Stone Desert City, Xiao Yan's Two Elder Brothers

After leaving Desert City, Xiao Heng headed all the way toward Stone Desert City. Along the way, he encountered several Snake People, but he casually slaughtered them all.

There was no friendship to speak of between the Snake People Tribe and humans now. Once they met, it was basically a fight to the death.

Xiao Heng had wanted to spare them, but unfortunately, those Snake People did not know their place and took the initiative to attack him. He could only speed up the process of their deaths.

"Stone Desert City!" With Bear Two in tow, the man and bear quickly reached their final stop. According to Xiao Heng's plan, once he reached this place, it would be about time for him to set off and return to the Xiao Family.

The cities near the Snake People Tribe's territory had noticeably stronger defenses. Most of the cities Xiao Heng had seen before only had a few people guarding their gates, while patrols appeared only from time to time.

Here, not only were there far more people at the city gate, but patrols could be seen everywhere along the walls. Unlike the previous cities, the people here were clearly much stronger. They were fully armed and carried fierce auras, as though they had seen no shortage of battle.

When entering the city, the guards stopped Xiao Heng because Bear Two was a Magical Beast. It was only after he revealed his identity as an Alchemist that he was allowed inside smoothly. The ten Gold Coins entrance fee was waived as well.

Stopping a rather handsome Attendant, Xiao Heng asked, "Excuse me, how do I get to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group?"

The Attendant looked at Xiao Heng warily. Only after hearing that he was merely asking for directions did he relax and tell him the way to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

The Attendant calmly pointed in a direction and said, "Follow this road straight, then go this way, then that way, and you'll get there."

Xiao Heng thanked him with a few Gold Coins. The Attendant looked at him happily, as if to say, This kid knows what he's doing. Then he left cheerfully.

The people here were nowhere near as warm as those in the previous towns. That was normal. Life here was much harsher, and there was naturally much more ugliness in the world. People would not trust strangers so easily.

Following the direction the Attendant had indicated, Xiao Heng brought Bear Two to his destination. Above the gate hung the five words "Desert Iron Mercenary Group," while two burly men holding great sabers stood ramrod straight outside.

Seeing Xiao Heng stop at the gate, the two burly men frowned. Gripping their sabers, they asked, "Who are you?"

Xiao Heng smiled. Xiao Yan's two older brothers had some skill after all. Even these gate guards were no worse than the two stationed outside the Xiao Family gates.

"Don't be nervous, you two. My name is Xiao Heng. I'm a member of your leaders' clan, and I'm here to see them. Please report my arrival," Xiao Heng explained to the two burly men.

The two burly men exchanged glances, then stared at Xiao Heng and asked, "Do you have any proof?"

Xiao Heng smiled helplessly. Where was he supposed to get proof? He could only say, "I have no proof, but you can report it first. Ask the two leaders to come out. Once they see me, they'll naturally know."

The two burly men exchanged another look. Seeing that Xiao Heng showed no sign of guilt, they more or less believed him. One of them went inside to report it, while the other continued staring fixedly at Xiao Heng, ready to act without hesitation at the slightest suspicious movement.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were in the courtyard watching the mercenary group's monthly tournament when a burly man suddenly ran over and whispered something into Xiao Ding's ear.

"Xiao Heng...?" Xiao Ding thought for a moment before indeed recalling the person.

When they had left home, Xiao Heng had already gained a bit of fame within the Xiao Family, so they could be said to know of him, though they were not familiar. Xiao Ding still remembered him, but Xiao Li had no impression of him at all.

Hearing Xiao Ding mutter, he asked curiously, "Big Brother, you know this person?"

Xiao Ding nodded. "There really is such a person. When we left home, he already had quite a reputation in the clan. I heard his cultivation speed was about the same as Xiao Ning's."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Li had a clearer idea. He did not know this person, but since his elder brother said so, he was probably not a fraud. Still, what was he doing here?

Although they could not figure it out, the two decided to meet Xiao Heng first. Nodding, Xiao Li turned to the burly man who had delivered the message and said, "Bring him in."

The burly man nodded and hurried back. Reaching the gate, he said to the other burly man, "The leader told us to bring him inside!"

The other man nodded as well. Since it was the leader's order, there was naturally no problem.

"Kid, come with me. The leader told me to take you inside."

A stranger entering the not particularly large Martial Arts Arena naturally drew everyone's attention, especially when a Magical Beast followed behind him.

When he arrived before Xiao Ding, Xiao Li was fighting in the arena. Lightning arcs flickered across his spear as he sent his opponent's great saber flying with a thrust, then pressed his attack. With his weapon gone, how could his opponent possibly match him? After several strikes, he could only admit defeat.

The mercenaries below immediately erupted in cheers, all praising his victory.

When Xiao Ding saw Xiao Heng, he nodded toward the burly man who had led him over, signaling that he could leave. The man cupped his fists in salute, then hurried back to his post.

After carefully examining Xiao Heng, Xiao Ding confirmed that he was indeed a member of his own clan. Though they had not met for a long time, he could still make out traces of his former appearance.

Standing up, he said with a smile, "It really is you. When I left home, you were about the same age as Little Yan, weren't you? Time really flies."

Being able to see a fellow clan member in a place like this made Xiao Ding happy, even if they were not particularly close.

Xiao Li on the stage also saw Xiao Heng, but he did not pay much attention to him. He called another mercenary up and began fighting again.

Xiao Heng smiled as well. "I didn't expect Young Master Xiao Ding to still remember me."

Xiao Ding patted him on the shoulder. "We've already left the Xiao Family, so there's no need to call me Young Master. You're about the same age as Little Yan, so call me Big Brother, just like Little Yan does."

