Leaving

The next day.

Stone Desert City's morning sun carried the scorching heat unique to the desert, mercilessly kicking the mercenaries in the face. Even though their sleep had been disturbed by one commotion after another last night, the mercenaries were still roused by the sunlight.

Huo Yuhao's guest room was once again buried beneath piles of scrolls. Yet he had no time to tidy them up. All his focus was gathered at his fingertips as he inscribed an intricate Spirit Rune onto a palm-sized piece of metal.

Buzz!

As the final stroke fell, an icy-blue gleam flashed across the Spirit Rune.

Huo Yuhao picked up the piece of metal and gently released Dou Qi from his fingertips. A distinct suction force came from the center of the Spirit Rune, drawing strands of ice-attributed energy from the surroundings toward it. At last, a satisfied smile curved his lips.

Putting away the fruit of half a night's labor, Huo Yuhao rubbed his dry eyes and only then noticed that the room had turned into a garbage dump again.

Shaking his head helplessly, he swiftly stored the scattered scrolls in his storage ring before removing the mental barrier that blocked out sound.

In an instant, the noise outside flooded in like water through an opened sluice gate—jeers, gasps, and cheers rang out without end.

When he opened the door, he saw that most of the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps' mercenaries had gathered in the center of the Martial Arena, packing the place so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Rather than squeeze over to watch the excitement, Huo Yuhao swept the area with his spiritual power. Upon discovering that Xiao Yan was publicly refining medicine, he lost interest and turned toward the reception room.

The atmosphere in the reception room was bizarre.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stared at each other, both seeing the dense, unshakable absurdity in the other's eyes. Xiao Ding steadied himself and forced out the words with some difficulty. "Captain Luo Bu, you... truly intend to bring the entire Sand Mercenary Corps into our Desert Iron Mercenary Corps?"

"That's right!" Luo Bu wore a beaming smile as he said to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, "Yesterday, the two of you impressed me deeply with your unyielding attitude. After returning, I thought about it for a long time before finally making this difficult decision!"

Seeing that the two still could not believe him, Luo Bu rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "Seeing you two again today has given me an entirely different feeling. You two are truly dignified and handsome, elegant and refined, outstanding among men, dragons and phoenixes among people! I wish to become sworn brothers with you!"

Dignified and handsome? Elegant and refined? Xiao Ding and Xiao Li instinctively exchanged another glance. Looking at each other's messy, unkempt hair and dull eyes from lack of sleep—did their current appearances have even half a gold coin's worth of connection to those words?

"Ahem!" Xiao Ding coughed twice, forcibly resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He said seriously to Luo Bu, "My apologies, but this merger is no small matter. We cannot decide it on our own. Please return first, Captain Luo Bu. After the two of us discuss it with the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps' officers, we will give you an answer."

"I sincerely wish to become sworn brothers with you two. Won't you reconsider?"

The two looked at Luo Bu's chrysanthemum-like smile and felt a chill run through them as their stomachs churned.

"Please return first!"

After seeing Luo Bu off, Xiao Li could no longer hold himself back. He immediately said to Xiao Ding, "Big Brother, did snake people chew up Luo Bu's brain? Or is he actually..." Xiao Li did not continue. Thinking of that possibility, his whole body shuddered, and he quietly clenched his buttocks.

"I don't know what he's plotting either." Xiao Ding's expression was solemn as his mind raced at full speed, trying to figure out Luo Bu's intentions.

"Big Brother, Second Brother!" At that moment, Huo Yuhao walked in and said to the two of them, "You don't need to worry about him having any schemes."

"Hm?"

"Xiao Yan and I gave him a little warning last night."

"What... Luo Bu is a Da Dou Shi!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked shocked.

"Just a Da Dou Shi." Huo Yuhao smiled.

Once they confirmed that Huo Yuhao was not joking, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li revealed gratified expressions and sighed, "You two really have... grown up! We haven't seen each other in just a few years, and Big Brother and Second Brother have already been surpassed by you."

"Big Brother, Second Brother, we're planning to head back today," Huo Yuhao explained his purpose.

"You're not staying a little longer?"

"Jia Nan Academy is about to begin recruitment. If we stay any longer, we may not make it in time."

Though reluctant to part, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li did not stop him. They said to Huo Yuhao, "All right. Be careful on the road, and remember to send our regards to Father."

"Great! That was incredible!"

"Little Brother Xiao Yan, give us another one!"

"Xiao Yan, what are you doing? Performing opera?"

Over at the Martial Arena, as some of the mercenaries left to carry out missions, Xiao Yan, who had been surrounded so tightly that not even water could pass through, finally came into view. Xiao Yi Xian rubbed her sleepy eyes as she stepped out of her room, only to see Xiao Yan in the midst of the mercenaries, spitting flying and gesturing wildly.

"Impressive, right? I successfully refined a second-tier medicinal pill!" Xiao Yan held up a second-tier Blood-Coagulating Pill, looking so pleased with himself that he wished everyone knew about it.

Upon hearing that, Xiao Yi Xian instantly woke up. Her little mouth fell open, then her face filled with indignation. "You slacker who fishes for three days and dries the nets for two—how did you get ahead of me?"

"Can't be helped. It's talent!"

"Xiao Yan, Xian'er, it's time to go!" Huo Yuhao called to Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian as he emerged from the reception room. "Pack up. We're leaving immediately."

"You're leaving already? Have a safe journey." Hai Bodong leaned against the doorframe, holding a scroll as he bid the three farewell.

"Senior Hai Bodong, there's something I've wanted to ask you these past few days." A mischievous smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face as he looked at Little Ice Dragon, who had been clinging to Hai Bodong's shoulder and desperately gripping his clothes. "Senior, have you not bathed or changed clothes these past few days?"

"Get lost!"

Watching the three leave, Hai Bodong rubbed the scrolls in his hands and sighed inwardly, That brat Huo is quite generous. "Unparalleled Ice Extremity" and "Ice Explosion Art" must be among the Dou Techniques he treasures most.

Just as the corners of his lips lifted and he prepared to return to his room to continue studying the two Dou Techniques, Hai Bodong suddenly remembered something. Veins bulged on his right hand as he nearly crushed the scrolls.

"Wait! Those little brats never said when they'd help me refine the medicine! Am I supposed to stay in this godforsaken place for years?"

Elsewhere, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were huddled around a table, their heads nearly touching as they studied the small metal piece inscribed with strange patterns. Several bottles of medicinal pills lay casually beside them.

"Big Brother, what is this?"

"Little Yuhao said it's an array core. If we encounter an enemy we cannot resist, we can hide inside the mercenary corps' compound and inject Dou Qi into it to activate it. Then it will keep the enemy outside."

After leaving Stone Desert City, Huo Yuhao recalled the medicinal pills Xiao Yan had secretly slipped to Xiao Ding earlier and casually asked, "Xiao Yan, what pills did you give Big Brother and Second Brother?"

"Guess. They improve talent."

"Don't tell me... they were Mysterious Water Pills?"

"That's right! I specifically asked Master to refine them." A sinister smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face. "I told Big Brother that you refined them, Yuhao."

"Heh." Huo Yuhao's lips curled as though he were looking at an idiot. "Do you think Big Brother's brain is as full of sand as yours?"

"Tch. Let me tell you, I'm a second-tier alchemist now!"

"Very impressive!" Huo Yuhao symbolically clapped twice. "Now then, mighty eight-star Dou Zhe, let us see the difference in strength between you and a nine-star Dou Master."

"What the hell? Nine-star Dou Master?"

"Oh, and Xian'er is a two-star Dou Master now too!"

"Damn!"