Xiao Chen? The Great Elder's Grandson?

Xiao Chen took Qing Lin away from Shimo City and found a secluded valley outside the city walls. The valley was small, surrounded by steep stone cliffs, with only a narrow entrance, making it a quiet place where they would not be disturbed.

"Young Master, what are we doing here?" Qing Lin asked in a small voice.

"Helping you cultivate," Xiao Chen said.

He pulled the six portions of medicinal herbs from his robes and retrieved a medicine cauldron from his system inventory.

Qing Lin stood to the side, watching Xiao Chen's movements with eyes full of curiosity. Could the Young Master really refine pills?

Xiao Chen sat cross-legged and channeled the Dou Qi within his body, condensing a cluster of flames in his palm before tossing it into the cauldron. The temperature inside the vessel rose instantly, the flames dancing and emitting a scorching heat.

Xiao Chen took a stalk of Foundation Building Grass and dropped it into the cauldron. Under the searing heat, the herb slowly melted into a pool of cyan liquid. Then came the second, then the third; one by one, the herbs were tossed into the cauldron and turned into liquid. These liquids slowly merged inside, their color shifting from cyan to a deep brown.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Chen withdrew his flames. The six portions of Foundation Building Spirit Liquid had been successfully refined, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

Qing Lin looked at the spirit liquid inside the cauldron, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Xiao Chen nodded, "Apply this to your body, then cultivate."

Qing Lin's face flushed red instantly. Apply it to her body?

"Young Master, I..." Qing Lin lowered her head.

"What is it?" Xiao Chen asked.

Qing Lin bit her lip, not knowing how to explain. If she had to apply it to her body, wouldn't that mean she had to take off her clothes?

Seeing her expression, Xiao Chen understood. "I will wait for you outside."

With that, Xiao Chen stood up and walked toward the valley entrance.

Qing Lin watched his retreating back, feeling a sense of relief mixed with an indescribable emotion. Only after Xiao Chen was far away did she take off her outer garments and apply the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid to her skin. The moment the liquid touched her, a cooling sensation surged through her entire body. Qing Lin sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and began to cultivate.

The night passed in a flash.

The next morning, Xiao Chen returned to the valley. Qing Lin was already dressed and standing in the center of the valley with an excited smile on her face. Seeing Xiao Chen, she ran over quickly.

"Young Master, I've broken through."

Xiao Chen looked her over and nodded. Three stages of Dou Disciple. To go from having no Dou Qi at all to three stages in a single night—this speed was even faster than Xiao Yan's had been back in the day. Xiao Chen marveled inwardly; as expected of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and the bloodline of the Snake-Person Tribe, this talent was truly monstrous.

"Thank you, Young Master." Qing Lin's eyes turned slightly red. Since she was small, no one had ever treated her this well, helping her cultivate and even refining spirit liquid specifically for her.

"No need to thank me," Xiao Chen said.

"Young Master, I want to take you somewhere," Qing Lin said.

"Where?"

"The Desert Iron Mercenary Group," Qing Lin said. "The two commanders treat me very well, and I would like to invite you to visit them."

Xiao Chen thought for a moment and nodded. "Let's go."

The Desert Iron Mercenary Group was one of the largest mercenary groups in Shimo City, with their base set up on an open lot in the north of the city. The commander, Xiao Ding, and the vice-commander, Xiao Li, were both members of the Xiao Clan. They had left the clan years ago to come to Shimo City and strike out on their own, establishing the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. After several years of development, the group now had hundreds of members and was considered a prominent force in Shimo City.

At this moment, inside the commander's tent, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sat together, their faces etched with anxiety.

"Qing Lin didn't return all night. Could something have happened to her?" Xiao Li asked.

Xiao Ding shook his head. "It's hard to say."

"That girl never stays out overnight," Xiao Li said, standing up. "Could she have been captured by another mercenary group?"

"That shouldn't be the case," Xiao Ding said. "Although Qing Lin has scales on her body, everyone knows she belongs to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Who would dare touch her?"

Xiao Li thought about it and agreed, but he couldn't help but worry since she hadn't returned all night. The girl was young and lacked strength; it was too dangerous for her to be out alone.

