Chapter 187: Physical Persuasion! Pledging Their Fealty One After Another!

The actions of the man from Ancient Spirit City immediately caused Zhao Yongkang, Ou Chen, and the others to feel slightly unhappy.

Before Zhao Yongkang could speak, a gentle-looking Stage Four powerhouse stepped forward.

The two seemed to know each other well, and the Stage Four powerhouse immediately reprimanded, “Guo Jian’an, why are you so rude? Did your parents not teach you that you should be grateful to your savior?”

Only then did Guo Jian’an become less arrogant and impatient. However, he still muttered, “I didn’t say anything wrong; we are from somewhere...”

“Shut up.” The Stage Four powerhouse glanced at Guo Jian’an and saw that the latter had lowered his head and stopped speaking. Only then did he cast an apologetic look at Link and the others. “My apologies, we have made fools of ourselves. My name is He Fan. We come from Ancient Spirit City. Guo Jian’an is my subordinate. I have not taught him properly; please forgive us.”

“I heard from Mr. Zhao here that Sir intends to recruit us. You flatter us, but it’s just that we already belong to Ancient Spirit City. I’m afraid it will be hard for us to be of service to you... I can only hope that there will be a chance in our next life to dedicate our lives to you, Sir, as repayment for your kindness!”

Saying that, He Fan spread his hands. His expression was an appropriate mix of three parts helplessness, four parts regret, and three parts gratitude...

He Fan’s words not only helped him out of a very embarrassing situation but also everyone else.

Some people around them immediately picked up the conversation.

“That’s right. We are grateful to Sir for saving our lives, but we already belong to a city, and it will be difficult for us to be of service to you.”

“Your kindness will be remembered, Sir. However, I’m afraid we are unable to answer your recruitment call.”

“Sire, a melon forcibly harvested will not be sweet...”

...

The voices were incessant, and the situation suddenly became difficult to control.

Ou Chen’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and light flickered in his eyes. Good fellow, I have met a master!

He Fan and Guo Jian’an were putting on the good cop, bad cop act. It was an act they were obviously familiar with. Not only did they advance in the guise of retreating, but they also incited so many people. It had completely blocked Link’s attempt at recruitment!

Ou Chen couldn’t help but look at Link. He wondered what Link planned to do.

When Zhao Yongkang and the others saw this, they all helplessly looked at Link.

Link just glanced at the man named He Fan and spoke without a trace of emotion. “You seem to be mistaken.”

“Oh?”

Upon hearing that, everyone seemed to stop talking and turned to look at Link. Mistaken? What are we mistaken about?

Link’s expression was indifferent. His eyes were like two cold stars, slowly sweeping across the crowd.

The atmosphere suddenly became subdued.

“I am not asking you to join us, nor am I negotiating terms with you. If I can save you, I can also send you to your graves. Rein in your little bit of cleverness. Right now, only those who prove their worth can live! I hope you will seize this opportunity.”

With those merciless words, Link suddenly clenched his hand. In an instant, the [King’s Sword] appeared in his hand, and the cold sword edge glinted menacingly in the sun.

Without saying more, Link brought the sword down.

A fierce sword aura suddenly whizzed out. The dense sword energy was trapped within like a powerful torrent!

With the appearance of that sword, the world trembled. The sword energy could be felt for hundreds of meters!

Boom!

A roar exploded.

A torrent of sword energy passed by the group of survivors and bombarded the ground.

Sand and rocks flew, and the ground cracked, leaving a deep gully filled with dense sword intent!

At this moment, the entire place was dead silent.

Silence—

The bodies of all the survivors froze, and their scalps turned numb. It was as if they had been instantly turned into clay puppets. Their sweaty hair stood on end, and cold sweat covered their foreheads!

At the moment Link swung his sword, they all felt an indescribable sense of crisis! It was like a sickle of death resting on their necks—they seemed to be getting nearer and nearer to death!

Even the few Stage Four powerhouses were no exception. This sense of oppression and crisis was even stronger than when facing a Stage Five Star-rank powerhouse!

Guo Jian’an—who had been extra troublesome earlier—had become exceptionally pale. On his back, his clothes had turned wet from cold sweat. The wind blew, chilling him thoroughly...

He Fan’s expression was also full of horror and panic. He was also a Stage Four powerhouse. He knew very well that, even if he tried his best, he might not be able to withstand half of Link’s attack!

At this moment, these survivors realized how large the gap between them and Link was! It was like a chasm; they were completely overwhelmed by Link’s combat power!

These survivors weren’t the only ones stunned. Even Ou Chen, Zhao Yongkang, and the others’ expressions froze immediately.

At this moment, the expression in Ou Chen’s eyes was extremely complicated, and his feelings were even more jumbled. He looked at the gully and then at Link, who was expressionless. You said you had a way to convince them? This was it?! Persuasion by physical means? Gatling Bodhisattva?!

After a while, many people swallowed hard and slowly recovered.

Someone sighed. “City Master Link has such good swordsmanship; it is admirable. I am willing to join Unfallen City. It’s my honor to serve the City Master!”

Once someone got the ball rolling, everyone else immediately voiced their agreement.

“I’m also willing to join City Master Link. Good birds choose good trees to live in; I only know what a good overlord should be like after seeing City Master Link today!”

“I will join too. I am willing to serve you!”

...

The voices continued, and the previously reluctant people became enthusiastic suddenly. It was as though they had been instantly conquered by Link’s charming personality. They came one after another to pledge their fealty.

He Fan also changed his attitude completely. He no longer spoke of repaying the favor in his next life; otherwise, he might really have to die on the spot.

These people suddenly came to their senses. Those on the sidelines no longer dared to harbor any opposing thoughts.

What a joke. This City Master Link was obviously a killing machine. If they annoyed him, there wouldn’t even be enough of them for his sword to finish one cut.

Terrified... they were terrified. Retreat, and the skies will clear. Give in to terror, and one will have a good life ahead.

Looking at the situation in front of them that had suddenly changed, Zhao Yongkang and Xue Linglong looked embarrassed.

Their City Master had always had a disposition for killing, and he had always persuaded others with brute strength.

What else could they say? Zhao Yongkang could only say: “Ah... here! One by one, report your name, profession, and your specialties. Register here.”

Ou Chen couldn’t help but put his hand to his forehead. Gatling Bodhisattva; this method worked really well against these people.

Link glanced at the people who were scrambling to register their abilities and said flippantly, “That Guo Jian’an is only Stage Three and has no value. Does the Temple of Light want him? Otherwise, there’s no need to keep him alive.”

When the indifferent words fell, Guo Jian’an lower abdomen tightened immediately. He almost peed. He quickly shouted, “I’m valuable; I’m valuable. I’m willing to go through fire and water for the City Master!”

Link couldn’t even be bothered to look at him. His gaze turned to Ou Chen.

Ou Chen was stunned. “Don’t kill him, hehe; I’ll take him. Guo Jian’an, come to my side. Work hard in the future, and I won’t treat you badly.”

Stage Three, although not elite, was still substantial. Ou Chen was resigned to this.

After dealing with these trivial matters, Link walked toward the three powerful factions’ previous camp.

Kidnapping the three major forces’ members and subduing this group of people was just incidental. His real purpose was to unlock the Epochal Ruins...