Chapter 2388: Chapter 2388 A Common Goal
Yuan Hu gave Ye Liuyun a knowing look as he handed him the Interspatial Ring containing fifty thousand sets of military uniforms and armour, along with vast quantities of resources.
However, the uniforms were all in blue. It wasn’t the standard colours of the Sanctuary Dynasty’s army.
Ye Liuyun understood the underlying intention immediately. Donning these blue uniforms would brand them as outlaws, rebels who would bear all the risks themselves.
Yuan Hu was focused on testing Ye Liuyun on his given mission.
When Yuan Hu approached unguarded, Ye Liuyun seized the opportunity to launch a Divine Soul attack.
Ye Liuyun used his Golden Phantom Eyes to gauge Yuan Hu’s power, so he and his clone jointly unleashed a Divine Soul strike on him.
Yuan Hu was caught off guard by the sudden attack.
Yuan Hu’s Divine Soul power was much weaker than Ye Liuyun’s. In no time, Ye Liuyun planted a Slaving Seal on him.
To his surprise, Yuan Hu’s Divine Soul bore no prior contracts. That meant even if Ye Liuyun took control of him now, no one would know.
Without hesitation, Ye Liuyun delved into Yuan Hu’s mind to uncover his true intentions.
Unexpectedly, he discovered that Yuan Hu’s devotion to the Sanctuary Dynasty was unwavering. They had complete control over his every action.
However, Ye Liuyun’s recent behaviour was overly conspicuous. Yuan Hu started to suspect that there was some link between him and the rebel force that had vanished.
His plan was to observe Ye Liuyun’s combat tactics in eliminating Wanwei Hou and Lord Zhenxing so that he could compare with past battles for any differences.
He would apprehend Ye Liuyun and question him immediately if he detected even the slightest suspicion.
Hence, Ye Liuyun’s decision to launch the initial attack caught him off guard.
Yuan Hu was aware that the Sanctuary Dynasty’s current military drills were to prepare them to resist the foreign races in the future.
However, Ye Liuyun discovered that Yuan Hu actually shared the same idea as him. He too believed that the Sanctuary Dynasty should send troops to reinforce Moyana Island and Outpost Island, taking preemptive measures against the foreign race invasion.
However, his opinions weren’t enough to sway the Sanctuary Dynasty’s decisions. In fact, the dynasty had deliberately transferred him here to sideline him, ensuring his ideas wouldn’t influence other commanders.
After reviewing Yuan Hu’s previous battle records, Ye Liuyun concluded that he was indeed a rare talent.
“From now on, you’ll work with me,” Ye Liuyun declared. “We share the same goal. We both hope to achieve unity in our efforts against the foreign races. Our ultimate purpose aligns perfectly.”
Without hesitation, Ye Liuyun revealed his true identity to Yuan Hu.
He wanted the man’s full cooperation, knowing that willing collaboration was far better than control through a slave seal.
Yuan Hu was stunned to learn that Ye Liuyun came from Moyana Island. “The craftsmanship on those small islands has advanced that quickly?” He never imagined Ye Liuyun was capable of forging a starship.
Ye Liuyun nodded. “It’s not just about technique. We’ve also discovered new sources of materials for weapon refining.”
Yuan Hu was still unsure, even though he was amazed. "My loyalty to the Sanctuary Dynasty is paramount. This is where I was born and raised."
“Neither do I,” Ye Liuyun assured him. “Our true enemy is the foreign races. Whether or not we can cooperate in the end depends on the Sanctuary Dynasty’s stance.
“Working with me still means fighting the foreign race. Serving the Sanctuary Dynasty is also about resisting them, anyway. The only difference is that we’re weaker and need to borrow some troops.
If they refuse, we’ll have to find another way. But your perk is that you’d get to face the foreign races sooner.”
“But you’ve slaughtered countless armies of the dynasty,” Yuan Hu countered.
Ye Liuyun held up the document Yuan Hu gave him. “Aren’t you doing the same thing? Wouldn’t it be better to let me recruit some of them into an army to fight the foreign races instead?”
After a brief period of contemplation, Yuan Hu realised he did not have a point to counter his view.
In the end, he relented. At least Ye Liuyun’s goal was to form an alliance against the foreign race invaders. No matter how things unfolded, when the time came, Ye Liuyun would undoubtedly stand against them.
Having secured Yuan Hu’s reluctant cooperation, Ye Liuyun added a warning: "The Stygian issued a bounty on your life. Stay vigilant. If you’re ever in danger, use the slaving seal to contact me. "I’ll come to your rescue."
Through a mix of persuasion and the presence of the slaving seal, Ye Liuyun had temporarily bound Yuan Hu to his cause.
"Yes," Yuan Hu replied obediently.
Soon after, Yuan Hu led his troops away from Valorcrest to recruit soldiers from smaller towns. Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun discreetly separated his own forces from the main army during the march, ordering his men to don the given blue armour.
"Remember this," he ordered. "From now on, we are the Shangwu Legion, tasked with carrying out secret missions for the dynasty. I will lead you to seize more resources and strengthen your power."
He then added after a brief pause, "When we switch to black armour, we are the official army of the Sanctuary Dynasty. Until then, the banner of the Shangwu Legion remains hidden."
The soldiers immediately understood that Ye Liuyun was taking them on a plundering spree.
Improving their training was the first priority for these martial artists. Given the weight of their allegiance vow, it made no difference for whom they battled. Not a single person had the guts or the idea to oppose him.
With that, Ye Liuyun led the Shangwu Legion straight back to Valorcrest.
By then, most of the city’s garrison had already left with Yuan Hu.
With just the most vulnerable defenders left behind, Ye Liuyun’s men easily vanquished them.
Wan Weihou rallied his personal guard of several thousand to resist, but they were swiftly overwhelmed and driven back to the city lord’s manor under relentless pursuit.
Leaving only ten thousand soldiers to besiege the manor, Ye Liuyun dispatched the remaining twenty thousand to dismantle the Conveyor Formation, raid merchant guilds, and loot the holdings of major factions.
Facing the blue-armoured troops, Wan Weihou vaguely suspected they might be Ye Liuyun’s troop.
Therefore, he insisted on a personal meeting with Ye Liuyun, failing which they would be forced to confront him and his guards, who would engage in a death-defying battle.
"Ye Liuyun? Who’s that?"
The Shangwu troops exchanged puzzled glances among each other.
"Wan Weihou, enough with your tricks. We have no idea who you’re talking about. That man isn’t in our ranks," came the cold reply. "Lay down your weapons and surrender, and your men and their families shall be spared. "Resist, and none shall live."
The ultimatum was delivered with icy finality.
"Not Ye Liuyun?" The Wan Weihou was taken aback. It was utterly what he had not anticipated.
Beside him, Wyang Wei nodded in confirmation. "Their tactics don’t match the Empyrean Legion’s style of warfare."
"Where did all these rebels come from then?"
Hearing it, Wan Weihou sighed heavily. Currently, he knew further resistance was futile.
Earlier defence of the city had already proven their inferiority. If they kept fighting, even his family would perish.
With that in mind, Wan Weihou surrendered. His thousand-strong guard was absorbed into Ye Liuyun’s army.
Both he and Wyang Wei were escorted to the commander’s tent.
Only then did Ye Liuyun release his clone, allowing it to revert to its original appearance to meet them.
