Desert Rock City, Qing Lin!

On the streets outside Desert Rock City, several mercenaries surrounded a young girl; she was thin and frail, keeping her head bowed, not daring to look at anyone.

"You half-breed, get lost." One mercenary shoved her, causing the girl to stumble and nearly fall.

"I heard you were born to a Snake-Person?" another mercenary mocked. "No wonder you look so strange. A half-breed of human and Snake-Person, a jinx—stay away from us, don't pass your bad luck onto us."

The girl bit her lip, her eyes filled with fear, not daring to speak. The mercenaries grew increasingly vicious, and one raised a hand, intending to strike her.

"Stop."

A voice came from behind. The mercenaries turned their heads to see a youth standing not far away, dressed in a black robe, his face devoid of any expression.

"Who are you? Don't meddle in other people's business," one mercenary said.

Xiao Yan did not answer and walked toward them. "I will say it again: stop."

The mercenaries exchanged glances, and one sneered, "Kid, do you know who we are? We're from the Sand Mercenary Group. Is that something you can afford to provoke?"

Xiao Yan raised his hand and struck out with a palm. The mercenary who had spoken flew backward, crashing to the ground and lying motionless. The remaining mercenaries' expressions changed drastically, and they turned to run, but Xiao Yan flashed forward, striking one palm after another. After a few muffled thuds, all the mercenaries lay on the ground.

The girl stood where she was, stunned by the scene.

Xiao Yan turned around to look at her. "Are you alright?"

The girl came to her senses and shook her head. "I... I'm fine."

She looked at Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Xiao Yan said.

"My name is Qing Lin," the girl said. "Benefactor, what is your name?"

"Xiao Yan."

Qing Lin's eyes lit up. "Xiao Yan? Are you the younger brother of the Chief and the Second Chief? I work for the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and they often mention your name. They say you are the genius of the Xiao Clan who became a Dou Practitioner at eleven."

"I'll take you to them."

"Okay." The two walked in the direction of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

Inside the main hall of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sat in chairs, talking.

"Big Brother, have you heard? Third Brother killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Li said.

Xiao Ding nodded. "I heard."

"That was a Dou King expert. Just what is Third Brother's strength?"

"I don't know. We'll ask him in person when we see him," Xiao Ding said.

Xiao Li was silent for a moment. "Big Brother, do you think Third Brother might be in danger? The Misty Cloud Sect won't let this go."

"Since Third Brother dared to kill them, he isn't afraid of their retaliation."

Xiao Li nodded. "That's true, but the Misty Cloud Sect is the largest sect in the Jia Ma Empire, with experts as numerous as clouds. Can they really swallow this insult after Third Brother killed their elder?"

Xiao Ding set down his teacup. "And if they can't swallow it, what then? Haven't the people they sent already been killed by Third Brother?"

Xiao Li was taken aback. "That's true. If Third Brother can kill the first, he can kill the second. No matter how many people the Misty Cloud Sect sends, Third Brother will kill them all."

Xiao Ding nodded firmly. "Exactly."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Qing Lin walked in with a smile on her face. "Chief, Second Chief, look who's here."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked up and, seeing Xiao Yan behind Qing Lin, both stood up.

"Third Brother," Xiao Ding said, walking forward.

"Big Brother, Second Brother," Xiao Yan said.

Xiao Ding looked Xiao Yan up and down, his eyes filled with joy. "Third Brother, we've heard about your affairs."

"What affairs?"

"You killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. Is that true?" Xiao Li asked.

Xiao Yan nodded. "It is true."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances, a flash of shock in their eyes. Both Dou King elders had been killed by their Third Brother.

"And there was also a deacon, a seven-star Dou Grandmaster?" Xiao Li's mouth hung open, unable to close for a long time.

Xiao Ding took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. "Third Brother, your current strength..."

Xiao Yan did not answer but released a trace of Dou Qi fluctuation. Xiao Ding's expression changed; he could feel how powerful the aura on Xiao Yan was. That sense of oppression was something only a Dou King expert could possess.

"Dou... Dou King?" Xiao Ding's voice trembled slightly.

Xiao Li was also stunned. "Third Brother, are you really a Dou King?"

Xiao Yan withdrew his Dou Qi. "A four-star Dou King."

The hall fell silent. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stood where they were, unable to speak for a long time. A fifteen-year-old four-star Dou King—such a genius had never appeared in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Ding came to his senses and muttered to himself, "A four-star Dou King... Third Brother, how did you do it?"

"I encountered some fortuitous opportunities." Seeing that he wouldn't elaborate, Xiao Li did not press the matter further.

"Regardless of the method you used, it is good that you have reached the level of a Dou King." Xiao Li nodded vigorously, "Big Brother is right."

Xiao Yan looked at his two older brothers, a sense of deep emotion stirring within him. Back when he had become a "useless waste," his brothers had never looked down on him, and now that he had regained his strength, they did not interrogate him about his secrets.

Qing Lin stood to the side, listening to the three of them speak, her eyes filled with astonishment. Young Master Xiao Yan was a Dou King expert; the younger brother of the First and Second Commanders was actually a Dou King, and only fifteen years old at that, she murmured to herself in her heart.

Xiao Ding collected his thoughts and pulled Xiao Yan down to sit, "Third Brother, how long do you plan to stay in Desert Rock City this time?"

"A few days. I will leave once I finish my business."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance and did not ask further; if their third brother did not wish to speak, they would not pry.

Xiao Li poured a cup of tea and handed it over, "Third Brother, have some tea."

Xiao Yan took the teacup and took a sip.

Xiao Ding also sat down and looked at Xiao Yan, "Third Brother, how do you intend to handle the matter regarding the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"For every one of them that comes, I will kill one," Xiao Yan said indifferently.

Xiao Ding was silent for a moment, "The Misty Cloud Sect is the largest sect in the Jia Ma Empire, and they possess many experts."

"I know."

Xiao Li looked into Xiao Yan's eyes, a complex emotion surging in his heart.

Qing Lin stood to the side, not daring to interrupt. She was merely an ordinary maid of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group; with the younger brother of the First and Second Commanders present, she felt she shouldn't be here.

"Qing Lin." Xiao Yan suddenly spoke up.

Qing Lin was startled, "Young Master Xiao Yan, were you calling for me?"

"Did those mercenaries often bully you earlier?"

Qing Lin lowered her head, "Yes."

"Who were they?"

"People from the Sand Mercenary Group."

Xiao Yan nodded, "That won't happen again."

Qing Lin raised her head to look at Xiao Yan, a trace of gratitude flashing in her eyes, "Thank you, Young Master Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yan did not say anything more and raised his teacup to take a sip.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit puzzled in their hearts. Why was their third brother so concerned about Qing Lin? However, they did not ask.

Xiao Ding spoke up, "Third Brother, you have traveled a long distance; you should rest for a while first."

"Alright."

Xiao Li stood up, "I will go prepare a room for you."

Xiao Li turned and left.

Xiao Ding looked at Xiao Yan, "Third Brother, if you need anything, just tell your Big Brother."

"I know." Xiao Ding patted his shoulder and said nothing more.