In Panjiayuan, the first thing they did was trick Lao Hu into going tomb raiding.

Su Mo was soaking wet, but no one looked down on him; they all looked at him with reverence, as if he were a god.

"Fatty, get me a clean set of clothes..."

Seeing everyone standing still, Su Mo said irritably, "Let's go. This isn't a good place. Those insects inside the Nine-Story Demon Tower are still alive!"

The group snapped out of their daze, packed their belongings, and returned the way they came.

.........

Not long after the group arrived, a blizzard struck, completely burying the huge crack and the Nine-Story Demon Tower beneath it.

Looking at the boundless white snowfield, everyone felt as if they had been transported to another world.

"Pity…"

Professor Chen looked helpless. "The Nine-Story Demon Tower, which should have shocked the archaeological world, will unexpectedly remain forever asleep in these snow-capped mountains..."

Su Mo comforted him, saying, "As long as you're alive, there's hope. There might be something even more precious in the Nine-Story Demon Tower ahead!"

Professor Chen smiled awkwardly, realizing he wasn't as open-minded as this young man. "Comrade Su, thank you so much this time!"

Su Mo said softly, "It's nothing, just a small favor!"

After witnessing Su Mo's skills, the members of the archaeological team no longer dared to contradict Su Mo's instructions, addressing him as "Team Leader Su" in a very sweet tone.

The team is also much easier to manage than before.

"The Kunlun Glacier is over, and I've obtained clues about the ancient city of Jingjue!"

Holding up the notebook she'd brought out from the Nine-Story Demon Tower, Shirley Yang addressed the group, "After a few days of rest, we're heading to the desert to search for the whereabouts of the Jingjue Ancient City!"

"it is good!"

Everyone nodded excitedly.

After a short rest of a few days, the archaeological team, with the help of the local garrison, boarded a green train and officially set off for the vast desert.

.........

The trip to the Kunlun Glacier was exhausting for everyone, and they all fell into a deep sleep as soon as they boarded the train.

"I made a lot of money this time..."

Looking at the dozens of antiques in the system space, Su Mo smiled broadly.

The burial goods in both coffins dated back to before the Shang and Zhou dynasties and were worth a fortune.

Compared to the value of these antiques, Sydney Yang's tens of thousands of US dollars are almost negligible.

The sleeper car door was suddenly pushed open, and Shirley Yang walked in with a map. "Su Mo, we've obtained the route map for the ancient city of Jingjue..."

"After getting off the train, we set off from Bosten Lake and headed south in search of the ancient Peacock River channel..."

"We have officially entered the depths of the desert via the ancient river channel!"

"Explore as you go; there are bound to be more ruins of the ancient city of Jingjue along the way!"

After saying that, Sherry Yang looked at Su Mo and said, "My suggestion is that we don't make any further adjustments after we get off the train, and we should just set off!"

"American girl, don't go too far..."

Upon hearing Sherry Yang's suggestion, the fat man became somewhat angry, "Are you a capitalist? Don't you even have time to rest?"

"Let me tell you, Fatty, the land beneath your feet is red! We working people are the masters here! We don't believe your nonsense..."

"..."

The fat guy, who was full of lewd talk, left Sherry Yang speechless again.

"Alright, alright... Fatty!"

Su Mo spoke up, easing the tension. "It's not surprising Miss Yang would do this. These past few days, Lao Hu and I have been observing the celestial phenomena, and we've discovered that the desert's windy season is approaching. If we don't leave now, we'll have to wait until next year to enter the desert again..."

"Miss Yang!"

Su Mo looked directly at Shirley Yang. "I can accept any of your suggestions, but as I just said, the desert's windy season is coming soon, so we'd better find a local guide..."

"it is good!"

Sherry Yang nodded slightly. "I've noted this down..."

After saying goodbye to the three of them, Shirley Yang walked out of the carriage.

The train traveled smoothly towards the desert town in silence.

.........

A few days later, the archaeological team arrived at their destination, where they were greeted by several local staff members.

"I never imagined that such a desolate place like ours would attract a high-ranking leader from Yanjing to conduct archaeological research here. I, Zhao, am truly honored!"

The town leaders personally received the archaeological team. "The higher-ups have already spoken to you, Professor Chen. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask!"

