Chapter 943: To the Face

Xiong Xiong gazed into the distance, and after a few seconds, his expression changed: "Those two bastards!"

There were six newcomers, four of them tall and burly, radiating formidable energy, with the leader carrying a battle axe.

Just one look—they're disciples of the Western Wastes!

The other two in the group, Xiong Xiong recognized—they were his own brothers who had gone missing a week ago.

Judging by this setup, these two must have been turned into slaves.

Did they come here to guide their master to wipe out their own old nest?

"Those fucking traitors!" Xiong Xiong gritted his teeth; seeing the Western Wastes believers charging in, he knew today was over.

Beside him, Shi Yong wore a pained expression.

Xiong Xiong was cursing those two Li Shan Gang members—but wasn't he also cursing Shi Yong and Wan Fangling?

Wan Fangling, however, acted as if nothing had happened; she had no habit of taking insults.

The couple had joined the gang only recently and felt little loyalty.

Besides, Jiang Meiren was unlike other Strong God believers! If Xiong Xiong truly had no intention of following Jiang Ruyi, this noble Lady of the Fallen Immortal would never force anyone.

So fundamentally, the couple had not invited wolves into their home.

"Jiang Meiren, these newcomers mean trouble!" Xiong Xiong lifted his head, gazing at the white-robed woman hovering in midair.

Jiang Ruyi's expression remained unchanged; she spoke coolly: "Have you decided on my offer?"

Xiong Xiong's face flickered with conflicting emotions.

At this critical moment, Jiang Ruyi saying this was a perfect grip on the bald giant.

How to choose?

Become a slave of the Western Wastes, barely clinging to life?

Or follow this Lady of the Human Sect Lord and believe her promise?

At first glance, the choice seems easy—but the hardest part is, if Xiong Xiong leads his men to follow Jiang Meiren, he'll immediately face the wrath of the Western Wastes!

These Western Wastes disciples are charging in with clear intent—they won't back down.

This battle is unavoidable.

"Your time is running out," Jiang Ruyi's voice grew colder. "If you won't come with us, shall we leave then?"

Before she finished speaking, Jiang Ruyi slightly raised her brow.

Her gaze fixed on the last tall youth in the six-man squad.

He looked familiar.

"Thud!"

The bald giant clenched his teeth, shut his eyes, and slammed to his knees: "Jiang Meiren, we'll follow you!"

If captured by the Western Wastes, enslaved and tormented, his life would be endless suffering with no hope!

But following this Jiang Meiren—at least there was a sliver of hope.

After learning more, Xiong Xiong now knew Jiang Ruyi's many identities.

If he followed her…

Maybe he could truly live well?

With the gang leader kneeling in homage, the few remaining Shanwei believers behind him naturally knelt too.

Even though Jiang Meiren had clearly stated she'd treat them as teammates, not slaves, the situation demanded it—who dared stand?

But someone did dare.

Wang Xuyang remained standing—not because he didn't know Shengling Mountain's rules, but because he stared intently at the approaching group, his eyes locked on the youth at the rear.

From above, Jiang Ruyi's cold voice rang out: "Swear by the name of your deity."

In the Shengling Mountain realm, no one's actions were bound by any law.

The only thing with even slight binding power was a believer's oath sworn by their own deity's name.

Xiong Xiong immediately raised three thick fingers and swore: "I, Xiong Xiong, swear by the name of Shanwei the Great, to follow Jiang Meiren unto death, with no second thoughts!"

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

So quick?

Either Xiong Xiong was decisive, staking everything on this choice, fully committed.

Or—he didn't care about oaths at all; even the deity he worshipped held no power over him.

Which was it?

Jiang Ruyi suspected the latter.

Earlier, An Xian had carelessly used the word "slaughterhouse," planting a seed in everyone's mind.

Perhaps the deities people devoutly worshipped weren't as glorious or noble as they believed.

Xiong Xiong had survived this realm so long—he must have felt it deeply.

