Chapter 56: Yuan Liu Zhai: When Assessing a Weak Disciple's Strength, a Sudden Revelation

Outside the First Squad barracks.

Huang Mu strode in as if he were returning home, ignoring the patrol soldiers' attempts to block him.

"Captain Huang Mu, please wait a moment!"

"Captain Huang Mu, Shan Ben, the chief commander, asked me to tell you that if you have returned and come to the First Squad barracks to find him, please go back to the Eleventh Squad first! He does not wish to see you for now."

One after another, First Squad soldiers blocked Huang Mu's path, trying to halt his advance.

"Boom!!"

In response, Huang Mu expressionlessly released the spiritual pressure within his body.

In an instant, the First Squad soldiers surrounding him went blind‑eyed and collapsed to the ground.

Only one person remained standing, his face flushed as he gasped heavily, struggling against the impact of Huang Mu's spiritual pressure.

"What is your name?!"

Seeing this, Huang Mu asked the lone standing man.

"Captain Huang Mu! I am, I am named Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang!"

The young man, upon hearing Huang Mu's question, announced his name while a flash of excitement and respect crossed his face; Huang Mu's title Sword Eight had already resonated throughout the Serene Spirit Court, and being asked his name was an honor for Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang.

"Not bad..."

Huang Mu nodded at the words, then with a flash moved behind the youth, pushing the door of the First Squad headquarters with one hand.

"So fast! Your speed is beyond my nerves' ability to react! Is this the power of the contemporary 'Sword Eight'?!"

The youth named Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang widened his eyes at that moment, cold sweat beading on his forehead and dripping to the ground with a 'drip, drip' sound.

"Step back, Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang!"

"Huang Mu, you have returned..."

Just as Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang turned around, Huang Mu had already pushed open the First Squad headquarters door, and from within came the voice of Shan Ben Yuan Liu Zhai.

"As you command!"

Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang, hearing this, knelt on one knee and offered the highest salute to the person inside, while Huang Mu slipped silently into the First Squad headquarters.

"Click~"

When Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang looked up, he saw the First Squad headquarters door closing slowly, and inside the room three figures exuding a murderous aura: Shan Ben Yuan Liu Zhai, Chief Sparrow Jirou, and Huang Mu.

"Unmatched power!"

With that, Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang internally evaluated Shan Ben and Huang Mu's strength.

"Huang Mu, you're back?!"

Inside the headquarters, Yuan Liu Zhai gripped the Soul‑Cutting Blade, pounding it into the ground expressionlessly while greeting Huang Mu; beside him stood the silent Chief Sparrow Jirou.

Clearly, Yuan Liu Zhai had long known Huang Mu would come to the First Squad to find him, and he also knew the First Squad soldiers could not stop Huang Mu; he was merely 'putting on a show' for some people.

"Looks like you learned some weird abilities from the Zero Squad."

After greeting Huang Mu, Yuan Liu Zhai continued speaking to him.

Yuan Liu Zhai, upon first seeing Huang Mu, recognized his difference; although Huang Mu was still somewhat immature compared to him, his spiritual pressure had already reached the 'Grim Reaper's pinnacle' like his own. Given more time, Huang Mu might soon attain his current level. Moreover, Yuan Liu Zhai noticed that the steps Huang Mu took while passing by Chong Ya Yuan Zhi Lang outside the door were not the 'Flash Step'.

"Old Shan! What benefit did those nobles give you that made you hand over the leadership of the Guardian Thirteen Squad, which you spent centuries building, for free?!"

Huang Mu was too lazy to waste words with Yuan Liu Zhai and went straight to the point.

"Huang Mu, Lord Yuan Liu Zhai also has his reasons!"

Chief Sparrow, hearing Huang Mu's harsh tone, immediately spoke up to explain Shan Ben, fearing that Huang Mu might misunderstand Yuan Liu Zhai over some matter and cause a rift in the hard‑won reconciliation between master and disciple.

"Enough, Chief Sparrow! You need not say more; as Huang Mu said, this matter was indeed my decision."

Yuan Liu Zhai, hearing this, cut off Chief Sparrow's words; the old Shan was not yet so old as to need his subordinates to explain his actions.

"Lord Yuan Liu Zhai!"

Chief Sparrow looked at Yuan Liu Zhai impatiently.

"..."

Yuan Liu Zhai simply shook his head wordlessly at Chief Sparrow, then turned his gaze to Huang Mu and said softly, "Huang Mu! The Serene Spirit Court now has many things to rebuild, but it does not need a Guardian Thirteen Squad that only knows killing."

"..."

Huang Mu instantly grasped Yuan Liu Zhai's meaning; indeed, as Yuan Liu Zhai said, the Serene Spirit Court now does not need a unit that only knows combat. The First Generation Guardian Thirteen Squad rose through slaughter and fell through slaughter; they are powerful, but beyond killing they know nothing...

