Chapter 238: Falling into a Trap

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Falling into a Trap

"Cyan Wolf Alliance?" Yi Xiaoyao’s expression didn’t change in the slightest upon hearing the news.

In the entire Chaotic Alliance Domain, only experts at the Nascent Soul Transformation Realm could truly threaten his life.

Besides, cultivators at the Nascent Soul Transformation Realm were the Alliance Leaders of the major factions. Why would one of them personally intervene over the destruction of a single small squad?

While an expert at the Squad Leader level would be difficult for Yi Xiaoyao to handle with his current strength, they weren’t formidable enough to make him turn tail and run. After all, he still had a powerful ace up his sleeve.

So, even if the Cyan Wolf Alliance sent someone, Yi Xiaoyao was confident he could make a clean getaway. He might as well finish his meal first.

"Alright, I understand. You’re dismissed."

Yi Xiaoyao nodded and began to eat and drink at a leisurely pace.

Just then, a graceful figure sat down across from Yi Xiaoyao. A moment later, a slender, jade-like hand tapped on the table.

Yi Xiaoyao looked up to see a woman with a rather seductive face sitting opposite him. She appeared to be in her twenties and was dressed in a tight-fitting black garment.

"Little brother, you know people from the Cyan Wolf Alliance will be here soon. Why aren’t you running for your life?"

The seductive woman propped her chin on one hand, leaning over the table as she looked at Yi Xiaoyao.

Yi Xiaoyao continued to eat and drink, ignoring her. After swallowing a mouthful of food, he replied, "Why should I run?"

"It seems you still don’t understand the dangers of the Chaotic Alliance Domain. But you’re in luck, because soon, you really won’t have to run."

The seductive woman gave a charming smile and continued, "Our Moon Slaying Alliance has never been on good terms with the Cyan Wolf Alliance. You killed their men, and you’re quite strong yourself. I’d like to invite you to join us. What do you say?"

Yi Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow at her words but didn’t respond.

The seductive woman then added, "And with your strength, you could become a captain immediately upon joining the Moon Slaying Alliance."

"I’m here for training. I have no interest in becoming a captain," Yi Xiaoyao said, still eating.

The seductive woman’s brows twitched, but she clearly had no intention of giving up.

She let out a flirtatious chuckle. "Little brother, joining the Moon Slaying Alliance won’t interfere with your training. Besides, in a dangerous place like the Chaotic Alliance Domain, having a safe haven is always a good choice, wouldn’t you say?"

This time, Yi Xiaoyao seemed swayed. ’Joining the Moon Slaying Alliance would indeed make things safer for me right now.’

"Fine, I accept your invitation. But you’ll have to wait until I’ve finished my meal," Yi Xiaoyao said with a faint smile.

The seductive woman nodded in satisfaction, smiling. "Then you’d better hurry. It’ll be troublesome if the men from the Cyan Wolf Alliance get here first."

At her urging, Yi Xiaoyao hastily took a few more bites before leaving the Black Cloud Tavern with the woman and her companions.

The two of them traveled through the air, followed closely by several men at the early Nascent Soul Realm.

On the way to the Moon Slaying Alliance, Yi Xiaoyao learned that the seductive woman’s name was Lin Ying. She had a cultivation at the sixth layer of the Nascent Soul Realm and was a captain in one of the Moon Slaying Alliance’s Sub-Pillars.

The Moon Slaying Alliance, aside from its Alliance Leader, had five Squad Leaders at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm, each overseeing one of the five Sub-Pillars.

Within each of these five Sub-Pillars were five captains at the mid-Nascent Soul Realm. Each captain commanded ten subordinates at the early Nascent Soul Realm, as well as a large number of Golden Core Realm cultivators.

All told, the Moon Slaying Alliance alone had over two hundred Nascent Soul Realm experts, not to mention countless Golden Core Realm cultivators who were treated as mere cannon fodder!

This was a terrifying number. For Yi Xiaoyao, who hailed from the Great Shang Dynasty, the figure struck his heart like a tidal wave.

「Half a day later.」

They finally arrived at one of the Moon Slaying Alliance’s Sub-Pillars. This Sub-Pillar occupied an entire city. Led by Lin Ying, Yi Xiaoyao landed outside a large mansion within the city walls.

"Come on, little brother. Let’s go meet the Squad Leader!"

Lin Ying gave Yi Xiaoyao a meaningful smile, then pulled him into the mansion.

In the main hall of the mansion, a red-haired, middle-aged man sat in the central seat. It was the Zanyue Leader. He was currently discussing important matters with several other captain-level experts. When they saw Lin Ying walk in with Yi Xiaoyao, all eyes turned toward them.

"Squad Leader," Lin Ying called out to the Zanyue Leader in a delicate voice.

"Lin Ying, you’re back. How did the reconnaissance go?" A smile appeared on the Zanyue Leader’s face, and their discussion came to a temporary halt.

Lin Ying smiled and said, "I’ve gathered all the intelligence. And I’ve also brought back a gift for you, Squad Leader."

"A surprise?" The Zanyue Leader paused for a moment, then his gaze fell on Yi Xiaoyao. "Don’t tell me *he’s* what you’re referring to?"

The other captains also turned to look at Yi Xiaoyao.

"You brought a greenhorn like him here. How is that a surprise?" one of the captains said with a frown.

In their eyes, Yi Xiaoyao looked far too young.

"Squad Leader, don’t be fooled by his age. The bounty on his head is a million Spirit Stones."

Lin Ying said with a smile. She then produced a beast hide scroll—it was Yi Xiaoyao’s Bounty Order.

Hearing this, Yi Xiaoyao instantly realized something was wrong. His expression changed, and he narrowed his eyes at Lin Ying.

"What is the meaning of this?" Yi Xiaoyao demanded coldly.

Lin Ying suddenly burst into a fit of delicate laughter, her body shaking with amusement. She walked to the Zanyue Leader’s side and handed him the Bounty Order.

"Boy, you really are too naive. You’ll understand everything soon enough," Lin Ying giggled at Yi Xiaoyao.

Lin Ying then turned to the Zanyue Leader. "Squad Leader, I just received the Bounty Order from our superiors today and happened to run into this boy. Not only does he possess a cultivation at the Second Realm of the Nascent Soul Realm at such a young age, but he also has the power to kill experts at the captain level. I was afraid I was no match for him, so I tricked him into coming here to be dealt with by you."

The Zanyue Leader took the Bounty Order. His expression flickered for a moment before breaking into a wide grin. "Haha, what a surprise indeed! This boy is only at the Second Realm of the Nascent Soul Realm, yet his bounty is higher than that for someone at the Ninth Realm of the Nascent Soul Realm. It seems our superiors take him very seriously."

Upon hearing this, the other captains stared at Yi Xiaoyao with avaricious eyes.

And at that moment, Yi Xiaoyao finally understood. He had walked right into a trap!

"You’re... from the Great Xia’s Imperial Army Mansion!"

Yi Xiaoyao’s voice turned ice-cold.

These people kept referring to the Imperial Army Mansion, the issuer of the Bounty Order, as their "superiors," and they had lured him here. If he still hadn’t figured it out by now, he’d be a complete fool.

Instantly, everyone in the hall burst into loud laughter.

"Heh, I guess you’re not as stupid as you look, boy."

...