Chapter 537: Black Thunder Training Field, Three Thousand Dou Zong Soldiers
"Me, inherit the position of head of the lineage?"
When Mo Cangxuan's words fell, not only was Mo Yu himself surprised, but even the many high-ranking members of the Mo family in the hall showed expressions of disbelief.
Although the Mo family had declined significantly, to the point of being nearly expelled from the four great vassal families, it was still a powerful branch of the Lei Clan. The position of head of the family was certainly not something a young junior like Mo Yu should take on.
Unlike the role of Black Thunder Captain, the head of the Mo family held real authority within the Lei Clan, including the right to directly interact with the clan leader and manage family affairs. Such an important position seemed highly inappropriate for Mo Yu, who had just returned to the clan.
Even the two Semi-Saint elders of the Mo family, Mo Pan and Mo Xiao, narrowed their eyes in thought as they looked at Mo Yu.
If Mo Cangxuan were to pass away, one of them would surely inherit the position of family head. After all, with the gradual decline of the Mo family's strong members, only these two initial Semi-Saints were left.
However, the position of family head was now like a hot potato, given the precarious situation of the Mo family. Neither Mo Pan nor Mo Xiao had any confidence in restoring the family's former glory.
So, when they heard that Mo Cangxuan wanted to pass the position to Mo Yu, they were shocked but did not immediately object. They too were curious to see if Mo Yu would accept this difficult role.
Mo Yu, realizing what had been said, grew more serious.
Though he was interested in the position of family head, he understood that now was not the right time to take on such a responsibility.
"Thank you for the offer, but I have just returned to the Lei Clan and am not yet familiar with the clan or the affairs of the Mo family. Perhaps we can discuss this matter later," Mo Yu respectfully responded, clasping his hands to the elderly man.
Seeing that Mo Yu neither accepted nor outright refused, a subtle look flashed in Mo Cangxuan's old eyes, and he chuckled softly.
"Very well. I will keep the position of family head reserved for you. When the time is right, I will recommend to the clan leader that you succeed me as the head of the Mo family."
"It's rare for the family head to think so highly of the Black Thunder Captain," Mo Pan said with a smile, "but in five days, the Lei Clan's Captain Tournament will begin. It's a major event in our clan. Mo Yu, as the Captain of the Black Thunder Banner, I assume you haven't had a chance to get to know your subordinates yet. Perhaps Mo Tao and Mo Feng could take you to Black Thunder Peak later, where your banner is stationed. It would be a good idea to get familiar with your soldiers before the tournament."
Mo Yu paused for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
So far, he had only met a small squad from the Black Thunder Banner, led by Mang Dian. He hadn't met the entire force. Since he was now in the Lei Clan, it was time to meet his subordinates and win them over, letting them know who their leader was.
With this thought, Mo Yu bid farewell to Mo Cangxuan and the others and, with Mo Tao and Mo Feng leading the way, set out for the Black Thunder Banner's base.
Along the way, Mo Tao and Mo Feng explained more about the Lei Clan's Black Demon Army.
The Black Demon Army was relatively new, modeled after the Black Abyss Army of the ancient Gu Clan.
Although the Black Demon Army had not been around as long as the Black Abyss Army, the Lei Clan had a fierce martial culture, and everyone was fond of battle. As a result, the Black Demon Army was just as formidable.
The Black Demon Army was divided into eight banners, each with 3,000 soldiers, totaling 24,000. Only those who had reached the Dou Zong level could join the Black Demon Army.
"An army of 24,000 Dou Zong experts... The power of an ancient imperial clan truly is terrifying," Qing Lin and Xiao Yixian gasped in amazement.
In the northwest continent, a Dou Zong expert could dominate a region and even rule a nation. Yun Shan, the leader of the Yun Lan Sect, had spent twenty years in seclusion and even aligned himself with the Hall of Souls just to break through to Dou Zong.
Yet in the Lei Clan, Dou Zong experts were nothing more than foot soldiers in the Black Demon Army. The contrast left both women momentarily dazed.
However, Mo Yu remained calm.
