When Xiao Yunlong led everyone into the Black Profound Banner Lord's mansion, the Black Profound Banner Lord was seated at the head of the council hall, chatting and laughing with two guardian elders.
The Black Profound Banner Lord was a rugged man with a dark complexion. Although he knew Xiao Yunlong would come, he showed no fear and didn't even glance at the entering Xiao Yunlong, his demeanor one of extreme arrogance.
"Yang Guangxuan, how dare you not come and welcome His Highness the North King?" the hot-tempered Tu Fu roared.
Only then did Yang Guangxuan cast a glance at Xiao Yunlong, but he curled his lips and said, "North King? In the Northern Territory, I only recognize the Tiger King. As for others, I know none!"
"Presumptuous!" Tu Fu and the other three generals were furious and were about to make a move.
Xiao Yunlong waved his hand to stop them and took out his North King Token, saying, "Yang Guangxuan, do you not recognize this token either?"
Unexpectedly, Yang Guangxuan sneered, "I already said, in the Northern Territory, I only recognize the Tiger King. Do you think this piece of scrap metal can scare anyone?"
"Understood!" Xiao Yunlong nodded and stopped talking. He already knew that the Black Profound Banner Lord had likely been bought off by the Northeast Tiger with significant benefits.
Xiao Yunlong then turned to the two white-haired elders and asked, "Are you two the guardian powerhouses of my Northern Territory? What is your intention in appearing before the Black Profound Banner Lord today?"
One of the guardian elders said, "Your Excellency, it seems you are mistaken. We are not here in our capacity as guardian elders today, but at the behest of the Tiger King Yang Qingyun, specifically to protect the Black Profound Banner Lord!"
The other guardian elder snorted, "We two have some private connections with the Yang family of the Northeast. With us two present today, no one can touch Yang Guangxuan!"
Upon hearing their words, Yang Guangxuan couldn't help but smugly curl his lips, thinking, "So what if you are King Xiao Bei? If you dare to forcefully take my hundred thousand troops and poach my territory, you can forget about it!"
At this moment, the three generals and Tang Bowen and the others were roaring with anger, their fists clenched, ready to attack.
Xiao Yunlong remained calm, looking at the two white-haired elders and said, "Gentlemen, considering your contributions to the Northern Territory, I will give you one last chance. If you step aside now, I will let bygones be bygones!"
The two guardian elders chuckled, "The Tiger King had already instructed us before coming. No one is to touch the Black Profound Banner Lord today, or do not blame us for being impolite!"
"Stubborn and unyielding, do you really think I'm afraid of you?"
Xiao Yunlong let out a cold laugh, his divine kingdom power erupting within him. He stomped his foot and charged forward.
"Xiao Yunlong, even the old North King wouldn't dare do anything to us, let alone you brat, you're simply not..."
The two guardian elders sneered playfully, but the next moment, their smiles vanished.
Xiao Yunlong, like a storm, instantly reached them. His speed was so fast that the two guardian elders didn't even have time to react.
Suddenly, two violent crashing sounds echoed in the quiet hall!
Immediately after, the two guardian elders were sent flying back like kites with broken strings. After smashing two wooden pillars in the hall, they crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
With just two punches, the two guardian elders were heavily injured and fell to the ground, completely losing their combat effectiveness!
Although both guardian elders were strong cultivators in the Xiantian Kaiqiao realm, making them quite powerful in the Northern Territory camp, in Xiao Yunlong's eyes now, they were far from sufficient.
Of course, it was also because these two guardian elders were blindly arrogant and had not kept up with Xiao Yunlong's growth over the past year or so, nor his defeated opponents. They thought Xiao Yunlong was still at the small Martial King realm of the past.
"Considering you have guarded the Northern Territory for most of your lives, I will spare your lives for now. After today, get out of the Northern Territory completely, or face death!"
Xiao Yunlong looked down at them and coldly reprimanded.
In fact, with those two punches, Xiao Yunlong had already broken most of the meridians in their bodies. Even if they didn't die, their cultivation would have been greatly damaged and reduced.
The two white-haired elders dared not utter another word. They scrambled to their feet in a panicked and embarrassed manner, crawled out of the hall, and then fled like stray dogs.
Seeing this, the Black Profound Banner Lord Yang Guangxuan was completely stunned and slumped onto his chair, unable to move for a long time.
It wasn't until Xiao Yunlong's gaze fell upon him that Yang Guangxuan sprang up as if electrocuted. With a thud, he immediately knelt at Xiao Yunlong's feet.
"I was wrong, Your Highness the North King. I was blind just now, I failed to recognize your true stature. It was all the Northeast Tiger; he lured me with great benefits, which is why I betrayed you. Please be magnanimous and forgive... forgive my ignorance and foolishness just now!"
Yang Guangxuan said, kneeling on the ground with a runny nose and tears streaming down his face.
Xiao Yunlong shook his head and said, "No, you are not wrong. I am the one who is wrong. I even wanted the old North King to recommend you back then."
"No, no, Your Highness the North King, you are not wrong, I am wrong. I will hand over the Tiger Tally now and return the hundred thousand troops to you!"
As Yang Guangxuan spoke, he fumbled for the pure gold Tiger Tally and offered it with both hands.
Xiao Yunlong took it and said, "Remember this in your next life: some mistakes can never be forgiven. If you don't die, you will always be a hidden danger to the hundred thousand troops!"
