Chapter 2992: Becoming the Captain

This news indeed spread everywhere; everyone was guessing wildly, yet no one could guess the truth. No one suspected them either. Although their combat prowess was already famous, no one believed they could silently eliminate so many strong ones.

Li Qingyang, the leader of the bandit gang, had also suspected Ye Liuyun and his group. They had captured so many people, had a record of killing Guiyi Fourth Layer cultivators, and had even clashed with Guiyi Sixth Layer Martial Cultivators—making it hard not to raise suspicion.

But precisely because they jointly dealt with a Guiyi Sixth Layer Martial Cultivator and caused such a commotion, Li Qingyang felt they lacked the strength to silently eliminate so many strong ones in a single night.

They had also verified Ye Liuyun and his group's background—they had indeed never been here before. If they were spies from the Dragon Head bandit gang, they would absolutely not use the Treasure Vault key as bait.

Therefore he still leaned toward the idea that the strong ones' disappearance was the Dragon Head bandits' scheming, preparing to strike at the city while they were out on their expedition.

This was also his biggest worry. Otherwise, he wouldn't have paid attention to affairs outside the city, nor would he have coveted the resources in those strong ones' hands.

Thus he focused his investigation on the Dragon Head bandits, and indeed found several spies and Martial Cultivators who had defected to them, so he finally stopped suspecting Ye Liuyun.

After dividing the resources, Ye Liuyun and his group returned to cultivate and improve. But since they had just raised their cultivation level, they did not continue to raise it further; instead they focused on improving their strength in all aspects.

Ye Liuyun spent these few days refining his soul, bloodline, and physical body once more, then began absorbing the fire-attribute primordial power.

At that moment, the time for gathering arrived, and Liu Yan sent a subordinate to call them.

Ye Liuyun, Tang Xinyao, and the other nine followed that person rushing to the assembly point. Before they arrived, they saw from afar a medium-sized flying boat hovering in the air.

He glanced with his golden pupil and saw that many people were already inside; he guessed Liu Yan had deliberately arranged the gathering so that they would depart immediately afterward, fearing that the people he had released would be discovered by others.

When they arrived at the gathering point, Ye Liuyun also noticed that Liu Yan and his squad of subordinates were already ready, with a middle-aged Martial Cultivator standing beside him—likely the 'boss' Li Qingyang Liu Yan had mentioned.

Li Qingyang was at Guiyi Fifth Layer, his aura restrained, standing there unobtrusively; evidently his Heaven and Earth Power was strong, allowing him to easily merge with this heaven and earth.

Ye Liuyun deliberately examined him with his golden pupil and found he was at the late stage of Guiyi Fifth Layer, his True Essence quality very solid—he could break through to Guiyi Sixth Layer at any moment.

Li Qingyang immediately sensed something and looked toward Ye Liuyun; upon seeing the nine neatly clad black-armored guards behind him, he also recognized him as Ye Liuyun.

"This kid's golden pupil is not simple!" He didn't yet know Ye Liuyun, but he could feel that he had just been seen through, so he guessed Ye Liuyun's golden pupil had a special function.

Liu Yan immediately said something to Li Qingyang, then went to greet Ye Liuyun: "Ye brother, that's our boss. Release those people you captured; afterward we'll board the flying boat. With the boss present, even if someone sees them, no one will dare to intervene."

Ye Liuyun immediately released those ninety Martial Cultivators.

Around there were also over twenty Martial Cultivators waiting; seeing so many Martial Cultivators suddenly emerge, they were all startled. Some of them knew each other, making them even more astonished.

But Liu Yan didn't wait for them to react, shouting directly: "Everyone's here, board the flying boat!" He then had his subordinates bring Ye Liuyun and the others aboard.

Even if the bandit gang to which those people belonged recognized them, it would be too late to recall them.

After boarding the flying boat, they went to the designated spot to sit and cultivate. Then Liu Yan and Li Qingyang also led their subordinates onto the flying boat, heading to the area where the First Star bandit gang was located to rest.

As soon as they were on the flying boat, acquaintances began asking questions. But those whom Ye Liuyun had controlled only said they had volunteered to sign up, and said nothing else.

The flying boat set off immediately, without delay. However, they were not heading straight for

... the Wasteland Sea World, but instead went to several other cities to pick up more people before continuing onward.

Finally they arrived at the lair of the First Star bandit gang, only then disembarking from the flying boat to await orders at a makeshift camp.

Ye Liuyun and his group also understood this situation; with so many people moving, organization was certainly needed before they could set out together.

The camp was divided into two zones, each containing ten large tents. One zone housed the bandit gang members, the other the expedition team. Each large tent could accommodate fifty people.

Ye Liuyun's group of one hundred people were also assigned two large tents. Ye Liuyun, together with Tang Xinyao and the others, occupied one large tent, while the remaining ninety were crammed into the other large tent, and no one bothered to manage how they were distributed.

After half a day, Li Qingyang arrived at the expedition zone with ten bandit captains and a few minor lackeys.

Ye Liuyun's golden pupil detected that these bandits had all changed into uniform attire.

Then those ten bandit captains went to each tent to select the expedition team's captains.

Liu Yan directly went to summon Ye Liuyun, who naturally became the captain of this one hundred people; soon the other four captains were also chosen.

Those four were all at Guiyi Fourth Layer; likely the bandits simply picked someone with a high cultivation level to serve as captain.

Li Qingyang also personally greeted them: "I'm Li Qingyang, the overall captain of this expedition. Selecting you as captains is merely to facilitate passing on information and leading a squad; you don't need to manage those team members yourselves."

He said this, then summoned Liu Yan and gave each of the five a transmission talisman for easy communication. He also publicly announced that Liu Yan would assist him in managing the expedition team.

Then Li Qingyang left with the other bandits, leaving Liu Yan and his few subordinates behind.

Liu Yan then had his subordinates hand out expedition team badges to these captains, to distribute to their members. He also required that each person wear the badge on both left and right arms, to identify comrades during battle and avoid friendly fire.

After finishing the business, Liu Yan didn't forget to look after Ye Liuyun; he deliberately spoke with him in front of others, telling him they would not depart immediately, so he could cultivate in peace.

Upon seeing this, the other four captains immediately understood that Ye Liuyun had backing. Although some had previously looked down on his low cultivation level, their attitudes changed instantly, and they even introduced themselves to one another.

Ye Liuyun gratefully glanced at Liu Yan, who gave a knowing smile, then sent those captains back to await news.

Liu Yan himself, after making a round, left a few subordinates to maintain order here, then returned to the bandits' area.