Chapter 1209: The Fourth Commander, Li Luo

On the plaza, Li Luo stared at the man whose face carried a kindly smile, and for a moment he did not quite know how to respond. Originally he had assumed that, as a newcomer, he would inevitably encounter some obstacles, and he had even prepared himself for a major battle today.

After all, when he had first arrived at the Qingming Banner, he had also needed to establish his dominance publicly before gradually intimidating the crowd and seizing authority.

Yet now that he had reached the higher-tier Dragon Fang Guard, they had voluntarily stepped aside for him.

It had gone so smoothly that he even wondered whether there was some trick at play—perhaps a retreat to advance?

Facing Li Luo's stunned silence, the man who had risen could not help but laugh. He stepped forward two paces and said, "My name is Li Jian. I am the Fourth Commander of the Dragon Fang Guard, currently at the strength of a Lower Marquis. Dragon Head Li Luo, you need not be surprised. Although the Dragon Fang Guard does revere strength, it also values merit. Do not underestimate the weight of your having led the Qingming Banner to become the foremost of the Twenty Banners, because the last person to accomplish this was your father, Li Taixuan."

"When the news that you had taken the Dragon Head position reached the Dragon Fang Guard, everyone was thrilled, because in you we saw the shadow of my lord Li Taixuan."

"In those days, the Dragon Fang Guard reached its peak under my lord Li Taixuan. Our Dragon Fang Guard then wielded the Four Heavenly Dragon Treasures, majestic and awe-inspiring—the undisputed number-one guard of the Heavenly Dragon."

"Every generation of Guard Commander has taken my lord Li Taixuan as their goal. Unfortunately, their abilities were somewhat lacking, and our current Guard Commander is also a bit short of the mark. To this day, we have yet to reclaim our Dragon Fang Guard's 'Heavenly Dragon Mysterious Yellow Spear' from the Dragon Blood Guard."

"So, you may well be another hope."

"For the sake of that hope, we do not mind giving you a boost. As for this Fourth Commander seat, if you do not find it too low, please take it."

Listening to Li Jian's words, Li Luo finally understood: he already possessed a considerable reputation within the Dragon Fang Guard, all of it stemming from his achievements in the Twenty Banners.

And the friendliness shown him by Li Jian and the others was a form of goodwill investment.

At this, Li Luo could only say that the Dragon Fang Guard truly lived up to its name—their vision was incomparably keener than that of the people in the Four Banners back then. No wonder they had become Marquis-level powerhouses.

"Thank you, Big Brother Li Jian." Li Luo sighed inwardly. Since the other party was extending goodwill on behalf of the entire Dragon Fang Guard, there was no need for him to coyly refuse. After all, if he could achieve his goal so effortlessly, would he be crazy enough to insist on a bitter fight?

However, they might not yet know that, if one truly compared who was more fit to be called a hope, Jiang Jiang Qinge, who was present, would for now be more suitable than him.

After all, no matter how one looked at it, Jiang Jiang Qinge, who had embarked upon the "Path of the Unparalleled," was far more breathtaking.

But Li Jian did not know any of this. Instead, he smiled and reached out, taking Li Luo by the wrist and pushing him onto the stone seat that represented the Fourth Commander.

At this moment, the other three commanders also cast their gazes over and nodded in greeting.

"Commander Li Luo, my name is Xia Yu, Lower Second-grade Marquis, currently holding the position of First Commander." At the head seat of the four commanders, a woman wearing a standard-issue black-and-red battle robe cast a gentle gaze at Li Luo. Her features were fair and lovely, but a scar on her cheek lent her a few degrees of fierce, murderous air.

Li Luo cupped his fist in salute and said, "Greetings, First Commander. I look forward to your guidance in the days ahead."

"I am the Second Commander, Li Shanlan, Upper First-grade Marquis." The speaker was a tall, broad-shouldered man, with a heavy black axe leaning beside him, from which radiated an overbearing, ferocious energy fluctuation.

His face appeared somewhat rough and wild, but his gaze fixed straight on Li Luo as he said, "Commander Li Luo, the entire Dragon Fang Guard places great hopes in you. I hope you will not disappoint us."

Li Luo felt a touch helpless. It wasn't as if I asked you to place great hopes in me. I would actually have preferred to fight and take this Fourth Commander seat by strength, but you refuse to play by the rules and insist on letting me freeload.

"I am the Third Commander, Li Meng, Upper First-grade Marquis. In the future, Commander Li Luo must be close with us—here is your new home." Third Commander Li Meng was a rotund, plump man, who amiably expressed his goodwill with a beaming smile.

