Chapter 941: Slaughterhouse

Jiang Ruyi's gaze enveloped the two as she floated down slowly.

"Da Yong," Wan Fangling whispered, gently nudging her husband with her elbow before kneeling first.

Shi Yong hesitated, then lowered his head and knelt properly on the ground.

Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly.

Shi Yong and Wan Fangling were captives; they ought to lower their posture.

But kneeling?

Jiang Ruyi felt displeased.

They were both Jiang-level cultivators, mighty beings revered and protecting their own domains—even as prisoners, they should retain their dignity.

What kind of conduct is this?

Jiang Ruyi herself was a Jiang-level cultivator, and at this moment, she felt ashamed to be grouped with these two.

The heavens and earth fell utterly silent.

With the battle over, only the wind stirred dust across the desert.

Jiang Ruyi did not land; she hovered in midair, standing diagonally above their heads.

The Shanwei disciples were living cannonballs!

One must always be wary of these people launching sudden attacks.

Jiang Ruyi's thoughts swirled, yet she remained silent, merely gazing down at them.

Wan Fangling grew increasingly anxious, her mind racing, and spoke up Zhudong: "Thank you, my lord, for saving our lives. Thank you, my lord, for sparing us."

Jiang Ruyi finally spoke, her voice soft: "We have no grudge against you. We even helped you. Why repay kindness with betrayal?"

Wan Fangling sighed inwardly again and again, replying formally: "You've just arrived in this realm and don't yet understand the rules of Shengling Mountain."

"Tell me about them."

"Yes." Wan Fangling immediately began speaking.

Though the couple had entered Shengling Mountain for only two months, their experiences were rich enough.

Relying on the Shanwei sect's formidable defensive techniques, they barely survived, wandering from place to place, joining squads, affiliating with gangs, and even serving as slaves to two Western Desert devotees.

As Wan Fangling spoke, the Yu Fu disciples finished clearing the battlefield and gathered around.

The more they listened, the more stunned they became.

The more they listened, the darker Jiang Ruyi's expression grew.

This so-called Shengling Mountain was so cruel, so filthy and vile!

No wonder, when she had earlier proposed to the Shanwei disciples, "We are all human, we must help each other," their expressions had turned strange.

In this realm, all beings prioritize the gods' will and the collection of Sacred Spirit Qi above all else.

Thus, between people, there is direct, conflicting competition.

They are enemies who draw blades at first sight, fighting to the death.

"So… so cruel?" An Xian couldn't help speaking, her voice trembling.

In the human world of Great Xia, humanity had always been a shared community of interest and fate.

Facing a common enemy, people united, helping one another.

But this Shengling Mountain—

At every glance, all living beings, human or demon, are enemies?

"Yes," Wan Fangling lowered her eyes.

Jiang Ruyi pressed her thin lips shut, saying nothing.

This series of revelations struck a massive blow to her understanding and beliefs.

And as she processed these shocking truths, the first figure to flash through her mind was Lu Ran!

Are you… alright?

When you first arrived in this realm, were you also betrayed? Ambushed?

Are you… even still alive?

Jiang Ruyi slowly lifted her head, gazing at the churning clouds overhead, feeling a crushing weight in her chest.

Yes, you must still be alive.

I could sense the abnormality of these people here through mere traces—how could you, newly arrived, not notice it too?

Jiang Ruyi tried to comfort herself, yet her heart grew ever more anxious.

Lu Ran was undoubtedly a human warrior.

A warrior fighting for the survival of his race!

The more he hated demons, the more he cared for humanity.

In that small rain-alley town, every street, every residential district, bore witness to his protecting the people.

Regardless of cost, regardless of life or death.

And now, arriving in a world full of schemes and fratricide, a man like Lu Ran—

Has his Dao heart remained intact?

After his long-held beliefs have completely collapsed—

Can he still survive?

Perhaps because she cared too much, the eternally calm Jiang Ruyi now found her thoughts increasingly chaotic.

She closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

Those around her fell utterly silent.

This was the first time in a long while that Jiang Ruyi had revealed such intense emotion.

Even during their earlier days of flight, when danger loomed at every turn, she had always been the one who remained unmoved.

But now—

Song Yu pondered a moment, then gave An Xian a glance.

Under Song Yu's stare, An Xian forced down her panic, flying to Jiang Ruyi's side and speaking timidly: "Lady."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi snapped back to attention, looking at the woman beside her.

For a moment, she thought she saw Xiao Tian Tian.

Petite frame, shoulder-length hair, almond eyes, sweet and timid features.

"Are you alright?" An Xian whispered softly.

"I'm fine." Jiang Ruyi looked down at the couple. "In this realm, have you ever heard of or seen Lu Ran? He is a Xiang Xianyang devotee."

"The Lu Ran from Great Xia's Heavenly Prodigy?" Shi Yong looked up at the stunning woman.

Until now, the couple had been secluded in an ancient city below the gods, training in isolation.

But The Heavenly Prodigy had been wildly popular.

Shi Yong had heard Lu Ran's name and watched some of his legendary clips.

Wan Fangling's eyes grew brighter as she studied Jiang Ruyi's veiled face, examining her brows and forehead.

In the limited clips of Lu Ran she'd seen, had she not glimpsed this girl's figure before?

