Soul Emperor Martial God

Southwind County, Flame Martial Guard stronghold.

Council Hall within.

Three True Commanders sat indifferently, facing them, a young man with an icy expression.

The vast Council Hall contained only these four individuals.

The atmosphere was eerily silent, even oppressive.

After a long pause, the young man was the first to speak, "Doesn't Commander Yee think it's time to give me an explanation?"

The young man was indeed Xiao Yi.

"What explanation do you want? And why should I explain anything to you?" Yee Xiu spoke dismissively.

"Since when do the rules of the Flame Martial Guards dictate that superiors have to report to their subordinates?"

Yee Xiu glanced at Xiao Yi with a trace of disdain on his face.

Xiao Yi gave a cold smile, pulled out the Flame Martial Guard Token from his chest, and placed it indifferently on the table.

"I can quit being a Flame Martial Guard."

"But there are some things I must understand clearly."

"What don't you understand? And what exactly do you need to understand?" Yee Xiu still had a face of arrogance.

Xiao Yi spoke coldly, "Why release people from the Flame Holy Sect? Why not capture a single one?"

Yee Xiu retorted, "Why not release them, why capture them?"

Xiao Yi's expression turned frosty, "They abducted civilians en masse, detained squads of Flame Martial Guards, Demon Hunting Hall Law Enforcement Teams, tens of thousands of elite martial artists."

"They incited a beast tide, causing trouble in one region and countless human martial artists to die or be injured."

"They attacked the Prince Mansion, intending to rebel, leading to heavy casualties in the Prince Mansion; now, the Flame County Prince is comatose and unresponsive."

"Which of these crimes is not enough to capture them?"

By the end, Xiao Yi's voice was utterly icy.

Yee Xiu narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "The Flame Holy Sect is a Martial Arts Holy Land revered in the ten southern counties."

"If we were to capture all of them, or even jail and execute them."

"Do you want the martial artists of these ten counties to rebel en masse, causing upheaval everywhere?"

"Now, tens of thousands of martial artists have been rescued by you, and casualties have been minimized."

"The entire Flame Holy Sect has been destroyed by you, with countless disciples killed or wounded."

"That is their greatest punishment and the best outcome."

"Ridiculous," Xiao Yi snapped coldly. "If a mere Flame Holy Sect could cause the martial artists of ten counties to rebel and create chaos."

"Would they need so much effort and planning to stage a rebellion in Flame County?"

"For more than a decade, the reputation of the Flame Holy Sect has been tainted."

"Aside from their own remaining strong martial force, who else admires them?"

"Who else regards them as a Martial Arts Holy Land?"

"And as for saving everyone…"

Here, Xiao Yi scoffed coldly.

"You three commanders rushed here just to save Lin Jin, right?"

"If Lin Jin weren't among those tens of thousands of martial artists, I doubt it would have disturbed the three of you enough to come together."

Xiao Yi naturally had no objections to them saving Lin Jin.

But, he had to clear things up.

"You came and saw that I had already rescued everyone, so you put on a show, tied up people from the Flame Holy Sect."

"After I left, you let them go."

"Commander Yee might as well tell me straight that they have someone backing them up."

"You can't touch them, that reasoning seems much better."

At this point, Xiao Yi's tone carried a hint of mockery and even sarcasm.

Yee Xiu's arrogant visage briefly twisted into an ugly expression.

Seeing this, one of the True Commanders tried to interject, "Northern Mountain Sword Master, don't be agitated, everything…"

"Hmph," this commander didn't finish his sentence.

Another commander coldly rebuked, "Xiao Yi, what is this attitude?"

"I'm telling you, releasing the people from the Flame Holy Sect was the Great Commander's intention."

"Are you questioning the Great Commander with your inquiries, harboring resentment in your heart?"

"Don't think that just because you're the Strongest Sword Master, you can be so bold and disrespectful."

"Without the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, you are nothing."

Yee Xiu, as well as the commander who had just tried to mediate, frowned upon hearing this.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi's expression grew even colder, "You must be Commander Wan Jianyi, right?"

Indeed, the other commander who had spoken was Wan Jianyi, also an elder of the sect.

"Correct," Wan Jianyi asserted proudly, tilting his head up as he spoke.

"Not to mention you have no right to question this matter."

"And speaking of before, when I sent people to deliver orders to you, why did you deliberately refuse to accept the orders?"

"Why patrol the counties specifically to avoid my orders?"

"Hmph, not even having the courage to face the matter, you, the Strongest Sword Master, truly bring shame to our sect."

"If you tarnish the sect's reputation one day, I won't let you off easily."

Wan Jianyi sounded severe, but in reality, he was just trying to harass Xiao Yi deliberately.

Xiao Yi laughed coldly, "What is avoiding? What is deliberately refusing the orders?"

"If Commander Wan wishes to demote me and relieve me of my captaincy, just send the orders."

