576: Chapter 576 The first batch of spirit stones arrived, but the person delivering them had a grim expression.

The reactions of the smaller Sects were even more spectacular.

Their Disciples had low Cultivation and their ransoms were small, but they were also much poorer.

Some Sect Heads went bankrupt to scrape together tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, having to borrow from everyone, even dipping into their in-laws' funeral savings.

Some Sect Heads simply played dead, not replying or showing their faces, pretending they never received the ransom letter.

Others ran to the Tianxuan Sect and Tianji Sect to plead for mercy, hoping these large Sects would speak for them, only to be rebuffed with: “Our own Sect Heads are still locked inside, who’s going to speak for us?”

Xu Ruyu was in no hurry; he had the Grand Elder send out a message: “If the Spirit Stones aren't paid within a month, the price doubles.

If they aren't paid within two months, don't even bother asking for the people back.

Our Hehuan Sect doesn't keep idlers, much less those who eat for free.

If no one comes to redeem them, we'll refine them all as a tiny bit of compensation for the consumption of my Grand Array these past few days.”

The news quickly spread throughout the entire Cultivation World.

In restaurants, tea houses, and markets, discussions were everywhere.

“Have you heard? The Hehuan Sect has locked up everyone from the Righteous Path Alliance and is demanding ransom from the major Sects. I heard the Old Ancestor of the North Pole Ice Soul Palace alone is worth fifty million.”

“I heard it too. The Tianxuan Sect gave three million, the Tianji Sect gave two point eight million, and the North Pole Ice Soul Palace is still scraping it together.

I heard they even have to pawn off their ancestral Magical Artifacts.”

“Tsk tsk, the Hehuan Sect is about to strike it rich. That Xu Ruyu, damn, he really dares to ask for so much.”

“Right? That Xu Ruyu is ruthless enough; he’s played the entire Righteous Path Alliance like a fiddle all by himself.”

“It’s not just him; there’s also that cold and peerless beauty, Xiao Nianyin. They say the current Xiao Nianyin is in the True Immortal Realm, taking down a Saint Realm Peak with a single palm. Who would dare provoke her?”

“That’s true. But then again, that Xu Ruyu is also quite strange. Qi Refinement Stage Cultivation, Saint Realm strength, and he knows how to set up arrays and perform Artifact Refining.

I heard the Spiritual Artifacts they use were all made by him; even the scopes on the guns were polished by him personally.”

“Where exactly did this guy come from? I heard he’s not even from the Cultivation World, but from another world entirely.”

“For real? Another world?”

“Who knows. Anyway, if you see anyone from the Hehuan Sect in the future, just take a detour. If you can't afford to provoke them, you can at least hide from them.”

Some were happy, some were angry, some were terrified, and some were envious.

But regardless of the reaction, everyone reached a consensus—the Hehuan Sect was no longer the small Sect that could be bullied at will.

Those big shots of the Righteous Path who had once clamored to wipe out the Hehuan Sect were now like frost-bitten eggplants, so dejected they couldn't lift their heads.

The Old Sect Leader of the Tianxuan Sect was scraping together Spirit Stones, Sect Leader Li of the Tianji Sect was selling off family property at low prices, and Xuanbingzi of the North Pole Ice Soul Palace was begging for loans everywhere.

Some were angry, some were silent, and some wept alone in the dead of night.

But not a single person dared to mention the words "dispatching troops" again.

Because they knew that Grand Array was not something they could break.

Xiao Nianyin’s True Immortal Realm was not something they could fight.

And Xu Ruyu was not someone they could afford to provoke.

In front of the Hehuan Sect’s mountain gate, Xu Ruyu stood on a high platform, watching the Sect Heads of those small Sects arrive and leave dejectedly.

The sunlight hit him, feeling warm and cozy, stretching his shadow out long.

A smile always hung on the corner of his mouth—a smile that wasn't arrogant, yet not reserved either, just fixed there as if it were carved.

