Recaps

Lu Sheng led a mercenary force with Lin Xiao and Liu Shi to attack a Snake-People camp in the Tagore Desert. After Qing Mo silently killed the sentries, Lu Sheng broke through the gate and led the charge into the camp.

• Lu Sheng welcomed Lin Xiao and Liu Shi, then explained the plan to attack the camp and leave its Battle Master leader and Mujin Snake to them.
• Lin Xiao led the group toward the oasis and proposed attacking the two Snake-People sentries directly, but Lu Sheng called on Qing Mo to eliminate them quietly.
• Qing Mo used Falling Leaf Flying Daggers to kill both sentries before they could raise the alarm.
• Lu Sheng searched the sentries for a key, found none, and broke down the camp gate with Mountain-Breaking Fist.
• Lu Sheng charged through the gate, followed by the mercenaries.

Lu Sheng’s mercenaries attacked the Snake-People camp, and Qing Mo recovered his Dou Qi before helping kill the Mujin Snake. Lin Xiao killed the fleeing Snake-People leader and declared victory, leaving the oasis ravaged by the battle.

• Lu Sheng led the surprise attack on the Snake-People camp while Qing Mo retreated with Qing Lin to recover his Dou Qi.
• The Snake-People leader and the Mujin Snake attacked, and Lin Xiao and Liu Shi fought them to a stalemate.
• After recovering, Qing Mo used a Silent Flying Dagger to pierce the Mujin Snake’s vital point as it attacked Liu Shi.
• Liu Shi finished off the wounded Mujin Snake with his Black-Iron Greatsword.
• The Snake-People leader fled, but Lin Xiao caught him and smashed his head apart.
• Lin Xiao returned with the leader’s corpse and announced that the humans had won.

After helping the mercenaries defeat the Mujin Snake, Qing Mo obtained its Magic Core and used it to help Qing Lin attempt a breakthrough. Qing Lin successfully reached Fighter, leaving Qing Mo relieved and celebrating her achievement.

• Qing Mo helped Lin Xiao and Liu Shi defeat the Mujin Snake, though the battle cost the mercenaries more than a dozen lives.
• Lin Xiao and Liu Shi praised Qing Mo, learned that he was the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s third commander, and gave him the Mujin Snake’s Magic Core.
• Qing Mo returned to the temporary gathering site and prepared the Magic Core and medicinal paste for Qing Lin’s breakthrough.
• Qing Mo warned Qing Lin to circulate her Dou Qi using the Jade Serpent Divine Art as she absorbed the Magic Core’s energy.
• Qing Lin endured the energy flowing through her meridians and successfully broke through to Fighter, and Qing Mo congratulated her.

After leaving the Tagore Desert, Qing Mo and Qing Lin encountered a Sand-Crowned Viper, revealing that Qing Lin could already use a trace of her Jade Snake Triple-Flower Eyes to control snake-type Devil Beasts. They continued toward Stone Desert City, where Qing Mo planned to celebrate her power.

• Xiao Hu praised Qing Mo for killing the Mujin Snake, and Lin Xiao and Liu Shi gave him a ten-thousand-gold reward voucher.
• Qing Mo and Qing Lin left the gathering site and headed back to Stone Desert City.
• Qing Lin sensed a Sand-Crowned Viper hiding beneath a dune before Qing Mo detected it.
• Qing Lin used a faint trace of the Jade Snake Triple-Flower Eyes' power to tame the viper, and she told Qing Mo she could control snake-type Devil Beasts as strong as a Nine-Star Battle Master.
• Qing Mo praised Qing Lin, lifted her into the air, and promised to celebrate with her in Stone Desert City.

Qing Mo found the badly wounded Xue Lan in the Tagore Desert and learned that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had been ambushed by Snake-People after the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group abandoned them. He carried Xue Lan to the battlefield and left her hidden nearby as he prepared to intervene.

• Qing Mo and Qing Lin spotted Xue Lan staggering across the desert, and Qing Mo rushed to support her.
• Xue Lan told Qing Mo that Snake-People had trapped the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and that Chief Captain Xiao Ding and the others were in grave danger.
• Xue Lan explained that the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group had fled while the Desert Iron Mercenary Group fought to rescue them, leaving Diao Zhen surrounded and Xue Lan to escape for help.
• Qing Mo sent Qing Lin to follow at her own pace and carried Xue Lan quickly toward the battlefield.
• Qing Mo found bodies scattered across the sand, concealed Xue Lan in a dune hollow, and turned toward the fighting.

