Chapter 256: Ninth Team

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Ninth Team

At that moment, not far away, Leng Yan hadn’t left right away. Instead, she stood in the air above, observing the courtyard below.

She had originally planned to step in if Yi Xiaoyao had trouble dealing with the team members.

But after just a moment, Leng Yan heard a crisp, unified shout of "Captain!" ring out from the large courtyard below.

The shout was loud and resonant, and she could clearly hear the sincere respect within it.

’This guy...’ A strange light once again flickered in Leng Yan’s beautiful eyes. She had believed Yi Xiaoyao could handle these team members, but she never expected it to be so quick and effortless.

Then, a rare smile uncharacteristically touched the corners of her lips, which were usually as cold as ice. Only then did she turn and depart.

Yi Xiaoyao scanned the twenty Nascent Soul Realm experts before him. Although they were all older than him, some old enough to be his father, they all bowed to him with cupped fists, their faces full of respect.

This was because, in this world, strength earned respect, not age—especially in the lawless Chaotic Alliance Domain.

Yi Xiaoyao’s earlier "non-attack" had already completely won over the members of the Ninth Team.

"From now on, I’ll be your captain. But there’s no need to be too formal. Just carry on as you always have."

Yi Xiaoyao smiled casually, then added, "You’re Wind Discipline, right? Take me to my quarters."

Wind Discipline acknowledged and led Yi Xiaoyao away.

The next moment, the members of the Ninth Team burst into discussion.

"I can’t believe this ki—our new captain is so powerful!"

"I know, right? With Wind Discipline’s current strength, even the previous captain probably couldn’t have handled him easily. But just now, he was instantly defeated without even touching the new captain!"

"There’s no way he’s just mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm! He’s probably even stronger than someone at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm!"

"No wonder Captain Leng sent him to be our captain. Now I’m completely convinced."

"And he doesn’t put on any airs at all. That makes me respect him even more!"

While the team members were talking, Yi Xiaoyao had already arrived at his own quarters.

"Cap... Captain!"

Wind Discipline suddenly called out, stopping Yi Xiaoyao just as he was about to enter his room.

When he saw Yi Xiaoyao turn back, he quickly requested, "Captain, that sword strike was just too fast, so much faster than my Gale Swordsmanship. Could you give me a pointer or two?"

Yi Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. The strike he had used to cut Wind Discipline’s hair was, of course, the Instant Kill Sword.

’But even with my talent for the Sword Dao, it took me nearly three months of comprehension under the statue to master it, surpassing Three Inches of Sword Retraction to achieve Sheathing the Sword Without Trace. How could I possibly teach it with just a few pointers?’

However, Yi Xiaoyao didn’t refuse. After a moment’s thought, he said, "I will perform one strike. I’ll slow it down by a factor of ten. Watch closely."

SWOOSH!

A sharp Sword Mark appeared on the stone table in the courtyard. Then, Yi Xiaoyao turned and entered his room.

Wind Discipline just stood there, stunned. Even though Yi Xiaoyao had slowed it down ten times, he still hadn’t seen it clearly.

Then, Wind Discipline walked to the spot where Yi Xiaoyao had stood. He desperately tried to recall the image from just moments ago, attempting the strike again and again...

「Half a day later.」 A piece of news had begun to circulate in the Ninth Team’s courtyard. ℯℯ𝑙.

"I just heard that our captain actually defeated Black Crow, and it was an easy, crushing victory!"

"What? Black Crow is one of the top-tier captains in our Primordial Evil Alliance, and our captain defeated him?"

"Haha! It looks like our Ninth Team is about to rise!"

The faces of the Ninth Team members were flushed with excitement. They knew better than anyone the importance of a powerful captain to a team.

Not only would it greatly increase their team’s strength, but more importantly, it would be easier for them to acquire Battle Merits, and the Cultivation Resources they received would far exceed what they had before.

Just then, Wind Discipline walked over, a dazed look on his face.

"Wind Discipline, didn’t you escort the captain? How come you’re only showing up now?"

The men called out to him, then walked over and told him the news about Yi Xiaoyao defeating Black Crow. Hearing this, a sharp glint appeared in Wind Discipline’s dazed eyes.

"Wind Discipline, our Ninth Team finally has an incredibly strong captain!" the men said with a laugh.

"Yes, we do!" Wind Discipline nodded emphatically, then his gaze turned vacant again as he walked forward.

The men were taken aback. ’What in the world is wrong with this guy?’

...

Meanwhile, Yi Xiaoyao was in his room, frowning in deep thought. He remained like that for half a day, his mind focused on the matter of the Secret Collection.

Although he had successfully infiltrated the Primordial Evil Alliance, the trail of clues had come to an abrupt halt. Finding the true location of the Secret Collection was still like searching for a needle in a haystack.

’This Secret Treasure Map is from several hundred years ago. If the people of the Primordial Evil Alliance still haven’t found the Secret Collection after all this time, it must be hidden in an extremely well-concealed location.’

’Of course, it’s also possible that the Secret Collection has already been discovered and taken.’

Yi Xiaoyao muttered to himself, preferring to believe the former was true.

With that, Yi Xiaoyao walked out of his room.

’I can’t just sit here and do nothing. Even if there are no clues, I have to find some.’

After all, this Secret Collection was something that various powers had fought over hundreds of years ago, even leading to the extermination of the Seven Kills Star Hall. It was definitely no ordinary treasure.

Therefore, no matter how deeply it was hidden, Yi Xiaoyao was determined to find it.

The next moment, Yi Xiaoyao’s expression shifted, and he cast a strange look at the stone table in the courtyard.

A second Sword Mark had appeared on the table. However, compared to the one Yi Xiaoyao had left earlier, there was still a considerable gap in quality.

A moment later, in the Ninth Team’s courtyard, the men were gathered together, drinking and laughing.

"What are you all talking about? You seem so worked up."

A calm voice drifted over as Yi Xiaoyao walked toward them.

"Captain!"

The men immediately stopped talking and stood up. By now, their respect for Yi Xiaoyao came from the bottom of their hearts.

"Do you have any orders for us, Captain?" someone asked.

"I want to ask you all, are there any places within the Primordial Evil Alliance that are off-limits?" Yi Xiaoyao asked.

’If the Secret Collection is still here, it’s most likely in a place that ordinary people can’t access.’

The men thought for a moment before one said, "Captain, we’ve been to most places in the Primordial Evil Alliance, but none of us has ever set foot inside the Main Pillar."

"The Main Pillar?" Yi Xiaoyao nodded thoughtfully.

Just then, another middle-aged man spoke up, "Captain, I’ve been in the Primordial Evil Alliance longer than any of them. I happen to know of a place within the Main Pillar that not even the Alliance Leader can set foot in!"

...