Chapter 280: The Powerful Yuan Manor
"Who goes there!"
Atop the city wall, a man in black robes spoke in a cold voice, slowly lifting his head. Sunlight fell on his face, revealing a youthful appearance tinged with an eerie, deathly pallor.
It was none other than Xiao Li, the second son of the Xiao family from Wutan City!
"Come now, Cousin Xiao Li, don't tell me you don't recognize me."
Leaping off the griffin, Mo Yu smiled as he looked at the black-robed man standing before him.
"Mo Yu… No, Manor Lord, you've returned?"
Staring in surprise at the familiar figure, Xiao Li's previously emotionless face lit up with a hint of joy when he saw those distinctive silver eyes.
"The Manor Lord has returned!"
As soon as they heard Mo Yu's name, all the guards on the city wall turned their eyes toward him. Upon recognizing the familiar youthful face, their expressions froze, mixing joy with astonishment.
Even the new recruits, who had never met Mo Yu but had joined Yuan Manor afterward, were filled with excitement when they saw him.
Almost in unison, the guards knelt down on one knee, showing their utmost respect for Mo Yu.
"Greetings, Manor Lord!"
Standing at the center like an emperor receiving the loyalty of his subjects, the silver-eyed youth's figure exuded an air of elegance, immediately drawing the attention of many passersby.
"Mo Yu? Is this the mysterious Manor Lord of Yuan Manor, the one no one ever sees?"
As people passed by and overheard the name "Mo Yu," a name as well-known as thunder in Stone Rock City, shock washed over their faces as they muttered in disbelief. Over the past six months, although Yuan Manor had kept a low profile as per Mo Yu's instructions, steadily growing without revealing much of its strength, those who survived in the Black-Corner Region were no fools.
Under Yuan Manor's management, Stone Rock City had grown immensely. And while its strength had been revealed only gradually, it was enough to make people shudder. Many now believed that Yuan Manor could rival first-rate powers.
So, when they saw that the mysterious manor lord was such a young man, the crowd couldn't help but gape in astonishment.
As Mo Yu descended, Lin Yan, Zi Yan, and the other students from Jia Nan Academy also leaped off the griffin. When they saw the Yuan Manor guards kneeling and welcoming Mo Yu, they too showed surprise.
To command such respect was something only a founder or great leader could achieve.
Then, when their attention shifted to Xiao Li and the dozens of shadowy figures behind him, Lin Yan and the others were even more taken aback.
Like Su Qian and the others, the Jia Nan Academy students had assumed that while Mo Yu was exceptionally talented, his Yuan Manor, which had kept such a low profile, couldn't be very strong.
But today, seeing the serious and disciplined guards, as well as the powerful and deadly aura emanating from those shadowy figures, it became clear that Yuan Manor was filled with elites.
Even the young man Mo Yu called "Cousin" radiated such pressure that it was comparable to some of the academy's elders.
At that realization, these academy prodigies quickly set aside their pride and began to view Yuan Manor with the respect it deserved.
Xiao Li also noticed the talented young people behind Mo Yu, especially focusing on Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing. A flash of seriousness crossed his eyes as he realized these individuals, though younger than him, were already approaching his level of strength.
He, Xiao Li, had only reached his current level by consuming the Devour Life Pill, sacrificing much of his lifespan to do so.
This was proof of how impressive the talent nurtured by Jia Nan Academy truly was.
"Manor Lord, where's my third brother?" Xiao Li scanned the group, but seeing no sign of the figure he had longed to see, he frowned.
"Well, Cousin Xiao Li, you can just call me by my name. As for Cousin Xiao Yan, it's a long story. Let's head back to the manor, and I'll explain everything," Mo Yu replied, a bit hesitant. Then he pointed to the people behind him. "These are my fellow students from Jia Nan Academy. They've come here with important matters to discuss. Once we reach the council hall, I'll explain everything in detail."
Noticing Mo Yu's expression, Xiao Li furrowed his brow slightly, feeling an uneasy premonition. However, Mo Yu was not just his cousin anymore; he was the Manor Lord of Yuan Manor. So, suppressing his anxious thoughts, Xiao Li nodded and gave orders to his men.
"I'll go with the Manor Lord to the council hall. You're in charge here."
