The New Third Commander's Might

The moment those words were spoken, the entire crowd erupted. The square was like a boiling pot of oil.

"What? Chief Commander, you're not joking, are you?"

"Exactly! This kid still looks wet behind the ears. How can he become the Third Commander?"

Everyone found it hard to accept. What had they risked their lives for all this time? Was it just to watch some inexperienced brat effortlessly climb over their heads?

"This is too unfair! We fought tooth and nail just to become squad leaders, while this kid becomes the Third Commander the moment he arrives. Where are we old mercenaries supposed to put our faces?" an old mercenary said indignantly.

The discussions grew louder and louder, as doubt and dissatisfaction rapidly spread through the crowd.

"Chief Commander, this is inappropriate!"

A lean young man shouted loudly.

Although he greatly admired the two commanders, this newcomer who had suddenly appeared looked far too young. How could they possibly be convinced?

Xiao Ding raised a hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.

After the noisy crowd gradually calmed, Xiao Ding turned to Qing Mo beside him.

Qing Mo shrugged. He had known this would be the reaction, but it was exactly what he wanted.

Since he wanted the mercenary group to work for him, he naturally had to demonstrate the appropriate means.

Qing Mo stepped forward. His gaze swept across the crowd, and though his voice was not loud, it clearly reached everyone's ears:

"I know you all have concerns. You think that as a newcomer, what right do I have to become the Third Commander?"

"But I'll only say this once. On the Dou Qi Continent, whoever has the harder fist calls the shots! So if any of you can defeat me, I'll hand over this commander's position without hesitation."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire square fell silent.

Qing Mo swept his gaze around once more, a faint curve lifting at the corner of his lips.

"Who dares to come?"

"Hmph, you talk big. I'll have a go at you." The lean man from earlier snorted coldly and leaped onto the platform.

The man was around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. The muscles on his bare arms bulged with strength, and he held a broadsword in his hand.

His name was Diao Zhen, one of the core members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

"It's Captain Diao!"

"Captain Diao is a Six-Star Dou Practitioner, a powerhouse second only to the two commanders. This kid has really kicked an iron plate this time!"

"I think this kid is only good with his mouth. Once Captain Diao makes a move, he'll probably run home crying for his mother."

"Young man, you're far too arrogant. You don't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth!"

The crowd below discussed heatedly. Almost everyone was on Diao Zhen's side.

"You're Qing Mo, right? You're too arrogant for someone so young. I advise you to surrender early, so you don't embarrass yourself later."

Diao Zhen sneered as he shook the broadsword in his hand. Seeing that Qing Mo remained unmoved, he stopped trying to persuade him.

"Draw your weapon."

Qing Mo calmly shook his head, his expression utterly unruffled.

Hearing this, Diao Zhen immediately frowned. This man was far too arrogant.

He had struggled through the mercenary group for so many years, yet no one had ever dared to look down on him like this.

A trace of anger flashed through his eyes. He made up his mind to teach this arrogant brat an unforgettable lesson!

Diao Zhen no longer held back. He let out a loud roar and swung his broadsword, stirring up a howling gust as he viciously chopped toward Qing Mo.

"Good! That's it!"

"That's right, Captain Diao! Let this kid get a good look at the spirit of our Desert Iron Mercenary Group!"

The people below cheered one after another. Only Xue Lan, watching Diao Zhen's ferocious assault, felt her heart tighten with worry.

She had never imagined that Qing Mo would suddenly become their Third Commander. Wasn't this far too childish? What exactly were the two commanders thinking?

As Diao Zhen attacked, everyone had thought the battle would end quickly. Yet to the shock of the people below, although Diao Zhen's attacks were swift and fierce, he could not even touch the corner of Qing Mo's clothes.

Qing Mo's figure was like a light breeze, moving left at times, right at times, forward at times, and backward at times.

Every step seemed effortless and unrestrained, as though he were simply taking a stroll.

"Too slow." Qing Mo's voice sounded beside Diao Zhen's ear, carrying a trace of mockery.

Diao Zhen's heart tightened, and his pupils abruptly contracted. This man's movement technique was actually so superb.

He gave it everything he had, yet Qing Mo kept leading him by the nose. Every attack was effortlessly defused.

This was only natural. Qing Mo was using the Low-Tier Earth movement Dou Technique, the Gale-Chasing Step. Although he had only cultivated its first level—the Gale Realm—it was still not something a Six-Star Dou Practitioner like Diao Zhen could withstand.