Qing Mo saved Xiao Ding from the Snake-Person Battle Master and helped turn the losing battle into a victory, though the Desert Iron Mercenary Group suffered heavy casualties. After Qing Lin returned with the tamed Scarlet-Scaled Sand Python, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li vowed to take revenge on the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group.

• Qing Mo waited for an opening and killed the Snake-Person Battle Master with a Silent Flying Dagger just as the warrior was about to kill Xiao Ding.
• The surviving Snake-People fled, the Scarlet-Scaled Sand Python burrowed into the sand, and the exhausted Desert Iron Mercenary Group mourned their dead.
• Xiao Ding thanked Qing Mo, regretted trusting Lin Qi, and heard the survivors blame the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group for the ambush.
• The Scarlet-Scaled Sand Python returned with Qing Lin and Xue Lan, and Qing Mo explained that Qing Lin had used a special Dou Technique to control it.
• Xiao Li and Xiao Ding rallied the survivors to recover and then fight the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group to the death.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li grieved the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s losses and agreed to follow Qing Mo’s plan for revenge. Qing Mo recruited Datou and Heizi to lure Luo Yi out of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group’s base, setting the plan in motion for the next day.

• Xiao Li raged over the Mercenary Association’s ruling and wanted to attack the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, but Xiao Ding stopped him and urged him to wait for an opportunity.
• Qing Mo arrived and told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that he had a plan that could bring about their enemies’ deaths the next day; they agreed to follow it.
• At home, Qing Mo asked Datou and Heizi to lure Luo Yi to a narrow stretch of desert in exchange for the antidote and their freedom.
• Datou and Heizi warned that Luo Yi was confined and guarded, but Qing Mo explained that Luo Tai and Lin Qi would be away the next day.
• Qing Mo offered to let Datou and Heizi join the Desert Iron Mercenary Group if they succeeded, and both men agreed to lure Luo Yi out.

Datou and Heizi tried to reach Luo Yi at the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group’s headquarters but were turned away, so Datou devised a plan to lure Luo Yi out. The chapter ended with Heizi heading back to Qing Mo to arrange a staged disturbance at the headquarters gate.

• Datou and Heizi discussed their chance to join the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and agreed to focus on getting Luo Yi out.
• The guards at the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group’s headquarters refused Datou and Heizi entry and drove them away.
• Datou rejected Heizi’s suggestion to sneak over the wall and came up with a plan to create a disturbance at the front gate.
• Datou planned to enter over the back wall during the commotion, tell Luo Yi that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had discovered a gold-sand mine and planned to assassinate Luo Tai, then lead him out by a side path.
• Datou sent Heizi to explain the plan to Qing Mo and remain nearby to help close the net once Luo Yi was lured out.

Datou infiltrated the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group's compound while Li Hu and two Desert Iron mercenaries staged a public confrontation at the front gate. The guards were overwhelmed by the crowd's accusations as one hurried inside to call for help.

• Datou waited for the front-gate commotion, then silently climbed over the rear wall.
• Li Hu and his two companions accused the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group of abandoning the Desert Iron brothers who died protecting them.
• When the guards said Luo Tai and Lin Qi were away, Li Hu and his companions tried to force their way inside.
• A guard shoved Li Hu, and the three men fell to the ground, loudly claiming the Poison Dragon guards had beaten them.
• Passersby surrounded the gate and condemned the guards, who could not make themselves heard.
• One guard urged his companion to go inside and call someone out.

Datou deceived Luo Yi with a story about a Gold Sand Mine and a plot against Luo Tai, then tempted him to seize the mine for the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group. Luo Yi grew excited by the prospect of the wealth, leaving his next move undecided.

• Luo Yi learned that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had blocked the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group's front gate and ordered a mercenary to drive them away.
• Datou reached Luo Yi and claimed he had overheard Qing Mo and the other groups planning to mine a Gold Sand Mine and assassinate Luo Tai.
• Datou convinced Luo Yi that Xiao Ding had lured Luo Tai and Lin Qi to the Mercenary Association while Qing Mo and Qing Lin led the mining team out of the city.
• Datou urged Luo Yi to seize the mine for its wealth, and Luo Yi began imagining what he could buy with the gold.

