Xiao Ce: I Will Surpass My Ancestors

"Captain!"

The Sand Mercenary Group members cried out in alarm, drawing their weapons and glaring furiously at the Moti Mercenary Group.

Two others hurried over to help Wen Hao to his feet.

"Cough, cough!"

Wen Hao coughed several times and spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm.

After the battle just now, his aura had weakened considerably. His expression as he looked at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li was filled with shock.

I actually lost to these two brothers?

He had thought that, as a Two-Star Doushi, dealing with these two brothers would be effortless. That was why he had wanted to use this chance to teach them a lesson and earn merit before the group leader.

Yet instead of gaining anything, he had suffered a loss and been severely injured by the brothers working together.

"What a Moti Mercenary Group. Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, I truly underestimated you!"

Xiao Ding's cold gaze fell upon Wen Hao, his eyes flashing sharply.

"Our Moti Mercenary Group does not seek trouble, but neither do we fear it. If your Sand Mercenary Group insists on taking things too far, we will accompany you to the end. Even if we die, we'll shatter a few of your teeth first."

In truth, Xiao Ding dared to be so forceful because he knew the Sand Mercenary Group did not dare attack the Moti Mercenary Group openly.

There were countless mercenary groups in Shimo City. If the Sand Mercenary Group tried to exterminate them simply because its recruitment attempt had failed, the other mercenary groups would inevitably feel threatened and join forces. Even the Sand Mercenary Group would struggle to bear the consequences.

Furthermore, with his mysteriously powerful cousin Xiao Ce and the even more mysterious Elder Hai, Xiao Ding truly did not fear the Sand Mercenary Group.

If he had not been too embarrassed to ask, he would have wanted Xiao Ce and Elder Hai to pay the Sand Mercenary Group a visit.

"A small mercenary group with only a One-Star Dou Shi actually dares to spout such nonsense before my Sand Mercenary Group? You may have defeated me, but I am merely one of the Sand Mercenary Group's six captains."

"Today's matter is not over. Just you wait!"

Wen Hao snorted coldly. Having no face left to remain here, he immediately shouted.

"We're leaving!"

Watching the Sand Mercenary Group members depart, Xiao Ce frowned slightly and looked at Xiao Ding beside him. "Cousin Xiao Ding, letting this man go will only leave behind trouble. Why not keep him here?"

At those words, cold sweat immediately broke out across Wen Hao's forehead, and his steps quickened.

The Moti Mercenary Group wouldn't do something so foolish, would they?

No, Xiao Ding isn't that impulsive. If he truly kept me here, then the Sand Mercenary Group and the Moti Mercenary Group would be locked in an endless feud.

By then, the Sand Mercenary Group would have a perfectly justified excuse to attack the Moti Mercenary Group, and the other factions would have nothing to say about it.

Xiao Ding said gravely, "We cannot act. The Sand Mercenary Group has Da Dou Shi experts. If we keep them here, it will be equivalent to formally declaring war on the Sand Mercenary Group."

"Da Dou Shi?" Xiao Ce's lips curved slightly. "If that is the only reason, then Cousin Xiao Ding need not worry. Elder Hai and I will naturally take action."

"If you two cousins harbor ambitions of unifying all the major forces in Shimo City, then let go and act boldly."

"Th-this..." Both Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were stunned. Xiao Ce's words showed not the slightest regard for the Sand Mercenary Group.

At the same time, those words instantly stirred the ambitions within them.

Xiao Li's breathing grew rapid, and a burning light flashed through his eyes.

"Cousin Xiao Ce, are you serious?"

"Of course!"

Seeing Xiao Ce, Xiao Yi Xian, and Hai Bodong all wearing calm expressions, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance and instantly made up their minds.

"Then let's do it!"

A fierce glint flashed across Xiao Li's face as he called out to the surrounding Moti Mercenary Group members.

"Brothers, catch up to those Sand Mercenary Group bastards and leave none of them behind! Those who surrender will be spared!"

"Charge!"

With that, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li charged out first, pursuing the Sand Mercenary Group members who had not yet gone far.

