Chapter 1955: Resuming the Battle with the Half‑Beasts

Now it's Kong Chenglin's turn to be dumbfounded.

And the strength of the personnel here is even greater.

He saw the Death Legion soldiers standing outside the arena; although they had changed out of their uniforms, each radiated killing intent, and all were at the mid‑stage of the Fourth Realm, numbering over a hundred.

It was then that he realized these were Ye Liuyun's true strength.

With such power, even the Kong family would not easily move against Ye Liuyun, fearing excessive casualties.

No wonder his words were so blunt! He wanted to go back and report to Ye Liuyun, yet he worried whether his report would have any effect.

If a fight broke out, any loss the Kong family suffered would ultimately be blamed on him.

Helpless, he still had to return to find Ye Liuyun.

If the mission fails, he won't be able to explain anything when he returns.

"Have you come to terms?"

Ye Liuyun looked at him mockingly.

Kong Chenglin, though cursing Ye Liuyun's whole family in his mind, dared not show it on his face. He forced a smile and explained to Ye Liuyun, "Captain Ye, please don't take offense; it wasn't that we didn't know your strength before, we were afraid you couldn't replace the Qi family stronghold!"

Now I have already seen your subordinates and know your power, so of course I'll continue to cooperate! I have already brought the payment, so rest assured!"

Ye Liuyun gave a slight smile, ordered the gates of the stronghold opened, and invited him in.

But the two subordinates he brought were stopped outside the stronghold.

Kong Chenglin didn't think further, assuming Ye Liuyun was merely trying to scare him, but Ye Liuyun actually acted on him, instantly planting a Slave Seal.

"Spare me, master! I'm just a runner, not very capable.

My greed for money got me in your way! If you, great one, could overlook a minor's fault, please let me go!"

Kong Chenglin immediately knelt, begging for mercy.

"No idle talk, help me return to the Kong family and keep watch, and handle the matter of me replacing the Qi family stronghold."

Ye Liuyun was too lazy to indulge his feigned pity.

Whatever he thought, Ye Liuyun knew it perfectly.

He handed those thirty people to him on the spot, letting him return to report.

Under the Slave Seal's control, Kong Chenglin was helpless, so he left the payment with Ye Liuyun and led his men back to report.

He also had to help Ye Liuyun arrange the replacement of the Qi family stronghold.

On Ye Liuyun's side, he was already pondering how to quickly upgrade his own power.

He doesn't even regard the Kong family, let alone be content with a tiny Qi family stronghold.

On either side of the Qi family stronghold's territory, one side belongs to the Kong family, the other to the Chen family, which lives by mining metal Mineral Veins.

The Chen family is also an old‑power on this border battlefield, needing many Martial Cultivators who mine.

Besides controlling a large swath of land themselves, they often cooperate with the Qi family stronghold.

Behind the Chen family is the famed Eastern chain of merchants, the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance; it is said this chain also has ties with the Ten Thousand Gods Alliance, and its business has reached the central region.

Whether he intends to move against the Chen family or the Kong family, he cannot encroach on the interests of the larger forces behind them.

"He must find the key contact, then complete the switch overnight, to ensure the business proceeds as usual."

Ye Liuyun thought to himself.

Regarding the Kong family, he has essentially locked onto the Grand Elder of the Kong family, Kong Changfeng.

The Kong family's affairs are basically coordinated by him.

As for the Chen family's situation, he still doesn't understand it and must wait for another chance.

On the other side of Ye Tiandao's territory lies a group of half‑beasts.

These half‑beasts originally consisted of some failed shapeshifted Monster Beasts that hid here, cohabiting with humans and beasts.

Gradually they formed a sizable population and reproduced.

Moreover, because these half‑beasts possess human intellect and ferocious beasts' Physical Bodies, their combat power is extremely strong.

On the border battlefield, they are often hired by major powers as enforcers.

These half‑beasts also have ties with the Beast King of the Eastern Chaotic Beast Mountain, frequently supplying humans as food to the mountain and receiving ferocious beasts in return, sustaining their race.

Chaotic Beast Mountain is even more formidable, having produced many large shapeshifted demons and being one of the stronger Eastern forces.

Ye Tiandao's group had only just captured the stronghold when half‑beasts began harassing and causing trouble in their domain, trying to loot resources and seize more territory.

Ye Liuyun immediately ordered Ye Tiandao to kill them outright.

Such small‑scale skirmishes would not attract the attention of larger powers.

But those half‑beasts would not relent, demanding compensation from Ye Liuyun's side, or else they would launch a massive attack.

Half‑beasts are the most numerous force on the border battlefield, with twenty‑to‑thirty thousand members.

Many minor forces avoid provoking them, usually just accepting the loss.

But Ye Liuyun intends to subdue this force.

He could use them to sweep across the entire border battlefield.

Fortunately, He Lian Xiu, with Lao Wei and others, has already subdued the minor forces below.

Ye Liuyun then had He Lian Xiu wait on the spot, letting ten thousand Death Legion soldiers advance into the buffer zone to rendezvous with He Lian Xiu.

After Lao Wei, Wu Qingcheng and others returned to the Qi family stronghold, Ye Liuyun kept Lao Wei there to manage the stronghold and take on tasks from the Kong and Chen families.

He, meanwhile, led the original Tiger Might Mercenary Corps together with Wu Qingcheng and others to rush and meet Ye Tiandao's group, and renamed the place Tiger Might Stronghold.

The half‑beasts waited many days without any response from Ye Liuyun's side, so they sent people to the stronghold's entrance to ask whether Ye Liuyun wanted compensation or war.

The party consisted of more than ten werewolves, the leader still at the early Fourth Realm.

These were werewolves: human‑like heads with wolf bodies, claws and fur, yet able to wield weapons like humans.

Moreover, when they stand, they are half a head taller than ordinary people.

Crouching and running, he wasn't slower than a wolf's speed.

"Qingfeng, manifest your true form, take the two Demon Wolves down to heal them; if you want to fight, go ahead and bring it on! At the same time, release Bloodline Power and see if you can suppress them!"

Speaking, he also had his clone release two Fourth Realm Demon Wolves, which followed Qingfeng to heal those werewolves.

When the Mountain Stronghold Gate opened, the pack of werewolves, seeing that the leader was a Green Wind Wolf accompanied by two Demon Wolves, were also stunned!

Qingfeng and the two Demon Wolves walked while releasing Bloodline Power, intimidating those werewolves.

Sure enough, Bloodline Power had a suppressing effect on these beastmen.

All the werewolves lay on the ground, low howling "Awooo" in submission.

"If you want to fight, go ahead and bring it on!"

After saying a line as instructed by Ye Liuyun, Qingfeng led the two Demon Wolves back.

After Qingfeng left, the werewolves immediately fled back, daring not to linger.

"Would they be scared like this?"

Lei Ming and the other Monster Beasts looked puzzled at Ye Liuyun.

"I don't know!"

Ye Liuyun smiled.