WebNovel Chapter 1273 You are now free
Chapter 1273 You are now free
The conditions in the lower deck were very poor.
The light was dim, with only a few low-quality luminous pearls emitting a faint glow.
The air was filled with a strong smell of blood.
A dozen or so cultivators huddled in a corner, covered in wounds and barely breathing.
The chains binding them gleamed with a cold, eerie light, completely sealing off their spiritual power.
Upon hearing footsteps, everyone simultaneously looked up.
When they saw that the person who came was Lei Zhen, they all shrank back.
Most people's eyes were filled with an overwhelming fear.
I just wish I could shrink into a corner and embed myself into the wall.
Several others gritted their teeth, their eyes burning with hatred, wishing they could rush forward and tear Lei Zhen to pieces.
"Pooh!"
A young monk began to struggle violently, the chains rattling, but he still could not break free.
He could only angrily spit in Lei Zhen's direction, his voice hoarse: "You beast! If you have the guts, kill your grandpa! Otherwise, if I ever get the chance, you're dead!"
"The Boundless Bandits are a bunch of heartless bastards!" another cultivator added, cursing, "I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"
"You want to sell me, huh? Even if I self-destruct my dantian and my soul is scattered, I will never let you earn half a spirit stone from me."
"..."
Curses and insults rose and fell.
But most people just huddled in the corner, trembling, not daring to even look up at Lei Zhen.
"..."
"..."
Lei Zhen stood there silently, neither angry nor offering any explanation.
He simply watched the group of cultivators in silence, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Normally, anyone who dared to speak to him like that would have been killed by him with a single slap.
but now……
He turned to look at the girl walking slowly behind him.
Ning Ruan put her hands behind her back and slowly walked into the lower deck, her gaze sweeping over the group of cultivators.
"Looks like you're in pretty good spirits."
It was better than she had imagined.
At least it doesn't look like it's on its last legs and about to die.
The cursing in the hold stopped abruptly.
All the cultivators' eyes were focused on Ning Ruan.
Confused, wary.
More than anything, there was hostility.
What kind of good person could be able to mix with the leader of the Wuyin bandits and get in?
"And who are you?" The young cultivator who had first insulted Lei Zhen glanced at Ning Ruan, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt. "A newcomer to their ranks?"
"Isn't the human race currently at its peak? How come there are still cultivators at the tenth realm who have betrayed the human race? And you still want to recruit them?"
"Who said I joined them?" Ning Ruan replied casually, then turned her gaze to Lei Zhen. "Give them the things."
Young cultivator: ???
He couldn't understand Ning Ruan's meaning.
But instinctively, they showed a defensive posture.
Lei Zhen took a deep breath, stepped forward, and took out a large pile of storage artifacts from his storage ring.
"All your storage artifacts are here. Claim them yourselves."
His voice was calm.
No emotion or anger could be heard.
But to these cultivators, it was nothing short of a farcical joke.
\"……What?\"
\"What did you say?\"
The cultivators stared wide-eyed.
His pale face was filled with disbelief.
The young cultivator burst out laughing: "What the hell are you trying to pull now? Kill me if you want, sell me if you want, what's the point of all this?"
"Exactly, give it back to us? Are you crazy, or are we crazy? Do you think we're three-year-olds?"
"The Boundless Bandits would return what they stole? What a joke! What new way have you come up with to torture us?"
"..."
Although he knew his reputation wouldn't be well-regarded by this group.
This is entirely justified.
After all, he wasn't a good person to them.
He could even be described as an extremely wicked person.
Being mocked like this in front of Ning Ruan was still quite embarrassing.
Lei Zhen did not explain anything.
He then took another step forward and threw all the storage artifacts onto the ground.
The clanging and banging sounds echoed in the lower deck.
A group of cultivators stared in astonishment.
The storage artifacts on the ground were all too familiar.
But now, they are scattered in front of me.
Everyone was silent.
He stared intently at the storage artifact on the ground, his eyes filled with confusion and vigilance.
"What exactly do you mean?" someone couldn't help but ask.
Ning Ruan then spoke: "Literally, I'm returning it to you."
"..."
“I’ve captured their leader,” Ning Ruan said calmly. “So now, I’m in charge on this entire spirit ship.”
These words immediately caused an uproar in the lower deck.
"You captured their leader?"
"Are you kidding me!"
"You're only at the tenth realm, how could you possibly capture their leader?"
"..."
The young cultivator burst into laughter: "You're clearly all in cahoots! Even if you're going to make up an excuse, you should at least come up with a better one. Who would believe something like this?"
"If even you could deal with Red Flame, would I still be tied up here?"
Ning Ruan remained silent.
Raise your finger.
The crimson longsword floating not far away suddenly flashed like a startled swan, drawing a dazzling arc in the dimly lit lower deck.
"Chong-"
With a crisp metallic snapping sound, the chains binding the young cultivator broke, leaving a smooth, mirror-like edge.
Immediately afterwards, Red Sword did not stop, but moved through the lower deck like a swimming dragon.
"Qiang Qiang Qiang——"
After a series of crisp sounds, all the chains binding the cultivators were severed.
The whole process takes just a blink of an eye.
Before anyone could react, the chains binding them had already been removed.
Lei Zhen's eyes were fixed on the sword.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't surprised.
Putting aside the painting Ning Ruan used to threaten them, this sword alone is quite extraordinary.
If Ning Ruan had the cultivation of a Golden Core cultivator... even in a head-on confrontation, he would probably be the one to lose.
"You are free now."
Ning Ruan pointed to a large pile of storage artifacts on the ground: "These should also be returned to their rightful owners."
The cultivators in the lower chambers forcibly suppressed their excitement and did not move.
His gaze kept shifting back and forth between Ning Ruan and Lei Zhen.
"She is Ning Ruan, Ning Ruan who ranks fifty-first on the Prodigy Ranking."
Lei Zhen finally spoke, his voice low and deep:
"What she said is all true."
“The leader is indeed under her control, and her offer to let you leave is not an act.”
"If you wish to leave, you may leave now."
"If you don't want to leave..."
Ning Ruan continued, "Staying is fine, but you'll have to pay protection money."
"We can escort you to the Eternal Realm."
"We will do everything in our power to ensure your safety along the way."
"..."
Everyone was stunned.
Clearly, they hadn't reacted yet.
Seeing that they remained silent, Ning Ruan continued, "If you don't believe him, he can swear an oath to Heaven."
As he spoke, he glanced at Lei Zhen.
Who is this 'he'? It's self-evident.
Lei Zhen: "..."
He opened his mouth, "Send it?"
Ning Ruan retorted, "Could it be me?"
Lei Zhen: "..."