"Not good!"

"Xiao Ding and Xiao Li have gone mad! They actually dare to attack."

"Run!"

Sensing the commotion behind him, Wen Hao's expression changed. Disregarding everything else, he immediately took a step forward and sprinted madly toward Shimo City.

Although the Sand Mercenary Group was far stronger than the Moti Mercenary Group, he only had a small squad with him, and he himself was seriously injured. How could they possibly be a match for the Moti Mercenary Group?

Running first is the best option!

But Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were unwilling to let such a fine opportunity slip away. As they rushed forward, they shouted, "Those who surrender will be spared!"

With their strength, charging into a group of ordinary mercenaries was completely one-sided. Yet neither of them paid any attention to the rank-and-file mercenaries. Their eyes were fixed solely on Wen Hao.

He fled, they pursued. Even if he grew wings, he could not escape!

Meanwhile, the Moti Mercenary Group members also charged into the crowd.

A cowardly commander made cowardly troops; a fierce commander made a fierce force. That perfectly described the Moti Mercenary Group's current state.

The Moti Mercenary Group members knew full well how powerful the Sand Mercenary Group was, but seeing their two leaders charging at the front, every one of them fought without fear of death.

Xiao Ce, Xiao Yi Xian, and Hai Bodong followed at a leisurely pace. The three did not immediately intervene, only acting when a Moti Mercenary Group member was in mortal danger.

In just over ten minutes, eleven members of the Sand Mercenary Group's Sixth Squad had died. All the others surrendered, and Wen Hao was subdued by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li as well.

"That was satisfying!" Xiao Li laughed loudly.

"We only benefited from Cousin Xiao Ce's support. Otherwise, we would have had no choice but to endure for another three to five years."

Xiao Li asked curiously, "Cousin Xiao Ce, what is your strength now? Two years ago, you were clearly only a Five-Star Dou Zhe."

Xiao Ce smiled but did not answer Xiao Li's question. He merely spread open his hand.

A ball of tangible flame surged up with a whoosh.

Back in Wutan City, he had concealed himself to avoid standing out too much. With so many people around, word might spread to the Imperial Capital or even the Misty Cloud Sect, causing unnecessary trouble.

But now, far from the Imperial Capital, he possessed a certain degree of ability to protect himself. Naturally, there was no longer any need to hide.

When Xiao Ding and Xiao Li saw the flame in Xiao Ce's hand, their pupils suddenly contracted.

"Dou Qi Materialization, condensed true flame!"

"Cousin Xiao Ce, y-you're a Dou Ling!"

The two cried out in shock. Even Xiao Ding, who had always been steady, lost control of his expression at this moment, his face filled with disbelief.

Xiao Ding had once guessed that Xiao Ce was a Da Dou Shi expert, but he later dismissed the notion.

After all, a fifteen-year-old Da Dou Shi was something even their third brother might not have achieved without losing his talent, much less Xiao Ce, whose talent had been slightly inferior to their third brother's.

"C-Cousin Xiao Ce, how exactly did you cultivate? Two years ago, you were clearly only a Five-Star Dou Zhe."

"Don't tell me you went astray for the sake of strength and cultivated some evil technique!"

A trace of worry appeared on Xiao Li's face. His shock outweighed his excitement.

Xiao Ding was much calmer. If such an evil technique truly existed, it was not as though it could not be cultivated.

Xiao Ce smiled and reassured him, "Cousin Xiao Li, there is no need to worry. I have my current strength because of another fortuitous opportunity. As for the strength you saw from me two years ago, that was merely something I deliberately disguised."

Only then did Xiao Li let out a breath of relief.

"A tree that stands above the forest will be toppled by the wind. Cousin Xiao Ce was right to conceal his strength."

Xiao Ding also recovered and accepted this fact. Then his expression turned wildly ecstatic.

"With Cousin Xiao Ce here, our Xiao Clan will surely restore its former glory."

Watching the two excited men, Xiao Ce remained calm and composed.

"I will surpass my ancestors and lead the clan to rise once more!"