Obtained an Earth-tier Intermediate Fighting Skill!

Obtained an Earth-tier Intermediate Fighting Skill!

Xiao Tian gave them a calm smile, then turned to the dark-skinned man and said,

"Let's head back to Stone Desert City!"

He was just in time to meet his two cousins, too.

The dark-skinned man nodded with a bashful grin. He and the dozen or so mercenaries finished packing up, then headed toward Stone Desert City.

Along the way, Xiao Tian silently initiated a check-in in his mind.

"System, check in at the Tagor Desert!!"

[Ding!]

[Check-in successful. Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: Earth-tier Intermediate Fighting Skill—Great Sun Burning Heaven Slash]

[Automatically comprehended]

[Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: 8 Fifth-grade Rare Pills—Dragon Power Pill]

Hearing the system's notification, Xiao Tian was deeply shaken.

He hadn't expected to receive such a precious reward just after leaving the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

The Earth-tier Intermediate Fighting Skill, Great Sun Burning Heaven Slash, unleashed a scorching, violent flame slash upon cultivation. Its power was immense; once mastered, it could cleave open the Gates of Heaven!

The Fifth-grade Rare Pill, Dragon Power Pill, could grant the user tremendous strength for a short time, without any backlash.

After reading the description, a delighted smile appeared on Xiao Tian's face.

"Xue Lan, you're back!"

Not long after they entered a courtyard, a man's voice drifted over.

Xue Lan nodded and gently brushed the hair from her forehead. "Mm! We're back!"

The man smiled faintly, then suddenly noticed a figure standing with his back to him. He asked in confusion,

"Xue Lan, who's this?"

At his question, Xue Lan covered her mouth and giggled without answering. The other mercenaries also wore amused smiles.

Their unusual behavior struck the man as odd, and he curiously walked toward the figure.

Just then, Xiao Tian's calm voice rang out. "Cousin, how much do I look like my old self?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the handsome figure turned around, revealing a striking face.

"Xiao Tian!!"

At the sight of that familiar face, the man trembled violently, his expression filling with excitement and relief. His voice even caught in his throat.

Looking at the man, who was overcome with emotion, Xiao Tian smiled calmly. "Second Brother, long time no see!"

The man was Xiao Li.

"Quick, quick, quick! I'll take you to see Big Brother. He'll be so happy!"

Overjoyed, Xiao Li spread his arms and pulled Xiao Tian into a fierce hug, then dragged him away.

Seeing this, Xue Lan and the other mercenaries exchanged knowing smiles and burst into laughter.

"Hey, slow down! Wait for me!"

Xiao Tian quickly broke free of Xiao Li's bear hug and said with a wry smile.

A short while later, a tall, lean man appeared before Xiao Tian.

The man had a little stubble and a face lined with determination. His sharp eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything, and his entire bearing radiated a keen, imposing edge.

Now, upon seeing Xiao Tian, he froze. Then disbelief appeared on his face, and he cried out,

"Xiao Tian??"

"Cousin!"

At that, a bright smile spread across Xiao Tian's face. The man before him was Xiao Ding.

A moment later, the two embraced tightly, sharing everything they had longed to say after years apart.

After a long while, they finally let go. They thumped each other on the chest, then threw back their heads and laughed.

Just then, Xiao Ding asked with a smile, "Why didn't Xiao Yan come out with you?"

Xiao Tian thought it over for a moment, then told him everything that had happened in Wutan City.

"Nalan Yanran broke off the engagement? With Xiao Yan's temper, he won't let that go. Since he didn't go to Jia Nan Academy, he'll surely do as you said and go to the Misty Cloud Sect to wipe away his humiliation. But you said our Xiao Family has become the dominant power in Wutan City?" Xiao Ding mused for a moment, then asked with a frown.

"That's right. The Gale Family and Oba Family have both been wiped out. Our Xiao Family now stands unrivaled in Wutan City!" Xiao Tian explained with a calm smile.

"The Gale Family and Oba Family had deep roots and considerable strength. How could they have been wiped out? Who had the ability to do that? Could they pose a threat to our Xiao Family, too?" Xiao Ding asked worriedly, his expression grave.

Xiao Tian smiled and kept them guessing. "Who do you think it was?"

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked at each other, then both shook their heads, baffled.

"Far away, yet right before your eyes!" Xiao Tian grinned.

"Far away, yet right before our eyes?"

Xiao Ding froze. It took him a moment before he exclaimed in surprise, "Could it have been you?"

Xiao Tian shrugged and said nothing.

"It... it really was you?"

Seeing that, Xiao Ding couldn't help rubbing his head, clearly unable to believe it.

"Heh, who else could it be?"

Seeing Xiao Ding's astonishment, Xiao Tian couldn't help laughing.

Xiao Li, meanwhile, asked with delight,

"Xiao Tian, I knew you'd make something of yourself! Tell me honestly, what level are you at now?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li both looked at Xiao Tian expectantly.

At that, Xiao Tian awkwardly rubbed his nose and replied, "The Dou Qi stage."

Dou Qi??

At his answer, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li both furrowed their brows.

But Xiao Tian's next words left them staring wide-eyed in shock.

"Though I'm only at the Dou Qi stage, I have one hundred million stages of Dou Qi!" Xiao Tian said with a cheeky grin.

"What? One hundred million stages of Dou Qi???"

Almost simultaneously, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sprang to their feet and stared hard at Xiao Tian, their eyes nearly falling out of their heads.

The two immediately began asking Xiao Tian what exactly he had been through.

Xiao Tian had no choice but to make up a story about a fortuitous encounter at a cliff. The two listened in astonishment.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, night fell.

Xiao Tian had been given a room with a large bed. Just as he was about to rest, a graceful figure suddenly pushed open the door and entered.

She was a young girl dressed in a pale green gown, with smooth, fair skin and exquisite features. Her chest was especially full, giving her a rather alluring appearance.

"Young Master Xiao Tian, I'm here to help you bathe!" the girl said softly, her voice timid.

Xiao Tian stared at her for a while before looking away. For some reason, the girl before him seemed like a beautiful snake.

He shook his head, then said, "I'll do it myself. Oh, by the way, what's your name?"

At Xiao Tian's question, the girl answered timidly, "Young Master, my name is Qing Lin."

"Oh!" He nodded slightly, then picked up the washcloth from the basin and wiped his face.

Just then, Xiao Tian's gaze suddenly sharpened. Without thinking, he stared at Qing Lin's fair wrist, where a few green snake scales had grown!

When Qing Lin saw that he had noticed, she quickly retreated, speaking in a soft, frightened voice,

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Young Master Xiao Tian. Qing Lin scared you. It's all my fault!"

But as soon as she apologized, a warm hand gently stroked her head. Xiao Tian smiled faintly, took hold of her fair wrist with his other hand, and said calmly,

"These scales are really beautiful!"

At his words, the girl who had been so timid froze. She lifted her fair, beautiful face without thinking and looked at Xiao Tian curiously.