Chapter 1414: Original Intent

"Hey, our life‑and‑death brotherhood, no need for formalities. You coming to join me is the right thing! Follow me; I've already set up a banquet for you!"

West Phoenix King walked over and gave Qujing a familiar hug.

As they walked, the two Princes also introduced the people around them.

Since Ye Liuyun didn't display his realm and was walking together with Qu Wanying, West Phoenix King and the others didn't pay much attention to him.

West Phoenix King also ordered someone to take Wen Chengang to assign a camp location for the main army.

But when they entered the banquet hall, the enticing scene startled everyone.

Inside the hall, twenty Tianzun Realm Martial Cultivators stood neatly on both sides; the pressure they exuded made everyone struggle even to take a step.

West Phoenix King pretended to wave his hand, signaling the men to lower their pressure and inviting Qujing and the others inside.

"Don't mind; these are death‑row prisoners I bought earlier and signed Divine Soul Contracts with. It's precisely because of them that I can ensure my territory's safety!" West Phoenix King explained.

But his method was clearly a show of force for Qujing and the others, warning them not to act rashly.

Qujing gave an awkward smile and said nothing. He hadn't had any other plans, so he didn't take it to heart.

During the banquet, West Phoenix King pretended to chat with Qujing, saying their resources were also scarce. Their Mineral Vein had been mined down to the outer Fire Crystal layer and could go no further!

And the Fire Crystal Mineral Vein is extremely hot and hard to mine, implying they have no resources to accommodate Qujing's two hundred thousand troops.

Qujing understood his meaning and immediately handed over the preparations of the four hundred thousand troops they had just captured, and also contributed a lot of his own accumulated resources.

West Phoenix King shamelessly pretended to refuse for a moment, then took everything back.

"Alas, these resources are plentiful but not a long‑term solution! Brother Qu, I have a way to obtain resources; you could give it a try!" West Phoenix King suggested again.

"I'm eager to hear the details!" Qujing, though dissatisfied, patiently listened.

"You can have your soldiers mine Fire Crystals in exchange for resources! There's no war here, and idle soldiers are just idle, so let them become self‑sufficient," West Phoenix King revealed his intention.

Qujing thought it over and found it reasonable; this would allow them to develop sustainably.

"As for the mining split, I won't take much—just seventy percent, leaving the remaining thirty percent for you. How does that sound?" West Phoenix King discussed the profit share.

Ye Liuyun, feeling the temperature here, knew the Fire Crystal Mineral Vein must be scorching hot and extremely difficult to mine.

But West Phoenix King immediately demanded seventy percent. The remaining thirty percent likely won't cover the losses.

Qujing evidently also considered the danger of the Fire Crystal Mineral Vein and negotiated with West Phoenix King, reaching a forty‑six to fifty‑four split, taking an extra ten percent.

West Phoenix King finally agreed, but demanded that Qujing mine at least two million Fire Crystal Stones each day. If the amount fell short, he still required that the portion owed to him—one point two million Fire Crystal Stones—must not be less.

Qujing calculated: with two hundred thousand soldiers, each needing to mine only ten Fire Crystals per day would meet the quota, so the difficulty seemed low, and he ultimately agreed.

West Phoenix King laughed heartily, a look of a scheme having succeeded on his face.

That night, when Qujing and the others returned to the temporary camp, Wen Chengang complained: "They claimed there wasn't enough space and split our main army into four parts, placing them separately. Clearly they're using petty minds to gauge a gentleman's intentions, fearing we might turn against them!"

Qu Wanying added: "And they call us life‑and‑death brothers—how hypocritical! West Phoenix King took our resources and now forces us to mine; this isn't hospitality, it's clearly making us his laborers!"

"Alright!" Qujing shouted, stopping their complaints.

"At least we have a place to settle. Here we're still safe!" he told the others.

"Maybe not!" Ye Liuyun thought skeptically but kept silent.

West Phoenix King got Qujing to agree to mine and also split his army. That way, even if Qujing reneges, those troops are much easier to control.

When the time comes, those two hundred thousand people will become West Phoenix King's mining slaves!

At least in Ye Liuyun's view, West Phoenix King's behavior today already makes the issue clear. He could definitely pull off something like this!

"How many soldiers are under West Phoenix King?" Ye Liuyun asked Wen Chengang casually.

When he went out to arrange the camp, he learned the size of West Phoenix King's main force.

"Four hundred thousand! And they're all stationed around our perimeter. Each of our fifty‑thousand‑troop camps has a hundred‑thousand‑troop guard outside!" Wen Chengang said discontentedly.

"Then can't they wipe us out at any time?" Qu Wanying added, also indignant.

Ye Liuyun further suspected West Phoenix King's intention.

Qujing also sensed something off: "Tomorrow we'll assess the Fire Crystal Mineral Vein situation. If it truly fails, we'll leave and find another place! You all go rest!"

Hearing that, Qu Wanying and Wen Chengang stopped complaining, because leaving would make them hunted by the Empire.

So, compared to that, enduring a bit seemed nothing!

Thus they each went to rest, leaving only Ye Liuyun unmoved.

"Young Master Ye, something wrong?" Qujing asked puzzled.

Ye Liuyun saw he still hadn't sensed West Phoenix King's intent and couldn't help giving him a reminder:

"If West Phoenix King's original intent was to make your army work as his miners, then you probably can't leave now!"

"That… can't be, right? If I were him, I'd also take precautionary measures. He's just being more blatant and greedy…" Qujing kept making excuses for West Phoenix King.

"Hope so!" Ye Liuyun didn't argue, since he'd already warned him.

If his suspicion is correct, it would actually be good for him; he could openly seize the resources.

Before departing, Ye Liuyun again warned Qujing to keep an eye on Qu Wanying, so she wouldn't be used as a hostage to threaten him.

Although Qujing thought Ye Liuyun was being overly paranoid, he still cherished his daughter; that night he not only dispatched troops to strengthen the guard but also stationed a night watch outside Qu Wanying's tent.

That night, Ye Liuyun's Divine Sense indeed detected two Tianzun Realm Martial Cultivators sneaking into the camp, approaching near Qu Wanying's dwelling.

But seeing many soldiers outside and Qujing present, they dared not act and slipped back quietly.