Datou lured Luo Yi into believing they could ambush the Desert Iron Mercenary Group at the Gold Sand Mine, then led him out of Stone Desert City. The chapter left Luo Yi following Datou’s plan, unaware that Datou intended to use him as a token of allegiance to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

• Datou persuaded Luo Yi that they could steal the Gold Sand Mine by attacking the Desert Iron Mercenary Group after its members had finished mining.
• Datou pressured Luo Yi to act alone by claiming the credit and riches would otherwise have to be shared, and Luo Yi agreed to go.
• Datou and Luo Yi sneaked out through the compound’s back door and headed for the city gate by a secluded route.
• At the gate, Datou exchanged glances with Dan Zai, then pretended to find Xiao Hei’s trail marks leading north.
• Datou took Luo Yi out of Stone Desert City, intending to offer him as proof of loyalty to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

Li Hu and two Desert Iron Mercenary Group companions confronted the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group over their dead brothers, turning the dispute into a public scene. Commander Wang intervened and persuaded them to leave for now, while Captain Yu remained uneasy about their motives.

• Captain Yu arrived with armed mercenaries and ordered Li Hu and his companions to leave, but Li Hu accused the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group of breaking its promises and silencing them.
• Onlookers joined in condemning the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, and Li Hu demanded that Luo Tai and Lin Qi apologize to his dead brothers.
• Captain Yu secretly sent a subordinate to summon the City Guard, and Commander Wang arrived with soldiers to restore order.
• Commander Wang heard both sides and urged the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group to explain itself after its leaders returned.
• Li Hu agreed to leave for Commander Wang's sake but warned that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group would fight if Luo Tai and Lin Qi did not answer for the deaths.
• Captain Yu watched them depart, feeling frustrated and suspicious that they had staged the confrontation deliberately.

Li Hu’s group confirmed Luo Yi had escaped Stone Desert City, while Datou led him into the desert as part of Qing Mo’s plan. Datou knocked Luo Yi unconscious and brought him to Qing Mo, Qing Lin, and Xiao Hei at the grove.

• Dan Zai told Li Hu that Qing Mo’s men had escorted Luo Yi out of the city and into the desert.
• Li Hu defended Qing Mo and Qing Lin against his companions’ suspicions about Qing Lin’s ability to control magical beasts.
• Datou led the exhausted Luo Yi toward the Wind-Eroded Forest, then struck him unconscious with a slab of sandstone.
• Datou carried Luo Yi to the desert poplar grove, where Qing Mo, Qing Lin, and Xiao Hei were waiting.

Qing Mo gave Datou and Heizi antidotes and accepted them into the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, but Qing Lin killed them with a Sand Sea Giant Python after they left. Qing Mo then told Qing Lin to torment Luo Yi without killing him while they waited for Luo Tai.

• Qing Mo gave Datou and Heizi antidote pills and confirmed they would join the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
• Datou and Heizi swallowed the pills, recovered from their poison, and headed toward Stone Desert City.
• A Sand Sea Giant Python burst from the sand and swallowed Datou and Heizi at Qing Lin's command.
• Qing Mo praised Qing Lin and told her to take revenge on Luo Yi without letting him die.
• Qing Lin summoned dozens of venomous snakes around Luo Yi.

Qing Lin used her control over venomous snakes to punish Luo Yi in Poplar Forest after he awoke and found himself surrounded. Qing Mo left her to deal with him and warned her not to ruin his face, intending to make Luo Tai recognize his son.

• Luo Yi awoke with a venomous snake on his chest and screamed for Datou, but Qing Mo and Qing Lin watched from nearby.
• Qing Lin summoned dozens of venomous snakes, and Luo Yi begged for help and offered a hundred thousand gold coins for his life.
• Qing Mo told Qing Lin that they could kill Luo Yi and then take the gold from his father, and Qing Lin agreed.
• Qing Lin sent the snakes to bite Luo Yi while Qing Mo walked to the edge of the forest and reminded her to leave his face recognizable.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li confronted Luo Tai and Lin Qi over the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group abandoning the Desert Iron Mercenary Group in battle. Lin Xiao failed to secure a peaceful settlement, and Xiao Ding prepared to settle the grievance through the mercenary groups’ own methods.

