Divine-level Base

Chapter 285 - 284: Mire Dragon Territory

If those Noble Families wished to guard the rear and not send troops to join the Vanguard Army, they had to pay a huge amount of resources. The higher a family’s status, the more resources they were required to contribute.

Of course, the territories that those higher-status Noble Families and Clans could defend were also the most prosperous ones.

Some Noble Families that had begun to decline would dispatch their clan’s elites to join the Vanguard Army, hunt Void Demons, and earn merits and resources. In this way, they could avoid the obligation of contributing vast resources.

In addition, if those Noble Families could conquer other territories on the Void Demon Battlefield and hold them, the Qianyuan Republic would recognize those lands as belonging to that family.

It was under this policy that countless Noble Families worked together to seize one territory after another from the hands of the Void Demons on the Void Demon Battlefield.

"This is it! The Mire Dragon Territory! It’s relatively safe here!"

After looking through his options, Shu Feng finally chose the Mire Dragon Territory, a place located on the edge of the Qianyuan Republic’s Void Demon Battlefield and surrounded by vast swamps.

The vast swamps surrounding the Mire Dragon Territory acted as a natural barrier, blocking large-scale invasions from many Void Demon Races. As for the Ghostly Void Demons that could travel freely through the swamps, they were easy to target since they lacked physical bodies.

Wu Kuang glanced at Shu Feng before his gaze fell upon the others. He said flatly, "You have seven days. Take your armies and assume command of your territories’ defenses."

With that, Wu Kuang turned and left the White Tiger Hall.

As soon as Wu Kuang departed, everyone else quickly left as well, heading for the barracks to lead their respective soldiers to the massive Teleportation Array leading to the Void Demon Battlefield.

Li Xuan Yi came to Shu Feng’s side and said, "Shu Feng, how about I bring some men and help you garrison the Mire Dragon Territory?"

A flash of pleasant surprise appeared in Shu Feng’s eyes. "Can you? What about your Li Family?"

Li Xuan Yi was a bona fide genius. Not only was his cultivation Talent astonishing, but he also had a Mastery of management. Back in the world of the Badge Masters, it was he and Zhao Zixing who had helped Shu Feng manage that world and keep it in perfect order.

Although Shu Feng’s own management skills were decent, he was more than a step below Li Xuan Yi. After all, he had poured all his focus into cultivation.

Li Xuan Yi smiled faintly. "The Li Family is large and prosperous. My presence won’t make a difference. The Li Family has already sent people to join the Vanguard Army and garrison a territory. There’s no need for me to get involved."

Luo Feng walked over with a slight smile. "Count me in! I don’t have anywhere else to go either. The Mire Dragon Territory sounds like a good place to retire!"

The Noble Family mobilization order was the Qianyuan Republic’s highest-level conscription order. Every Noble Family and prominent house had to send their children to war. This was why the direct lineages of all the Major Noble Families had "three wives and four concubines" and countless heirs. Generally, a person without any offspring was not even qualified to compete for the position of Noble Family Head.

Shu Feng smiled. "I’m short on people as it is. You guys coming over would be a huge help."

The three of them quickly made their way to the barracks.

"Greetings, My Lord!"

Ye Mingxi said as she led two thousand Badge Masters before Shu Feng and saluted.

Li Xuan Yi’s eyes lit up. "What a stunning beauty! So valiant and heroic! Shu Feng, you’re a lucky man to have such a beautiful subordinate!"

’Three Spirit Sects! This guy, Shu Feng... his foundation is truly profound.’

Luo Feng’s gaze, however, swept over the three Spirit Sect Realm experts standing beside Ye Mingxi.

"Let’s go!"

The group led the two thousand Badge Masters to the massive Teleportation Array within the barracks.

A flash of Teleportation Light shone, and everyone was transported to an incredibly wide plaza. Parked on the plaza were rows of Spiritual Energy Armored Vehicles.

The Spiritual Energy Armored Vehicles carried Shu Feng’s group and sped off toward the Mire Dragon Territory.

「Five days later.」

The vast Mire Dragon Territory, surrounded on all sides by swamps, appeared before Shu Feng’s eyes.

’What a barren territory!’

As Shu Feng entered the Mire Dragon Territory, the first thing he saw were ferocious-looking Lizardmen of the Beastman Race, Rabbit Race Sub-humans, Dog Race Sub-humans, and humans.

The entire Mire Dragon Territory consisted of scattered villages, with only a single large city: Mire Dragon City.

The walls of Mire Dragon City were not high—only three meters—and they were dilapidated, clearly in a state of disrepair. Most of the wall was constructed from ordinary stone. A single Spirit Venerable Realm expert could shatter a wall like this with one sword strike.

The Lord’s Mansion of Mire Dragon City was a cold, stone castle. After a quick handover, the previous administrator immediately left this godforsaken place.

As soon as Shu Feng became the lord of the Mire Dragon Territory, he held the power of life and death over most of its inhabitants. However, he also had two obligations. The first was to pay a monthly military tax of ten billion yuan to the Qianyuan Republic’s military department. The second was to defend the Mire Dragon Territory and prevent it from being conquered by the Void Demons.

If the Mire Dragon Territory were to be conquered by the Void Demons, Shu Feng would not only lose the territory but also have to pay the Qianyuan Republic an astronomical compensation of over one trillion yuan. Furthermore, if his failure affected the overall war situation, he could also be subject to military law.

As soon as Shu Feng, Li Xuan Yi, and Luo Feng arrived in the Mire Dragon Territory, they began to tour the area and inspect its condition.

「More than ten days later.」

In the conference hall of the Mire Dragon Territory’s City Lord’s Mansion, five people—Shu Feng, Li Xuan Yi, Luo Feng, Ye Mingxi, and Hanani—sat around a long table.

On Blue Star, Hanani had not only been an international supermodel but also owned her own company, making her an outstanding manager. Hearing that the Mire Dragon Territory lacked management talent, she had volunteered to come and help.

"I’ve looked over our Mire Dragon Territory’s accounts. Right now, our main source of income is the commercial tax, which amounts to less than five million a month."

"We have to pay a military tax of ten billion to the military department every month. On top of that, there’s an acquisition fee of two hundred billion for the 200,000 residents and a one trillion territory acquisition fee."

"In other words, because of this territory, we owe the military department over one trillion, two hundred billion. The interest alone is far higher than our tax revenue. This is completely unsustainable," Hanani said, a grave look in her beautiful eyes.

Shu Feng smiled faintly. "If that weren’t the case, I never would have gotten the chance to defend this territory. Guarding this place is still better than heading to a perilous post like the Vanguard Army."

"Shu Feng, do you plan to manage this Mire Dragon Territory seriously, or are you just using it as a way to dodge the military’s draft? Our investment in this territory depends on your answer."

"If you’re just using it as a way to dodge the draft, then maintaining the status quo isn’t a bad idea. After all, if you want to develop the Mire Dragon Territory, it will require a massive amount of resources," Li Xuan Yi said.