Moti Mercenary Group: Reuniting with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li

Shimo City was somewhat smaller in scale than Mo City.

After entering Shimo City, Xiao Ce first gathered some information. Upon learning that the Moti Mercenary Group had been established a year ago, he took Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Bodong to the Moti Mercenary Group's headquarters.

After passing through several streets, the group of three soon arrived before the gates of a large courtyard.

Their appearance immediately drew the attention of several burly men standing outside the courtyard.

Whether it was Xiao Ce or Xiao Yi Xian, their looks and bearing were far too extraordinary, utterly out of place in this loess city filled with a rugged atmosphere.

Even Hai Bodong looked like a proud old aristocrat.

Yet following behind Xiao Ce and Xiao Yi Xian, he looked more like their steward.

Hai Bodong looked at the courtyard before him and frowned slightly.

He had heard Xiao Ce say that his two cousins were the leaders of this Moti Mercenary Group.

This mercenary group looked rather shabby!

At that moment, Xiao Ce stepped forward and said, "Please inform Leaders Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that Xiao Ce has come to visit!"

"Xiao Ce?"

He shared the same surname as the first and second leaders?

Upon hearing this, the burly gatekeeper immediately gave Xiao Ce a careful look and did not dare show the slightest neglect.

"Please wait a moment, little brother. I'll inform the two leaders right away."

"Alright!"

Before long, hurried footsteps came from the distance.

"Hahaha, I never expected it really would be Cousin Xiao Ce!"

A hearty laugh rang out. Immediately afterward, a sturdy young man in mercenary attire strode over from afar.

Beside him was another young man dressed in a white robe, with a somewhat refined temperament.

"Cousin Xiao Li, Cousin Xiao Ding, it's been a long time!"

Meeting familiar faces in a foreign land, Xiao Ce greeted them with a smile.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had left the clan to seek their fortunes two years ago, and Xiao Ce had not seen them since.

Xiao Li had a forthright personality. He stepped forward and patted Xiao Ce on the shoulder.

"Two years without seeing you, and you've grown this tall?"

Xiao Ding was nearly ten years older than Xiao Ce, and they had barely met even when they were in the clan.

Xiao Li, however, was only a few years older than Xiao Ce, so the two had interacted quite often in the clan.

Xiao Ce nodded with a smile. "I went out to gain experience. After hearing news of you two, I decided to come and see you. I just don't know whether you welcome me."

"Hahaha, welcome? You're welcome a thousand times over!"

"Come in, all of you!"

With that, they led Xiao Ce's group into the Moti Mercenary Group's reception hall.

After taking their seats, Xiao Ding looked toward Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Bodong. Curiosity flashed through his eyes as he smiled and said, "Cousin Xiao Ce, aren't you going to introduce these two to us?"

The moment Xiao Ding saw Xiao Ce, Xiao Yi Xian, and Hai Bodong, he could tell that none of them were ordinary.

There was no need to mention Xiao Ce. Although Xiao Ding was not particularly familiar with him, he knew that Xiao Ce was the Xiao Clan's greatest genius after Xiao Yanzi, having broken through to the Dou Zhe realm at twelve, only one year later than Xiao Yanzi.

In Xiao Ding's eyes, the woman in the pale purple dress was equally far from simple.

Although Xiao Ding's talent could not compare to Xiao Li's, he was slightly older and had already broken through to become a One-Star Dou Shi.

Yet in his perception, the purple-dressed woman's realm was actually on par with his own.

One had to know that she looked to be about the same age as Xiao Ce.

Finally, there was the elderly man with a faintly aloof air between his brows. He looked like an ordinary old man, without the slightest trace of aura leaking from his body, yet he gave Xiao Ding immense pressure for no apparent reason. Fortunately, Xiao Ding was calm enough.

"This is Xiao Yi Xian, a friend I met in Qingshan Town and also my beloved."

"As for this one, he is a senior I met by chance. We hit it off splendidly, so you can simply call him Elder Hai!"

Xiao Ce introduced the two with a smile.

Xiao Yi Xian, Elder Hai!

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's gazes lingered briefly on the two of them.

Especially when he looked at Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Li winked at Xiao Ce as though saying, Not bad, kid!

Xiao Ding was slightly surprised, but he was also happy for Xiao Ce.

For Xiao Ce to find such a beautiful and talented woman was undoubtedly a wonderful thing for the Xiao Clan.

Afterward, Xiao Ce also introduced Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Bodong.

After some conversation, the atmosphere gradually grew lively.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li also told Xiao Ce quite a bit about their experiences after leaving the Xiao Clan.

After leaving home, the two had journeyed east to gain experience, eventually arriving in Shimo City.

Because they wanted to find a way forward for Xiao Yan so that he would not be bullied by others in the future, they established the Moti Mercenary Group.

After a year of hard work, relying on sheer ruthlessness, the two had barely managed to gain a foothold in Shimo City and make quite a name for themselves.

Especially after Xiao Ding broke through to the Doushi realm, the Moti Mercenary Group's standing in Shimo City rose accordingly.

Xiao Li said with a hint of pride, "Cousin Xiao Ce, let me tell you, if you want to improve your strength quickly, blindly cultivating in seclusion isn't enough. When I left the Xiao Clan two years ago, I was only a One-Star Dou Zhe, but now I've already reached the Nine-Star Dou Zhe realm. In the past, I wouldn't even have dared dream of it."

"Congratulations, Cousin Xiao Li. If Xiao Yan and the clan leader knew about your achievements now, they would definitely be happy and proud of you."

Upon hearing this, longing flashed through Xiao Li's eyes.

"I wonder whether Father is doing well now. And Xiao Yanzi... I wonder if he's being bullied in the Xiao Clan."

At the mention of Xiao Yan, both Xiao Li and Xiao Ding's moods sank somewhat.

"You two needn't worry. Xiao Yan is blessed by fate. Perhaps it won't be long before his talent returns."

"I hope so!"

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li forced out smiles.

Then Xiao Li asked curiously, "Cousin Xiao Ce, you were already a Five-Star Dou Zhe when I left. Two years have passed now, so you must have broken through to the Doushi realm, right?"

Five-Star Dou Zhe?

At those words, both Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Ce strangely.

Well, well. Who would have thought this kid had even kept it hidden from his own family?

Hai Bodong in particular understood Xiao Ce's habit of concealing his realm all too well.

Xiao Ce's methods of suppressing his aura were simply too masterful. Even Hai Bodong had misjudged him the first time he saw him.

Beside Xiao Li, Xiao Ding was also curious about Xiao Ce's cultivation.

Previously, he had been unable to see through Xiao Ce's strength, so he had guessed that Xiao Ce was several minor realms stronger than himself, somewhere between a Four-Star Dou Shi and a Six-Star Dou Shi.

But seeing the strange expressions on Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Bodong's faces, the ever-observant Xiao Ding sensed that something was off.

"I did indeed break through to the Doushi realm." Xiao Ce smiled faintly.

"Impressive. As expected of the Xiao Clan's greatest genius after Xiao Yanzi."

"Tsk, tsk, a Doushi at fifteen. Wouldn't that scare countless people senseless if word got out?"

Xiao Li gave Xiao Ce a thumbs-up.

Xiao Ding frowned slightly, feeling that something was wrong but unable to put his finger on it.

Judging by Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Bodong's expressions, Xiao Ce's strength seemed far more complicated than they had imagined.

But Xiao Ce had only been a Five-Star Dou Zhe two years ago.

Even after two years, there was no way he could have surpassed a Da Dou Shi, right?