Ling Wu hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Understood!" He called over his men and gave them a few orders.

Moments later, the shackles on the more than one thousand people below had all been removed. Having worn the irons for the entire journey, they found the sudden freedom disorienting. They rubbed their wrists, looking up with suspicion, unable to comprehend the young noble’s actions. ’Could it be... he really intends to free us? A moment ago, wasn’t he asking if we wanted freedom?’

Many of them were thinking the same thing when someone suddenly whispered, "This noble lord... he isn’t planning to play a hunting game, is he?"

At these words, the faces of those nearby changed drastically.

That’s right. The depraved whims of the nobility often defied common sense. It was said that some nobles, after capturing a group of bandits, would take them to an open plain and claim to set them free. After untying their bonds, they would let them run, only to have men on horseback hunt them down, shooting them with arrows, spearing them with Knight’s Lances, and slashing them with sabers... In short, it was exactly like a real hunt, all to satisfy their twisted, perverse amusement.

’Yes, this young noble looks so refined, handsome, and elegant. Who’s to say he isn’t one of those depraved individuals too?’

"Alright. I have now freed you from your bonds, and I have only one thing to say." Ling Xiao looked down at the crowd, his voice resolute. "From this day forward, within my territory, I declare that the selling of slaves is illegal! Anyone caught doing so will be executed on the spot! As for you... I will provide you with travel expenses. Those who wish to return home may do so. However, if you feel there is nothing for you at home and you wish to stay, then I... Ling Xiao, Lord of Penzes, swear on my honor as a nobleman that those who remain will gain true freedom! You may join my private military force!"

With that, he pointed to the two hundred well-equipped warriors and said slowly, "You... can become... just like them!"

The crowd of over a thousand people fell utterly silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

Many of the slaves, who had been hanging their heads in despair, suddenly looked up with shining eyes. They stared intently at the young noble on the platform, savoring every word he had just spoken. They could feel their hearts, which had nearly stopped, begin to pound in their chests once more!

Just then, a tall man in the crowd with a messy shock of hair and a thick beard covering most of his face spoke up in a deep voice, "My Lord, are you being serious?"

Ling Wu bellowed, "Of course he is! My master’s word is his bond! You don’t need to be afraid. My master has no such depraved hobbies, nor does he have time for some bullshit hunting game! If I’m going to hunt something, I’ll hunt something real! What’s the point in hunting a bunch of half-dead bastards like you?! Anyone who doesn’t want to stay can get their ass back on that boat and go back where they came from! As for those who want to stay... for fuck’s sake, make up your minds!"

The large, dirt-stained man suddenly threw his head back and stared at Ling Wu, then burst out laughing. "Straight to the point! I didn’t expect to meet a kindred spirit here! It seems this noble lord is worth serving!" With that, he stomped forward a few paces. When he was still a dozen meters from the platform, his body shot into the air!

Mo Qing instinctively moved to block the man, but Ling Xiao just smiled calmly and shook his head.

The large man landed on the platform with a THUD. He glanced back at the stirring crowd and boomed, "Are you all still thinking about going back? Don’t be so naive! Even if you do, what about this status as a slave..." He swept aside the long hair covering his forehead, revealing a distinct brand. "This mark of shame, this slave brand, can never be washed away! Do you think the kingdom gives a damn whether you live or die? Well, I’ve made my decision. I’m staying right here!" He then turned to Ling Xiao. "My Lord, might we get a full meal first?"

Ling Wu roared with laughter. "Don’t you worry! For the brothers who join us, there will be big bowls of wine and large slabs of meat! Once you’re in, you’re family!"

When Ling Wu mentioned large bowls of wine and slabs of meat, the thousand-plus people below, including the large man on the platform, couldn’t help but lick their lips and swallow hard. ’Wine... meat... How long had it been since they’d last tasted them?’

"I’ll join!"

"I’ll join!"

...

As the shouts of assent rose from the crowd, only about a hundred people out of the thousand-plus remained silent, their faces etched with hesitation. These were people who either had families and businesses back home or were nobles themselves. Although the shameful brand of a slave was seared onto their foreheads, they couldn’t bear the thought of giving up their noble status.

Ling Xiao didn’t make things difficult for them. He had Ling Wu give them travel money and let them go. After all, to each their own; he couldn’t force them. Besides, he knew that some who joined today would surely be weeded out later. Ling Xiao’s personal army had no need for shirkers.

On the way back to his residence, Ling Xiao said to Ling Wu and Mo Qing, "Both of you, come with me to my manor."

Ye Zi gave a charming smile and went to prepare some tea, leaving Ling Wu and Mo Qing standing in the room, looking somewhat bewildered.

Ling Xiao smiled. "Please, sit. Don’t be so formal. I will be relying heavily on both of you in the future."