The Lei Realm was essentially its own world, with countless inhabitants. Combined with the fact that they possessed Dou Di bloodlines, reaching Dou Zong wasn't particularly difficult for those with talent.
Thus, to the Lei Clan, an army of 24,000 Dou Zong soldiers wasn't a lot. Only those who reached the Dou Zun level could be considered part of the Lei Clan's middle ranks. As for the upper ranks, one needed to be at least at the Semi-Saint level. True elites had to reach the Dou Sheng (Saint) level.
Mo Yu's calm demeanor surprised Mo Tao and Mo Feng. In their eyes, Mo Yu, having grown up outside, should have been amazed by the power of the Black Thunder Banner and the Black Demon Army.
Yet his composure left them slightly taken aback.
Shaking her head, Mo Feng continued, "It won't be easy for you to take control of the Black Thunder Banner."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Mo Yu raised an eyebrow.
Mo Tao's expression darkened as he sighed. "The Black Thunder Banner's Vice-Captain is Geng Xiong, a member of the Geng family. The Geng family has long been eyeing the Mo family's position, wanting to replace us. Geng Xiong is a two-star Dou Zun, and his influence within the Black Thunder Banner is very high. If it weren't for the clan leader's decision, Geng Xiong would likely have been appointed as the Captain of the Black Thunder Banner instead of you. So, it won't be easy for you to assume control."
"A two-star Dou Zun…" Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin exchanged glances, a knowing smile playing on their lips.
To them, such an opponent was hardly a threat to Mo Yu.
Hearing this, Mo Yu couldn't help but smile. It seemed the Lei Realm was indeed isolated, with little knowledge of the outside world.
"I'll manage to take control of the Black Thunder Banner. Don't worry," Mo Yu said confidently.
Seeing Mo Yu so assured, Mo Tao and Mo Feng were taken aback. Geng Xiong was a two-star Dou Zun, a well-known talent in the Lei Clan. Although Mo Yu was young and had grown up outside, even if he had broken through to Dou Zun, could he really suppress Geng Xiong?
Despite their doubts, Mo Tao and Mo Feng led the way without further comment.
The Lei Yang Mountain Range was vast, with towering peaks that resembled sharp swords piercing the sky, exuding a fierce and penetrating aura.
Black Thunder Peak was one of these mountains.
Within Black Thunder Peak was the Black Thunder Training Field, the base of the Black Thunder Banner.
When Mo Yu and his companions arrived, they saw the stone-built camp with watchtowers and training grounds. The sounds of intense training echoed throughout the area, with waves of Dou Qi filling the air above the training field, creating a suffocating, battle-hardened atmosphere.
"What an intense, refined aura," Xiao Yixian said in amazement as she gazed at the rolling waves of killing intent in the sky above the training field. In her perception, these killing energies seemed to merge into one, swirling like a coiled dragon, ready to strike at any moment.
"The 3,000 soldiers of the Black Thunder Banner act as one. They all practice the same Black Thunder Qi Technique, which gives them a unified strength. If a one-star Dou Zun commands them with the Thunder Seal, they can gather the power of 3,000 men into one. Even a high-level Dou Zun would have to avoid them," Mo Feng explained.
Mo Yu's eyes narrowed. Such powerful techniques—combining the strength of 3,000 soldiers into one—meant that a one-star Dou Zun could stand against a high-level Dou Zun. The Lei Clan, as an ancient imperial clan, truly had impressive methods.
"Let's go. The 3,000 soldiers of the Black Thunder Banner are already assembled. With the Black Demon Token in your hand, you are now officially their Captain," Mo Feng said.
As Mo Yu contemplated this, Mo Feng and Mo Tao led the way. With a few quick leaps, Mo Yu and the others stood on a high platform overlooking the training field.
Before him was a massive training ground, with flags fluttering in the wind. Most strikingly, the field was filled with thousands of soldiers, standing silent and solemn.
As soon as Mo Yu appeared, he could feel thousands of sharp gazes locking onto him.
These gazes were filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and even defiance. They swept over him like a storm, bringing with them a palpable pressure.
For anyone with a weak will, such pressure might have caused them to falter.
But Mo Yu remained calm, his expression unchanged from start to finish. The overwhelming pressure felt like nothing more than a breeze to him.
