Chapter 907: Emperor Acting in Progress

"You're dreaming!"

Luo Yin retorted without a second thought.

As a Tai Xu Chuan Ren, how could he compromise himself just for the sake of the life and death of these trial companions around him?

Yes, they were brothers.

But after that earlier pat on the shoulder, the nature of their "brotherhood" had already changed...

Luo Yin faced the reality.

These brothers were, in the end, just "fellow sufferers" he had met in the Yunlun Mountains.

For their sake, Luo Yin could choose to give up some benefits, but that was because the Tai Xu Chuan Ren was magnanimous, educated, and polite.

But to directly submit to someone else...

Sorry.

I, Luo Yin, can't do it!

Xu Xiaoshou had already anticipated Luo Yin's answer. A Tai Xu Chuan Ren did have their dignity, which was evident in the case of Rong Dahao.

But dignity could be shattered, for instance, like Rong Dahao...

Besides.

Others might not be able to subdue a Tai Xu Chuan Ren, but with Xu Shao's "Ban Sheng Chuan Ren" identity, having one more Tai Xu Chuan Ren under his command wouldn't be too much, right?

"Don't be so quick to refuse."

Xu Xiaoshou landed on the mountaintop and stood firm, adjusting his skirt as he got straight to the point: "My Xu Bang's goal isn't just the fourth dragon vein; it's the 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu'. You have excellent qualifications. If Xu Shao were here, given your past grievances, he might even send you out of the Yunlun Mountains directly."

"But I'm different!"

Xu Xiaoshou said, his tone turning arrogant as he paced back and forth: "Although we fought in the Tianluo War, I truly admire your abilities. As the saying goes, no fight, no friendship. I don't hold grudges easily..."

"So, here's the deal: Join my Xu Bang and serve under me, and I'll help you secure a Dragon Guard position."

"You know what the eight great Dragon Guards under the 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu' mean!"

Xu Xiaoshou strolled leisurely, his words brimming with confidence.

This was only the first battle in the Jiu Long Mai struggle, yet he spoke as if he were already standing at the pinnacle of the Jiu Long Mai, commanding the winds and clouds.

Luo Yin pondered.

He had to admit, those few words from the other side had genuinely moved him.

After attacking the mountain all night, fighting for his life, and ending up with no one to rely on, he was exhausted, and his hard-won results were snatched away.

Xu Bang was different.

Xu Bang had over a thousand troops, the top force in the Yunlun Mountains, unstoppable wherever they went.

Add to that the two leaders of Xu Bang—Xu Shao and the Mu Xiaogong before him—neither of whom were rigid fools...

Look at that!

They attacked the mountain with tactics.

A single poison strike, and they achieved the greatest victory at the smallest cost.

From their perspective, Luo Yin had to acknowledge that the people of Xu Bang were all talents.

In comparison, his brute force attack on the mountain was the least effective approach.

"You still have time to think, but your brothers might not be able to wait."

Xu Xiaoshou casually applied pressure.

Luo Yin turned to look at the brothers around him.

It hadn't been long, just a few words, but because of the poison, the number of people on the mountaintop had already halved.

But, after all, that had nothing to do with him!

Luo Yin gritted his teeth, his thoughts circling back to his core dilemma—freedom—so he felt reluctant.

However, Mu Xiaogong's words struck at his heart, leaving him unable to find any loophole, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

Silence fell.

Seeing this, Xu Xiaoshou stepped back and added, "I know you Tai Xu Chuan Ren care about face. Don't worry, my Xu Bang people will come later, but I won't spread the word about you joining Xu Bang. I'll make sure to save your face. Even if Xu Shao shows up, I'll guarantee he'll treat you with courtesy."

Luo Yin didn't care about that.

If he really joined Xu Bang, would he fear others pointing fingers? A Tai Xu Chuan Ren working for a Ban Sheng Chuan Ren might feel unwilling, but it wouldn't lose face. What Luo Yin cared about was freedom!

He thought for a moment and decided to bargain one last time: "I can agree to your conditions, but..."

"No buts!"

Xu Xiaoshou cut him off with a wave of his hand.

He stepped back further, pointing at Luo Yin's soiled pants: "If you don't agree, unless you kill me, once we leave the Yunlun Mountains, I'll announce to the world that you, Luo Yin, soiled your pants here!"

Luo Yin: ???

Veins bulged on his forehead.

"You... you're shameless!"

After holding it in for a long time, that was all Luo Yin could say.

He was shocked.

In their previous encounter, he hadn't seen Mu Xiaogong being so sharp-tongued.

What was going on now? This little girl had become so quick-witted and scheming, even resorting to such low threats like "soiling pants"?

But, annoyingly...

It was effective!

"I'll give you three breaths to consider."

Xu Xiaoshou carefully maintained his distance to avoid a sudden attack, then began counting.

"Three..."

"I agree!"

Luo Yin gave up resisting, his confidence completely deflated.

He knew that if he made a move on Mu Xiaogong, the Xu Bang forces would swarm in.

That wasn't the main issue.

The real problem was Xu Shao alone could take on a thousand troops.

As long as he showed up, Luo Yin wouldn't stand a chance!