Before his words fell, Xiao Yunlong used the Tiger Tally in his hand to instantly slash across Yang Guangxuan's neck. The latter then slowly fell, collapsing in his own pool of blood.
"Zhuge Wushuang, Tu Fu, take the Tiger Tally and go to the military camp to take control of the hundred thousand troops. Tang Bowen, Pan Chaofeng, the two of you also go. If any generals disobey orders, kill them without mercy, no need to report to me!"
"I give you half a day to bring the army to Pingcheng on the western front. I will be waiting for you there!" Xiao Yunlong issued the order directly.
"Yes, Master, we guarantee the mission will be completed!" Zhuge Wushuang quickly took the tossed Tiger Tally.
"Vermillion Bird, receive this order. You will immediately return and lead the twenty thousand Dragon Blood Guards to Pingcheng!" Xiao Yunlong then commanded Nangong Qingzhu.
"Yes, Master!" Although Nangong Qingzhu was a woman and occasionally threw tantrums, she acted decisively when it mattered.
"Yunlong, I have a request. May I go with Vermillion Bird?"
Liu Ruyan suddenly spoke. In fact, she knew very well that if she kept following Yunlong, although she wouldn't have to worry about her own safety, she would never get any opportunities for training.
She was very grateful to Yunlong, but for Liu Ruyan, who had an equally strong personality, this was definitely not what she wanted. She didn't just want to be a beautiful vase; she also wanted to be useful and be able to help her fiancé at critical moments in the future.
Xiao Yunlong saw through Liu Ruyan's thoughts and, after a slight pause, said, "Alright. This is the Northern Territory, and with the current situation, those fellows in the Imperial Capital dare not make any moves. You can go with Vermillion Bird."
"Thank you, Your Highness the North King!" Liu Ruyan cupped her hands and playfully changed her address.
Xiao Yunlong smiled wryly, shook his head, waved his hand to signal them to act, and the group quickly left the Black Profound Banner Lord's mansion.
Getting into the car, Jun Bufan, who was driving, immediately asked, "Master, are we going to the Yellow Banner Lord's mansion next?"
Xiao Yunlong smiled and said, "You're getting smarter. Yes, we're going to Yellow City!"
"Naturally. After following Big Brother for so long, it would be too much if I hadn't made any progress," Jun Bufan chuckled.
Xiao Yunlong rubbed his forehead and muttered to himself, "The Yellow Banner is now in disarray after the old Banner Lord Chu Xiong passed away, leaving it leaderless. Dealing with it is more troublesome than the other two banners."
Jun Bufan wanted to say something but didn't know how to respond.
"Let's go!" Xiao Yunlong waved his hand.
The car then sped away from the Black Profound Banner Lord's mansion and headed towards the neighboring Yellow Banner territory.
An hour later, the car arrived in front of the Yellow Banner Lord's mansion.
However, to Xiao Yunlong's utter surprise, seven or eight people were standing stiffly in front of the mansion.
Leading them was a young man around twenty-five years old. This youth had sharp eyes, sword-like eyebrows, and an imposing demeanor, and the generals behind him also exuded extraordinary presence.
Xiao Yunlong recognized the young man who was leading them. He was Chu Tiange, the son of the former Yellow Banner Lord Chu Xiong!
As soon as Xiao Yunlong opened the car door and stepped out, Chu Tiange and the others immediately knelt on one knee and cupped their hands, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the North King! We welcome King Xiao Bei to the Yellow Banner Lord's mansion!"
Seeing this, even Xiao Yunlong was somewhat surprised, but he remained outwardly calm and waved his hand, saying, "No need for formalities, all rise!"
After speaking, Xiao Yunlong walked directly to Chu Tiange and smiled, saying, "It's been three years since we last met. I didn't expect you to have your father's demeanor. Well done!"
"Your Highness the North King flatters me. Compared to you, I am truly far behind!"
Chu Tiange then took out the Tiger Tally and said, "There is one matter for which I beg your forgiveness. Since my father's death, the Yellow Banner has fallen apart, and many generals have left. Currently, the Yellow Banner only has fifty thousand soldiers. From today onwards, we wish to return to your command and dispatch, Your Highness the North King!"
"Indeed, a worthy son of a worthy father. The current disarray of the Yellow Banner is not your fault, so what sin is there!"
As Xiao Yunlong spoke, he suddenly said with a serious expression, "Chu Tiange, heed my command. From today onwards, you are the acting Banner Lord of the Yellow Banner!"
Chu Tiange was stunned on the spot, momentarily at a loss.
"What, you're unwilling?" Xiao Yunlong asked with a smile.
Chu Tiange finally reacted and immediately knelt on one knee again, cupping his hands, "Thank you for your trust, Your Highness the North King. From now on, your subordinate will obey your every command!"
"My first command to you is to immediately take the remaining fifty thousand troops of the Yellow Banner to Pingcheng. Oh, and from now on, you can simply call me Master!"
Xiao Yunlong instructed.
"Yes, Master!" Chu Tiange was overjoyed, and the other generals present were also extremely pleased.
This was because they clearly understood that when His Highness the North King allowed their young Banner Lord to address him as Master, it meant that the North King considered him a trusted confidant, not just a subordinate.
"Bufan, let's go. We'll head to Pingcheng immediately!" Xiao Yunlong waved his hand and got into the car.