He used Shanwei's divine arts to stay alive, yet doubted, even resented, the deity Shanwei—it was entirely possible.

Jiang Ruyi's thoughts moved swiftly when she suddenly heard a voice from below:

"Feng'er?"

It was Wang Xuyang's voice—filled with excitement.

Jiang Ruyi's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly; she instantly remembered who the youth at the rear was.

Great Xia's prodigy #87—Xue Fengchen!

The people of Great Xia's affection for the top hundred prodigies was unquestionable.

Lu Ran was loved as "Ran Dog," revered as "Ran God," teased as "Ran Emperor"—in a way, this showed how much the people adored him.

But this love wasn't exclusive to Lu Ran.

Other prodigies had nicknames too—like Xue Fengchen, the Western Wastes disciple.

He was affectionately called "Feng'er."

A tall, heroic, battle-hardened young man—yet given a feminine nickname.

Netizens really knew how to tease.

"Huh~"

Wind surged, dust billowed.

Four Western Wastes believers—three men, one woman—arrived at a gallop.

The leader, seemingly in his forties or fifties, was tall and muscular, his body bulging with sinew, wielding a massive mountain-splitting axe, his aura staggering!

Jiang Ruyi had already received a warning from Liangye Sword—his mountain-splitting axe was a divine weapon!

The man stared at the scene before the cave entrance, his expression dark.

Before him, the entire group of Shanwei believers knelt on the ground.

Such a posture clearly meant submission.

The leader followed the direction of their kneeling and looked upward.

"So that's who it is," he sneered, hefting his mountain-splitting axe. "It's the disciples of Yu Fu.

I am Guo Yi. Which one of you is the leader?"

Though phrased as a question, Guo Yi's eyes were already locked on Jiang Ruyi—and then on the sword scabbard at her waist.

Jiang Ruyi's gaze swept past Xue Fengchen, her eyes flickering with a plan forming.

She stood with hands behind her back, hovering in midair: "The Shanwei believers have already pledged allegiance to us."

Guo Yi chuckled lightly: "Little girl, you're young, but your appetite is huge?

Can you even manage so many slaves?"

His words were brutally direct.

He didn't even bother pretending!

Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly and replied coolly: "They are my teammates, my future comrades—not slaves."

This was an explanation—and also an attempt to win their hearts.

"Ha! Hahaha!" Guo Yi suddenly burst into loud laughter, as if hearing something absurd.

His posture was arrogant, his laughter utterly reckless!

It even evoked thoughts of the Wild Wastelands' Nüba tribe.

The Shanwei disciples at the cave entrance burned with rage—but dared not speak out.

Before a second-tier deity's believer, Shanwei followers had no real power to resist.

Worse still, the Western Wastes sect specifically suppresses the Shanwei sect!

Shanwei believers' greatest pride—their Stone Armor—was a reliable defense against most creatures.

But the Western Wastes possessed the divine art: Shatter the Eight Wastes!

This art was specifically designed to shatter mountains, rocks, and earth.

"Hmph." Another Western Wastes believer beside Guo Yi sneered.

His eyes held mockery as he stared at the white-robed woman hovering above—like she was a foolish, naive lotus.

Guo Yi abruptly stopped laughing, his gaze filled with threat: "Girl! I've traveled far, endured hardship to reach here—I won't leave empty-handed!"

"Huu!"

Guo Yi's aura surged violently as he raised his divine weapon, the mountain-splitting axe, pointing it skyward: "Leave the slaves behind—and go! I'll spare you!"

A second-tier deity's believer from the Western Wastes was indeed far more dominant than a third-tier Yu Fu disciple.

But Yu Fu disciples weren't easy prey either!

From Guo Yize's decision, it was clear that had Yu Fu's faction been even slightly weaker, Guo Yize would never have allowed Jiang Ruyi and the others to leave.

Jiang Ruyi ignored Guo Yize entirely; her beautiful eyes fixed on the young man at the rear of the group.

