As for Xiao Yan himself?
He has made some progress this month.
You can either venture deep into the mountains to hunt third or fourth-tier magical beasts to test your strength, or you can delve into alchemy.
After a month, his success rate in refining grade five pills increased by at least 30%.
In addition, he also acquired three third-tier magic cores and two fourth-tier magic cores.
Using the resources in the valley, Xiao Yan successfully refined three fourth-level energy-gathering pills.
As for the Grade 5 Energy Gathering Pill?
The herbs in the small valley were only enough to refine one pill, so Xiao Yan tried it himself.
Although the refining was successful, the quality was really not up to par, far inferior to that of the old medicine master.
Using these four pills, Xiao Yan's strength broke through six more stages of Dou Qi, successfully reaching the seventy-sixth stage of Dou Qi.
...
Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor stood on Xiao Lan's back, watching the valley gradually shrink, with a hint of reluctance in the latter's eyes.
Although her month in the valley was short, she thoroughly enjoyed this life.
Xiao Yan put his arm around Xiao Yixian's slender waist and comforted her with a smile, "We'll come back in the future."
"Um!"
After hearing this, Little Fairy Doctor smiled slightly and responded softly.
Beside Xiao Lan, the Amethyst Winged Lion King muttered softly, "Humans are such a hassle. Unlike me, I can leave whenever I want without a second thought."
Even so, it still asked another question out of concern.
"Hey, Xiao Yan, are you sure you've taken all that magical beast blood essence? Don't forget it in the valley."
Xiao Yan glanced speechlessly at the Amethyst Winged Lion King and said, "Lion King, this is the fourth time you've asked this."
Upon hearing this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King chuckled and fell silent.
The bizarre combination of two people and three beasts quickly moved away from the small valley and headed towards the Tagor Desert at an extremely fast speed.
Since Xiao Yan became the male head of the household, life in Xiao Lan has improved.
They received a supply of elixirs, refined high-level magical beast blood essence, and even enjoyed a period of body tempering with strange fire.
Now, Xiao Lan has not only broken through to the peak of the second tier of magical beasts, but has also reverted to her ancestral bloodline, awakening the Azure Eagle bloodline.
This bloodline is also a top-tier magical beast bloodline, and it is known for its speed.
Just after Xiao Yan and his group left.
Outside the cave of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, a slender woman in a plain dress with a dignified demeanor appeared in the sky above.
If Xiao Yan were here, he would definitely recognize him at a glance.
This slender, elegant woman in a plain dress is none other than Yun Yun, the sect leader of the Yunlan Sect.
Yun Yun frowned slightly. She had come to trade Purple Spirit Crystals with the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
Unfortunately, with the three-year agreement drawing ever closer, the gap between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan's strength was widening.
As Nalan Yanran's master, Yun Yun was also quite troubled, so she had no choice but to ask Gu He to refine some pills to enhance Nalan Yanran's strength.
However, the main ingredient of one of the pills is purple spirit crystal.
That's why Yunyun traveled all the way from the capital to the Demon Beast Mountain Range.
Unexpectedly, she didn't even catch a glimpse of the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
Left with no other choice, Yun Yun had to return to Yunlan Sect.
A few days later!
Xiao Yan arrived at the first stop of his trip.
Desert City!
For no other reason than to see the remaining map of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, and also to meet Hai Bodong, the famous angel investor from the original work.
As a result, before Xiao Yan and his party even entered Mo City, they had already caused a huge sensation outside the city.
Countless eyes were drawn to the enormous body of the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
Although there is no saying in the world of monsters that the larger the body, the stronger the power, the aura emanating from the Amethyst Winged Lion King is clearly not something that ordinary monsters possess.
Some knowledgeable passersby recognized the origin of the Amethyst Winged Lion King and looked shocked.
Amethyst Winged Lion King?
Shouldn't it be in the Monster Mountains? Why did it come to this remote little town?
Damn it, the Warcraft Mountains are thousands of miles away from here, right?
What wind blew it here?
Xiao Yan nodded upon seeing this, his expression calm.
"Let's go into town!"
If this were the capital, he might be able to keep a low profile, but this is just a small border town.
Wherever Xiao Yan and his party went, all the pedestrians gave them enough space, avoided looking directly at them, and spontaneously kept quiet. Even those in the distance only dared to whisper among themselves.
Xiao Yan showed no discomfort whatsoever in response.
Isn't it perfectly normal for ordinary people to respect the strong?
Soon, Xiao Yan and his group arrived at an inconspicuous map shop.
Almost at the same time, inside the small shop.
