Elderly Martial Saint: Sixty Times the Cultivation Speed ​​at the Start

Before Ning Xiong could speak, a somewhat shrill voice rang out in the council hall:

"Commander, how can the brothers prepare if you don't even tell them the mission objective?"

A squad leader in his early thirties with a sharp, capable-looking face stepped out from the ranks, his brows furrowed.

This man's name is Qian Lie. With his internal energy cultivation at the third level, he is considered a skilled fighter in the Zhenfu Guard.

He was a capable lieutenant promoted by Ning Xiong, and Qian Lie usually looked down on Yi Yang.

An old man who had been with the company for half a year rose from a candidate chief inspector to a commander thanks to Yan Wuyuan's recommendation.

In less than a year, he rose rapidly through the ranks, from acting patrol commander to commander. Others would need decades to accumulate seniority. How could such a situation possibly suppress the old soldiers of the Zhenfu Guard who had crawled out of piles of corpses?

Qian Lie did not witness Yi Yang's final battle in the arena.

He was patrolling the west side of the city with his team when he heard rumors that Yi Yang had won by relying on the spirit weapon Xuan Yuan. In his opinion, anyone else could fight just as well with the spirit weapon.

Having powerful weapons, what kind of real skill is that?

Yi Yang sat in the main seat, his gaze fixed on Qian Lie, his eyes devoid of any emotion, and said in a flat tone:

"I said I'd talk about it after we set off, and I meant I'd talk about it after we set off."

"Is there a problem?"

Qian Lie sneered. He didn't look at Yi Yang anymore, but turned directly to Ning Xiong, throwing the question at him:

"Deputy Commander, what's your opinion?"

Ning Xiong stood there, arms crossed, his face, mostly covered by a thick beard, expressionless, and remained silent.

His silence seemed to tacitly approve of Qian Lie's actions.

Seeing this, the other squad leaders who were on good terms with Ning Xiong grew bolder and began to voice their doubts:

"That's right, Commander. The Zhenfu Guard has always had its transfer orders jointly signed by the commander and deputy commander. Now, even the deputy commander was unaware of it. This transfer order... isn't that against the rules?"

"Exactly, don't let some people who have just taken office and haven't even figured out the rules of the Zhenfu Guard try to give orders blindly."

The sarcasm in these words was aimed directly at Yi Yang.

Xu Min stood on the left, his brows furrowing lower and lower.

He once led the Zhenfu Guard to escort Yi Yang back to his residence from Baiyu City, and witnessed Yi Yang's methods along the way.

This old man is usually easy to talk to, but if you really cross his line, he never leaves anyone alive.

If Qian Lie and his group continued to make trouble, they wouldn't gain anything. Seeing that the atmosphere was getting out of hand, he quickly stepped in to smooth things over:

"Gentlemen, the Commander has his own arrangements, why say more?"

Qian Lie retorted directly, scolding him rudely:

"Xu Min, stop trying to smooth things over! You've curried favor with your new master in White Fish City, so naturally you're speaking on his behalf now."

"But don't forget, the Zhenfu Guard was built by Commander Ding himself; it's not something that some people can do whatever they want with!"

Seeing Qian Lie's impolite words, Xu Min, who was not afraid of him at all, gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes filled with anger, and said:

"Qian Lie, watch your mouth."

Did I say something wrong?

Qian Lie took two steps forward and raised his hand to point to the head of the table.

"He gave the brothers plenty of weapons and medicine, but refused to say who they were going to kill."

If our target is just a few bandits at the Inner Qi Realm, traveling in heavy armor will only waste our energy. If we encounter a True Qi Realm expert, we won't even have time to set up a formation; who will collect the corpses then?

"Whether you, Xu Min, are willing to close your eyes and charge forward is your business."

"Seventh Squad won't do it!"

Yi Yang sat in the main seat listening to these words, without the slightest anger on his face.

He simply stood up slowly from the chair in the main seat.

The soles of the boots made a slight sound as they stepped on the floor.

He walked down the steps one by one and came to Qian Lie.

The two were no more than three feet apart.

Qian Lie held his head high, his neck stiff, his eyes full of provocation.

He didn't believe that this newly arrived old commander would dare to lay a hand on him in front of so many squad leaders and Deputy Commander Ning Xiong.

Yi Yang suddenly spoke up and asked an unrelated question.

"What's your name?"

Qian Lie raised his chin and said coldly, "I will not change my name or surname. I am Qian Lie, the seventh squad leader of the Zhenfu Guard."

Yi Yang nodded.

"I've got it."

The moment he finished speaking, he moved.

Yi Yang's right hand moved so fast it was like a blur, his five fingers like red-hot iron pincers, gripping Qian Lie's shoulder.

Qian Lie was prepared. He immediately channeled his inner energy to his right shoulder, raised his left palm, and aimed straight at Yi Yang's chest.

But his hand was only halfway raised when the force from his shoulder crushed his protective inner energy.

Qian Lie felt an irresistible force coming from his shoulder, and the protective inner energy in front of that palm was as thin as a piece of paper.

"Snap!"

It was the dull thud of bones breaking.

Before Qian Lie could even scream, the immense force pressed down on him, causing his legs to buckle and him to kneel on one knee.

Immediately afterwards, Yi Yang casually flicked his wrist.

Qian Lie's body was thrown out like a tattered sack, slamming heavily onto the floor three steps away, where he remained motionless for a long time.

Throughout the entire process, Yi Yang did not use even a trace of his true energy.

