BTTH: Starting With Auctioning Green Lotus Core Flame

The cold night faded away, replaced by the scorching sun of the Tager Desert. In the intense heat, the desert revealed rare mirages.

To ensure her master's safety, Lian Xue continuously released her Dou Qi, maintaining a cool temperature around them.

Li Xiao patted her head, smiling. "Thank you for your hard work, Xue."

Lian Xue's cheeks flushed, biting her lower lip in shyness; her look could drive every man's imagination wild. "Master, I'm all yours. There's no need to thank me."

Li Xiao coughed lightly and continued riding the Amethyst Winged Lion King toward Rock Desert City.

After about half an hour, they finally reached Rock Desert City. Compared to the cities in the inner regions of the empire, the cities in the desert were simpler and dignified. Perhaps it was because it was near the Tager Desert that the defenses here were much tighter than the cities in the inner regions of the empire. Within the city one could see fully armed soldiers patrolling all around.

Seeing two figures flying in the sky, the city's soldiers observed them vigilantly, their weapons aimed at the sky, ready to react to any potential threat.

Li Xiao, however, landed gently and refrained from causing any panic. He even instructed the Amethyst Winged Lion King and the other magical beast beforehand to leave the vicinity to avoid alarming the inhabitants.

At the city gate, two burly Dou Fighters in armor hurried over and shouted, "Who are you? Why have you come to Rock Desert City?"

Li Xiao replied softly, "I heard there's a mercenary group stationed here. I wish to hire them for a task."

The two men exchanged glances. After confirming that the newcomers posed no threat, they opened the heavy gate. The desert was looming with danger; the city had to be cautious of external threats to protect its citizens.

Inside Rock Desert City, three mercenary groups operated: the Desert Metal Mercenary Group, the Sand Mercenary Company, and the Storm Mercenary Group.

The strongest among them was Sand Mercenary Company, followed by Desert Metal Mercenary Group and Storm Mercenary Groups.

The city was bustling with merchants and vendors, most of whom were there to trade and earn profits.

Lian Xue wandered around, noting that most goods were related to the desert, with anti-venom pills and snake repellent powders being the most common.

A sudden loud noise drew their attention.

"Are you blind? Do you know how valuable these porcelains are? Can you afford to pay for what you broke?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," a girl's voice trembled, her food scattered on the ground. Kneeling, she frantically picked up her belongings, receiving only more severe scolding and ridicule in return.

The girl wore a pale green elegant dress. Her body may be petite, but it was strangely quite mature, appearing only slightly unripe.

Her vibrant green hair was tied into two long braids each adorned with green ribbons. She had two fluffy, white pom-pom-like accessories attached to her hair, adding a touch of cuteness to her youthful charm.

Her oval face was cute and delicate, much like a pretty porcelain doll. Her timid manner was like a rabbit in a state of anxiety, causing people to be unable to help but pity her.

Now, tears streamed down her unblemished cheeks, making her appear even more pitiable.

"Damn girl! Don't act like you're the victim, I'll make you pay!" The shopkeeper grabbed the girl's ear and threw her to the ground harshly.

Just as he was about to strike her again, Li Xiao grabbed his right hand firmly. "Boss, let it go. The girl didn't mean it."

The shopkeeper snarled, "Who are you to tell me what to do? This girl broke my porcelain. It's worth ten gold coins you know, a whole ten gold coins! If you have the money, then you pay for it!"

Lian Xue's gaze turned icy; Just as she was about to step forward, Li Xiao shook his head lightly and tossed ten gold coins to the shopkeeper. There was no need to escalate the situation unnecessarily.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened at the sight of the money. He immediately changed his tone, smiling obsequiously. "Oh, young master, forgive my rudeness earlier. But this girl really is a troublemaker. She's nothing but bad luck. You'd best stay away from her…"

Ignoring the chattering shopkeeper, Li Xiao crouched down to help the girl pick up the food that had fallen on the ground. Lian Xue joined him, which would have shocked Hai Bodong if he had seen it—a venerable Dou Venerate helping a little girl pick up her things was something beyond his imagination!

"What's your name, miss?" Li Xiao asked after placing the last piece of food back into the bag.

"Huh?" The girl looked startled and then stammered, "I... I'm Qing Lin…"

Qing Lin... so it's really her.

Li Xiao felt a jolt of realization. No wonder he felt an inexplicable attraction when he first saw her. Qing Lin's slender waist moved so gracefully as she walked, making her undeniably enchanting.

She was one of the female leads in the original story. Qing Lin was the offspring of a human and a snake person. Typically, such children wouldn't survive past the age of two, but she was an exception.

There were many like Qing Lin, regarded by both humans and snake people as cursed. Surviving for so many years meant she had faced more scorn and ridicule than anything else.

Additionally, Qing Lin possessed the world's most unique eyes, known as the "Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."

These rare eyes almost exclusively appeared in the offspring of humans and snake people. This kind of pupil was the nemesis of all serpent-type magical beasts. Except for those with pure ancient bloodlines or very few exceptional serpent-type beasts, they could be forcibly controlled by her.

Although it might've no such effect on other species of magical beasts and humans, the pupils had the ability to forcefully dispel their souls and seize control of their bodies.

Later in the series, with the aid of Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Qing Lin's power soared to new heights in shocking pace, advancing to the Dou Venerate level within just a few years.

"Hello, I'm Li Xiao. You can call me Brother Li Xiao or Pavilion Master."

Qing Lin timidly lowered her head, constantly pulling down her sleeves to hide the green scales on her arms.

"Sorry… I didn't mean to scare you."

Seeing such a timid girl, Lian Xue felt a pang of sympathy. She could easily discern that Qing Lin was of a hybrid race, her human's blood was mixed with Snake-Person's blood.

"Qing Lin, I need to go to the Desert Metal Mercenary Group. Can you take me there?"

"Ah?" Qing Lin lifted her head, her watery, doe-like eyes darting between the two before her. She hesitantly asked, "You want to go to the Desert Metal Mercenary Group?"

"Yes, brother has some business with them. Can you take us there?" Li Xiao asked gently.

Qing Lin was a servant in the Desert Metal Mercenary Group, familiar with the terrain here, and was more than willing to guide Li Xiao and Lian Xue to the mercenary group.

Under her guidance, the two passed through several alleys and finally arrived at the Desert Metal Mercenary Group's headquarters, the second biggest mercenary group in Rock Desert City.