Upon investigation, Zhang Ruochen indeed discovered dozens of human auras in the ship's hold.

  Those humans have different strengths and weaknesses in their breath. Some people have strong blood and energy, like a beast in human form; some people have weak and small blood and energy, no different from ordinary people.

  Only when all those evil warriors are cleared out will this giant red spider ship truly belong to him.

  "The giant red spider ship is a pretty good treasure. If it's sold, I estimate it will be a huge fortune."

  Zhang Ruochen was just about to head towards the ship's warehouse when he passed by Mu Qing's skeleton and saw that golden whip, so he picked it up, grasped it in his hand, pushed open the warehouse door, and walked inside.

  Golden whip with a long handle, one of the seven-tiered true martial treasure instruments, also a priceless treasure worth a city.

  The cargo hold of the Red Spider's giant ship was enormous, divided into three layers: upper, middle and lower. Even if it accommodated a thousand people, it wouldn't feel crowded.

  Just as he walked into the ship's warehouse, a dark-armored evil warrior swung his sword at Zhang Ruochen. His martial arts cultivation had reached the early stage of the Earthly Boundary, and he was clearly a high-ranking martial artist guarding the ship's warehouse.

  "Whoosh"

  A golden whip lashed out, a flash of golden light swept across the neck of that evil martial artist.

  The black armor was cut open by the golden whip as easily as if it were made of paper.

  That evil martial artist, who was entirely covered in black armor, suddenly became motionless, still maintaining the pose of raising his hand to slash with his sword. It wasn't until Zhang Ruochen walked far away that his head, along with his metal helmet, fell to the ground with a loud clang.

  On the upper deck of the Red Spider Giant Ship, Zhang Ruochen consecutively killed twelve evil Dao warriors, with the strongest reaching the early stage of Di Ji Realm and the weakest only at the early stage of Xuan Ji Realm.

  They were all Mo Qing's servants, each with their own division of labor. There were refiners responsible for repairing the Red Spider Giant Ship's runes, stewards responsible for managing accounts, and warriors specifically guarding the Red Spider Giant Ship.

  Zhang Ruochen walked into the middle layer of the Red Spider Giant Ship, and the entire ship's layout changed instantly. It was as if he had entered a royal palace courtyard, with a very luxurious decoration. Twenty-four beautiful slave girls gathered in the ship, staring at Zhang Ruochen who broke in with great fear.

  Feeling the powerful aura emanating from Zhang Ruochen's body, they all knelt on the ground, trembling with fear, not daring to lift their heads.

  Twenty-four slave girls, all of whom were top-notch in appearance and figure, were mostly ordinary people, with only a small number of three having opened their divine martial mark, but their martial arts attainments were very low.

  "Mu Qing is quite good at enjoying life." Zhang Ruochen lightly shook his head and asked, "Are you all people from the Poisonous Spider Merchant Guild?"

  Twenty-four slave girls knelt in a row, no one dared to speak.

  Zhang Ruochen said: "If you don't speak up, then I can only treat you as people from the Poisonous Spider Merchant Guild and execute all of you."

  One of the martial artists who had reached the late stage of Huang Ji, a young girl, plucked up her courage and lifted her head, crying and whispering: "We... we were once all citizens of Yunwu County, but because our county's army was defeated, we were captured by soldiers from other counties and sold to the Poisonous Spider Merchant Guild."

  "The most beautiful women among them were all selected and sent to the Red Spider Giant Ship to serve those big shots of the Poisonous Spider Chamber of Commerce."

  "There were originally fifty-seven people, now only twenty-four of us are left. Sir, please, save us, we don't want to die here."

  The other slave girls also cried out in entreaty, "Sir, save us! This is a human purgatory, please!"

  Zhang Ruochen gazed at the twenty-four girls in front of him, all in their most beautiful age, and his heart sank. They were once all citizens of Yunwu County, some even noble ladies, but due to defeat in war, they became slaves of evil martial artists.

  Who can blame

  It's just that Yunwu County is not powerful enough and couldn't protect them well.

  Of course, it's not possible to blame Yunwu County King either. After all, Yunwu County is only a lower-ranking county, while Sifang County is a mid-ranking one. The national strength of the two counties differs by more than tenfold. Once they go to war, there's almost no chance of winning.

  Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen's eyes lit up and he said, "You're saying that you were originally captured by the military forces of the four-sided county, and then sent to the Poisonous Spider Merchant Association?"

  "That's right." said a rather bold slave girl.

  "Could it be that the imperial courts of the four cardinal directions and the Poisonous Spider Merchant Guild are colluding?" Zhang Ruo Chen seemed to say to himself.

  If what they said is true, then it's no longer a small matter.

  To know, whether it is Yunwu Prefecture or Sifang Prefecture, they are actually just a prefecture of the First Central Empire. It's just that because of its remote location, the First Central Empire manages it very loosely, allowing each prefecture to establish an independent imperial institution and divide the land into kingdoms.

  However, no single county or state can go against the fundamental national policy of the First Central Empire.

  For example, the First Central Empire and Wu City Qianzhuang are in a cooperative relationship. Empress Chi Yao fully supports Wu City Qianzhuang, and the official forces of each county must also stand on the same front line as Wu City Qianzhuang, fully suppressing the black market and the Baiyue Demon Sect.

  If it is discovered that any county or country dares to collude with the black market, not only will they be punished by the Wu City Money House, but also will be intolerable to the Imperial Central of the First Central County.