An elderly man with a full head of white hair, who was drawing a map behind the counter, suddenly stiffened the arm that was gripping his paintbrush.
With a slight lift of my head, I immediately saw a huge figure standing at the entrance of the shop.
At that moment, Hai Bodong really wanted to swear.
Which scoundrel brought the Amethyst Winged Lion King to Desert City?
And if you're coming, then come. Why are you blocking this old man's door?
Even at his peak, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was a formidable opponent.
Not to mention that he only has the strength of a fighting spirit now.
Therefore, Hai Bodong dared not even breathe loudly, for fear that the Amethyst Winged Lion King would suddenly take a dislike to him and rush in to swat him with its claws.
At this moment, Hai Bodong saw a dashing young man dressed in a black outfit standing in front of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, who smiled at him.
With just one glance, Hai Bodong immediately solved the case!
That scoundrel is this kid.
However, Hai Bodong didn't dare to even glance at the kid in front of him.
He could only return a stiff, awkward, yet polite smile to Xiao Yan.
"Wait here for a moment, I'll go in and buy a map."
Xiao Yan turned his head and spoke to Little Fairy Doctor and the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
He then went into the shop.
As Xiao Yan drew closer, Hai Bodong's usually composed face betrayed a hint of nervousness.
Because of the boy in front of me—
He can't see through it!
The fact that this young man can command the Amethyst Winged Lion King suggests he might be some ageless old monster.
Hai Bodong thought to himself.
At this moment, Xiao Yan's gaze fell on a tattered map on the corner counter.
Upon seeing the tattered map, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile as he strode over.
"It's actually a fragment of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame painting, but unfortunately, it's missing half!"
The moment Xiao Yan picked up the incomplete map, Yao Lao's voice echoed in his heart.
His voice was filled with regret.
"Teacher, that's not necessarily true. Look at this old man in front of us; he's clearly a master mapmaker. What do you say…"
Could the other half of the map be on him too?
Xiao Yan smiled faintly; he knew the original story!
The old doctor was slightly taken aback.
"It's not impossible."
"Moreover, this person possesses a sealed power within him, and his origins are likely not simple."
Xiao Yan picked up the incomplete map, came to Hai Bodong, and gave him a strange smile.
"Sir, you should have the other half of the picture, right?"
"How about we make a deal?"
Still the same original tone!
Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes slightly, looking thoughtfully at the young man before him whom even he couldn't see through, and slowly asked, "What kind of deal do you want to make with this old man?"
Xiao Yan's smile widened as he stored the remnant of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame Diagram in his storage ring, then said meaningfully:
"Old sir, you must have been a Dou Huang, right? Now that your cultivation is sealed, don't you have any ideas on how to restore your strength?"
"Do you have a way to remove that damned seal from my body?"
While Hai Bodong was surprised by Xiao Yan's words, a look of excitement flashed in his eyes.
If it can help me regain my former strength, what's wrong with giving this fragmented map to this mysterious young man?
Although, based on my years of experience, I believe that this fragment of a map must contain a tremendous secret.
But in the end, it's just a fragmented picture!
The Douqi Continent is vast and boundless; to piece together this fragmented map is like retrieving a needle from the ocean.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan nodded calmly.
"Regarding the seal within the old gentleman's body, I have at least three solutions."
Hai Bodong was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and his expression immediately turned displeased.
Three solutions?
Are you kidding me?
I, a dignified Dou Huang, have been sealed for over twenty years and have only found one way to break the seal. I still need to find an alchemist who can refine sixth-grade pills.
You little brat, you only glanced at me once, and you can come up with three methods?
Hai Bodong admitted that the boy in front of him was indeed full of mystery.
However, the latter's claim of having three methods to help him break the seal within his body is absolutely absurd.
It seems this kid has no intention of sincerely making this deal with me.
"The old man doesn't believe me?"
Xiao Yan immediately guessed Hai Bodong's thoughts and couldn't help but chuckle.
Hai Bodong, expressionless and indifferent, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Xiao Yan.
"Then I would like to hear what method Your Excellency has to remove the seal on my body."
Xiao Yan had no intention of playing tricks and stated directly, "I have some knowledge of alchemy and can currently be considered a fifth-grade alchemist!"
"What grade?"
Before Xiao Yan could finish speaking, Hai Bodong interrupted him.
His eyes seemed to pop out, and his expression showed a mixture of astonishment, shock, and deep doubt.
It looks absolutely ridiculous!
Xiao Yan didn't explain, and simply raised his hand.
raging~
In an instant, a wisp of blood-red flame rose from Xiao Yan's palm.
