As soon as Wei Shu spoke, no one dared to linger, and they boarded the enormous Spiritual Ship belonging to the Lingyin Sect.
Chen Ye held Zhiwei tightly and followed the crowd, his gaze calm.
Just now, he had intentionally provoked Wei Shu.
However, this person had shown remarkable restraint, not even using the Spirit Locking Nail to torment him...
Upon seeing this, Chen Ye felt slightly reassured.
His identity was special, different from the regular Loose Cultivators.
Wei Shu dared not lay a hand on him directly in front of everyone...
But the deeper the restraint now, the more intense the revenge would be once they entered the Grotto Heaven.
Thinking of this,
Chen Ye’s heart sank slightly; Bai Wuji’s actions were truly reckless.
Although he had mastered the Sword Qi, it was merely a last-resort method that could threaten a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Moreover, his Dantian was sealed by the Spirit Locking Nail, and his Spiritual Power was sluggish and hard to mobilize; facing Wei Shu in full strength, his chances of victory were scarcely one in ten.
The crowd boarded the Spiritual Ship.
The ship was divided into two layers.
The upper level was reserved for Sect Cultivators to cultivate in peace, while the Sinful Cultivators were driven to the lowest level in the hold.
"Steward Chen, why not come up and sit with us?"
An Inner Sect Disciple looked towards Chen Ye, seemingly wanting to befriend him.
Before he finished speaking, Wei Shu, standing at the forefront of the crowd, suddenly turned his head, his gaze sharp as a knife:
"Zhao Yin! Have you accepted favors from this wretch? A mere prisoner, yet dares to dream of sitting on equal footing with us?"
As soon as he said this,
The Sinful Cultivators around, shackled, turned to look, a hint of schadenfreude in their eyes.
Though they shared the same status of blame as Chen Ye,
Seeing the once esteemed Sect Steward now shackled and degraded, falling to the same status as themselves, these Sinful Cultivators couldn’t help but feel a twisted sense of balance.
Seeing him in such a plight again, yet still trying to maintain his dignity, the latent jealousy was immediately stirred by Wei Shu’s words.
Being publicly reprimanded by Wei Shu, the young disciple named Zhao Yin blushed fiercely, trying to argue: "Guardian Wei, Steward Chen he..."
"What about him?" Wei Shu’s eyes flashed coldly, "He’s now just a prisoner with a criminal status!! Or do you wish to stay in the hold as well?"
Zhao Yin felt a crushing pressure that choked his breathing, his lips moved, but he couldn’t utter a word.
Eventually, he lowered his head in defeat and retreated back into the disciple’s ranks.
"Some people should know their place and not entertain delusions." Wei Shu snorted with satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over Chen Ye.
...
The hold was cramped and dimly lit.
The air carried the stench of Demon Beasts, suggesting it had been used to transport them in the past.
But now, this confined space was crowded with dozens of Cultivators, each either numb or despairing.
"Clang!"
As the iron door slammed shut, they were completely isolated from the outside world.
"Master..."
Zhiwei was somewhat at a loss; she always liked cleanliness, meticulously keeping both herself and Qing Jun tidy, even in the shantytown.
But here, it was filthy and chaotic, with a group of rough Sinful Cultivators.
Ever since Wei Shu had threatened Chen Ye to Zhiwei’s face,
The group had surmised that the small figure in black robes was a girl.
Moreover, most of these Sinful Cultivators were indeed malevolent and evil Cultivators who had been imprisoned for a long time, casting malicious glances.
No matter how intelligent and resilient, Zhiwei was ultimately just a young girl who had not ventured far into the world.
Trapped in such filth and danger, how could she remain calm?
Chen Ye patted her head, unsure whether to be thankful that Zhiwei’s reactions showed she hadn’t lost her humanity to the Purity Glaze Body...
"Mere clowns, let them be."
He found a relatively clean corner to sit down, pulling the small black-haired girl into his embrace, speaking in a low voice:
"Mm, sitting on Master’s lap won’t dirty Zhiwei."
Zhiwei clung tightly to her master’s waist, burying her face in his chest.
The presence of her master dispelled all of her fears, and she snuggled her face into his chest, "Zhiwei is not afraid! Master, don’t underestimate Zhiwei!"
Chen Ye pretended to be serious: "Oh? Is that so... Then Master won’t hold Zhiwei anymore; I thought Zhiwei needed her master’s protection like a little child."
As he feigned to put her down, the little girl lifted her delicate face, looking at him with a wistful gaze: "Master..."
"Alright, alright..."
Chen Ye felt his heart soften and ceased teasing.
Zhiwei was unlike Qing Jun, not able to handle teasing.
If it had been Qing Jun in his arms, he would certainly tease the little girl until she couldn’t keep pretending...
"Facing death, still in the mood for intimacy? Calling us clowns, aren’t you, Steward Chen, also a criminal?"
A Sinful Cultivator with a rat-like face suddenly snorted coldly.
He had been secretly observing Chen Ye.
Sure enough!
This person was also under the control of the Spirit Locking Nail!
And what thrilled him the most was that just now, the small figure in black had inadvertently revealed half of her face.
A sharp chin, lips as soft as petals, skin as delicate as porcelain... an absolute beauty!
Thinking of the grim prospects in the life-or-death Grotto Heaven,
Malice surged within him, and he laughed loudly on purpose:
"Hahaha! Brothers, look! This Steward’s Dantian has been destroyed by the Spirit Locking Nail! He’s like a toothless old tiger, a waste!"
The entire hold immediately stirred!
Dozens of eyes that had been somewhat apprehensive now gleamed.
"So it’s a silver spear in an iron head, acting so arrogant outside just now?"