Separation

Xiao Qing nodded in understanding, his gaze casually sweeping over everyone in the caravan.

Only after making them tremble all over did he ask Qing Lin in a gentle tone, "Qing Lin, how did they capture you?"

As soon as he spoke, Qing Lin's little face turned pale, tears welling up in her eyes as she stammered, too afraid to answer.

Seeing this, Xiao Qing comforted her softly, "Don't be afraid. Tell Big Brother about any grievances you have. Big Brother won't let them hurt you."

Qing Lin hugged her knees as her body trembled, sobbing quietly.

"I... I was living peacefully at home with my mother, but mercenaries from the city suddenly came to our door. They said I was a snake-person's child... a bringer of disaster, and that they wanted to kill me."

"Mother barely managed to escape with me, but we ran into them in the desert. Mother kindly shared some water with them... but after they discovered the scales on my wrist, they brutally killed Mother and captured me, saying they would sell me for a good price..."

As her final words fell, Qing Lin, curled up inside the cage, was already crying so hard that she could barely speak.

A cold glint flashed through Xiao Qing's eyes. With both hands, he tore apart the iron cage before him, ripping open a massive gap large enough for several people to pass through.

After carrying Qing Lin out of the cage, he gently patted her back and soothed her in a low voice.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Big Brother will avenge you. From now on, you can stay with Big Brother..."

As he spoke, soul power flowed from between Xiao Qing's brows, brushing gently over Qing Lin's tiny body like a breeze.

Qing Lin, lying in Xiao Qing's arms, gradually stopped crying. Her tightly wound nerves finally relaxed, and she slowly closed her red, swollen eyes before falling into a deep sleep.

"Xiao Qing, we can't let these people go!"

Zi Yan looked furious, her gaze sweeping over the caravan's people with utter coldness.

"Of course not."

Xiao Qing nodded, his tone indifferent.

Before his words had even faded, the two had vanished from where they stood.

The next instant, a blazing palm print more than a dozen zhang wide appeared in the sky. Covering everyone in the caravan below, it descended slowly with an irresistible and terrifying might.

Seeing the enormous palm print that nearly blotted out the sky, everyone below turned deathly pale. Overcome with terror, they dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.

"Lord Dou Wang, I was wrong!"

"My lord, I'll never dare again! Spare my life!"

"Master Dou Wang, this servant is willing to work like an ox and horse for you!"

"Lord Dou Wang, I have elderly parents above and young children below. Please spare my life for their sake!"

Miserable pleas rose one after another, while Xiao Qing and Zi Yan watched coldly from above the palm print.

Although the Scarlet Fire Seal had lost some power due to its expanded range, it was still more than enough to deal with a group whose strongest member was only a Da Dou Shi.

Rumble!!!

As the palm print descended, green flames swept in every direction, and the terrifying heat incinerated everything around them.

Yellow sand filled the sky, stirring up howling golden storms.

As the storm raised by the palm print gradually subsided, the vast desert returned to its former state. Nothing remained below but a stretch of yellow sand, as though no caravan had ever appeared there.

Stone Desert City lay on the border of the Jia Ma Empire, situated in the eastern part of the Tagor Desert.

Inside an inn, Xiao Qing sat cross-legged before a medicinal cauldron. As the Life Spirit Flame surged in his hand, he swiftly refined one precious herb after another into liquid.

Zi Yan sat nearby with the tiny Qing Lin in her arms, staring intently at the scene before her.

Feeling the life aura radiating from the Life Spirit Flame, she felt refreshed and at ease.

Before long, a mass of green medicinal liquid radiating pure energy had been refined.

A strange fragrance spread through the room, invigorating their spirits.

Xiao Qing took out a wooden basin from his Storage Ring. After pouring some water into it, he waved his hand and poured the pure medicinal liquid from the cauldron into the basin.

At once, the clear water turned pale green and gleamed with a crystalline sheen.

"All right, Qing Lin. Take off your clothes and enter the basin. Cultivate your Dou Qi according to the method Zi Yan taught you earlier."

Xiao Qing put away the medicinal cauldron, rose to his feet, and spoke to Qing Lin beside him.

Although the Alchemy Department did not have a pill formula like the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid that could accelerate cultivation during the Dou Qi stage, over the past two years, he had still figured out a few methods.

Perhaps its effects could not compare to the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, but it was still far better than meditating in cultivation.

Moreover, after everything Qing Lin had gone through, she had more or less suffered some hidden injuries.

After being refined by the Life Spirit Flame, the trace of life aura attached to this medicinal liquid could also heal her.

"Yes, Big Brother."

Hearing that she had to remove her clothes, Qing Lin's cheeks immediately flushed red, but she still nodded timidly.

After spending the past few days together, she had gradually become familiar with the two of them and no longer felt afraid.

In her heart, she had long regarded Xiao Qing and Zi Yan, who had saved her from misery, as her only support.

As Qing Lin entered the basin and sat cross-legged, she formed the cultivation hand seals.

The energy contained within the medicinal liquid slowly gathered toward her and was gradually absorbed.

Xiao Qing's expression did not change as he watched Qing Lin sink into the basin.

Qing Lin was only five or six years old now, looking like nothing more than a tiny child. If he had any interest in her, then he would be an Initial Saint.

After confirming that everything was in order, Xiao Qing nodded to Zi Yan, signaling that she should come find him if anything happened. He then slowly left the room.

Night fell, with a bright moon and sparse stars.

In the adjacent room, Xiao Qing slowly opened his eyes from meditation.

The next moment, ripples spread through the space before him, and Zi Yan stepped out with her short little legs.

"Has Qing Lin finished cultivating?"

Hearing Xiao Qing's question, Zi Yan nodded her little head.

"With the medicinal liquid you refined, Qing Lin reached Battle Qi, Second Stage after her first cultivation session."

"Though perhaps she wasn't used to cultivating for the first time, she's already asleep now."

Xiao Qing nodded slightly, his expression unchanged.

Cultivation was an extremely mentally exhausting matter. It was normal for the little girl to be like this.

"Xiao Qing, are you really going to search for treasures by yourself?"

Zi Yan scratched her head, looking somewhat reluctant.

"Yes. Qing Lin is still young, and her cultivation is too low. Following us around would be too exhausting for her. Stay here and take care of her. I'll be back within a few days."

Rubbing Zi Yan's little head, Xiao Qing chuckled. "Don't worry. You won't get any less of a share of the treasures."

Hearing this, Zi Yan immediately beamed and patted her chest with her little hand as she promised.

"Leave taking care of Qing Lin to me. Come back early!"

Xiao Qing smiled and nodded.

He had no doubts about whether Zi Yan could take good care of Qing Lin.

Although Zi Yan was usually carefree and seemed rather unreliable, she was never careless when it came to serious matters.

Without saying anything further, Xiao Qing walked to the window under Zi Yan's gaze. A pair of gorgeous green wings spread from his back, and he flapped them as he flew toward the depths of the Tagor Desert.