Bring Xiao Yan Out to Me!

Xiao Yan reached for the blue lotus.

The Green Lotus Core Flame seemed to sense the threat. Its flames surged higher, and the temperature rose sharply. The air inside the cave began to distort.

Xiao Yan remained calm as he gathered a ball of Dou Qi in his palm and wrapped it around the Green Lotus Core Flame.

The flame struggled beneath the pressure of the Dou Qi for a few moments, then gradually quieted. Xiao Yan took the entire Green Lotus Core Flame into his possession.

Qing Lin stood to one side, staring wide-eyed.

"Young Master Xiao Yan, is this a Heavenly Flame?" Seeing the flame before her, Qing Lin was utterly astonished. She could clearly feel its scorching heat.

"Yes."

"It's so beautiful."

Xiao Yan put the Green Lotus Core Flame into his Storage Ring, then turned to look at her.

"Let's go."

Qing Lin nodded vigorously, then obediently followed Xiao Yan as they left.

The two retraced their path.

Under the control of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, the Three-Headed Fire Spirit Snake obediently lay in the cave, watching them leave.

They passed through the narrow passage and reached the bottom of the crevice.

The streets of Desert Rock City bustled with people.

Two figures walking through the crowd stood out at once.

Yun Yun wore a moon-white dress. Her beauty was peerless, and her bearing cool and aloof.

Nalan Yanran followed behind her, looking somewhat anxious.

"Teacher, that bastard Xiao Yan killed the First Elder. This time, we have to make him pay. When we see him, don't waste your breath on him. Just kill him." Nalan Yanran's hatred for Xiao Yan had only grown more apparent.

Yun Yun said nothing.

"Teacher, you won't go soft on him again, will you?" Nalan Yanran asked when she saw Yun Yun remain silent.

"I won't."

A flash of delight crossed Nalan Yanran's eyes.

"Let's find Xiao Yan first, now that we're in Desert Rock City," Yun Yun said. "I'd like to see what sort of person could kill the First Elder."

The two continued onward.

After crossing a street, Yun Yun suddenly stopped. Her expression changed.

"Teacher, what's wrong?"

Yun Yun didn't answer. She closed her eyes and carefully sensed the auras around her.

Two Dou Huang-level auras lay not far ahead.

Why would there be Dou Huang experts in a place like this? Could it be Queen Medusa?

No, she knew Queen Medusa's aura. It wasn't like this.

Then who was it?

Yun Yun opened her eyes, brows furrowed. A place like Desert Rock City shouldn't have any Dou Huang experts besides Queen Medusa.

"Teacher," Nalan Yanran called again.

"There are Dou Huang experts ahead."

Nalan Yanran's expression changed. "Dou Huang experts? In a place like this?"

"Yes. And there's more than one. Two of them."

Nalan Yanran sucked in a breath, stunned and utterly astonished.

How could a tiny place like Desert Rock City have two Dou Huang experts?

"Let's go take a look."

The two quickened their pace toward the auras.

After crossing several streets, Yun Yun stopped.

Ahead was the entrance to a mercenary group's compound. A sign above the gate bore several large characters: Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

Several guards stood at the entrance, chatting.

Yun Yun's brows knitted, and her expression shifted slightly.

The two Dou Huang auras were coming from here.

How could people from a mercenary group be Dou Huang experts?

Nalan Yanran stared at the gate for a few moments, then her expression suddenly changed.

"Teacher, I just remembered. Xiao Yan's two older brothers are here."

Yun Yun looked at her. "What did you say?"

"Xiao Yan has two older brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. They run a mercenary group here in Desert Rock City."

A tempest stirred in Yun Yun's heart. How was this possible?

Xiao Yan's two older brothers were Dou Huang experts? It couldn't be.

The Xiao Clan was just a small family in Wutan City. How could it have two Dou Huang experts?

"Are you sure you haven't got it wrong?"

"I'm sure. I heard about it when the engagement was broken off."

Yun Yun fell silent.

She stood at the entrance, staring at the gate of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, lost in thought.

"Teacher, let's go in."

Yun Yun nodded and walked toward the gate.

When the guards saw them approaching, they immediately stepped forward to stop them.

"Who are you?"

Yun Yun said nothing. She released a trace of Dou Qi from within her.

The guards' expressions changed dramatically. The aura was so terrifying that they could barely breathe.

"Go tell your leader that Yun Yun, Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, has come to visit."

One of the guards hurriedly turned and ran inside.

In the hall, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were drinking tea.

A guard came rushing in, flustered.

"Leader, this is bad!"

"What is it?" Xiao Li set down his teacup.

"Two people are outside. They say one of them is the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's expressions changed at the same time.

The Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect—a Three-Star Dou Emperor.

--

"How many people?" Xiao Ding asked.

"Two. A young woman and a young girl. They're the teacher and disciple."

"Let them in."

The guard nodded and ran back outside.

Xiao Ding stood up, his expression grave.

"The Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect came in person."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Xiao Li said. "We're both Dou Huang experts. Why should we fear her alone?"

"Don't underestimate her. Yun Yun is a Three-Star Dou Emperor. Her strength is not to be dismissed."

Xiao Li nodded and said nothing.

A moment later, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran entered the hall.

Xiao Ding stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting. "Sect Master Yun, your arrival honors us. Forgive us for not welcoming you sooner."

Yun Yun studied him, carefully sensing the aura around him. A One-Star Dou Emperor. He really was a Dou Huang.

She was startled, but showed no sign of it.

"You're Xiao Ding?"

"I am."

Yun Yun turned to Xiao Li. Another One-Star Dou Emperor. Another Dou Huang.

How could the Xiao Clan have two Dou Huang experts?

"May I ask why Sect Master Yun has come today?"

"To find Xiao Yan."

"My younger brother isn't here. Please leave, Sect Master Yun," Xiao Ding said coolly. He could naturally tell why the two from the teacher-disciple pair had come looking for Xiao Yan.

Nalan Yanran stepped forward and said coldly, "Xiao Yan killed our First Elder and insulted the Misty Cloud Sect. He has to die. If you know what's good for you, hand him over."

Xiao Li looked at her and said mildly, "Hand him over? Why?"

"Because the Misty Cloud Sect is the largest sect in the Jia Ma Empire. You can't afford to offend us."

Xiao Li laughed. "Can't afford to offend you?"

Nalan Yanran's expression changed.

"Xiao Yan is our younger brother. If you want to touch him, you'll have to get past us first," Xiao Ding said.

"Are you sure?"

"He's our younger brother. If you want to lay a hand on him, you'll have to step over our dead bodies first."

Yun Yun fell silent.

The two One-Star Dou Huang experts working together meant she had no assurance of victory.

"Please leave, Sect Master Yun," Xiao Ding said. "The truth of what happened with our third brother will come to light in time. If you try to take him by force, we, his older brothers, won't allow it."

Yun Yun said nothing. She only watched them.

Xiao Li stepped forward, and Dou Qi began to surge within him.

"Sect Master Yun, if you want a fight, my brother and I will see it through to the end."

Xiao Ding stepped up beside Xiao Li. The two stood together, ready to attack at any moment.