Investment

Everything in Mo City had been settled, and Xiao Jin took Xiao Yi Xian to the next place without stopping.

On the road, Xiao Yi Xian tried several times to speak, but forced the words back down.

Fortunately, aside from being terribly slow when it came to emotions, Xiao Jin was quite perceptive in other aspects.

"What's wrong? Why do I feel like you have something to say?"

Xiao Yi Xian lightly bit her red lips. After hesitating for a long while, she finally asked, "Who is that Ya Fei?"

"She's an auctioneer at the Miteer Auction House and a member of the Mite'er Family." Xiao Jin did not suspect anything and smiled as he explained.

"Then why did you ask Hai Bodong to pay special attention to her?"

"Because I have a partnership with her." Xiao Jin spoke as though it were only natural. "You should know that I'm from the Xiao Clan. For my sake, Sister Ya Fei and the Xiao Clan have already begun quite a few collaborations. However, her authority isn't high, so the partnerships she can develop are limited. If she can advance further, the Xiao Clan will gain even more benefits."

"That's all?"

"Not only that. Like you, she has also taken a Ninth-Grade Golden Pill." Xiao Jin continued, "She's only twenty-one this year, yet she's already an Eight-Star Great Dou Master."

Unfortunately, Ya Fei had taken the Ninth-Grade Golden Pill too late. Otherwise, at her age, even if she had not reached the Dou Wang realm, she should have at least become a high-level Dou Ling.

Just as he had invested in Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Jin had also invested in Ya Fei.

The former was because the Woe Poison Body was worth investing in. In the original story, Xiao Yi Xian did not learn the method of condensing a Poison Pill until she reached the Dou Zong realm. Later, with Xiao Yan's help, she successfully advanced to become a Dou Saint.

Now that he had condensed a Poison Pill for her in advance, her breakthrough speed would only be faster than in the original story, and her achievements would be even greater.

With the assistance of a Ninth-Grade Golden Pill as well, Xiao Jin did not believe Xiao Yi Xian's cultivation speed would be slower than Xun'er's, despite Xun'er possessing a Dou Emperor Bloodline.

Now that he knew about the threat posed by the Soul Clan, how could he not find some allies for himself?

Unfortunately, most of the Dou Saints in the original story had been divided among the Ancient Emperor Clans.

The rest almost all had their own forces. Given Xiao Jin's current strength and the deterrence of the Soul Hall, it was not easy for him to recruit them.

On the contrary, he could invest in those who were steadily growing stronger and help them break through more quickly.

People said that it was easy to add flowers to brocade but difficult to send charcoal in the snow. Recruiting those renowned Dou Saints often came at a great cost, and future cooperation might even lead to disputes over benefits.

But people like Xiao Yi Xian, once they acknowledged someone, would become utterly devoted.

Xiao Jin believed that whether toward Xiao Yi Xian or Ya Fei, he had done his best to achieve a win-win situation.

Although he did intend to make use of them, the price of a Ninth-Grade Golden Pill was not something an ordinary person could afford.

Besides, had Xiao Jin treated them poorly?

He had helped Xiao Yi Xian condense a Poison Pill, resolved the hidden danger of her Woe Poison Body, provided her with many high-level cultivation techniques and Dou Skills, and saved her from sinking into despair.

He had improved Ya Fei's aptitude and given her the strength to control her own fate.

He did not think there was anything improper about what he had done.

Compared to Xiao Yi Xian, Ya Fei's talent was focused more on business.

Without a solid economic foundation, it was impossible to properly manage a force.

Moreover, he had pills capable of changing Ya Fei's aptitude. Why not let her develop in both business and cultivation?

Therefore, to Xiao Jin, everything he did was an investment.

Once it succeeded, both Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian could become Dou Saint-level experts in the future.

This investment definitely would not be a loss.

After hearing his explanation, Xiao Yi Xian said nothing more, though her heart felt sour.

Her instincts told her that the woman called Ya Fei had to be very beautiful.

Just when there's already a childhood sweetheart to deal with, another equally beautiful woman appears.

