The Sand Mercenary Group!

The next day, the sun was already high in the sky by the time master and disciple finally woke.

"Good girl, your master was too rough last night. I'm sorry for putting you through that." Xiao Ze gently rubbed her head, his face full of affection.

The soft bed was a complete mess, with their underclothes tossed carelessly aside.

The two of them had fought three hundred rounds last night. Some things were better left unsaid.

"Master, it was what I should have done." Qing Lin nestled close against Xiao Ze, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Ever since she was born, she had endured every hardship life had to offer. Even a stray dog on the roadside could bully her.

Now she had met her master. He had taken her in and given her a place from which she could climb toward a better life. Even if she had to give herself to him, she was willing.

After dressing, Xiao Ze and Qing Lin walked out of the room side by side.

After a night of his tutelage, Qing Lin had grown into a graceful young woman, her figure lithe and her beauty beginning to bloom.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had been waiting in the hall for quite some time. Only when they saw Xiao Ze arrive did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Third brother, you sure know how to sleep. I thought you were going to sleep right through the day," Xiao Ding teased with a smile.

"Sorry, big brother, second brother. The journey wore me out, so I slept pretty heavily last night." Xiao Ze felt a little awkward as he told a small lie.

Xiao Ding didn't think much of it and continued, "The entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group has already been dispatched. We should hear something before long, so all we have to do now is wait a little."

Ever since their third brother had said the previous night that he needed to search for a Heavenly Flame, the two brothers had sent out the entire group first thing that morning.

Even if they had to turn Stone Desert City upside down, they would find out where the Heavenly Flame was.

However, when Xiao Ding's gaze fell on the young woman beside Xiao Ze, a trace of surprise rose in his eyes. What a lovely girl.

What's more, she gave him a familiar feeling, as if he had seen her somewhere before, but he just couldn't remember where.

"Third brother, who is this?"

"Big brother, this is Qing Lin," Xiao Ze introduced her.

"Captain Xiao Ding, it's me, Qing Lin. Do you still recognize me?" Qing Lin smiled gently.

There was no denying that grown-up Qing Lin had a charm all her own.

"You're that little girl?" At her words, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's eyes widened, their hearts filled with shock.

Last night, she had still been a little girl. How had she grown so much in a single night?

Had they somehow missed something?

"My master helped me awaken a special constitution, so my body changed a little. I'm a Dou Emperor expert now, too," Qing Lin explained briefly.

"I see."

Xiao Ding nodded at her words.

No wonder his third brother had taken Qing Lin on as his disciple. The answer had been right there all along.

"A Dou Emperor... Wait, did you say you're a Dou Emperor expert?" Xiao Ding's expression shifted, his heart filled with alarm.

Was that even possible?

Who became a Dou Emperor in a single night? Even if you started cultivating in the womb, it shouldn't happen that fast.

"It's all thanks to Master." Qing Lin looked at Xiao Ze, her eyes brimming with admiration.

"You really do make us all jealous." Xiao Ding gave a rueful smile. He hadn't expected their third brother to have such incredible abilities.

They said comparing yourself to others could drive you mad.

He used to think that was nonsense. Now his pride had been slapped again and again.

Compared to Qing Lin, they, who had buried themselves in hard cultivation, were nothing but clowns.

Fortunately, not just anyone could possess this kind of constitution. Otherwise, the Dou Qi Continent would be in chaos.

Xiao Ze could see the envy in his big and second brothers' hearts, and he certainly wasn't going to play favorites.

"Big brother, second brother, there's no need to worry. I have some excellent pills here. You can take them while cultivating to get twice the result with half the effort." As he spoke, Xiao Ze took dozens of jade bottles out of his Storage Ring.

He was now a fourth-grade alchemist, and the pills he refined had potent effects. They were just right for his big and second brothers.

"This..." Looking at all the precious pills, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance and couldn't help sighing. "Who would've thought we'd get to benefit from our third brother's good fortune?"

"When we were young, you two looked after me. Now that I have the ability to help, there's no way I'd turn into an ungrateful wretch." Xiao Ze smiled.

He had always remembered the kindness they had shown him.

The two brothers said nothing. They just kept popping pills.

Before long, a subordinate came to report that they had found a cave on the eastern side of Stone Desert City, apparently an entrance leading underground.

But their commotion had been so great that other mercenary groups had come sniffing around, thinking some treasure had appeared. The two sides had already come to blows.

"This has to be the Sand Mercenary Group stirring up trouble again!" At the news, Xiao Li slapped the table, shattering the teacup on it.

"The Sand Mercenary Group is the strongest force in Stone Desert City besides the City Lord's Manor. They've never gotten along with us. Seeing us make such a big show of things, of course they had to stick their noses in." Xiao Li continued to explain.

"Their leader, Sha Luo, is a Da Dou Shi."

At that, Xiao Ze smiled faintly. "Don't worry. Leave this to me. A mere Da Dou Shi dares to snatch what's mine? He's practically begging to die!"

Indeed, in the past, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group would have had to keep out of their way.

But today was different. Their third brother was here.

In front of a Dou Zong, even a Dou Emperor would have to kneel. And this fellow was just a little Da Dou Shi, yet he dared to act so arrogantly. He clearly didn't know what the word "death" meant.

The next moment, wrapped in Xiao Ze's Dou Qi, the group vanished from the hall.

Meanwhile, on the eastern side of Stone Desert City...

The endless desert stretched beneath a sky of swirling yellow sand.

Yet even in that harsh landscape, a murderous air hung in the wind.

The Desert Iron Mercenary Group and the Sand Mercenary Group faced off around the mouth of a cave.

A crowd of onlookers had already gathered around them. The feud between the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and the Sand Mercenary Group was nothing new.

Now the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had discovered a cave that looked like a treasure vault. How could the Sand Mercenary Group not be green with envy?

They had come as soon as they caught the scent.

"Captain Xue Lan, the man who came is Mo Xing, second only to their leader. Our leader and vice-leader aren't here. Should we avoid clashing with him for now?"

Seeing the other side's aggressive approach, one of the men suggested withdrawing for the moment and waiting until their leader arrived.

But Xue Lan wasn't moved. Her long spear gleamed with a cold, striking light.

They had found this cave. How could they simply hand it over?

"Mo Xing, is your Sand Mercenary Group made up of dogs? You came running the moment you caught a scent!"

"Heh. Miss Xue Lan is as charming as ever, but what a foul mouth!"

Mo Xing's face was gloomy, and a powerful aura radiated from him, far surpassing that of anyone present.

"Besides, the area around Stone Desert City is public land. You've brought all these people here and surrounded this place. What exactly are you planning to do?"

His gaze swept over the cave entrance. His meaning was clear.

This place belongs to the Sand Mercenary Group now!