Chapter 2156: Barbarians "That's impossible! You can't possibly be the Exalted Blacksmith!" Lady Chen shouted, her voice sharp enough to cut through the air. "I know! This sword must be a fake—it can't be the real Violet Dream!" Desperately, she created an excuse, however absurd it may be. To her, it was still more reasonable than accepting the notion that Yuan could be the Exalted Blacksmith. "You can believe whatever you want, but it won't change the fact that you're holding onto something that belongs to me," Yuan said as he beckoned for the weapon. "Hand me the sword, and I will grant you a painless death. Refuse, and I will take it myself—along with your fingers, perhaps even your limbs," Yuan said as his aura surged violently. Seeing this, the four of them tensed instantly, and Lady Chen quickly drew her Rod of Destruction. Yuan glanced at the rod in her grasp and smiled. "Have you already forgotten? Your companion tried that on me once before, but here I am, still alive." "If one isn't enough, how about two?!" Lin Canye barked, drawing his own Rod of Destruction. "I have one as well!" Zhuang Maojiang shouted, quickly brandishing his rod after the others. Seeing this, Gu Ruyan could only watch with clenched fists. "I'm flattered, but it doesn't matter how many of those you bring out-you won't kill me," Yuan said with a calm smile. "Then prove it with your life!" Lady Chen snapped, spiritual energy surging as she poured it into the Rod of Destruction. When the other two noticed Lady Chen truly preparing to unleash the Rod of Destruction, they quickly funneled their spiritual energy into their own treasures. The smile on Yuan's face suddenly stiffened, his expression darkening. "Hah! So it was all a bluff! You're actually trembling in fear, aren't you?!" Lady Chen laughed mockingly. In truth, Yuan had no concern for their Rods of Destruction, as such weapons were beneath his notice. His frown was born from something far more troubling. In the very next instant, several powerful presences emerged, surrounding them. Before the others could even react, many silhouettes materialized, encircling them completely. "What the ? Who the hell are you?!" Gu Ruyan shouted. Lady Chen opened her mouth to speak, but the words died in her throat as she realized that their encirclement was made entirely of God Ascension powerhouses. While the other four panicked, Yuan remained calm, his gaze sweeping over their encirclement. There were exactly twenty-two figures, each clad in crude garments of thick animal fur, their rugged features giving them the appearance of barbarians. As for these barbarians, their attention was focused on the Rods of Destruction in their hands. "W-What do you want from us?" Zhuang Maojiang stammered. One of the barbarians finally spoke, though his words weren't directed at him. "Is that the weapon you saw?" A calm, gentle voice echoed the next moment. "Yes. That is the weapon responsible for the explosion- the one that devastated much of our land." The barbarian who had first spoken stepped forward, his voice carrying authority. "The six of you will come with us. Refuse, and you will die where you stand." "Who the hell are you to tell us what to do? Do you even realize who we are? We are " Lin Canye scoffed, his voice dripping with challenge. However, he never even got to finish his sentence, as the barbarian leader's arm blurred through the air, and in the next instant, Lin Canye's head was sent flying, severed cleanly from his body. Of course, as a God Ascension cultivator, losing his body did not mean losing his life. But the one who struck did not pause, and after severing Lin Canye's head, he extended his hand in a grasping motion toward the lingering soul. An immense pressure coiled around Lin Canye's soul, then crushed it without mercy. This was all done in an instant, faster than anyone could even blink, leaving the other three wide-eyed, trembling in shock and fear. Lin Canye's corpse began falling from the sky, but one of the barbarians went to retrieve it. "Anyone else have any objections?" The barbarian leader asked. "..." Lady Chen and the others hastily shook their head in silence, too afraid to even speak. And so, Yuan and the others had no choice but to follow the barbarians deeper into White Hell. Of course, this included the injured woman. "W-What's happening...?" she stuck close to Yuan and asked him. "We'll know in a bit," he responded in a calm voice. He then glanced at her and asked, "How's your condition? Can you endure the cold?" The woman looked at the Sun Stone in her grasp for a moment before responding, "I'm fine for now, but I don't think my Sun Stone will last much longer." Yuan then said, "Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. I promised to help you, so I will get you out of here safely." "Alright... By the way, I don't think I have introduced myself yet. My name is Yaoqin." "Nice to meet you, Yaoqin." Yuan smiled. Gu Ruyan and the other two were in utter disbelief. While they trembled at the thought of being kidnapped by these unknown barbarians, Yuan appeared completely at ease, almost as if their current predicament didn't exist at all, and he was just with a group of old pals. The barbarians, too, noticed his calm demeanor and grew curious. Within their ranks, one individual fixed their eyes on Yuan, watching him with far greater intensity than the others. Yuan noticed the intent gaze and boldly turned to confront it. Positioned at the very back of the formation was a figure wrapped in a great fur robe that concealed most of their features. Yet what could not be hidden were their eyes-clear, piercing blue, and as immaculate as untouched ice beneath a winter sky. Though he didn't recognize the individual, a strange sense of familiarity stirred within him. Suddenly, the image of a silhouette riding a massive mammoth, which he had glimpsed upon first entering the seventh region, surfaced in his mind. 'So you were that silhouette, huh?' Yuan thought inwardly. (More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)