Do I even have a chance?

The two traveled in silence. Several days later, they arrived at another city in the desert—Stone Desert City.

It was also the city closest to the core region of the Tagor Desert, and conflicts with the Snake-Person Race occurred frequently.

It was also the place where Xiao Zhan's eldest and second sons had established their mercenary group.

The two had left the Xiao Clan two years ago and come to Stone Desert City to establish the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

After bringing Xiao Yi Xian to the entrance of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, he saw four guards standing ramrod straight at the gate, their sharp eyes scanning the pedestrians passing by.

When they saw Xiao Jin and Xiao Yi Xian approaching, one of them said in a powerful voice, "Please stop, you two. This is the headquarters of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. If you have no business here, please leave."

Xiao Jin was somewhat surprised. With his cultivation, he could naturally tell that all four guards at the entrance were Nine-Star Dou Practitioners.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were only Dou Shi, yet they could actually send such experts to guard the entrance. It seemed that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had developed even better than he had imagined.

Since it was the mercenary group of his Eldest Brother and Second Brother, Xiao Jin naturally could not be discourteous.

"Brother, please report this. Just tell them that Xiao Jin of the Xiao Clan has come to visit my Eldest Brother and Second Brother."

The guard froze, then became somewhat more respectful. "Young Master, you're from the Xiao Clan?"

"Mm. The two leaders of your group are my Eldest Brother and Second Brother. Just tell them that Fourth Young Master has arrived."

"Yes. Please wait a moment, Fourth Young Master. I'll be right back."

A few minutes later, two young men hurried out of the mercenary group.

When he saw Xiao Jin, a faint smile appeared on the leading young man's face, while the young man behind him grinned so widely that his back teeth were almost exposed.

"Fourth Young Master!"

"Fourth Brother!"

When Xiao Ding and Xiao Li saw their younger brother, both of them were overjoyed.

Xiao Jin had a good relationship with Xiao Yan. After all, the two had grown up fighting each other.

Likewise, he also had a good relationship with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

Everyone in Xiao Zhan's family was decent. They had never treated him with prejudice simply because he was an adopted son.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, long time no see." Xiao Jin was also delighted. Reunions after long separations always brought joy.

"Fourth Young Master, aren't you going to introduce her to your brothers?" Xiao Li noticed the silent girl following behind Fourth Brother and could not help wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

This kid is impressive. He has a Cousin Xun'er in the clan who is devoted to him, and now there's another girl outside who is no less beautiful. He's enjoying all the romantic luck by himself.

Only then did Xiao Jin react. He looked somewhat apologetically at Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Sorry, I forgot to introduce you. Eldest Brother, Second Brother, this is Xiao Yi Xian. She's a very important friend of mine."

He then pointed at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. "Xiao Yi Xian, this is my Eldest Brother, and this is my Second Brother."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li hurriedly said, "Miss Xiao Yi Xian, welcome to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group."

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, you're too kind." A faint smile hung at the corners of Xiao Yi Xian's lips. The sourness in her heart caused by Ya Fei's appearance had long since vanished.

The way she addressed them left Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stunned for a moment.

Eldest Brother? Second Brother?

Is she really that familiar with them already?

Xiao Li could not resist pulling Xiao Jin aside and asking in a lowered voice, "Does Cousin Xun'er know about this?"

"Know about what?"

"About Xiao Yi Xian."

"She knows. Xun'er even said I should bring Xiao Yi Xian back to the Xiao Clan." Xiao Jin answered honestly, not understanding what he meant.

Xiao Li could not help giving him a thumbs-up. "Fourth Young Master, you're incredible. Teach Second Brother sometime how to win a girl's favor."

Xiao Jin could neither laugh nor cry. "Second Brother, what are you thinking? Xiao Yi Xian and I are just friends. We don't have the kind of relationship you're imagining."

Xiao Li rolled his eyes. You can fool your buddies, but don't fool yourself.

Just friends?

With the way you two looked at each other just now, if you're innocent, I'll bow to you on the spot.