No one had doubts whether or not these rules could be enforced. The third one, especially, struck everyone in their weak spot. Many of these people had flocked to Fort Continent in order to take advantage of Qianyes simplicity and riches. There was no lack of people who wanted to flee after earning a fortune.

As someone from the Song clan, how could Song Hui not know about these market practices? This rule of associating the guarantor in punishment blocked any loophole that was left behind.

Only the first batch of aristocratic families who had come to Fort Continent and the bigger ones like Kong and Yin had the right to recommend other families. It just so happened that their greatest interest here wasnt gold but land, and all territory here could only exist attached to Qianye.

Of course, if the family was big enough, they could turn these territories into independent nations. That, however, would be a direct challenge to Qianyes authority.

With land and territory in the equation, the scope of profits wasnt just limited to a couple of years. It would take hundreds of years and several generations to reach the apex of prosperity. These aristocratic families, of course, wouldnt sacrifice their long-term plans for minuscule profits.

The aristocracy of the Empire had always considered Fort Continent as a barren land where top experts could not cultivate. Hence, its status was only somewhat higher than Evernight Continent. Things had changed entirely now that a door to the new world was here.

With the rule in place and no one in objection to it, Qianye said, Currently, I need five mobile kinetic towers, thirty airship cannons of varying types, and twenty sets of ammunition. I also need ten mini-kinetic towers and, just like before, as many armaments as you can supply.

The size of this order produced a commotion.

After the noise died down, everyone left to see Song Hui. Qianye wasnt about to deal with such small matters. He left the dukes manor and arrived outside the city with a flicker. The barracks, with its endless stretch of tents, was bustling with activity. There were always werewolves undergoing training in the field.

This giant training field that could fit a hundred thousand soldiers was actually not enough. The next batch could only receive training after the first batch was done, and there were at least two hundred thousand waiting to undergo training.

This would bring the number of werewolf soldiers close to a million. Adding the new army from Zheng and the mercenaries of the neutral lands, Qianyes forces had formally exceeded a million.

Qianye felt somewhat emotional as he gazed at the training grounds.

It wasnt just luck that the werewolves could become one of the four major dark races. Their upper limit in cultivation was not inferior to the other races, and they once had a supreme on the Sacred Mountain. As natural warriors, they possessed a certain degree of fighting power since childhood and could communicate with their companion wargs. The adults possessed balanced fighting prowess, capable of fighting on the front lines. This made over half of the werewolves qualified soldiers.

Comparatively, the werewolves lifespans were evidently shorter than the vampires and demonkin. They shouldve been a fairly powerful race, but their weakness was all too clearthey were stubborn and ignorant.

Most of the races strength and knowledge came from their ancestral totem. This instilled them with an almost fanatical love for their primitive tribal culture. Many werewolves would go to the extremes and reject all recent technology, including origin guns. Their firm belief was that the worlds profundity lay within the body, that they would be invincible as long as they kept unlocking their potential and communicating with their ancestors spirits.

The ancestral school had spread so far and wide among the werewolves that even the Summit of Peakswho had been doing their utmost to break new groundwould occasionally be questioned for deviating from tradition. The worst part was that the Summit of Peaks hadnt found any promising candidates for the Sacred Mountain in a thousand years. Their geniuses would usually exhaust their potential at the great dark monarch realm, with only a couple of them reaching the ultimate level.

There was at least a reason for the vampires decline; it was because of the disappearance of the River of Blood. In the case of the werewolves, though, the deterioration was mostly self-inflicted. One could see just from their state on Fort Continent.

If the Summit of Peaks were overseeing this territory and its ten million denizens, they wouldve destroyed Zheng several times over. There would be no need for the elderly to die in the mountains or for the young to charge into battle. In the race as a whole, even the experts from the Summit of Peaks could only hold the right to speak. They didnt really have an advantage in authority.

Only after taking in the subjects of the Jade Sea did Qianye realize that werewolves had been leading lives that were greatly inferior to humans. Their lives were filled with strong colors of tragedy.

In the past, Qianyes mind was only filled with hatred when facing the dark races. He would kill without mercy, without the slightest intention of understanding them or judging whether they were good or bad. Now that the duty had fallen onto his shoulders, he had no choice but to view his subjects from a werewolf's perspective.

There was a mountain peak not so far away, the best place to enjoy the surrounding scenery. Qianyes figure arrived at the summit with a flicker and stood at the edge of the cliff. He could see tens of thousands of werewolves undergoing training below as well as the clear waters of the Jade Sea beyond them. Now, he was only lacking a friend to confide his worries in.

All of a sudden, Qianye felt something warm rubbing against his back. Turning back, he saw a giant wolf rubbing its golden mane against him.

