Urban Undying Lord
Chapter 249 - 249 248 Testing the Waters

249: Chapter 248: Testing the Waters 249: Chapter 248: Testing the Waters “However, upon receiving the Emperor Jade Decree yesterday, his apprehension towards Ye Xuan completely vanished, and instead, he sought to establish his own authority today as Star Lord Mu Yao.”

“Three Immortal Officials should have been present, but why has Ye Xuan not come?” As Star Lord Mu Yao’s voice boomed like a great bell, the one hundred thousand members of the Heavenly River Water Army fell silent.

“Star Lord, please do not be angry.

I have already sent someone to summon him; surely he is on his way here,” one Immortal Official said with a flattering smile and a bow.

“Hmph!”

Star Lord Mu Yao coldly snorted and said, “This Ye Xuan fancies himself to be of profound cultivation and has some merits in slaying Yuan Mo, but he has become arrogant in his achievements, which is utterly outrageous.”

As the words of Star Lord Mu Yao fell, the other eight Star Lords looked startled, wondering what had gotten into Star Lord Mu Yao today to target Ye Xuan like this.

Did he not know that the man was a Taiyin Mystic Immortal, personally conferred by the Jade Emperor as a True Monarch for vanquishing demons and being esteemed as a Daoist by the Heavenly Venerate of the Southern Eternity?

How could Star Lord Mu Yao be so brazen to utter such words?

Just as everyone was puzzled and confused, a streak of Immortal Light crossed the sky.

Ye Xuan arrived riding on clouds, rendering the one hundred thousand Heavenly River Water Army and the nine Star Lords silent.

“This humble official has recently entered Heaven to take up an Immortal Position and was unaware of the military exercise.

Please forgive my oversight, fellow Daoists,” Ye Xuan said with a bow and a smile full of apology on his face.

In theory, even if Ye Xuan’s Immortal Position was minor, his cultivation was plain to see, and he had a decree personally granted by the Jade Emperor.

Who would bother him over such a trivial matter?

Yet today, for some unknown reason, Star Lord Mu Yao, facing Ye Xuan who was of a higher realm than himself, slammed his hand on the white jade table in front of him and pointed at Ye Xuan while scolding, “How dare you!

As one of the three Immortal Officials under my command, you have the audacity to refer to the Star Lords as fellow Daoists.

Today is the important event of the Heavenly River’s military muster, and you have failed to present yourself timely.

You have shown blatant disregard for me and the other Star Lords, committing the crime of insubordination.”

Star Lord Mu Yao suddenly flared up in anger, causing the other eight Star Lords to narrow their eyes in concentration.

They knew well that Star Lord Mu Yao would not have such courage without someone backing him, which explained this scene.

The waters of Heaven are deep, and the eight Star Lords remained silent, seated and observing quietly.

After all, Ye Xuan was not their subordinate, and they were curious to see what Star Lord Mu Yao intended to do.

At this moment!

Ye Xuan wore a smile, showing no sign of irritation.

He bowed to Star Lord Mu Yao and said, “This subordinate acknowledges his fault.

May I ask what punishment the Star Lord deems appropriate for me?”

“Hmph!”

Seeing Ye Xuan’s submissive posture, Star Lord Mu Yao felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, fearing that Ye Xuan would resist his authority and cause him to lose face completely.

But now, it seemed that although the man had profound cultivation, he was in fact just a coward.

This made Star Lord Mu Yao smirk contemptuously and arrogantly say, “Ye Xuan, for your insubordination, you are punished with a three-year suspension of your Spirit Stone supply.

Take your three thousand Water Army troops and train day and night in the Heavenly River until the three years are complete.”

A blatant show of power, a naked intimidation.

As the eight Star Lords and the one hundred thousand Heavenly River Water Army wondered whether Ye Xuan would explode in rage, the next scene made them all look at Ye Xuan with disdain.

“This subordinate accepts the punishment,” Ye Xuan said with a bow, showing no sign of anger.