Those who reached this realm could blend their bodies into the wind, achieving incredible speed.

Before long, fine beads of sweat appeared on Diao Zhen's forehead. He was panting heavily, and the longer he fought, the more alarmed he became. If this continued, he would surely exhaust himself. That would be far too humiliating!

Diao Zhen stopped attacking and retreated several steps. Looking at Qing Mo more than ten meters away, he decided to hold nothing back and use his strongest killing move.

He gripped the broadsword with both hands and poured all his Dou Qi into its blade.

This was his trump card, the High Yellow-Tier Dou Technique—Mountain-Splitting Slash!

"I underestimated you. This move is my strongest strike! If you can break it, I'll willingly admit defeat!" Diao Zhen roared with a savage expression, his broadsword carrying the force of splitting mountains and shattering rocks as it viciously cleaved toward Qing Mo's head.

"Oh? Is that so?" Qing Mo's voice remained calm.

Faced with this fierce incoming blow, he did not dodge. Instead, he remained standing where he was.

Seeing this, everyone below broke out in a cold sweat for Qing Mo.

"It's here, Captain Diao's Mountain-Splitting Slash!"

"Captain Diao once used this move to cut down a Six-Star Dou Practitioner Snake-People captain in a single strike. This kid is being far too cocky."

"Commander, this..." Xue Lan looked worriedly at Xiao Ding.

"Don't worry. Just keep watching."

Xiao Ding's expression did not change. Seeing both commanders remain so calm, Xue Lan could only keep watching, though her heart had risen into her throat.

The enormous blade came straight down at Qing Mo. Without panic, Qing Mo took two gold coins from his robe.

With a flick of his finger, one of the gold coins instantly became a streak of golden light and precisely struck the weak point on the side of the broadsword.

Clang!

A crisp metallic ring echoed out. Diao Zhen felt his tiger's mouth go numb as a force knocked the broadsword aside. He immediately lost his balance, and the weapon nearly flew from his grasp.

"Not good!"

Diao Zhen's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly tried to steady the blade, but in that instant, a bone-chilling sensation swept over him. Every hair on his body stood on end, and his movements involuntarily froze.

Clang— The broadsword slipped from his hand and crashed heavily onto the ground, spiderweb cracks spreading across the floor.

Diao Zhen instinctively touched his neck, only to find a streak of scarlet blood on his fingertips.

"This..."

Diao Zhen swallowed, terror flooding through his body after the fact.

"Alright, Diao Zhen, you've already lost." Xiao Ding's voice sounded beside Diao Zhen's ear like heavenly music.

Qing Mo had clearly held back just now. Otherwise, that gold coin would not merely have cut his neck—it would have slit his throat outright.

"What an exquisite hidden weapon technique!" Xiao Ding could not help but praise.

"Even I felt a chill from that technique. Brother Qing Mo truly possesses extraordinary talent." Xiao Li stared intently at Qing Mo. Even he had felt startled by that attack just now!

"Yes, Brother Qing Mo is a peerless genius. It's just a pity... if our third brother's body hadn't developed problems..." Xiao Ding's voice carried a trace of sorrow.

At those words, both men fell silent. They looked at Qing Mo on the platform with slightly dazed expressions, as if they were seeing another figure.

If their third brother, Xiao Yan, had not lost his cultivation, he definitely would not have been inferior to Brother Qing Mo!

On the platform, Diao Zhen smiled bitterly and put away his broadsword before cupping his fists toward Qing Mo.

"Thank you, Third Commander, for showing mercy. I lost."

Diao Zhen spoke sincerely. No wonder Qing Mo had been so confident. If he possessed such strength, he would probably have been even more arrogant.

"Haha, you're quite strong too." Qing Mo offered a polite remark, then turned toward the crowd below and spoke again.

"Who else?"

This time, the entire square was silent. No one answered.

Even Diao Zhen, the strongest among them, had been beaten into such a sorry state by Qing Mo. What use would there be in going up themselves?

Watching Qing Mo's relaxed demeanor, they all understood that Qing Mo had probably not even used half his strength.

"Since no one else is coming up, then from this day onward, Qing Mo is the Third Commander of our Desert Iron Mercenary Group! From now on, when you see him, you must respect him as you respect Xiao Li and me!"

"Yes, Chief Commander!" everyone answered in unison.