Yun Yun's Concern

"What did your family say about your young master looking so much like a woman?"

"My family..."

Ling Ying said, "I cannot say. In any case, do not tell the young master that I am protecting him in secret."

Ling Ying turned into a shadow and vanished.

Yun Yun found Bai Xiaoran's identity somewhat difficult to understand.

When Bai Xiaoran emerged wearing a plain dress, Yun Yun stared at him fixedly and swallowed. It was hard to imagine that he had looked so shy just moments ago, yet now he resembled a woman with an icy, distant air.

Yun Yun asked, "How does it feel?"

"The Heavenly Flames have not gone berserk. But Sister, how are you going to explain this? You clearly came here to obtain the Heavenly Flames."

Yun Yun smiled. "That is not a problem. Sister can injure herself a little later and say that someone rescued you."

"How can that be?"

Yun Yun smiled. "Is Xiao Fei worried about Sister?"

Bai Xiaoran turned his head away shyly. "Who is worried?"

Warmth filled Yun Yun's heart. Xiao Fei truly had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. In the past, she would have taken Xiao Fei with her to the Misty Cloud Sect, but now that Gu He had seen Xiao Fei obtain the Heavenly Flames, she could no longer bring him back to the sect.

After what had just happened, she had already dressed before Bai Xiaoran woke up. Did he know everything she had done?

Yun Yun said, "Let Sister see your Heavenly Flames!"

Bai Xiaoran opened his palm, and a ball of flames appeared in his hand.

"Who knew how many Alchemists across the world dreamed of possessing Heavenly Flames? Xiao Fei, you obtained them at such a young age. Your future is immeasurable."

Bai Xiaoran said, "It is also thanks to Sister. Otherwise, I might have exploded and died long ago."

Yun Yun said, "It is good that you know. Sister nearly could not hold on because of you."

"Where do you plan to go next?"

"I will stay in the Tagor Desert for now. I need to stabilize the Heavenly Flames. After refining them, my cultivation has broken through to a Seven-star Dou Master. I feel that I will soon break through to a Da Dou Shi as well."

As Yun Yun was about to leave, she saw Bai Xiaoran stick out his tongue and lick his red lips, and an irrepressible fire surged within her again.

"Xiao Fei, come here."

Bai Xiaoran obediently approached, but Yun Yun soon pulled him tightly into her embrace. Her lips pressed against his, kissing him again and again.

A moment later, Bai Xiaoran pushed Yun Yun away, his face flushed red. "Sister, what are you doing?"

"A farewell kiss. Who knows when we will meet again?"

Then Yun Yun put on her veil, clutched her stomach, and hurriedly fled.

As Bai Xiaoran watched Yun Yun's departing figure and was about to leave, a tiny pink snake suddenly crawled out from his robes.

"Hm? Queen Medusa!"

"Mm~ mm~"

The little snake hissed and rubbed against Bai Xiaoran's cheek.

"Since you crawled into my body, it must be fate."

Bai Xiaoran gently stroked the little snake's head. Keeping it with him was also a threat; if it suddenly turned back into Queen Medusa, he would be finished.

The little snake crawled back into Bai Xiaoran's robes to rest.

Bai Xiaoran spread his Purple Cloud Wings and returned to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. He had been gone for so long; he wondered how Qing Lin was doing.

Desert Iron Mercenary Group

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked at Bai Xiaoran before them as though they wanted to say, Beauty, who are you?

Only when Bai Xiaoran spoke did the two brothers realize who he was.

"Second Brother, Big Brother, it's me!"

Xiao Ding said, "Xiaoran, you went searching for the Heavenly Flames. Why did you come back in different clothes? I thought some other woman had come looking for you again."

He wore a plain dress as pure as snow. His face was fair as jade, his skin delicate enough to break with a breath, yet completely bloodless, cold and aloof like an ice sculpture.

If Xiao Ding had not known Bai Xiaoran since childhood, he truly would not have dared approach him.

"There is a lot to explain, and it is not easy to explain. Where is Qing Lin?"

"Qing Lin is still guarding your room. You have not returned for so long, and she has been completely distracted with worry."

"Then I will go see her first."

After Bai Xiaoran left, Xiao Ding looked at Xiao Li and said, "Don't you think Xiaoran has become even prettier?"

Xiao Li stared at him in astonishment. "What kind of expression is that? Put away those unrealistic thoughts. Xiaoran is our younger brother."

"I know. Since Xiaoran has come to the Tagor Desert, Xiao Yan should be coming too, right?"

At this moment, outside the Snake-people tribe, Xiao Yan arrived in a hurry, only to discover that the battle had already ended and that the air around him was filled with the aura of the Heavenly Flames.

Old Yao said, "We came too late. The Heavenly Flames have already been taken."

"Someone got to the Heavenly Flames first!"

"Since the Heavenly Flames have already been absorbed, let us look for other opportunities. The Tagor Desert cannot possibly have only this one opportunity."

Meanwhile, at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

"Qing Lin!"

The moment Qing Lin saw Bai Xiaoran return, joy filled her heart. She threw herself into his arms and asked excitedly, "Young Master Xiaoran, Queen Medusa did not do anything to you, did she?"

"No. I escaped safely, and I obtained the Heavenly Flames as well. Look."

Qing Lin looked at the Heavenly Flames in Bai Xiaoran's palm and felt sincerely happy for him.

Although she did not know what method he had used, Young Master Xiaoran had obtained the Heavenly Flames in the end.

Bai Xiaoran said, "Go rest first. Look how worn out you are. You must have worried a lot."

"I will listen to Young Master Xiaoran." Qing Lin returned to the room next door to rest.

Bai Xiaoran sat cross-legged and began sensing the surging Dou Qi within his body. The power from the refined Heavenly Flames filled his entire body.

Queen Medusa had returned to her original form in an attempt to refine the Heavenly Flames, but she had failed. Instead, a force had formed that nearly destroyed the Snake-people tribe.

Queen Medusa had used her last remaining trace of strength to destroy that chaotic force. She had selflessly sacrificed herself for her people, proving herself worthy of the title Your Majesty the Queen.

The little snake crawled before Bai Xiaoran, babbling and smiling.

"I am really afraid that you will suddenly turn into Queen Medusa!"

He hoped his worries were unnecessary.

The little snake did not seem to understand, but it still circled around a few times.

After spending several more days at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, he finally set out for Hai Bodong's place.

Qing Lin chose to follow along as well.

Riding on horseback, Qing Lin asked, "Young Master Xiaoran, where are we going?"

"To find a former powerhouse, Hai Bodong!"

Qing Lin had heard of Hai Bodong's reputation. He was one of the ten greatest experts of the Jiamar Empire, but he had suddenly vanished without a trace several years ago.

During her years in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, she had also heard that Hai Bodong had once been seen in the Tagor Desert. He possessed a steady aura and was doing business there.

Before long, the two stopped near a shop.

Qing Lin asked, "Is this Hai Bodong's residence?"

"That is right. Let us go in!"

Holding Qing Lin's small hand, Bai Xiaoran walked inside. The white-haired, elderly man raised his eyes at the sudden appearance of the two beauties, surprise flashing through his gaze.

"Two young ladies, why have you come here? Other than water and some maps, I have nothing you want."

Bai Xiaoran said, "I came to find you, Hai Bodong!"

Hai Bodong set down his book and said indifferently, "Young lady, you know me?"

"I do."

"Seeing as you are still young, I do not wish to argue with you. Leave at once."