As the leader of his own powerful sect, commanding subordinates was as natural to him as breathing. Fear simply did not exist within him.
Even if there were 3,000 Dou Zun soldiers before him, Mo Yu wouldn't blink.
At the same time, Mo Yu's attention was focused on the 3,000 soldiers before him, especially on the four most notable figures standing at the front.
The most eye-catching of these four was a young man dressed in black. He stood tall with a dark, brooding expression and was currently scrutinizing Mo Yu with a gaze filled with hostility.
Based on the conversation he'd had with Mo Feng and Mo Tao earlier, Mo Yu immediately recognized him as Geng Xiong, the current Vice-Captain of the Black Thunder Banner.
Geng Xiong was a member of the Geng family, who had been eyeing the position of Black Thunder Captain for some time.
The other three were the captains of the Black Thunder Banner's squads.
They looked at Mo Yu with more curiosity than anything, knowing that Mo Yu's appointment as Black Thunder Captain had come from the clan leader himself—and that he was the clan leader's son-in-law.
Mo Yu's gaze also lingered on another group of soldiers standing silently nearby, where three figures stood out.
Mo Yu's eyes brightened as he spotted a familiar face—Mang Dian, someone he had parted ways with years ago in the Western Region.
Mang Dian, now a squad captain in the Black Thunder Banner, had both the strength and the background to stand in this position.
At the moment, Mang Dian was staring at Mo Yu with a look of admiration and respect. Unlike the curiosity and scrutiny from others, Mang Dian was genuinely happy to see Mo Yu.
Mo Yu nodded discreetly to Mang Dian, then shifted his gaze to the person beside him.
The person on the right was a tall girl with long, wavy purple hair that cascaded down to her hips. She had an exquisitely beautiful face.
Based on what Mo Tao had said earlier, this was Lei Qingning, a popular figure in the Black Thunder Banner. She was a member of the Lei Clan and had joined the Black Demon Army due to her exceptional talent, eventually rising to the rank of squad captain.
In the middle was a short-haired young man with a plain face, but his eyes shone with a sharp intensity, like a sword ready to strike.
This was Lei Shi, a genius from a relatively distant branch of the Lei Clan.
Except for Mang Dian, Geng Xiong and the others looked at Mo Yu with a mixture of hostility and resentment. Naturally, the soldiers who followed Geng Xiong also cast resentful gazes at Mo Yu.
Though they understood Mo Yu's status, they were still displeased that an outsider had been appointed to lead them. After all, to them, the outside world was no different from a backwater. Even though Mo Yu had been appointed by the clan leader, they couldn't help but feel some dissatisfaction.
Standing on the platform, Mo Yu noticed the skepticism in the eyes of the 3,000 soldiers before him. His expression remained calm as he slowly pulled out an ancient-looking black token from his robe.
The moment the token appeared, the expressions of the Black Thunder soldiers, including Geng Xiong, grew serious.
It was the Black Demon Token, the symbol of the Black Thunder Captain's authority and the highest token within the Black Demon Army.
With the token in hand, Mo Yu looked out over the 3,000 soldiers and said calmly, "I am Mo Yu, your Black Thunder Captain. Greetings, fellow comrades."
The field fell silent. Except for Mang Dian and a few neutral soldiers, most of the soldiers remained expressionless.
Mo Tao and Mo Feng noticed the tense atmosphere and whispered to Mo Yu, "If things don't go well, perhaps you could dismiss the training session. Geng Xiong won't dare to openly defy you."
Mo Yu paused for a moment, then understood their meaning.
Although the position of Black Thunder Captain had been appointed by the clan leader, how he would gain control over the Black Thunder Banner would depend on his own abilities.
If this deadlock continued, word would spread, and the entire Lei Realm would likely mock the situation.
Mo Yu smiled faintly and glanced at the 3,000 soldiers, his gaze lingering on Geng Xiong for a few seconds before he spoke aloud.
"It seems some of you are dissatisfied with my appointment as Black Thunder Captain. If anyone here believes they can defeat me, I will personally request the clan leader to step down and let you take my place!"
(End of Chapter)
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