Chapter 942: Collecting a Dowry?

The lair of the Lie Shan Gang lies within a mountain's interior.

When Jiang Ruyi led her team to arrive, the mountain demon worshippers guarding the cave entrance went on high alert!

Especially upon seeing Shi Yong and Wan Fangling trailing behind the Yu Fu disciples, the mountain demon worshippers' expressions darkened further.

"We mean no harm."

Jiang Ruyi hovered in midair, looking down at the guards stationed at the cave entrance.

Yet to this mountain demon disciple, the white-robed woman's words held not a shred of credibility!

At this moment, two Yu Fu disciples surged forward, blocking the cave entrance.

The white-robed woman, meanwhile, stood apart in the air with two other Yu Fu disciples, observing the situation from above.

Is this not hostility?

You're surrounding the entire mountain!

Especially this white-robed woman—beautiful, yes, but those icy eyes and cold demeanor might as well have "kneel and submit" written across her face!

"Go in," Jiang Ruyi spoke again.

Shi Yong and Wan Fangling immediately stepped inside.

As the entrance guards moved to act, Song Yu spoke up in time: "Brother, we truly mean no harm.

You know our sect possesses the Divine Art: Flowing Sand Talisman—if I act, the whole mountain will collapse.

We have five Yu Fu worshippers. Even if your Lie Shan Gang has a hundred hidden exits, not one of you will escape."

The mountain demon worshippers guarding the entrance clenched their fists, staring coldly at Song Yu's stern face.

Shi and Wan passed the guards and entered the tunnel.

The scene fell into silence.

Jiang Ruyi stood quietly in midair, her gaze sweeping over the mountain peak, gazing far into the distance.

After a long while, several mountain demon worshippers emerged.

The leader was a massive, burly man.

He was around forty, bald-headed, with a scruffy beard, radiating a fierce, rugged aura.

"Lady Jiang, long time no hear!" The bald giant looked up at the white-robed woman, surprised but still bowed his hands, "I am Gu Zhang of our gang—my apologies for the offense!

Xiong Xiong represents the Lie Shan Gang and offers you our humble apologies!"

Everyone: "."

The tense atmosphere grew strangely odd because of the name "Xiong Xiong."

You're kinda cute?

Jiang Ruyi looked down, studying him closely.

Appearances deceive—this coarse, burly brute spoke surprisingly well.

Xiong Xiong grinned apologetically: "Lady Jiang, our Lie Shan Gang is so poor we can't even afford decent clothes—we have nothing valuable to offer as compensation."

Jiang Ruyi spoke softly: "You believe whatever Wan Fangling says?"

Xiong Xiong replied at once: "Gu Zhang sees wealth and goes mad—he wants to steal everything. I know him well—he's nothing but a bandit!"

Yet as he spoke, his thoughts were otherwise.

What is truth, really?

In the Sacred Spirit Mountains, there is no right or wrong.

Only strength and weakness!

Jiang Ruyi watched the bald man smiling apologetically, and sighed inwardly.

The world truly was as Wan Fangling described.

In the Great Xia of the mortal realm, if four Jiang-level experts had died under such unclear circumstances, an investigation would have turned the earth upside down.

Justice and fairness would have been settled.

Jiang Ruyi, adapting to this new world, spoke slowly: "I hear you're trapped here."

Xiong Xiong's appearance was crude, but his mind was sharp—he understood her intent immediately.

Yet circumstances forced his hand: "This land seems open, but it's surrounded by the Ten Thousand Blades Mountains.

We cannot escape the Ten Thousand Blades Mountains."

Jiang Ruyi nodded slightly: "We intend to leave—to find places with mountains, trees, rivers, and seas. Why not join us?"

At the mention of the word "sea," Jiang Ruyi's thoughts drifted.

Unconsciously, she lifted her head, gazing far into the distance.

If she could, she would seek the sea herself—she didn't want to be distracted by pointless matters.

But her strength was insufficient.

She could only keep accumulating power.

Moreover, she had to consider what would come after finding Lu Ran.

A strong core was the leverage that would let her and him survive better.

As she thought, Jiang Ruyi's expression grew strangely odd.

For some reason, she suddenly felt like she was… collecting a dowry?

Accumulating things—not for herself, but so that, when she was with him, they could live better.

"Lady Jiang?"

A voice interrupted Jiang Ruyi's thoughts.

Jiang Ruyi snapped back, pulling his gaze from the distance, and apologized to the man: "I was distracted."

Xiong Xiong grinned, completely unconcerned.

You're absentminded, you're aloof—it doesn't matter to me.

This was Xiong Xiong's seventh year in the Sacred Spirit Mountains.

If he had to name one thing the Sacred Spirit Mountains taught him, it was this: "Dignity means nothing here."

In fact, for a weakling, losing dignity was essential!

Without it, you live longer.

Xiong Xiong called out loudly: "Our strength is too weak—we'll just survive here!

Living a few more days lets us gather more Sacred Spirit Qi for the Mountain Demon Lord—it's our way of repaying the gods' grace.

Lady Jiang, please spare us and don't trouble us."

Jiang Ruyi replied: "Recently, eight of your people have gone missing."

Xiong Xiong nodded: "Yes."

Jiang Ruyi sighed softly: "They may be dead—or captured by Western Desert disciples as slaves.

You know full well—if you stay here, your fate will be the same."

Xiong Xiong fell silent.

Jiang Ruyi continued: "If you come with me, you might escape this wasteland.

