Chapter 1177
Fiery Fist Hassan
The refugee convoy, which had been heading towards Heaven City, was still moving towards Heaven City, but at a much faster pace than before.
These Slave Knights dismounted and released the sand cages from the convoy.
These were metal cages that looked like land-bound boats, resembling giant pumpkins. The cages were made of metal rods of varying lengths. The Slave Knights carried these rods with them, as if holding polearms for self-defense. When fitted together, they formed simple yet sturdy cages.
The part that touched the sand consisted of long rods, allowing the cages to glide rapidly across the sand, like ice skating. This prevented them from spending too much time herding slaves in the sand, which could lead to insufficient supplies. Since the cages were entirely hollow, they did not need to contend with sandstorms.
If one lay down, they risked suffocating from inhaling sand or getting sand in their eyes. The slaves could only carefully step on the iron rods if they wished to avoid sinking into quicksand or having their legs broken by the shifting weight.
Even so, they might still misstep and touch the ground, injuring themselves. Therefore, the slaves had to be extra cautious, exerting all their effort to maintain balance, leaving no room to consider escape.
The Anxi people referred to these sand cages as “longezi” – with the Anxi pronunciation.
Foreigners, however, called these simple sand cages made of iron rods “Anxi Cages.”
This was partly because such cages, convenient for dragging on sand, were unique to Anxi. It was also because some Anxi caravans carried iron rods for self-defense, and when the opportunity arose, they would kidnap passengers and travelers, using the iron rods to temporarily assemble cages of various sizes to hold people, moonlighting as slave merchants.
There was another reason.
The way these cages were constructed mirrored the society of the Ancient Kingdom of Anxi—
When disassembled, each rod was like an individual protecting their family and themselves.
But when assembled, they formed cages for capturing slaves. Once the slaves were delivered, they would repossess their own rods and return to their daily lives as if nothing had happened.
Dimly glowing yellow chains snaked through the gaps and wrapped around the slaves, encompassing both the whole and the injured. While some among them were Extraordinary, their energy levels were not high. Regardless of whether they were Extraordinary or not, their power was siphoned away by these chains, rendering their bodies powerless.
These Slave Knights were ruthless.
Regardless of gender or age, anyone who dared to resist them—even merely raising a weapon against them, without even striking—would have a hand, finger, or ear severed as punishment. Only those who remained immobile and accepted their bonds could retain their wholeness.
This was also a common intimidation tactic used by the Slave Knights.
If these “quasi-slaves” realized that their mutilation would decrease their value, making the Slave Knights hesitant to harm them, then capturing slaves would incur a greater cost. Therefore, they showed no mercy, even if the victim merely struggled violently, they would still be severely cut. Conversely, if these slaves were made to realize that any act of resistance, successful or not, would result in punishment, they would be even more afraid to resist, thus missing the best opportunity for a counterattack.
However, they also employed a degree of cunning—just as they had done with the middle-aged woman at the beginning. They would prioritize killing or severely injuring slaves who could not fetch a good price, thereby intimidating those who were more valuable.
Generally, in the desert, the most expensive slaves were the most beautiful and noble young men and women—regardless of race. Also, Extraordinary individuals of Third Tier and above, as well as beautiful, rare, and powerful异族 (foreign races)… these were treasures that could fetch high prices at auction. Capturing just one could sustain a dozen Slave Knights for several years.
Next were healthy and strong adult men and foreign men, who were considered valuable assets for guarding and labor, not easily captured intact, and highly sought after. Following them were young boys with investment potential, and girls with higher potential but more difficult to cultivate. Then came middle-aged women, weak men, and foreign children who could not command high prices… Finally, at the bottom were the elderly, sick, and disabled, who held the least value.
Thus, when they acted, they would prioritize attacking and executing the latter two groups. They used these cruel execution methods to deter the more valuable former group, thus avoiding the risk of them retaliating and being injured, which would reduce their value.
This kind of “malice” was also a form of improvisation.
Jabir was one of the few among them who knew these rules.
His father had been involved in this business once, during a time when their family was doing well.
Later, his father died silently in the yellow sand. Perhaps he had offended someone he shouldn’t have, or perhaps he was killed by the Arid Water Army or the rebel forces, or perhaps he was attacked by a Phantom Demon in the desert… or maybe he was defeated by another group of Slave Knights and captured as a slave himself, or perhaps their cart overturned during the capture—who knew? In any case, this was their fate.
