Chapter 929: Forming the Team

To give a simple example, a high-quality team with excellent synergy can even defeat Spirit Cultivators two levels stronger than themselves. This clearly demonstrates how crucial it is to have a powerful combat team.

“What you two need to do now is form a team and, with that as your base, make a name for yourselves in the Western Regions. This is your top priority.”

Xu Yang shrugged indifferently. “As you wish. Anyway, the Imperial Soul Combat Team is after you, not us. Since you’re not in a hurry, why should we be? We’re here to explore and make our mark, after all. Since you’re not in a rush to seek revenge against the Imperial Soul Combat Team, let’s find a place to settle down first and get properly established before doing anything else. Oh, by the way, can you transform into a human form? Otherwise, you’ll cause us a lot of trouble wherever you go in that form.”

The Sky-Swallowing Python shook its head helplessly. “Currently, I’m only at the peak of the Blue Rank. I haven’t broken through to the Purple Rank yet, so I can’t transform into a human form. Possessing human intelligence and language ability are two completely different realms from actually transforming into a human. However, while I can't transform into a human, I can take on the form of other beasts.”

With that, the great snake’s physical outline rapidly changed. Soon, it transformed into a small, purplish-black gorilla.

“Hahahaha!”

Xu Yang and Ling Yao exchanged a look. Upon seeing this, both couldn't help but burst into laughter. Because the great snake, having transformed into a small gorilla, bore a striking resemblance to that old fellow, Taishan. They looked just like father and son.

“If all goes well,” Xu Yang said, “we’ll introduce you to a new friend in a while. Perhaps you two are long-lost father and son.”

The great snake understood Xu Yang’s words were clearly teasing him. It put on a contemptuous expression.

“Even if it’s true, I’ll definitely be the one playing the father!”

The little gorilla primly crossed its arms over its chest. It was hard to imagine what expression this guy would have when he met Titan.

Under Xu Yang’s arrangement, the little gorilla, due to its limited mobility, could only ride on the Saber-toothed Tiger’s back. For this, the Saber-toothed Tiger grumbled to Xu Yang for a long time. After all, the Saber-toothed Tiger had always prided itself as the Beast Emperor of Yingzhou Continent, but now it was reduced to being a mount for the Sky-Swallowing Python. It felt like a powerful figure being humiliated by lesser ones.

Not long after, this peculiar group completely left the Great Spirit Beast Forest and truly entered the vast Sal City-State on the border of the Western Regions. Sal City-State belonged to the jurisdiction of the Demonic Dragon Combat Team and was a sworn enemy of the Imperial Soul Combat Team. Furthermore, Sal City was located right on the border between these two major powers. Therefore, Sal City held immense prestige among the two powers. It was also considered the most prosperous core fortress within the Demonic Dragon Combat Team's sphere of influence. After all, this place served as the gateway to the entire Demonic Dragon Combat Team, giving the entire city a unique and superior strategic importance.

Upon entering this city-state, Xu Yang and Ling Yao were slightly surprised. The city was full of exotic charm. Most of the people moving about in the city were Spirit Cultivators of considerable strength. They almost always traveled in groups with their combat team partners, so wherever they went, a few people would be gathered together. At least from this point, the Sky-Swallowing Python hadn't lied. Forming a combat team was indeed very necessary; it had practically become a hallmark of operating in the cultivation world of the Western Regions.

“Boss, a glass of lemonade, please. Thank you.”

Xu Yang and Ling Yao approached a street vendor, intending to rest their feet and inquire about some things. To their surprise, they were met with a disdainful glare from the plump proprietress.

“Sorry,” she said, “we only sell drinks to Spirit Cultivators here. We don’t sell to ordinary people.”

Xu Yang and Ling Yao exchanged a look after hearing this, their eyes filled with astonishment. “Seriously? Do you really discriminate against customers even when selling goods?”

The plump proprietress showed no fear, letting out a cold snort. “You two have no spiritual power whatsoever. You’re just ordinary people, and what’s more, you don’t even have a proper combat team. In a place like Sal City, you won’t get the respect you deserve. You should also know what Sal City signifies within the entire Demonic Dragon Combat Team’s sphere of influence. This is a military fortress where combat teams are frequently deployed for missions. Ordinary people simply cannot survive here. Because in this place, over ninety percent of the work involves undertaking missions, and your value is demonstrated through combat. Ordinary people like you have no place to display your abilities, so how can you expect respect?”

It must be said that while the plump woman’s reasoning was somewhat unfair, it had become a deep-seated consensus among those living in Sal City-State. Without sufficient strength, one would not receive due respect in this place.

Xu Yang let out a sneer. “Fine, if we can’t drink, we won’t. But you’d better remember our faces. Before long, you’ll be grateful and begging us to drink your beverages!”

As soon as Xu Yang finished speaking, he immediately stood up and left with Ling Yao. This experience further solidified their resolve to form a combat team.

“Boss,” Ling Yao said, “I never thought Sal City-State would be so interesting. It’s practically a city exclusively for Spirit Cultivators. It seems it won’t be difficult for us to form a team here; there should be plenty of excellent Spirit Cultivators around.”

Xu Yang, however, shook his head. “Truly excellent leaders have probably already been snatched up by other combat teams. If you and I want to form a team, we can only look for potential candidates who haven’t fully matured yet. This isn’t something that can be assembled overnight; everything still depends on fate and opportunity.”

“Heh heh, how about that? Feeling put out, are we?” the little gorilla said, sitting on the Saber-toothed Tiger's back, making mocking gestures and laughing for a long time, holding its stomach. “As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot overpower a local snake. No matter how formidable you two were elsewhere, if you come to the Western Regions without a team, nothing you do will work!”

But Xu Yang grabbed it by the scruff of its neck. “Little monkey,” he said. “It’s about time you made yourself useful. You had the audacity to mock us, didn’t you? So tell us, how can you help us form a complete combat team?”

The Titan Sky-Swallowing Python reluctantly conceded. For a character like Xu Yang, who preferred action over talking, it truly had no counter.

“If you want to form a combat team, naturally, you have to go to Sal City-State’s most famous Black Rose Bar.”

Everyone in the know understands that that place is absolutely a paradise for rogue cultivators. Whether you want to obtain information, accept a mission, or form any kind of combat team, as long as you pay a sufficient price, you are guaranteed to get the most satisfactory answer.