"Let's wait a little longer," Xiao Ding said. "If she isn't back by noon, I'll send people to look for her."

Xiao Li nodded and sat back down in his chair.

As they were speaking, the sound of footsteps came from outside the tent.

"Commander, Qing Lin is back," a mercenary said, lifting the curtain and poking his head in.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stood up simultaneously. They walked out of the tent and saw Qing Lin standing outside, followed by a young man in black robes with refined features.

"Qing Lin, where did you run off to?" Xiao Li walked up to her. "You didn't come back all night. Do you know how worried we were?"

Qing Lin lowered her head. "I'm sorry for making the two commanders worry."

"As long as you're fine," Xiao Ding said. "And who is this?"

"This is Young Master Xiao Chen," Qing Lin said. "Someone was bullying me on the street yesterday, and the Young Master saved me. He even helped me cultivate; I am already at the third stage of Dou Disciple now."

Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Xiao Ding's eyes. Three stages of Dou Disciple? Qing Lin hadn't even had one stage yesterday, and she had reached the third in a single night? This speed was simply too fast.

"Xiao Chen?" Xiao Li repeated the name, feeling that it sounded familiar.

Xiao Ding also frowned; he felt he had heard this name somewhere before. The two exchanged a glance and realized it at the same time. Xiao Chen was the grandson of the Great Elder of the Xiao Clan. They had seen him a few times when they were children in the clan, but they hadn't seen him since they left.

"Are you from the Xiao Clan?" Xiao Ding asked.

Xiao Chen nodded.

Xiao Ding walked forward, looked Xiao Chen up and down, and a smile appeared on his face. "Indeed, one of our own."

Xiao Li also walked over and patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder, "It's been several years, you've grown so big."

"Cousins." Xiao Chen said.

"Why call us cousins? Just call us Big Brother and Second Brother." Xiao Li laughed.

Xiao Ding nodded, "Since you've come to Shimo City, stay for a few days. If you need any help, just say the word."

Xiao Chen looked at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, feeling a sense of emotion. Although the two were from the Xiao Clan, life had not been easy when they first left the family. Relying on their own efforts to carve out a piece of the world in Shimo City—this kind of courage was not something an ordinary person possessed.

"Are you here in Shimo City for training?" Xiao Ding asked.

Xiao Chen nodded.

"How is your strength?" Xiao Li asked, "It shouldn't be bad if you were able to defeat those mercenaries who were bullying Qing Lin, right?"

Xiao Chen did not speak.

Xiao Li smiled and patted his shoulder again, "Let's go outside and spar. Let me see your strength."

"Second Brother." Xiao Ding frowned, "Xiao Chen is a guest."

"It's fine, we're all family, what's wrong with a little sparring?" Xiao Li said, "Besides, it's been a long time since I've stretched my limbs."

Xiao Chen looked at Xiao Li and nodded, "Alright."

Xiao Li was overjoyed and pulled Xiao Chen toward the outside of the tent.

Xiao Ding shook his head and followed them out.

Outside the Desert Iron Mercenary Group base was an open space usually used for training mercenaries. At this moment, many people had gathered; hearing that the vice-captain was going to spar with someone, the mercenaries had all run over to watch the excitement.

"Who is the vice-captain going to spar with?"

"I don't know, I heard it's a youth."

"A youth? Isn't that just looking for death? The vice-captain is a Dou Shi level expert."

"Just a youth, how strong could he be?"

The mercenaries discussed it among themselves, and no one was optimistic about Xiao Chen.

Qing Lin stood to the side, listening to the comments with a sense of indignation.

Xiao Li stood in the middle of the clearing, loosening his wrists, "Come on, let me see your strength."

Xiao Chen walked to the opposite side of Xiao Li and stood firm.

Xiao Li looked at Xiao Chen, calculating how much force to use. He couldn't hurt him, so he decided on thirty percent; thirty percent should be enough.

Xiao Li threw a punch, aiming for Xiao Chen's shoulder. The strike was fast and fierce, carrying the sound of tearing air.