Within the Main Peak Hall of the Profound Truth Sect, the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.
Cao Zhen sat upright in the great pearwood chair at the head of the hall, his aura steady as a mountain. His gaze slowly swept across the face of every disciple and senior figure present, his authority tempered by caution.
He began slowly, his voice low and steady, yet every word clear. "Not everyone in the Demon Cult possesses the same strength. Demon Cult Martial Artists' cultivation varies, with some stronger and some weaker, some higher and some lower.
"When you disperse across the region to search for their traces, you must act within your abilities. Fight if you can; if you cannot, immediately call for aid and flee. Never throw your lives away in a moment of hotheadedness just to prove yourselves."
He paused briefly, his gaze growing more solemn, then continued, "To give you a clear understanding, so that you do not face the enemy in complete ignorance, I will now distribute all the intelligence on Demon Cult Martial Artists that the Five Great Schools and every righteous force in Jintai Prefecture have jointly gathered, organized, and verified over these past few months."
"This intelligence was bought with the lives of countless scouts, stewards, and elders. It is the most complete and detailed collection we currently possess, recording the Demon Cult Martial Artists confirmed to be hiding within Jintai Prefecture, their strength classifications, methods, and danger levels."
Cao Zhen's gaze darkened as he revealed a number that made their hearts tighten. "Let me make this clear beforehand: the Demon Cult warriors whose presence we have confirmed, whose trails we have identified, and whose information we have recorded already number more than two hundred.
"And those two hundred are only a portion