Chapter 1119: New Base

Supported by Guglas and his beautiful maid, two of the top intelligence sources, Xu Yang completed all his previously planned tasks in just three days. He successfully located the faction where the former fourth leader of the Demonic Dragon Battle Group, who had betrayed them, was now residing: the Ghost Hand Battle Group, currently ranked fifth on the entire Yingzhou Continent.

"This is bad, Third Leader! A force called the Glory Battle Group has issued us a declaration of war. In half an hour, their forces will flatten our Ghost Hand Battle Group!" A guard from the Ghost Hand Battle Group's headquarters arrived inside the base, carrying a letter for the man who was now their Third Leader. Unbeknownst to the guard, this man was the former Fourth Elder of the Demonic Dragon Battle Group. He had secured his position as Third Leader within the Ghost Hand Battle Group by betraying the interests of the Demonic Dragon Battle Group.

To outsiders, the change might have seemed minor, but for the Fourth Elder himself, it was a world of difference. In the Demonic Dragon Battle Group, despite being the enforcement elder, he had been a mere puppet of the three core elders, completely devoid of actual power. Every trivial matter required consultation and final decision from the three elders. Here, in the Ghost Hand Battle Group, he wielded the authority to command all its resources, truly holding the third most important position.

Moreover, his strength allowed him to rank among the top three within the Ghost Hand Battle Group's hierarchy, giving him a profound sense of importance and presence.

He never dreamed, however, that the Glory Battle Group members would actually manage to escape the Illusionary Space alive and return to the Western Region of the Yingzhou Continent. Even more surprising was that their first action upon returning was to seek vengeance against him. The elite members of the Ghost Hand Battle Group didn't perceive this as a serious threat. They even began to tease the Third Leader about the declaration of war. Only he, however, fully grasped what the declaration truly signified: the Ghost Hand Battle Group's name would likely be erased from existence within the hour.

"Hahaha, Third Brother, are you serious? A single letter has terrified you to this extent? Is this still the fearless Third Brother we know? Based on our understanding of you, even the greatest challenge wouldn't be worth mentioning. Why has this declaration of war frightened you so much?"

The Third Leader slowly stood, his expression still extremely grim. "You don't understand what the word 'Glory' signifies. If those individuals have truly returned, not only the entire Western Region of the Yingzhou Continent but even the Imperial Family in the Central Region would have few who could stand against them. They are coming for me. Brothers, quickly gather your belongings and descend the mountain; otherwise, you will surely be dragged down with me. What is destined to happen will happen. I fear I truly cannot escape this impending disaster."

Clearly, the Ghost Hand Battle Group members had not grasped the severity of the situation. Half an hour later, it was too late for regrets. When the overwhelming aura of the seven Dragon Riders of the Glory Dragon Rider Battle Group blanketed the sky above the Ghost Hand Battle Group, everyone was utterly stunned.

They had never in their lives witnessed such a sight: humanoids wielding draconic power and manifesting dragon wings. Clearly, such individuals could not be measured by the standard spiritual energy cultivation system; they had long surpassed the so-called Purple-level Peak realm.

"You are the Ghost Hand Battle Group, aren't you? We granted you a full hour to prepare for evacuation, yet you remained so stubbornly unyielding? Then it is regrettable, but from today onwards, the entire Ghost Hand Battle Group will be forever extinguished from the Western Region of the Yingzhou Continent. And all of you who remain within this base shall perish in this conflict. Remember my words: those who obliterate you are the Glory Dragon Rider Battle Group! And the one who brought this catastrophic downfall upon you, the true culprit, is your Third Leader!"

Before the Glory Dragon Rider Battle Group could even make a move, the First and Second Leaders of the Ghost Hand Battle Group exchanged glances and simultaneously attacked the Third Leader. Right then and there, in front of the entire Glory Dragon Rider Battle Group, they brutally shattered the Third Leader's body.

"Esteemed members of the Glory Battle Group, we truly had no intention of offending you. We humbly ask that you spare our brothers, considering our sincere and willing surrender. We had no idea this Third Leader harbored such deep enmity with you. If we had known, how could the Ghost Hand Battle Group have kept him until today? Please, great ones, grant us a chance to live."

As the First Leader spoke, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably. The top leaders of the Glory Dragon Rider Battle Group naturally perceived his true emotional state and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"I truly didn't expect your desire for survival to be so strong. All right, given your proactive and compliant behavior, I will grant you a chance to live. Leave behind all the Ghost Hand Battle Group's resources and get out! From this day forward, you will no longer belong to any battle group, nor will you ever be qualified to join the Glory Battle Group. Each of you will receive a hundred taels of gold; now leave."

After Xu Yang's departure, Ling Yao, formerly the second-in-command of the Glory Dragon Rider Battle Group, naturally ascended to the position of captain. King Kong, the massive warrior, became the strongest member of the Dragon Rider team. All major decisions were now made through collective discussion. When Ling Yao finally issued this command, the Ghost Hand Battle Group instantly collapsed. All the warriors began fighting fiercely among themselves over personal gain. Ultimately, the Ghost Hand Battle Group, which numbered over eight thousand members and was the fifth-largest battle group in the Western Region, was annihilated within a few hours. Those who had fought viciously for a few taels of gold lost more than half their numbers, revealing the most insidious side of human nature to the members of the Glory Dragon Rider Battle Group.

Fortunately, the victory was secured without bloodshed, providing the Glory Battle Group with its own development base. The Ghost Hand Battle Group had developed rapidly in recent years, having invested most of its acquired resources and funds into renovating its headquarters buildings. Consequently, while the Ghost Hand Battle Group's overall strength only ranked fifth in the region, the magnificence of its headquarters was undoubtedly among the top two.

Xu Yang was very satisfied to acquire such a location as his new base of operations.

"Excellent. From today, this will serve as the first headquarters of our Glory Battle Group. In one month, the core teams of all top battle groups in the Western Region of the Yingzhou Continent will gather here. That will be the moment for our Glory Battle Group to assert its dominance over the entire Western Region!"

Beyond expanding the Glory Battle Group, Xu Yang had not forgotten his most crucial mission: locating the third fragment of ancient jade. Meanwhile, the Central Region's Imperial Family had recently issued frequent and unusual directives, prompted by the significant unrest in the Western Region. Xu Yang sensed that numerous spy factions, originating from the Central Region's Imperial Family, had already begun to infiltrate the Western Region.

Xu Yang subtly felt that the day he would shake the very core of the Yingzhou Continent's ruling system was fast approaching.