Forced

Although Su Qing was lecherous, he hadn't forgotten his main objective. After seven grueling days of travel, he finally arrived at Nine Lions City.

"Old Huang, why do I feel like the martial artists in Nine Lions City are quite weak? What's going on?"

Su Qing didn't announce his arrival in Nine Lions City; instead, he planned to assess the situation first.

"There's a reason for that, Young Master. It seems a fellow called Old Man Snow Mountain took all the martial artists from Nine Lions City to the front lines!"

"Oh, does our Lanzhou still have such loyal and righteous men?"

"Hardly. That guy was just trading for his own advancement resources. He exchanged tens of thousands of martial artists for a True Condensation Martial Art!"

Old Huang said disdainfully. As a Samadhi Realm martial artist, he had the right to look down on Old Man Snow Mountain.

Su Qing, however, grew a bit curious about Old Man Snow Mountain and decided he'd try to recruit him if they ever met. After all, this was a talent—someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Su Qing liked that kind of style!

"But this might cause some trouble for our operation."

Old Huang was startled, immediately realizing a certain possibility.

"Exactly. The Black Dragon Mountain Range is vast beyond measure. With just the few of us, there's no way we can find the Great Demon in a short time. That's where these people come in!"

Su Qing flashed a sinister smile, completely disregarding the lives of those martial artists.

Venturing deep into the Black Dragon Mountain Range to find the Great Demon would require a river of blood. After all, Demonic Beasts and humans were mortal enemies.

To the eyes of Demonic Beasts, ordinary martial artists were nothing but delicious prey.

Though he found it somewhat cruel, Old Huang didn't say anything. Instead, he grew even more appreciative of this Young Master.

As a descendant of royalty, if you weren't ruthless, you couldn't stand firm!

"Since this is the case, let this old man lend the Young Master a hand!"

With that, he exchanged a glance with Old Li beside him. The two soared into the air, their Samadhi Realm auras erupting outward as powerful True Essence locked onto every martial artist in Nine Lions City.

"Martial artists of Nine Lions City, hear this! From today onward, everyone will head into the Black Dragon Mountain Range to search for the Great Demon. Anyone who disobeys dies!"

As he spoke, a massive hand condensed from True Essence slammed directly into a building. The grand structure and everyone inside were reduced to fragments.

The brutality sent chills down everyone's spines.

A Viscera Refiner, seeing no way out, cautiously asked, "May I ask, sir, what reward there might be?"

Yes, if you want people to work, you have to offer rewards—that seemed only natural. But Old Li's eyes turned icy.

"Reward? The greatest reward is your miserable life! Is that enough?"

With that, he crushed the Viscera Refiner's head with a single squeeze.

The others immediately fell silent.

Though they knew these men were domineering, they hadn't expected such cruelty.

But might made right. Despite their resentment, no one dared to resist.

The two Samadhi Realm martial artists exchanged glances and nodded in satisfaction.

Landing on the ground, they said smugly, "Is the Young Master satisfied?"

Su Qing clapped his hands. "Both Retainers are truly decisive. This Young Master is very satisfied. Rest assured, once we find the Great Demon Core, I will definitely have my father reward you both!"

Hearing this, the two smiled contentedly. Wasn't all their desperate effort for the sake of getting that very promise?

Afterward, under Su Qing's coercion, over a hundred thousand low-level martial artists trudged into the Black Dragon Mountain Range with uneasy hearts.

On the very first day alone, over a thousand martial artists died in the jaws of Demonic Beasts.

And as they pushed deeper, the death rate only climbed higher.

After all, these martial artists were at most Viscera Refiners. Facing Demonic Beasts, they could only wait for death!

But Su Qing clearly didn't care about any of that. To him, as long as he achieved his goal, it didn't matter how many died.

The death toll kept rising sharply. Seeing that Su Qing and his men had no regard for their lives, some of the lower-level martial artists began to hatch schemes.