Qianye was both surprised and delighted. He reached back to rub the wolf fiercely, saying, Youre really playing the role of a dog!

The giant wolf spoke in human language, Wolves and dogs used to be family tens of thousands of years ago. Theres nothing bad about that.

Qianye didnt know whether to laugh or to cry. He picked the wolf up by his neck and shook him. Youre a werewolf, not a wolf!

The giant wolf roared, baring his fangs at Qianye. Ill fight it out with you if you grab me by the neck again!

Didnt Ruoxi grab you like that every day?

Thats not the same! She doesnt know who I am. What gives you the right?

I gave you a bone before.

The giant wolfs hair puffed up as he turned around to bite Qianye. The movement was lightning fast, but fortunately, Qianye was even faster. He pulled his hand back in the nick of time and barely managed to escape.

Qianye was surprised. Youve grown stronger again!

The giant wolf didnt really appreciate the compliment. There are too many bad guys these days, how can I protect myself if I dont even have a bit of strength?

But arent you progressing too fast? Is it because you ate the bones? Qianye pondered.

The giant wolf lunged at Qianyes leg, yelling, Bones my ass! It's because of the Constellation Well!

Qianye flickered away. Youre looking more and more like a dog. Have you learned to sit?

The giant wolf lowered his bottom halfway before realizing that he had been tricked. Absolutely furious, he appeared behind Qianye with a leap and tried to bite his neck.

Qianye flickered away at the exact moment. Hey, lets talk nicely! I wont tell anyone.

The giant wolf was still spouting steam from his nostrils. Apparently, he was still quite angry.

Qianye finally raised his hand. Stop biting me, what if I fail to evade? Besides, William, are you going to keep talking to me in that form?

William stared at Qianye for a while before vanishing momentarily. He then appeared again in the form of a human. Just like before, the man was tall and stout with golden hair flowing in the breeze. The worn hunters attire added to his strong, radiant character.

Qianye sized him up from head to toe. He then said while shaking his head, I still cant get used to this form. Now I cant even feed Williams murderous gaze stopped him from uttering the keyword.

Williams aura was well hidden and almost undetectable in his werewolf form. In his distraction, Qianye hadnt even sensed the approaching guest. In human form, though, the mans true aura gradually became evident. Qianye gazed at William for a while and finally used the Eye of Control to agitate him, bringing out his true power.

Glorious marquis!? Qianye could hardly believe his eyes. William wasnt even a virtuous count back then, but now, he was a glorious marquis. This rate of advancement was even faster than human geniuses.

I had a fortuitous encounter in the Constellation Well and absorbed a fair bit of star power, breaking through several ranks in one go. I stopped later on because the advancement was too fast. Maybe Ill go back and take a look if theres an opportunity. William downplayed the process.

Qianye made the worst guess he could. Your foundations must be unstable, right?

Impossible! Who do you think I am? Im the number one genius of the Summit of Peaks. How can I make such a mistake?

The number one throughout history, eh? You just made that up, didnt you? It looks like I need to reconsider my relationship with the werewolves.

What do you mean?

If youre the number one genius, then the werewolf race is too weak.

Who wouldve thought William didnt retort. He merely sighed with a dejected expression. Yeah, thats true. The werewolves are too weak. Weve been weakening for a thousand years, and we never found the reason why.

Qianye was just joking. Seeing him this way, he shifted the topic, saying, What did you come here for?

I actually came to see you.

For what?

... Business.

Qianye sized William up again until the latter was feeling uncomfortable. Why is a glorious marquis here to discuss business instead of pioneering the new world? Could it be that your number one position is in business?

Stop shifting the topic! I wouldnt have come all the way here if you hadnt been taking care of my people. Just be straight, do you want to work with me or not?

What business?

Youre lacking gear, right? Our Summit of Peaks has recently constructed a series of workshops, including armament factories. I wanted to sell you some goods.

No. Qianyes refusal was clear-cut.

Why? You havent even seen my goods. William was surprised.

Qianye said unceremoniously, Considering your werewolf races technology and standards, I think Ill pass. The second-rate manufactured goods from the Empire are still a bit better. Even if I have to buy from Evernight, why wouldnt I buy from the vampires or the demonkin? They probably produce better goods, right?

Williams momentum was cut short. We were indeed lacking in technology before, but cant we catch up? Besides, who understands werewolves more than werewolves? If you want werewolf gear, were of course the best suppliers.

Qianye said with a smile, Thats not entirely correct. Be it humans, vampires, demonkin, or arachne, every other race understands the werewolves more.

William was startled. Those who truly understood the werewolves were their thousand-year enemies?