C139 Robbery of Black Wind Village

"Learn!"

Ning Qi nodded affirmatively.

A profound and mysterious sensation filled his mind, and the knowledge of how to refine a Third Rank Spiritual Nourishment Pill was suddenly etched into his memory. Now, he could finally craft the High-grade Yellow Rank Spiritual Nourishment Pills that would surely delight Purple and Jin. Moreover, Whitehorse, after taking the pill, might break free from its constraints and ascend from a Third Rank Boss level Demonic Beast to a Fourth Rank low-grade Demonic Beast.

Upon Ning Qi's return to Grey Wolf Village, the villagers erupted into fervent cheers.

"Village chief! Village chief!"

"The Black Wind Dragon has been vanquished; your fears are over," Ning Qi declared with authority.

"The village chief is unbeatable!" Wang Dafu exclaimed with fervor.

"The village chief is unbeatable!" echoed the other villagers, who quickly gathered around him. It took the time it would to brew a cup of tea for Ning Qi to finally quiet them down.

He then sought out Faang Guhang. "With the Black Wind Dragon gone, Black Wind Village is as vulnerable as an undressed maiden. Take the Grand Battle Master and come with me; a few guards left behind will suffice."

"Yes!" Faang Guhang responded, brimming with excitement.

Under Ning Qi's lead, a contingent set out for Black Wind Village. En route, they were ambushed by a Fourth Rank Demonic Beast, which Purple effortlessly snatched up and hurled from the sky to its death.

At Black Wind Village, several lookouts perched atop the stone walls were scanning the horizon.

"It's odd. Lord Black Wind has been at Grey Wolf Village for several days now and hasn't returned?"

"Perhaps Lord Black Wind is too engrossed in his feast to leave. After all, Grey Wolf Village has hundreds of villagers. Even though it's smaller than our Black Wind Village, it's still a substantial meal for him."

"With the time to pay tribute to the Devil Dragon King fast approaching, and our village in disarray without a leader, what are we to do?"

"I see it as an opportunity. When Chief Heixiong was in charge, he and his underlings were so oppressive we could hardly breathe. Now, Black Wind Village is left with only the Grand Battle Master, bereft of even a Battle Spirit. If we band together, we can surely reap many rewards. Why not visit the treasure vault first?"

The proposal received unanimous support from the other scouts.

As they daydreamed about seizing the treasure trove's Battle Weapons and pills, one scout blurted out oddly, "There's a group heading our way."

"From which village?"

"Looks like Grey Wolf Village," the scout replied.

"How can that be?"

"Look at their grey clothing and the wolf head emblem on their chests. They're from either Grey Wolf Village or White Wolf Village—their attire is quite similar."

"It can't be Grey Wolf Village; Lord Black Wind is there. They must be from White Wolf Village, right?"

After a brief exchange, they signaled a warning to the villagers at the gate.

Just then, they spotted an enormous bird-like Demonic Beast materializing beside the leader of the approaching group. The man mounted the giant bird and sped towards them.

"What is that in the sky?"

"The Purple Lightning Bird!"

"Oh no, it's him!"

The deserting Grand Battle Masters felt a surge of dread as Purple appeared overhead Black Wind Village.

"Attention, Black Wind Village! I am the chief of Grey Wolf Village, and you are being robbed by us. Men to the left, women to the right. And this is no joke—if you don't comply, someone will die."

Ning Qi's voice thundered from atop the Purple Lightning Bird, circling Black Wind Village several times, ensuring everyone heard his command.

"The Grey Wolf Village chief? He's the one who killed our Chief Heixiong!"

"Not even Chief Heixiong could stand against him, and his mount is the Fifth Rank Demon Beast, the Purple Lightning Bird. We'd better not resist."

The villagers of Black Wind Village, all 1,300 of them, lined up as instructed by Ning Qi, including the scouts.

Faang Guhang, leading a group of robust young men, effortlessly penetrated the heart of Black Wind Village.

Ning Qi surveyed the villagers' ranks.

Out of the 1,300, roughly 1,000 were ordinary folk or fighters, with over 200 Battle Masters and a handful of Grand Battle Masters among them.

Among the group, there were over 300 children, more than 500 elderly, and upwards of 600 young adults, while women made up roughly 30% of the population.

"Heixiong is dead, as is the Black Wind Dragon. Black Wind Village is now officially under the control of Grey Wolf Village. Should anyone dare to resist, don't expect me to be courteous."

Perched atop Purple, Ning Qi gazed down at the villagers with an icy tone.

His gaze swept over their expressions—numbness, confusion, resentment, and a few gleeful, but mostly, there was submission. It was evident that many harbored an ingrained subservience to those in power. As long as Ning Qi proved his strength, they wouldn't contemplate rebellion or unrest; they would willingly align themselves with him.

Ning Qi intended to take these people back to fortify Grey Wolf Village.

He would also favor those with families, with children and elders to care for. As for the formidable loners and the defiant, he would leave them to their own devices.

"Now, someone step forward and lead me to the treasure vault," Ning Qi said, his voice tinged with a smile.

"Chief! I'll take you there!" exclaimed one of the Grand Battle Master deserters, his hand shooting up in eagerness.

His fellow Grand Battle Masters looked on, instantly filled with regret for their slower reactions.

"I remember you. Heixiong took you to Grey Wolf Village that day. Then you fled, didn't you?" Ning Qi asked, still smiling.

The man replied sheepishly, "Chief, the moment I witnessed your commanding presence, I knew Heixiong was no match for you. So, I escaped back to the village to await your eventual arrival. I never imagined it would come so swiftly; it's truly wonderful."

The crowd loathed his sycophantic demeanor. He was utterly shameless, framing himself not as a deserter but as a hero.

"Very well, lead the way."

Under his guidance, Ning Qi made his way to Black Wind Village's treasure vault. It appeared to have been looted before his arrival, but with a mere hint of a threat, the thieves quickly surrendered their pilfered goods. Satisfied, Ning Qi then led the thousand-plus villagers of Black Wind Village on their journey back to Grey Wolf Village.

There were hundreds who were reluctant to submit to his rule, so he simply left them to fend for themselves.

Grey Wolf Village.

The villagers on gate duty were initially startled to see a mass of figures approaching from the distance. However, their alarm turned to jubilation when they recognized the familiar silhouette of Purple soaring above. It was clear that the village chief had done more than plunder the treasure vault of Black Wind Village—he had also brought back its people.