Read Novel Full Chapter 269 - 261: Path of Dawn, First Use of Charm and Fall (Double-Length)
Chapter 269: Chapter 261: Path of Dawn, First Use of Charm and Fall (Double-Length)
That afternoon, Qin Tian, under the guidance of Zhao Rui and others, found the residence of the Poisonous Widow. Immediately, he began to surveil the group alone, tracing their movements.
Perhaps because they were on the unique planet of Magnetic Vortex Star, the Poisonous Widow and her crew did not hide their activities, instead openly walking the streets every day, either contacting black market merchants to inquire about the arrival of goods or enjoying themselves in various entertainment venues.
Additionally, Qin Tian noticed that the Poisonous Widow seemed very interested in the slave market. She frequently visited the market during her downtime, and when she spotted robust men, her eyes would gleam with a peculiar look.
Having understood this habit, Qin Tian already had a plan in mind.
......
Slave Market
A shop without any signboard.
At night, Old Neil entered the backyard, where rows of iron cages stood under the moonlight. Each cage held one or two sleeping men, all generally well-built with messy hair, and their exposed skin bore some black tattoos, seemingly ancient totems.
"Alas, these barbarians are going to be stuck on my hands."
Old Ersen sighed. He had been in the slave business for nearly fifty years, selling countless slaves—humans, beastmen, trolls, and even elves. Yet no race ever proved as stubborn as this group of barbarians, giving even slave merchants a headache.
They fear neither pain nor death. No matter how he tortured them, these barbarians refused to bow and submit.
Such slaves are almost impossible to sell.
Although the purchase price for these barbarians was not high, thinking about how he, a seasoned veteran, made a loss with this deal left him quite agitated.
Clack clack~
At that moment, Old Neil heard an unusual sound behind him. He turned around, his pupils contracting sharply.
His decades-long guard, Tier Five Spiritualist Williamson, was bound tightly by a mass of emerald vines, wrapped like a dumpling. Williamson struggled desperately, but the vines tightened progressively. In the moonlight, Old Neil could clearly see the fear and despair in Williamson’s eyes.
What is going on?
Where did these vines come from?
Old Neil was terrified, cold sweat forming instantly.
"Walt Nelson."
A cold voice reached his ears.
Swish
A figure suddenly appeared before Old Neil, clad in black with a stern face, gazing at him with calm apathy.
"You are..."
Old Neil retreated half a step, but before he could finish his sentence, a large hand pressed onto his head. His vision went black, and he lost consciousness.
Unknown how much time passed, Old Neil slowly opened his eyes. The man was still standing before him.
Old Neil stood up and respectfully bowed to the man:
"Master."
Simultaneously, the vines binding Williamson quickly retracted.
Williamson stumbled a few steps, swallowed, and similarly addressed the man respectfully:
"Master."
"Hmm."
Qin Tian nodded, then looked behind him at the slaves locked in iron cages, collars with explosive devices around their necks, and asked:
"Where did you bring these slaves from?"
Old Neil hurriedly answered, "Master, these barbarians come from Anya Star on the Path of Dawn."
Upon hearing this, Qin Tian’s eyes flickered.
The Path of Dawn is not a literal road.
Accurately speaking, it’s a newly explored star belt from the outside world. On a star map, it resembles a winding path, starting from the border of the Chaotic Star Realm, extending westward, dotted with life stars possessing civilization.
New planets mean immeasurable wealth and resources.
When the Path of Dawn was discovered, civilian forces rushed into these stars frantically before the Empire, inevitably clashing and colliding with local civilizations.
The Azure Wood Star Realm, Amaterasu Star Realm, and even the Beastman Empire dispatched various forces to the Path of Dawn to vie for territory. However, official forces remained inactive.
This is a common expansion strategy of the Empire: letting civilian forces lead the way to explore and understand the local situation and once the conditions are clear, the Royal Army will officially dispatch to plant the Royal Golden Dragon Flag atop the planets.
Evidently, these barbarians were captured indigenous people, resold to Old Neil.
"Master, these barbarians are very special."
Old Neil explained, "They’re different from humans, beastmen, and the Spirit Race. Barbarians do not wield spiritual energy, but their physical bodies are terrifyingly powerful, capable of crushing steel barehanded. The strength of powerful barbarians can even withstand the martial techniques and magic of high tier spiritualists, and this bodily strength originates from the tattoos on their bodies, or more accurately, the totem battle patterns."
"The stronger a barbarian is, the denser the battle patterns on their bodies."
"Among the barbarians I’ve captured, a few are as strong as Tier Two Spiritualists; however..."
Old Neil smiled wryly, "Their willpower is astounding. No matter how I threaten or torture them, none have ever yielded or bowed, even the women and children offer no exception."
"Now, they can’t be sold at all, causing me significant financial loss."
Old Neil assumed Qin Tian had come for money, hence he truthfully disclosed his current financial situation.
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Qin Tian’s eyes. A slave merchant like Old Neil certainly wasn’t known for compassion; his methods of torment would break even warriors with steel willpower.