The temperature in the entire store subsequently soared.
"Strange...strange fire!"
Hai Bodong was shocked by Xiao Yan again. Looking at the blood-red flames in front of him, he couldn't even speak properly.
Although he had never seen a strange fire before, the destructive aura emanating from the wisp of blood-red flame in Xiao Yan's palm gave him a sense of unease.
Ordinary high-level beast fire is far less terrifying than this.
For example, the beast fire within the sixth-tier guardian beast of the Gama Empire's royal family could not give him this feeling of unease.
"Sir, I came here with sincerity, otherwise I could have easily killed someone to steal the treasure."
As Xiao Yan spoke, he pointed to the enormous body of the Amethyst Winged Lion King outside the shop and continued, "So, sir, you don't need to question what I'm saying."
Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong's face darkened.
Well, for now, the truth is indeed in the hands of the other side.
"I believe what you say, please continue!"
Seeing this, Xiao Yan smiled with satisfaction.
"The first method, of course, is to take elixirs."
There are many pills in this world that can break the seal. Even if I can't make them, my teacher certainly can.
Of course, the old gentleman would definitely provide the medicinal herbs himself.
After hearing this, Hai Bodong's eyes lit up.
That's right. Since this kid is a fifth-grade alchemist, his teacher's alchemy skills must be even more unfathomable. He might even be a sixth-grade or seventh-grade alchemist.
It shouldn't be a problem to refine a Breakthrough Pill.
However… the main ingredient for refining the Breaking Pill, Sand Mandala, requires venturing deep into the Tagor Desert. With his current strength, how can he possibly go there?
At this moment, Xiao Yan, who was standing in front of the counter, continued.
"Secondly, the one who planted the seal in your body should be the legendary snake-woman queen Medusa, right?"
I might have some dealings with her on this trip, and perhaps I can invite her to break the seal for you.
"Queen Medusa?"
Upon hearing those words, Hai Bodong couldn't help but shudder, and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes.
He swallowed hard and said in a deep voice, "Are you out of your mind? Asking Queen Medusa to help me break the seal she set? You have no idea how cruel she used to be."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, looking relaxed.
"It's alright. No matter how brutal she is, she's just a Fighting Emperor. Besides, I have something she longs for on me."
In order to break through to the Dou Zong level, Queen Medusa risked everything by devouring the Green Lotus Earth Core Flame.
However, snakes are inherently cold and yin, and strange fire is the most violent thing in the world. It is no exaggeration to say that devouring the Green Lotus Earth Core Fire for evolution is a matter of life and death.
Compared to the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, wouldn't the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame be a more cost-effective way to temper the body?
Moreover, the chances of awakening the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python bloodline are also higher.
Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong gave Xiao Yan a deep look.
The latter's ease seemed genuine; he was truly unafraid of Queen Medusa.
This kid is really something else!
I don't know when this freakish kid suddenly appeared in the Gama Empire.
Or is he not from the Gama Empire?
Hai Bodong pondered silently, while Xiao Yan offered the final method.
"Third, I can directly use brute force to break the seal inside your body. As long as a Dou Zong expert takes action, it is still possible to do this, but the process is a bit troublesome."
Of course, this method is mostly unnecessary.
On the other side, Hai Bodong's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
If what this young man in front of me says is true, then doesn't that mean that the damned seal inside my body finally has a chance to be broken?
Thinking of this, Hai Bodong said excitedly, "As long as you can help me remove the seal in my body, I will gladly offer you the remaining half of the map."
Xiao Yan smiled with satisfaction and immediately said, "Alright, it's settled then!"
At this moment, Hai Bodong seemed to suddenly remember something and reached out to take out another map from the counter.
"By the way, since you are an alchemist and possess a unique flame, you might be interested in this map."
The incredibly detailed map was marked with several flame symbols.
Xiao Yan took the map.
Having read the original novel, he naturally knew that the underground magma where the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame was located was near Stone Desert City, but he didn't know the exact location.
Having a map would be much more convenient.
However, he still feigned curiosity and asked, "What is this map?"
Hai Bodong smiled smugly.
"I once traveled through the Tagor Desert and luckily obtained information about a strange fire. Finally, based on the exploration, I selected three general areas."
It's a pity my fighting spirit is of the ice attribute; otherwise, I would have at least tried to devour the strange fire.
As he spoke, Hai Bodong's face showed a hint of regret.
After all, if Xiao Yan, who is so young, can devour a different kind of fire, there is no reason why I, a powerful Dou Huang, cannot devour a different kind of fire.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled awkwardly but politely.
