Chapter 1841: No Pretending to Lose

Ye Liuyun immediately began training troops, completely forgetting the martial contest matchmaking matter.

He had Yu Xiaofeng lead three thousand men, and Xiao Yunfang lead three thousand long‑spear troops, training together.

They started teaching basic formation changes, little by little.

Yu Xiaofeng, Xiao Yunfang, Tong Xin, and even Lei Ming and others also trained together.

He made sure everyone could use formation coordination; even Tong Xin studied very earnestly.

Next came six‑person, nine‑person formations, with more coordination and variations.

Soon, Xuan Yuan Ling sent over the custom equipment and supplies.

It was even delivered personally by Xuan Yuan Ling.

"Why did you come?"

Ye Liuyun was very curious when he saw Xuan Yuan Ling arrive in person.

"You are now the President, so I'm delivering to your door and, while I'm at it, strengthening our ties so you'll place more orders.

What, not welcome?"

Xuan Yuan Ling smiled.

"Welcome, welcome! I'm just curious, nothing more!"

Ye Liuyun promptly invited her into the central army's main tent.

Ye Liuyun has been living in the camp every day, never returning to a residence.

"You left abruptly at that banquet, and I didn't know what happened to you afterward, so I came to check."

Xuan Yuan Ling then revealed her purpose.

Ye Liuyun quickly laughed and said, "I was a bit rushed then, so I forgot to greet you!"

"Is that Tong Xin a refining‑artifact prodigy? Where is he?"

Xuan Yuan Ling asked curiously.

"He's training; he's already joined my troops!"

Ye Liuyun said.

"Oh!"

Xuan Yuan Ling was a bit disappointed.

She thought that if Tong Xin were a refining‑artifact prodigy, Ye Liuyun wouldn't let him train alongside the soldiers.

So it seems Tong Xin may be ordinary, and what Ye Liuyun values might be Kuailei's combat power.

Thus she started chatting with Ye Liuyun about He Lian Xiu.

"After you left that day, He Lian Xiu kept asking me about you, seemed very interested!"

Xuan Yuan Ling said.

"Oh!"

Ye Liuyun gave a casual "okay" and didn't pay much attention.

He thought that not seeing He Lian Xiu later would mean nothing more.

"The preliminaries for the martial contest matchmaking have ended; you were directly selected for the finals.

The finals start officially tomorrow; are you going?"

Xuan Yuan Ling asked.

"Ah?

I haven't even competed, and I'm selected for the finals?"

Ye Liuyun was also surprised, having thought he had already been eliminated.

Xuan Yuan Ling said helplessly, "But every Martial Cultivator in the competition has seen your strength; no one objected!"

"Who cares, if I don't go tomorrow, I can just forfeit, right?

I've been busy all day; I have no time to play with them!"

Ye Liuyun said casually.

"Aren't you afraid Prince will punish you?"

Xuan Yuan Ling said worriedly.

"No, it's not a big deal; there are still many participants! I'm busy with important matters, why punish me!"

"Besides, the equipment is now complete; I have to prepare troops to gather resources! Otherwise, if I spend money alone, I can't support so many people!"

Ye Liuyun sighed.

"You just complain about being poor to me!"

Xuan Yuan Ling gave him a cold stare, then asked, "How many people are under your command now?"

"Six thousand now! One pill per person per day, that's six thousand.

You think this number is small?"

Ye Liuyun retorted.

"That's true!"

Xuan Yuan Ling nodded.

Even the wealthiest cannot sustain daily consumption of so many.

"Are you planning to suppress bandits?"

Xuan Yuan Ling asked.

"I intend to first suppress bandits, obtain some resources, enough for us to hold out until the border battlefield, then go to the border battlefield to find more resources."

Ye Liuyun said.

"Going to the border battlefield again?"

Xuan Yuan Ling exclaimed.

Ye Liuyun said helplessly, "What should we do?"

"Now there are more people, and the small bandit gang's resources aren't enough for how long we can use! I still want to go to the Alien Battlefield to train, but now I can't get away!"

Xuan Yuan Ling was even more surprised upon hearing that.

"Do you have to go to such a dangerous place to train?"

"If it's not dangerous, can it even be called training?"

Ye Liuyun retorted.

She also shook her head helplessly and joked, "I think, if your strength were a bit stronger, even the Royal City would barely be able to hold you!"

Ye Liuyun agreed, "A man should have ambitions in all directions!"

That remark left Xuan Yuan Ling unable to refute.

After a while, she sighed, "Actually, I also want to travel around and see things; I'm really envious of you!"

Ye Liuyun laughed, "What you think is sightseeing and enjoying good food! But in reality, it's constant danger, a thread between life and death."

Xuan Yuan Ling smiled, "Alright then, I'm going back, so I won't delay you from dealing with the danger!"

"Wait a moment! Since you're here, I have to give you some orders; I can't let you go empty‑handed!"

Ye Liuyun immediately took out paper and a pen, wrote down some medicinal herbs and quantities, and asked Xuan Yuan Ling to prepare them.

"Such a large amount?"

Xuan Yuan Ling was also quite astonished after seeing it.

Ye Liuyun felt that the army's consumption is too great now, and that making pills himself would be cheaper.

"Also need to buy several formulas for pills.

Formulas for fourth‑ and fifth‑grade Qi refining, body forging, and soul condensation.

The herbs also total one hundred thousand portions."

Ye Liuyun added.

Xuan Yuan Ling asked curiously, "Do you know how to refine pills?"

"So‑so, I guess!"

Ye Liuyun said casually.

"I'm really curious, what else can't you do?"

The more Xuan Yuan Ling looked, the more curious she became about Ye Liuyun.

"Also need to buy ten thousand portions of materials for forging weapons and armor.

Just follow the current armor and weapon material specifications."

Ye Liuyun continued.

"You can also refine artifacts?"

Xuan Yuan Ling was even more surprised.

"I can't, but as long as someone can, that's enough!"

Ye Liuyun smiled.

"What about Tong Xin?"

Xuan Yuan Ling thought of Tong Xin again.

"That's my soldier; don't even think about scheming!"

Ye Liuyun had already seen Xuan Yuan Ling's intention.

"Stingy!"

Xuan Yuan Ling had no choice; after noting everything down, she returned to Xuan Yuan Tower to help Ye Liuyun prepare.

Ye Liuyun continued to lead the troops in training.

But not long after, a messenger from the Royal Mansion came over.

First, he gave Ye Liuyun the equipment and funds for ten thousand soldiers.

Then the messenger told Ye Liuyun, "Leader Ye, the Prince has ordered that you must take part in the princess's marriage selection tournament, and you must not lose deliberately!"

"Huh?"

Ye Liuyun was speechless upon hearing that.

He asked the messenger, "What does the Prince mean?"

"Is he insisting on marrying his daughter to me?"

"Then just arranging the marriage would be enough, why the big effort?"

The messenger calmly said, "Last time, you only selected two people from those who participated in the marriage selection."

"The Prince's meaning is that there are still talents among them!"

"Oh?"

Ye Liuyun was startled.

He thought to himself, "If there really are talents among them, I could still go take a look!"

But when he saw the messenger didn't turn away, he asked, "What else did the Prince say?"