Imperial Scepter

When Gao Chun looked up, the unease and tension on Huang Xiaoming's face were as clear as pages of writing.

His brows furrowed slightly in a troubled expression, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the hem of his clothes, and even his breathing became somewhat rapid—no detail escaped Gao Chun's eyes.

Gao Chun's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile; he had already made up his mind.

This kid is really eager to join his team.

This was precisely his purpose in deliberately making things difficult for them.

When selecting team members, strength and teamwork are just the first step; a deep-seated sense of belonging is the foundation for survival.

The stronger the desire for the team, the deeper the sense of belonging, and the more reliable the loyalty that can be given in the future.

At this moment, Gao Chun had already quietly decided on the candidate, but the procedures still needed to be completed.

The final step is to verify his Dao seed information.

Once Huang Xiaoming joins, the standard five-person team that I have been preparing for a long time will be fully formed, and the subsequent team coordination, tactical simulations, etc. can be fully implemented.

The play is not over yet.

Gao Chun suppressed the surging satisfaction in his heart, deliberately putting on a mature-beyond-his-years face, his brows furrowing into a shallow frown, his tone flat and emotionless:

"What are the colors of the two-colored Dao Seeds you were born with?"

Huang Xiaoming was startled, and a bright joy instantly flashed in his eyes!

He instinctively clenched his hands, and only when his fingertips touched the cold sweat on his palms did he realize that his back was already covered in a layer of fine sweat.

Gao Chun's willingness to ask this clearly indicates that he has the intention to accept her!

The Dao Seed is the most fundamental basis for a cultivator's existence, and ordinary people would never easily reveal it.

But at that moment, Huang Xiaoming didn't hesitate for a second. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he blurted out, "I am a two-colored Dao Seed, one green and one purple!"

"Oh?"

Gao Chun raised an eyebrow slightly, a sudden thought flashed through his mind, and a fleeting, almost imperceptible, burst of ecstasy crossed his eyes.

His team happened to be missing a support player, and the green Dao Seed was a perfect fit for the support role; what's even more remarkable is that he also has a purple Dao Seed, so his speed will definitely not be a hindrance!

Although he was only at the second-star bronze realm, this cultivation method was practically tailor-made for a high-purity battle team.

His abilities perfectly complement those of the existing four players. Instead of becoming a burden, he can elevate the team's strength to a new level!

Gao Chun felt a warm fire burning in his heart, secretly rejoicing.

Huang Xiaoming's arrival came at just the right time.

But his face remained as hard as iron, and his tone was even more serious than before.

"The two-colored Dao Seed is passable, but your cultivation level is too low, only at the two-star Bronze Realm."

"Remember, for a cultivator, realm is always the foundation for survival and livelihood."

"From now on, you must work hard and cultivate diligently to improve your cultivation level as soon as possible! Otherwise, when we go to the Southern Wilderness Forest for training as a team, you will eventually become a burden to the whole team."

"Minimize those trivial tasks like cooking, cultivating relationships, and gathering information. Use every spare moment you can for cultivation!"

Huang Xiaoming's smile instantly blossomed like the summer sun, his eyes and brows overflowing with unconcealed joy, and his whole body trembled slightly with excitement.

He nodded frantically, his head bobbing up and down like a spring: "Yes, yes, yes! The captain is right!"

"From now on, if the captain says east, I will never go west; if the captain says go to heaven, I will never go to sea!"

"Don't worry, I will definitely prioritize cultivation and will never let you down!"

Looking at his fawning and eager appearance, Gao Chun felt inexplicably comfortable.

At that moment, he finally understood why those important figures always had a clever and sensible lackey by their side.

But while it may feel good, some criticism is still necessary.

He deliberately frowned, his tone turning cold: "When did I agree to let you join? And you dare to call me 'captain' all the time?"

Huang Xiaoming's smile froze instantly, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

Her heart sank to the bottom, her eyes became panicked, her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, and her mind raced.

