Digging a Pit in Advance

Rock Desert City, Desert Iron Mercenary Group, training ground.

"Uncle!!"

Xiao Li, who had just finished cultivating, spotted Yang Chen standing at the doorway with a smile on his face. He immediately raised a hand and shouted excitedly, startling Xiao Ding, who was sitting on the ground resting nearby.

Xiao Ding had barely turned his head when Yang Chen flashed over and appeared before them. Before either of them could speak, Yang Chen raised a hand to stop them.

"Here, wipe off your sweat first."

Yang Chen took two towels from his storage ring and handed them to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. Sensing the clearly more condensed and powerful strength within them, the smile on his face deepened.

"Your uncle had originally planned to trade for two high-grade Xuan-tier cultivation techniques for you. I never expected you to encounter such an opportunity. It makes your uncle seem rather useless."

Xiao Li's hand froze as he wiped his sweat. His nose felt a little sore. Ever since their mother had passed away from illness, the three brothers had not felt this kind of care.

Their father cared about them as well, but he was not particularly attentive, and he also had clan affairs to handle. He rarely devoted much thought to the three brothers.

Thus, in Xiao Li's memories, their eldest brother had led him and their third brother from a young age. Later, when they were older, he and his eldest brother had taken care of Little Yan together.

"No!"

Xiao Li lowered his head and gently shook it. Even Xiao Ding looked somewhat dazed. Fortunately, after being the eldest brother for so many years, Xiao Ding could still control his emotions. He immediately changed the subject.

"Uncle, you went to see Little Yan, right? How is his body?"

"If your uncle couldn't even handle something so simple, wouldn't that make me far too useless?"

Yang Chen smiled and patted Xiao Ding and Xiao Li on the shoulders. Naturally, he would not mention Yao Chen's matter. He believed Yao Chen would have Xiao Yan keep it secret as well. Their story to the outside world would be that he had resolved Xiao Yan's abnormal cultivation problem.

"You don't need to worry about Xiao Yan. Your uncle will make arrangements. As for you two, you mustn't slack off in your daily cultivation. The two Thunder Kings entered the Dou King realm before I did, and their strength is extremely formidable. Cultivate properly under them. In the future, your achievements will certainly not be low!"

"Don't worry, Uncle. I'll definitely work hard!"

Xiao Li immediately thumped his chest as he spoke. His solemnly sworn expression made Yang Chen laugh. Xiao Ding, who was more composed, saw that Yang Chen was alone and could not help asking curiously.

"Uncle, how did the matter you were handling go? And that lady from last time..."

Xiao Ding did not know Medusa Queen's identity, so he did not know how to address her. However, halfway through his sentence, he noticed Yang Chen's unpleasant expression and immediately stopped.

Yang Chen's face was full of anger. After taking a deep breath, he forcefully snorted it out, seemingly still resentful. Yet before his nephews, he had no choice but to suppress himself.

"Don't mention Medusa Queen, that faithless woman!"

"Medusa Queen?"

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li immediately sucked in a breath. Then, the way they looked at Yang Chen changed, their admiration mixed with concern.

"Uncle, Medusa Queen didn't do anything to you, did she?"

Medusa Queen's fierce reputation in the Tagore Desert surpassed that of anyone else. No one could compare with her. That name alone was enough to make people fear her.

Yang Chen let out an even heavier snort. There seemed to be both disdain and anger on his face as he said, "Hmph, would she dare? If Gu He hadn't meddled, that Heavenly Flame would have been mine for the taking. How could Medusa Queen have had the chance to seize it by force?"

"Heavenly Flame?"

The Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion on the other's face. Yang Chen seemed to realize that he should not lose his temper before his nephews. He immediately restrained his anger and explained softly.

"A Heavenly Flame is a fire-element divine treasure nurtured by heaven and earth. It holds a fatal attraction for fire-element cultivators, especially alchemists. Unfortunately, I failed this time and could only take a portion of another flame to use."

"Uncle, are you talking about Pill King Gu He?"

Xiao Li asked cautiously. Yet after hearing this, Yang Chen curled his lip in disdain, as though the famed Pill King Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire was nothing more than a fart in his eyes.

"Pill King? Is he worthy? If that woman Medusa Queen hadn't gone back on her word, what could he possibly use to compete with me?"

"Then why didn't Uncle just snatch it from Gu He directly?"

After Xiao Ding finally asked that crucial question, a trace of amusement flashed through Yang Chen's eyes. However, he let out a rather regretful sigh and explained carefully.

"An alchemist can generally only refine one special flame in their lifetime. I have already taken and refined another special flame. Even if I snatched the Heavenly Flame from Gu He two years from now, I would have no way to refine it."

"Heh, Gu He is quite willing to spend. He has already given the Snake-People so many pills, yet he still has to wait two years before taking the Heavenly Flame from the Snake-People Royal City. He really isn't afraid that Medusa Queen will swallow his Heavenly Flame."

Yang Chen sneered, but Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's thoughts began to stir after hearing his words.

Since the Heavenly Flame was a supreme treasure that all fire-element cultivators wanted, it should be useful to Little Yan as well. When Xiao Yan had broken through to become a Dou Practitioner, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had not yet left the clan, so they naturally knew that Xiao Yan cultivated fire-element Dou Qi.

There were still two years. If they cultivated diligently during those two years and strove to reach the Great Dou Practitioner realm, they might have a chance to fight for it. Moreover, if they could build a good relationship with their two teachers, perhaps they could bring them along when the time came, rob Gu He together, and snatch the Heavenly Flame from his hands.

Gu He had a grudge against their uncle. If they truly managed to take it, they could help their uncle vent his anger. As for Gu He's threats, they could simply ask their uncle to step in when the time came.

These thoughts flashed through Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's minds almost simultaneously. After exchanging a glance, they nodded slightly.

Yang Chen took in everything. With a smile in his eyes, he waved his hand and let out a helpless, regretful sigh. Seemingly casually, he said with a hint of schadenfreude in his tone, "Forget it, let's not talk about this. Whether the Heavenly Flame can even end up in Gu He's hands remains to be seen. Heh, after Medusa Queen uses that secret technique, she'll fall asleep. Although the Snake-People claim they'll help him, they'll probably put in no real effort. If someone interferes, a mere Dou King may not be able to protect it."

Medusa Queen would fall asleep, and the Snake-People would stand by and do nothing?

This information shook Xiao Ding and Xiao Li even more. The intelligence concerning the Heavenly Flame made even the ever-calm Xiao Ding lose his judgment. He did not consider at all how such information could possibly have been leaked to them. Of course, much of that was because they trusted Yang Chen completely.