After offering a few words of encouragement, Phoenix Vane and her Golden Phoenix Guard retreated back into the main hall, leaving Garrick Stonewall to explain the specifics to the group. Upon hearing that a second round of selection would be held, everyone's spirits lifted. The thought of Phoenix Vane as their guest mentor naturally fueled everyone's desire to be the lucky one.
After sitting down, Shi Yixin asked, "General Yu, where is Lord Aureliand?"
Phoenix Vane smiled and said, "He has urgent business to attend to, so he asked me to help out here. I hope you gentlemen will take good care of him!"
The generals of the Eastern Governor's Office all said they were unworthy of such an honor, but Lucian Swiftfire said with a smile, "It is a great honor for Miss Yu to grace us with her presence. We really must ask her for her advice!"
Phoenix Vane smiled calmly and said, "It's been a while, you haven't changed a bit!" Lucian Swiftfire gave a wry smile. At that moment, Garrick Stonewall entered, drawing everyone's attention. He reported to Phoenix Vane that everything was ready.
Shi Yixin bowed to Phoenix Vane and asked, "General Yu, how will you select them?" His question was of great interest to all the generals. They all wanted to see how the supposedly brilliant Phoenix Vane would choose her subordinates, hoping to learn something from her – perhaps this was one of the reasons for Phoenix Vane's invincibility.
Seeing the focused gazes of the generals, Phoenix Vane smiled faintly. As everyone was mesmerized, she said to Lyra Draconis, "Little Sister Long, we still need your help with this matter."
"Me?" Lyra Draconis tapped her delicate nose with her slender fingers, looking at Phoenix Vane's pink face with some disbelief.
The generals were also somewhat bewildered. Not knowing the origins of the dragon girl, they couldn't imagine how such a petite and beautiful young woman could be capable of selecting soldiers. But what surprised them even more was yet to come. Phoenix Vane's next words left them speechless.
"Little Sister Long, I'd like to ask you to select and form this team, and to serve as the commander of this light infantry unit. What do you think?"
Lynette Quill patted Lyra Draconis on the shoulder and said, "Sister Feng must have been confident to say such a thing. You should have confidence in yourself."
"Can I really... do it?" Lyra Draconis still seemed a little skeptical.
Phoenix Vane looked at Lyra Draconis with encouraging eyes and said, "I know you're the best person for this position. No one else is more suitable than you. But if you don't like doing it, then forget it. I won't force you."
"No!" Lyra Draconis looked into Phoenix Vane's eyes and said resolutely, "Since you trust me so much, I'll give it a try!"
Phoenix Vane gently shook her head, gazing intently at Lyra Draconis, and said, "If that's the case, then it's better not to do it. If you're going to do it, do it the best. I know you have the ability."
Lyra Draconis's heart pounded. She, who had always been playful and active, suddenly felt that she had grown up a lot. A sense of responsibility welled up in her heart. Phoenix Vane's trust in her made her very happy. She could help Phoenix now and become an indispensable person to her.
"Don't worry, I will definitely do my best!"
Lyra Draconis eagerly assured Phoenix Vane. Phoenix Vane nodded and smiled, "With your assurance, I'm relieved. Do your best!"
"yes!"
Their conversation left the observing generals somewhat disappointed. They couldn't see what Lyra Draconis possessed that would inspire such trust in Phoenix Vane. However, quick-thinking officers came up with a plausible explanation: perhaps Lyra Draconis was merely a figurehead, with Phoenix Vane herself pulling the strings behind the scenes. A legion commander of such considerable power wouldn't be relegated to a minor command. And as the first personal guard unit formed by the Aurelian Dragon, Phoenix Vane would undoubtedly pay close attention. Therefore, finding a trusted proxy was a logical step. Lyra Draconis, as one of her close associates, was the perfect choice.
Regardless of what others thought, Lyra Draconis took office as the first commander of the Royal Guard Infantry Regiment. And her first task as commander was to select her subordinates.
Amidst everyone's dissatisfaction, the beautiful dragon girl displayed an astonishing skill. A powerful dragon claw shattered the iron leaf shield three feet away, drawing gasps of amazement. Even Lucian Swiftfire and Garrick Stonewall were astonished. This beautiful girl possessed such terrifying strength; they couldn't help but feel a sense of unfathomable mystery about the woman beside Phoenix Vane.
