Chapter 290: The Azure Heaven Order’s Trial of the Heart

Chapter 290: Chapter 290: The Azure Heaven Order’s Trial of the Heart

An hour later, Yi Xiaoyao returned to Jin Sanbao.

"All taken care of?" Jin Sanbao glanced at Yi Xiaoyao in surprise. He had just heard astonishing roars from the city below, and now, a vast, crimson aura hovered behind Yi Xiaoyao.

This crimson aura was none other than Slaughter Qi.

The eighth style of the Nine Swords of Slaughter also required an even greater amount of Slaughter Qi to be unleashed.

Yi Xiaoyao raised his hand and tossed a Storage Pouch to Jin Sanbao. "Inside is one Nascent Soul from a seventh-realm Nascent Soul Transformation expert and a large number of Late Stage Nascent Soul Realm Nascent Souls. Use these for now. There will be more to come."

A wave of excitement washed over Jin Sanbao. ’How many puppets can I make with these!’

"But I don’t have enough materials for that many puppets," he said to Yi Xiaoyao.

"Don’t worry about that. In the Chaotic Alliance Domain, as long as you have wealth and power, getting a few materials is a simple matter."

With a faint smile, Yi Xiaoyao led Jin Sanbao away.

Next, an uninvited guest descended upon the Red Cloud Alliance, ranked ninety-ninth on the Chaos Alliance List. The Red Cloud Alliance was annihilated.

Immediately after, the uninvited guest arrived at the Qingshui Alliance, ranked ninety-eighth. The Qingshui Alliance was annihilated.

At this moment, Yi Xiaoyao appeared in the sky above the Black Horn Alliance, ranked ninety-seventh, a billowing, blood-red aura at his back.

High in the air, a burly man faced off against Yi Xiaoyao.

"You must be the one who destroyed the Leng Chuan Alliance, the Red Cloud Alliance, and the Qingshui Alliance. To think you’re only at the First Realm of Nascent Soul Transformation... I find it truly incredible."

With the alliances ranked one-hundredth, ninety-ninth, and ninety-eighth being successively destroyed over the past few days, the burly man had already guessed it would be the turn of his Black Horn Alliance, ranked ninety-seventh.

However, the burly man had no way of knowing Yi Xiaoyao’s true identity.

For wherever Yi Xiaoyao went, he left no survivors, turning them all into the Slaughter Qi that trailed behind him. How could anyone possibly know who he was?

"Niu Hua," Yi Xiaoyao began, "it seems you understand the situation. I’ll give you a chance. When my power is established one day, you will pledge your allegiance to me. Otherwise, you know full well what the consequences will be."

Hearing this, Niu Hua frowned and snorted. "You expect me to follow you without even putting up a fight?!"

Yi Xiaoyao gave a cold smile. "If I make a move, you won’t get another chance."

The moment his voice fell, the Destruction Sword Realm abruptly unfurled, filling the surrounding space with colossal black swords.

Feeling the power radiating from the Sword Realm and the way it suppressed his own strength, Niu Hua’s expression changed instantly.

"Wait! I won’t fight!"

Niu Hua shouted hastily. He had felt the power of Yi Xiaoyao’s Sword Realm and knew it was far beyond his own. Besides, his strength wasn’t much greater than that of the three previously annihilated Alliance Leaders. If they fought, he would undoubtedly suffer the same fate.

He, Niu Hua, was no coward, but he was certainly not reckless enough to throw his life away for nothing.

Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes flickered, and he withdrew the Sword Realm.

Niu Hua’s expression was grim. "But, sir, asking the Black Horn Alliance to submit to you is a bit excessive, isn’t it? Even the Celestial Fire Alliance, the number one alliance, only accepts smaller alliances as vassals."

"The Celestial Fire Alliance?" Yi Xiaoyao smiled faintly. "In the future, the Celestial Fire Alliance will face the same choice you’re facing now."

Niu Hua burst out laughing. "Sir, your strength may surpass mine, but do you take me for a gullible three-year-old?"

