Chapter 2747: Chapter 2747
Eventually, even the major factions in the city began paying monthly protection fees to the Wolf Hunt Mercenary Corps, and Ye Liuyun no longer troubled them.
The merchant guild he established was later consolidated by Xuan Yuanling, offering a diverse range of resources. Over time, it became the go-to marketplace for many city residents, while other local guilds withered away from lack of business. Before long, Ye Liuyun’s guild grew into the largest commercial empire across multiple planets.
With the steady income from these enterprises, the mercenaries no longer needed to plunder ordinary martial artists or civilians. As a result, the planets under Ye Liuyun’s control flourished, their societies growing more prosperous and their public order increasingly stable.
Mercenaries like Ling Yuan took pride in this transformation. No longer forced to prey on the weak, they could sustain themselves through legitimate means—free from the oppressive grip of imperial officials. It was an ideal existence, something they had never dared dream of in their wildest fantasies. Who would have thought mercenaries could achieve such glory?
Every warrior who joined the Wolf Hunt Corps performed their duties with unwavering dedication. The group’s cohesion was strong, its members united. Over time, these mercenaries even took it upon themselves to uphold local order, swiftly eliminating any rogue bands that dared to pillage.
The remaining mercenary groups returned to their original trades, earning their keep through exploration missions and commissioned tasks.
Even Lu Xiao was astonished. Who would have imagined a single mercenary corps could govern multiple planets—and do it so effectively? In his mind, Ye Liuyun was clearly no ordinary man.
As for the Star Disk Empire, they had no interest in micromanaging. As long as the city lords didn’t cry for help, all was assumed to be peaceful. The specifics of that peace didn’t matter—just as long as no major incidents arose.
Far from interfering, the Star Disk Dynasty even rewarded Lu Xiao for his "exemplary governance," appointing him as the highest-ranking official to oversee those planets.
With Lu Xiao providing cover, Ye Liuyun’s expansion proceeded smoothly. But he wasn’t content with just a handful of planets.
On one hand, he directed the Wolf Hunt Corps to continue spreading their model to new worlds, with Lu Xiao finding ways to shield their operations. On the other, he began contemplating a journey north to assess the situation there.
Lu Xiao offered some sound advice on the matter.
"If you want to go north now, the best way is to enlist in the military. But if you enlist alone, you’d have to start as a common soldier. Instead, take a squad with you. I’ll petition the higher-ups to have you commissioned as a commander. That way, you’ll command respect and gain access to more valuable intelligence."
"It would also raise my own standing with the dynasty, granting me greater authority—making it easier to assist you in expanding your territory."
Ye Liuyun nodded thoughtfully. "Not a bad idea. How large a force do you think I should bring?"
"No need for excessive numbers—what truly matters is combat capability. The Empire is quite pragmatic in this regard, especially when it comes to defending against invasions.
I think three thousand should suffice. If you have a mix of warriors at the fifth or sixth level of Dominance, with the majority at the third or fourth, their strength will already stand out. By then, every army division will be clamoring to recruit your unit!" Lu Xiao suggested.
"Sounds good. I’ll start assembling a force of that size," Ye Liuyun agreed. He then consulted Ling Yuan and Mo Ran, instructing them to handpick the strongest and most capable fighters. However, both Ling Yuan and Mo Ran were to remain behind to oversee the expansion of their territory.
In the end, they selected a force of three thousand: one hundred at the sixth level of Dominance, three hundred at the fifth, a thousand at the fourth, and sixteen hundred at the third.
Ye Liuyun took command of this newly formed unit. Before departure, he had every member swear a collective oath of loyalty to him, officially naming the group the Wolfhunt Legion. Training commenced immediately, following the rigorous methods of the Death Corps, which quickly shaped them into a formidable force.
Once Lu Xiao reported the unit’s enlistment, the imperial court took immediate notice. A force of such caliber was undeniably elite, and Ye Liuyun was promptly granted the rank of a commander overseeing ten thousand troops.
Even before setting out, the Wolfhunt Legion caught the attention of Liu Haotian, the frontline High Commander, who personally requested Ye Liuyun’s presence.
Upon receiving his orders, Ye Liuyun mounted his falcon and headed north without delay. Meanwhile, his troops continued their relentless training within the spatial realm. He even sought out Ye Tiandao to assist in their drills, ensuring they’d be fully prepared by the time they arrived.
The legion was outfitted uniformly with Death Corps-grade armor and weaponry—lacking only falcons and a few other specialized gear. Each soldier was equipped with Energy Storage Stones and Energy Exchange Stones, instantly elevating their overall presence.
"Only their killing intent is lacking," Ye Liuyun noted after inspection, instructing Ye Tiandao to focus on honing their battle ferocity.
He deliberately slowed their journey, not pushing the falcon to full speed. Liu Haotian didn’t press them either, assuming mercenaries had little regard for discipline or punctuality.
Along the way, Ye Liuyun seized opportunities to deploy his well-equipped soldiers in live combat. To sharpen their bloodlust, they raided several mercenary bands and even a city lord’s estate. The Xenocide Lion also struck again, pilfering additional resources.
By the time they reached the frontlines, the Wolfhunt Legion was every bit as fearsome as the Death Corps. Their arrival drew the awed gazes of countless commanders as Ye Liuyun led them to report to Liu Haotian.
The High Commander was beyond delighted. He had expected to spend weeks training these recruits before deployment—never anticipating such a battle-ready force.
Liu Haotian examined their gear with keen interest, impressed by innovations like the energy shields, which provided defense while reducing the soldiers’ physical burden.
"Excellent, truly excellent! Just by looking at your equipment, I can tell you have experience leading troops. There’s no need for inspection—I already know your unit is qualified." Liu Haotian couldn’t help but praise them enthusiastically.
The soldiers of the Wolf Hunt Legion stood with an aura so formidable it commanded respect. Even the commanders beside Liu Haotian were visibly intrigued, their eyes gleaming with excitement as they flexed their muscles, eager for a challenge.
"Commander, mind if I give them a try?" A burly, bearded officer stepped forward and asked.
Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun studied them carefully. He noticed that not only were these men formidable—most at the fourth or fifth level of the Dominator Realm—but even their ordinary soldiers were no pushovers, generally at the first or second level. Their strength likely surpassed even that of the Death Corps.
Moreover, their discipline and morale were on par with the Death Corps. It was clear at a glance that Liu Haotian was no ordinary leader when it came to commanding troops.
