“What is the army doing here?”
Many of the merchant caravans were puzzled. The Fourteenth Desert Bandits had been well-behaved residents of the Wasteland City for years.
Although they robbed, they also offered protection in return.
As some people put it, the Fourteenth Desert Bandits were genuine professional sand bandits. Their robbery of wealth was merely a disguised form of protection fees.
In fact, since the Fourteenth Desert Bandits occupied this mountain pass, any thieves who wanted to harm Wasteland City had been intercepted by them.
More importantly, the city lord of Wasteland City had once praised the Fourteenth Desert Bandits.
So now, with the sudden arrival of a large army, people were confused.
“Senior, ahead is the main base of the Fourteenth Desert Bandits,” said a disciple of the Jiuling Sect, approaching a graceful young man.
“Hmph, the city lord of Wasteland City is truly absurd. He dares to call these sand bandits righteous and even bestowed them the title of Fourteenth Desert Kings. If this gets out, it will surely be a laughingstock.”
“Moreover, now that Wasteland City has become an affiliated city of our Jiuling Sect, allowing these bandits to remain nearby is an insult to us.”
This graceful young man appeared to be in his early twenties.
Yet his status was extraordinary—he was a senior of the Jiuling Sect, with cultivation so powerful it could shake the heavens, reaching the middle stage of the Great Heaven Realm.
Three years ago, he wasn’t even a disciple of the Jiuling Sect. He was a wandering cultivator who, upon seeing the Jiuling Sect’s Empress, was instantly captivated and decided to join the sect.
However, Feng Wuxiang was somewhat frustrated. Despite his handsome looks and charm, which had made countless women fall for him, the Jiuling Empress remained cold and indifferent toward him.
This only fueled his determination.
He firmly believed that there was no woman in this world he couldn’t win over.
Especially when he first saw her, she was still young, like a little girl. Over the years, she had matured into a graceful beauty with a cold and alluring aura that drove him wild.
“Feng Senior speaks truly. I believe the city lord of Wasteland City must have colluded with these bandits, otherwise why would he defend them?”
The disciples around him flattered him.
The Jiuling Sect was their sanctuary. Although it couldn’t compare to the great sects, even those mighty sects treated the Jiuling Empress with great respect, which made them feel proud.
When traveling outside, simply stating their affiliation ensured no other sect dared to provoke them.
“Indeed. Now that Wasteland City is under our control, we must clear out all the bandits within ten thousand miles before moving on to the next city. The Holy Demon Sect has already captured ten cities. If we fall behind, we will face punishment,” Feng Wuxiang said.
Feng Wuxiang had reached the middle stage of the Great Heaven Realm, making him a top-tier expert in the Xuanhuang World, even respected within the Jiuling Sect.
Yet for Feng Wuxiang, the Jiuling Sect held unknown depths. Despite being a senior, he was the weakest among the elders.
Those close to the Jiuling Empress possessed terrifying cultivation levels. Every time he faced them, it felt like standing before a colossal mountain.
What pressure!
“Senior, look! Those bandits are robbing again!” A sharp-eyed disciple shouted.
“Hmph, full attack!” Feng Wuxiang waved his hand. “Today, I will personally eliminate these bandits.”
The soldiers of Wasteland City were at a loss for words.
Who didn’t know about the Fourteenth Desert Bandits? Even their city lord had shared drinks with the bandit leader.
At one point, the city lord even considered marrying his daughter to the bandit chief.
But later, he reconsidered—after all, Shadulong was quite old and, frankly, unattractive.
Now that the Jiuling Sect had taken control of Wasteland City, they immediately launched a campaign against the Fourteenth Desert Bandits. Was this not sheer madness?
“Fourteenth Desert Bandits, you have committed countless crimes, robbing merchant caravans. Today, Feng Wuxiang of the Jiuling Sect will personally eliminate you all!” Feng Wuxiang declared, exuding an imposing aura, his eyes sharp as he stood on the moral high ground, looking down on the bandits.
“What’s going on here?”
“Yeah, what does this have to do with the Jiuling Sect?”
“Everyone, we weren’t robbed! They aren’t evil bandits at all!”
The merchants shouted in protest.
“Young man, you’re quite bold. In all our years roaming the desert, no one has dared challenge us before,” Shadulong said coldly.
“Hmph!” Feng Wuxiang snorted, then turned to the merchants, “You merchants should leave quickly. This battle will be dangerous. If you suffer any losses, it will be entirely your own fault.”
“This… this…” The merchants were speechless.
Was this not sheer nonsense?
Especially the merchant Li, who was nearly furious enough to spit blood.
“Alright, today’s robbery is over. Everyone, leave now,” Shadulong frowned. He sensed something was wrong in Wasteland City. He knew of the Jiuling Sect, but never expected them to come after him directly.
“Boss, I… I…” Manager Li was reluctant. Victory had been within reach.
“Don’t worry. We, the Fourteenth Desert Bandits, have our professional ethics. Since we robbed you, we will honor it. Just come back next time,” Shadulong reassured him.
“Boss, you must keep your word!” Manager Li was delighted.
