Ten-Thousandfold Returns for Taking Disciples: Starting from Battle Through the Heavens 26

After the two sides agreed on a date to meet in Wutan City, Qin Hao left the imperial capital directly.

Among the geniuses who appeared in the Jia Ma Empire in the original story, aside from the protagonist Xiao Yan, there were only Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yixian, Qinglin, and the Medusa Queen after her bloodline evolved.

Beyond them came figures on the level of Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran.

This time, Qin Hao did not see Nalan Yanran in the imperial capital, because she was cultivating in the Misty Cloud Sect. Nor did he encounter anyone from the Misty Cloud Sect in the capital, so naturally, he did not meet its sect leader, Yun Yun.

However, Qin Hao estimated that talents like Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran most likely did not meet the system's standards.

Nalan Yanran's talent made her a fairly outstanding genius within the Jia Ma Empire, but she was nothing special across the entire Northwestern Region, much less the whole Dou Qi Continent.

In the Canaan Academy Inner Academy alone, there were probably no fewer than twenty people whose talent was not inferior to Nalan Yanran's.

When he had been in the Inner Academy, he had already used the system to examine them. Aside from Zi Yan, not a single one qualified. Clearly, a genius at Nalan Yanran's level was still not enough.

Qin Hao's next stop was Stone Desert City. In the original story, Qinglin had been in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group in Stone Desert City.

He chose Stone Desert City because it was the closest of his targets to the imperial capital.

Furthermore, aside from Qinglin, the first Heavenly Flame Xiao Yan obtained in the original story—the Green Lotus Core Flame—was located in the underground magma world outside Stone Desert City.

After leaving the imperial capital's vicinity, the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King immediately returned to its true form beside Qin Hao. With a beat of its wings, it shot toward Stone Desert City.

At the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King's speed, even without flying at full force, it took less than a day to reach Stone Desert City's territory.

As they neared Stone Desert City, Qin Hao put away the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King, returning it to its adorable pet form, and continued toward the city on foot.

After paying the entrance fee, Qin Hao entered the city directly.

Compared to the imperial capital, Stone Desert City was far inferior in both scale and prosperity.

Moreover, because Stone Desert City was close to the Tagor Desert, its environment was extremely harsh.

The Tagor Desert was the territory of the Snake-People Tribe, making Stone Desert City a borderland between humans and snake-people.

As a result, the local people were exceedingly tough, and there were many mercenaries in the city. There were more than a hundred mercenary groups of varying sizes throughout Stone Desert City.

Qin Hao's understanding of Stone Desert City naturally came entirely from the original story, but that did not trouble him. After spending a few gold coins, he soon gained a general grasp of the city's situation.

The Desert Iron Mercenary Group was naturally the focus of his attention.

In the original story, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had been founded by Xiao Yan's eldest brother, Xiao Ding, and second brother, Xiao Li. By the time of the original plot, it was one of Stone Desert City's two major mercenary groups, second only to the Sand Mercenary Group in strength and scale.

However, based on the information Qin Hao had just obtained, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had only been established for around a year. It was an emerging mercenary group, and although it had already gained quite a bit of fame,

it was still far from the scale it possessed at the beginning of the original timeline.

At present, the Sand Mercenary Group dominated Stone Desert City alone, holding an absolute advantage. No other mercenary group could compare with it.

However, Qin Hao quickly understood. There were still two years before the original timeline began, and when Xiao Yan came to Stone Desert City in the original story, he was already a Dou Master.

That was at least three years from now.

After learning the location of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, Qin Hao did not hesitate and immediately headed for its headquarters.

Since the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had only existed for a year and had fewer than a hundred members in total, its headquarters was merely a somewhat larger courtyard.

He did not even need to enter. With his powerful soul power alone, he could clearly sense everything within the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

"Hmm?"

However, Qin Hao soon frowned. After probing with his soul power, he discovered that Qinglin was nowhere to be found within the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's headquarters.

More precisely, everyone in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group was human. There were no descendants born from unions between humans and snake-people.

There were only two possibilities: either Qinglin had left the headquarters on some errand, or she had not yet been taken in by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li at this point in the timeline.

Only then did Qin Hao realize that being too far ahead of the timeline was not entirely beneficial.

Since Qinglin was not here, he could only search for her slowly.

The original story only mentioned that Qinglin had been taken in by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. It did not mention anything about her life before that, so Qin Hao would have to find a solution himself.

After glancing at the sky, Qin Hao ultimately decided to settle down first and think of a way later.

He then found another passerby, asked about the best inn in Stone Desert City, and headed in that direction.

Just as he had crossed a street, he suddenly looked toward a spot not far away.

There, four or five youths had cornered a little girl.

