The Desert Iron Mercenary Corps Makes a Name for Itself

Half a month had passed since Lei Luo joined the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps.

Over those two weeks, the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps had become immensely formidable thanks to the various healing and recovery pills he provided.

Even the Sand Mercenary Group, the strongest force in Rock Desert City, had to avoid its edge.

As one of Rock Desert City's main powers, they had always controlled its marketplaces and other industries.

Among them, the Sand Mercenary Group held the largest territory, monopolizing nearly half of Rock Desert City's market share.

All because their leader was a Great Battle Master.

Although Desert Iron could barely contend with them, it had always remained in a passive position.

The weaker Desert Iron and Blizzard Mercenary Group could only divide the remaining half of the pie between themselves, forming an almost unshakable balance in Rock Desert City.

Yet this balance had gradually been broken after Lei Luo's arrival.

He had not supplied any high-grade pills; the highest were merely Second-Rank.

And they were all recovery-type or enhancement-type pills.

Yet these were precisely the things Rock Desert City's mercenaries needed most.

The three major mercenary corps were powerful because they had formed cohesive groups.

But it could not be denied that independent mercenaries were also a force not to be underestimated.

They were also Rock Desert City's largest and primary consumer group.

Lei Luo's move had practically shaken the very foundations of the Sand Mercenary Group!

The territory under the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps' control was now bustling with activity.

More than half the mercenaries had poured in, bringing enormous profits with them.

It could be said that even Xiao Ding and his brother had never expected their mercenary corps to enjoy such glory one day.

And when Desert Iron's third commander appeared, the other two factions became deeply wary.

After all, two Dou Masters had already been enough to contend with the Sand Mercenary Group. Now that another Dou Master had become a commander, it was likely to shatter Rock Desert City's current division of power.

For a time, the entire atmosphere of Rock Desert City became tense.

Opportunity represented risk, and someone as sharp as Xiao Ding naturally understood that.

So once he realized this, he immediately sobered up and called Xiao Li and Lei Luo over to discuss the matter.

At this moment, Xiao Ding's expression was somewhat grave.

He seemed rather troubled.

Seeing this, Xiao Li said carelessly:

"Big Brother, what are you afraid of? At this rate, our Desert Iron business will soon dominate all of Rock Desert City.

Once we have money, we can directly recruit skilled independent mercenaries. Even if that Luo Bu is a Great Battle Master, he can forget about swallowing up Desert Iron!"

Xiao Ding's face was filled with bitterness at those words.

"Second Brother, don't act rashly. Things aren't that simple."

"Besides, a Great Battle Master's terror is not so easily dealt with."

Hearing Xiao Ding's warning, Xiao Li deflated as well.

A Great Battle Master truly was not someone they could easily handle right now.

Seeing this, Xiao Ding could only turn his gaze toward Lei Luo, who had been quietly eating pastries.

Watched by the Xiao brothers, Lei Luo also stopped.

After pondering for a moment, he finally said nonchalantly:

"Don't be afraid. If he really targets us, we can just kill him."

Xiao Ding could not help rubbing his forehead and smiling bitterly.

He did not understand why Lei Luo, who usually seemed so calm and steady, had become so hot-headed as well.

But that was indeed Lei Luo's true thought.

After all, leaving the Sand Mercenary Group around would always be a potential disaster.

If he had to leave for something and Luo Bu connected with the Mo Household, would Qinglin not be put at risk?

So if the Sand Mercenary Group dared make a move, he could take the chance to eliminate the threat once and for all.

Naturally, though, he could not say that aloud, so he instead comforted them:

"Relax. They won't dare act recklessly. Even if I'm only a Second-Rank Alchemist, I'm not someone a petty Sand Mercenary Group can afford to offend."

Only then did Xiao Ding's expression improve somewhat.

Though he was still a little uncertain.

So Lei Luo simply had Xiao Ding spread a piece of news throughout Rock Desert City.

It was that Desert Iron's third commander was incredibly young, that he was the mysterious alchemist, and that he had a Fourth-Rank Alchemist as his teacher.

This news undoubtedly carried tremendous deterrent power.

After all, alchemists held an extremely high status throughout the Jia Ma Empire, as they did across the entire continent.

The fact that a Second-Rank Alchemist could already determine the rise and fall of a family like the Xiao Household made this clear enough.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Luo Bu of the Sand Mercenary Group truly would not dare lay a hand on Desert Iron.

What was more, the news claimed that Lei Luo had a Fourth-Rank Alchemist grandmaster behind him.

The moment this information spread, it was like a stone stirring a thousand waves, shaking all of Rock Desert City.

At the same time, it invisibly pushed the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps' prestige to its peak.

With Lei Luo's backing, countless independent mercenaries chose to join the mercenary corps, and Desert Iron's strength rapidly expanded.

Meanwhile, Lei Luo had received a message from Hai Bo Dong in Desert City the day before.

Xiao Yan had appeared!

To Lei Luo, this news was far more enticing than any move the Sand Mercenary Group might make.

After all, this meant there was finally hope of refining the Calamity-Breaking Pill.

Although Lei Luo's alchemy had now reached the Third Rank, and he still possessed an Alchemist Realm Card that could directly raise him to the Fourth Rank,

this still would not allow him to refine the Sixth-Rank Calamity-Breaking Pill.

The further one progressed in alchemy, the harder it became to advance. It required time and accumulation.

Even the geniuses of the Pill Tower could not achieve it overnight. Only years of effort combined with exceptional talent allowed them to reach the Sixth Rank or even the Seventh Rank.

If Lei Luo wanted to reach the Sixth Rank in a short time, he would need to obtain two Alchemist Realm Cards from his next two check-ins. Otherwise, it would be harder than climbing to heaven.

In the days that followed, the Sand Mercenary Group indeed remained quiet for the time being due to their fear of his identity.

Lei Luo himself was happy to enjoy the peace, refining pills and relaxing every day while Qinglin attended to him.

Of course, he had not neglected his cultivation either. At every moment, he used the Heavenly Flame and the Companion Purple Crystal Source to temper the Dou Qi within his body.

During this period, he successfully broke through to the realm of a Two-Star Great Battle Master.

And so, amid these leisurely days, another half month slipped quietly by.

That day, Lei Luo was playing a game with Qinglin in his room.

Suddenly, his ear twitched slightly, as though he had heard some commotion in the front courtyard.

Spreading out his soul power, he seemed to hear someone mention the name Xiao Yan.

A teasing smile then curled across Lei Luo's lips.

He leaned close to Qinglin's ear and quietly gave her a few instructions before sending the little girl out.

Having received Lei Luo's instructions, Qinglin obediently hurried toward the front courtyard.

When she arrived, she saw the two commanders of her household tearfully embracing a black-clothed youth.

The youth's features seemed somewhat similar to those of the two commanders, making her rather curious.

But she did not dare delay the task Young Master Lei Luo had given her. She hurried over with quick little steps to Xiao Ding and the other two.

"First Commander, the Third Commander sent me to find you to discuss something. He said it was an extremely urgent matter..."

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