Although the treatment of the Eastern Governor's Enforcement Team is quite good, this obvious elimination system greatly arouses everyone's sense of honor and competitiveness. The special sense of pride they feel when they think about being selected through so many rounds of selection is indescribable.
More importantly, being in the company of such a beautiful and charming young leader every day must be very pleasant. If Phoenix Vane and her beautiful bodyguards also appear from time to time, it would be extremely attractive.
Unfortunately, they didn't know that the seemingly pretty and cute girl in front of them was actually a terrifying female Tyrannosaurus Rex, who would later become the famous "Tyrannosaurus Rex Leader" of the continent. No one could play tricks on her, and their days of suffering were far from over.
※ ※ ※
Aurelian Dragon, accompanied by Obsidia Shade, Cynthia, and the goddess warriors, headed towards Yusuf's hiding place, guided by Ruthusen.
When they arrived at the alley entrance, Fan Tong and two burly men dressed in blue, resembling ruffians, were already waiting there. Upon seeing Aurelian Dragon and his companions, Fan Tong stepped forward, greeted Aurelian Dragon, and then turned to Lu Tuxian.
"Why are you only arriving now? That guy's been having a good time inside for ages!"
Hearing Fan Tong's complaints, Lu Tuxian's face remained expressionless. He then turned to the other two burly men and asked, "What's the situation inside?"
"Don't worry, Master Lu, Dianzi hasn't made a move inside." The burly man on the left replied very respectfully. "We have five brothers keeping an eye on things nearby. They haven't moved an inch since we discovered Dianzi yesterday."
Aurelian Dragon smiled and said to Fan Tong, "It seems you and Rutu are getting along quite well!"
Fan Tong chuckled sheepishly, scratched his hair, and said, "Damn it, Old Lu is a real bastard. He's like a dead man, expressionless. Sometimes I really want to kick his ass. But he's also ruthless; he's given those thugs a real hard time these past few days!"
Even so, Rutu seemed not to hear him. He nodded to Aurelian Dragon and whispered, "My lord, let's go in!"
Aurelian Dragon patted Lu Tuxian's shoulder lightly, pointed to the two burly men beside him, and laughed, "Old Lu, I see you have a high standing in their eyes now. You're really something else."
Rutu frowned slightly, seemingly unaccustomed to such direct contact from the Aurelian Dragon, and took a small step back.
Aurelian Dragon arrogantly tossed his head at the two burly men, "Lead the way!"
The two burly men were both gangsters. Seeing Aurelian Dragon's demeanor, they knew he was someone of higher status than Rutu Xian. Naturally, they responded respectfully, stepped forward, and walked ahead of Aurelian Dragon and his companion.
Upon arriving at a somewhat old but new house, the two burly men stopped and pointed, saying, "Sir, this is it!"
Aurelian Dragon carefully examined the place. It looked like a fairly ordinary house. After going up three steps of bluestone, there were two vermilion doors. Most middle-class houses in the Fast Empire were like this. If Yusuf was not a street ruffian, it would be very difficult to find anything unusual about him hiding in such a place.
The two large doors were tightly closed, and there seemed to be no sound coming from inside.
Aurelian Dragon surveyed the surrounding terrain. The houses on both sides were separated from this residence by a firebreak alley. Curious eyes peered from behind the half-open door. After all, the sudden arrival of so many beautiful women, all dressed like warriors, was enough to pique the curiosity of ordinary people.
"The person inside is a complete idiot. Does closing the door like that mean it's normal?" Aurelian Dragon sneered and raised her hand to make a gesture.
Led by Cynthia, the goddess warriors behind them leaped forward and surrounded the house from all directions. Their agile skills impressed Lu Tuxian and Fan Tong, who were themselves in awe of their abilities.
With everything ready, Fan Tong swaggered up the steps. Too lazy to knock on the door, he slammed his palm on the door panel. With a loud crash, the two doors flew inward and shattered into several broken wooden planks before even hitting the ground.
"The host comes out to greet the guests; our good friend has arrived!"
Fan Tong's thunderous voice echoed throughout the courtyard, and the neighbors had already locked their doors in fear.
