Qing Lin!

In a quiet courtyard near Jia Nan Academy, Gu Long slowly opened his eyes, ending his daily cultivation.

His gaze turned northwest, toward the edge of the Tagor Desert, where a city called Mo City stood.

According to the information sent by Dragon Domain's intelligence network, as well as the clear "memories" in his mind, it was time to make a trip there.

He had two objectives: find Qing Lin, the girl with the "Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils," and cause some "trouble" for the brothers Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

I can't kill Xiao Yan, but can't I make trouble for his family?

"Elder Ling," Gu Long called softly.

The shadows rippled, and Ling Ying's figure silently appeared. "Young Master Gu Long."

"I'll be leaving for a while. Xun Er's safety is in your hands," Gu Long instructed.

"Yes. This subordinate swears to protect Miss with his life," Ling Ying answered solemnly.

Gu Long then looked toward Xun Er, who was intently studying formation runes in the courtyard, and walked over.

"Brother Gu Long, are you going out?" Xun Er sensed his approach and looked up, her eyes full of inquiry.

"Yes, to take care of a few matters."

Gu Long nodded. Seeing the finely drawn rune sketches spread across the stone table before her, a trace of approval flashed in his eyes.

"How is your study of formations progressing?"

"I can barely set up a Small Spirit Gathering Array now! Although it isn't as effective as the one Brother Gu Long set up, it can still gather some energy!"

With a hint of pride, Xun Er showed him a simple formation in the corner made from several dozen Low-grade Spirit Stones.

At the center of the formation, Heaven and Earth Energy was indeed much denser than in the surrounding area.

"Very good. Keep it up." Gu Long rubbed her hair.

"While I'm away, don't slack off in your cultivation or formation studies. If anything urgent happens, contact Elder Ling through the jade token, or contact Dragon Domain directly."

"Xun Er understands. Don't worry, Brother Gu Long." Xun Er nodded obediently.

Having made his arrangements, Gu Long wasted no more time. With a flash, he turned into a blurry azure shadow and silently left the courtyard, speeding toward the Tagor Desert.

Several days later, Gu Long appeared outside Mo City.

The city stood at the edge of the desert, where wind and sand were eternal companions.

The earthen-yellow walls had been weathered and eroded by time and sandstorms until they were mottled and worn. The air was filled with dry, dusty scents.

Most passersby had their heads and faces wrapped in cloth, their eyes carrying the vigilance and resilience unique to desert dwellers.

Gu Long concealed his aura and strolled into the city like an ordinary traveler.

His Soul Power spread silently like an invisible web, sensing the city's atmosphere.

Soon, in one corner of the city, he detected a sizable mercenary group headquarters, its banner embroidered with the words "Mo Tie."

Two connected and rather impressive Dou Shi auras emanated from within. They should belong to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

Gu Long did not approach the Mo Tie Mercenary Group. Instead, he turned his attention to another, larger mercenary group headquarters in the city—the Sand Mercenary Group.

The Sand Mercenary Group was an established force in Mo City. Its leader, Luo Bu, was a Da Dou Shi whose greedy and overbearing nature had long made him see the rising Mo Tie Mercenary Group as a thorn in his side.

Ever since the Mo Tie Mercenary Group had been established, conflicts between the two had never ceased.

A faint smile curved Gu Long's lips, and his figure vanished around a street corner.

That night, inside Luo Bu's room at the Sand Mercenary Group headquarters.

Luo Bu was vexed over how to suppress the increasingly arrogant Mo Tie Mercenary Group.

Although he was stronger than Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, directly wiping out the Mo Tie Mercenary Group would cost too much. Moreover, the City Lord's Manor seemed inclined to protect them.

Suddenly, every hair on his body stood on end as an icy chill shot up his spine!

He spun around sharply and discovered in horror that a figure had appeared in the room's shadows at some unknown time.

The person wore azure robes and looked far too young, calmly watching him.

"Who are you?!"

Shocked and enraged, Luo Bu immediately circulated the Dou Qi of a Da Dou Shi, preparing to attack.

However, a mountain-like pressure descended abruptly and locked onto him!

Under that pressure, he felt like an ant in a raging gale, unable even to move a finger!

His Dou Qi was forcibly suppressed within his body, and he could not draw upon even the slightest bit of it!

Fear instantly overwhelmed Luo Bu.

His face turned deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down his body as he stared at Gu Long in utter terror.

He had only felt such pressure once before, from a Dou Ling Expert he had encountered by chance years ago! No, it was even more terrifying than that Dou Ling Expert's pressure!

"P-Please spare my life, Senior!"

Luo Bu's voice trembled, and he could no longer summon the slightest will to resist.

Gu Long did not release any killing intent. He merely used his pressure to intimidate Luo Bu and spoke calmly. "You want to deal with the Mo Tie Mercenary Group?"

