Who is this young man?

The few mercenaries walked out of the hall and into the courtyard.

The mercenaries outside immediately swarmed around them, asking questions in a chaotic jumble.

"How did it go? What did the Commander say?"

"Yeah, did the Commander agree?"

"Is it a go or not?"

The few mercenaries exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"The Commander didn't agree. We already proposed the idea, but the Commander rejected it."

The leader of the mercenaries spoke up.

"Why?"

"Why else? Xiao Chen is the Commander's cousin. The Commander wants to protect him, what else could it be?" The mercenaries who spoke curled their lips, carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.

Upon hearing this, disappointment appeared on the faces of the mercenaries.

"The Commander is too muddled. To risk the lives of hundreds of brothers for an outsider."

"Exactly. Queen Medusa is at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm; no one in the entire Jia Ma Empire is her match. Once Queen Medusa comes for revenge, we will all be wiped out."

"Xiao Chen is courting death and wants to drag us down with him."

"If we had known it would come to this, we shouldn't have let him join the mercenary group in the first place."

Complaints rose one after another, and the emotions of the mercenaries grew increasingly agitated.

"Alright, everyone, say less."

An older mercenary spoke up, "The Commander has already made his decision. It's useless for us to say anything. Instead of grumbling here, we might as well do something useful."

"Then what do we do? Just wait for death?"

"Take it one step at a time." The mercenary sighed, "We'll deal with it if it actually comes to that."

The mercenaries discussed for a while before dispersing.

Although they were dissatisfied, no one dared to actually go and cause trouble for Xiao Chen; after all, he was someone who had killed a Dou King powerhouse.

Inside the hall.

Xiao Ding sat in a chair looking at Xiao Chen, his face carrying a hint of apology.

"Xiao Chen, let me state again, don't take those mercenaries' words to heart."

"I know."

"They are all rough men."

Xiao Li also said, "Don't lower yourself to their level."

Xiao Chen nodded.

"But Xiao Chen, are you really not worried at all about the matter with Queen Medusa?"

"Worried about what?"

Looking at him, Xiao Ding was stunned for a moment.

"She is at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm," Xiao Ding said. "No one in the entire Jia Ma Empire is her match."

"And so what?"

Xiao Ding was stunned, and Xiao Li was also stunned.

And so what?

This was said far too lightly.

"Xiao Chen, I know your strength is very high."

Xiao Li said, "But Queen Medusa is not the Great Elder. She is at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, many times stronger than the Great Elder."

"Even if she comes, you might not be her match."

Standing up, Xiao Chen said indifferently, "Queen Medusa's strength is nothing but a fart."

Xiao Ding was stunned, and Xiao Li was also stunned. The two looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes. If these words of Xiao Chen's were to get out, they would definitely cause a massive sensation and shock.

Queen Medusa's strength is nothing but a fart?

If others heard this, they would likely think Xiao Chen had gone mad.

That was the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, the strongest existence in the entire Jia Ma Empire, yet in Xiao Chen's mouth, it was nothing but a fart.

"Xiao Chen, you..."

Opening his mouth, Xiao Ding didn't know what to say.

Without saying more, Xiao Chen turned and walked toward the outside of the hall.

Qing Lin hurriedly followed.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sat in the hall, not speaking for a long time.

"Big Brother, do you think what Xiao Chen said is true?"

"What do you mean, true?"

"I mean... that Queen Medusa's strength is nothing but a fart." Xiao Li said, "Could it be that Xiao Chen's strength has already surpassed a Dou Emperor?"

After a moment of silence, Xiao Ding shook his head.

"I don't know."

"But he said it so easily, it didn't sound like he was bragging."

"Perhaps." Xiao Ding said, "But regardless, we must prepare for the worst."

Xiao Li nodded.

Walking out of the main hall, Xiao Chen headed toward the outside of the courtyard.

Qing Lin followed closely behind him.

The two crossed the courtyard, encountering many mercenaries along the way, all of whom steered clear when they saw Xiao Chen.

No one dared to step forward to speak, nor did anyone dare to greet him.

Seeing the way those people looked at him, Qing Lin felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart.

Young Master is clearly so powerful, yet these people treat him with such an attitude.

"Qing Lin."

"Young Master, I am here."

"I need your help with something."

"Please speak, Young Master." Qing Lin said, "As long as it is within my power, I will certainly do it."

"Use your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to sense the location of the Fire Spirit Snake."

Qing Lin was stunned for a moment, "The Fire Spirit Snake?"

"Correct." Xiao Chen said, "Finding it will lead us to the Green Lotus Core Flame."

Qing Lin's face turned slightly pale.

The Green Lotus Core Flame, the nineteenth-ranked flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, was a treasure of heaven and earth that countless experts dreamed of possessing.

Young Master wants to find a Heavenly Flame?

"Young Master, I am afraid I cannot do it."

Lowering her head, Qing Lin's voice was very soft.

"Why?"

"My strength is too weak, and I haven't fully mastered the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils you mentioned earlier; I fear I won't be able to sense it."

Looking at her, Xiao Chen said, "How will you know if you don't try?"

Qing Lin gritted her teeth.

Young Master is right, how will she know if she doesn't try?

"Alright, I will try."

Nodding, Xiao Chen said, "Let's go."

The two walked out of the mercenary group's base and headed toward the outskirts of Shimo City.

There is a long sand line at the border between Shimo City and the great desert.

On one side is the yellow earth of Shimo City, and on the other is the yellow sand of the Tagor Desert.

Walking along this border line, Xiao Chen and Qing Lin searched for traces of the Fire Spirit Snake.

They hadn't walked long before a small wooden hut appeared ahead.

The wooden hut was very dilapidated and looked like it had been there for many years.

A sign hung at the entrance with a few words written on it.

Stopping in his tracks, Xiao Chen looked at the wooden hut.

"Young Master, what is it?"

"Let's go in and take a look."

Pushing open the wooden door, Xiao Chen walked inside.

Qing Lin hurriedly followed.

The inside of the hut was not large, with a few shelves displaying some medicinal herbs and magical beast materials.

Behind the counter sat an old man wearing a gray robe with a gaunt face, looking to be over sixty years old.

The old man's hair was gray and there were several deep wrinkles on his face.

His eyes were half-closed, as if he were dozing off.

Walking up to the counter, Xiao Chen looked at the old man.

Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, once a powerful Dou Emperor and one of the ten strongest experts in the Jia Ma Empire.

Having had his strength sealed by Queen Medusa, he was now only at the level of a Dou Ling.

He hid away in this remote place, running a small shop.

Hai Bodong opened his eyes and cast a glance at Xiao Chen.

"What are you looking to buy?"

"I am not here to buy anything."

Watching him, Hai Bodong's brows furrowed slightly.

"If you aren't buying anything, why have you come to my shop?"

"I have come for something."

"What thing?"

"That mysterious map fragment in your possession."

Hai Bodong's expression froze instantly.

He raised his head to stare at Xiao Chen, a flicker of shock flashing through his eyes.

That map fragment was something he had stumbled upon many years ago, and no one had ever known of its existence.

How could this youth possibly know about it?