I'm in Battle Through the Heavens, and I have a control panel.

Chapter 59 Where did this powerful figure come from?

Three figures descended from the sky, steadily blocking Xiao Ding and his companions.

Xiao Ding had already fallen into despair, but when he caught sight of a familiar figure among the newcomers, hope instantly ignited in his eyes: "Second brother! You've finally come!"

But when he saw that there were only two unfamiliar young people, a man and a woman, behind Xiao Li, his newly risen hope was instantly extinguished, and his heart sank.

Xiao Ding had always thought Xiao Li was reliable, so why was this support mission so childish? He only brought two people; what's the difference between that and sending them to their deaths?

Despite his injuries, he asked urgently, "Second brother, where are the reinforcements? Are they still behind us?"

Xiao Li shook his head with certainty: "Big brother, there are no reinforcements, just the three of us."

"What?"

Xiao Ding's expression froze instantly, his vision blurred, and only one thought remained in his mind: My life is over!

The Serpent Clan has a five-star Battle Master leading the team, along with more than a dozen fearless Serpent Clan warriors. How could the three of them possibly defeat them?

Seeing his elder brother's pale face, Xiao Li was about to explain when the snake-man leader beside him burst into laughter.

The laughter was rough and grating, full of mockery: "Xiao Ding, this is the reinforcement you called? Only three people? That's hilarious!"

His gaze swept over Xiao Zheng without a second thought, then fell on Little Fairy Doctor, his pupils suddenly contracting, his lecherous gleam undisguised.

The snake-man leader licked his chapped lips: "But this little girl is quite pretty, fair-skinned and beautiful. Perfect for taking back to breed with me!"

"court death!"

The Fairy Doctor's originally calm and pretty face instantly turned frosty, and her cold voice was as piercing as an ice pick.

Before she finished speaking, her figure flashed out like a ghost, and her jade hand lightly struck out with a palm. There was no earth-shattering fluctuation of battle qi, but it carried a chilling aura of death.

Before the lewd smile on the snake-man leader's face had faded, he felt a terrifying force instantly penetrate his entire body. His fighting spirit dissipated instantly as if it had encountered its nemesis, and his internal organs felt as if they were being crushed by an invisible giant hand.

"Thump!"

He fell straight onto the sand, his eyes wide open, never understanding how a five-star Dou Shi could be killed instantly with a single palm strike.

The moment Little Fairy Doctor made her move, an extremely terrifying aura flashed by. Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, it sent a jolt through everyone present.

The remaining snake-men trembled with fear, their faces ashen, their eyes filled with extreme terror—a suppression from the depths of their souls that made them unable to even muster the courage to flee.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were dumbfounded. Feeling the lingering pressure of that aura, they felt breathless, as if they were facing an invincible giant.

This was a powerful aura they had never seen before!

Xiao Ding stared wide-eyed at Xiao Li, his gaze filled with shock.

Second brother has really gotten to know things! Where did you get this terrifyingly powerful expert from?

"Each of us will take half, and we'll finish this quickly."

Xiao Zheng's voice rang out at just the right moment, breaking the deathly silence of the scene.

"it is good."

Little Fairy Doctor responded crisply and moved again.

The two men, like tigers among sheep, simultaneously charged towards the remaining snake-men.

Xiao Zheng waved his right hand, and silver lightning battle qi condensed into a star-shaking whip. The sound of the whip cutting through the air was deafening. Wherever the whip's shadow passed, the snake-men screamed as they were whipped in two, their blood staining the yellow sand red.

Little Fairy Doctor still used her light and airy palm techniques, seemingly casual, yet each strike accurately hit vital points. Any snake-man hit by her palm wind died instantly, without even a chance to struggle.

Those snake-men were no match for them, as easy as cutting melons and vegetables.

In just a few breaths, more than a dozen snake-men were killed, and apart from Xiao Zheng and his group, there were no other survivors at the scene.

Xiao Ding and the three female members stared in disbelief, their mouths agape, their hearts filled with turmoil.

That's incredible!

[Creation Points +1]

A pale gold notification panel flashed before Xiao Zheng's eyes. He casually put away the Star-Shaking Whip, his face expressionless.

The two turned back to Xiao Ding and the others. Before Xiao Li could introduce them, Xiao Zheng took the initiative to cup his hands and smiled, saying, "Brother, my name is Xiao Zheng."

"Xiao Zheng?!"

Xiao Ding was startled and suddenly realized what was going on.

No wonder Xiao Li only brought two people with him; it turns out this is the genius junior that his father, Xiao Zhan, repeatedly mentioned in his letter!

