapt to any complex combat environment—forests, hills, plains, or deserts. They were an all-terrain military unit, though their sole weakness was poor load-bearing capacity, preventing them from wearing heavy defensive armor, thus categorizing them strictly as light cavalry!

Legend claimed the Blood Wolf Tribe descended from the Wolf God, naturally possessing the ability to communicate with giant wolves. Therefore, only people of the Blood Wolf Tribe could ride them. To verify if Chi Long’s identity was genuine, testing his ability to control a giant wolf would confirm it.

Furthermore, if his words were true, cooperation was vastly superior to my solitary fight, at least concerning the environment—they were far more familiar with it than I was.

“Perhaps you are right,” I conceded. “However, before that, I must confirm your identities.” As I spoke, I glanced unconsciously at his ** High Furnace Warhorse. If they were from the Blood Wolf Tribe, why ride High Furnace Warhorses?

“We are out on a mission,” Chi Long preempted my hesitation. “We had to use High Furnace Warhorses to maintain stealth. Your Highness, if you accompany us to the eastern end of the desert, you will see our tribe. Whether I speak the truth or not, you will know then.”

“Very well, I will trust you this once.” I said seriously. “Lead the way.”

Following Chi Long and his companions, we traveled steadily eastward. I knew this direction did not lead toward the heart of the Demon Dragon Continent!

Through Chi Long’s explanations, I learned the names and statuses of the dozen knights. To my surprise, every single one of these individuals possessed astonishing skills and cultivation, each proficient in various specialized techniques!

For instance, Chi Long, as the heir to the past chieftains of the Blood Wolf Tribe, possessed eyesight almost unimaginable to ordinary men—a special ability allowing him to see objects and scenes far beyond the reach of normal vision. This ability was called the Eye of the Heavenly Wolf.

Thanks to the Eye of the Heavenly Wolf, the Wolf Riders could always detect the appearance of enemies while surrounded by formidable foes on the Demon Sealing Continent, allowing them to take corresponding measures.

Another, a slender mage named Lan Bu, was skilled in Necromancy, assassination, ambush, disguise, and other obscure arts.

Then there was Lan Da, a Red Moon Daoist, who, in addition to mastering medicine, was also a top-tier hand in poisoning and assassination!

Another, Chi Nu, a warrior whose combat power perhaps even surpassed that of the chieftain Chi Long, specialized in archery. His custom-made great bow required immense fortitude and arm strength just to draw.

The others were no less gifted; some excelled in stealth and tracking, others in digging wells and tunnels. In short, the diverse and peculiar skills these people possessed were astonishing.

It seemed the Blood Wolf Tribe’s survival to this day, despite the oppression from so many powerful enemies within the Demon Sealing Empire, was no accident; judging by the varied strengths of these individuals alone, the Blood Wolf Tribe possessed a unique way of surviving.