Chapter 1243: Rushing to Meet Death

The Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince both suggested acting as Ye Liuyun's backing, but he didn't dare agree, fearing they were unreliable.

The two of them also understood Ye Liuyun's meaning.

So they began to take the initiative, hoping to show Ye Liuyun what they could do.

But when the real fight started, they realized the borrowed troops were useless.

The soldiers simply didn't fight hard. During the charge they dawdled, delaying the battle; when retreating they ran faster than the others.

Moreover, the borrowed troops each had their own Leader, and sometimes they wouldn't obey the commands at all. Without command authority, they had no right to set rules.

It was only then they understood that these soldiers could only serve as decorations, not for real use.

When they talked with Ye Liuyun, they praised his wisdom, and of course also complained about the soldiers' laziness.

"When they guard a city they'll fight desperately! But in open battle they're a loose sandbag! Emperor Xia probably let you borrow troops just so you can stay put and guard the city!" Ye Liuyun explained to them.

"Then how about we all go into your city and help you defend it?" the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince both suggested.

Ye Liuyun understood that they were sincere in joining the fight and wanted to help, so he didn't refuse.

"Very well!"

Since Ye Liuyun seized this city, he has become a thorn in the Foreign Tribe's side, attacked nonstop each day.

Fortunately he has stones and Metal Puppets that never tire. Only when he needs to replenish energy does he let his own 30,000 Demon Cultivator army step in; otherwise he would have lost the city long ago.

And even so, he still finds it very strenuous.

If the Fourth Prince and Crown Prince's armies arrive, not only can those soldiers be forced into passive combat, but the city can be fully occupied.

So the Fourth Prince and Crown Prince each led troops into the city.

Before they entered the city, Ye Liuyun had already withdrawn his puppets.

The Fourth Prince and Crown Prince naturally knew Ye Liuyun had many puppets nearby. Yet the two Leaders sighed.

"With so few people, can you still hold the city?"

They only saw Ye Liuyun defending with his 30,000 Demon Cultivators.

"So the rest now depends on you!"

Ye Liuyun bowed to them, handed over the city defenses, and withdrew his 30,000 Demon Cultivator army for rest.

Ye Liuyun's guess turned out correct.

These people are useless in the charge, but they are diligent in defending the city, fearing the Foreign Tribe's army would breach it and they'd all die here!

The Crown Prince and Fourth Prince both admiringly said to Ye Liuyun, "You truly predict everything like a god!"

"Ha ha, now that you two are here, I'm much more at ease!" Ye Liuyun replied happily; this way his cultivation isn't delayed.

Now he hardly needs to go out and handle anything; the Fourth Prince and Crown Prince go to the walls daily to fight and patrol.

He spends most of his own time cultivating within the Xuan Kong Shi.

Because resources are now abundant, Ye Liuyun broke through to the Life-and-Death Duality realm in just a few days.

After solidifying his realm, Ye Liuyun wanted to move around, so he strolled onto the city wall to inspect the defenses.

"Huh? Why is it so quiet?"

He suddenly realized there was no Foreign Tribe attack today.

"Indeed! Today is especially strange!" the two Leaders and the two princes both looked a bit nervous.

Ye Liuyun stood on the wall, scanning the Foreign Tribe army's camps with his Golden Pupil, but saw nothing unusual.

"How about we retreat? If we keep holding out like this, when will it ever end?" a Leader suggested to Ye Liuyun.

These days their garrison has been severely depleted; they've told Ye Liuyun many times they need to withdraw. Too many have died, and they're feeling sorry.

"This city is crucial. It determines whether the imperial army can advance smoothly to the next level. If we fail to hold it, that's dereliction. Then the imperial court will blame us!"

Ye Liuyun pretended to brandish the imperial court to intimidate them.

The two fell silent upon hearing that. Such a heavy accusation they couldn't bear, so they could only obediently keep defending.

"But today it's suddenly quiet; we feel uneasy!" a Leader said.

"What are you afraid of? Just keep your defenses up, and we'll counter any move!"

Although Ye Liuyun spoke casually, his Divine Sense and Golden Pupil continuously probed the Foreign Tribe army's movements.

The sudden quiet is indeed a very abnormal situation.

At that moment, he suddenly saw a golden‑scaled Foreign Tribe member approaching the city, surrounded by a group of elite Foreign Tribe warriors.

The others also noticed the group and immediately turned to look.

The golden‑scaled Foreign Tribe was Ba He Lei.

He had been inquiring about Ye Liuyun's location all the way and only just arrived.

"Ye Liuyun, come out and meet your death! Lord Ba He Lei will deal with you personally!"

Behind Ba He Lei, a Demon Cultivator shouted on his behalf.

"Do you want to challenge me?" Ye Liuyun asked curiously.

Ba He Lei hummed lightly upon hearing that.

The Demon Cultivator translated for him: "Challenge? You're not worthy! However, Lord Ba He Lei, seeing you have a bit of reputation, will give you a fair fight!"

Ye Liuyun smiled and retorted, "On what grounds should I fight him?"

"What? Are you afraid?" the Demon Cultivator continued shouting.

Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil saw that Ba He Lei was at the Earth-Respect Eightfold realm; in a direct fight, Ye Liuyun truly wasn't a match.

Nevertheless, he saw no need to engage Ba He Lei directly.

Yet he still wanted to use this chance to inflict more damage on the Foreign Tribe. It now depended on whether such an opportunity existed.

If there's no benefit, he wouldn't voluntarily seek trouble!

"It's not that I'm afraid, it's contempt! A monster that can't even speak human language—why should I waste my effort on it!" Ye Liuyun retorted sarcastically.

Ba He Lei heard the words and let out an angry roar. Immediately, he then gave a few orders to that demon cultivator.

The demon cultivator immediately translated again: "If you can agree to our Ba He Lei, sir, we will hand over the two cities next to you to you!"

"Oh? Are you sure what he says counts?" Ye Liuyun retorted.

"Of course! No one dares to defy the words of our Ba He Lei, sir!" the demon cultivator shouted.

"I don't believe it! Have the Leader of those two cities come out personally to confirm, and then I'll believe!"

Ye Liuyun previously knew that the golden scale armor is the royal clan among the Foreign Tribe, and its status among the Foreign Tribe is very high.

But he did not know whether this royal clan has absolute authority in war.

Just like the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince, they are also royalty, but are they legitimate princes? Likewise, they cannot mobilize the army.