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**
The sky echoed with respectful voices, and even the ferocious and terrifying thunder beasts in the heavens lowered their forelimbs submissively toward Mo Yu, displaying their reverence.
In the stands, the spectators were all stunned by the actions of this mysterious troop.
No one had expected this formidable and enigmatic squad to be under Mo Yu's command.
"Who is this person, truly?"
Even Mo Yu himself appeared momentarily dazed. Realization dawned on him as he turned to the handsome man standing before him and asked, "Are you from the Black Demon Army?"
"Yes, Captain," the man, named Mang Dian, replied respectfully. "We belong to the third division of the Black Thunder Banner within the Black Demon Army. Acting on the orders of the clan elder, we followed the guidance of the Black Demon Token to locate you."
"The Black Demon Token…" Mo Yu murmured. He ran his right hand over his beast ring, summoning a heavy and ancient black token into his hand.
As the token materialized, the one in Mang Dian's hand radiated an intense silver glow.
At this, Mang Dian and his squad stiffened. Their expressions became even more respectful as they gazed at Mo Yu.
Mang Dian spoke solemnly, "According to clan rules, the bearer of the Black Demon Token is a banner Captain. Sir, as a Captain of the Black Thunder Banner, from this moment onward, we are under your jurisdiction. We will follow your orders unto death!"
Mo Yu raised an eyebrow as he traced the token's surface, seemingly piecing together the situation.
"Deputy Captain Mang Dian, what is your relationship with Captain Mang Ting of the Red Thunder Banner?" Mo Yu asked, his eyes thoughtful.
"Captain Mang Ting is my uncle," Mang Dian replied respectfully.
"Oh..." Mo Yu blinked, a contemplative look in his silver eyes.
While he didn't understand why Lei Ying had suddenly dispatched a team to serve under him, he had to admit that it solved his immediate predicament.
It also seemed that Lei Ying had considered Mo Yu's potentially insufficient prestige within the Black Thunder Banner, as the assigned Deputy Captain was a relative of Mang Ting, someone with whom Mo Yu had a friendly rapport.
After all, the eight Captains of the Black Demon Army were all highly experienced and powerful Dou Zun practitioners. In comparison, Mo Yu, as a mere Dou Zong, was insignificant. Even Mang Dian, standing before him, was leagues ahead.
Had another team or deputy Captain been sent, they might have been reluctant to fully submit to Mo Yu's authority despite the Black Demon Token.
While Mo Yu was processing this, the expression of the Jian Zun Zhe, who had remained aloof, changed subtly at the unexpected development.
His gaze fixed on the dozen or so sixth-grade thunder beasts and their deep-eyed handlers. His pupils constricted slightly.
A squad of over ten Dou Zong practitioners partnered with tier-six magical beasts was not a force any ordinary faction could assemble. Not even the Two Sects and Three Valleys could muster such power, let alone the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion.
The handsome man leading them even emanated a pressure rivaling the Four Sword-Guarding Elders of the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion, yet he bowed so deferentially to Mo Yu. This stirred unease in the Jian Zun Zhe's heart.
"Could this young man be the scion of a hidden ancient clan?"
The Jian Zun Zhe's gaze gradually shifted to Mo Yu.
Mo Yu smirked coldly. "Didn't you want to rely on numbers to overwhelm me? Well then, let's see whose fists are stronger!"
Though unfamiliar with the Black Demon Army, Mo Yu knew it was the Lei Clan's strongest military force.
From the aura exuded by Mang Dian and his squad, it was clear that only elite warriors could join. Even with just one division under his command, Mo Yu was confident he could stand his ground against the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion.
Hearing this, the Jian Zun Zhe's expression darkened.
He had not ascended to the position of Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion Master or achieved his current level through foolishness.
From the squad's dramatic entrance alone, it was evident that Mo Yu had a formidable background.
However, the eight ancient clans were known for their low profile. Many people, even those in significant positions, were unaware of these ancient bloodlines. This secrecy only highlighted how inconspicuous the clans had made themselves.
Even the Jian Zun Zhe, upon seeing Mang Dian's group, couldn't recognize their origins. In a world as vast as the Dou Qi Continent, brimming with experts and factions, not even someone as powerful as the Jian Zun Zhe could claim familiarity with every stronghold.
"Such sharp words for a mere boy." The Jian Zun Zhe sneered.
"I only seek justice. No matter your background, return with me to the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion. Should there be grievances, summon your elders to resolve them!" His gaze swept over the Black Thunder Banner squad before fixing on Mo Yu with a grim tone.
