A One-Star Dou King?!

Desert Rock City.

The streets were bustling with people, exceptionally lively.

Several individuals dressed in the attire of the Misty Cloud Sect walked along the street, led by an elderly man with a cold, stern expression and sharp eyes.

The First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Leng.

Behind him followed several disciples at the Dou Ling level, each possessing an extraordinary aura.

"First Elder, why have we come to Desert Rock City?" one disciple asked.

"To find someone," Yun Leng said coldly.

"Find whom?"

"Xiao Yan."

The disciples exchanged glances, a trace of surprise flashing in their eyes; the name Xiao Yan had already spread throughout the entire Misty Cloud Sect.

He had killed Ge Ye, killed the Fourth Elder, and even publicly annulled his engagement to Nalan Yanran; from top to bottom, the entire Misty Cloud Sect hated this name to the bone.

"First Elder, is that Xiao Yan really in Desert Rock City?" a disciple asked.

"There is news that he is here," Yun Leng said. "You lot, split up and make inquiries."

"Yes."

The disciples acknowledged the order and quickly dispersed.

Yun Leng stood where he was, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Xiao Yan, you killed the Fourth Elder—did you think you would be safe just by fleeing to Desert Rock City?

Now that this old man has come personally, let's see where you can run.

An hour passed.

Yun Leng stood by the side of the street, his expression growing increasingly unsightly.

"Why is there still no news?"

Just as he was about to lose his temper, a disciple hurried over.

"First Elder, I have found out."

Yun Leng looked at him. "Speak."

"Some time ago, Xiao Yan killed Mo Gang, the leader of the Sand Mercenary Group," the disciple said. "He has two older brothers here who started a mercenary group called the Desert Iron Mercenary Group."

"Desert Iron Mercenary Group?" Yun Leng frowned.

"Yes," the disciple said. "Xiao Yan's two brothers, one named Xiao Ding and the other Xiao Li, are both leaders of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group."

Yun Leng nodded. "Lead the way."

"Yes." The disciple turned and walked in a certain direction.

Yun Leng, accompanied by the several Dou Ling disciples, followed behind him.

Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

At the main entrance.

Two guards were standing at the gate chatting when they saw a group of people approaching from a distance, led by an old man. Their expressions changed immediately.

"Who are you people?" one guard stepped forward to ask.

Yun Leng did not speak; he simply raised his hand and waved.

"Bang."

The guard's body flew backward, crashing onto the ground, motionless.

The other guard's face changed drastically, and he turned to run.

"There are enemies..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a Dou Ling disciple had already caught up to him and struck his back with a palm, causing the guard to collapse on the spot.

Yun Leng did not spare them a glance and strode inside.

The several Dou Ling disciples followed behind him, radiating murderous intent.

The main hall.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were discussing matters regarding the mercenary group.

"Big Brother, I have already sent people to organize the shops of the Sand Mercenary Group," Xiao Li said. "In another two days, everything should be operating normally."

Xiao Ding nodded. "Has the personnel been arranged?"

"It has," Xiao Li said. "Those willing to stay have been given positions, and those who were not have been given severance pay."

"That is good," Xiao Ding said.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside.

Xiao Ding frowned, "What is happening out there?"

Xiao Li heard the noise as well and stood up, "I will go out and take a look."

Before he could even reach the doorway, the door was kicked open.

Several people dressed in the attire of the Misty Cloud Sect walked inside.

Leading them was an old man with a cold, stern expression and sharp eyes.

Xiao Ding's expression shifted.

People from the Misty Cloud Sect?

Xiao Li was also stunned, but he quickly reacted, a chill flashing through his eyes.

"Who are you people? How dare you barge into our Desert Iron Mercenary Group?" Xiao Li said coldly.

"This old man is the First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Leng," the old man stated.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking simultaneously.

The First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect.

A powerhouse at the level of a Dou Emperor.

Xiao Ding stepped forward and cupped his hands, "We were unaware that the First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect was gracing us with his presence. To what do we owe the honor?"

"Looking for someone," Yun Leng said.

"Looking for whom?"

"Xiao Yan."

Xiao Ding's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was churning with turbulent waves.

They had come after all.

Their third brother had killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, and they had come for revenge.

"Xiao Yan is not here," Xiao Ding said.

Yun Leng frowned, "Not here?"

"He is not here," Xiao Ding said. "First Elder, please return."

Yun Leng stared at him, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.

"Boy, this old man has come in person, and you tell me he is not here?"

"Not here means not here," Xiao Li spoke up. "If the First Elder does not believe us, you are welcome to search yourself."

Yun Leng's expression darkened.

"How arrogant."

"Have I given you too much face?"

Xiao Li looked at him without a hint of fear.

"First Elder, this is Desert Rock City, not the Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Li said. "I am afraid it is inappropriate for you to act so wildly here."

Yun Leng was stunned.

He had not expected that a mere leader of a small mercenary group would dare to speak to him in such a manner.

"Do you know who you are talking to?" Yun Leng said coldly.

"I do," Xiao Li said. "The First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"And you still dare to speak to me like that?"

"And so what if I do?"

Yun Leng's expression sank completely.

"Good, good, good," Yun Leng repeated the word three times. "A tiny Xiao Clan, a tiny mercenary group, and you dare to be insolent before me."

"It seems you will not shed tears until you see the coffin."

He turned his head to look at the several Dou Ling disciples behind him.

"Do it."

The several Dou Ling disciples immediately rushed forward.

Xiao Ding's expression changed, and just as he was about to strike, Xiao Li had already blocked their path.

"Bang."

The Dou Ling disciple in the lead was sent flying by a single palm strike from Xiao Li.

The remaining disciples' expressions shifted, and they lunged at Xiao Li simultaneously.

Xiao Li did not retreat but advanced instead, taking them down one palm at a time.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

After a few muffled thuds, all the Dou Ling disciples collapsed to the ground, not a single one able to crawl back up.

Yun Leng's expression finally shifted.

He had seen it clearly; the strength Xiao Li unleashed with that palm strike was absolutely not that of a Dou Ling.

A Dou King.

This brat was a Dou King powerhouse.

"You... you are a Dou King?" Yun Leng's voice was trembling.

Xiao Li looked at him and said indifferently, "And what if I am?"

A stormy sea surged within Yun Leng's heart.

How could someone from the Xiao Clan be a Dou King?

The Xiao Clan was merely a small family in Wutan City, with their strongest member being nothing more than a Dou Grandmaster.

Yet the person before him, clearly a member of the Xiao Clan, was a one-star Dou King.

"How did your strength increase to this level?" Yun Leng demanded.

"It was the medicinal pills our third brother refined for us," Xiao Li said.

Yun Leng was stunned on the spot.

"What did you say?"

"The pills refined by our third brother," Xiao Li said. "A tier six Ascension Pill; one consumes it and breaks through directly to the Dou King realm."

Yun Leng's complexion changed completely.

A tier six medicinal pill.

An Ascension Pill.

Breaking through directly to the Dou King realm.

Xiao Yan was a tier six alchemist?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

How could a fifteen-year-old boy be a tier six alchemist?

"You're spouting nonsense," Yun Leng roared. "Xiao Yan is a piece of trash; how could he possibly be a tier six alchemist?"

"Haven't you already found out whether he is trash or not?" Xiao Li said. "Your Misty Cloud Sect's Fourth Elder died by his hand, after all."

Yun Leng's face looked ghastly.

A sense of fear welled up in his heart.

If Xiao Yan truly was a tier six alchemist, then the power backing him...

He dared not think any further.