Hand Over the Goods, and I'll Spare Your Lives!

Xiao Li patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder and said excitedly.

"Third Brother, you're incredible."

"You even defeated Queen Medusa and obtained a Heavenly Flame."

"With you around, how could our Xiao Clan ever fail to prosper? Hahaha."

Xiao Ding was too excited to speak.

He patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder, his eyes slightly red.

For the Xiao Clan to have a descendant like him was truly the clan's blessing.

Xiao Ding took a deep breath and suppressed the excitement in his heart.

He looked at the Green Lotus Core Flame in Xiao Chen's hand and spoke.

"Third Brother, I'm afraid subduing this Heavenly Flame will be extremely difficult."

"Are you confident?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

"Yes."

Hearing that, Xiao Ding was relieved.

Third Brother was already a Dou Zong-level powerhouse.

Subduing a Heavenly Flame should not be difficult for him.

"That's good," Xiao Ding said.

"Let's go. We'll return to the base first."

Xiao Chen gave a sound of acknowledgment.

The group turned and headed toward the Mo Tie Mercenary Group's base.

Qing Lin followed behind them. The Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake had shrunk itself down and coiled around her arm.

Xiao Yi Xian walked beside Xiao Chen, staring at the Green Lotus Core Flame in his hand with eyes full of wonder.

A Heavenly Flame.

She had actually seen a Heavenly Flame with her own eyes.

Mo Tie Mercenary Group base.

As soon as the group entered the main hall, Xiao Ding had someone bring out food and wine.

"Third Brother, we have to celebrate properly today."

Xiao Li raised his wine cup, his face filled with smiles.

"Third Brother, when you defeated Queen Medusa, I was completely dumbfounded."

"She was a peak Dou Emperor powerhouse, yet she couldn't even withstand two moves against you."

Xiao Ding nodded as well.

"Third Brother's strength truly is astonishing."

Xiao Chen raised his cup, took a sip, and said nothing.

Xiao Li spoke again.

"Third Brother, what realm are you actually at now?"

"Nine-Star Dou Emperor Peak," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Li froze.

"Nine-Star Dou Emperor Peak? But when you defeated Queen Medusa, it was so effortless. You must have at least Dou Zong strength, right?"

Xiao Chen glanced at him without speaking.

Seeing that he would not answer, Xiao Li did not press further.

Just then, a burst of commotion came from outside the hall.

A mercenary covered in blood staggered inside.

"First Commander, Second Commander, something's wrong."

Xiao Ding abruptly rose to his feet.

"What happened?"

The mercenary clutched his chest, his face deathly pale.

"The Sha Mercenary Group... they've attacked us."

"Many of our brothers have been injured."

Xiao Ding's expression darkened.

Xiao Li also stood, his eyes blazing with fury.

"The Sha Mercenary Group? What are they trying to do?"

The mercenary was about to speak when an arrogant voice came from outside.

"Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, get the hell out here."

A burly middle-aged man strode into the hall.

More than a dozen mercenaries followed behind him, each armed and looking menacing.

The Sha Mercenary Group's leader, Luo Bu.

A Da Dou Shi-level powerhouse.

Luo Bu entered the hall and swept his gaze over everyone present.

His eyes settled on Xiao Ding, and a cold sneer curled across his lips.

"Xiao Ding, I heard you got your hands on some treasure?"

"Hand it over, and I'll spare your lives."

Xiao Ding's expression darkened.

"Luo Bu, this is not a place for you to run wild."

Luo Bu burst into laughter.

"Not a place for me to run wild?"

"Xiao Ding, who the hell do you think you are?"

"If you don't hand over that treasure today, I'll wipe out your Mo Tie Mercenary Group."

Luo Bu stood in the center of the hall, a sneer hanging on his lips.

He glanced at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Xiao Ding, my patience is limited."

"Hand over the goods, and I'll spare your worthless lives."

"If you refuse, no one from your Mo Tie Mercenary Group will leave here alive today."

