Ice Emperor, I Can Break Your Seal!

For a moment, no one spoke in the courtyard.

Xiao Li looked at Luo Bu on the ground, then at Xiao Yan, who had already put away his sword. His grip on his spear slowly loosened.

He had thought that, even with his younger brother's rapid progress, the three of them would need to put in some effort together.

Instead, he had not even had time to raise his spear.

"Little Yanzi, are you really a Six-Star Dou Shi?"

Xiao Yan spread his hands.

"My cultivation is at Six-Star Dou Shi. When it comes to fighting, I'm a little stronger."

Xiao Li looked at the lifeless corpse.

A Four-Star Great Dou Master, gone in a single stroke.

He called that a little?

Xiao Ding had already recovered his composure. He called over several trusted men to clean up the courtyard and told the injured mercenary guarding the entrance to get his wounds treated first.

With Luo Bu and Mo Xing gone, how could the remaining members of the Sand Mercenary Group dare provoke Mo Tie after hearing the news? By that evening, even several merchant caravans that had previously competed with them for business had sent people over with apologetic smiles.

Xiao Yan paid little attention to any of this.

He had come to bring his older brothers home, not to stay here and establish another desert overlord.

The next day, Xiao Ding gathered the mercenaries in the courtyard and explained their plans to return to Wutan City, along with the terms the Xiao Clan offered.

Upon hearing that they could join the clan guards or continue escorting merchant caravans under their two leaders, more than half agreed to go.

The few remaining men had homes in Stone Desert City and did not wish to travel far. Xiao Ding did not force them. Besides settling their pay, he gave each of them an additional sum of gold coins.

Only after everything had been arranged did he place the roster before Xiao Yan.

"Your second brother and I have talked it over."

"We're going home."

Xiao Li grinned and patted his younger brother's shoulder.

"Father's busy handling everything at home alone. As his sons, we can't hide out here enjoying an easy life."

Xiao Yan found that amusing.

Mercenaries spent every day traveling through the desert. That hardly counted as an easy life.

Still, with both his older brothers willing to return, their father would indeed have much less to worry about.

Over the next two days, Xiao Ding dealt with their base and remaining goods while Xiao Li took stock of the wagons and horses. Both also began circulating their qi anew according to the opening sections of their new techniques. Whenever they encountered something they did not understand, they noted it down and asked Xiao Yan.

Whenever Xiao Yan could not answer, he turned to the Grandmaster for advice in his mind.

As this continued, the brothers became increasingly convinced of his knowledge.

Xiao Ding also solemnly warned Xiao Li that these techniques were only for their own cultivation and must not be casually passed to others. An innocent man became guilty by possessing a precious jade. They lacked their youngest brother's abilities. If outsiders learned that they possessed Heaven-Rank Techniques, even their journey home might not be peaceful.

Though straightforward by nature, Xiao Li understood the gravity of the matter and immediately tucked the thin booklets securely against his body.

By the window, Bodhi, whom only Xiao Yan could see, held a teacup and spoke through voice transmission:

"You remembered that sentence word for word."

Without changing his expression, Xiao Yan replied in his mind:

"You taught me well, Master."

The Grandmaster chuckled without exposing him.

On the night before their departure, Xiao Yan approached Xiao Yi Xian as she packed her medicine chest.

"How about going to Wutan City with my eldest brother and the others first?"

Xiao Yi Xian stopped what she was doing and looked up at him.

"You're not going back?"

"I still need to see someone in Desert City and find something. Once that's settled, I'll head home."

Xiao Yan placed a letter on the edge of the table.

"I've written to Father. You can have a look at our medicine shop and herb storehouse. That'll also save you from carrying all the herbs you brought along for the entire journey."

"If you want somewhere quiet to study your medicinal texts, it'll certainly be more convenient than an inn."

Xiao Yi Xian looked at him, one eyebrow lifting slightly.

