When Xiao Yan and his group returned to Stone Desert City.
Xiao Ding had already received the news and was waiting anxiously at the city gate.
When he saw that Xiao Huohuo and his group had returned safely, especially when he saw that Xiao Huohuo and Xiao Li were both unharmed, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
The group returned to the base of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. After listening to Xiao Li's story, Xiao Ding's expression became serious again.
" Sha Tie led forty men to attack you, and even used scorpion tail venom..."
Xiao Ding tapped his fingers on the table. "It seems we have no choice but to take action against the Sand Mercenary Group."
"Brother, Third Brother and the others displayed their strength today. The Sand Mercenary Group shouldn't dare to act rashly again in the short term, but..." Xiao Li analyzed:
"But given Luo Bu's character, he will definitely retaliate, and he will be very vicious."
Xiao Ding understood Xiao Li's meaning.
The Sand Mercenary Group fears Xiao Huohuo and Xiao Yan; once the two leave, it will likely be the end of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
Xiao Ding looked at Xiao Huohuo, his emotions not showing on his face, and asked, "Did you find what you were looking for?"
Xiao Huohuo and said, "Someone beat us to it; we'll have to find another way."
"Well, life is full of disappointments, but we believe you can handle it."
Xiao Ding patted Xiao Huohuo on the shoulder, comforting his third brother.
Xiao Huohuo nodded slightly, not telling them about his plan to go deep into the Tagor Desert, as it would only cause them unnecessary worry.
"Big brother, second brother, we may have to leave Stone Desert City soon."
Queen Medusa took the Green Lotus Core Flame, and he had to go and see what was going on; the Heavenly Flames was far too important to him.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance, both seeing the reluctance in each other's eyes, but they understood, after all, they could tell that their third brother had many secrets.
"When are you leaving?" Xiao Ding asked Xiao Huohuo, smiling as he replied:
Your second brother and I will pack our things and see you off.
"After we deal with the Sand Mercenary Group," Xiao Huohuo suddenly said.
The room fell silent.
Xiao Ding frowned. "Third brother, the leader of the Sand Mercenary Group is Five-Star Da Dou Shi, while you are only Peak Nine-Star Dou Shi. There's no need for that..."
Xiao Li, standing to the side, suddenly brightened up.
He had witnessed Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo's strength firsthand, so he had no objection to it.
"Today, the Sand Mercenary Group attacked us with deadly force, even using poisoned arrows to wound people."
Xiao Huohuo said calmly:
This shows that they have come to regard the Desert Iron Mercenary Group as an enemy that must be eliminated.
"Once we leave, they will definitely retaliate against the Desert Iron Mercenary Group."
Xiao Li nodded. "Third brother is right. Luo Bu is a vindictive man. Today we made his men suffer a great loss, and he will definitely not let it go."
"Therefore, we must resolve this hidden danger before we leave," Xiao Huohuo continued, "And..."
"Now that we've dealt with the Sand Mercenary Group, Stone Desert City is your territory. Next time you come, you can be a proper guest."
Xiao Huohuo teased.
Xiao Ding pondered for a long time. After all, he had never seen Xiao Huohuo, and he couldn't help but worry about Xiao Huohuo's safety.
" Qing Lin."
Xiao Huohuo suddenly spoke up and called Qing Lin over.
Qing Lin stood timidly in front of the group. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were also puzzled as to why Xiao Huohuo had called Qing Lin over.
" Qing Lin also gained something this time."
Xiao Huohuo didn't explain it in a complicated way, but directly explained:
" Qing Lin has a special talent, which she has just awakened. Now, she can control a Magical Beast."
Upon hearing that Qing Lin could control a fourth-level Magical Beast, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li began to look at this girl in the mercenary group in a different light for the first time.
Sensing a hint of danger emanating from the Fire Spirit Snake, the two were no longer worried.
"Since we're going to make a move, we need to plan it out carefully."
Xiao Li said, " Luo Bu is Five-Star Da Dou Shi, Sand Mercenary Group has more than two hundred people. A frontal assault on us would result in heavy losses."
"We will deal with Luo Bu, but we don't know if you can take over the Sand Mercenary Group's territory after we've dealt with Luo Bu."
Xiao Huohuo spoke slowly.
After all, their goal wasn't simply to eliminate the Sand Mercenary Group.
The goal was not annexation, but rather to annex; killing Luo Bu would have been much simpler.
However, completely absorbing its power would be quite difficult.
Xiao Ding was taken aback by Xiao Huohuo's words, and after a moment of contemplation, he shook his head regretfully.
Seeing Xiao Huohuo's puzzled look, Xiao Ding explained:
"Our Desert Iron Mercenary Group was only considered mid-to-upper class in Stone Desert City before; the Sand Mercenary Group was the most powerful."
"At this stage, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in completely swallowing up the Sand Mercenary Group's territory."
Upon hearing Xiao Huohuo tapped her fingertips on the table a few times, then stood up and said:
"Never mind that, let's go have a heart-to-heart talk with Luo Bu first."
"Third brother!"
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li hesitated for a moment, then Xiao Huohuo waved his hand and said to them:
"Don't worry, he can't hurt me. I'll go check the situation first; maybe I can take care of them without bloodshed?"