Jabir was not unaware of his future destiny.
But he felt relieved nonetheless.
Even becoming a slave was better than dying silently in the desert.
He always felt that those people looked at him strangely. Although they were all accomplices, those people looked down on him. If they hadn’t happened to arrive at Heaven City at the right time, and if they had been even a day later, he would surely have died tonight.
Because of this, he was the first to surrender, and his chains were the loosest, and he had the best position in the cage. In the entire convoy, the only ones treated better than him were the two camels.
After all, one camel could be sold for two young male slaves. Its value was higher than his own. Jabir thought wryly.
He was at the front, so the chain around his neck was loose, and he didn’t have to sway and desperately search for a foothold—his body could lean against the cage for support, reducing collision with others. The only drawback was probably having to endure some sand.
At this moment, Jabir’s eyes suddenly widened.
His field of vision was relatively good, and because of this… he was the first to clearly see the approaching visitors from afar.
It was another group of cavalry—
But they did not seem to be slave cavalry.
They wore unified black robes that covered their faces. Despite it being daytime, they held torches in their hands. From a great distance, the black smoke and flames could be seen drifting towards them.
This group of cavalry was not emerging from Heaven City, but from another direction, opposite to them.
Upon seeing this, the Slave Knights of Heaven City changed their expressions, becoming anxious: “What do we do?”
“Where did these rebels come from!”
“Let them go, boss! We’ll run!”
“But the cages…”
The Slave Knights fell into chaos.
The one leading them—the man in the exquisite leather armor—recalled his chains.
“You damn…”
The middle-aged woman immediately regained her ability to move and speak, and she cursed loudly.
But before she could finish, the man grabbed her hair and dragged her out of the cage.
He thrust the scimitar in his hand into the woman’s jaw, piercing directly into her brain. Like slaughtering livestock, he killed her instantly.
“Engage! Prepare for blood sacrifice! Leave them behind too!”
The leader, clad in exquisite leather armor, was unwilling to retreat so easily. He intended to clash with the newcomers.
He shouted loudly: “Use the cheap ones first!”
“Alright!”
“Got it!”
The men shouted ferociously, and no one was willing to flee.
As several chains tightened, the “cheapest” in the convoy—the frail men, women over thirty, the sick, the elderly, and those who had been crippled during the previous capture—were dragged forward.
A total of seventeen people died amidst screams, cries, and wails.
The cages became noticeably emptier, with only half the people remaining.
The remaining Slave Knights then withdrew their Soul Chains, reabsorbing them into their bodies to recover their mana and prepare for battle.
The blood flowing from the seventeen corpses formed a strange river in the sand.
Several of the Slave Knights uttered low incantations. The sand mixed with blood, like writhing snakes, slowly rose from the ground, swaying their heads.
Ominous black mist was drawn from the corpses, forming a chilling curtain that enveloped them.
Twisted demonic faces slowly began to coalesce within the mist.
—But at that moment.
From the opposite side, a dazzling light suddenly flared!
In that instant, Jabir thought his eyes would go blind. He cried out in pain.
It was a firelight more intense and dazzling than looking directly at the midday sun!
A high-temperature laser formed by flames, like an extremely long, thin sword, reached them in the blink of an eye.
The curse ritual, formed by seventeen dead bodies, was as fragile as paper—it was easily severed by that beam of light, without any obstruction.
And the Slave Knights, without exception, were cut in half by this strike!
The upper parts of their bodies were severed by the beam of light. However, their camels below remained unharmed.
It was a single strike! It was as immensely powerful as a god!
Those immensely powerful Extraordinary individuals were annihilated as if in a miracle!
Jabir’s brain trembled. He felt the cage in front of him become scorching hot, so he quickly moved away, yet he was still burned.
It turned out that the beam of light had also sliced off the top of the cage. And metal conducted heat extremely well, directly injuring him.
The leader of the opposing group, the only one not holding a torch, rode his camel and charged forward.
His hand burned with flames like the scorching sun. He held his hand high, as if holding the sun.
“I am Hassan! Fiery Fist Hassan!”
The man shouted at them: “I’m back! You are saved!”
—Fiery Fist Hassan!
It was the legendary Fiery Fist Hassan!
The crowd erupted.
(End of this chapter)