Aurelian Dragon chuckled to herself. Fan Tong hadn't changed his old ways from being a hoodlum and scoundrel in Xijiang; his words still carried a strong江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) flavor.
Clearly, the people inside hadn't expected Aurelian Dragon and his group to appear so suddenly, and were unable to react appropriately in time. After a while, hurried footsteps echoed from the inner room.
With a shout, several figures rushed out from the inner hall, looking as if they wanted to devour the intruders.
Leading the charge were two strong, burly men in purple robes. Before their feet had even fully touched the ground, they leaped up again and charged straight at Fan Tong, their fists, as big as bowls, already flashing in front of them.
"I'll beat you to death, you blind bastard, how dare you cause trouble here!"
Fan Tong didn't take these minor characters seriously at all. With a long laugh, he strode forward, simultaneously pushing his palms out to meet the opponent's fists.
"Come out here right now, your grandpa's looking for you!"
Fan Tong's loud voice seemed to push the two burly men who didn't know what was good for them as they flew backward in the air, about to collide with the people behind them. But then the two men behind them shouted and each put a hand on the shoulder of the burly man who was flying towards them.
"Bang, bang!"
Two sounds of collision rang out simultaneously, and the overconfident man learned a good lesson. How could he possibly withstand the true force Fan Tong transmitted to the two burly men with just one hand? As a result, the four of them collided in a very disheveled state. This scene, witnessed by someone behind them, immediately made his expression change.
This was a tall, thin middle-aged man in a blue robe. His piercing, cold eyes, seemingly able to see right through one's soul, were fixed on the newcomer. When he saw two men and two women appear behind Fan Tong, his expression finally turned extremely ugly.
Aurelian Dragon stepped past Fan Tong and stood in front of the middle-aged man in the green robe, smiling slightly as she said, "You know who I am, don't you?"
The man in the green robe paused for a moment, then nodded, his tone bitter and somewhat helpless.
"The newly appointed Governor of the East, the most influential figure in Esnia right now, how could I, Fadasi, not know him?"
"Very well, then you know why I've come here this time." Aurelian Dragon looked at Fadasi with a relaxed expression, but Rutu Xian beside him locked his eyes on him with a pair of cold eyes.
Fadasi's lips moved a few times, and he finally said with a wry smile, "I really want to say I don't know, but I have to admit that your actions were quite unexpected!"
Aurelian Dragon said very politely, "That's good. Now, please call Yusuf out."
Fadasi shook his head and said stiffly, "I'm sorry, I would never betray my friends!"
At that moment, the goddess warriors outside shouted, followed by a continuous clashing of weapons. Cynthia's eyes flickered, and she said to Aurelian Dragon, "My lord, I'll go take a look!" With that, she turned and darted out.
Outside, Yusuf was engaged in a fierce battle with several goddess warriors who were blocking his way. He gritted his teeth and launched a fierce attack, displaying all his skills. However, his opponent was a goddess warrior, and despite his left and right attacks, he had no chance.
Aurelian Dragon and his men arrived quite suddenly. Yusuf had only just realized something was amiss outside, seemingly being watched by spies. However, considering today was the day the Eastern Governor's Office was forming its personal guard infantry regiment, Aurelian Dragon and his men shouldn't have set out until the afternoon at the earliest. Little did he know that while he was packing his things to leave, his enemies had already stormed the door.
Yusuf, that cunning fellow, although he rushed out with the local masters, he was cautious and walked at the very back. When he spotted the Aurelian Dragon, he knew something was wrong and didn't dare to rush out anymore. Instead, he turned around and fled from behind.
Little did he know that he would be discovered and surrounded by the goddess warriors as soon as he crossed the courtyard wall. If the goddess warriors hadn't been prepared to capture him alive, he would have already been riddled with holes by the flying lightning javelins.
Fadasi roared and was about to leap out when Fan Tong stepped forward, his two giant palms blocking his way like doors, and his surging true energy pushed towards him like a thick wall.
"Good lad, let's get to know each other better!"
Fadasi's figure paused in mid-air, his palms forming a series of palm shadows in front of him, the sound of clashing energy filling the air.
"Po, po, po!..."
With each clash of their energies, Fadasi would take a step back, thus dissipating the powerful impact of his opponent's true energy. Clearly, he was no match for Fan Tong, and defeat was inevitable.