He thought to himself, "Trying to devour other flames? Luckily, you have ice-attribute fighting spirit, otherwise you would have swallowed them all without a sound."
All I can say is that the Ice Emperor truly lives up to his name!
Its main selling point is its stubbornness and daring!
Step out of the store!
The old doctor sighed, "Little Yanzi, I must say, you do have some good fortune."
Ordinary people would never come into contact with information about strange fire in their entire lives, but for Xiao Yan, it was as easy as playing a game.
It's one thing for a small kingdom like the Gama Empire to have a single Beast Spirit Flame, but to have an alien flame as well?
There is even information about the Pure Lotus Demon Flame.
Xiao Yan's face showed a hint of smugness.
"I told you, this is the treatment of the chosen one, but you don't believe me!"
The old doctor joked, "Hehe, you know what, you really do look a bit like him now."
Of course, he didn't believe in the idea of a chosen one.
If you're lucky, you can be called a child of destiny?
Outside the shop!
When Little Fairy Doctor saw Xiao Yan come out, she asked curiously, "Why were you inside for so long?"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King also looked over.
Xiao Yan explained with a smile, "The boss inside is no ordinary person. He is one of the ten strongest figures in the Gama Empire in the past, the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong!"
"Hiss~" Little Fairy Doctor gasped, her mouth slightly agape, then exclaimed in shock, "So, he's a Dou Huang powerhouse?"
I never expected that a powerful Dou Huang would be selling maps in such a remote town in the eastern part of the empire.
This fighting emperor is really down-to-earth!
"Is this what they mean by 'a great hermit lives in plain sight'?" Little Fairy Doctor exclaimed.
"No, his cultivation was sealed because he was being hunted down, so he can only hide here," Xiao Yan said.
"ah!"
Little Fairy Doctor was stunned, not expecting the truth to be like this.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King asked curiously, "Is the seal like my Amethyst Seal?"
Without a second thought, Xiao Yan replied, "He's been sealed for over twenty years. Can your amethyst seal do that?"
In the original story, Yun Yun broke free of the amethyst seal on her own not long after it was sealed.
Yun Yun's strength is at most at the level of a three- or four-star Dou Huang, which is much weaker than Hai Bodong at his peak.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King raised its head and said defiantly, "My amethyst seal couldn't do this before, but it definitely can now."
"Hmm...maybe!"
...
One day later, in the vast desert!
"It's so hot!"
A hot wind blew against her face. Little Fairy Doctor wiped the sweat from her forehead, her breath coming in short gasps, her pretty face flushed.
Xiao Yan handed her a water bottle.
"Let's quench our thirst, we'll be in Stone Desert City soon."
Little Fairy Doctor took the water bottle, drank a sip, and then returned it to Xiao Yan.
"You drink too!"
Seeing this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King disdainfully distanced itself even further.
His sensitive nose detected a strong, sour odor in the air.
"I'll take you to meet my older brothers later."
"Okay!"
After flying for a while, a loud fighting suddenly came from below.
"Who's fighting?" Little Fairy Doctor asked curiously, looking down.
Cities are rare in the Tagor Desert, and the population is sparse. They haven't seen many people along the way, but they have seen a few mercenaries mingling in the desert.
"It looks like a group of mercenaries are surrounding and killing a monster."
"Looking down at the scene below," said the Little Fairy Doctor.
She had seen this kind of scene many times in the Monster Mountains, so she wasn't surprised.
"Huh?"
At this moment, Xiao Yan suddenly let out a soft "Eh".
"What's up?"
Little Fairy Doctor looked up at Xiao Yan.
A hint of joy flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes as he said, "I was wondering why you looked so familiar. It turns out it's Second Brother."
"Second Brother?"
Upon hearing this, Little Fairy Doctor suddenly realized that on the way there, she had heard Xiao Yan mention that his eldest and second eldest brothers had established a mercenary group in Stone Desert City.
Unexpectedly, they encountered their second brother before even reaching Stone Desert City.
"Xiao Lan, descend!"
Xiao Yan squatted down and patted the soft feathers on Xiao Lan's back.
Xiao Lan immediately understood, let out a long cry, and slowly descended.
At that moment, the mercenaries on the ground who were hunting down a yellowish-brown, scorpion-like magical beast noticed the situation and shouted in alarm, "Second...Second Commander, something's wrong, from the air!"
Xiao Li held an iron spear and thrust it out. A crackling sound rang out in the air, and silver arcs of lightning shot out from the spear tip, like a lightning serpent.
