Jiangnan, outside the Ten Thousand Man Pit.
High above in the Vault Sky, a majestic, sprawling vessel stood moored amid the clouds, its entire form concealed beneath streams of spiritual light.
On the vessel's deck, a figure stood with his hands behind his back.
It was True Person Demon-Sweeping, Ye Guangji.
Standing to either side of him were direct descendants of the Ye Clan, both at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage—and also old acquaintances of Lu Yang: Ye Guyue and Ye Xingfeng.
"Uncle, I think you are being far too old-fashioned."
Ye Xingfeng spoke first. "The Xuanling Realm is, after all, a Great Realm Heaven that possesses a Fruit Position. We should find a way to capture it, not drive it away."
"Indeed."
Ye Guyue nodded as well. "I know what Uncle is worried about. You merely think that if the Xuanling Realm attacks, Jiangnan will suffer some losses—"
"Not merely some."
Before Ye Guyue could finish, True Person Demon-Sweeping turned and cut her off. "Once the Xuanling Realm invades, they will inevitably slaughter indiscriminately in order to harvest qi."
"With the Ten Thousand Man Pit as the center, across the surrounding lands, how many among those ten billion people will see their homes destroyed and their families scattered? How many wives and husbands will be torn apart?"
Ye Guyue nodded, her face full of understanding. "It would indeed take several decades for so many people to be born again after reincarnation. That is not merely some loss."
"But that is Karma they ought to bear."
"Our Sword Pavilion has raised these people for so many years. Was it not for a time like this?"
"Use them as bait, and we can capture all those Xuanling Realm cultivators alive. We could even strike back into the Xuanling Realm. The gains