Then what was the relationship between these two—

"Have you seen Lu Ran?" An Xian asked urgently.

The couple both shook their heads, leaving the others disheartened.

Jiang Ruyi nodded slightly and added: "Do you know which direction the sea lies?"

The couple shook their heads again.

In the past two months, they had seen only desert and stone pillars, never left the Wàn Rèn Mountain region—how could they have seen any sea?

Jiang Ruyi had expected this answer; she sighed. "Rise."

"Thank you, Lady," Wan Fangling seized the opportunity, immediately changing her tone. "From now on, we will serve you faithfully, as loyal dogs and horses!"

Jiang Ruyi: "."

Those who survive in this realm are mostly shrewd.

Even those lacking natural talent in this regard are forced by fate to "grow."

Song Yu suddenly asked: "How many people are in your Lie Shan Gang?"

Wan Fangling replied: "Including us, twenty-two.

But a week ago, two squads totaling eight people vanished and never returned."

Song Yu asked again: "What sects and cultivation levels do the remaining members belong to?"

Wan Fangling: "All are Shanwei devotees, all at Jiang-level stages two, three, and four."

After several follow-up questions, Song Yu looked at Jiang Ruyi: "Lady, shall we take over this gang?"

Jiang Ruyi pondered, saying nothing.

Song Yu continued: "The path ahead is perilous. More strength means greater survival. These two have described the realm's reality: strength rules, no morality or law exists.

People kill each other; the strong enslave the weak."

Jiang Ruyi remained silent, only frowning slightly.

Song Yu pressed on: "The Shanwei sect has weak offensive power but strong utility—they're naturally a prime target, destined to be devoured by nearby Western Desert sects.

These people will be enslaved!

Lady, you are kind—if these Shanwei devotees follow you, at least they won't suffer humiliation."

Jiang Ruyi: "."

Am I merciful?

The battle just ended; the enemies' corpses are probably still warm—no, they're already cold.

They've been frozen through for a long time.

Still, we truly must strengthen our team and accumulate strength.

Jiang Ruyi's eyes flickered slightly; this path to find Lu Ran was uncertain, and she did not know how long it would take.

The journey ahead would surely be fraught with peril.

The Yu Fu Sect also has its weaknesses; we should supplement our ranks with followers from other sects, so we may survive better.

"Lady!" Wan Fangling looked up at Jiang Ruyi with reverence, "The Gu Zhang squad and the remaining two squads of the Lie Shan Gang have tense relations."

Especially after those eight went missing, Gu Zhang's ambition swelled—he seeks to seize the position of gang leader."

"This time, he brought us, this husband-and-wife pair, out specifically to win us over as newcomers."

Jiang Ruyi, sharp as ice and wise as snow, naturally understood what the other meant.

Sure enough, Wan Fangling continued: "Everyone in Gu Zhang's inner circle, those close to him, all died here."

The others in the gang should not harbor resentment toward you because of Gu Zhang's death, Lady—you may freely move to absorb the Lie Shan Gang."

"Mm." Jiang Ruyi gave a soft reply.

Seeing Jiang Ruyi agree, Song Yu's eyes brightened slightly, and he nodded inwardly.

Zhang Zhenghu and Zhu Yuan exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Jiang Ruyi looked at the group: "Let's go see the Lie Shan Gang soon."

"Has the battlefield been cleared?"

The group immediately offered their weapons and Divine Power Pearls.

An Xian looked at these spoils with a complex expression: "This place feels like our human slaughterhouse."

Everything Wan Fangling had said about Sheng Ling Mountain still shook An Xian's mind.

When she learned the remaining members of the Lie Shan Gang were all at the Jiang Realm's Second to Fourth Stages, a thought within An Xian grew increasingly uncontrollable.

Her own squad, all Yu Fu disciples, were also at the Jiang Realm!

Why not let people stay in Da Xia, protecting peace, guarding cities and civilians?

No wonder the number of human cultivators in the mortal realm never grows.

They've all been sent here by the gods, killing each other to collect Holy Spirit Qi?!

An Xian's mind was in chaos—so chaotic she didn't notice the surrounding silence had become absolute.

Some thoughts cross the red line!

Even if the truth lies before you, you may only think it privately—never speak it aloud!

Unless—

The group glanced at Jiang Ruyi, subtly, as Shi Yong and the Wan Fangling couple secretly observed the young leader's reaction.

In this brutally real world, Jiang Ruyi's stance would determine the entire team's attitude.

Slowly, An Xian finally realized it!

In front of these devout believers, she had voiced doubt about the gods.

She had claimed that the compassionate, merciful, savior-gods treated humanity like livestock, tossing them into a slaughterhouse.

An Xian was utterly terrified!

Shocked and trembling, she shivered uncontrollably, cautiously glancing at Jiang Ruyi.

Under all their stares, the noble, icy-white-robed woman acted as if she heard nothing.

Her gaze swept over the spoils and ordered: "Song Yu, distribute them among everyone."

Song Yu remained expressionless and replied solemnly: "Yes!"

An Xian stared blankly at Jiang Ruyi, unsure whether to feel relieved or grateful.

She silently lowered her head; silence returned, thick and strange.

Sorry for the late update.

I sat at my computer all day yesterday, writing from morning until midnight—I'm truly exhausted.

(End of Chapter)