The Green Lotus Core Flame

Upon hearing Xiao Yixian's words, Xiao Ding and Xiao Lie felt their mouths go dry. When had their younger brother become so remarkable? Not only had he surpassed them in strength, but he was now also a second-tier alchemist. Alchemists were highly respected professionals on the Dou Qi continent. Xiao Ding looked at Xiao Yu with satisfaction and said, "Xiao Yu, you've done well!"

"Yes, we're both proud of you!" Xiao Li also smiled and patted Xiao Yu's shoulder.

Xiao Yu chuckled softly and said, "Big Brother, Second Brother, you flatter me. We can discuss these matters when I return. For now, I need to check out the situation over there." He pointed toward the eastern direction.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li immediately looked concerned. "Xiao Yu, we're not trying to stop you, but the aura from that direction might be from a Dou Emperor expert. It's too dangerous for you to go there now. Why not wait until they leave before going over?"

Xiao Yixian didn't know how to persuade Xiao Yu, but when she turned, she noticed the worried expression on Cai Die's face, which struck her as odd. However, she said nothing.

Xiao Yu slowly shook his head. "If even you two feel this way, wouldn't the others in Rock Desert City think the same? Don't you think the Storm Mercenary Group and the Sand Mercenary Group will rush over to check it out as well? I'm just going to see if it's the Heavenly Flame. If it's not, I'll retreat immediately."

Xiao Yu's reasoning seemed to convince his brothers, though Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were still uneasy. Xiao Yu reassured them, "Don't worry. I came here specifically for the Heavenly Flame. I wouldn't have come if I wasn't confident. Even if I can't obtain it, I can safely retreat!"

Xiao Ding, knowing his younger brother's capabilities, sighed and said, "I know you have some cards up your sleeve. Since you're confident, go ahead, but be careful!"

Seeing his elder brother relent, Xiao Li didn't say anything further either.

With his brothers no longer stopping him, Xiao Yu sighed in relief. Just as he was about to leave, Cai Die suddenly spoke up, "Can I come with you?"

Her words immediately drew everyone's attention, causing her naturally timid nature to resurface.

"Why do you want to come along?" Xiao Yu asked with a slight frown. It would be better to go alone to reduce the risk of exposure, but he was curious as to why Cai Die wanted to come now.

Cai Die softly replied, "I… I sensed my sister's presence."

Xiao Yu was puzzled. "Your sister?"

Qing Lin, standing nearby, glanced at Cai Die and then quietly said to Xiao Yu, "Young Master, I also sensed a presence similar to the bloodline within me from that earlier aura."

Xiao Yu was startled by her words and softly murmured, "A presence similar to your bloodline… could it be Queen Medusa?" After all, the earlier aura had to be from a Dou Emperor expert, and in the Snake Tribe, only Queen Medusa was a Dou Emperor!

Everyone's expressions changed at the mention of Queen Medusa, as she was a notorious figure in the desert.

They all turned to Cai Die in confusion. She had just mentioned sensing her sister's presence. Could she be Queen Medusa's sister? But Cai Die appeared to be human!

If she were Queen Medusa's sister, she should have a snake tail, right? Moreover, if Queen Medusa was a Dou Emperor, her sister should at least be a Dou King, if not a Dou Emperor herself. Could Cai Die really have no cultivation at all?

Only Xiao Yixian and Xiao Yu knew the truth—that Cai Die was indeed a snakewoman. Xiao Yu's pill had concealed her tail, but whether she was Queen Medusa's sister remained to be seen.

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yu said, "Fine, I'll take you with me, but you must follow my lead."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li wanted to protest when they heard Xiao Yu say he would take Cai Die along, but before they could speak, Xiao Yu added, "Since she sensed her sister's presence, we should take her along to investigate."

Realizing this was reasonable, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li said nothing more. Xiao Yu, now prepared, took the Black Scale Sword from Qing Lin's hands and wrapped an arm around Cai Die's slender waist. Unfolding the pair of purple cloud wings on his back, he gently flapped them and soared into the sky with Cai Die.

Those standing on the platform were left dumbfounded. Xiao Li rubbed his eyes vigorously and asked Xiao Ding, "Big Brother, am I seeing things, or does Xiao Yu have wings?"

Xiao Ding licked his lips, trembling as he replied, "I don't know… Dou Qi Wings… When did Xiao Yu become a Dou King?"

Even the usually composed Xiao Ding couldn't stay calm. An eighteen-year-old Dou Master was considered a genius, an eighteen-year-old Dou GrandMaster could be called a prodigy, but what do you call an eighteen-year-old Dou King? A joke?

Xiao Yu's sudden ascent hadn't gone unnoticed. Both the Sand Mercenary Group and the Storm Mercenary Group were stunned by the sight of a Dou Wang expert flying out from the Mo Tie Mercenary Group's direction. The Sand Mercenary Group's leader, Rob, stared in shock and muttered, "A Dou King? When did the Mo Tie Mercenary Group recruit a Dou King?"

Similarly, the Storm Mercenary Group was shaken and even considered visiting the Mo Tie Mercenary Group to meet this Dou Wang expert.

Little did they know that Xiao Yu's wings were simply the result of a rare flying Dou Technique. Lacking the necessary experience, they naturally mistook Xiao Yu for a Dou King.

Xiao Yixian, the only one aware of the truth, simply smiled without explaining anything.

By now, Xiao Yu had already left the city. As he flew, he turned to Cai Die in his arms and asked, "Didn't you say you had lost your memory? How could you remember your sister's presence? Are you sure it's your sister?"

Cai Die furrowed her brows, her beautiful face filled with confusion. "I don't know. I just feel that this aura is very familiar, and before I knew it, I blurted out that it was my sister."

Xiao Yu guessed that it might be some sort of bloodline connection and said nothing more, flying straight towards the desert.

In the flat expanse of desert east of Rock Desert City, a massive black crater had appeared. Beneath the crater was a vast underground cavity, filled with bubbling lava that intermittently exploded into the air. The scorching heat from the lava created small blasts, but strangely enough, a thin layer of ice crystals covered the surface of the crater. The temperature above ground was vastly different from the searing heat below, with a cold aura sweeping across the land.

Hovering above the crater were three black-robed figures. The leader extended a slender arm from the black robe, revealing a pale wrist. On her delicate hand sat a small green lotus platform, from which a green flame danced. This was the **Green Lotus Core Flame**!