Xiao Zheng, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old, was already a Great Dou Master, and it was said that his talent was even more terrifying than that of his younger brother Xiao Yan!

He quickly returned the greeting with a cupped-fist salute, his tone full of admiration: "So it's Brother Xiao Zheng! I've long admired your name! Truly, a hero emerges from among the young!"

After reflecting on his experience, Xiao Ding asked curiously, "Why did you come to Stone Desert City, brother?"

Xiao Li quickly chimed in, "Brother, Brother Xiao Zheng came to the Tagor Desert to find medicinal herbs, specifically the Sand-Eroding Grass, Flame Silk Vine, and Sand Soul Flower Seeds from the two prescriptions we sent back before."

"I see."

Xiao Ding nodded, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding desert. "Coincidentally, this place isn't far from where those three materials grow. We can gather the herbs first and then head back."

Xiao Zheng thought to himself that this trip had not been in vain, and immediately nodded: "That's very good, then I'll trouble you, elder brother."

Xiao Ding waved his hand, his expression turning solemn: "Don't rush to gather herbs, allow me to bury our fallen brothers first."

"Of course."

Xiao Zheng expressed his understanding.

Despite his injuries, Xiao Dingqiang, together with Xiao Li, gathered the scattered corpses of the Mo Tie mercenary group members and found a reasonably sized patch of sand nearby to dig a pit and bury them.

After finishing all this, Xiao Ding instructed Xiao Li, "Second brother, you take the three of them back to the camp first. I'll take Brother Xiao Zheng and the others to gather herbs. We'll be back soon."

"Alright, brothers, be careful."

Xiao Li nodded in agreement and turned to leave with the three female members.

Afterwards, Xiao Ding led Xiao Zheng and Little Fairy Doctor deeper into the desert.

Deep in the Tagor Desert, yellow sand swirls everywhere, the heat is unbearable, and jagged rocks and dead trees can be seen all around.

Fortunately, Xiao Ding had been active in the desert for many years and was extremely familiar with the terrain, so he avoided many dangerous monster lairs and quicksand traps along the way.

About half an hour later, the three arrived at a depression where sparse drought-resistant plants grew.

"Brother, look, those are the three materials you wanted. These three materials are interdependent and usually grow together."

Xiao Ding pointed to the green plants growing close to the ground in the depression and the red vines twining around the rocks.

Among the sand-eroded grass and the fiery vine, there are also many small purple flowers, with tiny black seeds growing in their stamens, which are the seeds of the sand soul flower.

"Very good."

Xiao Zheng was overjoyed and immediately went forward to collect the materials.

Little Fairy Doctor also stepped forward to help. The two worked quickly and soon collected a large amount of Sand-Eroding Grass, Flame Silk Vine, and Sand Soul Flower Seeds, enough to refine a lot of Corrupted Bone Lotus Pills.

Xiao Zheng put all the medicinal herbs into the abstinence box.

In this way, the fourth-grade poison formula is only missing two main ingredients: the fourth-tier Netherworld Scorpion Demon Core and the Netherworld Lotus Petal.

Once we return to Stone Desert City, we'll rent a flying magical beast and head to the capital to try our luck.

Three days later, Xiao Zheng and Little Fairy Doctor, led by Xiao Ding, returned to the Mo Tie Mercenary Group's base in Stone Desert City.

But when the three returned to the Mo Tie Mercenary Group's base, the scene before them caused Xiao Ding's expression to change drastically.

The camp was covered in blood, with scattered items and no one around, clearly indicating a surprise attack.

On a pillar at the entrance to the camp, there was a piece of parchment with the following written on it:

"Xiao Ding, if you want your second brother and your subordinates to live, exchange them for that kid's head!"

—Rob, leader of the Sand Mercenary Group.

After reading the contents of the parchment, Xiao Ding's face immediately turned extremely ugly: "What's going on?!"

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Zheng's eyes. The "kid" that Luo Bu mentioned was clearly referring to him.

He then told Xiao Ding about how he had killed members of the Sand Mercenary Group three days earlier, and concluded apologetically, "They probably couldn't find me, so they took revenge on the Desert Iron Mercenary Group."

"This matter started because of me, and I have an obligation to bring back all the brothers of Mo Tie."

"You flatter me, my friend."

Xiao Ding quickly waved his hand, "You intervened to help us back then, so it wasn't your fault."

Xiao Zheng cut to the chase without further ado: "Brother, there's no time to lose. Lead the way, let's go settle accounts with the Sand Mercenary Group right now!"