Integrating the Mercenary Groups, Qing Lin's Triumphant Return to Desert Iron

The three brothers of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group were reunited, and naturally, they were overjoyed.

With the pills Medicine Elder had refined back then, after two or three months, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had both reached the realm of Six-Star Dou Masters.

In another eight or nine months, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li would likely advance to Grand Dou Masters.

By then, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group would rise to become the number one mercenary group in Shimo City.

However, Xiao Yan planned to integrate the Sand Mercenary Group into the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, making Desert Iron the foremost mercenary group in Shimo City.

In the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's council hall, silence filled the room when Xiao Yan told his two elder brothers of his plans.

After a moment, Xiao Ding said with considerable concern:

"Little Yan, your second brother and I are still too weak. You can use force to subdue Luo Bu now, but after you leave, I'm afraid he'll turn against us. I won't be able to keep him under control."

Xiao Li also nodded as he looked at Xiao Yan.

"Little Yan, why don't you stay with Desert Iron and become the third commander? The three of us brothers can develop and strengthen the Desert Iron Mercenary Group together."

Xiao Yan shook his head. "I can be the third commander, but only in name. I don't have the time to remain with the group for long."

"Don't worry. I have a way to make Luo Bu too afraid to resist afterward."

"Since you're so confident, Little Yan, let's do it."

Xiao Li, the hot-tempered second brother, said as he waved his hand forcefully.

"Fine. I'll make preparations. In three days, we'll officially go to war with the Sand Mercenary Group."

Xiao Ding said this after pondering for a moment.

The two brothers then left the council hall to make secret preparations.

"Mr. Hai, in three days, go lend them a hand."

Xiao Yan said with a smile to Hai Bodong, who sat silently to one side.

"You need me to act in a battle of such a low level?"

Hai Bodong said with obvious displeasure.

As a dignified Dou Emperor, fighting Grand Dou Masters would be humiliating if word got out.

"Mr. Hai, you won't need to take action. Just protect them from the side and step in at a critical moment."

Xiao Yan said flatly.

"With you around, I doubt that Sand Mercenary Group can harm your eldest or second brother."

Hai Bodong frowned. Although he had agreed to serve as Xiao Yan's bodyguard and enforcer for three years, that did not mean he had to act under every circumstance.

Even as a bodyguard and enforcer, he, the Ice Emperor, was a premium bodyguard. He only stepped forward at critical moments.

"I won't take part in the battle to absorb the Sand Mercenary Group. Someone will go with you then. Hold the line from the side and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Xiao Yan said coldly.

He was somewhat dissatisfied with Hai Bodong's evasive attitude. Without the Calamity-Breaking Pill Medicine Elder had refined for him, he would still be sealed away.

An enforcer needed the awareness of an enforcer.

The reason Xiao Yan had made Hai Bodong serve as an enforcer for three years was simply because Xiao Yan wanted to slack off sometimes.

Otherwise, with Medicine Elder possessing him, he could wield the strength of a Four-Star Dou Emperor. If he could not win, he could simply hide in his Portable Space. What did he need Hai Bodong for?

He did not have some three-year agreement to fulfill. Hai Bodong's only purpose was to handle minor troubles for him.

If his two elder brothers could command Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan would have wanted the man to remain with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and help them develop the group's power.

Or he could send Hai Bodong to the Xiao Household in Wutan City to protect Xiao Zhan.

Hearing the dissatisfaction in Xiao Yan's tone, Hai Bodong's fists slowly clenched before he gave a bitter laugh and relaxed them.

Forget it. He would just spend three years repaying this debt of gratitude.

On the Battle Qi Continent, strength reigned supreme.

As long as his strength could keep Hai Bodong suppressed, the man would not be able to stir up any trouble.

If Hai Bodong could sincerely follow him, Xiao Yan, there might be a place for him in the future Endless Fire Domain.

But if Hai Bodong remained half-hearted, then they were not on the same path. If he wanted to leave, then he could leave.

If he became an enemy, kill him!

Ignoring Hai Bodong's feelings, Xiao Yan returned to his resting room.

Then, he summoned Qing Lin from the space.

"Young Master, what did you need me for?"

