Chapter 424: Battle Approaches, Second Stage
The respectful voice echoed across the sky, and as it spread, even the terrifyingly powerful thunder beasts in the sky lowered their front limbs in respect, bowing humbly toward Mo Yu.
Everyone in the audience was stunned by the actions of this mysterious and powerful group. No one had expected that this formidable squad was actually under Mo Yu's command.
Who exactly was this young man?
Even Mo Yu himself was momentarily taken aback. Then, as if realizing something, he turned to the handsome man in front of him and asked, "Are you from the Black Demon Army?"
"Yes, Commander. We belong to the Third Division of the Black Thunder Banner of the Black Demon Army. We were sent by the Elder of our clan, following the Black Demon Order, which led us to you," the handsome man named Mang Dian replied.
"The Black Demon Order…" Mo Yu muttered to himself as he reached into his beast ring and pulled out an ancient, solid black token. The moment the token appeared, the black token in Mang Dian's hand emitted a bright silver light.
Seeing this, Mang Dian and the soldiers behind him instantly stiffened, their expressions becoming even more respectful as they gazed at Mo Yu.
"With the authority granted by our clan's laws, whoever holds the Black Demon Order is the leader of the banner. As you are now the commander of the Black Thunder Banner, we are at your service, ready to follow your orders without hesitation," Mang Dian said reverently.
Hearing this, Mo Yu raised his eyebrows and stroked the Black Demon Order in his hand, starting to understand the situation.
"Mang Dian, Captain of the Black Thunder Banner, how are you related to Mang Ting, the Captain of the Red Thunder Banner?" Mo Yu asked thoughtfully.
"Lord Mang Ting is my uncle," Mang Dian replied respectfully.
"Oh…" Mo Yu paused for a moment, his silver eyes revealing a thoughtful expression.
Though he didn't know why Lei Ying had suddenly sent a division under his command, he had to admit it resolved his immediate crisis.
Additionally, it seemed that to ensure Mo Yu's authority in the Black Thunder Banner, they had sent Mang Ting's relative, someone he was already acquainted with. After all, the captains of the eight banners of the Black Demon Army were all highly experienced and powerful Dou Zun (Battle Venerate) experts. Compared to them, Mo Yu, a mere Dou Zong (Battle Sect), was far inferior. Even Mang Dian himself was far stronger than Mo Yu.
If it had been another captain or division, they might not have respected Mo Yu, even if he held the Black Demon Order. They might have followed orders only in name, not in spirit.
While Mo Yu was discussing this with Mang Dian, the expressionless Sword Sovereign's face began to change subtly due to the unexpected turn of events.
His eyes were locked on the dozen or so sixth-rank thunder beasts and the dozen deep and powerful figures accompanying them. His pupils contracted slightly.
A squad of Dou Zong experts with sixth-rank magical beasts—this was not something any ordinary force could assemble. Not even the Myriad Sword Pavilion, and certainly not the major sects and valleys, could boast such power.
Moreover, the handsome man leading them had an aura that seemed almost equal to the Four Guardian Elders of the Myriad Sword Pavilion, yet he was showing such deference to Mo Yu. This made the Sword Sovereign feel uneasy.
Could this young man be the heir of some hidden ancient family?
As the Sword Sovereign's gaze slowly turned toward him, Mo Yu sneered, "You wanted to outnumber me? Fine, let's see whose fist is stronger!"
Though Mo Yu didn't know much about the Black Demon Army, he was aware that it was the strongest military force of the Thunder Clan. From the auras of Mang Dian and his men, it was clear that joining the Black Demon Army required being a fearsome warrior. Although Mo Yu only had one division under his command, it was enough to face the Myriad Sword Pavilion without being at a disadvantage.
Hearing this, the Sword Sovereign's face darkened. He hadn't become the master of the Myriad Sword Pavilion and reached his current level by being foolish. From the way this mysterious group had appeared, it was clear that Mo Yu had a powerful background.
The ancient Eight Clans were known for their low profile. So secretive were they that most people had never even heard of them. This explained why the Sword Sovereign couldn't recognize the identities of Mang Dian and his men. After all, the Dou Qi continent was vast, full of strong individuals and countless forces. Even the Sword Sovereign couldn't know all the powerhouses across the world.
"You're quite the sharp-tongued brat," the Sword Sovereign said, glaring coldly at Mo Yu.
