Ning Rongrong quickly stood back to back with Ning Tianchen, summoning the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit Skill in her hand.
This was the standard formation taught to disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—to ensure no visual blind spots at their backs when encountering danger.
Watching the flickering flames and lights approaching from both sides, Ning Tianchen said in a deep voice,
"Damn it, we've fallen into a bandit trap."
These bandits relied on pre-set hidden traps; once someone triggered the mechanism, they would rush in to loot the bodies.
Moreover, there was certainly more than one trap, and under the cover of darkness, advancing rashly would inevitably trigger others.
This completely cut off any chance of escape.
"Tianchen gege, what should we do now?" Ning Rongrong's face turned pale, her tone urgent.
Ning Tianchen replied, "Rongrong, don't worry. Bandits aren't necessarily spirit masters. Even if they have some, their strength might not be a match for us."
Soon after, two groups of men burst out from both sides of the road.
The two groups quickly merged, totaling over twenty men, surrounding Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong.
"This road was opened by our village. If you two want to pass without paying, you're really looking down on our village!" the burly leader said arrogantly.
"Black Wind Village?" Ning Tianchen asked casually.
The man's expression first froze, then he laughed after looking at Ning Tianchen's face, "Didn't expect two little kids. Since you know our village, you should know our rules!"
Ning Tianchen grumbled silently.
Are all bandit villages just named like this?
The nearby mountains had no names, so the bandit villages couldn't be named after places and had to pick generic names like Black Wind Village or Mountain Opening Village.
"I don't know what your rules are. We have no intention of fighting. If we've offended you, we'll leave," Ning Tianchen said firmly.
"Want to leave?" The leader waved his hand, and over twenty men stepped forward, brandishing large knives.
"Our Black Wind Village's rule is: men leave after paying the toll, but women must stay and entertain our brothers. This little girl is a beauty; we'll take her back to raise for a few years, then have our fun."
"Hahaha."
Ning Rongrong instantly felt frightened, clutching Ning Tianchen's arm tightly with her other hand.
"Since there's no negotiation, we'll just use you two as practice," Ning Tianchen's eyes sharpened as three yellow and purple spirit rings appeared at his feet.
"Three-ring Spirit Lord!"
Seeing the spirit rings, many bandits showed signs of fear.
A Spirit Lord's strength was a pillar of the spirit master world. Spirit Lords in small cities were often heads of minor families.
The leader's face grew serious.
He wasn't afraid of Ning Tianchen's Spirit Lord strength per se, but worried about the backing force behind him.
It was impossible to reach Spirit Lord at this age without a powerful family behind.
Offending such a family would spell disaster for Black Wind Village.
"Don't retreat! If the family behind them attacks our village, none of us will survive. Attack together—kill them! Their money will last us half a lifetime."
Most importantly, if they killed them, the family behind them would have difficulty tracing it back to the bandits.
Hearing the promise of half a lifetime's wealth, the bandits' courage grew considerably.
About half were spirit masters with ten-year spirit rings, and three were two-ring Great Spirit Masters.
The leader showed his spirit ring—it was a three-ring Spirit Lord.
"Rongrong, boost me," Ning Tianchen whispered, slowly raising the Seven Kill Sword.
During the enemy's awakening of their spirit powers, Ning Tianchen's sword was already enveloped in a layer of spirit energy sword aura.
"Seven treasures shine with glazed tiles, known for strength and speed."
Multicolored light flowed into Ning Tianchen, increasing his strength and speed by thirty percent.
At first, the leader hadn't recognized the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda spirit skill, but when Ning Rongrong recited the spirit skill chant, he was certain.
"They are disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—we must kill them."
The leader swung his heavy knife spirit skill, leading the charge at the two.
"Too late!"
Ning Tianchen shouted explosively as the Seven Kill Sword swept in front.
The fierce sword aura burst forth—ordinary people without spirit power couldn't block it even with their heavy knives.
Their bodies were cut in half at the waist by the sword aura.
The other spirit masters all sustained injuries of varying degrees.
"One of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's protecting Spirit Lords has a sword spirit skill. Could you be his disciple?" The leader was terrified after witnessing the sword aura's power.
Having chosen to make enemies, he saw only one path—fight to the death.
"Whether yes or no, you'll know when you're dead."
"First spirit skill: Azure Dragon Strike."
The sword aura struck out, and under the blessing of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, its power easily killed spirit masters. Three Great Spirit Masters were doing their best to resist.
Ning Tianchen had no intention of letting them live. With the speed boost, his figure flickered like an afterimage, darting before them.
One sword stroke after another fell, and their lives were reaped by him.
"Stop right there!" The burly leader suddenly appeared beside Ning Rongrong.
His heavy blade was now pressed against Ning Rongrong's neck.
Ning Tianchen turned around.
By now, the leader's men had all been slain by him. Only the leader himself remained, no longer posing much threat.
Ning Rongrong, showing her resolve, did not plead but said, "Tianchen gege, don't worry about me. Just kill him quickly. If Rongrong dies, please tell my father for me. If there is another life, I will definitely obey him."
"Shut up, you're making me angry," the leader cursed fiercely, then immediately stated his demands. "Kid, you don't want her to die, right? Give me 10,000—no, 20,000 gold spirit coins. After I get down the mountain, I'll let this little girl go."
Ning Tianchen acted as if he would agree to anything. "Any other demands? Say them all at once."
The leader thought for a moment, then said, "I want a shop."
"No problem."
"I want twenty beauties to serve me."
"Easy enough."
"I want a mansion, and you must never come looking for me afterward."
"Agreed, I promise."
"I also want—"
As the leader indulged in his fantasies, Ning Tianchen's third spirit ring quietly lit up beneath his feet.
The leader became wary but, seeing Ning Tianchen make no other moves, continued to voice his demands.
Suddenly, a cold gleam flashed in the night. Multiple flying blades shot out swiftly from the side, piercing through the leader's neck and cutting off his blade-wielding arm entirely.
"External spirit bone skill: Feather Blades Flying."
Countless feather blades fell back behind Ning Tianchen as the external spirit bone sword wings spread open, their edges radiating a sharp, chilling light.
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