Since the enemy leader holds such a stance, this matter cannot be resolved peacefully.

"Xue," Jiang Ruyi whispered, her thin lips parting, each syllable deliberate, "Fengchen."

"Hm?"

"Oh?" The three Western Desert devotees all looked startled.

Among them, the middle-aged woman standing beside Xue Fengchen turned to the heroic youth: "Xiao Chen, do you know her?"

Xue Fengchen bowed with clasped fists and said gravely, "I pay my respects to Lady Luoxian."

Hearing this title, Jiang Ruyi's heart steadied.

Good. Very good.

Jiang Ruyi, usually as cold as ice, her brows sharpened with a fierce glint: "Xue Tianjiao, have you allied yourself with these villains?"

Xue Fengchen's heart trembled.

His face remained expressionless, but his inner thoughts were turbulent.

Especially the words "Tianjiao"—they stirred shame within him.

It was clear Xue Fengchen had recognized Jiang Ruyi long ago, yet had remained silent, unsure how to speak or how to face her.

But what choice did he have?

Xue Fengchen sighed deeply within.

He had not been on Sacred Spirit Mountain long; he had fled desperately through Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, wandering for years, until recently finding his organization—Heavenly Desert Mountain.

Heavenly Desert Mountain was teeming with experts and had long established its own rules.

These were rules that naturally formed under the grand framework of Sacred Spirit Mountain!

What could one lone man like Xue Fengchen change?

Jiang Ruyi spoke again, pressing harder yet offering him an out: "I assume you've only just arrived in this realm."

"Xue Fengchen, Tianjiao of Great Xia!"

"Will you truly ally yourself with these villains and sink into corruption?"

Xue Fengchen clenched his opening mountain axe tightly.

"What Tianjiao or Dijiao?!" Guo Yize sensed something amiss and cut in sharply, "This is Sacred Spirit Mountain!"

Jiang Ruyi suddenly shifted tone: "Lu Ran is also in this realm."

Xue Fengchen's eyes lit up; he looked up at Jiang Ruyi: "Is the Divine Flame here too?"

Seeing Xue Fengchen's reaction and his address to Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi's heart was fully assured.

This was the influence of the foremost Tianjiao of Great Xia!

This was Lu Ran's intimidation!

With a great enemy before them, Jiang Ruyi mobilized every available resource and force: "On the nineteenth day of the first month, Luoxian Mountain opened a Divine Ruin—everyone knows this."

Of the Xianyang faction, only he has the qualification to successfully challenge the Divine Ruin.

I know his approximate location—he is on his way there now."

Xue Fengchen nodded silently; her words rang true.

Jiang Ruyi's tone turned stern: "Xue Tianjiao, don't let Lu Ran be ashamed to stand beside you!"

"Xue Tianjiao, you must not forget your honor and mission—you must live up to the title 'Tianjiao' bestowed by Great Xia!!"

Each word rang like a bell, deafening and clear!

As she finished speaking, Jiang Ruyi glanced at the tall, slender youth by the cave entrance.

The woman's commanding gaze swept over him; Wang Xuyang felt it immediately—and shivered.

Wang Xuyang snapped to attention and cried out excitedly: "That's right, Feng'er!"

"Don't stay with these villains—come with us to find the Divine Flame!"

The word "Feng'er" pulled Xue Fengchen straight out of the mire of Sacred Spirit Mountain and back into the human realm of Great Xia.

And more?

Someone here still knew him!

And this person was among the very group the Western Desert faction sought to enslave?

"Fuck! You motherf***ers…!!" Guo Yize erupted in furious curses, his composure shattered.

Being ignored was bad enough.

But this?!

Defection?

And right in front of me?

"Bang!!"

Enraged, Guo Yize slammed his foot hard on the ground—the desert surged violently, rushing toward the cave entrance!

"Kill!"

From high above, Jiang Ruyi's icy voice rang out.

(End of Chapter)