Chapter 793: Humbling Oneself

"It seems Cobalt Blue is nothing but a self-serving scoundrel! To save his own life and secure his future, he shamelessly abandoned his role as Alliance Leader and decisively betrayed his allies. Such a person is utterly unreliable."

The Five Heavenly Kings all shared this sentiment. After all, Cobalt Blue was fundamentally different from the honorable heroes in Xu Yang's team; they simply weren't the same type of person. How could Xu Yang genuinely consider taking such a man into his service?

After the internal slaughter concluded, Cobalt Blue, the Prefect of Anping Commandery, showed clear self-awareness. He immediately dropped his weapons, removed his armor, and knelt. From the center of the fiery array, he crawled inch by inch towards Xu Yang, then repeatedly kowtowed three times.

"My Lord above, please accept Cobalt Blue's profound homage!"

"Hmph, brothers, look! This esteemed Alliance Leader looks just like a dog at the Sect Master's feet!" The Shadow Master couldn't help but mock him. Immediately, Brother Lang Xian, Old Tan, and the others around him joined in the taunts. Ling Wu, the young woman, also chuckled, covering her mouth with a look of disdain.

"This spineless wretch is truly unmanly. Sect Master, may I have an opportunity to show what I can do?"

Ling Wu's sudden remark caught Xu Yang's attention. This young woman usually didn't seek the limelight among the Five Heavenly Kings, often playing a supportive role, but she suddenly seemed to be intrigued. With graceful movements, she approached Xu Yang.

"Have you come up with another mischievous idea, girl? Do you intend to punish this Anping Army leader yourself?"

Ling Wu smiled sweetly, "To be honest, Sect Master, I happen to be in need of a personal servant. Now that even the esteemed Alliance Leader has prostrated himself at your feet, and since he so sincerely wishes to be your loyal follower, why not bestow his lowly life upon me? I could certainly make good use of this grand Alliance Leader and make him understand his place!"

As expected, Ling Wu's suggestion immediately piqued the interest of the Five Heavenly Kings and the others, who clamored for Xu Yang to grant her request. Little did they know, Xu Yang had already been struggling with how to handle the Anping Army leader.

After all, Xu Yang had just declared that if the leader agreed to his terms, he would spare his life. However, everyone recognized that this Anping Army leader was exceptionally cunning and resilient. If he were simply released, given his status, he would likely spread damaging information about Changle Commandery and Third Master Yun to other allied forces, thereby posing a deadly threat to the Sacred Flame Sect. Therefore, allowing him to return was out of the question. Yet, killing him outright in front of tens of thousands of alliance soldiers would place Xu Yang in the awkward position of breaking his word.

Thus, Ling Wu's opportune request solved the immediate problem perfectly. It would keep the Anping Commandery leader close, preventing him from becoming a future threat, while also providing Xu Yang with a graceful exit from his predicament.

"Hahahaha, I once stated that any brother willing to follow me, Xu Yang, would share both prosperity and adversity. Ling Wu has been with me for a while now and has never made any requests. Since you have this desire, I will grant it. From this moment forward, Cobalt Blue, the Head of the Enforcement Hall of Anping Commandery, will be the servant of my Sacred Flame Sect's Northern Heavenly King. You will only be permitted to return to Anping Commandery when Ling Wu decides to release you. If I ever discover you defying her orders or harboring any malicious intentions, I will make you understand the true meaning of despair."

As soon as Xu Yang finished speaking, in front of tens of thousands of alliance soldiers, he tapped Cobalt Blue's forehead, completely destroying all of his cultivation base, effectively turning him into a cripple. To the soldiers, however, this appeared merely as Xu Yang temporarily sealing Cobalt Blue's powers; Cobalt Blue himself remained unaware that he was now utterly incapacitated.

"Hehehe, thank you, Sect Master, for granting my wish. Now I'll see if this little servant truly submits to me willingly or if he's merely capitulating out of fear of your esteemed authority."

Ling Wu, it must be said, was full of mischievous ideas. She immediately had her subordinates bring a horse, then softly addressed Cobalt Blue, who remained kneeling before her. "Oh dear, I'm not tall enough, and I've forgotten my mounting block. What ever shall I do?"

At that moment, Cobalt Blue, prostrate on the ground, felt his heart nearly burst, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood. He had never dreamed that by choosing to submit to Xu Yang, he would lose even his dignity as a man!

Undoubtedly, he knew Ling Wu intended to humiliate him publicly. Yet, Cobalt Blue had no other choice. If he dared to defy the Northern Heavenly King's command in front of everyone, Ling Wu would seize the opportunity to eliminate him on the spot, thus eradicating a major threat. But if he abased himself according to Ling Wu's orders, the name Cobalt Blue would become the greatest joke in the entire alliance, and he would never be able to hold his head high again.

Trembling, Cobalt Blue crawled step by step towards Ling Wu and said with a shaking voice, "My Lord, please mount!"

"Hahahaha, Alliance soldiers, you've all seen it, haven't you? This is your exalted leader, now serving as a mere mounting block for our Northern Heavenly King! Do any of you still harbor thoughts of resistance?"

"Brother Old Tan is right. Even your leader is only fit to be our humble servant. If any of you ordinary soldiers still consider rebelling, you will meet a fate where not even your bones will remain."

Seeing the opportune moment, Xu Yang no longer hesitated. He instantly soared into the air and once again unleashed an incredibly powerful spiritual pressure, which immediately enveloped the tens of thousands of alliance soldiers within the vast Nether Town.

Upon feeling Xu Yang's commanding presence, everyone instinctively trembled, then dropped their weapons and knelt, begging for mercy.

"Listen closely: this is your last chance. Lay down your weapons and surrender to me now. Not only will I spare your lives, but as the new leader of the Alliance Army, I will also lead you to conquer a larger stage! Of course, you may choose to resist, but as my comrades have said, those who resist will meet an even worse end than this one!"

With Cobalt Blue's abject example serving as a stark warning, the soldiers no longer hesitated, and their last line of defense completely crumbled.

"Forget it, if even our esteemed leader is only fit to be a servant to the Sacred Flame Sect's Heavenly Kings, what right do we have to be arrogant in their presence? I choose to surrender!"

"Lord Ayang's cultivation is peerless, and his righteousness is boundless. He will surely lead our entire alliance to new glory. I choose to surrender and apply to join the Sacred Flame Sect!"