Chapter 2602: Chapter 2602
After subduing Zhou Ning, Zhou Qiang, spurred by the advice of several sycophants, began assembling a large army to launch a counterattack against the newly established Jin Clan tribe.
In reality, however, those individuals were merely exploiting the pretext of war preparations to line their own pockets. A significant portion of resources ended up in their personal coffers.
Around this time, the alien race once again reached out to Zhou Qiang, offering to collaborate under the guise of launching an assault on the Jin Clan tribe. Their true motive was to secure an alliance before Ye Liuyun—who was rapidly advancing toward their stronghold—arrived to negotiate terms.
Though Zhou Qiang was not under the alien race’s control, he saw cooperation as a viable option. Even if an alliance fell through, eliminating the Jin Clan tribe first would still ease future battles.
He even entertained the idea of letting the aliens destroy the Jin Clan, sparing him the need to deploy his own forces. As for any formal alliance, he had no interest—he feared it would restrict his authority over his army.
Thus, Zhou Qiang struck a deal with the alien race, who then prepared to attack the Jin Clan once more.
No sooner had the agreement been made than someone sold the information to Ling Xiao in exchange for resources.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Ling Xiao immediately contacted Ye Liuyun. With no other allies to turn to, he could only hope Ye Liuyun would lend aid in the spirit of their shared fight against the alien race.
Ye Liuyun, sensing that the time to confront the aliens was near, agreed.
He first ordered Tian Dao’s elite vanguard to assemble, then used the Black Tower’s teleportation to return to the League of the Sunlit South. Gathering warriors like Dian Qing and Meng Qingyin’s forces, he set off to reinforce Ling Xiao, while the rest of his army mobilized for war.
Afterward, he returned to the Zhou Clan territory to deal with Zhou Ning.
A warrior of Zhou Ning’s caliber could not be allowed to fall into the hands of Zhou Qiang or the aliens.
The moment Ye Liuyun arrived, Zhou Ning detected his presence and immediately gave chase. Ye Liuyun deliberately lured him out of the tribe, and Zhou Ning pursued without hesitation.
To Zhou Qiang, Zhou Ning reported that he had detected a powerful rebel and was going to eliminate him. But in truth, he secretly hoped Ye Liuyun could erase the soul contract binding him.
"If we can’t erase it, then killing him would be better than letting him live."
As if reading his thoughts, Ye Liuyun suddenly turned around after walking a short distance. He activated his temporal powers, planting a slave seal on Zhou Ning and erasing his previous soul contract.
"Whew!" Zhou Ning exhaled deeply, relief washing over him. "Finally free!"
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Liuyun probed Zhou Ning’s memories, uncovering recent events and Zhou Qiang’s schemes.
After learning the truth, Ye Liuyun shook his head in resignation. "Zhou Qiang must be eliminated. If he fails, he’ll likely betray us to the alien invaders."
Though reluctant to accept it, Zhou Ning nodded in agreement. He had seen enough of Zhou Qiang’s actions to know the man was beyond redemption.
Sensing his hesitation, Ye Liuyun reassured him, "Don’t worry. Once we drive out the aliens, I’ll help unify your two tribes. Whether it’s the Zhou or the Jin, what matters is improving the people’s lives. It’s time to let go of old grudges. With the aliens preparing for their final assault, unity is your only hope. Without it, resistance is futile."
Zhou Ning nodded thoughtfully, then fixed Ye Liuyun with a searching gaze. "Who are you, really?"
He had long suspected Ye Liuyun’s identity—his strength and insight far surpassed anyone from their tribes.
At last, Ye Liuyun revealed his true face, confirming his identity. But just as quickly, he shifted back to his disguised appearance.
"I can’t risk exposing my presence here yet," he explained. "If the aliens learn of my arrival, their strongest will come prematurely. I need to sever their connection to their homeworld first, buying you more time to prepare."
"So it’s you!" Zhou Ning’s eyes widened in realization. "No wonder the alliance chose you to lead. Even a warrior like me was subdued in an instant—your power is beyond measure."
Yet Ye Liuyun hadn’t resorted to control from the start. He had given them a chance to face the aliens themselves. Only when their own people faltered did he step in.
It was clear that Ye Liuyun genuinely sought an alliance rather than control over them.
Thus, he now resolved to support the coalition against the alien invaders. Without unity, their own forces would struggle to unite the two tribes—likely tearing each other apart before the aliens even struck.
Ye Liuyun didn’t meet Ling Xiao in person. Instead, he released Dian Qing and his group, along with Meng Qingyin’s team, instructing Zhou Ning to conceal them near Ling Xiao’s stronghold. They would launch their attack the moment the aliens arrived.
He only communicated with Ling Xiao via a message talisman: *"I’m too far from you right now, but the forces I’ve sent to aid you are already lying in wait nearby. They’ll strike as soon as the aliens appear. Keep this secret—don’t let word slip, or the enemy might prepare defenses. I’ll join you as soon as I can."*
After coordinating with Ling Xiao, Ye Liuyun used the Black Tower of Teleportation to return to eliminating the alien outposts. This time, however, he didn’t engage in combat himself. Instead, he monitored the enemy’s movements near their military encampment.
Just as six outposts remained, the aliens launched their assault on the Zhou Tribe. Their goal was clear: to lure Ye Liuyun into a rescue mission, diverting his attention from their main stronghold.
The forces they dispatched were just enough to crush Ling Xiao’s Jin Tribe—only a million soldiers, suggesting they didn’t want to waste excessive resources on him.
Ye Liuyun soon realized that after this deployment, the alien encampment was left nearly defenseless—aside from a few stubborn defensive formations, there were hardly any elite warriors guarding it.
He immediately alerted Meng Qingyin and the others, urging them to strike first and prevent the aliens from setting up defensive arrays or altars. Meanwhile, he regrouped with his doppelgänger and allies to devise a plan to eradicate the remaining outposts in one fell swoop.
First, he visited each of the remaining alien bases, recording their coordinates in the Black Tower of Teleportation. Then, he divided his forces.
His doppelgänger, the Purple Kylin Snake, the Demon Vine, Lei Ming, Liang Xue, and the Nine-Headed Demon Dragon each led a squad of six teams.
The doppelgänger and the Demon Vine operated alone. The Purple Kylin Snake teamed up with the Vermilion Bird, while Lei Ming and the Dragon Girl led the three-eyed aliens, including Mu Lai. Liang Xue commanded Feng Hongxiu, the Vespera beast, and powerful alien warriors like Hong Guang. The Nine-Headed Demon Dragon took charge of all the beast forces.
Using the Black Tower of Teleportation, Ye Liuyun transported each team to their designated outposts. His doppelgänger struck first, after which Ye Liuyun teleported them both to the alien encampment. Then, the entire force moved in unison—first demolishing every altar before wiping out the remaining invaders.