Unlike the Western Desert sect or other powerful divine sects, I can promise you—you'll be my comrades, not my slaves."

Xiong Xiong looked up at Jiang Ruyi, wanting desperately for a gift from heaven, wanting to believe her words.

But no matter how many times he told himself—

This was the Sacred Spirit Mountains!

Jiang Ruyi suddenly said: "The man behind you… seems to know me."

"Huh?" Xiong Xiong turned to look behind.

Among the two men and one woman, the tall, thin, curly-haired youth looked excited.

"You know each other?" Xiong Xiong's face showed shock.

"Yes!" Wang Xuyang nodded eagerly.

Xiong Xiong's heart leapt: "Friend? Or classmate?"

Why the hell didn't you say so sooner!

If he could forge a connection with such a powerful person, it would be perfect!

As Xiong Xiong was daydreaming, Wang Xuyang shook his head again: "I know her. She doesn't know me."

Xiong Xiong:??

He wanted to kick Wang Xuyang straight into the dirt.

Seeing his boss's expression, Wang Xuyang hurried to explain: "Boss, this is a Great Xia Heavenly Prodigy!

Don't you remember? I told you when I first arrived!"

"Huh?" Xiong Xiong was startled. "Prodigy? That show?"

"Yes, yes!" Wang Xuyang nodded vigorously.

Xiong Xiong suddenly understood—everything made sense now!

How could an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old girl lead a group of thirty- and forty-year-old senior disciples?

How could she command such influence and possess such strength?

She was a Great Xia Heavenly Prodigy!

Xiong Xiong looked up at Jiang Ruyi, admiring her aura of power, and asked quietly: "Lady Jiang, what rank are you?"

As he spoke, Xiong Xiong marveled inwardly.

No wonder—she was one of the Heavenly Prodigies painstakingly chosen by Great Xia from hundreds of millions of worshippers!

Look at the quality of this!

Compared to Lady Jiang, the others were like dirt beside clouds.

When Wang Xuyang heard his brother ask, he froze.

He suddenly realized he had said something wrong.

Jiang Ruyi truly has the talent of a prodigy, but she has no title as one!

"No, Xiong Ge," Wang Xuyang said cautiously, "Lady Jiang has no ranking—she's not a contestant in The Prodigies."

"Wait, what?" Xiong Xiong blinked, then burst out laughing in anger.

He raised his palm like a fan and slapped Wang Xuyang hard on the back of his head: "Are you messing with me?"

"Smack!"

Wang Xuyang grimaced, clutching his head: "Her boyfriend is! Her fiancé is a prodigy!"

Xiong Xiong's face remained dark.

"Top-tier prodigy!" Wang Xuyang nodded vigorously, utterly certain, "Number one!"

"What?!" Xiong Xiong was stunned!

Number one?

The Great Xia screened hundreds across the entire nation—even if you ranked last, you'd still be a dragon among men!

And you're saying you're number one?

Wang Xuyang nodded frantically: "Undisputed number one! Absolutely no debate!"

"The supreme prodigy of Great Xia!"

"Smack!"

This time, Xiong Xiong slapped his own bald head.

The number one prodigy of Great Xia!

How strong would that make him?

Not just Xiong Xiong—even the surrounding Shanyue believers felt a chill.

Wang Xuyang kept talking: "Lady Jiang is called 'Lady' at such a young age because her fiancé is the earthly patriarch of a divine sect!"

"Lady Jiang is the patriarch's wife!"

"Huh??"

Xiong Xiong stared up blankly at the white-robed woman hovering in midair.

My mother!

Today, I've met a true dragon and phoenix.

The wife of an earthly patriarch.

Wang Xuyang, still clutching his head, finally exhaled in relief.

He deliberately didn't mention that the divine sect was Xiang Xianyang's.

His boss's head was already buzzing.

If he said it now, Wang Xuyang feared his boss would faint dead away.

"Hmph."

High above, Jiang Ruyi smiled and shook her head.

It was the first time she had smiled in a long while.

Unexpectedly, even in this remote wasteland, she still reaped the blessings of Lu Ran.

She lifted her eyelids, gazing far into the distance.

Her beautiful eyes seemed to pierce through time and space, as if seeing someone's figure.

"Knowing me is better," Jiang Ruyi said casually. "You can trust me. Join my team and come with me."

Wang Xuyang gazed up at the white-robed woman, and the more he looked, the more bitter he felt.

He was a loyal viewer of The Prodigies and had once affectionately called Lu Ran "Ran Dog" in his livestream.

He had even joined the trend and typed a comment:

"Sword in hand, follow me—grab Ruyi, kill Ran Dog!"

But those good days in the mortal world were gone forever.

Wang Xuyang never imagined the day he'd finally see Jiang Ruyi would be here, in this monstrous Holy Spirit Mountain.

Gathering courage, he asked: "Lady Jiang, uh… Lord Lu, the prodigy—?"

Jiang Ruyi: "He's in this realm too. I'm searching for him."

Wang Xuyang was stunned—and delighted!

Like many Great Xia citizens, Wang Xuyang's favor toward Lu Ran was at its peak!

Compared to Jiang Ruyi, he trusted Lu Ran far more.

"Lady!" An Xian suddenly flew over to report, "People are coming from the south."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi turned to look.

Far to the south, several figures were racing toward them.

One of them carried an axe.

These are…

Followers of the Second-Rank Deity of the Western Wastes?

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(End of chapter)