Western Desert.
Gusts of wind whipped across the barren landscape, sending great plumes of yellow sand rolling across the dunes. A camel caravan trudged wearily through the desolate wilderness.
"Oh heavens, we're finally about to reach Sand Wolf City." Peng Da's face was haggard with exhaustion as he let out a weary sigh from atop his camel.
Seated on a nearby camel, Gu Master Mo Li glanced over at him and teased, "Kid, that's quite a different tune from when we first set out."
Peng Da felt his face flush slightly. Back when Mo Li had first organized the caravan, he had been brimming with excitement, convinced that adventure awaited at every turn.
But after several trade runs, Peng Da had thoroughly awakened from his former naivety. In this world, caravan trade was not merely difficult—it was perilous, grueling, and utterly draining. One moment's inattention could cost you your life in the merciless expanse of the desert.
Still, Peng Da's sentiments resonated with the other Gu Masters in the caravan.
"Truly, we're heading home again."
"This run wasn't dangerous, but it wore me out all the same. Once we're back, I'm taking a long bath."
"I can already taste the ale at the tavern—hahaha!"
Mo Li smiled faintly. He was thinking of his wife, and of his son, who had changed so dramatically of late. The boy had been selected for special cultivation, a prodigal son returned at last—a redemption more precious than gold.
All of it filled Mo Li with fresh hope and new motivation for life. No matter how arduous the caravan journey, he could find joy in it.
"Wait—something's wrong!" A Gu Master stationed at the front of the caravan suddenly shouted a warning.
Peng Da tensed immediately, though confusion flickered through his mind as well. By all rights, this area was near Sand Wolf City—there shouldn't be any danger here. So why the sudden alarm?
Mo Li instantly activated his scouting Gu Insect. His body went rigid for a split second before he bellowed, "Something's off! Everyone—full speed ahead!"
Peng Da and the others didn't understand the reason, but seeing Mo Li spur forward without hesitation, they trusted their caravan leader and hurried to keep up.
As they drew closer to Sand Wolf City, they no longer even needed their Gu Insect to detect something amiss.
Several columns of thick grey smoke rose lazily into the sky. Fires and the stench of burning hung in the air, all coming from the direction of Sand Wolf City.
A profound sense of dread surged through every member of the caravan, and their pace quickened by another three parts.
At last, they arrived at the city gates.
"This can't be real!"
"What on earth happened?!"
"Heavens—this must be a dream. It has to be a dream."
Some of the caravan members collapsed to their knees in the sand. Others broke down in wailing sobs. Even the always-composed Mo Li stood frozen in place.
Peng Da's eyes went wide, unable to believe the sight before him.
The once-thriving Sand Wolf City had been reduced to rubble. Corpses lay everywhere. Crumbling walls, burning fires, rising smoke—the scene was beyond horrific.
Mo Li murmured something under his breath, then suddenly bolted toward the city as though struck by lightning.
His movement jolted many others back to their senses. The Gu Masters scattered, sprinting toward their homes.
Peng Da had no home to return to. He urged his camel forward and hurried after Uncle Mo Li.
Mo Li moved with desperate speed, his heart burning with anxiety, and quickly left Peng Da far behind. Fortunately, Peng Da had visited Sand Wolf City several times before and knew the layout well enough to guess where Uncle Mo Li's house would be.
When Peng Da arrived at Mo Li's home, he found only ruins. And there was Mo Li, kneeling amid the rubble, staring silently at the corpse of his wife he had just finished digging out—his entire body as still and hard as iron.
From that silence, Peng Da felt a grief as vast as mountains and oceans.
"How… how could this happen? What on earth took place here?" Between his sorrow, bewilderment gnawed at Peng Da.
In his eyes, Sand Wolf City had been an enormous settlement, garrisoned by countless Gu Masters—and yet it had been annihilated, turned into a city of the dead!
What kind of force could possibly destroy Sand Wolf City?
Had it been a qi tide natural disaster?
The traces left behind bore no resemblance to one.
"This world is truly far too dangerous. People can't be sure they'll see tomorrow, and even Gu Masters are no exception. There is nowhere that is truly safe." Peng Da felt his own insignificance pressing down on him with growing weight.
He looked at Mo Li, kneeling on the ground like a stone statue, and after several attempts to speak, finally managed: "Uncle, you have to pull yourself together. Don't forget—you still have your son."
Those words sent a tremor through Mo Li, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in his eyes.
"Peng Da—thank you for reminding me! My son is still in the inner district! He's a Gu Immortal seed, being given priority cultivation—surely he's fine! He must be well protected! We need to find him quickly!"
Mo Li took his wife's corpse, and together with Peng Da, rushed to the inner district.
The entire inner district had been transformed into one enormous crater.
The inner district—was gone.
Several caravan members stood at the edge of the crater, staring blankly.
Mo Li approached them, gazing at the massive pit before him. His lips trembled ceaselessly, his face deathly pale, unable to utter a single word.
Peng Da drew a sharp breath inward. He could see it now—this crater was nothing other than the footprint of some enormous beast. A print this size meant the creature's body was so colossal it defied imagination!
"This wasn't done by humans."
"A beast calamity!"
"A beast as massive as a mountain attacked Sand Wolf City and killed everyone!"
The caravan members pieced it together, and their voices gradually broke into sobs.
Mo Li sank into a deathly silence, leaving Peng Da with no way to offer comfort. Uncle Mo Li had once possessed such a beautiful family, and now, in an instant, it was all gone—leaving only himself behind.
Fate had been so cruel to Mo Li, and to every surviving member of the caravan!