Though he could see that Mo Yu hailed from an extraordinary lineage, capturing him would provide leverage, even if Mo Yu's clan sought retribution.
"How dare you speak so insolently of my clan!"
Before the Jian Zun Zhe could finish, Mang Dian's expression darkened, and he rebuked harshly.
Despite standing before a Dou Zun expert, Mang Dian showed no hesitation or courtesy.
To members of the Lei Clan, external Dou Zun experts were nothing more than slightly larger frogs at the bottom of a well.
This Jian Zun Zhe dared to summon the Lei Clan's elders—such arrogance!
After issuing this reprimand, Mang Dian turned to Mo Yu and asked respectfully, "Sir, should we request reinforcements from the clan? Deputy Captain Lei Mang of the Black Thunder Banner's first division recently advanced to Dou Zun. He can arrive within moments.
"With Deputy Captain Lei Mang's strength, these external Dou Zun experts will pose no threat."
Hearing this, Mo Yu paused, surprised at the abundance of talent in the Black Thunder Banner under his command.
After some thought, Mo Yu shook his head.
First, his current manpower sufficed, and additional reinforcements were unnecessary.
Second, he was concerned about his ability to manage a Dou Zun-level deputy Captain. As a mere two-star Dou Zong, Mo Yu was promoted to his current position only due to Lei Ying's exceptional favor. He still had a long way to go before fully consolidating his authority within the Black Thunder Banner.
Premature contact with other personnel might harm his credibility and complicate future governance.
Mo Yu even suspected that Deputy Captain Lei Mang might already resent him. If not for Mo Yu's existence, the position of banner Captain would likely have fallen to Lei Mang.
Considering these factors, Mo Yu decisively rejected the idea of seeking reinforcements.
The current squad was sufficient for now.
Mang Dian was momentarily stunned by Mo Yu's refusal but, after glancing at the Tie Jian Zun Zhe and Elder Bing standing alongside Mo Yu, seemed to understand.
It appeared that this clan-raised Captain, highly regarded by the patriach, had formed strong alliances outside the Lei Clan.
Realizing this, Mang Dian's gaze toward Mo Yu grew more solemn.
To earn the loyalty of Dou Zun experts outside the Lei Clan without leveraging the clan's reputation was no ordinary feat. Mo Yu's achievements hinted at exceptional qualities.
Recalling his uncle Mang Ting's serious warnings, Mang Dian's earlier dissatisfaction gradually dissipated. However, despite this, Mang Dian could not help harboring a faint sense of condescension toward Mo Yu due to his comparatively weak strength.
Though he hid this sentiment due to clan rules, it was evident that Mo Yu still had to prove himself with significant accomplishments to win the unwavering loyalty of the Black Thunder Banner squad.
The Lei Clan was a clan of warriors, known for their martial fanaticism. For someone like Mo Yu, directly appointed as a Captain of the Black Thunder Banner with a seemingly weak disposition, such an occurrence was rare, perhaps happening only once every few centuries. Naturally, this made it difficult for him to gain the loyalty or respect of his subordinates.
If it had been another fiery-tempered Black Thunder Banner Captain in Mo Yu's place, someone like Mang Dian likely wouldn't have paid him any attention at all.
Mo Yu, with his keen perception, noticed the disdain and skepticism in Mang Dian and the squad members' eyes. Though he didn't care about others' opinions of him, he couldn't tolerate his subordinates harboring disloyalty. If they were under his command, he had to earn their complete respect—body, mind, and soul.
What he aimed for was not just compliance but absolute submission. He wanted to leave his mark on this squad, engraving his leadership into their hearts. After all, as a Captain of the Black Thunder Banner, he might one day lead the entire banner within the Lei Clan. The first step to achieving this ambition was to subjugate this team completely.
With this thought, Mo Yu's silver eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to glance at the encampment of the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion.
"That one with the Hei Jian and the other with the green sword—leave them to me. The rest are yours. Do you have confidence?" Mo Yu said casually, pointing toward the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion camp as he addressed Mang Dian.
Hearing this, Mang Dian and his squad members were stunned. They turned to look in the direction Mo Yu indicated and, upon sensing the auras of the Elder Hei Jian and Elder Qing Jian, their expressions changed slightly.
The Four Sword-Guarding Elders of Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion were formidable guardians, and Hei Jian and Qing Jian were standing prominently at the forefront of the formation.
