Chapter 215: Demon Slave Market

Passing through a cluster of towering iron cages, a tall stone platform emerged ahead.

In the center of the stone platform stood a stone pillar, and a beautiful human female cultivator was bound to it.

This was a marketplace auctioning human cultivators.

A slender demoness pointed at the female cultivator and was loudly introducing her.

'Foundation Establishment human female cultivator, one unit: pretty face, fair skin, superb figure, the best warm‑bed slave. Starting price two thousand low‑grade demon stones, each bid must increase by at least one hundred low‑grade demon stones. Buyers, please place your bids.'

'Two thousand one hundred.'

'I bid three thousand.'

'Three thousand is even bold enough to act. I bid five thousand.'

'Five thousand five.'

After a short while, a demon merchant led away the beautiful female cultivator for six thousand eight hundred low‑grade demon stones.

Zhang Xingyu's brows twisted into a rope.

Damn demons.

They actually treat human cultivators as slaves for sale.

Beside him, Zhu Dafu had already clenched his fists.

Nan Qiyun, seeing this, tightly grasped their arms with her hand.

'Don't act impulsively!'

Nan Qiyun said softly.

He pulled Zhang Xingyu and Zhu Dafu, turned, and walked outward.

They squeezed through the crowded throng, turned into a quiet side alley, and Nan Qiyun released her grip.

'You two, don't act impulsively. This is a demon‑occupied zone; demons are everywhere.'

After staying in the alley for a while, Zhang Xingyu had calmed down.

He patted Zhu Dafu's shoulder and said softly, 'Dafu, the Major is right; we must not act impulsively. There are countless compatriots enslaved by demons; we must do more than just rescue them. We must quickly defeat the demons, so we can save our human brethren from fire and water.'

Zhu Dafu nodded, yet said nothing.

As he nodded, tears already slid down his chubby face.

The three stayed in the alley a while longer; once Zhu Dafu's emotions steadied, they slowly walked out of the alley entrance.

Just as they exited the alley, they saw a squad of demon soldiers escorting several human war prisoners passing by.

Zhang Xingyu halted.

His brows furrowed again.

Among the prisoners, he saw a familiar face.

To be precise, he saw one of his rivals.

Bai Ping? How did he even come to Nanbu Zhanzhou and become a war prisoner?

When they were at Nanhua Immortal Academy, this man was a subordinate of Long Xiaotian, who, under Long Xiaotian's orders, framed him.

Had he not been quick‑witted, plus a bit of luck, he might already have fallen into his hands.

Later, this man lost to him on the life‑and‑death platform, causing Long Xiaotian to lose fifty thousand contribution points.

It is said that Long Xiaotian expelled him from the academy and used his sister and family assets to settle debts.

Rescue? Or not rescue?

Zhang Xingyu looked at Zhu Dafu and found Zhu Dafu also looking at him.

'Rescue?'

Zhang Xingyu asked softly.

Zhu Dafu nodded, then shook his head.

'Then let's rescue!'

Zhang Xingyu made up his mind.

He briefly explained the situation to Nan Qiyun, then returned to the auction platform.

On the auction platform, Bai Ping lowered his head, allowing Molido to bind him to the stone pillar.

He did not wish to resist.

Resistance would be futile, and its outcome would be tragic.

Including him, there were over a dozen captured cultivators, and fewer than half survived.

Those who tried to resist were either killed or beaten.

He had been taken to Yi He City for ten days, auctioned ten times, yet never sold.

The demon leader raged each time, flaying him until his whole body was scarred.

Perhaps I will die tomorrow.

Perhaps this is my fate.

A rotten fate.

Bai Ping silently bowed his head, thinking.

Again, the demoness's sweet voice sounded in his ear.

'Human male cultivator, Qi‑training level, frail body, starting price three hundred low‑grade demon stones, each bid must increase by at least ten low‑grade demon stones.'

'Human male cultivator, Qi‑training level, frail body, starting price three hundred low‑grade demon stones. Any bids?'

'Human male cultivator, Qi‑training level, frail body, starting price three hundred low‑grade demon stones. Any bids?'

Seeing no one bid, Zhang Xingyu raised his right hand.

'I bid three hundred low‑grade demon stones.'

The demon‑clan merchants around quietly stared at Zhang Xingyu.

Has this Demon Lord's mind broken?

Such a lowly, frail human cultivator isn't worth three hundred low‑grade demon stones.

But they only dare think it in their hearts, not speak a mocking word.

Just kidding, Demon Lord, that's a lofty figure.

Anyone who dares speak a mockery truly has a collapsed brain.

Zhang Xingyu handed over three hundred low‑grade demon stones and then took the identity badge bearing Bai Ping's name.

"Come with me, don't speak!"

Zhang Xingyu walked to Bai Ping's side and whispered.

Bai Ping raised his head in confusion.

This demon cultivator's voice sounded familiar.

However, the demon cultivator faced away, making his face unclear.

Never mind. The demon race's voices are all similar.

Thinking that, Bai Ping lowered his head again.

The few of them passed through the crowd and entered a narrow alley again.

"Bai Ping, look, who am I?"

Zhang Xingyu said softly to Bai Ping.

Bai Ping lifted his head, then petrified.

After a while, he came to his senses.

"Zhang Xingyu, weren't you dead? How did you become a demon?" Bai Ping asked weakly.

Zhang Xingyu waved his hand.

"It's a long story; we'll talk later when we have time. Bai Ping, let me ask you, do you want to go back on your own or follow us?"

"Go back? With you?"

"Yes, we're heading from here to He Lan City, and the whole route is controlled by the demon clan. The road is extremely dangerous, and we can't escort you back. So you must decide yourself: follow us or try to escape on your own?"

"You aren't demons?"

"What do you think?"

"I don't know. Zhang Xingyu, do you no longer hate me?"

"I do hate you. But that doesn't mean I won't save you."

With Bai Ping as a dead weight, the three of Zhang Xingyu had to alter their travel plans.

Rescue people to the end.

Heading straight to the next city is impossible; first we must find a way to get Bai Ping to a relatively safe place.

Otherwise, this rescue would be a waste of effort.

Not far from the human city, there is a beast market.

The beast market sells various demon‑beast mounts, perfect for buying a few for transportation.

Spending 3,800 low‑grade demon stones, the four of them bought three demon wolves as mounts.

The demon wolves are the mounts of Zhang Xingyu's three pseudo‑Demon Lords.

As for Bai Ping, being a slave, he has no right to ride a mount.

Having bought the mounts, the four did not linger.

Taking advantage of the setting sun's afterglow, the four exited the city gate.

The demon‑clan guards defending the city saw them and promptly stood at attention and saluted.

When they were far enough away, the guards lowered their arms.

One guard patted his chest and let out a long sigh.

He murmured, "The three Demon Lords really lost their mounts. Fortunately I was sharp this morning and didn't go forward to ask."