• Xiao Ding accused Lin Qi of abandoning the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, while Luo Tai defended the withdrawal as necessary for Stone Desert City's interests.
• Xiao Li angrily challenged Luo Tai and Lin Qi, and Lin Xiao intervened to stop the argument.
• Lin Xiao proposed that the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group publicly apologize, but Lin Qi and Xiao Li both rejected the plan.
• Luo Tai agreed to apologize, but Xiao Ding refused and said the mercenary groups would settle the matter themselves.
• Lin Xiao left after warning both groups not to fight within Stone Desert City, and Xiao Ding reaffirmed that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group would protect its reputation.

After Xiao Ding and Xiao Li left the Mercenary Association, Luo Tai decided the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group had to strike first against the Xiao brothers. Returning to headquarters, Luo Tai realized the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s disturbance might have concealed a plan targeting Luo Yi and rushed to find him.

• Lin Qi complained that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had survived the ambush, while Luo Tai blamed him for leaving a dangerous loose end and resolved to act first.
• Luo Tai and Lin Qi returned to the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group headquarters and learned that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had caused a disturbance outside the gates.
• Luo Tai questioned a guard and grew suspicious because the disturbance had demanded that the absent commanders personally apologize.
• Luo Tai recalled Xiao Ding’s remarks and realized the disturbance might be a feint aimed at another target.
• Luo Tai urgently asked where Luo Yi was and hurried toward the rear courtyard, with Lin Qi following.

Luo Tai and Lin Qi discovered that Luo Yi had vanished and concluded Xiao Ding had taken him. A blood-written letter ordered Luo Tai and Lin Qi to meet the kidnapper at Sandland Poplar Forest at dusk, leaving them to face a threatening summons.

• Luo Tai and Lin Qi found Luo Yi's room empty and ordered the guards to search the compound.
• Luo Tai concluded Xiao Ding had planned Luo Yi's abduction and suspected Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had already fled Stone Desert City.
• Luo Tai ordered Lin Qi to gather the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group's strongest men and surround the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's compound.
• A guard delivered a blood-written letter from a little beggar, and Luo Tai's killing intent erupted when he read it.
• Lin Qi read the letter's demand that he and Luo Tai come alone to Sandland Poplar Forest at dusk or Luo Yi would be killed.

After learning Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had taken Xiao Yi, Luo Tai mobilized the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group and raced toward the Poplar Grove to rescue his son and destroy the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Luo Tai and Lin Qi reached the grove’s outskirts as sunset approached.

• Lin Qi demanded an immediate attack after reading Xiao Ding and Xiao Li’s letter, but Luo Tai ordered him to gather the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group’s captains while they went ahead to protect Xiao Yi.
• Luo Tai prepared for battle in a hidden chamber, putting on Blackrock Soft Armor and taking up the poisoned Jade Serpent Spear.
• Luo Tai and Lin Qi departed Stone Desert City with roughly twenty elite mercenaries, drawing speculation from the people in the streets.
• After leaving the city, Luo Tai and Lin Qi surged toward the Poplar Grove, while Luo Tai vowed to kill Xiao Ding and Xiao Li and wipe out the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
• As sunset neared, Luo Tai and Lin Qi spotted a sparse stand of poplar trees on the horizon.

Luo Tai and Lin Qi reached the Poplar Forest to rescue Luo Yi, but signs of an ambush led Luo Tai deeper into the woods alone. He found Luo Yi hanging from a tree and being bitten by venomous snakes, barely alive.

• Luo Tai stopped Lin Qi from rushing into the Poplar Forest and had him recover his Dou Qi first.
• Luo Tai and Lin Qi found fresh snake tracks and an arrow pointing deeper into the woods.
• Luo Tai sent Lin Qi to wait outside and entered the forest alone despite Lin Qi's warning about the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's third commander.
• Luo Tai found Luo Yi's jade longevity lock in the sand and hurried farther into the forest.
• Luo Tai discovered Luo Yi hanging from a poplar tree as venomous snakes bit him, and cried out in anguish.