Better to be the one who knows when to yield than to resist futilely.

Mu Xiaogong had a point.

A Tai Xu Chuan Ren serving under a Ban Sheng Chuan Ren wasn't beneath him, and since Xu Shao was aiming for 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu', with his abilities, Luo Yin could at least secure the title of "Dragon Master" for one of the veins in Xu Bang.

Resistance would mean zero gains.

Submission would bring more rewards.

Though he might lose freedom temporarily, it was only during the Wang Cheng trial. Once out of the Yunlun Mountains, the world was vast, and no one could bind him.

Luo Yin wasn't foolish.

The moment Mu Xiaogong made that final threat, he knew he had no chance to resist anymore.

She had him completely cornered.

"You made a smart decision!"

Xu Xiaoshou was thrilled.

Gaining another great general made his journey to 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu' even more secure.

Xu Bang's actions for 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu' would inevitably draw attention.

As long as Xu Bang moved, it would provide alibis for Xu Shao and Mu Xiaogong against Void Island, Hong Yi, and Sheng Nu.

During the battles of Xu Bang, Xu Xiaoshou could use the openings to coordinate with Sheng Nu and counter any major moves from Hong Yi targeting the Yi Si aftermath.

After Luo Yin agreed, he didn't think about anything else.

He pointed to everyone around and said, "Hurry up and detoxify them!"

Xu Xiaoshou snapped back to attention and nodded lightly.

Detoxifying was difficult for others, but easy for him.

He clapped his hands.

"Little tree, transform!"

With a shake, he transformed.

Xu Xiaoshou turned into the ancient Qing Tian tree, its branches like arms extending out.

In an instant, countless tendrils spread, piercing into the bodies of those still gasping on the mountaintop.

"Hiss!"

He circulated his breathing technique.

The terrifying poison, along with everyone's spiritual energy and part of their life force, was all absorbed into Xu Xiaoshou's body.

"Burp."

After conversion, the poison turned into wonderful energy, and the ancient tree let out a sudden burp.

Then, Xu Xiaoshou's tree form convulsed violently, as if experiencing immense pleasure. The tree crown grew greener, lush and vibrant.

After a while, it stopped its blissful movements...

Xu Xiaoshou reverted to his little loli form, looking refreshed and radiant, with a surge of life force.

Thankfully, no one had seen that embarrassing display of absorbing life force; otherwise, it would be no different from someone soiling their pants on the fourth dragon vein.

Luo Yin quickly checked one of his nearby brothers and found that the poison in his body was gone, but so was his spiritual energy, and half of his life force had been drained.

"You're absorbing life force too?" he demanded angrily.

Xu Xiaoshou shrugged innocently. "What can I do? This is the only method I have. Or do you want to provide some pills to restore their life force?"

The Tun Sheng Mu body's trait was to absorb life force.

This had already been explained to Xu Xiaoshou by Lei Xi'er in the Yuan Fu world.

Even if not, to avoid exposure, he would still absorb some.

Moreover, since he was imitating Mu Zi Xi, once he started absorbing, all kinds of energy would come, better to take everything than miss something.

Restraining himself from draining everyone's life force completely was already a testament to Xu Xiaoshou's strong will.

Luo Yin was speechless.

If he had the resources to help hundreds on the mountain, why would he have been threatened in the first place?

"No money, so stop complaining. I've done my best."

Xu Xiaoshou muttered to himself and walked away, using his spatial ring to collect the poisonous spiritual herbs from the mountaintop into the Yuan Fu world.

"Received curse, passive value, 1."

"How awful it smells!"

As he walked, Xu Xiaoshou felt the intensity of the "central battlefield."

A group of people near the Dragon Guard flag were letting loose, and the aftermath was overwhelmingly foul.

He had to block his sense of smell.

After gathering the herbs, he thought about having the Xu Bang members clean up the area later.

Otherwise, the fourth dragon vein would be uninhabitable for anyone with a sense of cleanliness, let alone guarding it as the "Dragon Master."

He casually instructed a Xu Bang member who had poked his head in to go call Xu Shao from the base of the mountain to take over.

With everything sorted, Xu Xiaoshou turned back to Luo Yin.

"The Dragon Guard flags!"

He stared at the six flags on Luo Yin's back.

Luo Yin untied the Dragon Guard flags and handed them over directly.

Since he had submitted, there was no point in saying more.

If he couldn't get the Dragon Master title for the fourth dragon vein, there would be others, and he'd need to lead the charge.

Luo Yin didn't ask for much.

As long as Xu Shao assigned him three or five hundred people, conquering other dragon veins would be no problem!

Xu Xiaoshou took the six Dragon Guard flags from Luo Yin and, calling him along, went to the remaining two flags.

The previous two who had been pulling them out were interrupted by the poison attack and their... activities.

Now, only these two flags remained on the mountaintop, and the "Dragon Master" title would be secured.

By this time, most of Xu Bang's forces had already come up to clear the battlefield and were stationed at the foot and waist of the mountain.

Because of their numbers, Xu Bang's defenses extended several hundred zhang around the fourth dragon vein, with various outposts set up to prevent surprise attacks.