Since venturing deep into the mountains was so dangerous, they might as well flee. And they definitely couldn't run back to Nine Lions City. Their only option was to find a hidden place to eke out a living, just like the Bandits outside the city.

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As martial artists, once they made a decision, they acted quickly.

Sure enough, on the third day, several thousand people took advantage of the complex terrain to escape.

After that, the number of escapees only grew.

Su Qing had brought fewer than twenty men. Even if these men were all strong by local standards, they couldn't possibly keep watch over over a hundred thousand people!

The martial artists' flight seemed to have become an irreversible trend.

Even Su Qing, upon hearing the news, flew into a rage.

He smashed even his favorite Jade Thumb Ring to pieces.

"Bastards! These Vermin, how dare they?"

"Isn't dying for this Young Master the greatest honor of their lives? And they still run? They truly don't know their place!"

"However, did you really think you could escape that easily? Heh, this Young Master won't let you have your way!"

"Men, search for them. Those remote, desolate mountains—search them one by one. Once you find the fleeing martial artists, execute them on the spot. Let's see who's fiercer: the demonic beasts or this Young Master's blade!"

The Guards received their orders and immediately set out.

As for the two Retainers, Su Qing wasn't willing to let them leave, since they were his guarantee of survival.

But even his Guards were enough to complete his task—after all, they were all Innate Experts. Dealing with some Qi-Blood martial artists was far too simple!

Shen Fan didn't know how chaotic the outside world had become, and neither did the people of Black Wind Stockade. They lived like recluses in a peaceful environment.

But today, that tranquility was shattered once again. Several battered martial artists knocked on the stockade's gate.

No matter how hidden the stockade was, people would still stumble upon it by chance.

These martial artists were exactly that kind of people.

They had originally been hunted by Su Qing's Guards, barely escaping with their lives, only to lose their way in the mountains and wander aimlessly.

But unexpectedly, just when hope seemed lost, they discovered a stockade.

Thus, Black Wind Stockade became their last hope.

Liu Yunfeng stood atop the stockade gate, staring at this group with a furrowed brow. For some reason, a sudden unease crept into his heart, as if something bad was about to happen to him.

"Sir, open the gate! We're willing to become your subordinates, ready to serve at your command. Please take us in!"

Looking at these martial artists, none of whom surpassed Bone Forging, Liu Yunfeng thought it over and finally let them in. In the past, Black Wind Stockade had also absorbed some martial artists.

But just as Liu Yunfeng ordered the gate opened, two Guards from the Prince's Mansion appeared.

One of them directly unleashed True Qi, brutally killing several of the fleeing martial artists.

Blood splattered across their faces, adding a fierce, murderous aura to their expressions.

"Heh, didn't expect an unexpected gain today. Not bad, not bad—a stockade. Looks like we'll have plenty more to replenish our numbers!"

"Yeah, yeah. Who knows, if we take this stockade, the Young Master might even reward us!"

The two chatted as if no one else was there. In their eyes, these country bumpkins hiding in such a place couldn't possibly be their match.

Even if the other side had an Innate Expert, as Guards of the Prince's Mansion, how could their Cultivation Methods compare to those of martial artists from a backwater place like this?

Liu Yunfeng stared at the two men, the sense of foreboding growing stronger. He made a gesture to Black Dog beside him, then stepped forward to meet them.

Black Dog understood and withdrew, heading off to find Shen Fan.

"Two heroes, may I ask what business brings you here? It seems Black Wind Stockade has done nothing to offend you?!"

"Haha, heroes? We're heroes now? Third Brother, looks like we'll have to move fast—let's not make this lovely person suffer!"

"Got it, Brother Ji!"

As Soon As the Words Fell, the two lunged forward. In their eyes, once they killed Liu Yunfeng, the suspected leader of the stockade, taking control of it would be simple!

"Bastards, how dare you be so rude?"

Frustrated, Liu Yunfeng still charged forward to meet them.