Chapter 1863: Chapter 1863 Extensive Conscription
However, Ye Liuyun had overestimated the strength of the Golden Armor Army.
Their leader was merely a martial practitioner at the early stage of the fourth realm. He was knocked out by Yu Xiaofeng effortlessly.
Following that, the Dark Legion launched a merciless slaughter.
The remaining five thousand Golden-armored Soldier realized that continuing fighting meant certain death, so they surrendered.
Ye Liuyun handed these defectors over to Yu Xiaofeng.
Yu Xiaofeng had them sign Divine Soul contracts, swearing allegiance to the Dark Legion. Those who refused were executed on the spot. The captured soldiers were then integrated into the local forces.
Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun and the Dark Legion headed straight for the enemy’s military base.
They allowed the massive rhinos to breach the defenses, followed by Ye Liuyun and his team riding Dragophants and leading the charge.
Only then did the main force advance.
Ye Liuyun and his men had wiped out elite Metal Guards, leaving the regular soldiers helpless.
Shortly after the fight began, the garrison started to flee for their lives. They were all to be captured as hostages eventually.
Ye Liuyun attacked the central military tent and swiftly defeated the garrison’s commander with a single stroke.
The team worked efficiently to gather the supplies, clean up the battlefield, and integrate the defectors.
Originally numbering over ninety thousand, the garrison lost over seventy thousand to defection and capture alone.
Later, Yu Xiaofeng summoned the previously captured Metal Guards for unified training and evaluation.
The garrison camp became their temporary base.
During this round of elimination, Yu Xiaofeng showed no mercy. The dismissed soldiers were left with nothing. They were mere fodder for future battles.
After organizing the troops, the team continued their march. Their sweep of the local garrison was spontaneous as Ye Liuyun needed to hasten his final transaction at the Mystique Mart.
Thus, Ye Liuyun led his companions and three thousand soldiers forward while Yu Xiaofeng and others trained the remaining troops as they traveled.
The border was inherently chaotic. Ye Liuyun’s last resource trading point was Mystique Mart. It was the closest location to the border.
The city had few local martial practitioners. Most were wanderers or traders from the border.
While Mystique Mart was relatively safe, venturing beyond its walls made one an easy target for bandits.
Unaware of the dangers, Ye Liuyun left his soldiers outside the city and ventured toward Mystique Mart alone.
Upon entering, Ye Liuyun found the city far more chaotic than he anticipated. He realized he was under the watchful eyes of some martial practitioners using their Divine Sense.
Upon learning of his arrival, they stationed outside the building, waiting for his exit.
Knowing Ye Liuyun was a major client, the steward of Mystique Mart warned him.
"This place operates differently. There’s no City Lord Manor or security management. The city teems with freelance martial practitioners and even taverns are often run by nearby bandits. It might be safer for you to wait for an escort from your army."
"So, you’re saying it’s a free-for-all here with no organized security?" Ye Liuyun asked.
"Exactly. It’s as chaotic as any border city, but it manages to stay safe due to various unspoken agreements." the steward replied.
"Well, that’s not so bad!" Ye Liuyun muttered.
"What? What do you mean not so bad?" The steward was puzzled.
Ye Liuyun bought a city map from the steward right away.
The city wasn’t big and was surrounded on three sides by mountains, with just one gate for twenty to thirty thousand martial artists. There were no major factions or locals. All the inns, taverns, and guilds were to serve those traveling martial practitioners.
Ye Liuyun used his Divine Sense to scan the city and found two fifth-tier martial practitioners, one of them being Mystique Mart’s guardian.
There were several fourth-tier martial practitioners, making up about twenty percent of the population.
Most of them were third-tier martial practitioners. Second-tier practitioners were rare and typically served stronger individuals. They wouldn’t dare come to this place.
He first checked with Devil Vine to see if it could handle a martial practitioner at the early fifth tier.
Devil Vine had just completed a fruitful hunt in the Feral Beast Mountains and had just woken up.
"About 50-50!" Devil Vine estimated.
"Alright, me and my clone will help you, too! But remember our agreement. You can have all except those at the early fourth and third tiers." Ye Liuyun informed Devil Vine.
"Sure!" Devil Vine saw no issue, as Ye Liuyun hadn’t forbidden it from devouring higher-tier martial practitioners.
After that, Ye Liuyun gave orders to Xiao Yunfang, who was waiting outside.
"Secure the city gates. Let no one escape. Prepare Tong Xin’s puppet and Bai Tianguang’s feral beasts. There are many fourth-tier martial practitioners in the city!"
"What’s your plan?" Xiao Yunfang asked with surprise.
"Conscription! We’re rounding up all the martial practitioners in the city!" Ye Liuyun replied.
"Are you insane? You mean capturing fourth-tier martial practitioners?" Xiao Yunfang exclaimed.
She was worried whether the soldiers could handle it. Fourth-tier martial practitioners were already beyond their capabilities.
"Use formations to block any third-tier martial practitioners trying to flee. Leave the early fourth-tier ones to the puppet and feral beasts. I’ll deal with the rest, don’t worry." Ye Liuyun instructed.
"Can you manage that many martial practitioners in the city?" Xiao Yunfang asked curiously.
"Yeah. Let’s get moving!" Ye Liuyun replied curtly, urging Xiao Yunfang into action.
She informed Tong Xin and Bai Tianguang to release the puppets and feral beasts while organizing formations with the soldiers to guard outside the city gates.
Ye Liuyun instructed the steward of Mystique Mart, "Keep everyone inside Mystique Mart under watch. No one can leave."
"Huh? Why?" the steward asked, totally puzzled.
Ye Liuyun smiled, "You’ll find out soon enough."
With that, he exited Mystique Mart and released Devil Vine.
"Attack anywhere but the Mystique Mart behind me." Ye Liuyun commanded Devil Vine.
The martial practitioners waiting outside Mystique Mart were energized when they saw him emerge. However, Ye Liuyun promptly released Lei Ming, the puppet, and the Devil Wolves, charging toward them.
Ye Liuyun cloaked himself in an invisible cape and lunged at the early fifth-tier martial practitioner.
"Boom!"
Devil Vine suddenly breached the house where the fifth-tier martial practitioner was located. If he hadn’t reacted quickly, he would have been swallowed whole.
Ye Liuyun and his clone immediately launched a soul attack. Four divine souls simultaneously invaded the martial practitioner’s Ocean of Consciousness.
Devil Vine extended its vines everywhere to protect Ye Liuyun and his clone simultaneously.