The lightning serpent struck the monster, instantly knocking it back several feet, splattering blood everywhere.
But upon hearing the group members' horrified roar, they immediately looked curiously towards the sky.
Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard.
"Second Brother, it's been a long time! How have you been?"
A familiar figure suddenly appeared in Xiao Li's line of sight.
Xiao Li looked at the young and heroic boy in the sky. Although he hadn't seen him for many years, he recognized him at a glance as his third brother.
Seeing the latter's hearty smile, Xiao Li couldn't help but grin as well, laughing heartily, "Hahaha, Little Yanzi, what brings you here too?"
"The Second Regiment Commander actually knows this boy?"
"Are you stupid? Didn't you hear that boy call the Second Regiment Commander 'Second Brother'? They're brothers."
"It seems that this young man is Xiao Yan, the genius younger brother that the First and Second Commanders often mention."
"Why are you calling me Xiao Yan? Call me Third Regiment Commander!"
"Putting everything else aside, what's the background of that giant purple lion that's with the Third Commander? It looks pretty scary. Could it be a Tier 3 magical beast?"
"I think this body type is fourth-class!"
"Hiss~ The Third Commander is terrifying! He can actually command a fourth-order magical beast!"
The members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group were all talking at once, their attention drawn to Xiao Yan and the Amethyst Winged Lion King. They didn't notice that the heavily injured Scorpion Beast had taken advantage of their inattention and burrowed into the underground yellow sand.
After a belated realization, everyone exclaimed in alarm, "Second Commander, the prey has escaped!"
Xiao Li waved his hand dismissively upon hearing this: "It's just a second-tier magical beast. It's gone, so be it."
As he spoke, he looked at Xiao Yan and smiled, "You've gone to all this trouble to come here, your big brother will be very happy to know. Come on, let's go back to the city!"
"No rush!" Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Second Brother, can I borrow your gun?"
"Next!"
Xiao Li didn't know what Xiao Yan was going to do, but he still threw the iron spear in his hand to the latter.
Xiao Yan took the gun, a slight smile playing on his lips. His gaze, like that of a hawk, locked onto a spot on the yellow sand. Then, with a sudden burst of strength in his wrist, he fired the gun.
Bang!
This spear thrust was delivered without the slightest fluctuation of fighting spirit; Xiao Yan relied entirely on the power of his physical body.
A sonic boom echoed through the air. Before Xiao Li and the other mercenaries could even see the shadow of their spears, the distant desert suddenly exploded, and a small area of yellow sand shot into the sky like a sand waterfall.
As the sand waterfall cascaded down, a large crater, resembling one created by a meteorite, came into view.
Inside the crater, the scorpion-like monster, its body pierced by the spear, was clearly dead beyond any doubt.
Those who reacted looked both bewildered and horrified.
What kind of power is this?
The Third Regiment Commander's strength is simply terrifying!
"Little... Little Yanzi, your strength is terrifying now!"
Xiao Li looked at the huge crater in the distance, his lips twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but swallow.
I originally thought that with all the hard work I've put into my cultivation over the years, the mid-level Xuan-rank cultivation technique that Xiao Yanzi gave me, and my own talent, even if my strength wasn't as good as Xiao Yanzi's, it wouldn't be much worse.
But now it seems he underestimated Xiao Yanzi's talent.
However, Xiao Li's face quickly lit up with ecstasy, and he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, Little Yanzi, if your big brother knew your current strength, he would be shocked."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly, a look of remembrance appearing on his face.
"I haven't seen my older brother in a long time either!"
Xiao Lihao laughed loudly, "Come on, I'll take you to see the foundation laid by your eldest and second eldest brothers."
As he spoke, he directed the mercenaries nearby.
"Brothers, take that prey and head back to town!"
"Okay!"
Upon receiving the instructions, the mercenaries immediately headed towards the large pit.
Xiao Lan and the Amethyst Winged Lion King and his son flew slowly through the air.
Xiao Yan then put his arm around Xiao Yixian's slender waist, lightly touched the ground with his toes, and came to Xiao Li's side.
"Second Brother, this is Little Fairy Doctor!"
"Your future sister-in-law!"
Xiao Yan smiled gently at Little Fairy Doctor and then turned to introduce her to Xiao Li.
"So it's my sister-in-law!"
"Ah...sister-in-law!"
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's introduction, Xiao Li first looked enlightened, then suddenly widened his eyes and pulled the latter aside, whispering, "Little Yan, does Xun'er know about Little Fairy Doctor?"
Who in the entire Xiao family doesn't know Xiao Xun'er's feelings for Xiao Yan?