Xiao Li abruptly stood up, fury burning in his eyes.

"Luo Bu, you've gone too far."

He activated the Dou Qi within him and was about to rush forward.

Xiao Ding grabbed him.

"Second Brother, don't act rashly."

Xiao Li gritted his teeth. "Big Brother, he's already bullying us right to our faces."

Luo Bu laughed loudly.

"Xiao Li, you've got more guts than your big brother."

"But guts are just guts. If you lack strength, you lack strength."

His gaze swept over Xiao Li before landing on Qing Lin in the corner.

Luo Bu's eyes lit up.

Though Qing Lin was still young, her features were delicate, and her pair of jade-green eyes were especially striking.

"Oh, this little girl is quite pretty."

Luo Bu licked his lips, a lecherous glint flashing through his eyes.

"Xiao Ding, is this girl one of your Mo Tie Mercenary Group too?"

"Hand her over as well. I'm in a good mood today, so I might let you off."

Xiao Ding's expression darkened.

Xiao Li was even more enraged.

"Luo Bu, you're courting death."

Qing Lin's skin crawled under Luo Bu's gaze, and she instinctively took a step back.

She hid behind Xiao Chen, curling her small body into a ball.

Xiao Chen sensed Qing Lin trembling behind him.

He reached out and gently patted her head.

"Don't be afraid."

"You don't need to worry about trash at this level."

Qing Lin raised her head and looked at Xiao Chen's back.

For some reason, hearing those words made much of the fear in her heart vanish at once.

Luo Bu's face darkened when he heard Xiao Chen.

"Kid, what did you say?"

Xiao Chen looked at him and replied calmly.

"I said you're trash."

Luo Bu's face turned completely grim.

The dozen or so mercenaries behind him drew their weapons one after another and glared at Xiao Chen.

"Kid, do you know who I am?"

"I'm Luo Bu, leader of the Sha Mercenary Group."

"In the Tagor Desert, no one has ever dared speak to me like that."

Xiao Chen looked at him without speaking.

Seeing this, Luo Bu thought he was scared and became even more smug.

"Kid, kneel and kowtow three times right now. I can consider sparing your life."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of pity in the other's eyes.

Not pity for Xiao Chen.

Pity for Luo Bu.

Xiao Li could not help but speak.

"Luo Bu, I advise you not to seek death."

Luo Bu froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Xiao Li, what did you say? I'm seeking death?"

"Because of this kid?"

Xiao Ding spoke as well.

"Luo Bu, this is my third brother."

"You'd better leave now, or bear the consequences yourself."

Luo Bu laughed even harder.

"Your third brother?"

He looked Xiao Chen up and down, his eyes full of contempt.

"Kid, your eldest and second brothers are at least Da Dou Shi."

"There isn't even the slightest trace of Dou Qi fluctuation from you. Don't tell me you're not even a Dou Zhe?"

The mercenaries behind Luo Bu laughed along with him.

"Leader, this kid looks like complete trash."

"Exactly. He doesn't even have Dou Qi, yet he dares act arrogant before the leader."

"Hurry up and kneel to kowtow, kid."

Xiao Chen looked at Luo Bu, his expression unchanged.

After Luo Bu had laughed enough, his face darkened.

"Kid, since you refuse to appreciate my kindness, don't blame me for being rude."

He activated the Dou Qi within him, erupting with the aura of a Da Dou Shi.

He struck his palm toward Xiao Chen's chest.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li remained where they were, not moving at all.

Luo Bu's palm landed on Xiao Chen's chest.

Bang.

A dull thud rang out.

Xiao Chen did not budge in the slightest.

"How is that possible?"

Xiao Chen looked at him and raised a finger.

A stream of Dou Qi shot from his fingertip and pierced directly into Luo Bu's dantian.

Crack.

The sound of something shattering.

The Dou Qi inside Luo Bu began to drain away wildly.

His face instantly turned deathly pale.