Is there something I haven't done well enough?

Suddenly, his eyes lit up!

He remembered that Gao Chun always liked receiving gifts.

It seems we need to increase the stakes a bit!

Huang Xiaoming gritted his teeth, and the little fat on his face trembled slightly, as if he had made a major decision.

He reached out and took out a pile of lustrous black crystals from the storage bag tied to his waist.

"Brother Chun! This is the pocket money I've saved up for over two years since I became a Xuanzhe!"

"A total of fifty Mystic Crystals, all dedicated to you and the team!"

"From now on, I will do my best to provide any resources the team needs, without hesitation!"

Fifty Xuan Crystals are a considerable fortune for a Xuan practitioner who is only eleven and a half years old.

To join the team, he really pulled out all the stops.

Gao Chun glanced down and saw fifty mysterious crystals swirling with tiny, mysterious lights, refracting a dazzling and pure luster.

He was secretly overjoyed, but he maintained a nonchalant expression, saying in a calm tone, "Do you think I need your few Xuanjing?"

"Brother Chun, I know you don't need it!" Huang Xiaoming quickly waved his hand, his tone urgent, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. "It's not about the amount of Xuanjing, it's just a small token of my appreciation!"

"I genuinely want to join the team, I'm not just here to coast! I want to work hard under your guidance!"

Before Gao Chun could respond, he knelt down with a thud, his knees hitting the ground with a dull thud.

He clasped his hands together above his head, looking at Gao Chun with utmost sincerity and pleading in his eyes: "Brother Chun, please give me a chance!"

"I know my cultivation level is low, but I assure you, I will cultivate with all my might and break through to the three-star Bronze Realm as soon as possible to catch up with everyone!"

"I know I'm not a strong fighter, but I'll do my best in support and logistical work. Intelligence gathering, supplies preparation, and external liaison—you can rest assured leaving these to me. I won't let you and your teammates down!"

"If I do anything wrong, you can kick me out of the team at any time, and I will have no complaints!"

This sudden kneeling surprised Gao Chun quite a bit.

His pupils contracted slightly as he looked at Huang Xiaoming kneeling on the ground, secretly surprised.

This kid even went so far as to kneel down in order to join the team.

He hadn't expected Huang Xiaoming's desire to join the team to be so intense.

It seems he has truly made up his mind.

Gao Chun looked at him kneeling on the ground, his face earnest yet somewhat nervous, and thought to himself: Although Huang Xiaoming seems glib and overly concerned with interpersonal relationships, he has a fierce determination to never admit defeat. Once he sets his mind on something, he is willing to go all out.

He deliberately hesitated for a moment, drawing out his words, and looked at him with a half-smile: "You really want to join my team?"

"Absolutely true!"

Huang Xiaoming immediately responded, his eyes rekindling with hope, like a dying flame being fueled. "Brother Chun, I swear to God, if I utter even the slightest lie, may my cultivation be halted, forever stuck at the second star of the Bronze Realm, never to advance another inch!"

"Alright, get up." Gao Chun finally relented, his tone much gentler than before, and his brows relaxed a bit. "Seeing how sincere you are, and that your Dao Seed is indeed suitable for the team, I'll give you a chance."

Huang Xiaoming was stunned for a moment, seemingly not quite understanding, with a look of bewilderment on his face.

A few seconds later, he belatedly realized what was happening, his voice trembling slightly: "Brother Chun, you...you agree?"

He asked cautiously, afraid that he had misheard.

"Mm." Gao Chun nodded gently, his tone calm. "From today onwards, you are a member of our Gao Chun team."

"However, let me make this clear from the start: I have a few rules that you must strictly follow."

"Agreed! Chun-ge agreed!"

Huang Xiaoming was instantly overjoyed. He scrambled to his feet, almost stumbling, and quickly brushed the dust off his knees. His smile was so bright it could dazzle anyone: "Tell me! Tell me anything! I'll follow all the rules!"