"I only want justice. No matter your background, just come with me to the Myriad Sword Pavilion. If you've been wronged, your clan's elders can come and resolve it," the Sword Sovereign continued, his gaze flickering over the Black Thunder Banner division before landing back on Mo Yu.
He could tell that Mo Yu had some significant backing, but the situation had gone too far for him to back down now. He would capture Mo Yu first, and if his powerful backers became angry later, the Myriad Sword Pavilion would have something to use as leverage.
"How dare you speak ill of our clan!" Mang Dian's face darkened, and he shouted in anger.
Even though he was facing a Dou Zun expert, Mang Dian showed no respect. To the members of the Thunder Clan, external Dou Zun experts were no more than bigger frogs in a small well.
The Sword Sovereign was truly ignorant to think he could call upon the elders of the Thunder Clan.
After shouting, Mang Dian turned to Mo Yu and asked respectfully, "Commander, should we request reinforcements from the clan? Captain Lei Mang of the First Division of the Black Thunder Banner recently broke through to Dou Zun. It would take him only a moment to get here. His strength is formidable, one of the top talents of our clan's younger generation. With him here, these low-level Dou Zun experts from the outside world would be easily suppressed."
Mo Yu blinked, surprised that his Black Thunder Banner had such talented individuals, even including a Dou Zun captain. However, after thinking for a moment, Mo Yu shook his head.
First, he already had enough people at his disposal and didn't need more reinforcements. Second, he wasn't sure he could command a Dou Zun captain. Mo Yu was only a two-star Dou Zong and had been promoted to commander of the Black Thunder Banner by Lei Ying as a special exception. He still had a long way to go before he could fully take control of the Black Thunder Banner.
Until he was strong enough, Mo Yu didn't want to interact too much with the other members of the Black Thunder Banner. Otherwise, if they saw him as weak, it would be difficult to earn their respect in the future.
Mo Yu even harbored a suspicion: the Lei Mang captain might already resent him. Without Mo Yu, the position of commander might have fallen to him. It wouldn't be surprising if Lei Mang held some grudges.
For these reasons, Mo Yu quickly dismissed the idea of asking for reinforcements. The division under his command was more than enough for now.
Hearing Mo Yu's refusal, Mang Dian hesitated but, after glancing at the powerful Iron Sword Sovereign and Old Bing standing on Mo Yu's side, he seemed to understand. It appeared that the young commander, raised outside the clan and highly valued by the clan leader, had powerful allies of his own.
Mang Dian's attitude toward Mo Yu became more serious. If this young man had earned the loyalty of several Dou Zun experts without relying on the Thunder Clan's name, he must have some extraordinary qualities.
Recalling his uncle Mang Ting's stern warnings before he set out, Mang Dian's previous dissatisfaction with Mo Yu began to fade. Still, despite his respect for Mo Yu's connections, he found himself underestimating Mo Yu's own strength.
Though Mang Dian didn't show it outwardly, he and the other members of his division secretly harbored doubts about their new commander. After all, in the Thunder Clan, everyone respected strength. Someone like Mo Yu, who had been suddenly promoted, would have a hard time earning their full respect without proving himself.
If Mang Dian had been of a more hot-headed temperament, he might not have followed Mo Yu's orders at all.
Naturally, Mo Yu noticed the skepticism in the eyes of Mang Dian and his team. Although he didn't care about what others thought of him, he wouldn't tolerate disloyalty among his subordinates. He knew that if they were going to follow him, he needed to win not just their compliance but their respect.
After all, as the commander of the Black Thunder Banner, he might one day have to return to the Thunder Clan and take control of the entire banner. His first step was to win over this division.
With this in mind, Mo Yu narrowed his silver eyes and looked toward the Myriad Sword Pavilion's forces.
"The Black Sword and Green Sword Elders are mine to deal with. The rest are yours. Do you have confidence?" Mo Yu said, pointing casually at the two sword elders and addressing Mang Dian.
Hearing this, Mang Dian and his team paused. They glanced in the direction Mo Yu pointed and immediately sensed the powerful auras of the Black Sword and Green Sword Elders. Their expressions shifted slightly.
As two of the Four Guardian Elders of the Myriad Sword Pavilion, the Black Sword and Green Sword Elders were the most prominent figures standing at the front of their forces. Their strength was undeniable, especially the Green Sword Elder, whose aura at the peak of Dou Zong, combined with his high-quality sword, made him a formidable opponent. Even Mang Dian, with his skill, would have to fight hard to win.