Ling Wu and Mo Qing both protested that they wouldn’t dare presume such a thing. Mo Qing himself was a nobleman, and though his title was a rank below Ling Xiao’s and his fiefdom was far less significant than the Viscount’s, he had to admit to himself, ’I’ve never been this courteous to my own subordinates!’

Ling Xiao pulled two manuals from a drawer and tossed one to Ling Wu and the other to Mo Qing. He said to Mo Qing, "This sword skill might not be an Earth-level one, but take a look. If you don’t like it, give me some time, and I can get you an Earth-level Sword Skill."

Mo Qing’s breathing grew ragged. He took the manual, forgetting even to thank him, and flipped open a few pages. His eyes lit up, growing brighter with every word. "I’ll take this one! This one!" he exclaimed. "How could this be an Earth-level Sword Skill? I’d say it’s nearly Heaven-level!" With that, he bowed deeply to Ling Xiao. "Young Master, you have treated me with such sincerity. I... I will naturally repay you with my own."

Ling Xiao had actually given both Mo Qing and Ling Wu copies of the same manual: the Demon-subduing Vajra Sword Skill. It wasn’t that Ling Xiao lacked other techniques. Rather, despite being a nobleman, Mo Qing possessed a fierce aura that was no less than that of a soldier like Ling Wu, making the Demon-subduing Vajra Sword Skill equally suitable for him. While changing techniques at his age would be a difficult adjustment, the long-term benefits of a High-level Sword Skill were vastly greater than those of a low-level one. What’s more, this sword skill of Ling Xiao’s wasn’t from this world at all.

’Even a Divine-level Sword Skill... what’s so special about that?’ Ling Xiao thought to himself.

He started with fifteen Purple Blue Fruits. Ling Xiao had used one to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill, given one to Ye Zi, one each to Chunlan and Qiuyue, and set aside five more for his mother, father, younger sister, older brother, and older sister, Ling Su. That made nine used in total. He still had six left. Ling Xiao, who already possessed the clown, didn’t place much value on them. To him, the Purple Blue Fruit was merely the main ingredient for creating the Foundation Establishment Pill. With the vast amount of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures in his ring, the Elixirs he could refine in the future wouldn’t be much less effective than a Foundation Establishment Pill.

So, Ling Xiao took out two fruits. Under the lamplight, the sky-blue fruits looked smooth and pristine, their skins showing no sign of wrinkling despite the passage of time. Ling Xiao smiled and asked, "The Vantia Holy Fruit. Have either of you heard of it?"

Ling Wu frowned, clearly unfamiliar with the item. Mo Qing also looked blank. "I’ve heard of Vendia Snow Mountain," he said. "It’s also known as the Holy Mountain. But what is this Vantia Holy Fruit?"

Ling Xiao chuckled and explained its effects, leaving the two men utterly flabbergasted. They were so stunned that they didn’t even notice Ye Zi enter the room, pour their tea, and slip out again.

Mo Qing stared dazedly at the two blue fruits on the table, which emitted a faint, fluorescent glow. "To think such a miraculous item exists," he said in utter disbelief. "Why... why have I never heard of it?"

Ling Wu asked, stunned, "Young Master... are you giving these to us?"

Ling Xiao nodded. "The future development of Penzes will depend on your efforts. I, the Lord, am really just a figurehead. What’s more, I may not be here often. There are still three other noble families in the city, and dealing with them will be difficult. I’ll have to trouble the two of you with these matters."

"How could you be a figurehead, Young Master? You are our pillar of strength! And I’m not just saying that to flatter you!"

Mo Qing said in a low voice, "Since you are being so frank with me, Young Master, my conscience won’t be clear unless I am equally honest. When I was traveling in my younger years, I ran into danger and was saved by Marshal Qiu. I’ve admired the Old Marshal’s character for many years, and out of gratitude for him saving my life, I decided to pledge my loyalty to him. But the Old Marshal is an upright and honorable man, and in all these years, he has never once sought me out. I started a family and gradually lost the ambitions of my youth, even colluding with the other three noble families." He sighed. "I have failed the Old Marshal."

Ling Wu gave a wry grin. "If you hadn’t colluded with those three families, you probably wouldn’t have become one of the four great nobles of Penzes."

Mo Qing smiled faintly, a trace of pride on his face. There were certainly more than four noble families in Penzes City, but aside from the three that were already powerful to begin with, there was truly no one else who had elevated their family’s standing to the degree he had. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Mo Qing then asked, "Young Master, you just said you won’t be staying in the city often. Does that mean you have other business to attend to?"

Ling Wu also turned his gaze toward Ling Xiao. The fiery-tempered man was already beginning to accept and grow accustomed to working under Ling Xiao, truly seeing him as his leader.

Ling Xiao smiled. "I’m not strong enough yet. I need to improve my strength as quickly as possible. Only then... can I ensure that our territory, and our loved ones, are truly safe."