Little Medusa

"Second Commander..."

Qing Lin stared blankly at Xiao Li, then glanced at the calm Lin Ran. She hurriedly climbed down from Lin Ran's arms and, together with Xiao Li, gave Lin Ran a deep bow.

She might have been naive, but she was not stupid. From the woman who had appeared out of nowhere earlier, as well as Lin Ran and the others' attitude toward her, everything that had happened to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group seemed to be related to her.

"Serve me loyally and work like a dog or horse for me?"

Lin Ran looked at Xiao Li with interest. He knew better than anyone what kind of person the Flame Emperor's second brother was.

Ruthless in his methods, decisive by nature, vengeful over even the smallest slight—a man who would even take the Life Devouring Pill for revenge!

Aside from family, there was almost nothing else in such a man's heart. If he were to be used for his own purposes...

"Xiao Li knows that his strength is insignificant, and that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group has already fallen apart. We have little to offer you, my lord, but the grace of saving one's life outweighs the heavens. We merely wish to do our part and repay your kindness."

Xiao Li spoke in a deep voice, his attitude sincere.

His elder brother, Xiao Ding, was already dead, and his Desert Iron Mercenary Group had been reduced to nothing but wounded remnants. If they could not attach themselves to Lin Ran, only death awaited them!

Xiao Li did not want to die.

Back then, he and Xiao Ding had left the Xiao Family and come to Desert City to establish the Desert Iron Mercenary Group so that their third brother, whose Dou Qi had vanished, would have a place to belong.

Now that his third brother had finally recovered, and was even more talented than before, how could he, as an elder brother, simply leave like this?

He refused to accept it!

He wanted to return to the Xiao Family with Xiao Yan and restore their family's standing; he wanted to rebuild the Xiao Family's glory with Xiao Yan!

He wanted to go to the Misty Cloud Sect with Xiao Yan, to wash away the humiliation of the Three Year Agreement, and even... avenge his elder brother.

No matter what, he could not die. He had to seize this one and only lifeline before him!

"I heard Lady Xiao Yi Xian say that you have come to the Tagor Desert. We have survived in this great desert for many years and know it somewhat well. We are willing to serve as your vanguard and ease your burdens!"

"Oh?"

Lin Ran revealed a surprised expression, then said with a faint smile, "Your mercenary group's strength is merely average. Even if you know the Tagor Desert rather well, I fear you will not be much help in what I intend to do."

As soon as those words fell, Xiao Li's heart trembled and his expression changed slightly. Still, he lowered his voice and said, "Xiao Li dares to ask, why have you come to the Tagor Desert this time, my lord...?"

"Queen Medusa."

Lin Ran spoke calmly, yet his words left everyone present frozen as though struck by lightning.

Near the desert, Queen Medusa's fierce reputation was enough to terrify any human. During the great war back then, Her Majesty the Queen had single-handedly massacred several cities. Her infamy had nearly reached the point where it could stop infants from crying.

Countless mercenaries ignored the pain of their injuries as they stared at the calm, handsome youth with shock and disbelief, their minds unable to process it.

No, brother, were you really in such a hurry to die?

"Surprised?" Lin Ran chuckled and shook his head. "Medusa may be infamous, but she is only a mere Dou Huang. Why fear her so much?"

A mere Dou Huang?!

Brother, that was a Dou Huang! A Dou Huang who could fight ten thousand alone, a one-man army! There were fewer Dou Huangs in the entire Jia Ma Empire than could be counted on one hand, and every one of them was a figure who shook their region.

How had she become a mere Dou Huang in your eyes?

"Though for Boss, Medusa really is just a mere Dou Huang." White Fang smacked his lips. For Lin Ran, who possessed the strength of a Dou Zong, Dou Huang Medusa truly was not worth mentioning.

"But the reason Boss wants to find Medusa is..."

Boss?

Lin Ran gave the fellow a strange look. What sort of title was that?

As if she had thought of something, Green Yi suddenly raised her head and cried out, "Does my lord want Queen Medusa's essence blood?"

Back in Black Rock City, Green Yi had already learned of Lin Ran's need for the essence blood and Magic Cores of high-tier magical beasts. He had even been willing to trade high-tier medicinal pills for them.

It was rather amusing—she had offered the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's essence blood at the auction, yet the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor had now become one of Lin Ran's subordinates.

"Correct. I do need the essence blood of high-tier magical beasts, and Queen Medusa is the closest one I know of, as well as the easiest target to obtain."

Lin Ran nodded and spoke calmly.

Everyone looked at one another, sucking in cold breaths.

The mighty Queen Medusa, the Jia Ma Empire's greatest and most vicious killing star, a being whose name made people pale and children stop crying, was being regarded as prey just like that. The feeling... was simply like a dream.

"Medusa's essence blood... wouldn't that mean that by following Boss, I might get a chance to enjoy her beauty..."

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor muttered, then quickly raised his hand. "Boss, I've been to the Tagor Desert. I know the exact location of Queen Medusa's palace!"

"Oh?"

As soon as he said that, everyone turned their gazes toward the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor.

Lin Ran raised a brow. "Go on."

"Queen Medusa's true form is the Purple Nether Flame Snake, and her palace lies at the center of the Tagor Desert. Her Snake-People Tribe has many experts—countless Dou Wangs, over a dozen Dou Lings, and even four Dou Huangs, including Medusa herself."

"Those four Dou Huangs are all different kinds of snakes. If Boss wants essence blood, you can obtain four different kinds directly."

Excellent!

Lin Ran revealed a satisfied expression. White Fang was quite perceptive.

"However, the one thing to watch out for is that Queen Medusa is often absent from her tribe."

As though recalling something, White Fang said in a deep voice, "For the Snake-People Tribe's living environment and in search of a breakthrough for herself, Medusa has often wandered through the Jia Ma Empire and even the Northwest Continent in recent years, seeking an opportunity to advance. She may not be in her tribe, so there is a chance we will make the trip for nothing, Boss."

"No, we won't return empty-handed..."

A timid, soft voice suddenly rang out within the room.

"Um, my lord, in the eastern region of Desert City, I once sensed an extremely powerful aura."

Feeling everyone's gazes upon her, Qing Lin instinctively shrank back. The fear on her little face deepened as she hesitantly said, "I don't know whether my senses were accurate... but around three months ago, I sensed an extremely powerful aura appear outside Desert City. That aura was somewhat similar to some of the bloodline within my body, and before that aura, even these two lords were far inferior."

As she spoke, Qing Lin pointed toward Green Yi and White Fang.

"Oh?!"

Everyone was moved by her words.

Green Yi and White Fang were both Dou Huangs. Although Green Yi had only just entered the Dou Huang realm, White Fang was a genuine six-star Dou Huang and had even taken the Demon Transformation Pill, making him exceptionally strong.

An aura far above theirs, with a bloodline somewhat similar to Qing Lin's—who else in the Tagor Desert could it be besides Queen Medusa?

"I'm not too clear on the exact details either..."

Qing Lin shook her head and said softly, "I could only vaguely sense that three months ago, she suddenly came to the eastern part of Desert City and seemed to remain there for one night. During that night, the energy in the east was extremely violent. And I also know that when she left, she seemed to have been injured..."