Venerable Victory over Heaven

As the setting sun at the horizon sank behind the mountains, the battle on Verdant Mountain also drew to a close.

Faced with the sudden assault by elite Qi Sense Users, the bandits were routed outright before they could mount any effective resistance.

Venerable Victory over Heaven's handling of them was equally simple. Whether they had surrendered or been grievously wounded and lost the ability to resist, she ran them all through with a sword, piled their corpses in the center of the bandit stronghold, and set them ablaze.

For a time, pleas for mercy, curses, and shouts rang out without end.

Luo Qingqing sighed inwardly.

She had wanted to offer a few words of persuasion, but in the end, she chose silence.

Jinxia's rules did not apply to the Black Gate Cult. Or rather, when most people saw the rag-clad women in the bandit stronghold's cells, as well as the hands and feet pickled in jars, their first reaction would be to wipe out these utterly vicious wretches.

She knew that even among bandits, there were internal differences—some had chosen evil of their own accord, while others had been forced into the mire. They ought to be distinguished and judged accordingly. But whether it was imprisonment or hard labor as punishment, the sect lacked the means for either.

The rescued women wore numb expressions. Luo Qingqing took the initiative to gather them together and comforted them, telling them that no one would learn of this, that the Salvation Sect would not send them back, and that as long as they were willing to follow her, they would have somewhere to settle down.

Under her reassurance, focus gradually returned to the women's eyes.

"You did well."

At some point, Venerable Victory over Heaven had come up behind her.

"People aren't