The instant Qin Hao's gaze fell upon the little girl, a cold mechanical voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

"Ding! The system has detected a disciple candidate who meets the requirements!"

The moment he heard that voice, Qin Hao's eyes lit up.

He carefully examined the frail little girl once more.

Before long, his gaze settled on the arm exposed through her tattered clothing.

Several crystalline, jade-like scales grew on her arm. They were unmistakably green snake scales.

At this point, how could Qin Hao fail to realize that the little girl before him was a mixed-blood descendant of humans and snake-people? More importantly, barring any surprises, she was the target he had come looking for this time—Qinglin.

With that thought, Qin Hao no longer hesitated and walked toward her.

The youths clearly noticed Qin Hao's arrival as well. When they saw his fine clothes and noble bearing, their eyes immediately filled with awe.

They did not dare linger for even a moment, turning and fleeing at once.

Qin Hao watched their retreating backs with indifferent eyes, but he did not attack them.

Stone Desert City stood at the border between humans and the Snake-People Tribe. Countless battles, large and small, broke out between the two sides every year, and they were deeply hostile toward one another.

Because of this, mixed-blood descendants of humans and snake-people were unwelcome among both humans and snake-people.

The little girl had naturally noticed Qin Hao as well. Yet rather than feeling the slightest joy that he had scared off those youths, she became even more frightened and uneasy.

In her eyes, those youths might bully her, but that was all. Great figures were different—they could take her life at any time.

And Qin Hao clearly fit her image of such a great figure.

"G-Greetings, my lord..."

Suppressing the fear in her heart, the little girl spoke in a trembling voice after Qin Hao approached.

"What is your name?"

Though Qin Hao had already more or less guessed her identity, he still asked to confirm it.

"M-My name is Qinglin!"

Qinglin's trembling voice rang out again.

"Qinglin. It really is her!"

After hearing her answer, Qin Hao completely confirmed her identity.

"Come with me."

Qin Hao did not waste words and spoke directly.

"Ah... y-yes, my lord!"

Qinglin's body trembled at his words, but she did not dare resist in the slightest and hurriedly agreed.

Qin Hao said nothing more and took Qinglin to the largest inn in Stone Desert City.

Although Qinglin's clothes were terribly ragged, no one dared stop her because she was following Qin Hao.

Qin Hao did not waste words. He booked the best room, gave the waiter some money, and told him to have someone help Qinglin wash up and buy several sets of fitting clothes for her. He then ordered a lavish spread of dishes.

Naturally, the waiter eagerly went to carry out his instructions.

Half an hour later, Qinglin had finished washing and changing. Dressed in a brand-new skirt, she looked completely different from before.

Her only flaw was that, perhaps due to long-term malnutrition, she was extremely thin.

In the room, Qinglin wore her new clothes and stared at the lavish feast before her, food she had never even dared dream of eating. Her mouth uncontrollably began to water.

At the same time, she grew increasingly uneasy, clearly having no idea what fate awaited her.

"Eat first."

Qin Hao had naturally noticed Qinglin's state and spoke.

"Th-Thank you, my lord!"

Qinglin did not dare disobey Qin Hao's command. She nervously sat down and began eating carefully.

Though she was starving and the food was more delicious than anything she had ever tasted, Qinglin did not dare overstep in the slightest. She remained cautious throughout, afraid of angering Qin Hao.

"Eat without worry. I mean you no harm."

Seeing Qinglin like this, Qin Hao could not help but sigh inwardly. He spoke again, but this time, his voice was much gentler and carried a soothing force that calmed the mind.

Qin Hao possessed a Spirit Realm soul. Such a method was naturally nothing to him.

"Thank you, my lord!"

Upon hearing Qin Hao's voice, much of Qinglin's anxiety and unease faded. Even the speed at which she ate increased considerably.

"My lord, I'm finished eating!"

More than ten minutes later, Qinglin stopped. She slowly stood and came before Qin Hao, her voice slightly nervous. Her expression became uneasy once more.

At that moment, she was like someone awaiting judgment. She clearly understood that Qin Hao's next words would determine her future fate, so her heart was naturally filled with anxiety and unease.

"Hmm... Let me ask you: are you willing to take me as your master?"

Qin Hao did not beat around the bush and asked directly.

"Huh? Ah... M-My lord... y-you mean become your disciple? Y-you want to accept me as your disciple? I-I can cultivate?"

After hearing Qin Hao's words, Qinglin's mind buzzed. She stared at him in disbelief, as though she could not believe what she had heard.

Accepting Qinglin as a Disciple! Generous Rewards!

Ever since Qin Hao had brought her here, Qinglin had been deeply uneasy and had constantly been guessing at his purpose.

She had imagined the worst possible outcome—that her life might be in danger.