"The condition is, you have the ability to make me accept them."

"Whether those Deputy Commanders under you carry out the orders or you, Commander Wan, take charge yourself,"

"I shall accept them all, bring it on."

Within the Flame Martial Guards, power and strength are also highly revered.

If one wishes to demote someone of a lower position, they must possess the strength to compel the surrender of the Token.

Combining the Token with a command creates a record, without which the order cannot take effect.

In plain terms, if Xiao Yi does not wish to hand over the Token, they can only enforce it through brute force, defeating Xiao Yi and forcibly seizing it.

Xiao Yi's intentions, however, were abundantly clear now.

If they wanted him to accept the command, they could go ahead.

Be it Wan Jianyi or any Deputy Commander, let them make their move.

"Audacious!" Wan Jianyi suddenly slapped the table and stood up, his complexion burning with rage.

"Xiao Yi, do you dare to speak to me with such a tone?"

"Within the Flame Martial Guards, I am your superior."

"In the Sect, I am your elder."

"Showing such disrespect for your superiors, such irreverence for your elders; at such a young age, you regard no one in your eyes."

"If this continues unchecked, without a lesson, who knows what kind of a scourge you will become."

"Today, I hereby declare, Xiao Yi, you are demoted to be a squad leader, no, an ordinary team member."

Having said that, Wan Jianyi was about to take action.

"Bring it on," Xiao Yi coldly shouted.

Although Wan Jianyi was also at the Mid-stage of Heavenly Origin, he was but at the Fourth Layer.

Xiao Yi was not afraid of him.

Among the three True Commanders who had come this time, aside from Yee Xiu, who was the Chief Commander at the Sixth Layer of Heavenly Origin,

the other two were only at the Fourth Layer.

Just as the two were about to take action, a cold shout stopped them.

"Stop." Yee Xiu said icily.

"Commander Wan, please take your seat; Northern Mountain Sword Master, withdraw your Primordial Power."

"Hmph." Wan Jianyi huffed and angrily sat down.

Xiao Yi made no move.

Yee Xiu, with a proud look on his face, turned to Xiao Yi and said, "Indeed, it was the Great Commander's decision not to capture the people of the Flame Holy Sect."

"However, this does not mean that we, the Flame Martial Guards, will condone nepotism and let them off lightly."

"The Flame Holy Sect shall not take in disciples for ten years."

"No one, from elders to disciples, may set foot beyond a radius of five hundred miles."

"They can only go as far as Flame City."

"Additionally, the Flame Martial Guards may proceed as usual to the outposts in the two neighboring counties of Flame County to execute missions and monitor the Flame Holy Sect."

"If the Flame Holy Sect remains obstinate, what they will be given next time will not be Element Locking Chains."

"Instead, it will be the executioner's blade of the Flame Martial Guards."

Towards the end, Yee Xiu's voice carried a chilling murderous intent.

"As for you, Northern Mountain Sword Master,"

"Your actions in rescuing personnel were meritorious, and you have completed sufficient missions patrolling various counties in the past two months."

"Your achievements are indeed sufficient for promotion to Deputy Commander."

"We will handle the formalities for you; starting from today, you can proceed to any outpost to assume the post of Deputy Commander."

"This too is the Great Commander's decision."

"Hm?" Xiao Yi frowned.

"Stop questioning," Yee Xiu said arrogantly, "The matter of the Flame Holy Sect is for the Great Commander to decide alone."

"Neither you nor I have the right to query further."

"Go."

The Great Commander of the Flame Martial Guards, the former Family Head of the Lin Family, is a true Peak Martial Artist who stands at the pinnacle of the Flame Martial Kingdom.

One who could be called a good friend by Elder Duan Yun, sharing a deep friendship.

One who the King greatly trusts and has appointed as the Great Commander to inspect the 36 counties.

He is no ordinary person.

Since it was his decision, Xiao Yi did not say anything more.

Of course, at this point, he could not say anything more or change anything either.

Xiao Yi bowed his hands in salute and turned to leave.

The vast Council Hall was left only with the three True Commanders.

Wan Jianyi, consumed with anger, said, "Commander Yee, you just let him off lightly after he was so unappreciative?"

"Shut up," Yee Xiu shouted coldly.

"Commander Wan, keep your scheming to yourself, and don't take me for a fool,"

"Although you are a loose elder of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect and a confidant of the Sect Master, you now serve as the Commander of the Flame Martial Guards."

"Remember this, the Flame Martial Guards are the King's Flame Martial Guards."

"What should be done and what should not be done, you know very well."

"If you do not wish to serve, you are free to leave; but do not bring the commands, suppression, and strife of your Sect into the Flame Martial Guards again."

"This is a warning from the Great Commander to you."

Wan Jianyi's expression was ugly, and through gritted teeth, he said, "I will follow the Great Commander's orders."

...

The second update.