Xiong Xiong gazed into the distance, his expression changing dramatically after a few seconds: "Those two… Damn it!"

A group of six approached, four of whom were tall, burly, and exuded an overwhelming presence. The leader carried a battle axe.

One glance was enough to recognize them as disciples of the West Desolation Sect!

The other two individuals in the team—Xiong Xiong recognized them immediately. They were his lost brothers from a week ago.

Judging by the situation… those two had likely already been enslaved.

Were they now leading their master to destroy their own base?

"Those bastards!" Xiong Xiong gritted his teeth and cursed, seeing the aggressive momentum of the West Desolation believers. He knew today might spell doom!

Beside him, Shi Yong wore a troubled expression.

Xiong Xiong cursed those two former members of the Rift Mountain Gang, but wasn't he also cursing Shi Yong and Wan Fangling, the married couple?

Wan Fangling, on the other hand, appeared indifferent, unfazed by the insults.

After all, the couple hadn't been part of the gang for long and felt little allegiance.

Moreover, Lady Jiang differed from other Strong God believers! If Xiong Xiong truly decided not to follow Jiang Ruyi, the dignified Lady Luo Xian wouldn't force him to comply.

Hence, at its core, the couple hadn't truly "invited evil into their house."

"Lady Jiang, the approaching group bears ill intentions!" Xiong Xiong raised his head and looked toward the white-robed woman hovering in mid-air.

Jiang Ruyi's expression remained unchanged as she spoke coldly: "Have you decided on my proposal?"

Xiong Xiong's face contorted with conflicting emotions.

At this critical moment, Jiang Ruyi's question completely cornered the bald-headed man.

How should he choose?

Become a servant of the West Desolation Sect, barely scraping by?

Or follow this Human World Sect Master's wife and trust her promises?

Upon closer thought, the decision wasn't difficult. But the real problem was that if Xiong Xiong and his group followed Lady Jiang, they would incite the wrath of the West Desolation Sect!

The West Desolation disciples approached aggressively, clearly determined to succeed.

A battle seemed inevitable…

"Your time is running out," Jiang Ruyi said, her tone growing frostier. "If you're unwilling to follow us, then we will leave… Hmm?"

Her voice trailed off, and Jiang Ruyi raised her eyebrows slightly.

Her gaze focused on the tall young man at the end of the six-member team.

This person… looked familiar.

"Thump!"

The bald-headed man gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and knelt heavily to the ground: "Lady Jiang, we are willing to follow you!"

If captured by the West Desolation Sect and turned into slaves, life would surely become unbearable, filled with endless torment and humiliation, forever clouded in darkness!

But following Lady Jiang offered at least a glimmer of hope.

After learning more about Jiang Ruyi, Xiong Xiong gained deeper insight into her many roles.

Following her…

Might actually lead to a better life?

With their leader prostrating in worship, the rest of the Shanwei believers naturally followed suit, kneeling one by one.

Though Lady Jiang had clearly stated she would treat them as team members, not as servants, the current circumstances made it impossible for anyone to remain standing.

Except for one!

Wang Xuyang remained standing—not because he was unfamiliar with the rules of the Holy Spirit Mountain, but because his attention was fixed on the approaching group, his gaze locked onto the young man at the end of the procession.

From above came Jiang Ruyi's cold voice: "Swear it in the name of the God."

In the realm of the Holy Spirit Mountain, people's actions were unbound by laws or restrictions.

The only slightly binding force came from the believers' oaths made in the name of their deity.

Xiong Xiong immediately raised three thick fingers, vowing: "I, Xiong Xiong, swear by the great Shanwei that I will follow Lady Jiang to the death and remain loyal!"

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Such promptness?

Either Xiong Xiong had resolutely gambled everything and fully committed,

Or he simply didn't take such vows seriously, even if they invoked the deity he believed in, demonstrating a lack of reverence.

Which was it?

Jiang Ruyi thought it was likely the latter.

Earlier, An Xian had accidentally uttered the word "slaughterhouse," planting a seed in everyone's minds.

Perhaps the gods they devotedly worshipped weren't as majestic and radiant as they'd assumed.

Xiong Xiong had survived this realm for so long—it was likely he understood this truth deeply.

