Chapter 1413: No Place to Go

"How did the West Phoenix King put it?" Qujing's face sank as he asked the Leader.

"The West Phoenix King said there's no time. When his reinforcements arrive, our great army will also be destroyed. Moreover, he sent troops to fight, lacking territorial advantage, and with few numbers they're utterly useless!" the Leader replied.

"Alright, I understand! You've worked hard, go rest!" Qujing dismissed the Leader to rest.

"Prince, although the West Phoenix King's analysis is correct, it seems somewhat unrighteous!" Wen Chenggang spoke first. "Perhaps he truly has difficulties!" Qujing sighed.

Ye Liuyun suddenly felt that the West Phoenix King might not be as Qujing described. If it were a life‑and‑death friendship, no matter what, he should have come with full reinforcements.

It seems Qujing brought troops here because he truly has nowhere else to go! Perhaps only that terrain can withstand the Empire's attack! he thought secretly.

Originally he planned to send Qujing's group to the Luanfeng He, then go nearby to look for resources. Now it looks like he'll have to follow Qujing's group to see the situation, and leave after they're settled.

"What difficulties! I think he's forgotten that you once saved his life!" Wen Chenggang complained dissatisfied.

"Bringing up the past is pointless! Now we're leading the great army to flee. From now on, say less of such talk!" Qujing ordered Wen Chenggang.

Wen Chenggang sighed, fell silent, but his expression clearly showed great dissatisfaction.

Qujing glanced at Ye Liuyun, gave an embarrassed smile.

Ye Liuyun saw his helplessness, said nothing. He didn't know the West Phoenix King's character, so it was inappropriate to comment.

After a while, he asked Qujing: "What kind of terrain does the West Phoenix King have that can block the Empire's advance? How do they obtain resources there?"

Qujing patiently began to explain to Ye Liuyun.

"The Luanfeng He is dozens of li wide, and strong winds blow over the river. Only warships can cross. Martial cultivators at the Earth Sovereign realm can leap across, but the great army cannot."

Moreover, the West Phoenix King has set up many devices along the riverbank that can bombard warships. So just this alone makes it very difficult for the Empire to cross the river.

Furthermore, the opposite bank is a mountainous region; the West Phoenix King has laid numerous traps in the forests. Thus, to attack the West Phoenix King, without several times the troop numbers, it's impossible to take it down.

The Empire isn't unable to attack; it simply doesn't want to expend that manpower!

Qujing paused, then began to introduce Ye Liuyun to the resources of the West Phoenix King's territory.

"The ultimate feature of the West Phoenix King's territory is a cone‑shaped mountain peak. Its three ridges are three spiritual stone veins, extending dozens of li."

However, most of the veins cannot be mined, because the central area of the spiritual stone vein is surrounded by a vein of magic crystal and fire crystal.

Thus, the spiritual stone vein he can mine is only a small portion extending from those three ridges, but that is already enough to sustain his great army's expenses!

Hearing this, Ye Liuyun's heart stirred.

"Magic crystal, fire crystal veins, and most of the three spiritual stone veins… these resources are truly abundant!"

He immediately decided to explore here for a while, not wanting to leave yet.

This is the first major vein resource he's discovered since arriving here — dozens of li of spiritual stone vein, encircled by a ring of magic crystal and fire crystal!

He had never seen such a large vein before!

Having finally encountered such a resource, how could he bear to leave?

Along the way he's also found a few smaller veins, but he never touched them; those veins are so poor he couldn't bring himself to work them, better left for the locals to cultivate.

Yet he didn't reveal his thoughts.

He planned to go in, then sneak out to explore; that way, even if he caused a big commotion, no one would know it was him.

One or two days later, the warship arrived before a river with turbulent waters.

On this bank, a warship was docked.

A person dressed as a Leader, leading two squads of soldiers, greeted Qujing here.

"Prince Qujing, I, your humble subordinate, await your arrival on orders of the West Phoenix King!" the Leader greeted them from afar.

"Thank you for your trouble, Leader!" Qujing politely replied.

"It seems the West Phoenix King truly doesn't regard Qujing as a friend. Not only does he not send reinforcements, he doesn't even come to greet in person!" Ye Liuyun thought secretly.

"Prince Qujing need not be courteous. This time I'll guide you. Please arrange the Leaders to have the warships form a column and follow my route; I know a path with minimal wind and waves, making the crossing easier for everyone." the Leader told Qujing.

"Good!" Qujing nodded, immediately had Wen Chenggang arrange the warships' sailing order, letting them proceed one after another as required.

Then the Leader's warship started up, leading them ahead.

The main warship carrying Ye Liuyun and Qujing went ahead, following that warship.

After they reached the opposite bank, the soldiers disembarked. The Leader went to report to the West Phoenix King.

Ye Liuyun also surveyed the surroundings.

The temperature here is much higher than elsewhere; as soon as they disembarked from the warship, they felt it was extremely hot.

Ye Liuyun extended his Divine Sense and also discovered that the high temperature is due to nearby fire crystal, making the temperature comparatively high.

From this we can see that if one approaches a fire crystal vein, the temperature should be even higher.

He secretly rejoiced: "At last I've found good resources!"

Within the range of his Divine Sense, everywhere was being cleared of mountainous terrain; many buildings were built against the mountains.

Along the shore there were also many catapult‑like siege engines, presumably used to bombard warships attempting to cross the water.

Ye Liuyun had long noticed that the warships of this world lack attack capability and their defenses are also much weaker.

He still has two warships he brought; if he took them out, they could let them serve as treasures.

But such items are too rare; they'd arouse suspicion, so Ye Liuyun would not easily bring them out for use.

Qujing's army stood in formation for a long half‑day before the West Phoenix King finally arrived late.

A big‑bearded man, surrounded by several Leaders, laughed loudly as he greeted Qujing from afar!

"Haha, Prince Qujing, long time no see, your bearing remains unchanged! Even the Empire's four hundred thousand great army couldn't do anything to you!"

Ye Liuyun also sized up the West Phoenix King, discovering he is merely a Martial Cultivator of the Zao Hua Third Realm.

"The princes here are truly strange, their realms are not high!" Ye Liuyun thought secretly.

Qujing hurried over to greet him.

"I'm truly at a dead end, so I've come to rely on brother you! I'm causing you trouble!" Qujing's attitude was very humble.