novelraw Chapter 582: The Mercenary Guild’s Rise!
Chapter 582: The Mercenary Guild’s Rise!
Chapter 582: The Mercenary Guild’s Rise!
“Qingshan, formerly the Grand Elder of East Dragon Island—this emperor now appoints you as the Clan’s Enforcer Elder, in charge of all punishments and disciplinary matters.”
“Zhu Xi, Zhu Nan, I hereby name you both as Supreme Elders of the clan.”
“Zhu Mo, Zhu Mu, Xuan Mo, and Zhu Li—you four will serve as the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Elders respectively.”
“Man Yan, Xia Ao, Qi You… all of you are now elders of Dragon Island.”
Zi Yan appointed nearly all the major powerhouses of Dragon Island to new positions in one breath.
“Thank you, Dragon Emperor!”
“Thank you, Dragon Emperor!”
“Thank you, Dragon Emperor!”
Upon hearing the appointments, all the experts of the Ancient Dragon Clan knelt once more, respectfully saluting Zi Yan.
Zhu Nan and Zhu Xi, who had served as Dragon Kings for centuries and had once caused the fragmentation of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, now found themselves not only spared punishment but granted the rank of Supreme Elders. Their hearts were filled with deep gratitude toward Zi Yan—and also a growing sense of awe.
Zi Yan’s cultivation speed was simply astonishing. At the pace she was progressing, the Ancient Dragon Clan would soon have a peerless powerhouse. Under her leadership, the clan could reclaim the glory it once held during the reign of the old Dragon Emperor—or even surpass it.
Zi Yan’s appointments were fair and unbiased. Powerhouses from all four former Dragon Islands were treated equally and justly.
“Everyone, rise,” Zi Yan said, raising her hand slightly as she looked at the kneeling elders. Her every movement now carried immense authority.
“As for the escaped Zhu Bei, don’t bother hunting him down for now. The current state of our dragon clan isn’t something we want the rest of the continent to learn about just yet,” Zi Yan said in a deep voice. She recalled Gu He’s words before his departure and understood the hidden meaning behind them.
“We obey the Dragon Emperor’s command!”
“We obey the Dragon Emperor’s command!”
The experts of Ancient Dragon Island nodded together and responded in unison, their voices filled with respect.
After the investiture ceremony, the resources of the four former Dragon Islands were consolidated. However, regulating the people themselves was impossible. Members of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan had to venture into the dark void space to seek out suitable spatial storms and space winds to temper their bodies. Without allowing free travel, there could be no progress.
...
In the northwestern region of the continent, within the infamous Black-Corner Region, a massive new estate had appeared, spanning over ten miles.
Within this estate resided a newly risen force known as the Mercenary Guild.
In just a few short months, this organization had grown rapidly. Its president was a young man, whose strength remained a mystery—no one had ever seen him fight.
At the president’s side was a powerful magical beast in human form, possessing peak Four-Star Dou Sect strength. In most cases, it was this beast who took action and eliminated any threats.
Within only a few months, the Mercenary Guild had become a dominant force in the Black-Corner Region, attracting a vast number of rogue cultivators.
The guild now had over a dozen elders with Dou Emperor-level strength. Combined with the shapeshifted magical beast and the unfathomable guild president, few factions in the Black-Corner Region dared to provoke them.
The Mercenary Guild didn’t only consist of internal elders and regular administrators. Even non-members could register and form their own mercenary groups through the guild, and every group would be formally documented in the guild’s registry.
Mercenary groups registered within the Mercenary Guild were assigned a rank. The guild categorized these groups into ten levels, with the initial rank determined by the number of members and their cultivation strength. Typically, newly registered groups were ranked between Level 1 and Level 3.
After registration, completing certain missions would earn them points and rewards. These points could be used to raise the group’s rank. Higher-ranked groups could accept more difficult tasks within the guild and enjoy better benefits.
Though the Mercenary Guild welcomed all kinds of cultivators and offered generous rewards, it had strict rules. The first rule was to never bully the weak. While protecting the rights of its mercenaries, the guild also aimed to build a stable order.
If any local factions were found to be extremely cruel or involved in heinous acts, the guild would investigate. Once confirmed, it would issue elimination missions targeting those factions. These missions offered generous rewards and high point bonuses, making them highly sought after—often attracting multiple mercenary groups at once.
Because of this, the Mercenary Guild quickly gained a stellar reputation in the Black-Corner Region. It was not only respected by mercenaries but also embraced by common cultivators. Many successful cultivators began joining the guild or registering new mercenary groups.
The guild’s rapid rise threatened the interests of old-established powers in the region. At first, many conflicts broke out. But under the guild’s overwhelming forceful suppression, those hostilities soon disappeared. Now, no one dared to openly oppose the guild—not even the powerful factions hidden deep within the Black-Corner Region, some of which had Dou Sect experts.
At this moment, in the central hall of the Mercenary Guild’s headquarters, Liu Ling was smiling as he read a letter handed to him by an elder.
“These days, more and more clients are posting jobs through our guild. At this rate, we’ll start turning a profit very soon,” Liu Ling said with a quiet chuckle, reading the contents.
During the initial setup, all resources had come out of Liu Ling’s own pocket. But now, as the guild gained more trust, people were submitting more and more missions through it.
The guild’s true revenue model was simple: it took a commission from the mission rewards. Once a mercenary group completed a job, they would receive around 80% to 90% of the reward offered by the client. The guild kept the remaining 10% to 20% as its fee.
“Congratulations, Guildmaster!”
The elder who delivered the letter smiled broadly in congratulations. His cultivation level was also at the Dou Emperor level, and he served as one of the guild’s elders.
“Elder Gu, from here on, let’s build four more branches across the Black-Corner Region,” Liu Ling suddenly ordered. “That way, it’ll be easier for clients to submit missions and for groups to accept them. Assign a few elders to oversee each branch.”
(End of Chapter)
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