It was evident they were the strongest among their group, particularly the Elder Qing Jian, whose Dou Zong pinnacle aura and exceptional sword seemed difficult to contend with. Even Mang Dian knew that defeating him would require considerable effort.
"Captain, let us handle this instead. Today, we'll show these so-called top-tier external factions the power of the Lei Clan's combined techniques," Mang Dian suggested, trying to dissuade Mo Yu.
Mo Yu waved his hand with a faint smile. "No need. What's wrong? Does Deputy Captain Mang not believe in my strength?"
Mang Dian fell silent, his face betraying a hint of annoyance. After a pause, he responded coldly, "Then I'll wish you a victorious start to your campaign."
Clearly, he thought Mo Yu was being reckless. Deep down, Mang Dian began questioning why Mang Ting had spoken so highly of Mo Yu. A low-star Dou Zong attempting to take on two pinnacle Dou Zongs was, at best, delusional.
Even the squad members following Mang Dian cast Mo Yu skeptical glances. While they acknowledged him as their Captain, in their hearts, they regarded him as nothing more than a conceited fool.
Noticing their doubt, Mo Yu merely smiled faintly and waved his hand. Reluctantly, Mang Dian followed the order, deciding to step in only if Mo Yu found himself in danger. He resolved that when this arrogant Captain faced humiliation, he'd finally understand the folly of his actions.
With these thoughts, Mang Dian and his squad leapt onto the massive Thunder Beast hovering midair. Accompanied by its thunderous roar, they charged toward the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion's encampment.
Despite their small numbers, the Black Demon Army lived up to their reputation as the Lei Clan's elite. Their coordinated assault resembled that of a disciplined army, swiftly surrounding and dividing the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion's larger force into two distinct battlefields: one for the main force and another for the duel between Mo Yu and the two Elders.
As Mang Dian and his men clashed with the Pavilion's members, Elder Hei Jian frowned. The sheer strength of these attackers, all Dou Zong-level warriors, combined with their seamless use of lightning-based techniques, left his forces in disarray.
Without the support of Elder Hong Jian and Elder Lan Jian, both pinnacle Dou Zongs, their defeat seemed inevitable.
However, Hei Jian's gaze soon shifted to Mo Yu. He sneered disdainfully. "Mo Yu, what arrogance! You think you can challenge both me and Elder Qing Jian with your meager strength? What a joke!"
Elder Qing Jian, on the other hand, furrowed his brows. From the earlier encounter with Qing Zhi to this mysterious squad, it was evident the young man before them had a significant background. Moreover, Mo Yu's audacity in challenging them hinted at hidden confidence.
"Capture the leader to end the chaos. Since this boy leads them, we'll take him down first!" Elder Qing Jian declared, his tone firm.
With a snap of his fingers, the green sword in his hand vibrated violently before transforming into a streak of green lightning aimed directly at Mo Yu.
In a flash of silver light, Mo Yu vanished from his original position, reappearing a hundred meters away. Looking up, he gave the two Elders a faint smile before his hands began forming seals.
"True Origin Devouring Thunder!"
As his hand seals shifted, a surge of white lightning erupted from his body, spreading across a radius of several hundred meters before swiftly contracting. Absorbing the surrounding energy, Mo Yu's aura surged dramatically.
"A strength-enhancing secret art," Elder Qing Jian muttered with slight surprise.
"Hmph. Only by a single star? Hardly enough to escape my grasp," Elder Hei Jian scoffed coldly.
Meanwhile, Mang Dian observed the sudden increase in Mo Yu's strength, now at three-star Dou Zong. Shaking his head, he thought disdainfully, There's no shortage of such techniques in the Lei Clan. If this is all Mo Yu relies on, Mang Ting and the Clan Chief must be blind.
Unfazed by their remarks, Mo Yu remained silent. His hands formed another seal, releasing an even more ferocious energy. From within his body, streaks of lightning burst forth, condensing into armor and wings around him.
"HeavenlyThunder Body, Second Stage!"
As the thunder armor and wings materialized, Mo Yu's aura skyrocketed once more, nearing the level of a high-level Dou Zong.
Even Elder Qing Jian and Elder Hei Jian couldn't help but reveal slight shifts in their expressions. Mo Yu's current strength far surpassed their expectations.
As for Mang Dian and his squad, their faces were filled with shock and awe. The pressure emanating from Mo Yu's thunder-enhanced body left them in stunned disbelief.
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