Revealing His Identity, Winning His Loyalty!

Huang Dabiao was so shocked by Yang Que's words that he could hardly speak!

What was going on? They had just escaped from those people, and now they were going back to kill them? What kind of idea was that?

He looked at Yang Que, bewildered. Did the two of them really think they could take on all six?

They had unleashed their strongest attacks and fled without even knowing how much damage they had done!

Yang Que chuckled. "What's wrong, Brother Huang? Scared?"

"Scared? A little! I still have a lot of things to do!" Huang Dabiao admitted sheepishly. It was embarrassing that Yang Que, a mere Soul Elder, was unafraid while he, a Soul Emperor, was frightened.

"Don't worry. Those six took our strongest attacks in a hurry because they'd let their guard down. Even if they survived, they must be badly hurt! Once I'm prepared, I'll face them head-on. No one gets to hunt me down and live to tell the tale!" Yang Que gave him a dangerous smile.

A shiver ran through Huang Dabiao at the sight.

"Then what do we do now?" Huang Dabiao asked.

"First, we find my fourth Soul Ring." Yang Que looked toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

What?

His fourth Soul Ring?

Wang Dabiao's eyes widened. "C-Captain! You haven't obtained your fourth Soul Ring yet?"

Yang Que blinked. "That's right. When did I ever say I was a Soul Ancestor?"

Huang Dabiao felt dizzy. "No, I thought you'd just been holding back your strength! I never imagined you were still a Soul Elder!"

"What's the big deal? Come on, let's find a Soul Beast that's fifty or sixty thousand years old and kill it," Yang Que said casually.

What?

His fourth Soul Ring? From a Soul Beast fifty or sixty thousand years old?

"Well, Captain, a Soul Beast that old won't be easy to kill. And even if we do kill one, you..." Huang Dabiao trailed off. Clearly, he doubted Yang Que could absorb its Soul Ring.

Yang Que smiled helplessly.

His body shook.

He released his Soul-Devouring Sword martial soul. A terrifying Blood Fiend Aura followed, and three Soul Rings slowly rose beneath his feet.

Purple! Purple! Black!

Then a terrifying wave of Soul Power swept outward.

Huang Dabiao stood beside him, staring.

The first Soul Ring had already stunned him. By the time the final Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring appeared, shock had turned to sheer horror.

What kind of monster was the person he had chosen to follow? There couldn't be another Soul Ring Configuration like this on the entire continent!

Yang Que waved a hand before Huang Dabiao's face. "Brother Huang? Brother Huang..."

Huang Dabiao came back to his senses and looked at Yang Que in awe. He dropped to one knee.

"Wang Dabiao greets the captain!"

Until now, Huang Dabiao had thought Yang Que was merely a promising talent from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

But after seeing his Soul Rings, Huang Dabiao finally understood how extraordinary the person he followed truly was. No—his potential was impossible to predict! How far would he go?

Huang Dabiao was more determined than ever to follow him.

Yang Que stared at him, taken aback. Then something occurred to him.

He lowered his head in thought.

Perhaps this was an opportunity to test Huang Dabiao.

He didn't mind if Huang Dabiao chose to leave. Better for him to go now than to turn on Yang Que at a crucial moment.

If Huang Dabiao left, Yang Que would have to admit he had misjudged him. But if he stayed, Yang Que could guarantee he would be glad he had made that choice!

Yang Que looked straight into Huang Dabiao's eyes. "Brother Huang, I'll tell you the truth. I'm not a talent from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"

Huang Dabiao froze. "Captain, you're joking, right? You have a Jade Pendant unique to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan! How could you not be one of them?"

Yang Que sighed. "I'm not. I'm just a student at Shrek Academy."

"As for this Jade Pendant, heh, I helped the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. They owe me a favor, and this is the token they gave me."

Yang Que's eyes were sincere. Huang Dabiao could see no sign of a lie, and he fell into thought.

Was Yang Que worth following without anyone powerful behind him?

He knew of Shrek Academy. It had three Soul Saints and a few Soul Emperors to hold it up, nothing more. Was that enough?

Yang Que's Soul Ring Configuration was terrifying, and his talent was beyond compare. But countless geniuses died before reaching their peak. Would Yang Que make it? Was he truly worth following?

Huang Dabiao asked himself question after question. He was deeply uncertain. No one would think twice about following a gifted genius, but those geniuses usually had powerful backers to protect them!

The genius before him had virtually no backing. And Huang Dabiao had a wife and son waiting to be rescued. Following Yang Que meant staking everything on him. Was it worth it?

Huang Dabiao kept thinking.

Yang Que neither pressed nor hurried him. Whatever answer Huang Dabiao gave, he would accept it. If the man left, Yang Que would only think it a pity.

He had no need to worry that Huang Dabiao might lash out and kill him. Yang Que was capable of escaping a Soul Emperor, and Shrek Academy's three Soul Saints alone would give Huang Dabiao more than he could handle!

Huang Dabiao was already being hounded by the nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire. If he also made an enemy of Shrek Academy, he would have nowhere to go, above or below!

Huang Dabiao suddenly looked up. "Captain, may I ask how old you are?"

Yang Que was heartened by the question. "Me? I just turned twelve."

Twelve. That was... Wait, twelve?!

"What? Captain, you're only twelve?" Huang Dabiao cried, stunned all over again.

"That's right. I'm twelve. I'm sure you know Shrek's admissions standards. Unless an applicant has some special skill, anyone over twelve is rejected," Yang Que said calmly, taking out his Shrek Academy student badge.

Huang Dabiao fell into thought again when he saw the badge. He did know Shrek's standards. That meant his captain really was twelve—though he certainly looked older!

A Soul Elder at twelve? No, practically a Soul Ancestor! His growth was like a rocket taking off. Even without powerful backers, he was worth following!

Huang Dabiao's gaze suddenly sharpened like lightning. "Captain! If I follow you, can you rescue my wife and son within five years?"

Yang Que smiled faintly and raised three fingers. "I won't need five. Give me three! No matter my cultivation or the strength I command, I promise I'll reunite your family, even if it costs me my life!"

Huang Dabiao let out a breath. It was only a spoken promise, but he believed Yang Que would keep it.

Resolve filled his eyes. Once more, he dropped to one knee. "I, Huang Dabiao, pledge myself to you, Captain! As long as I live, I won't let any harm come to you!"

Yang Que threw back his head and laughed.

"Hahahaha!"

His gamble had paid off! His peerless good looks and talent had won him a Soul Emperor's loyalty! In the end, it really was his face that earned him a living!

Yang Que's outburst left Huang Dabiao rather awkward.

"Brother Huang, you've made the wisest decision of your life! With what I can do, you'll be able to bring your wife and son home yourself in three years, even if I don't lift a finger!" Yang Que said.

"Oh? Then I look forward to seeing what you can do, Captain." Huang Dabiao was curious. What could this young man do to make that possible in just three years?

"Wait and see! Now, let's find a suitable Soul Beast. Once we kill it and I absorb its Soul Ring, we'll deal with the people on our tail!" Yang Que declared.

"Good!" Huang Dabiao stood and nodded.

Together, they headed into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest once more.

Things were different from when they had first entered. Back then, they had been captain and member in name alone. Now Huang Dabiao had truly pledged himself to Yang Que. He might not have been loyal unto death, but his loyalty was real.

Huang Dabiao could never have imagined that today's decision would change the course of his life. The Douluo Continent would one day know a mighty Blood Axe Douluo!