Chapter 752: Battle Formation

Lan Ruo Bing and the others were also a bit surprised; they didn't expect Ye Liuyun to agree so readily.

Ye Liuyun saw their astonished expressions and cracked a joke to ease the atmosphere.

"I didn't have a choice either!"

That eased the atmosphere, but Lan Ruo Bing and the others still doubted Ye Liuyun's sincerity in their hearts.

Ye Liuyun then continued seriously, "Lan Jie, I accept the conditions you proposed. May I also make a request?"

"Young Master Ye, please speak!" Lan Ruo Bing was curious about what request Ye Liuyun wanted to make.

"Young Master Ye, aren't you still dissatisfied with the conditions?" Wu Tian thought Ye Liuyun might ask for more and was somewhat displeased.

He felt the conditions they gave Ye Liuyun were already generous enough.

"I only have a small request!" Ye Liuyun didn't pay much heed to Wu Tian's attitude and continued, "I don't want to take those conscripted warships into battle."

Ye Liuyun further explained, "Those conscripted warships have virtually no combat power; taking them along would only be a burden.

Either you give me a few of your own warships, and after the missions are assigned, I will command them uniformly to complete the tasks;

Or you assign me a mission suitable for a single warship that I can handle alone."

This condition Ye Liuyun proposed was actually a test of whether they could trust him enough.

If they deploy Ye Liuyun's warship together with those conscripted warships, it would undoubtedly treat him as cannon fodder for scouting.

Conversely, if they equip Ye Liuyun with some combat power and let him undertake appropriate missions, even if they're somewhat dangerous, Ye Liuyun will do his best to complete them.

At the very least, they must trust Ye Liuyun enough to send his warship out alone.

Lan Ruo Bing thought for a moment, then nodded and agreed, "Alright, I accept. Once we decide which specific mission to assign you, we'll let you know."

"Fine, then I'll go back and wait for the news!"

Ye Liuyun rose immediately and took his leave.

Now that the terms have been settled, the rest depends on their attitude.

After Ye Liuyun left, Lan Ruo Bing asked Lao Gui and Wu Tian, "What do you two think?"

"This kid's not ordinary!" Lao Gui exclaimed, "When dealing with us, he's neither arrogant nor timid, neither servile nor overbearing, and even tests our sincerity in cooperation. I think we can try to work with him sincerely."

Early in the battle, give him some simple tasks to assess his combat and command abilities; if all is well, we can continue to allocate power to him.

"Is this kid really that strong? We already have plenty of high‑end combat power; we don't lack him, do we?" Wu Tian hadn't yet grasped the point.

"To snatch a Nether Ghost Ship from the hands of the Nether Hell people—how could that be simple?"

Lan Ruo Bing reminded Wu Tian and then ordered, "Do as Lao Gui said: separate him from the conscripted warship fleet and assign him to our combat force."

"Lao Gui, you handle the arrangements. During the battle, you will also monitor his combat situation and allocate forces to him."

"Got it!" Lao Gui replied, and went down to make the arrangements.

"What about me?" Wu Tian asked.

"You continue to conscript warships!" Lan Ruo Bing instructed.

"Alright!" Wu Tian responded and went out to work.

Although he internally resented Ye Liuyun, he has always obeyed Lan Ruo Bing's words without question.

After returning, Ye Liuyun began to focus on cultivation with everyone; even Du Yan and the others started training.

In the chaotic fights against the bandits, they also needed to strengthen themselves for self‑protection.

Ye Liuyun returned to the Xuan Kong Shi, extracted the remaining spirit marrow, and placed it into his own Space World.

The remaining spirit stones could at most raise his realm to the later stage of Yin Yang Five Layers, still insufficient for a breakthrough; better to keep them in the Space World to nurture them as Primordial Power supporting the Space World.

Currently, his cultivation focuses on bloodline, Spatial Power, and Heaven and Earth Power, raising these forces first.

Han Wu, upon learning that Lan Ruo Bing had effortlessly captured the Nether Ghost Ship, erupted in fury and scolded all his subordinates.

He realized that a little more pressure would have made Ye Liuyun's group surrender, but they handed this cheap prize to Lan Ruo Bing for free.

Lan Ruo Bing's warship was originally at a disadvantage, but the addition of a first‑class warship instantly balanced it.

"Boss, it's just a conscripted warship; it can't exert much power!"

His subordinates, after he calmed down a bit, also began to advise him.

Conscripted warships usually aren't aligned with the bandits, so in real combat they often can't deliver much force.

One first‑class warship is even weaker than their own second‑class warship!

"Hope, huh!" Han Wu could only say that now.

"Any movement on Jin Zhu's side?" Han Wu began to inquire about the other opponent.

"The fleet has already approached this side. Their warships are the weakest in scale. As for manpower, it's said they've hired an external aid at the Zao Hua Realm," Han Wu's subordinate reported.

"Hmm, Jin Zhu not hiring external aid would have no right to compete with us. But having hired external aid, they must accept our mutual challenge!"

Han Wu sneered, paying no heed to the Jin Zhu bandit group.

Jin Zhu, whose real name is Jin Zhu, was merely turned into a homophonic nickname by the other bandits.

After getting used to the nickname, he found "Jin Zhu" fitting, saying it would bring wealth, and thus kept using it.

The bandit group led by Jin Zhu was the first to discover the Secret Realm in the triangular area, but they only secured the first term's management rights.

Since then they've been on a downhill trajectory; for many years they've merely been a numbers filler, never winning.

Thus Jin Zhu's cultivation has never reached the Zao Hua Realm; his strength is the lowest among the three leaders.

Originally, the three parties had an agreement: whoever hires external aid will face a joint challenge from the other two.

So even though Jin Zhu hired external aid, the chance of overturning the odds against the combined forces of the two bandit groups remains slim.

Lan Ruo Bing's bandit group, taking advantage of the final three days, rushed to prepare and defend their management rights.

Wubing also worked hard to conscript several second‑ and third‑class warships.

Leveraging the positional advantage of the triangular area, the warships they conscripted total twenty to thirty vessels.

Although their combat power is lacking, the sheer presence already intimidates the opponent.

Alright, you go rest too! These warships are just for show, probing the enemy's strength — that's enough!

Lan Ruobing also urged Wubing to rest, preparing for the upcoming battle.