The Xiao Clan Brothers

"You're saying Miss Xiao Yi Xian is a Dou Ling powerhouse?!" Xiao Ding nearly fell out of his chair, while the teacup in Xiao Li's hand dropped straight to the floor.

In the entire mercenary world of Stone Desert City, the strongest was Luo Bu of the Sand Mercenary Group, and he was only a Da Dou Shi.

Moreover, the Sand Mercenary Group wouldn't dare attack the Desert Iron Mercenary Group recklessly, because Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were both high-level Dou Shi, while the group also had two Two-Star Dou Shi.

By contrast, aside from Luo Bu, the Da Dou Shi, the Sand Mercenary Group had only one Dou Shi.

In terms of high-level combat power, the difference between the two sides actually wasn't that great.

As for low-level combat power, even the guards at the gates of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group were Nine-Star Dou Practitioners. One could imagine how powerful they were.

Even so, they had never imagined that a girl who looked about the same age as Fourth Brother was actually already a Dou Ling powerhouse.

Xiao Li couldn't help admiring him. "Fourth Young Master, you really are the best at living off a woman while still maintaining your dignity. Our clan's cousin Xun'er is a little rich girl, and now you've even latched onto a Dou Ling powerhouse."

Xiao Jin was speechless. "Second Brother, can't you wish me well for once? Besides, I'm already a Dou Wang. It's hard to say who's living off whom."

"Hahaha, Eldest Brother, Fourth Young Master says he's a Dou Wang." Xiao Li burst out laughing. "Eldest Brother, do you believe he's a Dou Wang, or do you believe I'm Father?"

Even the usually composed Xiao Ding began laughing. Rarely, he played along with his Second Brother. "Greetings, Clan Leader."

Now was the time for the family to enjoy themselves together. If they kept acting serious, it would be no fun.

Xiao Jin: "..."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled, never having expected the members of the Xiao Clan to be so amusing.

If she had known, she would have agreed immediately when Xiao Jin suggested that she go to Wutan City with him.

That way, not only could she start living an interesting life sooner, but she could also keep an eye on that woman named Ya Fei.

Only after they finished laughing did she say, "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Xiao Jin really is already a Dou Wang."

Smiles never disappeared. They only changed owners.

Xiao Li, who had been laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach, suddenly stopped laughing.

Instead, an amused smile appeared on Xiao Jin's face.

Go on, laugh. Why did you stop?

Are you naturally incapable of smiling?

When we get back to the Xiao Clan, I'll tell Father that you intend to usurp the throne.

"Fourth Brother, you really are already a Dou Wang?" Xiao Ding asked incredulously. If he remembered correctly, Fourth Brother was about the same age as Xiao Yan-zi, wasn't he?

Their birth dates might differ by only a few days.

Xiao Jin rose and walked to the center of the room. His Dou Qi Wings suddenly unfurled, and the fiery red wings raised the temperature in the room by several degrees.

Xiao Li looked as if someone had seized him by the throat, while Xiao Ding fell silent as well.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, surely you believe me now?" Xiao Jin helplessly spread his hands before sitting back down.

After a long while, Xiao Li finally said, "Eldest Brother, I think I'm dreaming. How about you pinch me?"

"Stop fooling around. Fourth Brother breaking through to Dou Wang is a good thing."

"How exactly do you cultivate, you brat?!" Xiao Li couldn't hold back anymore. He and Xiao Ding were both over twenty, yet they were still stuck in the Dou Shi realm.

This brat was only fifteen, yet he was already a Dou Wang powerhouse.

"Hehe, of course I had my own fortuitous encounter. I won't hide it from you two brothers—I'm also an Alchemist." A proud smile appeared on Xiao Jin's face. "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, do you still plan to develop in Stone Desert City?"

"Yes. The Desert Iron Mercenary Group is the fruit of my and my Second Brother's efforts. We won't abandon it so easily." Xiao Ding answered solemnly. "Besides, with you in the clan, we can rest assured."

Xiao Jin said, "It's good that Eldest Brother has ambition, but if the affairs of the mercenary group delay your cultivation, it'll be a case of gaining a little while losing a lot."

