Chapter 1947: Resource Monopoly

Ye Liuyun could also see from Guan Shan Yue's attitude that the Eastern Region was a different world from the Western and Southern Regions.

But he was not so frightened by the Eastern Region's strength.

He still had to go east, and the army had to come along.

Even if it meant taking them to the border to acquire more resources and selecting some strong ones for cultivation, they would still be his own troops.

Ye Liuyun also made thorough preparations for the trip east.

He brought the Alchemists Lin Luoyi and Lin Xiyao with him, in case the need for elixirs could not be met later.

He also had Lin Luoyi stockpile various medicinal herbs.

Although Xuan Yuan Ling did not want them to leave, she could not stop Ye Liuyun's steps, and in the end could only reluctantly let them go.

Afterwards, Ye Liuyun inspected everyone's weapons and Defense Artifacts, then compiled a procurement list.

Anything Xuan Yuan Ling could handle, she let Xuan Yuan Ling procure.

When Xuan Yuan Ling struggled with the tasks, Ye Liuyun handed them over to Guan Shan Yue, who bought them at the exchange Grand Hall in the Alien Battlefield and delivered them to Ye Liuyun.

Especially the two eighth‑rank Flying Boats—Ye Liuyun kept one and his clone kept the other—as essential artifacts for rapid travel and escape.

Ye Liuyun also sent the Invisibility Cloak to the exchange Grand Hall for an upgrade.

Once everything was ready, Ye Liuyun led the Sharp Blade Corps together with He Lian Xiu's legion toward the Eastern border.

Yu Xiaofeng and Xiao Yunfang temporarily rested the army, trained soldiers, and expanded the reserve corps' manpower.

Wherever the Death Legion arrived, almost no one dared to resist; they obediently submitted and handed over command.

Thus Ye Liuyun and his group did not linger, and after a little over three months they rushed straight to the Eastern border.

At this Eastern border stood an army of three hundred thousand.

When the Leader saw the Death Legion arrive, he immediately handed over command, allowing Ye Liuyun full authority, and cooperated greatly.

He even produced a map of the border battlefield's factional strongholds, briefing Ye Liuyun on the situation.

After this map overlapped with the one the Western Liang King had given Ye Liuyun, the information became even richer.

But after looking at it, Ye Liuyun found himself at a loss.

The map showed only a few minor forces such as bandits squeezed between major powers, and a buffer zone near the border reserved for Martial Cultivators of the Mortal Realm to survive temporarily; there was nothing else that could be moved.

Moreover, this was only the information known to the border Leader; there were probably many things he didn't know.

"You've been stationed here for so long and never sent troops out?"

Ye Liuyun asked the Leader.

"Yes! We only sent disguised scouts to gather information; we never dared to dispatch a large force.

Our soldiers' strength would likely be more than half lost if we entered the buffer zone!"

The Leader helplessly reported to Ye Liuyun.

"Has any strong individual ever charged the camp?"

Ye Liuyun asked again.

"Occasionally, but not often; sometimes we might not encounter one in a whole year.

Such strong ones have no need to rob us.

They don't care about our meager resources!"

The Leader explained.

After understanding the situation, Ye Liuyun had the Death Legion set up camp elsewhere, not far from the original garrison, without merging with them.

Then he took Ye Tiandao and He Lian Xiu, sent the Sharp Blade Corps into the Space World, and had his clone, cloaked in the Invisibility Cloak, go together to the border battlefield to scout.

No matter what others said, he had to experience it himself to know.

The border battlefield here, even within the buffer zone, was indeed different from other places; there were no starving corpses everywhere.

The Martial Cultivators they met were not ragged.

The Martial Cultivators in the buffer zone ranged from First to Third Layers.

Ye Liuyun and Ye Tiandao displayed Early Fifth Layer realms, while He Lian Xiu had already broken through to Late Fourth Layer.

After obtaining the spirit‑root tears, Wu Qingcheng and others, along with the Monster Beasts, had all advanced to Late Third Layer.

Therefore, Ye Liuyun and his group were among the strongest in this buffer zone.

And after three months of cultivation on the road, everyone was eager to test themselves and ready to move about.

Thus Ye Liuyun and his companions felt no danger.

Along the way, people kept asking if they wanted to join certain factions, all of which Ye Liuyun declined.

That day, Ye Liuyun was grilling meat with Ye Tiandao and He Lian Xiu when three Martial Cultivators—a man and two women—approached to chat.

The man politely bowed and said, "I am the deputy commander of the Tiger Mercenary Corps, Cao Meng.

"You all are from the Southern Region, aren't you?"

Ye Liuyun knew that the mercenary corps here were just a bunch of Martial Cultivators gathering to do jobs for money.

In fact, they weren't much different from bandits; they just took a nice sounding name.

But seeing Cao Meng speak politely, he wanted to learn more: "I am Ye Liuyun; Cao commander, may I ask what you wish to discuss?"

"How did you know we came from the South?"

Cao Meng, seeing Ye Liuyun bore no hostility, immediately began chatting with him.

"Martial Cultivators from the Mortal Realm generally have lower realms than yours.

And you haven't joined any faction, clearly not from the Eastern Region or this border battlefield!"

Cao Meng explained.

Ye Liuyun also smiled and invited them to sit, offering some grilled meat.

"Along the way we've had many invitations to join various factions! But I personally dislike being bound and have no intention of joining any faction."

Ye Liuyun politely refused.

"Actually, I also came to invite you to join our Mighty Tiger Group."

Cao Meng also said directly: "Actually, as soon as you set foot in this border battlefield, you've already been watched by many forces!"

"Oh?

Watching us?"

Ye Liuyun immediately became alert.

He actually hadn't noticed anyone bearing ill will toward them.

"Don't get the wrong idea!"

Cao Meng also hurriedly explained: "It's not that we want to harm you; we just want to recruit you! Martial cultivators from the Southern Region don't have much profit."

Moreover, your realms are high, so no one wants to cause trouble!"

"Oh!"

Ye Liuyun then nodded.

No wonder he didn't detect any danger.

Cao Meng then continued speaking to Ye Liuyun: "The situation in the Eastern Region is different from that in the Southern Region."

Here, big and small forces are intertwined, making it hard for individuals to get by.

Martial cultivators all need resources.

But everyone you see has a backer behind them—who would you go after to rob?

Even if their backing isn't strong, in reality, behind them there are even stronger forces supporting them.

Acting casually can easily put your own life at risk."

Ye Liuyun also said: "Team Leader Cao's words, I can also understand."

However, to find resources, you don't necessarily have to rob others! Just go find resources directly!"

Cao Meng then sighed and said: "The Eastern Region indeed has abundant resources."

But the resources here have long been monopolized by some big forces—where would there be any left for you!"

After passing the buffer zone, your realms lose their advantage.

In the end, to obtain resources, you still need to find a backer who will provide them."

"Then I'll just find a big force later, right?"

Ye Liuyun also retorted.