Chapter 593 — Hostile Forces!

Right now, Liu Ling had decided to temporarily halt the expansion of the Mercenary Guild’s influence.

Once the territories under their control stabilized and a solid foundation was laid, that would be the moment for the guild to rise once more.

“Okay, I’ll listen to Brother Liu!”

Xiao Jin nodded vigorously. After constantly running around for so long, even someone as playful as she was beginning to feel exhausted.

“Xiao Jin, take some rest during this period,” Liu Ling said with a smile, gently patting her head.

“I’ll handle the other matters. But remember—if I’m not around and you encounter someone too strong to handle, crush Master’s Void Jade Talisman immediately.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin’s childish expression turned serious.

She nodded earnestly and replied, “Brother Liu, don’t worry. I’ve been keeping the master’s Void Jade Talisman very safe!”

The next morning, Liu Ling summoned the two Dou Ancestor elders stationed at Mercenary Guild Headquarters.

“Greetings, Guildmaster!”

“Greetings, Guildmaster!”

In the spacious main hall, Bai Xiuyuan and another black-robed elder greeted Liu Ling respectfully from where they stood.

Liu Ling rose from the seat at the head of the hall and waved his hand lightly with a smile.

“Elder Bai, Elder Liu, no need to be so formal. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Guildmaster.”

The two elders promptly sat down.

“Elders,” Liu Ling said after they had just taken their seats, “you should both be well aware of the current situation regarding the guild’s development.”

“Guildmaster,” Elder Bai quickly stood again and responded with respect, “the guild’s growth has been astonishing. Within a fifty-thousand-li radius, our influence has taken root. At this pace, branches will soon appear across every region of the northwest continent.”

“The systems you established are extremely effective,” Elder Liu added.

“All the mercenary groups feel a strong sense of belonging to the guild. With such structure, it’s hard not to grow powerful!”

Their responses were mostly focused on praising the guild’s achievements and highlighting its strengths.

But Liu Ling clearly wasn’t satisfied with such answers.

“Do the two of you have nothing else to say?” Liu Ling asked calmly, a slight furrow appearing between his brows.

With that question, the atmosphere inside the hall shifted slightly.

The two elders exchanged a look. A hint of hesitation flashed through their eyes.

Finally, Elder Liu spoke, his tone cautious.

“Guildmaster, I believe... I believe the guild may be expanding too quickly. Perhaps it’s time to slow things down.”

He had noticed the problems earlier, but with Liu Ling's aggressive momentum, no one had dared to voice them.

Now that Liu Ling asked directly, Elder Liu decided to take a chance.

As his words finished, the furrow on Liu Ling’s brow gradually relaxed.

“Elder Liu,” Liu Ling said, nodding approvingly, “your analysis is accurate. The guild’s expansion rate should indeed slow down.”

“I didn’t expect the Guildmaster to think the same way... Looks like all the credit this time goes to Liu Jinnan!”

Now fully understanding Liu Ling’s intentions, Bai Xiuyuan couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful.

His cultivation was at the mid stage of Two-Star Dou Ancestor, whereas Liu Jinnan had already reached the peak of Three-Star Dou Ancestor. Among the eight Dou Ancestor-level elders of the Mercenary Guild, Liu Jinnan had the highest cultivation.

Bai Xiuyuan wasn’t the strongest of the remaining seven, but due to his smooth personality and tact, he had managed to secure a place at headquarters.

Now that he had grasped Liu Ling’s thoughts, he quickly organized his words and reported, “Guildmaster, currently, within the territories under our control, there are still several powers who view the Mercenary Guild with hostility. Some even openly oppose us!”

“Oh? Tell me—who’s been making the most noise?”

Liu Ling asked, frowning slightly. Matters like these were usually handled by Bai Xiuyuan and Liu Jinnan. As Guildmaster, Liu Ling focused on leading the overall direction.

“Guildmaster, based on my current understanding, there are three factions causing the most trouble.”

“One of them is the Luo Clan in Tianya City, located over 13,000 li away from headquarters, toward the direction of Zhongzhou. They’ve even gone as far as to openly threaten the nearby branch, forbidding any expansion into that region!”

Liu Ling’s expression deepened at the name.

“The Luo Clan of Tianya City...? Tell me more about them,” he asked.

“Guildmaster, within that area, the Luo Clan is the strongest family in a thousand-li radius. What they're best known for is the spatial wormhole within their city—one that leads directly to Zhongzhou.”

“It was left behind by their ancestor, a former Dou Venerate. However, the Luo Clan has since declined, and their current patriarch is only at the Five-Star Dou Ancestor level,” Bai Xiuyuan explained in detail.

“A spatial wormhole to Zhongzhou...?”

That piece of information instantly stood out to Liu Ling.

“If we’re going to enter Zhongzhou in the future, then Tianya City might just be the key...”

Having made up his mind after a brief moment of thought, Liu Ling looked to the two elders.

“Very well. Since the Luo Clan is causing the most trouble, let’s deal with them first.”

Liu Ling understood Bai Xiuyuan’s character. Though slick in manner, the man could be relied on for execution. If he was willing to bring this matter up directly, then the Luo Clan had to be a legitimate threat.

“There’s something else, Guildmaster,” Bai Xiuyuan added. “It seems the Luo Clan has gathered three other Dou Ancestor-level experts. While they’re only at the One- or Two-Star level, when combined with the Luo patriarch and the clan’s other forces, it may be difficult for our Vice Guildmaster to handle alone.”

“I suggest we mobilize elders from nearby branches—”

But Liu Ling cut him off mid-sentence.

“No need to mobilize anyone. The Vice Guildmaster will remain at headquarters. I’ll personally go to Tianya City.”

His voice was calm and resolute.

“If Guildmaster is going himself, then should the Luo Clan still resist, they’re simply seeking their own destruction!”

Bai Xiuyuan’s tone was filled with excitement. He had absolute confidence in Liu Ling’s strength.

Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!

Patreon: /anish_44