Chapter 340

Chapter 340: Keeping Promises

After subduing Chen Hu, Wang Chen turned his attention to the rescued villagers.

As the saying goes, "a long night brings many dreams." Wang Chen could not escort these people down the mountain, so he gave them two choices.

They could either form a group and go home by themselves or accompany him to the bandits’ lair at the mine.

These villagers, who had been kidnapped by the bandits, were not weak individuals; some were martial artists, others were in the Transcendence Realm, and some possessed low-level Qi Training cultivation.

As local natives, they could certainly find their way home.

In contrast, going to the mine with Wang Chen involved risks, so most chose to leave in groups.

However, there were a few villagers willing to join Wang Chen and go to the mine to confront the bandits.

Among them was Old Four Xu.

“Village chief,” he said, clenching his fists, “Although my strength is limited, I am willing to serve you as a loyal servant!”

His passionate words made some villagers who wished to leave feel ashamed.

Wang Chen found this fellow interesting.

So he took Old Four Xu and five other villagers, and under Chen Hu’s guidance, they headed toward the mine.

Out of fear for his life, Chen Hu didn’t dare pull any tricks, leading Wang Chen through the nearest tunnel to the mine.

Not only that, but he also shared everything he knew with Wang Chen in great detail.

Chen Hu was a member of the Gray Wolf Bandits, who had occupied this area for many years, boasting hundreds of bandits at their peak.

However, they had offended a local powerful figure, who then hired battle cultivators to eliminate them, leaving the bandits severely weakened.

Currently, there were three leaders of the Gray Wolf Bandits. Besides the main leader guarding the mine, the second and third leaders had just been slain by Wang Chen.

“I fear the main leader already knows what happened…”

Putting all his hopes for survival on Wang Chen, Chen Hu completely abandoned any sense of loyalty and actively devised plans for Wang Chen: “Sir, he has achieved perfect mastery in Qi Training and carries several magical artifacts. You should be cautious of his schemes.”

This guy even told Wang Chen about the spells that the main leader was best at and the characteristics of several magical artifacts!

In truth, Chen Hu knew very well that with Wang Chen’s cultivation level, he could easily crush the main leader. Their realms were not on the same level, and such a gap could not be bridged by cunning tricks.

The previous second and third leaders had already proven this point with their lives.

His warning was merely an attempt to earn some favor for his own safety.

The group proceeded at a swift pace, exiting the tunnel, climbing over a hill, and passing through a dense forest.

Ahead, a small valley surrounded by green trees appeared.

Wang Chen instantly spotted a watchtower built among the trees, with a guard standing atop it, suggesting tight defenses.

Chen Hu said, “Sir, that is the Purple Copper Mine!”

As he spoke, he looked at Wang Chen with pitiful eyes, clearly hoping the latter would keep his promise.

Wang Chen nodded. “You can go now.”

He meant it when he said he would keep his word.

Chen Hu was instantly overjoyed. “Thank you, my lord!”

The bandit turned to leave, but just as he took a step, a pair of heavy fists struck his back.

Bang!

Chen Hu was sent flying forward several steps, coughing up blood and spewing out pieces of his internal organs.

He fell heavily to the ground, struggling to turn around. “You, you promised…”

“My lord promised you could leave, but now it’s me who will kill you!”

The one who ambushed Chen Hu was Old Four Xu, who grinned and said, “What does it have to do with my lord?”

Old Four Xu had a cultivation level of the second layer of Qi Training and also trained in martial arts, so dealing with Chen Hu, who had been sealed and could not use his dantian, was an easy task. One strike took Chen Hu’s life.

With intense unwillingness, Chen Hu took his last breath.

“Damn it!”

Old Four Xu also felt a sense of dissatisfaction. “Consider yourself lucky.”

In his mind, truly getting back at these bandits meant grinding them into pieces.

Wang Chen glanced at him.

Old Four Xu immediately fell silent, lowering his head respectfully and not daring to breathe a word.

“Good job.”

Wang Chen smiled and said, “The storage bag on him belongs to you.”

Old Four Xu was overjoyed. “Thank you, my lord!”

He had originally owned a storage bag, but it had been taken by the Gray Wolf Bandits. Although it held little, the bag itself was considered a magical artifact, and losing it was quite significant.

Now, he had regained it at once!

“You all stay here and don’t run around.”

Wang Chen commanded, “Hide well, and wait for my orders.”

The few villagers who had followed him nodded in response.

Wang Chen stopped talking and immediately summoned his power, soaring into the air as he flew toward the valley ahead.

Since Wang Chen did not conceal himself, he was quickly spotted by a guard stationed in the watchtower of the Gray Wolf Bandits.

Before the bandit could raise the alarm, a Fire Crow swooped down from above.

Boom!

With a violent explosion, countless flames erupted and flew in all directions.

The destroyed watchtower collapsed with a tremendous crash.

The guard atop it was naturally reduced to ashes, but he had used his life to warn his comrades in the valley.

The Death God has arrived!

Wang Chen’s Air Snatching Technique had already reached the advanced level, and his speed surpassed that of a flying arrow. In an instant, he arrived directly above the valley and caught sight of the mine below.

The mine was not large, surrounded by a circle of buildings built around the tunnels carved into the mountainside, with piles of abandoned ore nearby.

Wang Chen’s sudden appearance threw the bandits in the mine into chaos.

Some fled toward the woods, some took out heavy crossbows aiming at Wang Chen in the air, and others began to spellcast, including a burly cultivator who summoned a copper hammer magical artifact.

Wang Chen guessed he was the main leader of the Gray Wolf Bandits!

The magical artifact grew larger as it flew in the wind, hurtling toward Wang Chen with a roar, radiating golden light and exuding a certain power.

However, the owner of the artifact turned and fled, continuously slapping several legal symbols onto himself.

To be able to fly without relying on magical artifacts, one needed to reach at least the Purple Palace level, making it clear that he could not match Wang Chen.

Using the artifact was merely to create a distraction for Wang Chen to buy himself a slim chance of survival.

Yet, this main leader of the Gray Wolf Bandits underestimated Wang Chen’s abilities.

Facing the incoming copper hammer, Wang Chen pointed into the air.

A red-golden beam of energy shot out instantly, accurately striking the high-level magical artifact.

The surface of the copper hammer exploded with golden light, sending it flying about like a headless fly.

In the next moment, Wang Chen swung out his robe sleeve.

The Wind and Thunder Sword emerged!

This spirit sword dove down like lightning, quickly catching up to the fleeing main leader of the Gray Wolf Bandits, effortlessly piercing through his protective armor and nailing him to the ground.

Following that, a rain of fire poured down, engulfing the entire mine and trapping dozens of bandits in a sea of flames.

Screams and wails echoed continuously, turning the place into a hell on earth!