Chapter 423 - 388: Winning Over

Chapter 423: Chapter 388: Winning Over

"What? The chief was killed?"

"The chief has roamed the wilderness for so many years. He had at least eighty, if not a hundred, ways to save his own skin. How could he be slapped to death with a single sword strike by an Ultimate Venerable?"

"And an injured Ultimate Venerable at that! I don’t believe it..."

"Am I seeing things? Is the chief really dead?"

In an instant, the entire open wilderness fell silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the young man in the center, completely stunned.

An Ultimate Venerable, turning a Primordial Saint Realm expert into a meat patty with a single sword strike...

Heavens, what in the world was going on? Was there any justice left in this world?

"Suguo is dead! Brothers, kill all these bandits for me!"

Yi Chang was the first to react. With a great roar, he charged forward and dove into the crowd of bandits, beginning a massacre.

"A Primordial Saint Realm... killed in one strike? And he’s injured..."

The skinny youth who had wanted to kill Nie Yun earlier stared at the nonchalant-looking young man not far away and felt like he was going insane.

’In his eyes, a Primordial Saint Realm expert was a god-like figure. Such a powerhouse didn’t even survive a single blow from this unassuming young man before being turned into a meat patty. To think I actually insulted him and planned to ambush and kill him...’

’It’s a good thing I didn’t. Otherwise...’

Recalling the moment the young man’s Longsword had pressed down on Suguo, he remembered feeling an unstoppable shockwave even from dozens of meters away. His face instantly turned pale, and he began to tremble all over.

It wasn’t just the skinny youth; even Yi Qing’s delicate frame was trembling uncontrollably.

She had originally thought that no matter how strong Nie Yun was, he was still just an Ultimate Venerable and could never be her match. Now, that entire notion had been completely overturned.

’I’m known as the number one genius of Rongtian City, but compared to this young man, I’m probably not even worthy of being called an idiot. I can’t even touch the dust from his heels...’

’Now *this* is a true genius. How laughable that I accused him of lying...’

"The chief’s dead! Run!"

With Suguo dead, the bandits were leaderless. They lost all ability to resist, and in a short while, they were routed and sent fleeing by the others.

"We actually defeated Suguo?"

"We actually managed to beat Suguo, Rongtian City’s number one bandit..."

As all the bandits fled, the group felt a sense of dazed disbelief. They looked at the sickly, still-not-fully-healed young man in their midst, their eyes filled with reverence.

Suguo was called Rongtian City’s number one bandit not because of his raw power, but because he was cunning by nature and had many life-saving techniques. Even experts a full realm higher than him had failed to kill him in ambushes, yet he had escaped. But in this young man’s hands, he was like a rotten watermelon or a scarecrow, obliterated in a single strike. The intense shock was difficult for anyone to process.

Moreover, if the young man hadn’t stepped in and killed Suguo, they wouldn’t have just failed to drive the bandits off—they would have been completely wiped out. Not a single one of them would have survived.

At this thought, their gazes filled with gratitude.

"Lord Nie Yun, thank you for saving me and preventing me from being defiled by that Demon..." Yi Qing was the most grateful of all.

If the young man hadn’t acted today, she could only imagine the consequences of being captured, thinking of that Demon’s debauchery!

"I seem to recall someone saying I was having hallucinations earlier..." Nie Yun chuckled.

Hearing the young man’s faintly mocking words, Yi Qing’s face flushed red, and she was so embarrassed she didn’t know what to do.

’Just a moment ago, he warned me the bandits were here, and I told him he was hallucinating. Now that he’s brought it up, I wish I could find a hole to crawl into and hide...’

"Heh, there are still some injured but living ones over here. I think you should ask them who paid them to kill you all!"

Seeing the girl’s face turn crimson as she looked for a hole to disappear into, Nie Yun knew not to press the matter further. He pointed at the bandits on the ground who had been wounded by the group but weren’t dead yet and spoke.

Suguo had mentioned earlier that he had been paid to capture them. This was a good chance to find out more.

"Right!" Hearing his words, Yi Qing finally snapped out of it and walked over to the bandits.

After a round of miserable screams, the girl returned a short while later, her face weary. "It was the Jiang Family!"

"The Jiang Family? Damn them! They’ve gone too far!"

"The so-called number one family of Rongtian City, colluding with Demon bandits! What a disgrace!"

"When I get back, I’m definitely reporting this to the Master! I’ll go and ask them if the Jiang Family has any shame left!"

Hearing the girl reveal who was behind the bandits, all the Camel Riders were about to explode with rage. They all shouted, filled with righteous indignation.

"Alright, everyone quiet down. For now, rest and recover your strength. We’ll set off first thing tomorrow morning and try to get back to Rongtian City within three days. Now that we know about the Jiang Family’s plot, it’ll be easier to handle when we return. If worst comes to worst, we’ll take them down with us. We will not compromise!"

Interrupting the crowd’s shouting, Yi Qing’s face showed a resolute expression.

"That’s right! We’ll take them down with us! No compromise!"

The crowd all shouted a few times, their attitude firm.

’This girl is quite fierce.’

Seeing the unwavering determination in Yi Qing’s eyes, Nie Yun praised her silently. He paid no more attention to the discussing crowd and slipped into his tent to continue his Cultivation.

’That guy...’

Seeing the young man act even colder than she was, Yi Qing, who had planned on speaking with him more, stomped her feet in frustration when he simply turned and left. With no other choice, she also returned to her tent to sleep.