Qing Lin had been tending the medicinal fields in the space with Little Fairy. Before summoning her, Xiao Yan had informed both of them.

Thus, when Qing Lin was suddenly transferred to this space, she was not surprised.

Looking at Xiao Yan, she asked with slight delight.

"Huh, Young Master, have you returned to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group?"

Seeing the familiar layout of the room, Qing Lin recalled her days as a maid in the mercenary group, and her expression became somewhat dazed.

Xiao Yan stroked the young girl's head and smiled.

"Qing Lin, I need your help with something..."

Xiao Yan then explained his plan for Qing Lin to accompany his eldest and second brothers in absorbing the Sand Mercenary Group.

"Young Master, I can't do it."

After hearing Xiao Yan's words, Qing Lin spoke somewhat urgently.

Her emerald eyes were filled with fear, as though she had returned to the days when she was a maid.

Xiao Yan held the young girl's shoulders with both hands and comforted her.

"Qing Lin, you possess the Jade Snake Three-Flower Eyes. You are a heaven-blessed prodigy. You tamed the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. You are more outstanding than anyone."

"You need to become confident. Let the members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group see that you are strong and exceptional, understand?"

Feeling the gentleness in her Young Master's voice and the sense of safety brought by his broad palms, Qing Lin clenched her small hands.

Once, the eyes of countless people had been filled with disgust whenever they looked at her.

It was because she was the descendant of a human and a Snake Person, a taboo that should not have existed.

If not for the protection of the commander and second commander, who had taken her into the mercenary group as a maid, she might not have been able to survive in Shimo City.

Now, Young Master had given her dignity and wanted to help her personally reclaim justice, allowing her to prove herself.

She had no reason to shrink back.

At that moment, the young girl grew up.

She nodded her little head firmly.

"Young Master, I won't disgrace you."

Xiao Yan smiled as he stroked the girl's beautiful hair.

"Qing Lin, I believe in you."

Over the next two days, Xiao Yan introduced Qing Lin to Hai Bodong and told his two elder brothers that Qing Lin would lead the effort to absorb the Sand Mercenary Group.

When Qing Lin released the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, three or four zhang long, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances, shock visible on their faces.

The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake was a fourth-rank magical beast, comparable to a Dou Spirit. Dealing with Luo Bu, who was merely a Grand Dou Master, would be effortless.

Xiao Yan did not participate in the absorption of the Sand Mercenary Group. With Qing Lin and Hai Bodong there, he was completely at ease.

Still, he secretly went to the Sand Mercenary Group's base, then hid within the Portable Space and had Medicine Elder watch over Qing Lin and his two elder brothers.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged atop the lotus platform in the Magma Lake and began cultivating.

This time, he intended to incorporate all the insights he had gained along the way into his cultivation.

Every time Medicine Elder possessed him and used his body to fly or fight, Xiao Yan gained new insights afterward.

Even Medicine Elder's techniques for using the Bone Chilling Flame through his body had benefited Xiao Yan greatly.

He possessed the Myriad Flame Emperor Physique. When it came to fire control, he understood at the slightest prompting and mastered it with a single glance.

Xiao Yan suddenly opened his closed eyes, and a cyan flame silently rose from his palm.

His ten fingers danced, and the cyan flame continuously shifted forms.

At times, it became a flaming whip; at times, a long blade; at others, it turned into strands of fiery thread that wove into a vast net.

Xiao Yan displayed his profound fire-controlling techniques.

Then, Xiao Yan drew the cyan flame back into his body.

His consciousness sank into his body. Within it, he was the unquestionable god of fire, able to command all flames.

Using his soul power as a brush and the Green Lotus Core Flame as ink, Xiao Yan drew a rectangular talisman within his dantian.

The first one failed with a bang. The flaming rune shattered and dissipated, turning back into flame that quietly burned within his dantian.

The second one failed.

The third, fourth, fifth... all failed.

Finally, the twentieth flaming talisman lasted for one minute before failing.

The twenty-fifth talisman lasted for five minutes.

The thirtieth talisman lasted for an hour.

The fiftieth flaming talisman succeeded.

Xiao Yan suddenly opened his eyes, and two flickers of cyan flame flashed within them.

With a thought, a flaming talisman appeared before him.