  To put it simply, if the imperial court of the four-sided county and state really colludes with the black market and secretly plots for profit, it is courting death. The surrounding major counties and states can rise up and attack, dividing the territory of the four-sided county and state, and even the Wu City Money House will strongly support it.

  One of the slave girls spoke cautiously: "Sir, I have important information to report."

  Zhang Ruochen stared at her for a moment and said, "You speak."

  That slave girl's eyes were filled with tears as she whispered: "I have a condition"

  "Tell me the conditions," Zhang Ruochen said with a faint smile.

  That slave girl was suddenly frightened, thinking that she had angered Zhang Ruochen, and immediately lowered her head, constantly kowtowing.

  Zhang Ruochen said: "You don't have to be so afraid of me, what conditions do you have, just say it"

  That slave girl said: "If you agree to let us go, I will tell you that one thing."

  They didn't know Zhang Ruochen's identity, but they were clear that Zhang Ruochen was definitely a top-notch expert. Otherwise, how could Mu Qing's Golden Whip fall into his hands?

  They don't want to continue being Zhang Ruochen's playthings, so they plan to strive for freedom. Even though their strength seems insignificant in front of Zhang Ruochen.

  Zhang Ruochen found a chair and sat down, smiling: "You may not know my identity yet. I am the ninth prince of Yunwu State, and also an inner palace student of Wuxi Academy. Even if you don't ask me for help, I will still let you leave."

  They heard Zhang Ruochen declare his identity, and their eyes all lit up. The fear they had before completely turned into admiration and adoration.

  That is the prince of Yunwu County, what a noble status

  Moreover, he can even kill Mu Qing, a legendary martial arts master, which is simply a world-class hero, naturally making them worship him infinitely.

  Imprisoned in the giant spider's web, they too had fantasies of a handsome prince who could lead an army to rescue them from this hell-like place.

  The dream has come true now

  Zhang Ruochen said, "After I let you leave, where can you go? You all look very beautiful, and the vast majority of people have not practiced martial arts, nor do they have the power to protect themselves. In this situation, you will soon be caught again and become slaves to others once more."

  Those slave girls' eyes dimmed, knowing that Zhang Ruochen's words were all true.

  In this world where might makes right, those without power can only become slaves, or even less than that.

  "Rest assured, with me around, I will naturally take care of you. Now, tell me the intelligence you have gathered."

  Having obtained Zhang Ruochen's promise, they finally felt at ease. The girl who had been practicing martial arts said: "Sir's previous guess was correct, the Poisonous Spider Chamber of Commerce and the imperial court of the Four Sides County are indeed colluding, and their relationship is quite deep."

  "We were stuck here for a year, and at least ten high-ranking officials from the four provinces came to visit Mu Qing. All of them were served by us. So, we heard some major secrets."

  "It is said that the attack launched by the four-party county against Yunwu County a year ago was actually a joint plot by the Poisonous Spider Chamber of Commerce, who wanted to take advantage of the war to capture a large number of slave goods."

  Zhang Ruochen's eyes narrowed, revealing a few shades of coldness, and he said: "It's really detestable. Because of them, the Cloud Martial County has lost countless generals in battle, countless civilians have been slaughtered, and countless families have been broken up, with wives separated from their children."

  Zhang Ruochen felt it was necessary to clarify the relationship between the Poisonous Spider Merchant Guild and the imperial court of the Four Sides Country, best if they could be taken down all at once, so as to prevent them from stirring up more trouble in the future and causing even more tragedies.

  "Among those high-ranking officials of the four-square counties you've seen, who has the most noble status?" Zhang Ruochen asked.

  One of the slave girls thought for a moment and said, "I saw a big man who seemed to be a marquis from one of the four corners of the country. His status was extremely high, and he could sit on an equal footing with Mu Qing. They discussed many important business matters together."

  Zhang Ruochen's heart moved slightly, and he said: "What is the name of that Prince Wang?"

  That slave girl shook her head and said: "I don't know, I only heard Mu Qing call him Zhen Jun Hou."

  Zhang Ruochen nodded, with the title of "Town Army Marquis", it would be easy to investigate that person and not find anything.

  Must go to the four-party county and state, verify the news, and immediately notify Wushi Qianzhuang and Wushi Academy. Must use thunderous means to eradicate the poisonous spider merchant association and punish the four-party county and state.

  "Get up, all of you. I'll take you to Lin'an County immediately and instruct the soldiers in the county to escort you to Wang City. I will write a personal letter and give it to you. Take my letter and go find the Ninth Princess, she will naturally arrange for your safety." Zhang Ruochen said.

  "Thank you, Your Highness, Ninth Prince."

  Those slave girls were overjoyed and wept with gratitude, all of them stood up and paid their respects to Zhang Ruochen.

  A fifteen-year-old girl standing in the corner stared at Zhang Ruochen with a timid expression, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare.

  Her actions naturally didn't escape Zhang Ruochen's eyes, who asked: "Is there anything else?"

  That slave girl said in a low voice: "I have one more thing to report to the Ninth Prince, perhaps the Ninth Prince will be very interested."

  "What's wrong?" Zhang Ruochen asked.

  That slave girl said: "I have always served by Mu Qing's side, once he drank a lot of wine and revealed some secrets. He said that he had a semi-sacred painting, which was an authentic work, found in a semi-sacred relic, it was his most treasured treasure."

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