The night passed without incident. At the crack of dawn, the group set off in a hurry.

After traveling continuously for three days, they finally saw a city sprawling before them.

After these three days of recovery, Nie Yun’s injuries had completely healed. Although he was still a long way from completely refilling his Qi Sea with True Qi, his strength had doubled, more than doubling his combat prowess.

’With the colossal strength of 10 Myriad Phenomena combined with a Mid-Stage Spirit Level soul, the power is so immense that I could probably slap even a Peak Powerhouse of the Primordial Saint Realm to death with a single strike.’

Over these three days, everyone had come to realize the young man’s formidable strength, and their attitude towards him had changed completely, now filled with respect.

Nie Yun knew this was inevitable, so he just shook his head and paid them little mind.

During these three days, Yi Qing had sought out Nie Yun to speak with him alone a few times. From her tone, it seemed she wanted to ask for his help, but Nie Yun ultimately refused.

’I still have a mountain of things to deal with. I haven’t found my father and the others, my brother hasn’t been revived, and then there’s... her...’

’I really don’t want to get involved in any more trouble.’

"Lord Nie Yun, we’re about to reach Rongtian City. You saved us once, so no matter what, you must let our Yi Family show you proper hospitality!"

Seeing the city just ahead, Yi Qing walked over.

"Mm..."

He knew she was still trying to win him over, but after a moment’s thought, Nie Yun nodded.

’Now that my strength is recovering, I can sense that my father and the others are extremely far away. Flying there would take who knows how long. Besides, even though I’m not weak, flying over the Floating Heaven Continent is still very dangerous. I have to find a way to use a Teleportation Array!’

’Since this Yi Family is a major family in Rongtian City, perhaps they can help me find a Teleportation Array so I can leave sooner!’

SWOOSH!

Before the two could finish speaking, they heard a series of whistling sounds from up ahead as several tall figures strode toward them.

This close to the city, Demon Beasts didn’t dare to attack humans, so people could fly freely.

"Elder Jiang Xuan, what are you doing here?"

As soon as the figures landed, Yi Qing recognized them, and her expression turned grim.

The man in the lead was Jiang Xuan, an Elder of the Jiang Family and a super-expert at the Late-Stage Primordial Saint Realm. His sudden appearance here likely meant trouble.

"The Jiang Family now suspects that your Yi Family has colluded with the Demon bandit Suguo with ill intent toward Rongtian City. Get down here immediately and submit to an inspection!"

Elder Jiang Xuan took a step forward and sneered, his eyes filled with sinister intent.

"We colluded with the bandit Suguo? You’re the ones who colluded with him!" The skinny youth, enraged by the Jiang Family’s shamelessness and their attempt to frame them, shouted out.

"Insolence! Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like that!"

Elder Jiang Xuan’s eyes widened, and he abruptly swiped his hand forward. SLAP!

The poor skinny youth was sent flying once again, spitting out mouthfuls of blood.

’That guy looks so skinny, but he sure has a lot of blood. He can just take his time spitting it out. He’ll get used to it eventually...’ Nie Yun thought with a touch of malice as he watched the scene.

"You ill-mannered mutt! We already have evidence. If you claim you didn’t collude with Suguo, then how did you pass through the wilderness safely and unharmed? Men, bring the witness over!"

Jiang Xuan sneered repeatedly.

"Yes, sir!" Immediately, two figures came forward, holding down a middle-aged man.

He was a middle-aged Demon, reeking of blood. One look was enough to tell he was a hardened bandit who had killed many.

It was one of the minor chieftains from Suguo’s band of bandits, one who had escaped that night.

"This is one of Suguo’s subordinates. Tell us what really happened!" Jiang Xuan demanded with a grunt.

"It was them! They colluded with our leader, Suguo! They gave us a large sum of money and wanted us to launch a sneak attack on Rongtian City! Our leader refused... and they killed him for it!" The Demon chieftain pointed a finger at Yi Qing and roared.

"You..."

Never imagining they would sink so low as to conspire with a Demon to frame her, Yi Qing felt like her lungs were about to explode with rage.

"What, do you have anything else to say? Men, take all of these Demon-colluding traitors away!"

Jiang Xuan let out a sinister cackle and bellowed the order.

"I’ll kill anyone who dares to make a move!"

Yi Qing knew that if she was taken away, it would be too late to clear her name. She let out a great shout, and Sword Qi surged from her body like a tidal wave.

"If your father were here, I might be a bit wary. But you think you can stop me? In your dreams!"

Jiang Xuan took a step forward, a wicked glint in his eyes.

"Then try me!" Yi Qing didn’t back down. She secretly glanced at the young man, only to see him leaning against a Camel Beast’s leg, chewing on a blade of grass, looking as if it had nothing to do with him. She stomped her foot in frustration and grit her silver teeth.

’Then again, I can’t really blame him. We’re just strangers who met by chance. He already saved me once. I can’t expect him to save me a second time!’

’Saving me was a favor. Not saving me is just how things are. I’m the one who owes him; he doesn’t owe me anything.’

"Heh heh, since you’re looking to die, I won’t be polite!"

Jiang Xuan had been waiting for her to say that. With a savage grin, his body flickered, and the aura of a Late-Stage Primordial Saint Realm expert erupted without restraint—powerful, surging, and unshakable.

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