Under the guidance of Ye Tiandao, even Bucktooth’s group successfully killed an opponent, with him dealing the final blow himself.

This had him excited throughout the day. During his break time, he even began bragging to Orchid.

"I’m also training hard, and I’ll catch up with you soon!" Orchid declared defiantly.

"Good! I’ll be waiting for you to catch up!" Bucktooth let her say her piece, not arguing with her.

Ye Liuyun, however, began to ponder in his heart. Orchid would possibly catch up with Bucktooth if she were to continue such training for a few years.

Even without resources, the energy in her body would be enough to sustain her training to reach Ye Liuyun’s level.

Thinking back on how he was at Bucktooth’s age, he hadn’t even reached the fourth level of body refining, he couldn’t help feeling fascinated. People really do run from different starting lines!

If he were to reach the second level of Immortal Realm back then, how strong would he be now!

In just a few days, the training for the Tiger Mercenary was yielding some results. Their coordination was becoming more tact and they understood the importance and changes of this formation better.

They were also finally be facing their first major battle.

The captain of the Poison Dragon Mercenary marched towards the col with a few dozes of their people, with an average level higher than all of them.

It was only then that Ye Liuyun released Wu Qingcheng and the demons to let them move around.

For Lei Ming, Dragon Lady, and Manshu, whose realms were higher, he did not let them out.

This time, Ye Tiandao did not make a move, and observed the training results of these people from afar instead.

Helian Xiu also stood aside as witness after she had slain the enemy’s captain.

Wei and the team were initially quite tense, as they were fighting against enemy in multiple times their number after all. However, after seeing the numerous trump cards Ye Liuyun had in his possession, they finally felt at ease, and threw themselves into the fray, seeking out suitable opponents to fight.

The battle ended rather quickly.

Wu Qingcheng and her team’s combat strength was too powerful. With their late-third-stage-realm and their seamless coordination, the Tiger Mercenary was only able to get a chance to take down an enemy per group.

Orchid was still perched on Ye Liuyun’s shoulder while spectating the battle.

With the experience from previous battles, she didn’t start off as nervous as before.

However, this skirmish was even fiercer, so her nerves flared up again once the fighting kicked off.

Ye Liuyun specifically showed her the scene of a demon ripping off a dead body and taking out the virtuoso.

Then he warned her that she would share the fate as that person if she ever leaked out her secret.

It had Orchid repeatedly vowing never to mention her secret.

Constantly drawing closer to the battlefield, Ye Liuyun made her intimately experience the bloody aroma of war. After the battle was over, he even took her on a stroll amidst the corpses, chilling her to the bone.

"Train harder if you’re scared!" Ye Liuyun took every opportunity to impart wisdom to her.

After the battle, Ye Liuyun didn’t order his people to retreat. Instead, he had them stay outside with him, emptied their storage rings like his own, and served as members of the Tiger Mercenary.

Ye Tiandao, on the other hand, left with his team to clean the battlefield before setting off immediately for the Poison Dragon Mercenary’s lair.

Dozen of martial practitioners were captured from their base as prisoners to be used for trainings.

But this time, Ye Tiandao didn’t order their massacre. Instead, all of them were spared and forced to sign soul contracts with Master Wei, effectively becoming their servants and joining them in battles.

Wei found it somewhat inconceivable, seeing the rapidly expanding group.

"It’s just getting started. The group will continue to grow bigger!" Ye Liuyun said to him.

At this moment, Ye Tiandao approached Ye Liuyun and reported, "Our men have recovered from their injuries. The first phase of training is nearly complete."

"Good, immediately set off with everyone. We’re going to attack Qi’s Fort!" Ye Liuyun commanded.

"Huh? Qi’s Fort?" Master Wei and Cao Meng were both visibly startled. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The Qi family’s fort was now a force beyond the buffer zone, and the one backing up the Poison Dragon Mercenary. Nonetheless, Qi’s Fort was squeezed between two other strong forces struggling to survive between the crevices of these great powers, and did not have a strong backing themselves.

The mission to explore Goldragon Hill this time was issued by a great power, and was taken by the Qis. The 2 mercenary groups had already completed their mission, other than Poison Dragon who hadn’t hand over their last batch of men.

"The martial practitioners of Qi’s Fort are all at least at the third realm!" Master Wei said worriedly.

"So what? Didn’t you guys manage to kill some of the fourth realm? What’s there to fear about a third realm?"

"But there are more than 300 people in Qi’s Fort!" Cao Meng exclaimed.

"What’s the difference of killing one person and 10?" Ye Liuyun replied coolly. "If you’re not willing to risk your lives, do you think you could have a better life? Do you know why your situations are getting worse? It’s because when the real struggle comes, you guys are afraid to fight!"

Seeing that Wei and Cao Meng were still hesitating, all eyes turned to the two of them. "I’ll give you 2 choices. Either retreat and keep hiding in the valley until you all die, or fight with me for a chance at a future.”

Ye Liuyun immediately called to Ye Tiandao and the others, "Let’s go!"

"Let’s fight! Going back is waiting for death!"

"Yes, it’s worth giving up half of us if it gives the rest a hope to live!"

Most of them, after these days of training and killing, had ignited some of their passion for battle.

"It was my incompetence before that led you all to be so weak. From now on, follow the instructions of Captain Ye, don’t just rely on the two of us. He gave the order, why are you still looking at us?"

Wei, true to his veteran status, not only recognized his shortcomings but also noticed that Ye Liuyun was somewhat annoyed when he saw that no one was following his orders.

He finished his words and took the lead to follow Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun was indeed somewhat annoyed, but he could understand. After all, they’d gotten accustomed to Master Wei’s leadership from the long time spent together.

By the time these dozens of people reached Qi’s Fort, the folk there had already noticed them prior their arrival and closed the gates.

Even before Ye Liuyun could give an order, Ye Tiandao had already begun arranging the attack.

Wei and the others were all very nervous. Although it was only a small village, breaking through the gate could be at a great cost to them.

Plus, Ye Tiandao hadn’t arranged for the prisoners of the Poison Dragon Mercenary at the frontline.

They were full of doubts, wondering if Ye Liuyun intended to send them to their deaths. But it didn’t seem like it since he had put his own men at the forefront.