Xiao Yan smiled lightly and nodded.
"You are this one!"
Seeing this, Xiao Li gave Xiao Yan a thumbs up with admiration.
Little Fairy Doctor didn't eavesdrop on their conversation, but she still covered her mouth and chuckled softly as she looked at them from afar.
"The brothers really have a good relationship!"
A group of people returned to Shimo City amidst laughter and cheers.
It's fair to say that the kind of leader you have determines the kind of members you have.
Xiao Li's mercenaries were mostly a group of bold and forthright people.
Soon, the group returned to Stone Desert City.
The enormous and majestic size of the Amethyst Winged Lion King once again caused a great sensation in Stone Desert City, as expected.
Countless people secretly watched.
Following behind Xiao Li, the members of the Mo Tie mercenary group walked proudly down the wide street, looking incredibly arrogant.
South of the city, the base of the Mo Tie mercenary group!
Several burly men, armed with weapons, stood guard at the entrance to the courtyard with serious expressions.
Then, a huge purple figure came into their view first.
The overwhelming sense of oppression instantly changed their expressions, and they raised their weapons.
Just as they were about to sound the alarm and call for the chief commander.
Then they saw the purple figure in front of Xiao Li and his group.
The harmonious scene immediately put them at ease.
"I only glanced at the magical beasts that the Second Commander brought back, and I could feel an immense sense of oppression."
"Me too. Even the Grand Commander or the City Lord can't compare to this feeling."
Could it be—
"This magical beast is a fourth-order magical beast!"
"I think it's very possible!..."
Upon entering the encampment, Xiao Li looked at his men behind him and said in a deep voice, "Take some brothers and build a resting place for the Lion King, Little Lion King, and Little Lan."
Remember, the space needs to be large, and also send some of our local specialties to the Lion King and his men.
"Yes, Second Regiment Commander!"
For a group of fighters, setting up several large rest areas is not a difficult task.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan smiled slightly.
Second brother is so thoughtful!
"Little...Little Yanzi!"
Just then, a young man dressed in white robes, with a refined demeanor, appeared suddenly from around a corner in the distance, having heard the commotion.
Seeing the familiar figure in his line of sight, he ignored even the Amethyst Winged Lion King and walked over laughing.
"Big brother!"
Looking at the handsome and refined young man in front of him, Xiao Yan smiled again.
"Great! You've grown up and are much stronger now!"
Xiao Ding patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder and said with emotion.
Xiao Li laughed and said, "Brother, there's something even more surprising coming up."
"Oh?" Xiao Ding was slightly taken aback, then asked curiously, "What else about Xiao Yanzi surprises me even more? Could it be that he has already broken through to the Great Dou Master level?"
After saying that, she looked at Xiao Yan in surprise.
Seeing this, Xiao Li chuckled and said, "Big brother, Xiao Yanzi is not only a Grand Dou Master, but also not an ordinary one."
Then, she recounted her encounter with Xiao Yan with great enthusiasm.
Xiao Ding was slightly startled upon hearing this. Without even using his fighting spirit, he casually stabbed the second-tier peak magical beast, Sandstone Scorpion, to death with a single thrust of his spear.
Such strength is something even a high-level Grand Master would find difficult to achieve.
Thinking of this, Xiao Ding couldn't help but gasp.
Did you not expect Xiao Yanzi to be this strong?
Back when he and Xiao Li left Wutan City, Xiao Yan prepared a profound-level cultivation technique for each of them.
He obtained a high-level Xuan-rank cultivation technique. With this technique and his already considerable talent, he broke through to the level of a one-star Great Dou Master in just a few years.
I thought this speed was already quite fast, but I didn't expect that compared to Xiao Yan, it was still not good enough.
Xiao Yan felt slightly embarrassed.
His two older brothers both thought he was a high-level Grand Master, or even a Fighting Spirit.
However, in reality, with his current fighting spirit quality, he is at most comparable to a nine-star Dou Shi.
The gap between a nine-star Dou Shi and a Great Dou Shi is not small at all. Xiao Yan suspects that his Dou Qi may need to break through the hundredth level to be comparable to a Great Dou Shi.
Because he had a vague feeling that the 100th level of fighting spirit should be the first watershed in his strength.
Then, Xiao Yan also introduced Xiao Ding to Little Fairy Doctor.
Compared to Xiao Li's loud and boisterous manner, Xiao Ding was much more reserved, but he did ask Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor whether they should be provided with one or two rooms.
Xiao Yan certainly didn't care, but Little Fairy Doctor's cheeks flushed from the comment, and she stammered that two rooms would be better.