The Grand Elder stood behind him, ledger in hand, recording the received Spirit Stones and resources one by one.

The corners of his mouth had been curled up all day and hadn't come down once.

“Sect Master, the Spirit Stones from the North Pole Ice Soul Palace have arrived. Four point two million, not a single one missing.

It’s just that the person who delivered the Spirit Stones didn't look too happy, as if their father had died, not showing a single good face the whole time.”

Xu Ruyu smiled.

“It’s normal for them to look unhappy; it would be abnormal if they did. Accept the Spirit Stones, release the people, and let them go.”

The Grand Elder hesitated for a moment.

“What about that Ancestor Xuan Yin? They haven't given the fifty million. Should we press them?”

“No rush.” Xu Ruyu gazed at the light screen, “Fifty million is no small amount; it takes time for them to scrape it together.

Give them a month. If it doesn't arrive in a month, raise the price again.

Anyway, the people are locked in our array; they won't run away.”

The Grand Elder nodded and made a note in the ledger.

As the sun moved from east to west, Xu Ruyu stood there, watching the light screen flow slowly.

The Righteous Path Alliance Cultivators inside the light screen were no longer running or shouting; they just squatted quietly in the corners, as if waiting for a result they didn't know when would arrive.

Some sat leaning against the walls with their eyes closed, as if sleeping; some polished their swords over and over until they were gleaming; others spoke in low voices, saying things only they could hear.

Zhao Yan ran over from the Martial Arts Arena, shirtless, with sweat glistening all over him in the sunlight.

“Sect Master, are we practicing tomorrow? We've been shooting all day, and the gun barrels are glowing red.”

“We practice. Why wouldn't we? The targets aren't finished yet.” Xu Ruyu patted his shoulder, “If I tell you to practice, then practice. Why so much nonsense? If you practice well, it can save your life in future battles.”

Zhao Yan grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.

“That’s great. I hit several more today—buttocks, thighs, shoulders, hitting wherever I aimed. That kid Li Ergou is still competing with me, saying his Chuanyang Gun is more accurate than mine. I’m not convinced; we'll compete again tomorrow.”

Xu Ruyu smiled and shook his head.

“Fine, you guys compete. There’s a reward for the winner.”

“What reward?”

“A new gun. One more powerful than the qi-breaking gun.”

Zhao Yan’s eyes lit up, and he turned to run and find Li Ergou, shouting as he ran: “Li Ergou! The Sect Master said we're competing in marksmanship tomorrow. The winner gets a new gun!”

Li Ergou’s shout came from the distance: “Then let's compete! Who’s afraid of who?”

Xu Ruyu turned and walked toward Ningyin Hall.

Xiao Nianyin was standing at the hall entrance waiting for him.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over her, plating her cold face with a layer of warm gold.

She watched him walk over; she didn't smile, but there was something in her eyes, like snow melting in spring.

“A good harvest today.”

It wasn't a question; it was a statement.

“Yeah, four point two million in hand, the rest is still being scraped together.”

Xu Ruyu walked up to her and reached out to take her hand.

Her hand was still cool, but it was much warmer than when they first met.

“Let’s go back and eat. I’ve been hungry all day.”

“Didn't you eat some snacks this afternoon?”

“Can snacks really fill you up?”

Xiao Nianyin said no more and followed him into Ningyin Hall.

The light screen outside was still glowing, flickering on and off like a tireless night watchman.

The Righteous Path Alliance Cultivators inside the light screen still didn't know how long they would be locked up.

They only knew that from today on, the sky of the Cultivation World had changed.

The Hehuan Sect, which had once been looked down upon by everyone, the Hehuan Sect they had besieged, mocked, and nearly wiped out, now held their lives in its hands.

The only thing they could do was wait.

Wait for their Sects to scrape together enough Spirit Stones, and wait for Xu Ruyu to be in a good mood to release them.