Batian Martial Soul

The drunkard reacted extremely quickly, his two fingers together forming a precise blade that clamped down on the tip of Lingxiao's sword.

In an instant, the energy surged outwards, and the surrounding air seemed to be distorted by this force. His sleeves moved without wind, fluttering loudly, like a flag waving in a gale.

"Lingxiao?"

The man's voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded, yet within that hoarseness lay a faint, resonant sound, like metal striking stone, revealing an indescribable hardness and stubbornness.

He slowly straightened up, his movements somewhat sluggish, yet exuding an aura that should not be underestimated.

Once he had completely stood still, everyone was surprised to find that he was actually half a head taller than Ling Xiao, standing like a majestic mountain in front of them, giving them a strong sense of oppression.

Seeing this, Shangguan Yue quickly stepped forward, her expression solemn, her eyes revealing an undeniable authority, and said loudly, "Zuiying, how dare you be so rude!"

"This is the current ruler of the Demon Sea."

She deliberately emphasized the words "Lord of the Demon Sea," trying to make Zuiying understand the noble status of the person in front of her.

Upon hearing this, the man named Drunken Shadow curled his lips into a disdainful sneer.

He slowly released his two fingers that were gripping the tip of the sword, his movements casual and relaxed.

Then, he gently patted the dust off his clothes, which rose in a wisp of smoke under the sunlight.

His gaze was arrogant, like that of a proud eagle sweeping down over Lingxiao, and he coldly said, "Lord of the Demon Sea?"

"Him??"

"In this life, I, Drunken Shadow, will only recognize two masters—the Demon King and the Monster King."

Who does he think he is!

"He's just a greenhorn."

"you!"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yue's delicate brows furrowed instantly, resembling two sharp sword blades, and a hint of anger flashed in her eyes.

Her delicate hand rested on the hilt of her sword at her waist, her fingers exerting slight force, her knuckles turning white from the pressure, as if she might draw her sword at any moment.

"How dare you be so disrespectful to the Emperor?"

"Now that the Demon Sea has been merged into the Overlord Empire, the Emperor is our common ruler!"

How dare you be so insolent!

Drunkard ignored this and remained nonchalant.

He slowly bent down and picked up another wine jar, which seemed as light as a feather in his hands.

He tilted his head back and took a swig of wine, which flowed freely down his chin, soaking his tattered clothes and leaving a dark stain on them.

He wiped his mouth and said nonchalantly, "When I followed the Demon King to conquer the Demon Realm, this kid was still in his mother's womb."

"Now you want to be our masters?"

"Don't you even consider whether you have the ability?"

Upon seeing this, Ling Xiao remained calm and composed, showing no anger or agitation whatsoever.

He slowly raised his hand, making a gesture of cessation. The movement was elegant and composed, instantly silencing Shangguan Yue, who was about to argue.

He calmly looked at Zuiying, his eyes deep and steady, as if containing boundless wisdom and power, and slowly said, "In the Beast Army, all the generals are recorded in the roster, isn't that right?"

Shangguan Yue paused, seemingly surprised that Ling Xiao would suddenly ask this question, but she quickly realized what he meant, nodded, and affirmed, "The roster does indeed contain all the information; every general's information is extremely detailed, with absolutely no omissions."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly, then pointed at Zuiying. His voice, though not loud, was clear and resonant, echoing in the air like the sound of bells and chimes: "Effective immediately, remove Zuiying from the roster of the Giant Beast Army."

"The Beast Army is the elite force of my Overlord Empire; we will not tolerate such disrespectful and unjust individuals."

Shangguan Yue's originally fair and jade-like face changed slightly in an instant, and a trace of panic rippled across her face.

She subconsciously took half a step forward, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry, wanting to dissuade Ling Xiao: "Your Majesty, this matter requires careful consideration."

"General Drunken Shadow once dominated the battlefield of the Demon Sea, achieving remarkable feats, which were earned with the blood of countless enemies and his own life."

"If we simply remove him from the roster of the Giant Beast Army, it will likely discourage many soldiers."

"Furthermore, General Drunken Shadow is of a fiery temperament. If he truly harbors resentment over this matter, it could cause many unnecessary troubles in the future."

"Is it you who decides, or me?"

Ling Xiao remained calm, his gaze as still as a deep pool, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority, as he gently interrupted Shangguan Yue.

The sound wasn't loud, but it struck Shangguan Yue's heart like a heavy hammer.

Although the words were spoken softly, they sent a chill down Shangguan Yue's spine, as if a coldness had shot up from the soles of her feet and spread throughout her body in an instant.

She suddenly remembered the elder in the council hall three months ago who had his cultivation stripped for questioning Ling Xiao's decision.

The elder was full of resentment, but Ling Xiao simply waved his hand, and the elder instantly collapsed to the ground, losing all his cultivation and looking utterly pathetic.

Thinking of this, Shangguan Yue felt a chill run down her spine, and cold sweat instantly soaked through her clothes.

She quickly bowed, her head almost touching the ground, and said in a trembling voice, "This subordinate knows her mistake. This subordinate has spoken too much. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me."

"Execute the command."

Ling Xiao's expression was cold and stern. He didn't say another word and turned to leave.

His robes fluttered wildly in the wind, like a black roc spreading its wings, exuding an indescribable elegance and domineering aura.

Just as he turned around, the silent Drunkard suddenly appeared, like a ghost, blocking Ling Xiao's path.

His eyes were bloodshot, as if burning with two balls of angry flames. His aura surged, like a volcano about to erupt. The surrounding sand and stones were stirred by this powerful aura, moving without wind and scattering into the air.

"Remove me from the list?"

Drunkard laughed in fury, his smile filled with mockery and disdain. His fingers were slightly white from the force he exerted, and his knuckles even turned bluish.

"When I fought alongside the Demon King in the sea of ​​demons, you were still nursing somewhere!"

"You think you're worthy to remove me from the Beast Army?"

"You don't even know your own limitations!"

Before he could finish speaking, Ling Xiao had already made his move.

His movements were so fast that no one had time to see them clearly.

A flash of cold light appeared, the sword was faster than usual, and the air seemed to be torn apart where the blade passed, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

In his haste, Drunken Shadow raised his arm to defend himself. A dark golden light shone from his arm armor, a protective armor specially made by the Beast Army, which was said to be able to withstand attacks from ordinary weapons.

However, before Ling Xiao's sharp sword strike, the dark golden light dimmed instantly.

A flash of sword light, and the arm armor shattered instantly, the fragments falling like snowflakes.

An arm, spraying blood, flew up, drawing a blinding arc in the air. Blood rained down on the ground, staining the surrounding sand and stones red.

The drunken figure staggered backward several steps, each step leaving a deep footprint in the yellow sand, as if a manifestation of the shock he felt at that moment. (End of Chapter)