A silver-haired uncle in old, reddish-brown clothes, with a touch of madness about him, looked at Ming Zhi Tian with curiosity. Beside him was a pale, slender youth, who was, in fact, chained by the neck.
Ming Zhi Tian did not answer him but instead asked, "Senior, could you tell me where we are in the Celestial Sphere?"
The mad uncle tugged slightly on the chain, pulling the pale youth along.
With a sinister smile, the mad uncle said, "An outsider? Haha!"
Before Ming Zhi Tian could react, the mad uncle threw a chain! Aiming to ensnare his neck!
Ming Zhi Tian could only punch out! Striking the chain!
The two clashed, and the mad uncle exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? Late Beidou stage? Not bad, much better than those brats before, but… it looks like you're badly injured."
He threw another chain. This time, Ming Zhi Tian couldn't dodge. It was too fast, and he was directly choked.
"Ugh...!"
Ming Zhi Tian couldn't break free. The mad uncle burst into laughter, "With your current strength, you can't break this. Just be my medicine man obediently."
Ming Zhi Tian fell to one knee helplessly, "We have no past grievances. Let me go, and I will surely repay you."
The mad uncle laughed heartily, "Let you go? I've caught almost all the youths nearby. It's hard to find one, no, no, no, it's not worth it." He shook his head.
Ming Zhi Tian grew anxious, "Senior, I have something important to do. If you let me go, consider it making a friend."
The mad uncle let out a laugh, "Impossible."
Being at someone else's mercy was what Ming Zhi Tian hated most. He lost his patience, "Let me go, and I'll pretend this never happened. Otherwise..."
The mad uncle picked at his ear, "Otherwise, what?"
Ming Zhi Tian's expression turned cold, "When I recover, I will surely make you regret it."
The mad uncle snorted! Then he yanked the chain fiercely, "Come here!"
Ming Zhi Tian felt as if his neck was about to snap. He was pulled along uncontrollably.
The mad uncle grabbed him. Ming Zhi Tian counterattacked with a punch and a kick, but he was swiftly sent flying. Then, he received a punch to the abdomen, coughed up blood, and lay still.
The mad uncle squeezed Ming Zhi Tian's arms and legs, his eyes then lit up! "Hmm, good, good. A rare martial arts prodigy with an extraordinary physique, a once-in-a-century encounter, a once-in-a-century encounter!"
"Kid, let's go."
He pulled Ming Zhi Tian and the pale youth along, humming a tune as they walked.
The pale youth cautiously approached Ming Zhi Tian, his expressionless face speaking, "My name is Ao Zi Hua. I was once from a prominent family, but unfortunately, I offended an enemy and my clan was wiped out overnight. He is the mad old man Xie Yang..."
"Hmm?" Sensing someone speaking about him, the mad old man turned his head. Ao Zi Hua, startled, quickly lowered his gaze.
Seeing that there was no issue, the mad old man continued forward. Ao Zi Hua cautiously approached Ming Zhi Tian again, kindly warning, "He is going to find medicinal ingredients. Once he collects them, he will make us into medicine men. You must recover from your injuries and find an opportunity to escape."
Ming Zhi Tian nodded, "I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Ming Zhi Tian. I am from Bieyang City. Zi Hua, is your pale skin hereditary from your family?"
Ao Zi Hua sighed, glanced at the mad old man, and said, "Alas, don't mention it. I've already consumed many of the poisons he refined. My blood is almost drained by the medicine. They are like leeches, wriggling all over my body."
Ming Zhi Tian couldn't help but shiver, "You've had it tough."
"Where is this place? What direction is it in the Celestial Sphere?"
Ao Zi Hua glanced at him, "Why would you leave Bieyang City, the capital, to come here?"
Ming Zhi Tian expressed helplessness, "Lost, drifted to this continent."
It was indeed easy to get lost here. Ao Zi Hua understood, "This is the Northern Desert, located at the edge of the Celestial Sphere's periphery. Ordinary people can't find this place."
Ming Zhi Tian mused, "Edge of the periphery? That means it's very, very far away?"