But in the next moment, Niu Hua’s laughter died in his throat.

Because he saw Yi Xiaoyao suddenly raise a Token. On the side facing him, two powerful words were engraved.

Azure Heaven!

"The Azure Heaven Order!" Niu Hua cried out in shock.

Yi Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You recognize this Token?"

In truth, Yi Xiaoyao had only taken out the Azure Heaven Order to test its effect. After all, Cang Tianxing had been dead for a century.

"Of course I do!"

Niu Hua took a deep breath and produced a slightly smaller Token.

Yi Xiaoyao looked over and saw a single word engraved upon it: "Command."

Together with the words "Azure Heaven," it formed the name Cang Tianxing.

"Back then, Cang Tianxing led several hundred of his most capable War Generals into battle against Great Xia. They all perished. My grandfather was one of them."

"This Command Token was passed down by my grandfather to my father before he left for that war, and my father then passed it to me. A command was passed down along with it."

Niu Hua spoke, his eyes filled with reminiscence.

"What command?" Yi Xiaoyao asked.

"The bearer of the Azure Heaven Order issues the command; the bearer of the Command Token must execute it!"

Niu Hua’s voice was filled with passion as his glittering eyes fixed on Yi Xiaoyao.

"But a century has passed. How many people are still willing to obey that order?"

Hearing this, a thoughtful expression flickered across Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes.

’What Niu Hua said is true. Cang Tianxing has been dead for a long time, and the generation that followed him all perished in battle. Although their descendants inherited the Command Tokens and the order, very few would actually be willing to obey it.’

"And what about you?" Yi Xiaoyao asked, looking at Niu Hua.

Niu Hua’s eyes glinted as he put away the Command Token.

"You have the power to kill me, yet you ask me this. You must want to hear the truth."

Yi Xiaoyao didn’t deny it. ’This is my chance to see for myself how the descendants of the forces that once followed Cang Tianxing will react to the Azure Heaven Order.’

Niu Hua said, "You’ve shown the Azure Heaven Order. You must intend to unify the Chaotic Alliance Domain!"

"In that case, you must at least fight a battle that shakes the entire Chaotic Alliance Domain. Only then can you prove to us, the holders of the Command Tokens, that you have the strength to command us and make us willing to follow you."

An amused look appeared in Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes. He asked with a faint smile, "And what would qualify as a battle that shakes the entire Chaotic Alliance Domain?"

"Just keep fighting like this until you attract the attention of the top ten major alliances, or even the three great powers of the Chaotic Alliance Domain," Niu Hua said with a strange smile. "We holders of the Command Tokens will pledge our allegiance at your most critical moment to prove our loyalty."

Yi Xiaoyao laughed coldly. "Are you trying to send me to my death?"

"The incompetent are sent to their deaths; the capable will unite all!" Niu Hua’s face flushed with excitement. "Think back to Cang Tianxing! With a single declaration—’Beneath the Azure Heavens, I walk alone’—he conquered countless experts who willingly followed him! If the bearer of the Azure Heaven Order lacks that kind of courage and ability, on what grounds should we pledge our loyalty?!"

Hearing this, Yi Xiaoyao roared with laughter.

"When the time comes, if the Black Horn Alliance fails to appear, I will personally see to it that your entire alliance is destroyed!"

"Excellent! If that day comes, when you give the word, sir, Niu Hua will act!"

There was not a trace of deceit in either man’s gaze.

This was especially true for Niu Hua, whose eyes burned with fervent passion as he looked at Yi Xiaoyao.

He deeply admired the legends of his grandfather following Cang Tianxing to war against Great Xia. If the man before him could truly become a second Cang Tianxing, wouldn’t that fulfill one of his own greatest wishes?

As for Yi Xiaoyao, a brilliant light shone in his eyes. ’I used the Azure Heaven Order to test their hearts, and it seems these descendants in the Chaotic Alliance Domain still carry the passion of their forefathers. They truly haven’t disappointed me.’

’It seems the day I unify the Chaotic Alliance Domain and crush Great Xia is not far off!’

...