"Assassins" and "mass murderers" were unimaginable assets during war, but when war vanished and the Serene Spirit Court entered a peaceful era, their purpose seemed to disappear...

Imagine a group of blood‑thirsty villains; if kept in a bloodless environment for a long time, what would they eventually do?! Yuan Liu Zhai could not imagine, nor wanted to gamble, so he thought replacing them piece by piece was the best and optimal choice.

But has peace truly arrived? Perhaps not!

"I see, after entering a peaceful age, we must surrender weapons like guns and swords~ I get it! After all, bearing a sharp weapon naturally awakens a killing intent~"

"But since the Serene Spirit Court no longer has a place for such weapons, why not give them to me? Coincidentally, I know a place that needs a large amount of arms!"

After understanding Yuan Liu Zhai's words, Huang Mu reached out to him as if asking his 'billionaire' father for money, the kind of second‑generation heir planning his own venture; yet this 'second‑generation' was not a playboy and was quite capable.

"Hm?!"

"Suit yourself!"

Yuan Liu Zhai was momentarily stunned, then a slight smile curled his lips.

"If you can handle these weapons properly, I will no longer interfere in their affairs, nor will I let anyone interfere! But if you handle them poorly..."

Yuan Liu Zhai looked at Huang Mu with great anticipation, hoping Huang Mu could subdue those great villains and firmly grasp the 'blade' in his own hand.

After Huang Mu and Yuan Liu Zhai agreed on how to deal with the First Generation Guardian Thirteen Squad, the group of unparalleled villains, Huang Mu decided to discuss the 'real business' with Yuan Liu Zhai.

Huang Mu lifted his feathered cloak and drew a second Soul‑Cutting Blade from his waist.

"Hm?! I think I've seen that blade somewhere..."

Yuan Liu Zhai gazed at the Soul‑Cutting Blade in Huang Mu's hand, a hint of bewilderment flashing in his eyes; the blade felt oddly familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

"Awaken, Gong Pira!"

Araki grasped the Zanpodo and softly called its name.

Boom!!

Immediately, accompanied by an unknown and eerie spiritual pressure, a wholly white Great Void appeared in the front room of the First Squad, and that void was the being the monk had named Yi Ji Si Ji Ba.

Ah…

Yuan Liuzhai watched the Great Void's eyelids flutter wildly, and finally understood why the Zanpodo before him felt familiar! To call the Zanpodo before him "Great Void" is a rare humiliation in Yuan Liuzhai's life!

At this moment, after a thousand years, the Royal Guard Captain Yuan Liuzhai showed surprise, panic, confusion and other expressions that did not fit his "strategic mastermind" and "invincible captain" persona for the first time…

Ah! I won't mistake you, you brat who back then used some unknown fire‑brand to scorch my butt! You… have grown a beard? You look much older than before; seeing you like this really shows how long I've been asleep.

The tiny Yi Ji Si Ji Ba, without waiting for Yuan Liuzhai to speak, greeted him first.

Araki! Where did you get this "demon obstacle" from?!

Yuan Liuzhai roared directly at Araki upon hearing this.

Haha, old mountain man didn't expect you were this lousy when you were young? You can't even take down a single Yi Ba, that's so weak! And being mocked by Yi Ba that the Zanpodo is a fire‑brand? No way, that's hilarious!

Araki, watching the raging Yuan Liuzhai, laughed heartily, and at this moment Araki was completely in a "filial son" posture.

Yes, Araki came to the First Squad barracks to discuss the future of the First Generation Royal Guard Thirteen Squad was not the main purpose! That was a side effect! Araki's main purpose in coming to the First Squad barracks was to mock his "master's" embarrassing experiences when young!

At this, Araki, seeing his master's dejected expression, felt satisfied for a moment and prepared to head back home…

"Since that's the case, come personally and witness the power of this fire‑brand in my hand! Bankai…"

Just after Araki's self‑satisfaction, Yuan Liuzhai, expressionless, drew the Zanpodo from his waist and without hesitation performed its Bankai.

Ugh…

Araki, watching Yuan Liuzhai draw his sword, realized he might have overreached.

"Demon disciple! After centuries, let me have you experience this blade in my hand once more!"

"Hope this time you can hold out a bit longer…"

Yuan Liuzhai said, like a fiery demon from hell, stepping foot by foot toward Araki, swinging his blade.

Of course, he wasn't doing it to save face by "killing to silence"; he merely wanted to test what level of ability Araki had reached in the Zero Squad's cultivation! Testing a disciple's ability with a Bankai is quite reasonable, right?!

Following everyone's opinion, the entire First Generation Royal Guard Thirteen Squad entered "old‑six" mode~ Friend Ha opened his eyes and cursed as a warning! Seeing that I heed advice and work hard, here's a wave of tickets~ Crazy explicit!

(End of Chapter)