Meeting the Family?

Gradually, the man and scorpion fought through dozens of exchanges. Several vines wrapped around the Sand Jade Scorpion, and it frantically used its pincers, trying to cut them apart, but it was all in vain.

Xiao Yi Xian clenched her hand, and the vines instantly tightened, directly strangling the Sand Jade Scorpion into several pieces.

After killing the Sand Jade Scorpion, Xiao Yi Xian stood where she was with her eyes closed, and her aura gradually rose to the level of a Seven Star Dou Master.

When Xiao Yi Xian broke through, Hai Bo Dong sensed the Calamity Poison Body within her.

"That little girlfriend of yours isn't right. The aura on her body is very mysterious, and it's also terrifying."

"Xian Er has a special constitution, so I need to train her and help her grow quickly while stabilizing her foundation."

Xiao Tian did not state Xiao Yi Xian's constitution outright. The fewer people knew about such things, the better.

After her breakthrough, Xiao Yi Xian walked toward Xiao Tian. When she reached his side, she gave him a sweet smile.

"I broke through. I'm a Seven Star Dou Master now."

"Good, good. My Xian Er really is amazing."

Xiao Tian stroked Xiao Yi Xian's soft hair and praised her.

"You two should consider my feelings a little. I'm already this old. You need to respect me, an elderly man."

Hai Bo Dong was force-fed a mouthful of Dog Food by the two of them and directly summoned his wings to fly into the air.

"Hai Lao, look, you're already so old. Shouldn't you also think about finding yourself an old companion? A young one would work too."

Xiao Tian wrapped an arm around Xiao Yi Xian, summoned the Thunder Peng Wings, and followed Hai Bo Dong, shouting toward him as he flew ahead.

"Get lost. I have no such plans. With no woman in my heart, my ice skills are naturally divine."

Hai Bo Dong was so angered by Xiao Tian's words that his figure grew unsteady, trembling in midair as he laughed and cursed.

"Hahaha..."

Xiao Tian's laughter kept echoing through the sky.

After flying at full speed again for half a day, they arrived before a massive city in the eastern part of the desert.

They landed not far from the city. Xiao Tian raised his head and looked at the three words "Stone Desert City" written above the huge city gate, and memories of how his two older brothers had doted on and cared for him when he was young could not help but surface in his mind.

Seeming to notice the shift in Xiao Tian's emotions, Xiao Yi Xian took his hand.

Xiao Tian patted Xiao Yi Xian's hand. "I just remembered a few things. Let's go. We'll enter the city first."

Xiao Tian led Hai Lao and Xiao Yi Xian toward the city gate.

After walking through the gate, Xiao Tian felt the bustle inside. Mercenaries came and went everywhere, and guard troops patrolled the streets, maintaining order.

While they were taking in the city, Xiao Tian called out to the system in his mind.

"System Check-in."

[Ding, check-in at Stone Desert City successful. Obtained: Cultivation Method: Soaring Serpent Phantom Spirit Art]

Soaring Serpent Phantom Spirit Art: suitable for cultivators with serpent bloodlines.

"Let's first find out where the Desert Iron Mercenary Group is. My eldest and second brothers are there. We'll go see them first. I haven't seen them in a long time either."

"Oh~ Is this meeting the family?" Hai Bo Dong's slightly teasing voice rang out.

"Meeting your eldest and second brothers? I-I-I..."

Xiao Yi Xian cried out in surprise and could not help thinking, Is this meeting his family? Steam kept rising from her head like a steam engine, and her words came out stammered and choppy.

"It's fine. My eldest and second brothers are very good people. Don't worry." Seeing Xiao Yi Xian like this, Xiao Tian stroked her burning-hot cheek, giving her confidence and calming her down.

Under Xiao Tian's comfort, Xiao Yi Xian's emotions gradually settled, though her face still held a trace of nervousness.

On the way, Xiao Tian found someone to ask for the address of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Led by a passerby, they arrived before a huge courtyard. There was a flag over the courtyard with the two words "Desert Iron" written on it.

Several burly men stood at the entrance. Their bodies faintly gave off an iron-blooded aura, the kind only men who had crawled out from piles of corpses possessed.

Seeing the three approach, one of the burly men reached out to stop them. He had originally intended to bark at them angrily, but when he saw the alchemist robe on Xiao Tian, his tone changed.

"You three, this is the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Do you have business here?"

"My name is Xiao Tian. I'm a relative of your leaders. I want to see your leader and second leader. Tell them my name and they'll know," Xiao Tian said calmly.

"My lord alchemist, please come in with me. I'll take you inside to find our leader."

Looking at the Third Grade Alchemist robe on Xiao Tian, the burly man knew that such a thing might not even exist in the whole of Stone Desert City. Although Xiao Tian said he was a relative of the leader, he had no way to truly confirm it.

After thinking it over, the burly man gave another burly man a look. One of them immediately ran into the courtyard. His mindset was that they could not afford to offend him.

"My lord alchemist, I've first sent someone to notify the leader. Next, I'll take you directly inside."

The burly man made an inviting gesture and led Xiao Tian into the courtyard.

The other burly man who had run off earlier went straight into a hall.

He knocked on the door, then opened it. "Leader, this subordinate has something to report."

There were six or seven people in the hall. Seated at the head was a young man in white robes, a trace of wisdom and nearly imperceptible cunning constantly flashing through his bright eyes.

The young man in white robes was Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan's eldest brother, Xiao Ding, the current leader of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

"What happened for you to rush in like this?" Seeing the burly man enter, the white-robed man asked in a gentle voice. Though his tone was mild, it carried a hint of authority.

"Leader, there's a Third Grade Alchemist outside called Xiao Tian who says he wants to see you. He says he's your relative."

Being stared at by several higher-ups, the burly man instantly grew nervous. He took a deep breath, then reported what he had come to say.

"Say that again. What did you say his name was?"

A voice tinged with excitement came from below the main seat. It belonged to a young man in mercenary clothes, his body straight, though his eyes held a touch of laziness and fierceness.

The one who spoke was the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's second leader, and also Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan's second brother: Xiao Li.

Having been led near the hall, Xiao Tian heard that voice. Though it had been a long time since he had heard it, it still felt deeply familiar.

"Second Brother, don't tell me you've even forgotten me. If so, I'd be heartbroken."

Xiao Tian walked into the hall and appeared at the doorway, speaking with a slightly teasing tone.

Looking at the familiar face that appeared at the doorway, Xiao Li's body stiffened slightly. Then a smile from the bottom of his heart blossomed across his face.

"Little Tianzi, you actually came here! Hahaha, Second Brother missed you to death."

Xiao Li hurried to the doorway and sized up Xiao Tian, who was now a little taller than himself. He grinned foolishly, then took a step forward and hugged Xiao Tian outright, clapping his hand heavily against Xiao Tian's body to express the excitement in his heart.

Watching Xiao Tian reunite with his family, Xiao Yi Xian could not help feeling happy for him. Though she no longer had any family of her own, she had Xiao Tian now.

"Second Brother, if you keep hugging me and hitting me like this, you might just lose your handsome little brother."

When Xiao Tian heard that affectionate form of address, joy also surged through his heart. It carried the bond between them as brothers.