Knowing the situation was already decided, Aurelian Dragon didn't bother to watch any longer, so she left a comment and turned to walk away.
"Old Lu, I'm leaving things here to you!"
Rutu walked up to the four panicked men and said coldly, "Are you going to walk out yourselves, or should I drag you out?"
When Aurelian Dragon arrived, Yusuf was already pinned down by three flying javelins and unable to fight back. Upon seeing Aurelian Dragon, he shouted, "Aurelian brat, you're ruthless and cunning, resorting to such despicable and vile methods!"
Aurelian Dragon sneered, ignoring his roar, and simply said, "Take him away!"
※ ※ ※
Madam Sorenblade stared blankly at the beautiful woman kneeling at her feet. This beautiful woman was Yunniang, the person in charge of the Gongsun family in Esnia, whom Madam Sorenblade had once trusted and loved the most. Only those involved truly understood what it felt like to be betrayed by such a person.
"Why? Why would you have such thoughts? Aren't you afraid of the Gongsun family's rules? The first rule is that no one is allowed to participate in politics!"
Yunniang raised her head, her delicately made-up face streaked with glistening tears, her eyes filled with sorrow. She looked at the heartbroken Madam Sorenblade and said, "Young Miss, times have changed. Does this mean that we, the Gongsun family, must spend our lives as despised dancers?"
"But Miss, we are already very powerful!" Yunniang's eyes flashed with defiance as she retorted, "With our current strength, why should we still be dancers who make a living by performing? We need a wider world and a higher social status!"
Madam Sorenblade stood up and said coldly, "Is this your idea, or Third Sister's idea?"
Yunniang was startled and jumped up from the ground, taking two or three steps back. She stammered, "This is what the Third Miss told me. We've thought about it and think she makes a lot of sense." Then, she bravely raised her head and looked at Madam Sorenblade, saying, "Eldest Miss, I've always admired you, but look at how we're treated now. Although no one will say anything to you, we've had enough of being ridiculed. We don't want to be dancers who are played with anymore!"
"You…" A cold glint flashed in Madam Sorenblade's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, shaking her head and saying, "I was only trying to help you. How can you reach the realm of the Red Lotus in Fire without experiencing the trials of the mortal world? You know some dancers suddenly disappear after a period of time, they are all…"
Madam Sorenblade suddenly stopped speaking, alert. Yunniang stared blankly at Madam Sorenblade, feeling that there was something more to Madam Sorenblade's words than she had ever heard before, and she vaguely sensed something in them. Just as she was about to urge Madam Sorenblade to continue, she suddenly heard a languid voice outside the door, soft, sweet, and very alluring.
Yunniang's expression changed instantly; she knew whose voice it was.
"My dear sister, is it really you? How did you change like this? You seem even younger and more beautiful than before. Who is this miraculous doctor with such skill?"
Madam Sorenblade sneered, "Come out, Third Sister!"
Amidst a seductive laugh, Gongsun Sanniang appeared before them. Today, she wore a jade-colored palace dress, with a gold ribbon tightly tied around her slender waist, making her two proudly erect nipples appear even more astonishing. Her captivating eyes turned slightly, and before she could speak, another seductive laugh rang out.
"Where have you been staying these past few days, sister? I've missed you so much! I'm so afraid some scoundrel will take advantage of you and make your husband lose face!"
"Call the others out too!" Madam Sorenblade took a step back and said thoughtfully. She felt a pang of regret; she had been too hasty. Knowing that Yunniang had already sided with her third sister, she shouldn't have lingered here so long. Perhaps the blissful life after marriage had dulled her sense of vigilance and alertness.
Fifteen people of varying heights suddenly appeared in the room. Regardless of their stature or appearance, they all shared one thing in common: an incredibly powerful aura. Clearly, each of them was a highly skilled expert.
Feeling like a moth caught in a spider's web, Madam Sorenblade's heart sank. The fifteen people's uneven positions had trapped her in the most unfavorable place. The energy emanating from them had firmly locked her in place. If Madam Sorenblade made a move, one could imagine that it would be an earth-shattering battle.
Madam Sorenblade had already seen twelve of them. The twelve star swordsmen of the Sword-Seeking Sect were terrifying enough, but Madam Sorenblade knew that the other three possessed even more terrifying strength than those twelve star swordsmen. The powerful aura emanating from them made her feel breathless.
