Chapter 598 The Three Great Empires Join Forces

After spending a month and a half, Liu Ling personally traveled to more than a dozen places, resolving several troublesome forces that were obstructing the Mercenary Guild’s development.

After this sweep, within the twenty-thousand-li territory covered by the Mercenary Guild’s branches, there were basically no powers left that dared to openly oppose the Mercenary Guild.

Liu Ling’s methods shocked the Black-Corner Region, as well as countless powerful individuals even beyond its borders.

After that, the Mercenary Guild began to develop rapidly once again.

Some small empires outside the Black-Corner Region, upon hearing that the Mercenary Guild intended to establish a branch within their borders, saw their royal families personally come out to welcome them.

They stated that the Guild could freely choose any location within the country for its branch.

However, the more powerful empires did not share this sentiment. The top powers in these great nations believed that the presence of a Mercenary Guild branch would seriously impact their interests.

As a result, several major countries possessing Dou Ancestor experts secretly convened a meeting, planning to join forces to resist the Guild’s infiltration.

...

"Guild Master, recently the Guild’s expansion in the north has again met with some obstacles!"

Two months later, inside the Mercenary Guild headquarters, Elder Liu—who possessed three-star Dou Ancestor cultivation—walked into the main hall where Liu Ling was present, reporting recent developments with a furrowed brow.

"What obstacles?" Liu Ling asked.

"Some of the top powers in the major nations are worried that the arrival of the Mercenary Guild will weaken their influence and harm their interests. They have joined forces, intending to collectively resist the establishment of new branches," Elder Liu explained.

Liu Ling was not surprised by this report.

Although the Guild’s recruitment relied entirely on voluntary participation, and their operations were purely commercial, not involving theft or plunder and often driving the local economy upward, there would always be people who were envious or viewed the Guild with hostility.

"Which countries’ top forces have joined hands this time?" Liu Ling continued.

"Reporting to the Guild Master, this time it is mainly the Luoyan Sect from the Luoyan Empire, as well as the Mulan Empire and the Xuanhua Empire. These three are also trying to rope in several other major empires. For now, neither the Jiama Empire nor the Cloud Mist Empire have taken a stance," Elder Liu replied seriously.

"Guild Master, these three empires together each possess Dou Ancestor-level strength, but the strongest among them is only at the three-star Dou Ancestor level. The ones to pay special attention to are the Cloud Mist Empire and the Jiama Empire!"

"The current Cloud Mist Empire has undergone a dramatic shift compared to a few years ago. It is said that the royal family of the Cloud Mist Empire has already been dismissed, and all the empire’s power is now controlled by a new force—the Poison Sect."

"The Supreme Elder within the Poison Sect, Xie Biyan, has reached five-star Dou Ancestor cultivation. Relying on his strange poison arts, his strength is formidable."

"But what’s even more impressive is the Poison Sect Master. It’s said that Xie Biyan submitted to the Poison Sect Master simply from being overawed by her aura. This alone is proof of how terrifying the mysterious sect master must be!"

"Additionally, the Jiama Empire has Gu He of the Alchemy Sect. Master Gu He is the only known seventh-tier alchemist within tens of thousands of li, and his sect has four Dou Ancestor experts, with dozens of Dou King experts."

"If the Alchemy Sect is drawn into an alliance with the three empires, it will be extremely difficult for the Guild to expand northward!"

"Cloud Mist Sect, Poison Sect..."

As he listened to Elder Liu’s detailed analysis, the corners of Liu Ling’s mouth lifted into a subtle smile.

Just now, Elder Liu had pointed out that the two sects requiring the most attention were both headed by Liu Ling’s own junior sisters.

There was no way they would join forces with those three empires.

Thinking of this, Liu Ling did not regard Elder Liu’s concerns as troublesome at all.

"Elder Liu, the Jiama Empire and Cloud Mist Empire will not obstruct the Guild’s expansion. As for the three empires, the Vice Guild Master will handle them." Liu Ling replied calmly.

Seeing Liu Ling’s calm and confident manner, Elder Liu could say nothing more.

He had followed Liu Ling for so long, and although he still could not fully see through him, he understood that as long as Liu Ling was confident in something, nothing would go wrong.

"I understand! I will fully cooperate with the Vice Guild Master’s actions next!" Elder Liu replied respectfully, then withdrew from the hall.

"This time, I’ll let Xiao Jin handle those matters."

After Elder Liu left, Liu Ling murmured to himself, then left the hall and headed for his courtyard.

...

Arriving in the courtyard, Liu Ling found Xiao Jin and said with a smile, "Xiao Jin, I have a task for you this time. You’ll be heading to the Jiama Empire, and you can take the opportunity to visit the Cloud Mist Sect."

"So, it’s the Jiama Empire? That’s great, this task sounds good!" Upon hearing Liu Ling’s words, Xiao Jin readily agreed with enthusiasm.

"This time, take two elders with Dou Ancestor cultivation along with you. The main goal is to make the Luoyan Empire, Mulan Empire, and Xuanhua Empire withdraw their obstruction against the Guild…" Seeing Xiao Jin agree, Liu Ling quickly explained the details.

"Don’t worry, I’ve remembered everything!" After listening, Xiao Jin nodded heavily.

That very day, Xiao Jin gathered two elders from the Mercenary Guild and set out. After these months of development, the Guild had already gained many new members. There were now six more elders with Dou Ancestor cultivation. Including Xu Tao, whom Liu Ling had recruited in Tianya City, the Mercenary Guild now had seventeen experts at the Dou Ancestor level.

At headquarters alone, there was Elder Liu and four other Dou Ancestor elders. Even after Xiao Jin took two with him, there were still three Dou Ancestor experts guarding the headquarters, not to mention Liu Ling himself presiding.

After more than ten days of travel, Xiao Jin and his group arrived at their first stop: the Luoyan Empire.

In the Luoyan Empire, the strongest sect was the Luoyan Sect. The reason Xiao Jin came here was that the sect master of Luoyan Sect, Yan Luotian, was the one leading the alliance of the three empires.

Since Xiao Jin’s group had not concealed their movements, the people of the Luoyan Empire had received the news early.

In a giant fortress on the Luoyan Empire’s border, the imperial army was stationed.

When Xiao Jin and his group were still several hundred zhang from the fortress, a dazzling golden light suddenly rose from the rear of the fortress and floated in the sky above.

The experts from the Mercenary Guild saw a man in golden robes hovering high in the sky, with a pair of enormous golden wings on his back, radiating golden light—he looked truly imposing.

(End of this chapter)

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