Luo Tai rescued his son Luo Yi from the venomous snakes but was caught in a series of deadly ambushes. With a second Tier-Two Magical Beast about to bite his neck, both father and son faced imminent death.

• Luo Tai charged through the venomous snakes and cut Luo Yi free, catching him in midair.
• A concealed throwing knife struck at Luo Tai from behind, grazing his throat and tearing through his Dou Qi protection.
• A Sand Sea Giant Python burst from the sand and attacked Luo Tai and Luo Yi in midair.
• Luo Tai jammed his Jade Spear between the giant python's jaws and tried to use it to escape.
• A Scarlet-Scaled Sand Python emerged from inside the Sand Sea Giant Python's mouth and lunged at Luo Tai's neck.

Qing Mo and Qing Lin defeated Luo Tai and Luo Yi using the Sand Sea Giant Python and a Spiketail Viper. After collecting Luo Tai’s Storage Ring and Blackrock Soft Armor, they prepared to return home.

• The Scarlet-Scaled Sand Python poisoned and coiled around Luo Tai, while the Sand Sea Giant Python bit him in two after he pushed Luo Yi away.
• Luo Yi regained consciousness, saw his father’s severed head, and broke down, insisting that what he saw was an illusion.
• Qing Mo ordered Qing Lin to kill Luo Yi, and a First-Rank Spiketail Viper bit through his neck.
• Qing Mo realized Qing Lin’s Jade Snake Triple-Flower Eyes had controlled the Sand Sea Giant Python and reflected on how powerful the ability might become.
• Qing Mo had Qing Lin make the Sand Sea Giant Python vomit up Luo Tai’s remains, then recovered his Storage Ring and damaged Blackrock Soft Armor.
• After confirming Luo Tai had no other valuables, Qing Mo told Qing Lin it was time to head back.

Xiao Ding fought Lin Qi while Xiao Li waited to ambush him, and together they killed him. The brothers avenged their fallen companions, though Xiao Ding was badly injured.

• Lin Qi fled the Poplar Forest after hearing Luo Tai scream, but Xiao Ding intercepted him and challenged him to settle their score.
• Xiao Ding attacked Lin Qi relentlessly, forcing Lin Qi to unleash the Flame Python Coiling Spear against his Wooden Prism Shield.
• Lin Qi used the sandstorm to flee, but Xiao Ding hurled his greatsword after him and drove him onward.
• Xiao Li struck Lin Qi with a lightning-charged spear, then pierced his heart and throat, killing him.
• Xiao Ding praised Xiao Li and said they had avenged their brothers before nearly collapsing from his injuries.

After avenging their brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li returned toward Stone Desert City with Qing Mo and Qing Lin, deciding not to attack the weakened Poison Dragon Mercenary Group inside the city. When the group’s armed reinforcements appeared on the road, Qing Mo chose to wipe them out, and Qing Lin prepared to strike.

• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li confirmed that Qing Mo had killed Luo Tai, then thanked Qing Mo and Qing Lin for helping avenge their brothers.
• Xiao Li proposed wiping out the remaining Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, but Xiao Ding said their injured group could not risk another fight and predicted the gang’s enemies would attack it.
• Qing Lin spotted more than twenty mercenaries approaching, and Xiao Ding recognized them as reinforcements from the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group.
• Xiao Li stepped forward to hold off the reinforcements, but Qing Mo said they would wipe out the group and told Qing Lin to attack.
• Qing Lin nodded, her eyes flashed green, and she raised her hand toward the charging mercenaries.

The Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, led by Captain Yu, encountered a Sand Sea Giant Python and struggled to survive its attacks. After the python ambushed them again, an unseen attacker killed Captain Yu, and the beast slaughtered the remaining mercenaries.

• The Sand Sea Giant Python burst from beneath the sand and killed several mercenaries, but Captain Yu rallied the survivors into formations to fight it.
• When their attacks failed to penetrate the python’s scales, Captain Yu ordered a retreat and led the squad leaders in covering the others.
• The mercenaries reached a sand dune to rest, but the python surfaced beneath them and swallowed two men.
• Captain Yu organized another defense, but a hidden attacker cut his throat as the python attacked.
• With Captain Yu dead, the mercenaries lost their fighting spirit and the Sand Sea Giant Python wiped out the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group.