Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, the two brothers, suddenly looked grave.
Xiao Yan was also somewhat confused as he spoke.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, what strong fighters was the guard talking about just now?"
"Did our Desert Iron Mercenary Group offend someone recently?"
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, they realized he had misunderstood.
So Xiao Ding and Xiao Li explained the situation to him.
They made it clear that they hadn't offended any strong fighters.
Here in Shi Mo City, they were now a force to be reckoned with.
How could they be so clueless as to casually provoke the strong?
Wouldn't that bring disaster down on the entire mercenary group?
Xiao Li replied,
"Little Yanzi, a few days ago, before you came to Shi Mo City..."
"We saw several strong fighters in the city."
"They kept wandering around the heart of the desert, so we originally thought they were searching for something."
"But I didn't expect them to come for our mercenary group."
"We don't know where they came from."
Xiao Li said worriedly.
Not long afterward, several figures arrived.
They were Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect in the Jia Ma Empire;
Nalan Yanran; and Pill King Gu He.
They had come here.
"Excuse me, is this the Desert Iron Mercenary Group?"
"Xiao Yan, Mr. Yao."
After arriving and seeing Xiao Yan, along with the lord in a black robe beside him,
Yun Yun immediately grew solemn.
Pill King Gu He was no different, showing him the utmost respect.
After all, he was the only Rank 7 Alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire.
He prided himself on being the best alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire.
But standing before Yao Chen, he didn't dare act presumptuous or arrogant.
After all, Yao Chen was a Rank 7 Alchemist and a Dou Zong.
"This is Pill King Gu He?"
Xiao Yi Xian looked extremely surprised.
It seemed Mr. Yao's reputation in the Jia Ma Empire was truly illustrious.
She murmured to herself.
She envied Xiao Yan even more for having the chance to become a disciple of such a teacher.
She was extremely envious.
"Xiao Yan."
Nalan Yanran murmured to herself as well.
Her expression was filled with surprise and disbelief.
She hadn't expected her teacher's words to be true.
Xiao Yan really was with Mr. Yao.
Could Mr. Yao really be Xiao Yan's teacher?
If so, what chance did she have in the Three-Year Agreement?
Wouldn't that be like making an enemy of Mr. Yao?
Never mind losing to Xiao Yan.
Even if she were lucky enough to beat him and win the Three-Year Agreement,
she would probably offend Mr. Yao as well, leaving her caught between a rock and a hard place.
Nalan Yanran couldn't understand it.
Why would Mr. Yao take a good-for-nothing like Xiao Yan as his disciple?
Only then did Xiao Ding and Xiao Li understand what was going on.
These strong fighters were the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect,
Nalan Yanran, who had broken off her engagement to their third brother, Xiao Yan,
and Pill King Gu He, renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire.
Seeing how highly they regarded Yao Chen, it seemed Little Yanzi had indeed chosen the right teacher.
The two brothers murmured to themselves.
"Mr. Yao, we were just passing through Shi Mo City. We never expected to meet you here."
Yun Yun was the first to speak.
She pretended they had met by chance rather than approached him deliberately.
She didn't want Yao Chen to come away with a bad impression of the Misty Cloud Sect.
Yao Chen's expression and voice were both cold.
He said,
"Mm. What are you doing here, disturbing our peace?"
"Leave."
Pill King Gu He stepped forward and looked at Yao Chen.
"Mr. Yao, I'm Gu He. I've always wanted to find an opportunity to pay you a formal visit."
"Our meeting here in Shi Mo City must be fate."
"If I could ask you for a few pointers in alchemy, I would benefit from it for the rest of my life."
Yao Chen replied coolly,
"Not interested. Leave."
After speaking, Yao Chen returned to the camp tent first.
Gu He was left standing there, his face awkward.
The famous Pill King had been left hanging, and he was mortified.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances.
Though neither said a word, both were clearly astonished.
They murmured to themselves,
"As expected of a strong fighter, Little Yanzi's teacher."
"Pill King Gu He went out of his way to show goodwill, and Mr. Yao didn't even give him a glance."
"As expected of a Rank 7 Alchemist. He has complete confidence in his own strength."
Gu He was also somewhat embarrassed.
But he had expected this might happen.
It was only natural that someone like Mr. Yao wouldn't think much of him.
After all, he was just a lowly Dou Wang.
But Yun Yun wasn't about to give up.
No matter what, the Misty Cloud Sect had to befriend the great figure Yao Chen.
It would be crucial to their standing in the Jia Ma Empire going forward.
They absolutely couldn't let the Imperial Family get there first.
Speaking of the Jia Ma Imperial Family,
at that very moment, in the Imperial Family's palace in Jia Ma Holy City,
Jia Xing Tian had just received the news, and his expression immediately froze.
"What? Mr. Yao has already left Wutan City?"
"He went to the Magical Beast Mountain Range a while ago?"
"Where is he now, then?"
"Elder Jia, Mr. Yao is in Shi Mo City, a small city near the Tagor Desert."
"Oh, Shi Mo City? Then I must go pay Mr. Yao a visit!"
Yao Yue was the little princess of the Jia Ma Empire.
She had met Yao Chen at the Miteer Auction House last time.
She had very much wanted him to take her as his disciple, but he had ignored and rejected her.
But Yao Yue hadn't given up.
She still wanted to make a good impression. What if Mr. Yao changed his mind?
So she asked,
"Great-grandfather, are you going to Shi Mo City to visit Mr. Yao?"
"Take me with you. I want to make a good impression too."
Jia Xing Tian sighed.
Although the chances were slim,
if his great-granddaughter really could become Yao Chen's disciple,
it would mean a great deal to the Jia Ma Imperial Family.
With a Rank 7 Alchemist and Dou Zong backing them,
the Imperial Family wouldn't have to be so wary of the Misty Cloud Sect, that colossal force!
"Very well. Let's get ready and set out in two days."
"Since Mr. Yao just arrived in Shi Mo City, I doubt he'll be in a hurry to leave."
The messenger suddenly added,
"Elder Jia, as far as I know, Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect..."
"seems to have arrived in Shi Mo City a few days ago."
"She seems to be trying to befriend Mr. Yao as well!"
"What?"
Jia Xing Tian's expression turned grave at once.
He immediately changed his plans.
"Set out at once. We're not waiting two days."
He had always been wary of the Misty Cloud Sect's influence in the Jia Ma Empire.
If the Misty Cloud Sect got on good terms with Yao Chen before the Imperial Family did,
they would grow even more arrogant and untouchable in the Jia Ma Empire.
By then, the Imperial Family might find it even harder to keep the Misty Cloud Sect in check.
So Jia Xing Tian set out at once, heading toward Shi Mo City.
In Shi Mo City, inside the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's camp tent,
Yao Chen looked at the system panel.
A line of text had just appeared before his eyes.
It was the system's reward!