“Tsk, I thought the True Monarch of Manifesting Saintliness in Demon Subjugation was an extraordinary figure capable of suppressing Yuan Mo.

It turns out he is nothing special after all.”

“What do you know, no matter how strong Ye True Monarch’s cultivation is, he must adhere to the laws of Heaven.

That Star Lord Mu Yao is his direct superior; how could he dare to be too presumptuous!”

“If you ask me, he’s just a coward, not only has he faced punishment himself, but he even dragged his three thousand Water Army into it.

Just wait and watch the fun,” someone said among the hundred thousand Water Army members, their voices filled with gossip.

Although their murmurs were subtle, none of the nine great Heavenly Generals present was deaf and naturally heard every word.

At this moment, the eight other Heavenly Generals could only shake their heads in resignation, seeing clearly that some higher power was using the Wood Bright Heavenly General to target Ye Xuan.

They dared not get involved in these matters and, without even greeting Ye Xuan, dispersed their Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, mounting their auspicious clouds and departing from the Heavenly River.

“Ye Xuan, in three years, this Heavenly General will come to inspect the cultivation of your subordinates.

If they haven’t made the slightest progress, do not blame this Heavenly General for not considering our fellow comradeship,” Wood Bright Heavenly General declared pompously, reprimanding Ye Xuan, and then, with a face full of self-satisfaction, he rode his auspicious cloud away into the distance.

At this moment!

The hundred thousand Heavenly River Water Army dispersed, leaving three thousand Water Army soldiers standing amidst the surging waves of the river.

Their eyes, however, when looking towards Ye Xuan, were filled with a multitude of complex emotions.

Contempt, resentment, disdain, along with confusion…

Originally, the three thousand Heavenly River Water Army held great respect for Ye Xuan, for he was a Taiyin Mystic Immortal with lofty cultivation, and had personally slain the Yuan Mo that caused chaos across the Three Realms.

To be under Ye Xuan, an Immortal Official, was a great honor for them, but the scene they witnessed today had left them utterly disappointed.

Ye Xuan observed the expressions of the three thousand Water Army soldiers, understanding well what was on their minds, yet he did not care.

Because Ye Xuan knew that these three thousand soldiers before him were his foundation within the Heavenly Court; with them as his basis, he planned to make all beings across the Three Realms recognize the name of Ye Xuan.

“I don’t care what you think of me, but from today on, you are my soldiers.

I only require you to act according to my will.

Anyone who dares to defy me covertly or openly, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Ye Xuan stated calmly.

“Tsk, True Monarch Ye can only flex his official muscle on us, the Heavenly Soldiers,” one of them mocked under their breath.

“Indeed, how could we, mere immortals, dare to resist in the slightest?” another added sarcastically.

“Hmph, if you’ve got the guts, go take it up with Wood Bright Heavenly General; pressing down on us here is truly laughable,” someone else jeered.

The three thousand Heavenly River Water Army soldiers mocked and sneered, though softly, their collective voices caused some commotion, but Ye Xuan just smiled slightly and did not blame them.

After all, they were his foundation for now, and time would slowly prove everything.

Moreover, Ye Xuan knew that to win people over, one must win their hearts.

Even if he struck down a few clamorous individuals, it would only have a contrary effect.

To truly win the loyalty of the three thousand Water Army, he needed to establish genuine authority.

Watching Ye Xuan without any signs of anger, the three thousand Water Army became even more unrestrained in their mockery.

Meanwhile, Ye Xuan sat cross-legged in the void, silent and wordless until several days passed.

The Water Army, finding no amusement in this, had no choice but to start training within the Heavenly River.

Yet, none of them noticed that although Ye Xuan was sitting in the void, a gleam of Immortal Light radiated quietly from his brow, stealthily disappearing into the expanse of the void.

…

Wood Bright Heavenly General’s residence!

Although Wood Bright Heavenly General was one of the nine great Heavenly Generals, commanding ten thousand soldiers of the Heavenly River Water Army, within Heaven he was merely middle-ranking, not even possessing his own palace.