“Of course,” Shadulong nodded.
With Shadulong’s approval, the merchants quickly fled.
“Brother, this guy is pretty strong,” the bandits whispered.
“Yes, his aura is no weaker than ours. To be so young and powerful is impressive. Tell the brothers to step back. This fight is beyond them,” Shadulong instructed.
“Understood.”
Feng Wuxiang had brought these soldiers merely to showcase the Jiuling Sect’s might, not intending for them to fight.
In Feng Wuxiang’s eyes, these soldiers were powerless ants, easily crushed with a breath, utterly useless.
“Fourteenth Desert Bandits, surrender now, and perhaps you can die with dignity. Otherwise, you’ll be beheaded, and that would be quite unsightly,” Feng Wuxiang sneered.
“Little brat, you’re too arrogant! When I was already a legend, you were still in your mother’s womb. Let me teach you a lesson!” Shamen Xiong, wielding twin axes, charged at Feng Wuxiang.
“Hmph, at the peak of the Little Heaven Realm, you’re still just an ant—utterly insignificant,” Feng Wuxiang sneered. He formed a finger into a sword and slashed.
A sharp blade erupted, startling Shamen Xiong, who raised his axes to block.
Crack!
The axes shattered under the blade’s might, offering no resistance.
Puh!
“Third Brother…” Shadulong’s face darkened.
“Ha! I thought you were someone formidable, but you’re this weak. The Fourteenth Desert Bandits are truly the ugliest creatures in the world—dwarfs, blind men, pockmarked men, and that fat guy who looks like a pig if you don’t look closely.”
“Do you not feel ashamed standing before me?”
Feng Wuxiang mocked shamelessly, showing no respect for Shadulong and his men.
“Ha ha…”
The Jiuling Sect disciples laughed loudly.
The soldiers of Wasteland City were stunned. They hadn’t expected the Jiuling Sect to be this powerful.
They all knew how formidable the Fourteenth Desert Bandits were. They had been waiting for the bandits to teach these newcomers a lesson, but instead, the Jiuling Sect’s senior had effortlessly defeated their third-in-command with a single strike.
“You can all attack together. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not giving you a chance,” Feng Wuxiang said arrogantly, flicking his sleeve.
Instantly, a powerful aura erupted from him.
Behind Feng Wuxiang, a divine image of heaven and earth appeared.
“You brat, let me teach you a lesson!” Shadulong roared, his true energy surging as he threw a punch at Feng Wuxiang.
“Tsk tsk, at the middle stage of the Great Heaven Realm, your strength is impressive, matching mine. Pity…”
Feng Wuxiang’s eyes flashed, and with a wave of his hand, a surge of true energy stirred.
Shadulong felt his true energy being controlled by Feng Wuxiang, completely beyond his command.
Plop!
Shadulong was instantly defeated, crushed beneath Feng Wuxiang’s foot.
“Pity the gap between us is like heaven and earth,” Feng Wuxiang said, like a god descending.
The Jiuling Sect disciples looked on in awe. With such overwhelming power, even the mighty Fourteenth Desert Bandits were defeated in one strike.
The soldiers of Wasteland City gasped in disbelief.
“Big Brother!”
Seeing Shadulong crushed beneath Feng Wuxiang’s foot, the Fourteenth Desert Bandits were furious.
“Run! You’re no match for him!” Shadulong roared. As he was pinned down, his true energy felt frozen, leaving him powerless.
“Haha! I’ll take you back to Wasteland City, behead you, and hang your head at the city gate as a warning. As for your men, they’re unnecessary,” Feng Wuxiang sneered, his killing intent surging. His sword intent pierced the sky, his hand slicing through the void like it was tearing space itself.
“Stop!” Shadulong screamed in agony.
He never expected to be defeated so quickly, without even a chance to react.
To the Fourteenth Desert Bandits, this heavenly sword strike was unstoppable. They felt their blood freeze in their veins.
Plop!
Shadulong closed his eyes in despair, never expecting things to turn out this way.
But just then, a voice rang out.
“You dare touch my men? Looks like there’s no saving you.”
The voice was calm, neither sorrowful nor joyful.
Lin Fan arrived, only to find Shadulong and the others defeated. This was an embarrassment.
After all, they were under his command. To be beaten like this was shameful.
Lin Fan stood atop Feng Wuxiang’s head and pressed down. A massive force erupted, shattering the earth.
Feng Wuxiang’s body was instantly buried into the ground.
Lin Fan slightly lifted his foot and stomped again.
Boom!
A loud explosion shook the earth, which cracked and split into countless fissures stretching to the horizon.
“Ding! Congratulations on defeating…”
“Ah, another prodigy crushed beneath my foot. Shadulong, you’ve really embarrassed me,” Lin Fan said, standing there with a helpless expression.
In an instant, time seemed to freeze.
The Jiuling Sect disciples were stunned.
As for the Fourteenth Desert Bandits, that voice, that figure…
When Shadulong slightly raised his head and saw the familiar yet distant figure standing there with flowing hair, he trembled all over.
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