He relied on Shanwei Sect's Divine Technique to save his life, yet he might harbor suspicion or even resentment toward his god, Shanwei. Both were possible.

Jiang Ruyi's thoughts raced before an unexpected voice called out from below:

"Feng'er?"

The voice belonged to Wang Xuyang, filled with excitement.

Jiang Ruyi's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she instantly recalled the identity of the youth at the end of the group.

Da Xia's genius—the eighty-seventh Heavenly Pride—Xue Fengchen!

The affinity Da Xia's people held for their hundred Heavenly Prides was beyond question.

Lu Ran was referred to affectionately as "Ran Dog," respectfully as "Ran Shen," and playfully as "Emperor Ran," among other nicknames. This was, in its essence, a testament to Da Xia's admiration for him.

And such affection wasn't reserved for Lu Ran alone.

The other Heavenly Prides also had their nicknames, such as West Desolation disciple Xue Fengchen.

He was endearingly called "Feng'er"...

A tall, mighty, and valiant young man saddled with an effeminate nickname.

Netizens were truly gifted when it came to humor.

"Whoosh~"

The gust of wind surged, sending dust everywhere.

Three men and one woman—a total of four West Desolation believers—arrived astride their mounts.

The leader appeared to be in his forties or fifties, tall and muscular, his body rippling with blocky muscles. He held a Mountain Opening Axe, radiating an astonishing presence!

Jiang Ruyi had already received a warning from the Cold Night Sword: the axe in his hand was, without a doubt, a Divine Weapon.

The man sized up the scene before the cave entrance, his expression unfriendly.

At that moment, a crowd of Shanwei believers led by Xiong Xiong knelt before Jiang Ruyi.

Their posture was unquestionably one of allegiance.

The leader's eyes followed their bowing direction until they settled on the sky.

"So that's who it is." He smirked coldly, hefting the Mountain Opening Axe in his hand. "It turns out to be the Daoists from the Jade Talisman Sect.

My name is Guo Yize. Which of you is the leader?"

Though he asked the question, Guo Yize's gaze had already locked onto Jiang Ruyi, then shifted to the sword sheath at her waist.

Jiang Ruyi's eyes flicked past Xue Fengchen, a faint glimmer flashing through them as an idea took shape.

Standing with her hands behind her back in mid-air, Jiang Ruyi declared, "The Shanwei believers have already decided to follow us."

Guo Yize chuckled lightly: "Young girl, your age is small, but your appetite isn't?

Do you think you can manage such a large group of slaves?"

His words were shockingly blunt.

He didn't even bother to feign politeness!

Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly before responding coolly, "They are my team members, my future comrades, not slaves."

This was both an explanation and an attempt to win loyalty.

"Haha! Hahaha…" Guo Yize suddenly burst into laughter, as though he'd heard the most ridiculous thing.

His arrogant demeanor and wild laughter were utterly insane!

It even evoked the image of the Barbaric Female Demon Clan.

The Shanwei disciples gathered by the cave seethed with anger but dared not act upon it.

In the presence of Second-class God believers, the Shanwei believers truly lacked the ability to resist.

Worse yet, the West Desolation Sect countered the Shanwei Sect perfectly!

The Shanwei believers' pride—the Mountain Stone Armor—was an exceptionally reliable defense against most creatures.

Unfortunately, the West Desolation Sect specialized in a Divine Technique called "Shattering the Eight Desolates."

This technique was tailor-made for destroying mountains, rocks, and even the earth itself…

"Heh." Another West Desolation believer standing beside Guo Yize let out a cold chuckle.

He gazed at the white-robed woman hovering in mid-air with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes, like he was watching a foolish little flower.

Guo Yize abruptly stopped laughing, his eyes brimming with menace: "Little girl! This old man has traveled far to reach this place; I won't leave empty-handed!"

"Whoosh!"

With overwhelming momentum, Guo Yize raised the Divine Weapon—the Mountain Opening Axe—and pointed it to the sky: "Leave the slaves and depart at once! I'll let you go!"

The believers of the Second-class God West Desolation were indeed more dominant than those of the Third-class God Jade Talisman.

But Jade Talisman believers were no pushovers either!