"Don't even mention a few, even if it's a hundred or a thousand, I wouldn't say a word!"

Gao Chun looked at his overjoyed expression and secretly shook his head.

Huang Xiaoming is indeed a clever guy who knows how to curry favor with powerful figures, but fortunately he has real skills and is loyal enough, so staying with him is definitely beneficial to the team.

However, he still needs to be reprimanded. He focuses too much on social maneuvering and is prone to neglecting the fundamentals of a cultivator. Since he has joined my team, as the captain, I should be responsible for him.

Gao Chun spoke slowly, his tone carrying an undeniable authority: "First, you absolutely cannot slack off in your cultivation. I'm giving you four years; you must break through to the third level of the Bronze Realm. If you fail to do so, you will automatically withdraw from the team."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Huang Xiaoming immediately patted his chest and promised with a determined look, "I promise to seclude myself and study diligently every day. Except for necessary matters, I will not waste a single minute and will definitely achieve my breakthrough on time!"

"Secondly, all intelligence and information about team members must never be leaked to any outsiders," Gao Chun continued, his tone becoming increasingly serious. "Any leaks will be treated as treason, and the consequences will be borne by the individual."

"Don't worry, Chun-ge!" Huang Xiaoming immediately held up three fingers. "I'm very tight-lipped. Even if I get beaten up and my skin is torn open, I won't utter a single word!"

"Third, do your job well." Gao Chun looked at him sharply. "Intelligence gathering, logistical support, and external liaison—these things must be handled perfectly. If there is even the slightest mistake, I will not show any mercy."

"Don't worry! I will definitely handle these matters perfectly, so that you and your teammates won't be able to find any fault with them!" Huang Xiaoming replied quickly, his attitude extremely respectful.

"Fourth, during battle, you must absolutely obey orders and are not allowed to act without authorization."

Gao Chun paused for a moment, then added, "Even if your Dao Seed is suited for support, you still need to improve your combat ability as soon as possible. You can't keep being the one who drags the team down."

"Understood! I will definitely learn combat skills from my teammates and work hard to improve my strength, so as not to hold everyone back!"

Huang Xiaoming nodded repeatedly, afraid that Gao Chun would change her mind, and his fawning smile never left his face.

"Alright, put your things away."

Gao Chun pointed to the Xuan Fruit and Xuan Crystal on the table, his tone softening, "The Xuan Fruit is your father's gift, I accept it."

"As for these fifty Xuan Crystals, they are your hard-earned pocket money. Keep them for your own cultivation. Improving your cultivation level is the most important thing right now."

"Hey! Thanks, Chun-ge!"

Huang Xiaoming quickly and carefully put Xuanjing away, feeling deeply moved.

Chun Ge not only agreed to let him join the team, but also thought of him in every way, refusing to take his Xuanjing (mysterious crystal). He is so righteous!

He picked up the mysterious fruit on the table, held it out to Gao Chun with both hands, and said with a fawning look in his eyes, "Brother Chun, please keep this mysterious fruit safe. It is said to be of great benefit to comprehending the essence of things and breaking through to a higher realm. You can use it."

"Not bad." Gao Chun accepted the gift without hesitation.

This is a gift from Huang Xiaoming's father, a gift from an elder; refusing it would seem too formal.

Besides, the Huang family is the largest family in Gaojia Village, and his father is the patriarch of the Huang family. The family is wealthy and wouldn't be short of such things.

Gao Chun put away the gift, looked up at Huang Xiaoming and said, "Come with me, I'll take you to meet the other team members and introduce you. From now on, we'll be teammates fighting side by side."

"Okay!" Huang Xiaoming replied immediately, his face full of excitement and admiration.

He followed Gao Chun briskly, like a well-behaved little tail, keeping pace with her every step, his steps light and rhythmic.

He knew perfectly well that from this day forward, he had finally latched onto Gao Chun, the most powerful patron.

With the captain's guidance and the team's protection, the future path of cultivation is destined to be smooth and increasingly exciting!