Su Mo said bluntly, "Boss, when we go into the desert, could you arrange a local guide, the kind who's a walking map?"

A local guide? A living map?

The town leader frowned, pondered for a moment, and then thought of someone. "I do know someone named Anliman, but right now..."

Professor Chen pushed up his glasses. "Just what? Is there a problem?"

The town leader chuckled, "But Anliman has already been detained at the police station for some minor offense..."

"Row!"

Without asking for further details, Su Mo simply said, "Anliman, that's him."

.........

Two hours later, Su Mo, Hu Bayi, and Fatty brought An Liman out of the prison.

The fat man stared at Anliman, looking him up and down.

Anliman, somewhat displeased, asked, "My friend, what are you looking at?"

The fat man chuckled, "You abandoned a few foreigners in the desert the other day because you couldn't agree on a price? Old man, you're really wicked..."

"oops…"

Anliman waved his hand, "Don't listen to the police's nonsense inside. Those foreigners broke their promise; they wanted to break their word on the money they promised me, so I threw them into the desert..."

“My friend…”

Anliman touched the 5000 yuan in his pocket, his face crinkling into a smile. "You have to believe me. I, Anliman, am a good person, a really good person!"

"..."

The fat man's lips twitched, and he remained silent for a moment.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Danger Lurks Everywhere in the Desert

a few days later.

A team of a dozen people braved the scorching sun and officially set foot in the desert.

With Anliman, a living desert map, along with water, food, and other emergency supplies, Su Mo was well prepared.

Therefore, the archaeological team did not encounter any major setbacks after entering the desert.

However, the journey was also very tedious. By the third day in the desert, everyone was covered in dust and dirt, and had lost the spirit they had on the first day.

"Pause!"

That day, Anliman, who was at the front of the group, suddenly stopped, lay down on the desert ground, and seemed to be listening. After a while, he suddenly stood up and kept muttering words that no one could understand.

The fat man approached Su Mo and whispered, "Brother Su, is this guy some kind of con artist?"

Su Mo raised an eyebrow and quickly went to An Liman's side. "Grandpa, is it going to get windy?"

Anliman pointed to the red clouds ahead, "My friend, you're right! The clouds in the sky look like they're bleeding. This desert is about to roar again. The wind is rising, a very strong wind!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo quickly said to the archaeological team, "Everyone get on the camels! Old Hu, you bring up the rear, and Fatty, you're in the middle!"

Although Anliman was an old man, he stood up quickly and moved with remarkable agility upon learning that a wind was about to rise. "Let's go!"

"The desert is a monster that eats people; it doesn't spit out bones..."

After saying that, Anliman rode his camel quickly forward.

Su Mo gestured for everyone to follow closely behind.

But not long after, a sandstorm suddenly appeared ahead, blotting out the sun and turning the entire sky gray.

"Cough cough cough..."

The wind was getting stronger and stronger, and breathing became rapid. Several elderly intellectuals in the group, including Professor Chen, were struggling to keep up and were panting heavily.

"No, this can't go on!"

Su Mo began to gaze into the distance with his golden eyes and discovered that there was a ruin in his line of sight.

"Everyone, follow me!"

Su Mo shouted in a strained voice, "There's a ruin ahead, let's go there to take shelter from the black storm for now..."

Su Mo's strength had already been proven in the Kunlun Glacier, so the group did not hesitate at all. They mustered their spirits and rode their camels to follow behind Su Mo.

Soon, the archaeological team arrived at the ruins.

Su Mo glanced around and discovered that the so-called entrance to the ruins was just a cave.

The black storm was getting closer and closer to them. Su Mo didn't have time to think, so he had no choice but to try anything. He turned to the group and shouted, "Put the camels down, everyone get into the burrows!"

After saying that, Su Mo took the lead and went inside, with An Liman and the others following closely behind.

The cave was a narrow space, but fortunately it could accommodate everyone. They squeezed together and began to pray that the sandstorm would pass soon.

Su Moqing counted the number of people and, seeing that no one was missing, he sat down on the spot.

"Miss Yang, Miss Ye Yixin, please take care of Professor Chen's health..."

Su Mo said solemnly, "Men, cheer up! Let's work hard tonight, we'll take turns on duty!"

"it is good!"

Having just escaped with their lives, the group had no objections to Su Mo's arrangements.