Luo Bu froze, then seemed to grasp a lifeline. He hurriedly said, "Yes, yes! Those two brats, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, don't know their place and have repeatedly opposed my Sand Mercenary Group! If Senior is willing to help me..."

"I can give you an opportunity."

Gu Long interrupted him with a flick of his finger. A Storage Ring landed on the table in front of Luo Bu.

"Inside are pills that can raise your strength and that of your core subordinates by a level in the short term, as well as enough funds to support the expansion of your forces."

Luo Bu stared in disbelief at the Storage Ring, then looked at Gu Long. He could hardly believe such a windfall had fallen from the sky.

"Senior, what do you need me to do?"

He asked cautiously, knowing there was no such thing as a free meal.

"Very simple." Gu Long's voice remained calm.

"Before I leave Mo City, I do not want to see the Mo Tie Mercenary Group living too comfortably. Cause them some 'trouble'—the bigger, the better.

"But remember, do not expose my existence, nor attempt to investigate my identity."

His demand seemed simple: merely cause trouble for the Mo Tie Mercenary Group.

But to Luo Bu, who had always wanted to annex the Mo Tie Mercenary Group, it was like receiving a pillow just as he was getting sleepy—and with such generous support besides!

"Yes! Yes! This junior understands! I will certainly not disappoint Senior!"

Luo Bu was overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed.

With the support of this mysterious expert, why should he fear being unable to deal with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li?

Gu Long said nothing more. His figure gradually faded, disappearing as though he had merged into the shadows, while that terrifying pressure dissipated as well.

Luo Bu collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. Looking at the Storage Ring on the table, his eyes blazed with wild joy and greed.

He quickly put away the Storage Ring, a vicious smile appearing on his face.

"Xiao Ding, Xiao Li... your end has come!"

After leaving the Sand Mercenary Group, Gu Long spread his Soul Power once more and carefully searched the city.

He was looking for that special soul fluctuation—the soul belonging to the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, one that possessed a natural affinity with snake-type magical beasts.

At last, in the most chaotic and impoverished South City District of Mo City, he sensed his target in a filthy corner.

She was a little girl who looked only eleven or twelve. Dressed in ragged clothes and thin as a rake, she was curled up beneath a dilapidated eave, seemingly clutching something in her arms.

She had short dark-green hair, and her little face was smeared with dirt, but her eyes were extraordinarily striking.

It was not the color of her pupils, but the three tiny green specks faintly flickering deep within them like flower stamens.

The little girl was Qing Lin.

In her arms, she held an injured First-Grade Snake.

Several shady-looking thugs were surrounding her, their faces wearing ill-intentioned grins.

"Little freak, hand over that snake in your arms. It might fetch a few coins!"

"Exactly. Those weird eyes of yours are bad luck just to look at!"

Qing Lin clutched the little snake tightly, her body trembling slightly with fear.

Her unusual eyes brimmed with tears, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Just as one of the thugs reached out to grab her, a calm voice sounded behind them.

"Get lost."

The voice was not loud, but it carried an invisible force. The thugs seemed to have been struck by lightning, their faces instantly turning pale as they scrambled away in terror.

Qing Lin looked up in surprise and saw a big brother dressed in clean azure robes standing before her.

He looked handsome, and his eyes were calm. There was none of the disgust or fear others showed when they looked at her.

Gu Long crouched down, his gaze falling upon Qing Lin's unusual eyes. He confirmed that she was the person he had been seeking.

Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils—the peerless talent that would one day control all serpents beneath heaven.

"What is your name?" Gu Long's voice softened somewhat.

"Qing Lin."

The little girl answered timidly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Would you like to come with me?" Gu Long looked at her. "I can give you a place to live and make sure you have enough to eat. No one will bully you again. I can also teach you how to control the power in your eyes."

Qing Lin was stunned. She had never met anyone who treated her so kindly, much less someone who said he would teach her to control the eyes everyone regarded as the "mark of a monster."

She looked into Gu Long's calm, deep black eyes, and for some reason, trust arose within her heart.

She looked at the injured little snake in her arms, then at Gu Long. Finally, she nodded lightly.

Gu Long extended his hand. After hesitating for a moment, Qing Lin placed her dirty little hand in that clean, warm palm.

Gu Long pulled her to her feet, glanced at the little snake in her arms, and casually flicked out a strand of gentle Dou Qi. The snake's injuries immediately began healing at a visible rate.

"Let's go."

Holding Qing Lin's hand, he left that filthy corner, and their figures disappeared into the streets and alleys of Mo City.

Behind them, having received mysterious support, the Sand Mercenary Group had already begun sharpening its claws.

A violent storm aimed at the Mo Tie Mercenary Group was quietly brewing.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li still did not know that the source of the predicament they were about to face was far more than merely Luo Bu.

Gu Long's trip to Mo City had killed two birds with one stone.

He had found Qing Lin, whose potential was limitless, and also caused trouble for Xiao Yan's family.