Ling Tian Sword God

"Judging by the expressions of your elders, it seems something serious must have transpired." Ling Chen and Tana had already departed, but he could clearly see the anxious looks on the elders' faces; it was evident something had happened.

"Something happened?"

Tana paused for a moment, reflecting on the unusual expressions of the tribal Elders.

"Tana, go back and find out what's going on," Ling Chen advised. "The prairie herdsmen are mostly kind-hearted people. If I can help, I will not hesitate to lend a hand."

But he didn't know what had happened, so how could he assist?

「Three days later.」

As Ling Chen cultivated and studied the geography around the Northwind Prairie, he also gained a general understanding of the nearby factions.

After understanding the situation, Ling Chen could make his plans: whether to stay or leave, when to depart, and where to go next.

However, at the same time, in the stockade outside, the atmosphere had grown incredibly tense.

Zaji and several of the tribe's Elders were gathered, their faces heavy with anxiety and unease.

CLOP! CLOP! CLOP!

The thunderous sound of horse hooves approached from outside the stockade, growing closer, and the ground began to tremble.

"They're here!"

An Elder cried out in alarm, his face pale.

"We can't avoid what's destined to come." Zaji took a deep breath. The Black Dragon Gang had finally arrived.

BANG!

The wooden gates were blasted to smithereens. Then, a column of dark figures on horseback surged in—nearly a hundred riders.

These men were all brimming with vital energy and spirit, their auras fierce. They were clearly all warriors, without exception.

Among them, there were nearly twenty powerful Martial Artists. They stirred up a rolling cloud of dust, appearing like a mighty army of thousands. If a fight broke out, these men could easily slaughter the entire tribe.

"May I ask which Hall Master of the Black Dragon Gang graces us with his presence today?" Zaji managed to maintain his composure and asked loudly.

The leader, a middle-aged man in black, grinned, revealing stark white teeth. "Heh heh, you've got some nerve. I am Su Lie, Hall Master of the Fierce Tiger Hall."

"So it is Hall Master Su Lie. We have prepared what your esteemed gang requires. Bring them up."

Zaji's expression was grim. Every Hall Master of the Black Dragon Gang was a Nine Heavy Realm Martial Artist, possessing formidable strength.

He gestured, and several strong tribesmen carried the items forward.

"Not bad. I like people who know the rules." Seeing this, Su Lie's face filled with a smile. His gaze fell on a cart covered with a cloth. When the cloth was removed, it revealed a cart full of wine and meat. In addition, most conspicuously, there were several North Wind Mane Wolf pelts. However, the pelt of the North Wind Wolf King was not among them.

The pelt of the North Wind Wolf King alone was worth more than all the goods on these carts combined.

Even so, these few carts of goods were already worth tens of thousands of taels of silver. Clearly, to avoid offending the Black Dragon Gang, Zaji and the others had paid a hefty price.

"Just this little?" However, Su Lie merely glanced at it and then grinned sinisterly. "This little bit isn't even enough to fill the gaps in my brothers' teeth. It seems your tribe isn't being very honest. Trying to brush me off with this? Do you take us Black Dragon Gang members for beggars?"

"Lord Su, this is already our entire year's provisions! Please, be magnanimous and spare us!" an Elder of the tribe pleaded.

WHACK!

Before he could finish speaking, a whip struck him. Su Lie had lashed out with his Horse Whip, sending the man flying over ten meters, leaving him battered and bleeding.

"Elder!"

Zaji and the others quickly helped up the tribal Elder. Their eyes, glaring at Su Lie, were filled with fury.

"Hmph! What do the lives or deaths of you rabble have to do with me?"

Su Lie sneered, then dismounted. He kicked over the cart before him, drew the Curved Knife from his waist, and roared, "Brothers, search! Take everything you can carry! If you see any women you like, just take them!"

As his words fell, a cruel light glinted in the eyes of the Black Dragon Gang members. They swooped in, whooping like frenzied hyenas, as if they had been holding back for a long time.

"Lord Su Lie, please spare us!" An Elder rushed to Su Lie's feet and desperately clung to his thigh.

"Get lost, you old bastard!" Su Lie's face was dark. He kicked out furiously, trying to shake off the old man, but the Elder held on tightly, refusing to let go.

"Damn you!" A murderous glint flashed in Su Lie's eyes. His Curved Knife swept out. SLICE! The Elder's head flew into the air, blood spraying wildly.

Meanwhile, the Black Dragon Gang members had already galloped off, storming into the various tents to plunder women and valuables.

"Bastards! We'll fight them to the death!" Zaji had initially planned to endure the humiliation, but he could no longer bear it. It was better to die fighting than to live in shame.

"Heh heh, just by you few mongrels?" Su Lie didn't put Zaji and his men in his eyes at all. Who was he? A member of the Black Dragon Gang, one who cultivated the orthodox Shocking Death Sect Technique and Sect martial arts. How could these crude herdsmen possibly contend with him?

His Curved Knife flashed continuously, several streaks of blade light felling the figures before him. Even Zaji couldn't block Su Lie's strike. With a single blow, the short knife in Zaji's hand was sent flying, and he spat blood as he stumbled backward.

"Looks like you hold a high position among these rabble. If I kill you, they should stop resisting, right?" Su Lie grinned sinisterly. Vast True Qi surged into his Curved Knife as he slashed it towards Zaji's head.

CLANG!

Just as the blade's light was about to strike Zaji, a sharp stream of sword qi suddenly shot out, deflecting the attack.

"Who is it?!" Su Lie felt his arm go numb and was instantly alarmed. His expression darkened as he scanned his surroundings.

In his line of sight, where the sword qi had come from, stood two people: a young man and a young girl. The girl was small; the young man, dressed in white with a sword at his waist, looked like a Swordsman from the Jianghu.

"Brother Wuchen, please save our tribe!" Tana cried, witnessing the scene before her. She tightly gripped Ling Chen's sleeve, pleading.

"Don't worry, I won't stand by and do nothing." Ling Chen gently patted Tana's head, then strode forward.

Su Lie's gaze was chilling. "Kid, whoever gets in my way dies!"

Because of the sword qi earlier, he had regarded Ling Chen with some caution. But seeing Ling Chen's age, he then looked down on him. He's just a brat. How strong could he possibly be?

"A dignified Nine Heavy Realm Martial Artist, yet you engage in robbery and plunder. Cripple one of your arms now, and I'll spare your life."

Ling Chen's expression was calm and indifferent, but his voice was exceptionally cold, carrying an unquestionable authority.