Guo Yize's decision-making revealed as much—if Jade Talisman Sect had been weaker, he wouldn't have let Jiang Ruyi leave.

Jiang Ruyi ignored Guo Yize entirely. Her beautiful eyes focused on the youth at the end of the procession.

With the opposition's leader holding such an attitude, peace would be out of the question…

"Xue, Feng, Chen." Jiang Ruyi's lips moved slightly, enunciating each word.

"Hmm?"

"Oh?" The expressions of three West Desolation believers shifted into surprise.

The middle-aged woman beside Xue Fengchen turned to the valiant youth: "Xiao Chen, do you know her?"

Xue Fengchen clasped his hands in greeting, his tone steady: "I have met Lady Luo Xian before."

Hearing this form of address, Jiang Ruyi's heart steadied!

Good, very good!

Always composed like frost, Jiang Ruyi's brows now carried a hint of sternness: "Xue Tianjiao, have you joined this group of villains?"

Xue Fengchen's heart trembled.

He maintained a stoic expression, but his thoughts were roiling in turmoil.

Especially upon hearing the term "Tianjiao"; it filled his heart with shame.

From the start, Xue Fengchen had recognized Jiang Ruyi but chose silence; he didn't know how to speak or how to face her.

But… what could he do?

Xue Fengchen sighed heavily in his heart.

His days in the Holy Spirit Mountain Realm hadn't been long, yet he'd spent much of it fleeing through the Ten Thousand Blade Mountain, wandering in desperation until he finally found a faction—Tianhuang Mountain.

Tianhuang Mountain was teeming with experts, forming its own set of rules.

These were rules organically crafted within the grand principles governing the Holy Spirit Mountain.

Xue Fengchen was just one man—what could he possibly change?

Jiang Ruyi spoke again, pressing him further, yet offering a compromise: "I imagine you've only been in this realm for a short time.

Da Xia's genius—Xue Fengchen!

Would you truly side with these villains, intending to fall from grace?"

Xue Fengchen tightened his grip on the Mountain Opening Axe.

"Enough of this 'genius' nonsense!" Guo Yize, sensing trouble, quickly interjected, "This is the Holy Spirit Mountain!"

Jiang Ruyi abruptly switched tactics: "Lu Ran is in this realm as well."

Xue Fengchen's sharp eyes lit up as he looked up at Jiang Ruyi: "Ran Shen is here as well?"

Noting Xue Fengchen's reaction and how he referred to Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi reassured herself.

This was the influence of Da Xia's premier genius!

It was also the intimidating power of Lu Ran!

Faced with dire circumstances, Jiang Ruyi leveraged all available resources and forces: "On the 19th day of the first month, Luoxian Mountain opened a Divine Ruins, known across the land.

The Immortal Sheep Sect recognizes only him as capable of successfully challenging the Divine Ruins.

I know his approximate location; I'm currently on the way to find him."

Xue Fengchen silently nodded; her words weren't false.

Jiang Ruyi's tone grew firm: "Xue Tianjiao, don't bring shame to Lu Ran's glory!

Xue Tianjiao, mustn't you retain your honor and mission, to be worthy of Da Xia's recognition of the title 'Heavenly Pride'!"

Each word struck with deafening force!

As her speech concluded, Jiang Ruyi's gaze swept across the tall, thin youth at the cave's entrance.

Feeling the commanding presence in her sharp gaze, Wang Xuyang shivered.

Realizing her intent, Wang Xuyang shouted passionately, "Yes, Feng'er!

Don't follow these villains; come with us to find Ran Shen!"

The endearing term "Feng'er" pulled Xue Fengchen out of the mire of the Holy Spirit Mountain and back to the Human World Da Xia.

Wait, what?

So someone still knew him here!

Moreover, this person was among the group the West Desolation Sect sought to enslave?

"Damn it! You damn son of a—*&*&…￥%!!" Guo Yize erupted in furious profanities, visibly losing his composure.

Being ignored was something he could grudgingly endure.

But this? Dammit!

Turning traitor before a battle?

And doing it right in front of him?

"Boom!"

Crazed with fury, Guo Yize stomped heavily, causing sand to churn and surge toward the cave entrance!

"Kill!"

From above came Jiang Ruyi's icy command.

...

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