"Yes, Deputy Hall Master!" the shadowy figures behind Xiao Li replied respectfully.
"Deputy Hall Master?" Lin Yan and the others were surprised to hear the title. They hadn't expected Xiao Li, whose presence alone rivaled the academy elders, to be only the deputy. What kind of terrifying strength must Yuan Manor's Hall Masters possess?
Even more shocking was that such a powerful organization had remained so low-key in the Black-Corner Region.
And to think that this entire organization had been founded by the young Mo Yu—it was almost unbelievable.
Mo Yu also noticed the shadowy figures behind Xiao Li. Although they concealed their auras well, their killing intent was unmistakable, marking them as top-tier elites. Impressed, Mo Yu raised an eyebrow.
Xiao Li, formerly the second leader of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, had indeed proven his skill in organizing and training a formidable team. In just a few months, he had built such an impressive force.
With the Black-Corner Region becoming more turbulent, it seemed Yuan Manor would need to expand its ranks even further…
Inside Yuan Manor's council hall, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.
The hall was filled with people, including both the core members of Yuan Manor and the team Mo Yu had brought from Jia Nan Academy.
"Boss, you're finally back." A towering young man stepped forward, his eyes glowing with excitement as he looked at Mo Yu.
His deep, resonant voice echoed through the hall like thunder.
"What terrifying power. This man seems even more dangerous than Zi Yan, the 'Brute Strength King.' Yuan Manor really is like the tip of an iceberg, hiding an even more terrifying force underneath."
Seeing this imposing man, Lin Yan and the others exchanged shocked glances.
The pressure that this man, Zi Huo, exerted was greater than even Xiao Li or Zi Yan's, and could almost rival the academy's Dou Emperor-level elders!
Even Zi Yan, her large black eyes wide with surprise, felt an unfamiliar sense of pressure from Zi Huo. It was the first time she had ever experienced such a powerful soul pressure from someone else.
Although there were high-tier magical beasts in the academy's back mountain, and some were stronger than her, none of them had ever made her feel such soul-crushing pressure.
As she processed this feeling, Zi Yan's face lit up with excitement. If Mo Yu had someone this strong by his side, perhaps they could really help her find her lost family!
"Hehe, Zi Huo, long time no see. You've grown even stronger." Mo Yu chuckled lightly as he sensed Zi Huo's increasingly terrifying aura.
Since fusing with the bones of the Gigantic Lion King, Zi Huo's potential had been fully unlocked. His talent and cultivation speed had skyrocketed, and in just over half a year, he had reached the peak of the fifth tier, just one step away from the sixth tier!
"Haha, all thanks to you, Boss." Zi Huo scratched his head, his voice booming.
He knew well that without Mo Yu, he would still be just an ordinary Purple-Golden Winged Lion King.
Seeing how respectful Zi Huo was toward Mo Yu, Lin Yan and the others, though familiar with Mo Yu's capabilities, were still stunned. Even Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing couldn't believe that someone as powerful as Zi Huo was acting like Mo Yu's follower.
Ignoring their shock, Mo Yu turned his attention to the other high-ranking members of Yuan Manor standing beside Zi Huo.
"Manor Lord!"
As Mo Yu glanced over, the hall chiefs, including Ling Feng, the Tiger Hall Master; Xiao Li, the Tiger Hall Deputy; Qiu Shui, the chief of the Enforcer Hall; and Meng Yang, the Weapons Hall Master, all bowed respectfully.
Mo Yu's silver eyes narrowed slightly. Using his Thunder Silver Eyes, he quickly assessed their strengths, and even he was surprised.
Ling Feng was a five-star Dou King!
Xiao Li, a four-star Dou King!
Qiu Shui, a two-star Dou King!
Meng Yang, a top-tier third-grade weapon refiner!
And with Zi Huo, at the peak of the fifth tier and capable of fighting a Dou Emperor, Yuan Manor had grown into a first-rate power in the Black-Corner Region in just over half a year!
Though surprised, Mo Yu wasn't entirely shocked. After all, both Ling Feng and Xiao Li had taken the Devour Life Pill, so their rise to Dou King wasn't unexpected. Qiu Shui, a well-known sword master in the Black-Corner Region, had also benefited from a sword Mo Yu personally crafted, making his breakthrough to Dou King a natural progression.
