The Salvation Group Chat

Xiao Ran shuddered at Yinyue Zhenren's words. He was breaking out in cold sweat despite the fall weather and feeling his hands and feet become icy.

What was up with this cultivation world? Why did a Direct Disciple live to satisfy these people?

Tears ran down his heart in sorrow!

The sect was filled with oppression for Direct Disciples—when could a newbie cultivator stand up on his own?

Upon recalling Lin Yunzi's words, the more Xiao Ran thought about it, the more terrified he got, and he no longer dared look straight into Yinyue Zhenren's soft charming face.

In fact, Yinyue Zhenren was not wrong.

Since he had joined the sect, there had been Wraith incidents for two consecutive days.

Xiao Ran was guessing that both incidents had to do with Ye Fan, but perhaps the sect had other speculations.

A Direct Disciple had repeatedly defeated Qi Refining cultivators with a mortal's strength and become a new Qi Refining cultivator after three days in the sect. The only two Wraith incidents on Zongzhi Mountain in thousands of years had also happened in those three days…

No matter who or how one looked at this case, it was just suspicious!

Xiao Ran understood that the dissection Yinyue Zhenren implied was actually meant to understand his cultivation base, physique, and body quality, as well as his bloodline, to make sure that he was "normal" and part of their kind instead of a Wraith vessel like Ye Fan. It would not be too late to lavish him with attention and effort to train him then.

He could totally understand where they were coming from and he accepted it.

After all, the system bound his soul, not his physical body. No matter how Yinyue Zhenren cut him up, she could not possibly find the existence of the system.

Xiao Ran was just purely feeling queasy about it.

What if a piece of his body went missing after the dissection?

What if the surgical knife was left inside of him after the dissection?

What if it was discovered that he had the bloodline of a demon after the dissection?

The more Xiao Ran thought, the more he felt his scalp tingle, and blood drained from his face and energy started sapping from his body. He could only reply, "Let's just have the meeting first."

There was no way Yinyue Zhenren was letting him go so easily. Her gentle, alluring eyes were trained on him as she said softly, "I'll go with you. You've contributed a great deal this time."

No, thanks!

Xiao Ran rejected her immediately, "I'll have to excuse myself for now. I think I accidentally lost the interspatial ring while fighting with Ye Fan just now. I'm going to look for it."

There was a sharp glint in those kind eyes before Yinyue Zhenren took a glance at Xiao Ran's hand. The interspatial ring was really not there. Her divine sense swiftly scanned the ruins around the platform before she gave up when she did not notice the ring anywhere. Perhaps it had gotten lost somewhere else.

"Alright then. Remember to fetch Chunwa and Qiuchan from the Sword-Wielding Mountain after you find your interspatial ring."

"Okay."

Upon seeing his pretty Senior Uncle off with his gaze, Xiao Ran finally breathed in relief.

When the two Inner Sect Trainers saw that, they quickly woke up Chen Gongxing, who had passed out drunkenly and followed Yinyue Zhenren to the Ruling Tower.

Both the witness and the party involved had to give simple reports to the Commandment Hall before the meeting.

After that, Xiao Ran and Chuyan were the only ones left on the Sword Plain. Big and small in size, they looked like father and daughter standing together, yet these were the main contributors who had turned the tables with the Wraith.

Xiao Ran said, "Go back to the Sword-Wielding Mountain and get the two kids here on the central mountain."

Chuyan was taken aback. "What about you?"

Xiao Ran turned serious abruptly.

"Didn't I just say that? I'm looking for the interspatial ring."

Chuyan felt a little wronged but was also a little curious.

"I thought that was your excuse. You're really looking for it?"

Xiao Ran nodded. "Yes, really."

His rarely serious mien did not look like he was joking, so Chuyan rode her sword and flew to the Sword-Wielding Mountain.

After he successfully diverted everyone away, the Sword Plain was empty except for Xiao Ran. As he stood in the remnants, there was an inexplicable sense of melancholy around.

He had not been joking. He was really looking for a ring—Ye Fan's ring!

It was strange.

