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The current borders between humans and orcs are completely different from the easily traversable boundaries of a few years ago. The skies and the earth are filled with various warnings and defenses, so the only way for the two of them to enter the human world is through the teleportation array inside the "Styx Tower." However, although the Water Sage and Earth Sage left behind twelve teleportation arrays in the tower, hundreds of years of time erosion have damaged the spatial coordinates placed across the continent. Now, only three arrays are still usable. One is located in the north of the Orc Alliance, one in the east of the Mainland, and the last one, which Chen Xuanfeng initially used to exit the "Styx Tower" after entering it, is located in the northwest of the central desert of the Mainland. This exit was also the entrance Jin Luosha chose when she fled the Radiant Temple.

Using the hidden teleportation array in the Orc Alliance's northern territory to enter the Styx Tower and then emerging in the desert, this kind of ultra-long-distance spatial teleportation magic, which doesn’t require the support of a large number of mages' magic power, belongs only to the dreamlike magical era when the Twelve Sages were active. Even if all human mages were gathered today, it would be impossible to recreate such a miracle. Therefore, Chen Xuanfeng was not worried about anyone tracing their origins. Upon stepping out of the teleportation array, he immediately summoned the "Ghost Wolf" Ice Wind but chose not to head north towards Saint Spirit Mountain. Instead, they traveled eastward, aiming directly for the capital of the Mercenary Empire in the center of the desert, "Star Shattering Abyss."

Due to concerns about being seen, Chen Xuanfeng did not use his unique "Magic Aura" to enhance his mount's speed. Nevertheless, the "Ghost Wolf," with its super-beast level speed, could reach a top speed of nearly 100 kilometers per hour, far surpassing any other land mounts. In terms of speed and power, neither quicksand traps, sandstorms, venomous insects, nor wolf packs posed a threat. Even with the influence of terrain and the need for rest along the way, it took Chen Xuanfeng and his companions just three days to traverse over a thousand kilometers of uninhabited desert and gobi, reaching an area where oases were more densely populated and desert tribes survived.

Although the "Endless Sand Sea" is known for being dry and uninhabited due to its distance from the ocean, nature's craftsmanship is never uniform. In reality, this area consists of more than a dozen deserts, ranging from thousands of miles wide to just a hundred miles across, separated by Gobi, grasslands, and mountain ranges. There are even two inland rivers that irrigate many less fertile grasslands. Outside of the specific life-prohibiting zones, millions of humans still thrive here, supporting the vast kingdom of the Mercenary Empire.

The human forces in the desert can be roughly divided into two parts: the extremely wealthy and powerful Mercenary Empire, which controls the vital north-south transportation routes, and the Kuta Tribal Alliance, scattered across the vast desert, united for survival. Although the Mercenary Empire claims to be the direct descendant of the "Mercenary King" Lisiu and the rightful rulers of the desert, the kingdom has long since strayed from its founders' original intentions. Possessing the richest north-south trade arteries on the continent, the empire has forgotten its identity as a mercenary nation, becoming more corrupt than any other empire due to its obsession with wealth and power. On the other hand, the impoverished tribes that have not benefited much from the north-south trade routes continue to uphold ancient traditions, training their brave young men to become excellent mercenaries who earn wealth for their tribes by fighting on battlefields across the Mainland. To resist the constant demands and exploitation of the powerful Mercenary Empire, these tribes have also been forced to unite into a large alliance to defend themselves against encroachment.

In the struggle between the two sides, the wealthy and powerful Mercenary Empire had an overwhelming advantage. If not for the dangerous terrain of the desert and its lack of value for occupation, the Kuta Tribal Alliance would have been wiped out long ago. However, circumstances change with time. The unprecedented battle in the western Mainland three years ago led to the destruction of dozens of human principalities, kingdoms, and empires. Eighty percent of human-controlled lands fell, and the most direct impact on the Mercenary Empire was the complete disappearance of the once lucrative north-south trade routes. The country not only lost a significant source of income but also had to contribute troops and money to build defenses against the orcs' southward advance. Although the empire's centuries-old accumulation of wealth means it won't collapse immediately, for the nobles accustomed to luxury, this constant giving is more painful than having their blood drawn.

In contrast to the continuous losses of the Mercenary Empire, the status of the Kuta Tribal Alliance has been steadily rising. War has always been the playground of mercenaries. With the severe loss of skilled warriors in the western human world and the difficulty southeastern human empires have in mobilizing troops, hiring desert mercenaries has become the best option to resist the orcs. Young men from desert tribes, who have grown up in the harshest conditions, are inherently fierce and brave. With various training and equipment, they are even more formidable than the elite regular legions of the Mainland. Thanks to their desperate efforts, they have not only held back the orcs’ advance but also brought vast amounts of wealth and weapons into the tribes, gradually giving them the ability to rival the Mercenary Empire.

The rise of new powers naturally leads to conflict with old powers. The Mercenary Empire, unable to let go of its past glory, cannot tolerate the growth of the once-oppressed