As for Meng Yang, he had already reached third-grade soul strength when Mo Yu left. With Mo Yu's support and plenty of weapon designs, it was no surprise that he had advanced to a top-tier third-grade weapon refiner.
"Manor Lord, all the major halls—Tiger Hall, Lion Hall, Weapons Hall, and Enforcer Hall—are gathered and ready," Ling Feng reported, his gaze filled with admiration as he looked at Mo Yu.
His current strength as a five-star Dou King was entirely due to Mo Yu's gift of the Devour Life Pill. For outsiders, the pill might have seemed suicidal, but for Ling Feng, it was a treasure.
Born in the Black-Corner Region, Ling Feng knew that strength was everything. Without it, you might not live to see the next day, let alone worry about longevity.
After being appointed as the Tiger Hall Master, Ling Feng had struggled to maintain control of the hall with his previous strength as a Dou Master. Even with Mo Yu's support, gaining the loyalty of the new recruits had been a challenge.
So when Xiao Li handed him the Devour Life Pill months ago, he hadn't hesitated for a second to take it.
He refused to live a mediocre life, and he wasn't about to let Mo Yu down!
"Mm. I've called everyone here not just because I've returned but also to make an important announcement. But before that, I'll be restructuring Yuan Manor," Mo Yu said, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "Starting today, Yuan Manor will establish a new hall, the Black Wolf Hall, with Xiao Li as its Hall Master."
His words caused a stir among the people present. No one expected that Mo Yu's first move upon returning would be to significantly restructure the manor.
Though surprised, no one objected. As the founder of Yuan Manor, Mo Yu's decisions were final.
Even Ling Feng, who hadn't expected Xiao Li to be reassigned, wasn't upset. Xiao Li was Mo Yu's cousin and had strength comparable to his own, so he was certainly qualified to lead a hall.
Over the past few months, Ling Feng and Xiao Li had developed a strong working relationship, and Ling Feng offered him a sincere congratulation.
Xiao Li and his loyal followers were momentarily stunned by the news but soon broke into smiles. As the new Hall Master of Black Wolf Hall, Xiao Li had officially become one of the core leaders of Yuan Manor, and his followers shared in the honor.
"Thank you, Manor Lord!" Xiao Li bowed to Mo Yu in gratitude.
"No need for thanks, Cousin Xiao Li," Mo Yu replied, waving his hand.
With Mo Yu's decree, Yuan Manor now consisted of five halls: Lion Hall, Tiger Hall, Black Wolf Hall, Weapons Hall, and the Enforcer Hall.
Of course, the Weapons Hall only had a handful of refiners, and the Enforcer Hall currently only had Qiu Shui as a member. There was still much room for growth.
Nevertheless, Yuan Manor's strength was already enough to deeply impress the Jia Nan Academy students. The fact that Mo Yu had single-handedly built such a powerful force was awe-inspiring.
"By the way, these are my fellow students from Jia Nan Academy. They're here to join Yuan Manor, and from today on, they'll be integrated into our ranks," Mo Yu said, pointing to the group behind him.
Ling Feng, Xiao Li, and the others exchanged surprised glances. They hadn't expected Mo Yu to bring so many talented students from Jia Nan Academy, each one of them elite among elites.
Recruits like these were normally impossible for Yuan Manor to attract. The fact that Mo Yu had brought so many at once excited the Hall Masters.
Especially Xiao Li, whose newly established Black Wolf Hall needed more personnel. The students Mo Yu had brought were already at the Dou Ling level, making them perfect candidates for key positions in the hall.
However, Mo Yu didn't let the Hall Masters make any selections. Instead, he turned to Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and the other students. "You're free to choose which of the four halls—besides the Weapons Hall—you'd like to join. But once you've made your decision, it's final. And while in your chosen hall, you must follow all orders from your Hall Master. Disobedience will result in immediate expulsion from Yuan Manor and a return to the academy!"
Hearing Mo Yu's declaration, the students' expressions turned serious. The overwhelming power of Yuan Manor had already given these prideful academy elites a deep sense of pressure...
(End of Chapter)
Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.