"Commander, let us handle them. Today, we'll show these so-called first-rate forces from the outside world the power of the Thunder Clan's joint technique," Mang Dian suggested.
Mo Yu waved his hand dismissively, smiling. "No need. What, Mang Dian, don't you trust in my strength?"
Mang Dian stiffened, his face growing somber. "Then I wish the commander victory," he replied coolly.
It was clear he thought Mo Yu was being reckless. In Mang Dian's mind, even the most talented young fighters in the Thunder Clan couldn't defeat two peak-level Dou Zong warriors at once. Mo Yu's boast seemed nothing short of arrogance.
Even the soldiers behind Mang Dian shared the sentiment, their eyes filled with a mix of surprise and doubt. Though Mo Yu was their commander, they couldn't help but think of him as a foolish braggart.
Seeing their skeptical expressions, Mo Yu smiled faintly and waved his hand.
With Mo Yu's command, Mang Dian hesitated for a moment before deciding to obey. He made up his mind to intervene only when Mo Yu was in danger. Once their overconfident commander had learned his lesson, he would see if he had the face to keep giving them orders.
With that, Mang Dian and his men mounted their massive thunder beasts, and with the beasts' thunderous roars, they charged toward the Myriad Sword Pavilion's forces.
The Black Thunder Banner division, though small, proved its worth. They fought with the precision and unity of a military unit, quickly surrounding the Myriad Sword Pavilion's much larger group and dividing the battlefield into two separate fronts.
On one front was the Black Thunder Banner division against the majority of the Myriad Sword Pavilion forces. On the other front were Mo Yu and the two sword elders, Black Sword and Green Sword.
Seeing Mang Dian and his men charging toward them, the Black Sword Elder's face darkened. These newcomers were clearly all Dou Zong experts, and their coordination, coupled with their unified use of lightning techniques, was causing havoc in the Myriad Sword Pavilion ranks.
Without the support of the Red Sword and Blue Sword Elders, the Myriad Sword Pavilion might have already fallen apart.
However, when the Black Sword Elder looked back at Mo Yu, he couldn't help but sneer. "Mo Yu, what a bold claim! With your strength, you think you can challenge both me and the Green Sword Elder? Ridiculous!"
The Green Sword Elder, on the other hand, furrowed his brow. From the mysterious group that had appeared to the presence of strong allies like Old Bing and the Iron Sword Sovereign, it was clear that Mo Yu had a powerful background.
And yet, his actions were so bold—could he have something else up his sleeve?
"Take down the leader to break the army. This young man is clearly the leader of that group. Let's capture him first!" the Green Sword Elder said.
With that, he brought two fingers together and pointed toward Mo Yu. His green sword trembled under his control before shooting toward Mo Yu like a bolt of lightning!
Just as the sword came flying toward him, Mo Yu's body flickered, using his mastery of space to appear a hundred meters away in an instant.
Looking up, Mo Yu smiled at the two sword elders. His hands quickly formed a series of seals before changing the pattern.
"Devouring True Thunder!"
With the seals complete, a surge of white thunder exploded from Mo Yu's body, spreading out over hundreds of meters before rapidly contracting again.
As the white thunder absorbed the surrounding energy, Mo Yu's aura suddenly soared!
"He's using another technique to boost his strength," the Green Sword Elder remarked with mild surprise.
"Hmph, just a single star boost. That's not enough to escape from us," the Black Sword Elder scoffed.
Not far away, Mang Dian, sensing the sudden spike in Mo Yu's aura, paused. However, when he realized Mo Yu had only risen to a three-star Dou Zong, he shook his head.
Techniques that boosted one's strength by a single star were common in the Thunder Clan. They weren't particularly impressive. If this was all Mo Yu had, then the clan elder and Mang Ting must have seriously overestimated him.
But Mo Yu remained unfazed by the others' reactions. His face emotionless, he once again formed hand seals. This time, bolts of thunder surged from his body, condensing into armor and wings around him.
"Sky Gang Thunder Body, Second Stage!"
As the thunder armor and wings formed, Mo Yu's aura surged even higher. This time, even the Black Sword and Green Sword Elders' expressions shifted slightly.
Mo Yu's aura had climbed to the level of a high-tier Dou Zong!
Meanwhile, Mang Dian and his soldiers were left in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief. The power radiating from Mo Yu's body now made them feel a deep sense of pressure!
(End of chapter)
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