"Are you finding me a place to stay, or trying to get me to look after your medicine shop?"

"A place to stay is just that. If you're willing to help, you'll be paid separately."

"Then we'd better agree on this first. You can't begrudge me the herbs I want."

"As long as you don't carry off the whole storehouse, we can discuss anything."

Xiao Yi Xian could not help laughing.

She had already wanted to find a stable place to organize her studies of the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture. She had left Qingshan Town, and continuing to travel through the desert with Xiao Yan would not necessarily be convenient.

With Xiao Ding and his brother accompanying her, this worked out perfectly.

"All right. I'll go ahead first."

She closed her medicine chest, then gave Xiao Yan another serious look.

"Be careful on your own. Don't go diving into every bit of trouble just because you're strong."

Xiao Yan nodded in agreement.

Inside the ring, Bodhi leisurely sipped his tea without a word.

Early the next morning, the caravan stood ready to depart outside the City Gate.

Xiao Lan landed on a nearby dune and lowered its head to preen its feathers. It would leave with Xiao Yi Xian, resting whenever the caravan stopped if it grew tired, and could also watch the road ahead from the air.

Xiao Yan handed his letter home to Xiao Ding, then passed him a small wooden box.

"Please take this to Xun'er for me."

Inside was a small Sand Crystal lamp he had chosen in the city. Through its shade, one could see golden light like fine grains of sand.

Xiao Li took it and glanced inside, his smile laden with meaning.

"Little Yanzi, you've even learned to bring someone a gift when you go away?"

"Second Brother, if you like it, shall I buy you one too?"

"What would a grown man like me want with this thing?"

Xiao Ding laughed and put the wooden box away for his younger brother. After a few final reminders, he called for everyone to set off.

Xiao Yi Xian sat on the wagon's driving seat and waved at Xiao Yan.

"I'll remember those wages from the medicine shop."

"Don't worry. You'll get every bit."

The wheels rolled over the yellow sand, and the caravan gradually receded into the distance.

Xiao Yan stood there for a while, only looking away once the Mo Tie banner had vanished at the end of the road.

"Master, let's go too."

Several days later, in Desert City.

The city was dry and scorching. Most shops along the streets sold waterskins, weapons, and desert maps. After making a few inquiries, Xiao Yan soon stopped before an inconspicuous shop.

Its wooden sign bore only two words.

Ancient Map.

He pushed the door open and entered. The faint scent of ink mingled with the smell of old paper greeted him.

A white-haired old man sat behind the counter. He was thin, his expression cold. The drawing pen in his hand moved slowly across a sheet of sheepskin, tracing an undulating mountain range.

Upon hearing footsteps, the old man did not even raise his head.

"If you're buying a map, pick one yourself."

Xiao Yan glanced around.

The shelves held many maps. Some marked water sources and trade routes, while others carefully charted places where Magical Beasts roamed. They were far more detailed than anything sold by the street vendors.

His gaze soon settled on a corner.

Several old maps lay stacked together. Half a yellowed edge protruded from among them, and the strange patterns on it closely resembled those on the map fragment he had obtained in the cave.

Found it.

Rather than take it immediately, Xiao Yan walked up to the counter.

"Sir, your maps are well drawn."

The old man's pen did not stop.

"If you're not buying, don't block the light."

He certainly had a temper.

Still, Xiao Yan could tell that the man's strokes were exceptionally steady. Though the surroundings were hot, a faint coolness lingered around the counter.

That chill was concealed so well that ordinary customers would probably only find the room particularly refreshing.

Xiao Yan smiled and lowered his voice.

"If I wanted to buy a Dou Huang expert's time, what price should I offer?"

The fine pen tip abruptly stopped.

The white-haired old man raised his head. A cold gleam suddenly flashed through his previously placid eyes.

"What did you say?"

Meeting his gaze, Xiao Yan spoke slowly.

"Ice Emperor Hai Bodong."

"I have a way to break the seal on you."