Desert Iron Grand Feast, Snake Woman Yue Mei!

The next day, as a pale sliver of dawn appeared on the horizon, a light knock sounded on Xiao Yao's tightly shut door.

"Young Master... are... are you awake?" Qing Lin's soft, excited voice came from outside.

Xiao Yao slowly opened his eyes. A night of meditation and breathing exercises had left him refreshed, his eyes bright with divine light.

He opened the door to find that the little girl had already prepared all the washing supplies and was standing prettily outside. Her unique emerald-green eyes gleamed like two translucent jade stones beneath the morning light.

After washing up, Qing Lin followed closely behind Xiao Yao like a little tail, her affection plain for all to see.

Along the way, every Desert Iron mercenary who saw them—whether burly men training or elite squads on patrol—immediately stopped what they were doing and respectfully saluted Xiao Yao, their eyes filled with admiration and awe.

Qing Lin curiously craned her little head around and whispered in Xiao Yao's ear, "Young Master, Young Master, it seems they aren't afraid of me anymore. The way they look at me has changed too."

"Of course." Xiao Yao could not help but laugh. He reached out and flicked her smooth forehead with a finger.

"You're with me now."

"Oh..." Qing Lin covered her little head. Rather than feeling any pain, she felt sweetness welling up in her heart.

"But remember this," Xiao Yao said, his voice turning serious. "Such respect is ultimately nothing but an illusion. Only when you become truly strong yourself can you earn genuine awe. Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

To celebrate the complete destruction of their mortal enemy, the Sand Mercenary Group, and to entertain Xiao Yao, the honored guest of the family who seemed like a deity descended upon the world, Xiao Ding directly emptied the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group's stores and laid out the grandest banquet possible.

The entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group compound was decorated with lanterns and colorful ornaments, overflowing with a festive atmosphere.

Xiao Ding had specially gathered all kinds of rare desert delicacies and exotic fruits for Xiao Yao. Xiao Yao accepted them all and sampled each one. They had their own distinctive flavors.

As for Qing Lin, the little girl diligently played the role of a thoughtful maid, constantly standing at Xiao Yao's side. One moment, she gently fanned him; the next, she brought the sweetest fruit flesh to his lips.

Her obedient, lovable, and dependent appearance nearly melted Xiao Yao's heart, allowing him to truly enjoy the extravagant lifestyle of a young master from a great clan.

Halfway through the banquet, a figure with a massive pig's head and an extremely strange crablike gait limped out from the back hall, baring his teeth amid the strange looks of mercenaries who wanted to laugh but did not dare.

It was Xiao Li, whom Xiao Ding had dragged out of bed to apologize.

When he reached Xiao Yao, the last trace of resentment in his heart had long since vanished, leaving only endless regret.

He respectfully clasped his hands toward Xiao Yao and bowed deeply.

His utterly ridiculous pig-headed appearance, combined with such solemn seriousness, made the sight especially comical.

"Xiao Yao! Yesterday, Xiao Li failed to recognize a great man and spewed nothing but filth. I offended you greatly, so I hope... I hope you can be magnanimous. If you're still angry, then beat me up again!"

Seeing him like this, Xiao Yao could not be bothered to hold it against him any longer. He casually waved a hand. "Enough. Let this matter end here."

Then he swept his gaze across the crowd, glancing over Xiao Ding and Xiao Li before announcing in a clear voice, "I came to the Tagor Desert on important business."

"Yet yesterday, I unexpectedly made a delightful discovery."

He pointed at Qing Lin, whose face was full of confusion as she had no idea what was happening.

"Qing Lin possesses exceptional talent and extraordinary eyes. Her future is limitless. Therefore, from today onward, she will be my maid."

In an instant, everyone's eyes turned in unison toward the little maid!

Every face was filled with undisguised shock. They could not understand how this little girl, ordinarily so inconspicuous within the mercenary group and even frequently discriminated against because of her mixed blood, had suddenly become so valued by the unbelievably powerful Young Master Xiao.

Qing Lin herself looked equally bewildered and helpless. She instinctively tugged at Xiao Yao's sleeve, her little face full of nervousness.

Yet when she saw the encouragement in Xiao Yao's eyes, she straightened her tiny chest and shouted with all her strength, "Rest assured, Young Master! Qing Lin... Qing Lin will work hard! I absolutely won't hold you back, Young Master!"

"Very good." Xiao Yao nodded in satisfaction.

After the banquet...

"I plan to make a trip to the eastern desert." Xiao Yao informed Xiao Ding, then took Qing Lin into the sky beneath his envious gaze.

In the clear sky, the enormous blazing sun hung high above like a giant fireball constantly spewing flames. Its scorching rays poured over the golden desert, baking the fine grains of sand until they resembled tiny red-hot iron pellets.

Due to the blazing temperatures, strands of heat seeped from the yellow sand, eventually warping the air into something distorted and unreal.

As the two crossed the vast, endless desert, little Qing Lin had already gotten over the excitement of flying for the first time when she suddenly seemed to sense something.

She instinctively raised her head and looked eastward, a strange light flashing through her emerald eyes.

"Young Master..." She tugged at Xiao Yao's sleeve and whispered, "To the east... there seems to be... a very powerful aura from one of my own kind."

"Oh?" A hint of approval flashed through Xiao Yao's eyes.

Naturally, he had sensed it as well. He merely wanted to see how keen Qing Lin's spiritual perception was. He praised her again, "Not bad. My little maid not only has an excellent constitution, but also exceptional talent in spiritual power."

Qing Lin nodded and giggled, while Xiao Yao's soul perception had long since pierced through the barriers of space and locked onto that figure with perfect clarity.

It was not the lofty Queen Medusa who had arrived ahead of schedule.

Within his senses, a beautiful snake woman was secretly circling the region of the Green Lotus Core Flame. Her strange diamond-shaped pupils carried a faint, peculiar allure, while her seductive waist swayed as she moved.

The black-robed snake woman, with her voluptuous figure, enchanting face, and a powerful green snake tail trailing behind her, was cautiously investigating the disturbance in the desert below.

This was...

Yue Mei, commander of one of the Snake People Tribe's eight great tribes!

At this moment, Yue Mei's heart was filled with gravity and a sense of responsibility.

Her Majesty is currently trapped at the Peak Dou Emperor stage. To break through to the Dou Zong realm and transform her body, she urgently needs the "Green Lotus Core Flame" to assist her evolution! There can be no mistakes in this matter! Heaven have mercy! Our Snake People Tribe will finally welcome another queen with divine blood!

Lost in her thoughts, she had no idea that two people above were watching her.