It was purely the physical strength that had been tempered to the extreme after mastering the "Martial Dragon Elephant Body" technique.

He walked over slowly, and amidst Qian Lie's heart-wrenching screams of pain, he raised his right foot and stepped on the other man's back.

Power comes from the toes.

Qian Lie was pinned to the floor, his face pressed against the cold stone bricks, unable to even lift his head.

The council chamber was deathly silent.

All the squad leaders' expressions changed.

Xu Min's mouth was open, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

He knew Yi Yang was strong, but he didn't expect that without using his true energy, he could just rely on brute force to pin a master with the third level of internal energy to the ground like a chicken.

Ning Xiong, the deputy commander, gripped the iron spear, his hands bulging with veins.

He, like Yi Yang, was at the True Qi Realm cultivation level, and thus could better see the difference between the two.

Yi Yang had not mobilized his true qi, but had suppressed Qian Lie, who was at the third level of internal energy, with just his physical body.

The immense power hidden within that gaunt body was far greater than what was displayed on the stage.

Three days ago, Yi Yang became stronger again.

How exactly did this old man train?

Ignoring the stares of those around him, Yi Yang looked down at Qian Lie at his feet and said in a calm, even tone:

"Qian Lie, you will stay behind at the camp with the Seventh Squad."

"The rest of you, follow me in half an hour."

After saying that, he lifted his foot, released Qian Lie, turned around and walked back to the main seat, where he sat down again.

It was as if he had just casually swatted a buzzing fly.

Qian Lie lay on the ground, struggling to get up, but fell down again due to the sharp pain in his shoulder.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with humiliation and resentment.

The other squad leaders fell silent, none daring to voice any further questions.

They finally realized that the seemingly old commander in front of them was not some incompetent fool who had risen to power through connections.

The power that could overwhelm a master of the third level of internal energy with every move was even more terrifying than the swordsmanship I had heard about on the stage.

The squad leaders who had previously joined Qian Lie in the attack kept their mouths shut.

Some people bent down to check their swords, some stared at the cracks in the floor tiles, and some even pulled back the foot they had already stepped out.

Rules are rules.

But if you really want to use rules to pressure someone, you have to be able to withstand one of their hands first.

All eyes turned to Ning Xiong without prior arrangement.

This is their last hope; they hope that this deputy commander can stand up and uphold justice for everyone.

If the deputy commander continues to remain silent, then tonight's events are settled.

Ning Xiong clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on his arms, clearly suppressing his anger.

Qian Lie was one of the people he trained.

If he doesn't speak up when the other party is trampled underfoot by the new commander right in front of him, what will his men think?

Just as he was about to speak, a voice transmission entered his ear, saying:

"This trip is related to Ding Xiang's death."

"If you really want to avenge him, then come with me."

It is a secret transmission of sound.

Upon hearing this, Ning Xiong shuddered violently and abruptly looked up at Yi Yang, who was seated in the main seat.

The other person remained seated, expressionless, but a sharp, razor-sharp edge was hidden deep within their usually cloudy eyes.

The sharpness in the other person's eyes made Ning Xiong's heart skip a beat.

Ding Xiang's death.

This was a huge weight on his heart.

He looked at Yi Yang, his mind a jumbled mess.

Did this old man really find a clue, or was he using his brother's matter as a pretext to win people over?

Ning Xiong remained silent for three breaths, and finally, he chose to take a gamble.

He loosened his clenched fist and spoke in a deep voice, which was particularly clear in the quiet council hall: "We will all obey the commander's orders."

"Assemble at the camp gate in half an hour."

Upon hearing this, all dissenting voices in the hall fell silent.

Since even the deputy commander had spoken, no one else dared to utter a single word.

Yi Yang nodded, as if he had expected this outcome, and gave the order:

"Let's call it a day."

"Remember to bring enough weapons and medicine."

He looked at everyone and added a sentence.

"This trip is dangerous; be prepared for a fight to the death."

The squad leaders were taken aback and dared not underestimate the situation any longer. They clasped their hands in greeting, bowed, and left the council hall.

Qian Lie was the last to get up from the ground. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, used his unbroken arm to support himself against the wall, glared at Yi Yang with hatred in his eyes, and then limped away, dragging his injured leg.

Soon, only Yi Yang and Ning Xiong remained in the hall.

Ning Xiong walked closer, lowered his voice, and his voice carried an barely suppressed urgency.

"You really found a lead in the Ding Xiang case?"

Yi Yang nodded.

"Found it."

He looked at Ning Xiong, without saying a word more:

"But we can't say anything yet, to prevent the news from leaking."

"You should trust me."

Ning Xiong's breathing became heavy, his clenched fists bulged with veins, and his chest heaved violently.

He stared at Yi Yang's calm face for a long time.

Finally, without saying a word, he turned and strode out of the council chamber.

The footsteps were so heavy they seemed to want to crush the ground.

Half an hour later.

The Zhenfuwei camp and drill ground were brightly lit.

Fifty black-armored garrison guards stood in five teams, their weapons drawn, their armor imposing, and a chilling aura permeated the night.

Ning Xiong stood at the very front of the line, his heavy iron spear planted firmly on the ground, its tip gleaming with a dark red light in the firelight.

Yi Yang walked out of the council hall, with the spirit weapon "Xuan Yuan" on his back.

The newly acquired commander's token at his waist swayed gently in the night breeze.

He walked to the front of the line, looked around, and his gaze swept across the face of each of the garrison guards.

Without further ado, Yi Yang raised his hand and waved it forward.

"Set off!"