Upon hearing this, a hint of regret flashed in Xiao Ding's eyes.
What a pity!
That night, the entire Mo Tie mercenary group was filled with joy and held a grand banquet.
The entire group drank until they were completely drunk, to welcome Xiao Yan and the others back home.
Some mercenaries even mustered their courage and challenged the Amethyst Winged Lion King to a toast.
Upon learning that this lion king was a legendary sixth-tier peak magical beast, everyone worshipped and revered it to the extreme. After a few drinks, all sorts of praise and flattery came out of their mouths.
This made the Amethyst Winged Lion King quite happy, and he looked very pleased.
That night, the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps drank to their hearts' content.
However, the members of the Sand Mercenary Group, the old rivals of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, began to feel extremely uneasy.
Now everyone knows that the seemingly terrifyingly powerful monster has joined the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps.
There seems to be a deep connection between the two.
The next day!
Morning light streamed through the window into the room, illuminating Xiao Yan's face.
Xiao Yan slowly got up. At that moment, the door suddenly opened, and a thin figure carefully walked in carrying a basin of water.
She approached Xiao Yan as if from a script, her expression showing a hint of fear.
"Young...Young Master, let me help you wash up!"
Xiao Yan glanced at the thin girl in front of him. She was wearing a green dress and looked somewhat underdeveloped, with a delicate temperament.
However, her petite face is exceptionally delicate, forming a stark contrast with the wild beauty of the women in the vast desert.
Furthermore, the small blue scales peeking out from the back of the girl's hand as she carried the basin made her identity quite obvious.
The Azure Serpent's Three-Flower Pupils, Azure Scales!
Qinglin keenly sensed Xiao Yan's gaze. Her petite body trembled slightly, and she hurriedly placed the washbasin on the wooden shelf beside the bed, frantically pulling down her sleeves.
"I'm so sorry, Young Master Xiao Yan, I've offended your eyes."
Qinglin lowered his head and said timidly.
Her overreaction startled Xiao Yan. Looking at the delicate girl in front of him, who resembled a porcelain doll, he suddenly remembered that she was still quite sensitive about her identity.
Seeing her timid appearance, Xiao Yan smiled gently, stood up, and patted her head.
"You don't need to care about what other people think; these scales look beautiful."
Xiao Yan spoke truthfully, reaching out to roll up Qinglin's sleeve.
The bluish-green scales paired with the fair and delicate skin next to them create a unique aesthetic.
"Really...really?"
Qinglin was slightly taken aback, and her fear inexplicably dissipated at that moment.
The young master Xiao Yan in front of me... seems a bit different from the others.
His voice is like the sun, giving people a warm feeling.
So... people actually appreciate these ugly scales?
Xiao Yan spoke with absolute certainty, his face filled with seriousness.
"Of course!"
Qinglin's face was slightly flushed, like a ripe, rosy apple, making her, who was already like a porcelain doll, look even more adorable.
Just as her emotions were surging, Xiao Yan clearly saw three small green dots suddenly appear deep within her light green pupils.
It appeared for only a moment before the green dot disappeared again.
Clearly, this is a sign that the Jade Serpent's Three-Flower Pupil has awakened.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, let Qinglin help you with your washing up!"
A faint smile appeared on Qinglin's little face.
She had always appeared timid and fearful, so this was the first time she had ever smiled from the bottom of her heart.
Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled: "How old am I? Do you think I'd let a little girl like you serve me?"
Upon hearing this, Qinglin immediately became anxious and shook her head repeatedly.
"How can this be? Qinglin is the young master's maid. How can we let the young master wash up by himself?"
"Be good!"
Xiao Yan continued to rub Qing Lin's head, and then went to wash up on his own.
After washing up, Xiao Yan said, "Alright, take me to find my eldest and second brothers!"
"Um!"
On the way, Yao Lao's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind.
"Little Yanzi, this girl's constitution seems unusual?"
Xiao Yan knew it wasn't simple, but he still feigned curiosity and asked, "Teacher, what have you discovered?"
The old apothecary said solemnly, "I suspect that this little girl's physique is the legendary Jade Serpent Three-Flower Pupil!"
"Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupils? What kind of constitution is that?"
The old doctor continued, "This kind of constitution can only appear in children born to snake people and humans. The probability is extremely low, even lower than that of the Calamity Poison Body."
Moreover, this physique is extremely extraordinary. Not only can it create illusions in battles with humans, but it is also the nemesis of all snakes, with a certain probability of being able to forcibly control snake-like magical beasts.
The stronger you are, the higher your chances of success.
