Chapter 180 - 177: Black Dragon

"Stop!"

Right at that moment, an authoritative voice suddenly rang out. It was a woman’s voice. As soon as the words fell, the crowd saw a mature, valiant woman approaching. She was clad in black armor and wore a helmet. Though she exuded no outward aura, she possessed an inviolable majesty.

"Black Dragon!" The expressions of the Feng family members changed drastically. The newcomer was none other than the Black Dragon Leader, Black Dragon herself!

"Leader!" Even Zhang Shaoqi and Jiang Wanzhong cupped their fists and bowed.

"Black Dragon Leader!" The Feng family’s Void Spirit Realm First Layer elder also stopped in his tracks and cupped his fists toward the black-armored woman. The rest of the Feng family followed suit.

"Leader!" The Merit Mansion guards of the Black Dragon Army present, Mo Qian, as well as Lao Liu and his squad, all dropped to one knee in reverence to the woman.

Seeing this, Mo Qianqian couldn’t help but be surprised. He thought, "The newcomer is actually the Black Dragon Leader, Black Dragon? And Black Dragon is a woman?" She appeared to be middle-aged, but her naturally intimidating presence without showing anger was truly startling. This Black Dragon was undoubtedly a terrifyingly powerful expert.

Black Dragon waved her hand, and the crowd rose to their feet.

"What is your name?" she asked, looking directly at Mo Qianqian the moment she arrived.

Mo Qianqian froze for a moment. In truth, he didn’t really want to reveal his name. Once his name was out, news would spread much faster. However, his dual cultivation of physical and spiritual arts was already exposed. It was only a matter of time before the news reached the Great Xia Dynasty and the Imperial Alliance anyway. Facing Black Dragon, he couldn’t exactly hide it, so he answered truthfully, "Mo Qianqian! Greetings, Black Dragon Leader!"

"Are you willing to join the Black Dragon Army? To be a Centurion?" Black Dragon asked.

Upon hearing this, the expression of the Feng family’s Void Spirit Realm First Layer elder changed. The residents of Black Dragon City and the Black Dragon Army were two entirely different things. Even residents of the Merit Mansion were fair game to other residents once they stepped outside its bounds. But to lay a hand on a member of the Black Dragon Army was a direct provocation against the army itself. Not to mention, this was an offer for a Centurion!

Though a Centurion only commanded a hundred men, this was the Black Dragon Army. The entire army consisted of merely three thousand soldiers, and every one of those hundred men would be at or above the Spirit Profound Realm. At the very least, a unit would contain ten Tongyou Realm cultivators, perhaps even some at the higher stages of the Tongyou Realm. This was a formidable force. Placed in the outside world, it could rival a major faction.

Furthermore, a Centurion reported directly to a General. Being under a General’s protection afforded extremely high status. If Mo Qianqian joined the Black Dragon Army, they wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on him inside Black Dragon City ever again. Even outside the city, they would have to resort to assassination and ensure no word of it leaked.

The rest of the Feng family members also paled. If this Mo Qianqian became a Centurion of the Black Dragon Army, their Feng family would be in deep trouble in the future. But how could anyone refuse the position of a Centurion? Under these circumstances, this youth named Mo Qianqian would definitely be willing to join.

Mo Qianqian was also stunned; this was something he hadn’t anticipated either. However, when it came to joining other factions, he maintained the same cautious attitude as always. Once he joined a faction, many complications would arise, and he would lose a corresponding amount of freedom.

"Thank you for your high regard, Black Dragon Leader. This junior is endlessly grateful. However, I am accustomed to freedom and cannot stand being restricted, so..." Mo Qianqian spoke in a polite tone.

But before he could finish, Black Dragon interrupted, "So, you are rejecting me?"

At those words, an inexplicable sensation washed over Mo Qianqian, as if he were plummeting into a bottomless abyss.

*GASP!*

Many people present sharply inhaled a breath of cold air. Mo Qianqian had actually rejected Black Dragon?

This was something no one had expected. First of all, countless people desired to join the Black Dragon Army but were turned away. Even mid-to-high level Tongyou Realm cultivators would fight tooth and nail just to become a squad captain, let alone a Centurion. Moreover, Black Dragon personally inviting a young man to be a Centurion was unprecedented. No one had ever received such treatment. Yet Mo Qianqian had rejected her outright? Refused her right to her face?

"Yes!" Mo Qianqian could only reply, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"Very well! You are the first person to ever reject me," Black Dragon said in a deep voice.

The surrounding crowd was terrified, silently wondering if Black Dragon would simply kill Mo Qianqian right then and there.

However, Black Dragon didn’t make a move. Instead, she announced, "Today’s matter ends here."

With that, she turned and strode away, her emotions unreadable. But everyone present could sense that the Black Dragon Leader was furious. A mere youth had publicly rejected her and slighted her, blatantly challenging her authority.

"Mo Qianqian, you dare reject the Leader’s invitation?" Zhang Shaoqi demanded in a low voice, killing intent already brimming in his eyes.

"Zhang Shaoqi, the Leader specifically said that today’s matter ends here. Do you still intend to make a move?" Jiang Wanzhong warned.

"Hmph. He dared to offend the Leader. Even if I don’t strike today, he won’t have it easy in the future!" After speaking, Zhang Shaoqi turned and marched away.

"Let’s go!"

On the other side, the Feng family’s Void Spirit Realm First Layer elder gave a deep order. He cast a murderous glare at Mo Qianqian, flicked his sleeve, and strode off. The Feng family Patriarch, whose hands were wrapped in white bandages, and the rest of the group all looked as if they wanted to eat Mo Qianqian alive. After giving him one last vicious glare, they followed the elder away.

"I have no ties with the Feng family. What happened just now was a mere coincidence." At this moment, Mo Qian stepped forward and tossed ten thumb-sized vials of Chaotic Qi to Mo Qianqian.

Mo Qianqian instantly rejoiced, reaching out with both hands to catch the Chaotic Qi. Ten vials! It would be enough for him to break through to the next realm!

After throwing the Chaotic Qi, Mo Qian walked away with long strides.

"Be careful when you travel from now on," Jiang Wanzhong advised with a glance at Mo Qianqian before leaving as well.

Lao Liu, however, walked toward Mo Qianqian. "Isn’t it about time you repaid my six vials of Chaotic Qi?"

"Uh..." Mo Qianqian was taken aback. He thought, "Do I really have to pay him back double?"

"Can I owe it to you a little longer? I urgently need it to break through my cultivation," Mo Qianqian asked. Having just advanced to the Third Realm, he needed a massive amount of Chaotic Qi and didn’t want to hand over six vials all at once.

"Alright, you can keep owing me. But I have to say, you’re really something. To break through to the Third Realm with just three vials of Chaotic Qi," Lao Liu praised, genuinely impressed.

"It was a fluke," Mo Qianqian replied modestly.

"With these ten vials of Chaotic Qi, will you be able to break through another layer of cultivation?" Lao Liu asked.

"Probably?" Mo Qianqian was also uncertain.

"Then I’ll wait for you," Lao Liu said.

"What do you mean?" Mo Qianqian asked in confusion.

"There is an important matter, but it’s not urgent for these next few days. We can talk about it after you break through. Once you do, send someone to find me." As Lao Liu spoke, he made some arrangements and then joined the guards at the gate of the Merit Mansion.

Helpless, Mo Qianqian didn’t press for details. "Oh, right." He suddenly thought of a very important question.