Taking Qing Lin as His Disciple!

At the sound of the voice, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li hurried out.

When they saw that the newcomer really was Xiao Ze, delight filled their faces.

"Third Brother, what brings you here?" Xiao Ding asked first, his voice brimming with barely restrained joy.

After so many years away from home, neither brother had expected to meet their third brother here.

Xiao Ding was the eldest, and Xiao Li was the second eldest.

After so many years apart, the hardships of life were plain to see on both their faces. They had grown much more mature and steady.

"It's been years, and you've both grown taller than us. Come inside and sit. We'll give you a proper welcome."

Only then did the two notice Xiao Zi standing beside him. "And this is?"

Xiao Ze introduced him. "This is Xiao Zi, my companion on this journey."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had seen plenty of the world, so they didn't ask any questions. Instead, they ushered Xiao Ze inside and talked about the hardships they'd faced over the past few years.

Though they hadn't seen each other in years, the brothers' bond hadn't grown distant. If anything, they were closer than ever.

After a few cups of wine, Xiao Ze told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that he had reshaped his constitution and could cultivate now, then explained why he had come.

When they heard that their third brother had already become a Dou Zong powerhouse, the two nearly choked on their wine. Their eyes widened until they were as big as copper bells.

"Third Brother, you're really a Dou Zong?"

This was something they'd never heard of or seen before.

Thinking back, their third brother had once been an ordinary person who couldn't cultivate. Yet in just a few short years, he had become a Dou Zong powerhouse. It was truly terrifying!

Xiao Ze smiled. "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, would I lie to you? I came here, first, to visit you both, and second, to meet Queen Medusa and collect Heavenly Flames."

Xiao Ze had said it as lightly as if it were nothing, yet his words struck Xiao Ding and Xiao Li like a thunderclap, setting off a thousand waves in their hearts.

Xiao Ding shook his head with a wry smile. "Queen Medusa is the mightiest of the Snake-People Tribe. No one in the Tagor Desert would dare set their sights on her."

"I didn't expect you to give us such a huge surprise the moment you arrived."

"I'd call it a shock, not a surprise," Xiao Li added.

If it had been anyone else, they would have thought the person was crazy for wanting to fight Queen Medusa. Do you have a death wish?

But this was their brother. Whatever he wanted to do, they would support him with all their strength.

"Don't worry. I'll be careful."

Xiao Ze knew that Queen Medusa's fearsome reputation had long been etched into the hearts of everyone in the desert.

However, Queen Medusa was only at Peak Dou Emperor. She was no threat to him.

"We may not be able to help you with Queen Medusa, but leave the search for the Heavenly Flame to us. Our Desert Iron Mercenary Group has plenty of men, so it shouldn't take long for us to find it," Xiao Ding said.

Heavenly Flames were rare natural treasures, but as long as the search was within Stone Desert City, they would turn the whole place upside down if they had to and dig one up.

"Then I'll thank you both, Eldest Brother and Second Brother." Xiao Ze raised his cup to them.

The three brothers drank together in perfect understanding.

Anyone who had read the original story knew the Heavenly Flame was hidden beneath Stone Desert City. And at this point in the timeline, Queen Medusa hadn't discovered the Green Lotus Core Flame.

So Xiao Ze planned to catch the turtle in the jar.

He'd make sure Queen Medusa came and never left.

"By the way, doesn't Eldest Brother have a young girl with him? I saw that she has excellent natural endowments and would make a fine cultivator. I'd like to take her as my disciple."

After they'd had a few rounds of wine, Xiao Ze suddenly remembered the little girl he'd seen earlier that day.

At this, Xiao Ding paused, quickly recalling the girls in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. "The girl you mean, Third Brother—is she Qing Lin?"

"She's a girl in an elegant, pale-green outfit. I noticed her as soon as I came in," Xiao Ze said after thinking it over.

"Then that must be her."

Xiao Ding explained, "She's descended from both humans and the Snake-People. She was discriminated against from a young age and has always lived cautiously, surrounded by coldness."

"Mm." Xiao Ze nodded.

He knew of Qing Lin. She had been born with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, the bane of snake-shaped Demonic Beasts. With a little cultivation, she might one day become a Dou Sheng.

"All right, Third Brother. I'll call her over right now. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to become the disciple of a Dou Zong powerhouse."

Aside from her mixed heritage, Xiao Ding hadn't noticed any outstanding talent in Qing Lin's cultivation. But since his third brother had taken an interest in her, perhaps this would be a great stroke of fortune for her.

Xiao Ding rose and hurried out of the hall toward Qing Lin's quarters. Before long, he returned with her.

She was a petite young girl, around thirteen or fourteen, at the budding age of youth.

She wore an elegant, pale-green outfit. Though small, her figure was already well-developed; she simply still looked a little immature.

Her delicate, oval face was lovely and endearing, like a finely crafted porcelain doll.

She looked as timid as a startled rabbit, her lips pressed together, a fragile air about her that made people feel tender concern at the sight of her.

Qing Lin kept her head bowed, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes as Xiao Ding brought her before Xiao Ze.

She stole a glance upward, but the moment her eyes touched the mysterious, powerful aura around Xiao Ze, she quickly lowered her head again. Her voice was faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Young Master..."

Seeing her like this, a trace of gentleness passed through Xiao Ze's eyes. He spoke softly. "Girl, am I really that scary?"

Qing Lin hurriedly shook her head. Her fingers clenched the hem of her skirt, and the tips of her ears flushed faint red. "No, Young Master. It's just that Qing Lin has such a lowly status... I'm afraid, I'm afraid I'm not worthy of becoming your disciple."

Before they'd come, Commander Xiao Ding had told her that a Dou Zong powerhouse—his brother—was willing to take her as a disciple.

But she knew very well that with her status, simply being allowed to stay with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group was already a blessing. How could she dare hope to become the disciple of a Dou Zong powerhouse?

Xiao Ze tapped the stone table lightly with his fingertips. A warm smile flickered in his eyes. "Girl, if even you aren't worthy of becoming my disciple, then who in the Dou Qi Continent could be?"

"Qing Lin, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and bow to your master!" Seeing her stand there like a block of wood, Xiao Ding grew so anxious he rubbed his hands together. "Not just anyone in the Jia Ma Empire gets to become the disciple of a Dou Zong powerhouse."

Being chosen by a Dou Zong powerhouse was a blessing she'd earned over three lifetimes.

Before he'd even finished speaking, Qing Lin's eyes turned red, and fat tears rolled down her fair cheeks. With a thump, she fell to her knees. Her tearful voice trembled with joy. "Qing Lin is willing! Qing Lin wants to be Young Master's disciple. Th-thank you for choosing me..."

Xiao Ze reached out and gently wiped the tears from Qing Lin's face. Smiling, he said, "You're my disciple now, but you're still calling me Young Master. Don't tell me you don't want to acknowledge me as your teacher?"

Qing Lin froze. Tears still clung to her lashes, but she was already smiling through them as she cried out clearly, "Master!"

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host, on taking Qing Lin, an SSS-rank beauty, as your disciple. Disciple-taking rewards are being issued...]

[ Ding! Disciple-taking reward issued: Fourth-Rank Alchemist Talent!]

[ Ding! Disciple-taking gift issued: Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils (Mature Version)!]

[ Ding! Marrying Qing Lin will trigger a hidden reward. Does the host choose to marry her?]