These two brothers of the Xiao Family, aged about three or four years older than him, have strengths of 2-Star Dou Master and 4-Star Dou Master respectively. Their cultivation talents are just average, nothing remarkable to speak of.
"Esteemed Alchemist, do you happen to know the two of us?" Xiao Ding keenly sensed Yun Tianming's scrutinizing gaze and asked tentatively.
"Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Tianming."
Yun Tianming succinctly stated his identity.
Upon hearing this, both Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's expressions changed.
Because of Nalan Yanran's divorce, the relationship between Misty Cloud Sect and the Xiao Family, although not yet at the point of enmity, was far from friendly.
"Tch!"
Xiao Li's eyes grew cold. With his strong personality, he valued brotherly affection greatly. Upon learning of Nalan Yanran's visit to dissolve the engagement, he was infuriated, feeling that Xiao Yan had suffered a great humiliation.
"Younger brother, mind your manners!"
Xiao Ding restrained Xiao Li, who was itching to react. Unlike his impulsive younger brother, Xiao Ding had a calm temperament. He understood that Nalan Yanran's dissolution of the engagement had already done the utmost to preserve the Xiao Family's dignity, even offering a Black Rank High-Level Qi Method as compensation. On this matter, the Xiao Family's seniors, including their father, had already agreed. As younger members of the Xiao Family, they had no right to interfere.
"Big Brother, what about third brother?"
"Let's not bring this up again!"
With a stern look, Xiao Ding halted Xiao Li, who seemed about to say something. Then, he cupped his hands towards Yun Tianming and said with dignity, "Friend from Misty Cloud Sect, in three years' time, our Xiao Family will certainly attend the appointment as scheduled!"
After saying so, he pulled the reluctant Xiao Li away from the inn.
Yun Tianming watched the performance of these two brothers with indifference, his heart unmoved, even feeling a bit amused.
"So the young master is a distinguished guest of Misty Cloud Sect, my apologies."
"I wonder if Master Yun has any grievances with those Xiao Family brothers? Perhaps our Sand Mercenary Group could help."
Luo Bu tactfully offered his assistance.
"We, the West Wind Mercenary Group, are also very willing to serve you, Master!" Another Captain Qin also showed goodwill.
With Misty Cloud Sect and an Alchemist in tow, wouldn't this be a golden opportunity?
"Perfect timing. I have a matter I need to entrust to both captains," Yun Tianming didn't beat around the bush and straightforwardly presented his request, "I'm looking for someone, a hybrid between the Snake People Tribe and humans, young, around 10 to 13 years old."
Upon hearing his request, the two captains exchanged glances, showing expressions of concern.
"Master Yun, perhaps you are unaware, but the likelihood of a hybrid between the Snake People Tribe and humans being conceived is extremely low, and most do not survive past the age of two. It's rare to find anyone over the age of ten," one of the captains explained.
Without waiting for Luo Bu to finish, Yun Tianming waved his hand to interrupt.
"That's precisely why I need you to find them."
"Whoever can find this person for me will receive these," Yun Tianming declared as he took out several dozen small bottles from his Spatial Ring. Inside were First Grade Pills he had casually refined.
A single pill may not seem like much, but here, there are hundreds, worth tens of thousands in gold coins, enough to make the mercenaries' eyes gleam!
Under the incentive of the Pill reward, all the mercenaries in Rock Desert City began to mobilize.
Although hybrids of the Snake People Tribe and humans were relatively scarce, they were not impossible to find.
Rock Desert City lies on the border between the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake People Tribe, where conflicts between the two frequently occur.
If the Snake People Tribe wins, they would kidnap human females to serve as spoils of war in their tribe.
If humans win, they would send Snake Women to the slave market to be sold as playthings for the wealthy.
Both sides essentially employ the same tactics; there's nothing more to say. It aligns with the worldview of the Dou Qi Continent.
The entire Sand Mercenary Group mobilized, heading to the Tager Desert to search for the hybrid mentioned by Yun Tianming.
"What are the people from the Sand Mercenary Group and the West Wind Mercenary Group up to?"
"They're scouring the world for some kind of hybrid."
The actions of the two major mercenary groups in Rock Desert City naturally caught the attention of the Desert Metal Mercenary Group.
"It's said to be at the behest of someone from Misty Cloud Sect, looking for a hybrid of the Snake People Tribe and humans."
"What could be the purpose?"
Xiao Ding felt very curious.
"Tch! What else could it be? Surely it's to satisfy the perverted desires of some rich young master!" Xiao Li speculated maliciously.
"I don't think it's necessarily that. Yun Tianming, I've heard that name."
Six months ago, when he returned to the Xiao Family for a visit, he was surprised by the changes: the expulsion of the Jia Lie family, the annexation of the Ao Ba Family, becoming the hegemon of Wu Tan City. He marveled at his younger brother Xiao Yan, who had advanced from a Third Stage Dou Disciple to a Dou Practitioner within a year and had even gained the attention of a mysterious Alchemist. It seems his future is promising!
It's heartening that the rising young generation of the Xiao Family isn't just Xiao Yan. Xiao Mei and Xiao Yu, having practiced the Black Rank High-Level Qi Method, have made remarkable progress, becoming the outstanding figures among the younger generation of the Xiao Family! From them, Xiao Ding learned of Yun Tianming's name. Even Xun'er, who is reserved and avoids strangers, speaks highly of him. It truly surprised Xiao Ding!
"You still don't know, Big Brother?"
"My spy embedded in the West Wind Mercenary Group has brought news. That person took in three Snake Women last night. Tsk tsk! Playing so recklessly at such a young age, isn't he afraid of meeting his end in a woman's embrace one day!! How infuriating!!" Xiao Li said bitterly, but strangely, as he spoke, a sense of jealous resentment emerged, gnashing his teeth.
Damn it! I'm nineteen this year, yet still considered a fledgling!
Look at them enjoying a snake sashimi feast!
"Younger brother! When we're out here striving, we should focus on our careers."
"Women only hinder our cultivation progress!"
Xiao Ding firmly patted his brother's shoulder, educating him with great seriousness.
Xiao Li muttered to himself: But they haven't hindered cultivation progress for others! A sixteen-year-old Dou Grandmaster powerhouse, terrifyingly impressive!
****
Support me on Patreon and get advanced chapters up to 50 so far patreon.com/Sakurai45