Xiao Yan also knew that the Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil could open up a space inside the eye, and the power of any magical beast or person sucked into this space would be slowly absorbed by the host of the Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil.
Therefore, the growth rate of each generation of the Jade Serpent Three-Flower Pupil can only be described as terrifying.
However, Xiao Yan readily agreed, saying, "What a terrifying physique!"
Even the old doctor couldn't help but sigh.
"What merits does the Gama Empire possess that allows it to simultaneously have both the Calamity Poison Body and the Azure Serpent Three-Flower Eyes?"
The more Yao Lao spoke, the more complicated his tone became.
"Little Yanzi, I'm starting to acknowledge your luck now. With your relationship with Little Fairy Doctor and Green Scale, even if you're just average, you can totally live off her!"
"Haha, teacher, you're really going to get more and more outrageous."
Soft rice?
I can't eat any more!
He, Xiao Yan, will rely on his strength to become the "big father" of everyone on the entire mainland!
Well...
Aside from Xun'er, she's a real rich woman!
Xiao Yan was still waiting for her to give him a body-refining fighting technique at the Earth or even Heaven level.
There's really no way around it, physical training and combat techniques are just too rare.
His current Hundred-Forged Golden Yang Body is only at the high-level of the Profound stage, which is a bit insufficient.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, we've arrived at the training ground. The First and Second Regiments Commanders are inside."
Today is the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps' test, which takes place every three months, and it's also the most exciting day in the corps.
However, it was still early, and many mercenaries had been drinking heavily the night before, so there were only a handful of people on the training ground.
This includes Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
They needed to coordinate everything, so they arrived very early.
Seeing Xiao Yan approach, the two men laughed and said, "Little Yan, why don't you rest a little longer?"
Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "If I sleep any longer, I'll become paralyzed, so I came over to check on him."
Xiao Li put his arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder and chuckled, "Little Yan, how long are you planning to stay this time?"
Xiao Yan thought for a moment and said, "I came here for the strange fire, so I probably won't stay long."
"Strange fire?"
The Xiao brothers, Ding and Li, were both startled. The former, more knowledgeable, asked curiously, "I've heard that only alchemists need different flames, right? Little Flame, could it be that you..."
Xiao Yan touched his nose and smiled slightly.
"I'm not very talented, but I happen to be an alchemist!"
"Hiss~ Little Yanzi, you're actually an alchemist! Does that mean our Xiao family is going to be rich!"
Seeing this, Xiao Yan asked in confusion, "You often communicate with your family, didn't Father tell you that I am an alchemist?"
Moreover, my rank is not low; the Xiao family now dominates Wutan City.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance and shook their heads simultaneously.
Xiao Yan's lips twitched slightly. His father hadn't told his two older brothers anything!
He was completely left to his own devices and didn't receive any family benefits.
Xiao Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Big brother, second brother, here's what I'll do: I'll make a list for you, and you can buy as many medicinal herbs as possible. I'll refine a batch of pills for you before I leave."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's eyes lit up with joy.
"That's wonderful!"
There's no pretense between brothers.
But Xiao Ding also thought of something and said, "Little Yanzi, you said you were looking for the Strange Fire, but you came to Stone Desert City to see me and your second brother first. Could it be that the Strange Fire is around Stone Desert City?"
Xiao Yan smiled and said, "As expected of the eldest brother, there is indeed a possibility of strange fire existing in this area of Stone Desert City."
As Xiao Yan spoke, he handed the map that Hai Bodong had given him to Xiao Ding.
This timeframe is almost a year longer than in the original story, and it's unclear whether Queen Medusa took away the Green Lotus Earth Core Flame.
"Let me see!"
Xiao Ding took the map and examined it for a moment, then suddenly realized, "The area marked on the map should be the eastern part of Stone Desert City."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but sigh.
Unexpectedly, such a rare and wondrous thing as a strange fire was hidden underground in this small desert city.
Xiao Li was an impatient man, and immediately said, "In that case, let's send people there to dig three feet into the ground and dig out the strange fire for Xiao Yanzi."
Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "There's no rush. Isn't today the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps' test? It's not too late to do it after today. Let's not spoil everyone's fun."
Seeing that Xiao Yan was indeed not in a hurry, Xiao Ding said, "Then let's do as Xiao Yanzi says."
Before long, the members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps gradually arrived, and Little Fairy Doctor and the Amethyst Winged Lion King also came to the training ground.
Little Lan and Little Lion King frolicked and circled in the air.
The Mo Tie Mercenary Corps' test competition was about to begin amidst a lively atmosphere.