On Dou Qi Continent, strength was ultimately paramount.

Without absolute strength, no matter how well the mercenary group developed, it would still be putting the cart before the horse.

Xiao Ding nodded. "Fourth Brother is right. Although the Desert Iron Mercenary Group has developed very well over the years, my strength has indeed fallen behind considerably. I'm only a Five-Star Dou Shi at present. Second Brother is even worse. He's only a Three-Star Dou Shi."

Xiao Li's old face flushed red.

Being exposed by his own Eldest Brother wasn't embarrassing, but being exposed in front of an outsider like Xiao Yi Xian was another matter entirely.

Didn't I have any dignity?

Xiao Jin smiled. "Second Brother is too immature. Even I'm stronger than him."

"Fourth Young Master!" Xiao Li grew anxious. "You shouldn't hit a man where it hurts. Don't you understand that?"

"Fourth Brother is right. You're simply too impetuous, which is why your cultivation has never improved."

"Eldest Brother, I..." He could still put up a fight against Fourth Young Master, but with even Eldest Brother saying this, he could only obediently admit it.

Xiao Jin burst out laughing. As expected, smiles only changed owners.

After laughing to his heart's content, he took two jade boxes from his Storage Ring.

"Eldest Brother, this is a Ninth-Grade Profound Pill, the Myriad Spirit Source-Nurturing Pill. It's suited to your wood-attributed Dou Qi. Its main ingredient is the root system of the Bodhi Tree, refined with Earth Core Jade Mother Marrow and various other wondrous materials. After taking it, it can continuously transform the vitality of plants into life origin, cleanse the meridians within your body, and increase your cultivation speed."

Xiao Ding's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

What did I just hear?

A Ninth-Grade Profound Pill?

Could a mere Dou Shi like me even come into contact with such a treasure?

Although the Myriad Spirit Source-Nurturing Pill Xiao Jin had brought out had not reached the level of a Ninth-Grade Golden Pill, its effects were about the same as the Ninth-Grade Golden Pill he had provided earlier. Both improved a person's cultivation aptitude from its very source.

He was willing to invest in outsiders, so why couldn't he invest in his own family?

Xiao Yan had his own fortuitous encounters. As the protagonist of the original story and the chosen son of Dou Qi Continent, he didn't need Xiao Jin to worry about his opportunities.

Both Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had good character. Xiao Li, in particular, possessed a fierce streak. He was the kind of ruthless man who dared to take the Life-Devouring Pill.

Even if he couldn't advance to Dou Saint in the future, reaching Peak Dou Zun would be no problem.

When the time came, if Xiao Yan could break through to Dou Emperor, then with the support of his Dou Emperor Bloodline, breaking through to Dou Saint would be a certainty.

"Fourth Brother, this is far too precious!" Although Xiao Ding's cultivation was low, he still knew what a treasure a Ninth-Grade Profound Pill was. "You're already a Dou Wang powerhouse. You need this pill more than I do."

"Eldest Brother, what are you thinking?" Xiao Jin pushed away his blocking hand in exasperation. "Do you think I would mistreat myself? To tell you the truth, I took a Ninth-Grade Medicinal Pill a long time ago. Otherwise, how do you think I broke through to Dou Wang?"

No matter how heaven-defying his aptitude was, without the assistance of a Ninth-Grade Medicinal Pill, Xiao Jin couldn't possibly have broken through to Dou Wang at the age of fifteen.

"Eldest Brother, let me tell you the truth. Our Xiao Clan will face extremely powerful enemies in the future. Within three years at most, the Xiao Clan will face the calamity of annihilation. The Xiao Clan can't rely entirely on me alone. You also need to grow stronger, so that the Xiao Clan can remain safe."

Meeting Xiao Jin's serious gaze, Xiao Ding hesitated. "Fourth Brother, are you serious?"

"Completely serious!"

Xiao Jin briefly explained the matter of the Soul Hall. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were left dumbfounded.

In the end, Xiao Ding still accepted the Ninth-Grade Profound Pill.

Fourth Brother was right. The Xiao Clan couldn't rely on just one person. Everyone else had to grow stronger as well.