Those who had never left their hometown could hardly understand the longing for home. In a hellhole like the Tagor Desert, the Xiao Family was so far away that even sending a letter was difficult, let alone returning home. Since he and Xiao Li had left, they had never gone back to the Xiao Family. Thus, upon seeing Xiao Heng, he was extremely warm and friendly.

Xiao Heng nodded as well. It had been a long time since he had called anyone Young Master. Still, the Xiao Family had raised him and shown him kindness, which was why he had addressed him that way. But since Xiao Ding had said so, he naturally would not trouble himself over it.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. Greetings, Big Brother Xiao Ding!"

Xiao Ding patted Xiao Heng's shoulder approvingly. In him, he saw Little Yan's shadow. After that incident, he wondered how Little Yan was doing now.

"Alright, that's settled. I'll have someone take you to rest. Once I'm done here, I'll come over." As he spoke, Xiao Ding was about to call someone over...

At that moment, Xiao Li sent another person's weapon flying from the stage and laughed heartily in high spirits. Seeing Xiao Ding speaking with Xiao Heng, he called down to him, "Kid, want to come up and spar? Let me see whether your talent is really as strong as Big Brother says!"

At once, everyone's eyes gathered on Xiao Heng.

"Who's that?"

"No idea. Maybe he's here to join our mercenary group?"

"Yeah! Probably. Just don't know whether that pale, delicate-looking guy can fight!"

The crowd whispered among themselves below the stage, clearly unaware of just how loud they were being.

Xiao Ding had not expected his own younger brother to pull something like this. His face darkened as he said, "Nonsense!"

He then turned to Xiao Heng. "It's fine. Go rest first and ignore that fool!"

Even if Xiao Heng was talented, he was not a core disciple of the family. At most, he had only recently broken through to Dou Zhe—how could he possibly be Xiao Li's match? Xiao Li was being ridiculous too. He would have to give him a proper scolding later.

Yet, to his surprise, Xiao Heng declared loudly, "Brother Xiao Ding, there's no need to worry. Since Young Master Xiao Li has such an idea, I'll play along with him."

Seeing that Xiao Ding still wanted to say something, Xiao Heng continued, "Don't worry. It's only a spar."

Since Xiao Heng had put it that way, what else could Xiao Ding do? He could only agree.

With a light leap, Xiao Heng landed opposite Xiao Li. Noticing the sword on Xiao Heng's back, Xiao Li said, "Draw your sword."

Xiao Heng smiled calmly. "Not yet."

Seeing that Xiao Heng would not draw his sword, Xiao Li tightened his grip on his spear. "Fine, Kid. Let me see what you're capable of."

Dou Qi surged through him, lightning arcs flashing across his body as he thrust his spear toward Xiao Heng. Still, he secretly held back some of his strength so he could stop in time if necessary. He had merely acted on a whim, wanting to test how capable this Kid from the family was. He had no intention of hurting him.

The people below the stage watched the two with eager expressions, wanting to know where this Kid's confidence came from.

As the spear came stabbing toward him, Xiao Heng twisted aside. The spear tip brushed past his chest without harming him in the slightest.

Xiao Ding's expression tightened. Everyone else thought Xiao Heng had merely gotten lucky, but he could clearly sense that it had not been luck—it had been confidence. A smile appeared on his face. "It seems this newly acknowledged younger brother is quite capable!"

Xiao Li had not expected Xiao Heng to evade that strike either. He had already been prepared to retract his spear.

He laughed heartily. "Kid, it seems you really do have some skill. Be careful now—I'm going to get serious."

With that, Dou Qi surged through him once more, forming a Dou Qi gauze robe around his body. Xiao Heng's expression did not change, but the crowd below was different. They all believed their Second Commander had this victory in the bag.

Hearing Xiao Li's words, Xiao Heng felt no reaction at all. He was only a Dou Shi, and his cultivation was not even stronger than Xiao Heng's. If he could not win even this, he might as well find a block of tofu and smash his head into it.

"Young Master Xiao Li, no need to hold back!"

Then he immediately launched his attack.

The two stood only two or three steps apart. In an instant, Xiao Heng's fist, wrapped in Dou Qi, arrived before Xiao Li.

Xiao Li's expression froze. So fast! It was so fast that he had nearly failed to react in time, and could only barely block it. This Kid was no simple opponent!

The tremendous force forced Xiao Li back several steps. Almost instantly, he sensed that something was wrong.

"Lightning Arc Three Segment Slash!" A ruthless expression appeared on Xiao Li's face as he unleashed the highest-ranked Dou Technique he possessed.

Lightning Arc Three Segment Slash was a Xuan Rank Dou Technique. Its defining trait was three consecutive spear strikes, paired with swift lightning-attributed Dou Qi. Many had been defeated by this technique.

Xiao Heng's expression remained unchanged as he watched Xiao Li use his Dou Technique. Dou Qi instantly rose around him, and a vermilion Dou Qi gauze robe covered his body.

He muttered softly, "Mountain Breaking Strike!"

How was that possible? This Kid was actually a Dou Shi! Everyone present was stunned. None of them had expected this pretty boy to possess such cultivation.

Seeing the Dou Qi gauze robe around Xiao Heng's body, Xiao Li was startled as well. However, he soon calmed down. This was good too—he was not afraid of defeat.

The madness buried deep in his bones erupted, and the power of thunder grew another threefold.

Boom!

A piercing blast rang out. Xiao Li's spear had been sent flying to the side, while Xiao Heng's fist stopped three inches from Xiao Li's chest.