The people who had been on the mountaintop also recovered from their poisoned stupor and woke up one by one.

They were all placed under Luo Yin.

Luo Yin naturally became the captain of another squad in Xu Bang.

No one resisted.

Jokes aside—who would dare, with Xu Shao here?

After Xu Shao came up the mountain, everywhere he went, people showed respect, calling him "Xu Shao" so much that he almost felt like he was floating on air.

Once all eight Dragon Guard flags were pulled, only the Dragon Master flag remained on the mountaintop.

Surrounding it were the core members of Xu Bang.

Various squad captains, Xu Shao's two guardians, Xu Shao himself, Luo Yin, Mu Xiaogong (Xu Xiaoshou)...

These people formed the members of the first "Dragon Master meeting."

The meeting's theme was straightforward: Who would take the first Dragon Master flag?

As for the 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu' candidate, no one else dared to covet it. The only one truly qualified to compete with Xu Shao was that ever-troublesome Mu Xiaogong, the deputy leader!

"Xu Shao, this first Dragon Master flag should be yours."

Rong Dahao saw no one else speaking and said directly: "The one who takes the first Dragon Master flag gets to assign the eight great Dragon Guards. Then, each Dragon Guard can lead troops to seize other dragon veins. Once the time is right, you, Xu Shao, can become the 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu'."

Everyone nodded.

The leaders of other forces in the Yunlun Mountains might not even dream of 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu'.

But the core members of Xu Bang all subjectively believed that if Xu Shao made a move, it would be straight for 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu', nothing less.

This confidence shocked the new captain, Luo Yin.

The people of Xu Bang were all so bold...

Luo Yin didn't dare speak and looked at the familiar face of Xu Shao beside him, waiting for the latest orders.

Xu Shao pondered, seemingly thinking, but his mind was blank.

A blank mind didn't mean Xu Shao couldn't act.

He paused for a long time, until everyone was getting nervous, then turned to Mu Xiaogong: "Mu Bangzhu, what's your opinion?"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't hold back, hands on his hips, starting his loli-style grandstanding: "If you're asking for my opinion, I have just one thing to say... A big tree attracts wind. You can't be the 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu', Xu Shao! The dangers that come with it must be borne by someone else!"

Everyone's brows twitched wildly.

Mu Bangzhu was truly bold!

It seemed she still resented how Xu Shao had seized the leader position of Xu Bang that she had built.

But everyone knew Xu Shao doted on Mu Bangzhu, and in the Yunlun Mountains, she was probably the only one who could speak like this.

Sima Zhao's intentions were clear to all...

Xu Shao laughed.

But he acted as if he hadn't understood the underlying meaning and asked again: "Then, according to Mu Bangzhu, who should bear this risk?"

The acting emperor was truly an acting emperor.

Xu Shao didn't know what Xu Xiaoshou's next move would be, so he simply handed over the initiative, playing along.

After all, his current identity as Xu Shao had a special relationship with Xu Xiaoshou's Mu Xiaogong identity that needed mending.

—Xu Shao had taken Mu Xiaogong's leader position, so naturally, he had to make amends. Thus, whatever Xu Xiaoshou wanted, Xu Shao could logically give her the 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu' position.

If the act was good, even if Hong Yi was watching, everything would be fine.

Xu Xiaoshou was acting as the worldly-ignorant Mu Xiaogong, thinking herself clever, but her schemes were plain for all to see.

Yet inwardly, he understood, but continued the act of playing dumb.

So, with a silly grin, Xu Xiaoshou, as Mu Xiaogong, scanned everyone like an old fox: "What do you all think? Who can take on this responsibility?"

Everyone present was a talent from the five domains; how could they not hear that the deputy leader Mu Bangzhu, unable to get the Xu Bang leader position, now had her eyes on the bigger 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu' title?

"This responsibility is too much for me."

Rong Dahao chuckled and gave her an out.

"I'm not up to it either." Xiao Jing She joined in.

"Same here." Zhao Xiu scratched his head in agreement.

"I can't..."

"Neither can I..."

"Me neither..."

Tai Xing, Mo Bei Bei, Xin Gu Gu, Liu Chang Qing, and others all declined one by one.

This left Luo Yin stunned.

Was Mu Xiaogong the group favorite?

Was her status in Xu Bang that high?

Did everyone, including Xu Shao, have to give her face?

"I can't either." Luo Yin finally said to Mu Xiaogong.

Xu Xiaoshou was delighted, acting like a silly girl: "Since no one can, then this responsibility must fall to me... I'm the only one who can handle what you all can't!"

The little girl stood up straight, puffing out her chest—flat as a board.

"Mu Bangzhu is mighty!"

"Mu Bangzhu is amazing!"

"Mu Bangzhu is a dragon among men, brilliantly talented—we can't even compare!"

Flattery poured in, and the little girl looked utterly pleased.

Xu Shao knew Xu Xiaoshou wanted 'Jiu Long Zhi Zhu' for other reasons, so following his intent to compensate Mu Xiaogong, he waved his hand.

"In that case, take the Dragon Master flag for the fourth dragon vein yourself, Mu Bangzhu!"