After leaving the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo headed towards the location of the Sand Mercenary Group.
The two could keep it a secret, Sand Mercenary Group's forces would have no way of detecting their arrival.
Under the cover of night, the Sand Mercenary Group's headquarters in the Stone Desert City was brightly lit.
The atmosphere inside the council chamber was so heavy it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it.
Commander Luo Bu sat in the main seat, his face terribly grim.
He was about forty years old, short and stocky, with skin as black as iron from years of sun exposure, and his triangular eyes were flashing with a fierce light.
The aura of Five-Star Da Dou Shi permeated the hall, making it almost impossible for Sha Tie and the others standing below to breathe.
"Forty men were routed by a mere teenager?"
Luo Bu's voice was calm, but the calmer it was, the more chilling it became to Sha Tie's spine.
"Commander, that kid's really weird!"
Sha Tie hurriedly explained,
"He's clearly Nine-Star Dou Shi, but those flames... I've never seen such terrifying flames before. The iron shield melted the moment it touched them!"
And that boy in black, his methods were even more bizarre; an ice wall appeared in front of him when the arrows struck...
"Enough!"
Luo Bu slammed his hand on the table, causing several cracks to appear in the solid wood. "A loss is a loss, stop making excuses!"
Sha Tie lowered his head, not daring to speak again.
Luo Bu stood up and paced around the hall.
His steps were heavy, each one seeming to pound on everyone's hearts.
As the leader of the top mercenary group in Stone Desert City, he was able to build his empire in the desert not only through his strength, but also through his keen insight and cautious approach.
The boy named Xiao Huohuo, and the black-clad boy named Xiao Yan.
These two are too young, frighteningly young.
To possess such strength at such a young age, one cannot possibly lack powerful backing.
Moreover, Flying Dou Technique... those are not something that ordinary forces can possess.
"Where are they now?" Luo Bu asked.
"Reporting to the commander, we're at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's base," a scout quickly replied.
"You heard me right, that kid called Xiao Li 'Second Brother'?"
Luo Bu was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Sha Tie and asked.
"That's right, that's what that kid called Xiao Li when they came up from the bottom of the pit."
"Interesting... When did Xiao Ding and Xiao Li get such a capable younger brother?"
Before he could finish speaking, the doors to the council chamber were suddenly pushed open.
The two mercenaries guarding the gate were sent flying in, crashing heavily to the ground, their faces filled with terror.
Everyone in the hall paled and simultaneously drew their weapons.
Luo Bu instantly unleashed the full power of Five-Star Da Dou Shi, with crimson Dou Qi burning fiercely on his body.
Two figures walked in side by side outside the door.
The one on the left, dressed in black with black hair, had a calm and composed expression; the one on the right carried a giant ruler on his back, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
It was Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo.
"Commander Luo Bu, I apologize for this late-night visit, as it is uninvited."
Xiao Huohuo spoke with a smile, his tone as relaxed as if he were greeting an old friend.
Luo Bu's pupils contracted slightly. The Sand Mercenary Group's base was located in the most bustling area of Stone Desert City, guarded by more than three hundred mercenaries. How did these two manage to enter so silently?
" Xiao Huohuo?"
Luo Bu suppressed his shock and said coldly, "How dare you trespass on the headquarters of my Sand Mercenary Group."
"How dare you come to discuss business with Commander Luo Bu if you don't have the guts?"
Xiao Huohuo walked to a chair, sat down by himself, and glanced at everyone in the hall before finally fixing his gaze on Luo Bu.
The gaze was calm, but Luo Bu felt as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake, and his whole body went cold.
"Business?" Luo Bu narrowed his eyes. "What business do I have to discuss with you?"
Of course.
Xiao Huohuo held up two fingers and said to Luo Bu:
"First, your men injured my second brother and the brothers of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group today, and this debt must be settled. Second, from now on, the Sand Mercenary Group will be under the command of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group."
An uproar erupted in the hall.
"Arrogant!"
A vice-captain roared, "Boy, who do you think you are? Do you think you're worthy of our Sand Mercenary Group's submission?"
Xiao Huohuo glanced at him. Her eyes were indifferent, but the deputy commander seemed to have his throat grabbed, and he swallowed back the words he was about to say.
In the shadows, Yao Lao's helpless voice rang in Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo's ears:
"I've now become your accomplice, a mere puppet in your charade..."
It was Yao Lao who used his terrifying Spiritual Soul Power to suppress everyone, and the deputy commander was the one who received special attention.
"Commander Luo Bu."
Xiao Huohuo ignored everyone else and only looked at Luo Bu, her eyes slightly narrowed:
"I'm a reasonable person. I'll give you two choices today: one, we fight. If you win, we'll leave and this matter will be forgotten; if you lose, the Sand Mercenary Group will merge into the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and you and your men can live."
Luo Bu's expression shifted repeatedly.
He couldn't figure out the two boys' backgrounds, but his dignity as Five-Star Da Dou Shi made it impossible for him to easily submit.
"What's the second option?" Luo Bu asked in a deep voice.
"The second option is simpler."
Xiao Huohuo laughed, "The second option is that after sunrise tomorrow, the Sand Mercenary Group will no longer exist in Stone Desert City."