"Sister, I think you are aware of their strength." Gongsun Sanniang said in a relaxed tone, "Lord Zuo Zai wants to see you and have a good talk with you."
Madam Sorenblade glanced at the three Star Swordsmen blocking her way and replied, "Are you just going to take me away like this?"
Gongsun Sanniang chuckled, gently shaking her head, the pearl hairpin in her hair swaying slightly. "Don't worry, sister, you're a distinguished guest of Lord Zuozai, how could you be so rude?" Suddenly her expression changed. "Be careful, she's trying to escape..."
Before she finished speaking, Madam Sorenblade bent forward, and the short sword in her sleeve flew forward, heading straight for the faces of the two people in front of her. Its speed was as fast as a shooting star.
The two swordsmen in front were prepared. They shouted in unison, raised their longswords, their blades gleaming, and conjured a net of swords before them. The others moved simultaneously, instantly sealing off all of Madam Sorenblade's paths. The longswords, emitting a stream of light, formed a dense net around her, preventing Madam Sorenblade from escaping even in her ethereal form.
The pressure Madam Sorenblade was under was unimaginable. She felt as if she were in a confined space, surrounded by almost solidified air, making even the slightest movement of a finger require immense effort. Needless to say, someone must have cast a slowing spell on her, as well as a solidifying spell within air magic.
Under normal circumstances, this might not have posed a danger to her, but in this situation, any delay or gap could be fatal.
At this moment, something incredible happened. Right in the tightly packed circle of people, Madam Sorenblade's delicate body suddenly made an unimaginable twist, like a blade of grass swaying in a storm, breaking into several pieces in an unconventional way, as if she could not withstand the pressure of the powerful true energy.
Gongsun Sanniang exclaimed in surprise, "So alluring and captivating!!" Yunniang, standing to the side, was already dumbfounded and speechless.
Madam Sorenblade's delicate body seemed to have no bones. After swaying with a powerful force, she suddenly shot backward, and the short sword that had been sheathed in her sleeve was silently released from her elbow.
Unexpectedly, Madam Sorenblade possessed such a move, and was able to execute it so skillfully in such an emergency. When the person behind her touched Madam Sorenblade's body, he suddenly found that the woman's body had become like a rope, wrapping around his body, and the true energy attacking her seemed to have vanished without a trace.
"Oh no! I've been fooled by this woman!"
Madam Sorenblade was overjoyed and was about to speed up her pace to break free of the encirclement when suddenly a large hand appeared in front of her. Its blood-red color conveyed a terrifying aura, and the nauseating stench made her pale with fright.
"Blood Fiend Shakes the Spirit!"
The men next to the giant hand also quickly retreated, knowing how terrifying this palm strike was; even someone with an indestructible body would suffer severe damage.
The giant hand in front of Madam Sorenblade grew to the size of a wheel, and five terrifying red lights tightly enveloped her delicate body. Madam Sorenblade, who was flying backward with all her might, had no time to react. She could only twist her body with all her might, using her short sword to protect her vital points, and meet the boundless blood light.
Madam Sorenblade knew in her heart that her actions were out of helplessness, and the outcome had already been decided the moment her opponent unleashed the universally hated "Bloodthirsty Spirit Shock".
With a loud bang, a blood-red palm shadow completely enveloped Madam Sorenblade's delicate body. When the terrifying blood light dissipated, Madam Sorenblade had already slumped on the ground, her eyes dim and her face completely devoid of its previous radiance and rosy glow. But this sickly pallor only aroused a certain desire in the man's heart.
"Dear sister, I forgot to introduce you. This is Master Bloodhand from the Temple of the Moon!"
Gongsun Sanniang smiled happily. Her long-cherished wish had finally come true. Seeing that her older sister, who had always been taller than her, was now standing at her feet, she was at a loss for what to do.
Madam Sorenblade struggled to lift his head, his lifeless eyes staring at the sallow-faced Master Bloodhand. Because he had unleashed a powerful "Blood Fiend Spirit Shock," his short stature made him appear even more grotesque.
Madam Sorenblade sighed silently, then turned to Gongsun Sanniang and said weakly, "Third Sister, you've really had a tough time! You finally won!"