The Sword Elder of the Northsky Sect followed Ye Liuyun’s instructions and reported the news back to the sect.

"Northsky Sect is doing well. We found no one to be under control after searching everyone’s Divine Soul. Nevertheless, the Eastern Royal Management was distressed. Dong Linghou rebelled and led his followers to excavate the Spirit Crystal Mineral vein. Ji Wuxjang, the Great Expert’s disciple, ambushed us on our journey there. We have only just arrived, so we don’t have all the information we need yet..."

Upon hearing that nothing had transpired within their faction, they didn’t care about the problems that the Eastern Royal Management was having. All reminded the Elder, "Return when you have trained your followers. Also, word has it that the Great Expert will personally take action. There’s no need for you to take any more risks."

"Yes!" The Sword Elder agreed and set a date of return to be ten days later.

Ye Liuyun returned once more to the Eastern Royal Management’s base, preparing to train them to fight against the enemies.

As soon as the Northsky Sect left, Shui Bingyue came personally to visit him.

"I almost forgot about her, perhaps she has ways to deal with the Great Expert!" With this thought, Ye Liuyun had his man bring Shui Bingyue to him.

"You appear to be well-informed, Ms. Shui! Did you know right away when I solved the issue?"

Ye Liuyun took the initiative to welcome Shui Bingyue when they met.

"Have you truly dealt with the delegates from the two major powers? I have not heard anything about it. I merely took a guess!" Grinning, Shui Bingyue said.

"You guessed? How did you guess it?" Ye Liuyun curiously looked at Shui Bingyue.

"Dong Linghou’s mining operation was apprehended and his troops had been incorporated into your Dark Legion. It indicates that you’ve dealt with the reinforcements. But because you have generated hostility, so you chose to take down the entire Eastern Royal Management."

"Furthermore, the fact that Northsky Sect has now withdrawn their reinforcements implies that you have also dealt with them. You went there before they arrived and managed to return safely. I think that was the period when you seized control of everything."

Ye Liuyun was even more excited to work with Shui Bingyue because of how accurate her assumptions were. This was not the first time he thought that she was extraordinary, and his belief was yet again affirmed.

Ye Liuyun smiled and nodded, as he asked Shui Bingyue, "I wonder if Ms. Shui is satisfied with my performance? Have we reached a basis for cooperation?"

Shui Bingyue chuckled as she replied, "Who am I to evaluate Commander Ye? Besides, aren’t we already in a partnership?"

Ye Liuyun took the portunity to express gratitude to Shui Bingyue in a chuckle, "That is true! Without your warning, I may find myself in sticky circumstancesmore than once."

But Ye Liuyun also went on, "While I welcome our partnership, I must clearly understand your desire, Ms. Shui. Also, to what extent is your collaboration with me?"

"Commander Ye, you targetted the Eastern Royal Management, while I, the leader of the Shui Family."

Shui Bingyue believed that Ye Liuyun was targeting the Eastern Royal Management. She never thought for a moment that Ye Liuyun would be daring enough to aim for the Fairy Clan.

Ye Liuyun paused momentarily as he realised that Shui Bingyue had misunderstood him.

However, he didn’t bother to explain. He asked again, "Wasn’t it up to the Fairy Clan to decide for the head of the Shui Family?"

"All the Fairy Clan wants is for the Shui Family to provide them with resources. They don’t care about who becomes the head of the family," Shui Bingyue explained indifferently.

"Does this mean that you, Ms. Shui, are planning to act against your family?"

Ye Liuyun assumed that while Shui Bingyue was intelligent, she was neither ruthless nor brutal. She was even less cruel than Lin Luoyi initially. She didn’t seem like someone who would rebel against her family.

Shui Bingyue looked into Ye Liuyun’s as she explained slowly, "They plotted against my mother and me first. They were the ones who killed my mother and demoted me so I couldn’t take my revenge! The members of the Shui Family disregarded the family bond and prioritised profit and power!"

Ye Liuyun gazed at Shui Bingyue as he spiralled into deep thoughts. Regardless of whether she was telling the truth, their cooperation wouldn’t harm him.

Then, he asked Shui Bingyue, "What kind of cooperation are we talking about?"

"I can’t sign any Divine Soul contract with you or leave any trace of our partnership," Shui Bingyue replied directly. "We will work in this way. I will provide you with strategic counsel while you will back me up with your power."

Ye Liuyun immediately asked, "What if there comes a time when you can no longer provide me with valuable advice or counsel..."

"Then our collaboration shall be terminated!" Shui Bingyue candidly replied.

Ye Liuyun nodded in agreement with her way of collaboration.

"Deal!"

Shui Bingyue echoed his reply almost instantly. "Deal!"

Afterwards, Ye Liuyun wasted no time in asking his question. He shared his current situation with Shui Bingyue and sought her counsel on a solution.

After she pondered for a moment, Shui Bingyue suggested, "Expand your domain rapidly beyond the border battlefield. The stronger you are, the less daring they are to move against you! As for the Great Expert, he will surely bring strong martial practitioners to seek revenge on you. Your weakness at the moment is that you have too few connoisseurs under your command. I suggest you get in touch with Scarlet Cardinal House and the Merchant Alliance!"

Ye Liuyun could only grasp the first part of what Shui Bingyue said, but not the latter.

Ye Liuyun asked, "I know about the Merchant Alliance. It is the largest chain of trade in the Eastern region. But what’s Red Cardinal House? It sounds like a brothel. Why should I contact them?"

Shui Bingyue patiently explained to Ye Liuyun, "Scarlet Cardinal House is indeed a brothel, but many major forces know that Scarlet Cardinal House is reputable for undertaking tasks of assassination or protection. Once they accept the task of protecting you, they will not accept any task to assassinate you. Although the price is high, the Spirit Crystal Mineral Vein you seized from the Eastern Royal Management should be enough for you to cover."

"As for the Merchant Alliance, it’s even more understandable. As long as you have money, you can buy anything from them. Including buying martial practitioners as slaves."

After hearing this, Ye Liuyun finally grasped her meaning. He quickly asked for specific information on how to proceed with this business. Following that, Ye Liuyun and Shui Bingyue engaged in a thorough discussion regarding their exit strategy from the border battlefield. They deliberated on which cities and forces to prioritise and strategised on the most effective course of action.

Ye Liuyun found collaboration with Shui Bingyue extremely worthwhile. The advice that Shui Bingyue gave was priceless.

However, Shui Bingyue wouldn’t offer her service for nothing. She asked Ye Liuyun’s assistance to take care of some spies around her. She even prepared a detailed list of names and a plan of action for him.

Ye Liuyun directed his clone to go undercover in an invisible mode. Then instructed Manshu and Lei Ming followed her back to her base disguised as maidens. They were told to first deal with spies planted around her by her family.

"Are you sure only the two of them could complete my plan?" Shui Bingyue had some doubts after seeing Manshu and Lei Ming.

"Don’t worry! They are merely there to support my operation. You guys go ahead, I’ll be there soon." Ye Liuyun let Shui Bingyue leave for her base.

Next, he began organising the Dark Legion, coordinating the gathering of He Lianxiu and Xiao Yunfang in the eastern border region. In addition, he instructed a strategic plan for an upcoming siege.

Yu Xiaofeng had started to lead the entire Dark Legion, rushing the troops to Necropolis.