A common disciple ring would have been burned to nothing by the three Nascent Soul experts' Samadhi Fire, but when Xiao Ran had resonated with the Wraith through the palm strike by borrowing Chuyan's power, he had been surprised to discover a black ring hidden in the body of the Wraith!

He had thought that it was odd then, so he'd kept an eye out for it constantly, realizing that the ring had fallen into the rubble after the Wraith's death.

The ring was just bizarre. It had defied the Samadhi Fire and the Wraith's death. Logically, its level had to be exceptionally high, and it was not a mortal item. It should thus have been easy to notice it.

Nevertheless, Chen Gongxing, who had fought a melee battle, had not noticed it. Chuyan, who had sought out the Wraith's core in the wreckage, had not found it either. Even Yinyue Zhenren's divine sense had not sensed it.

Xiao Ran stepped onto the platform and carefully rummaged through the ruins in the general direction that the ring had fallen off earlier.

After some time, his effort was fruitless. 

He unleashed his divine sense but achieved nothing again.

Xiao Ran was puzzled.

Could that have been an illusion? Could there have been no black ring? Could he have seen an optical illusion after being too focused on the Wraith?

Xiao Ran did not believe it.

For the last time, he concentrated his spirit and resonated with the world to listen to it. Then, he looked down—Hah!

A matte black ring lay just one inch in front of his feet!

He had not even noticed it earlier!

It could not be something ordinary… That was why no one had discovered it just now. The ring could make itself invisible.

Xiao Ran bent down to pick it up.

The black ring was matte overall and looked rather quaint. It was thin and felt a little cool on the palm. It was obviously not the ordinary disciple ring Ye Fan had worn earlier.

Suddenly, a piercing cold wind seemed to penetrate him. It chilled him to the core and he instinctively went stiff. Dots of sweat appeared as the hand holding the black ring shook lightly, his palm exuding frosty air.

For some reason, he had an extremely unwavering sense of the Dao, as well as a feeling of superiority, as though he was above all living souls. It felt like he was standing in outer space and overlooking the earth.

Something was not right with the ring!

Xiao Ran raised his guard instantly.

The system dinged out of the blue.

"Ding! Heaver-Tier Divine Item detected: Black Salvation Ring!"

What?

A Black Salvation Ring… So Ye Fan had been a savior?

"There are 11 rings like this one, invisible to common people. It can automatically search for 11 people in this world who possess the caliber of salvation and the heart of salvation and can stop the world's downfall regardless of tactics, bind these 11 people, and address them as the Eleven Lones."

"Their goal is to salvage the Zhenling Continent and move individually. These 11 people can interact and exchange cultivation methods and items through the possession of the black ring. This ring's original owner was Ye Fan. You currently do not have the qualifications to own this ring. Forcible possession may bring harm. Three solutions are listed below…"

Wait a minute! There was too much information! Xiao Ran needed a break.

With bated breath, he focused and read everything word by word.

These people were interacting through the possession of the ring… Was this not like a group chat?

They could exchange cultivation methods and items… That was why Ye Fan, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, had been able to execute the Netherking Punch, the Chaotic Nine-Dragon Tower, and the likes!

There were three conditions to be bound… Xiao Ran could understand the caliber and the intention of the salvation, but "stopping the world from its downfall regardless of tactics" was almost a surefire way to deviate to darkness and brutality, ultimately committing sins in the name of justice.

A lot of powerful villains in animation were exactly like that!

For example, was Ye Fan's intention to kill him and replace him as the Direct Disciple in order to grow rapidly into an independent and powerful expert considered a salvation act?

What offended Xiao Ran the most was that… this stupid ring had determined that he did not qualify to save the world!

The talent that he had shown surpassed Ye Fan's, and he had virtuous values. His heart of salvation had been approved by Chen Gongxing too. Could it be because he did not have unscrupulous determination?

Because he would not hurt innocent people just to save the world?

Did a world like that still require salvation?

Stupid 11 saviors! Xiao Ran was disdainful but wanted to be a part of them!

Since the ring was in his hands, he could not just sit around.

'Let's join the group chat. See what these fools have been talking about!'