Chapter 2996: Bandit Approval

Ye Liuyun never returned to the expedition team thereafter; he stayed in the bandit group and became a bandit in Liu Yan's squad.

Over the next several nights they kept exterminating those scouts and spies, and Ye Liuyun increased the bandit group's numbers to fifty.

The duplicate and Zei Mao acted daily, not only raising the count of Guiyi Sixth Layer strongmen in their hands to thirty, but also gathering enough high‑end resources, so they no longer lacked cultivation materials on the road.

The First Star Bandit Group had largely eliminated the lingering threat; even if they couldn't wipe out all the personnel the Dragon Head Bandit Group had placed, they had stripped them of the ability to assault cities.

So they recruited five hundred more bandits, set out at once, and began this expedition.

Three medium‑sized flying boats formed a line and headed toward the Wasteland Sea World of the Huo Yin Star System.

At normal speed, they would arrive in three months.

Ye Liuyun waited for the warship to set off, then led everyone into the Space World to cultivate in peace.

But before he could cultivate for two days, Liu Yan called him out again.

When Ye Liuyun emerged, seeing Liu Yan's solemn face and feeling a bit odd, he proactively asked, "Brother Liu, what's wrong?"

Liu Yan sighed and sent a Transmission Voice to Ye Liuyun: "Brother Ye, you should return to the expedition team! Just now our leader received orders; during the voyage we also need to swing by and wipe out a few Dragon Head Bandit Group territories as retaliation.

Our leader said the chief wants to provoke the Dragon Head Bandit Group into striking us early, so they won't intercept us on the way back.

The unlucky part is that our bandit group is the main striking force, and this time we're attacking their city, so the battle will surely be fierce.

Staying with us would actually be more dangerous for you.

You've helped me so much; I must also keep you safe.

When the warship stops, you should retrieve those ten people from the expedition team, then you can cultivate peacefully while they follow me into battle!"

Ye Liuyun thought briefly and felt that, with the bandit group's high‑end combat power, they wouldn't need to face the elites.

Facing ordinary bandits would be a good chance for them to practice.

It would also let Zei Mao loot abundantly and bring back more resources.

So he deliberately sighed, "It seems Brother Liu really doesn't consider me one of his own! Since you want me gone, I'll leave."

"Um?

What are you saying?

I'm trying to protect you, why would I say I'm kicking you out?"

Liu Yan was also a little puzzled.

Clearly he wanted to look after Ye Liuyun, yet it turned into wanting to drive him away.

Ye Liuyun pretended to be profound and explained, "If you treat me as a brother, how could you refuse to let me fight side by side with you?

I intend to join the bandit group; sooner or later I'll fight together with you.

Now you make me leave, doesn't that mean you never considered me your own and never intend to let me join?"

Liu Yan shook his head and hurriedly explained, "Brother, you've really misunderstood me.

I've taken you as one of my own for a long time.

I only promised to protect those ten of you, and don't want you to die halfway."

"Brother Liu, if you truly consider me a brother, stop speaking of outsiders; since we're already members of your team, we won't falter in battle, nor will we make you and the other brothers shield us from danger.

As for combat, you needn't worry.

Our strength isn't weak either.

Moreover, I still have those monster beasts in my hands, so the battle will be safer than for you."

Ye Liuyun said these words in front of all the bandits, so not only Liu Yan but the others also felt he was brother‑worthy and qualified to fight alongside them.

They already knew the combat power of Ye Liuyun's people and wouldn't reject him for a lower realm.

Moreover, half of the current squad consists of people Ye Liuyun captured, all under his control.

Liu Yan patted his shoulder heavily, excitedly promising, "Alright, Brother Ye, I overthought it; from now on I won't speak of outsiders!"

Ye Liuyun nodded seriously toward him.

"Then you all cultivate first and prepare for battle!"

Liu Yan said no more and immediately sent Ye Liuyun back to cultivate, to boost his strength as much as possible.

After returning, Ye Liuyun told everyone the news.

They weren't worried at all; instead they were happy, feeling that cultivating for a while before heading out to fight was just right.

Especially Zei Mao, whom Ye Liuyun sent to raid the merchants' guild and the City Lord's Residence; he could freely steal from others as well, so he was even more eager and began to cultivate seriously.

Their next battle is scheduled five or six days later, giving them over fifty days inside the Space World—just enough time to cultivate.

Ye Liuyun finally absorbed the fire‑type Primordial Power and, together with his duplicate, began refining other resources.

These resources were mostly for enhancing and strengthening the Soul, bloodline, and other attributes; Ye Liuyun and his duplicate refined their bodies while absorbing them.

So after more than twenty days, Ye Liuyun's realm hadn't advanced at all, but his other strengths had improved considerably.

Now his and his duplicate's Soul, bloodline, and Physical Body have far surpassed his realm.

Although he doesn't know how strong late‑stage Guiyi Realm masters are, at least among the Guiyi Sixth Layer strongmen he now faces, none have Soul, bloodline, or Physical Body that reaches his level.

So for the remaining time he focuses on cultivating Mysterious Origin, integrating more Heaven and Earth Power to raise its quality.

He has discovered that the Martial Cultivator True Essence quality here is very high, rarely seeing the loosely condensed True Essence he once encountered.

This is also related to their frequent battles and bloodshed.

Thus Ye Liuyun cultivates on his own while looking forward to the honing that battle brings.

The women's realms can still find opponents within his Space World.

Yet even among the ancient Demon Race, he can't find anyone who can pressure him now.

Many of his powers counter the Demon Race, so even Guiyi Third Layer ancient demons aren't his match.

Training against Magic Vine is equivalent to consuming the Magic Vine.

Training with those Guiyi Sixth Layer captives, relying on True Essence, still doesn't match those strongmen.

Fighting with Tang Xinyao's people, he couldn't let go, afraid of hurting them.

Looks like when I go out to fight, I also need to conveniently grab some Return to Unity Third-Fourth Layer martial cultivators to practice on.

The fight between those two bandit gangs actually works to my advantage.

It would be best if they could fight a few more times before reaching the Wasteland Sea.

He felt that relying solely on his own cultivation, the quality of his Mysterious Origin improved slowly; only under pressure did he improve quickly.

Moreover, after his Soul and Bloodline Power increased, his attack methods also needed improvement.

Also, Spatial Power and Heaven and Earth Power also need to continue increasing.

He felt that these powers could only be improved quickly through combat, by giving him sufficient pressure.