At this moment, the many Dragon Fang Guard members on the plaza, seeing this, immediately erupted into thunderous cheers: "Greetings, Fourth Commander!"

Li Luo hurriedly rose to return the courtesy to the crowd. From this first contact, he could sense the Dragon Fang Guard members' curiosity and goodwill toward him, with little in the way of hostility or scrutiny—a very different impression from when he had first arrived at the Qingming Banner.

Clearly, the dazzling battle records he had forged over the past two years in the Dragon Fang Lineage had, after all, served some purpose.

And within the Dragon Fang Guard, old subordinates such as Li Li Fengyi, Li Li Jingtao, and Zhao Zhao Yanzhi, upon seeing Li Luo smoothly obtain the Fourth Commander position, all revealed looks of joy. After all, it was truly rare for someone who had just joined the Dragon Fang Guard to obtain a commander position at the Da Tian Xiang Jing level of strength, and this also indirectly demonstrated that Li Luo now possessed an initial reputation within the Dragon Fang Lineage.

"Thank you, Guard Commander."

Li Luo then cupped his fist toward Li Foluo in gratitude, because he was well aware that within this Dragon Fang Guard, without the nod of approval from Guard Commander Li Foluo, Li Jian, the incumbent Fourth Commander, might not have been so willing to give up his seat.

Li Foluo's expression was bland as he said, "Li Luo, given your merits, this commander seat is being granted as an exception. The Dragon Fang Guard has been kind to you and naturally will not contest your position, but that does not mean you can rest easy."

"In half a month's time, it will be the formal Advancement Day. All five guards will gather for martial discussions and drills. At that time, you may well face challenge invitations from commanders of the other guards. I do not expect you to win beautifully, but I hope you will not lose too disgracefully, otherwise..."

Li Foluo's gaze turned stern as he looked over: "This commander seat should be returned to Li Jian ahead of time, lest you end up dragging the Dragon Fang Guard into ridicule."

Facing Li Foluo's cold, stern gaze, Li Luo smiled and said, "I understand the rules, Guard Commander. There is no need to remind me."

He knew Li Foluo was actually offering a well-intentioned reminder, but owing to his temperament, the goodwill that came out of his mouth also felt stiff and hard, giving people an uncomfortable impression.

Seeing this, Li Foluo said no more, because today's true protagonist was not Li Luo, but Jiang Jiang Qinge, who would follow.

Li Luo being able to smoothly obtain a commander seat was due to his achievements in the Twenty Banners and the glory Li Taixuan had once brought to the Dragon Fang Guard. But the position Jiang Jiang Qinge was after was the Dragon Fang Envoy.

That was the position within the Dragon Fang Guard second only to himself, the Guard Commander.

The two current Dragon Fang Envoys were both present, each laden with battle merits and possessing extraordinary strength. To make them yield their seats was not something that could be accomplished merely by virtue of being Li Luo's fiancée.

Although Jiang Jiang Qinge had indeed forged a Ten-Pillar Golden Platform, she was ultimately only a First-grade Marquis. So if she wanted to rise to that position, it would not be as easy as it had been for Li Luo.

Thinking of this, Li Foluo's gaze went directly to Jiang Jiang Qinge.

And Jiang Jiang Qinge, her expression calm, stepped forward, immediately drawing the attention of the entire hall—attention filled with a sense of awe.

In fact, when Jiang Jiang Qinge had first appeared earlier, many Dragon Fang Guard members had been struck by her beauty at first glance. After all, a girl with such bearing and looks was truly exceedingly rare.

However, Jiang Jiang Qinge's presence was too overpowering, causing many Dragon Fang Guard members to only dare steal glances at her.

Now that she had stepped forward of her own accord, the crowd finally dared to gaze at her openly.

At the same time, Li Foluo's voice rang out across the plaza.

"Jiang Jiang Qinge, by the special approval of the Lineage Head, you have one chance to issue a challenge. I hope you can seize this opportunity and not waste it in vain."

Jiang Jiang Qinge caught the final reminder in Li Foluo's words, but she paid it no heed. Her gaze lifted and shot directly toward the two stone seats beneath the Guard Commander.

At the same time, her calm, clear, and melodious voice rang out.

"I challenge for the Dragon Fang Envoy."

Li Foluo closed his eyes. Listening to the shock and uproar that filled the hall, he let out a somewhat helpless sigh.

These Unparalleled Prodigies—are they truly this ungovernable?

The real main character just has to be the type who refuses to listen to advice!