BTTH: DISCIPLE CASHBACK SYSTEM
Chapter 588: Xiao Yan: The President Is Actually Liu Ling!

Chapter 588: Xiao Yan: The President Is Actually Liu Ling!

"Strange... these people actually got promoted to a Rank 4 mercenary group?" A Rank 5 mercenary group leader with Dou Wang strength looked at Xiao Yan and his group with astonishment.

"It really is strange... If you ask me, this kind of mercenary group probably took on a bunch of low-profit missions, recruiting tons of people to do those Rank 2 tasks!"

"With how few points those Rank 2 missions give, how many would you have to complete to reach Rank 4?!"

After that Dou Wang leader spoke, several others began mocking Xiao Yan, Xiao Yu, and their group. What they didn’t know was that the very mercenary group they were belittling had only been formed less than two months ago—and had ranked up so quickly precisely because they took on missions above their level.

Along the way, the most powerful six-man team Xiao Yan had seen consisted entirely of Dou Sect and Dou Emperor experts. Their leader was a middle-aged man in a yellow robe, whose cultivation had reached the level of a one-star Dou Sect.

The five behind him were even more astonishing. The strongest among them was an eight-star Dou Emperor, and even the weakest was a three-star Dou Emperor.

"That team must belong to the highest-ranking mercenary group by points," Xiao Yan thought to himself. If such a group had existed in the Jia Ma Empire four or five years ago, they could have crushed the royal family and even the Misty Cloud Sect.

And yet now, they willingly registered as mercenaries at the guild!

As a student of Jia Nan Academy who had experienced the affairs of the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan had seen his fair share of the world. To him, a Dou Sect expert only warranted a slightly longer glance.

But for the majority of mercenaries present, seeing a Dou Sect powerhouse was incredibly exciting.

Even Xiao Yu and the others were visibly awed. Though Jia Nan Academy did have Dou Sect experts, they were rarely seen due to their high status. The ones here at the mercenary guild, however, were right in front of them—so the feeling was entirely different.

Xiao Yan’s Zhui Meng Mercenary Group, after reaching Rank 4, wasn't even at the bottom of the top fifty list. Behind them were still around eleven or twelve Rank 3 groups.

As they went deeper into the Mercenary Guild, the structure before them wasn’t some grandiose palace—it was actually rather plain.

After walking several miles, they arrived at a structure resembling a military barracks, surrounded by a perimeter of massive stone walls.

At that moment, the elder from the Mercenary Guild leading the way—who had seven-star Dou Emperor strength—suddenly stopped and shouted to the 282 mercenaries behind him, "Elite members of the guild, the venue for the assembly is just ahead. Please enter and take your seats!"

Originally, this meeting was to include fifty mercenary teams—exactly 300 people. But three eligible groups couldn’t make it back from missions in time, so eighteen seats were left empty.

Led by the elder, Xiao Yan and the others quickly entered the large circular structure.

The interior was also simple, furnished only with many stone seats. Opposite the entrance stood a circular elevated platform.

Xiao Yan, accompanied by Xiao Yu and the others, found seats near the center and sat in a row.

"Xiao Yanzi, this Mercenary Guild really hides its strength. The number of Dou Sect experts here is more than just a few—easily over ten! It’s not inferior to Jia Nan Academy. I wonder if they also have hidden experts like the Academy does."

Just as Xiao Yan sat down, an aged voice sounded in his mind.

"More than five Dou Sect experts!"

Hearing Yao Lao’s words, Xiao Yan was visibly shocked.

Among the top fifty mercenary groups, there was generally only one Dou Sect powerhouse per group, yet within the Mercenary Guild itself, there were so many!

"Teacher, who is the strongest person in the guild? What level of Dou Sect are they?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"His exact cultivation level isn’t clear to me," Yao Lao analyzed, "but judging by his aura, he should be at the level of a five-star or six-star Dou Ancestor."

"What? That kind of strength is even greater than Elder Su Qian!" Xiao Yan was even more shocked upon hearing Yao Lao’s words.

Just then, Yao Lao continued, "He’s already walking this way!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan instinctively raised his head and looked toward the elevated platform.

Under his gaze, a tall, white-robed young man slowly stepped onto the platform, appearing before everyone’s eyes.

"That’s... Liu Ling!"

The moment he saw the upright figure, Xiao Yan’s expression changed, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Could it be... Liu Ling is the mysterious president of the Mercenary Guild?" Xiao Yan thought in suspicion.

As Liu Ling stepped onto the platform, three Dou Ancestor elders from the Mercenary Guild followed closely behind him, all showing great respect.

From the attitude of those three Dou Ancestor powerhouses, Xiao Yan finally confirmed Liu Ling’s identity.

"This is just too unbelievable!" Xiao Yan exclaimed inwardly.

Back at the Alchemist Gathering in the Jia Ma Empire about two years ago, Xiao Yan had interacted with Liu Ling. At that time, he only knew Liu Ling’s alchemy skills were incredibly high—able to refine high-grade Tier 5 pills. But Liu Ling’s cultivation hadn’t stood out then. During the Misty Cloud Sect incident, the one who attracted all the attention was Liu Ling’s junior sister, the Little Doctor Fairy.

"No wonder… Why didn’t I think of it back then? That poisonous girl was already a Dou Ancestor expert, and Liu Ling as her senior must have been even stronger!" Xiao Yan forcefully gave himself a logical explanation.

"I can’t believe I misjudged him back then… But then again, a pharmacist who can refine so many types of medicinal ingredients simultaneously—how could his cultivation possibly be weak?" Yao Lao also sighed.

Over the past two years, through dedicated cultivation at Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan had let go of much of what happened in the past. But occasionally, he still recalled moments with Nalan Yanran.

Back then, he was outmatched and had planned to concede. But Yao Lao, in his urgency, had made a new three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran—leaving Xiao Yan in an awkward position.

Nalan Yanran already had Dou King strength at the time. Two years later, she would only have grown stronger. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan had only broken through to the Dou Spirit realm seven or eight months ago.

Thinking of all this, a faint bitter smile appeared on Xiao Yan’s face.

(End of chapter)

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