Gan Tian led the army out of the Blackstone Star Belt.
He stopped in an open stretch of the Chaos Void and turned to face the fifty Hunyuan Infinite experts behind him.
Most were elders from the former Ten Great Dao Realms. Only a handful were trusted subordinates of Liu Yuan.
The two sides stood apart, each wary of the other.
Gan Tian saw it all.
"Everyone."
Gan Tian's voice cut through the uneasy atmosphere.
All eyes turned to him.
"I trust you all understand Lord Liu Yuan's orders."
"From this point on, I have full authority over our operations."
"I expect you to put aside your differences and work together."
"If anyone obeys in public but obstructs us in secret, do not expect me to show mercy for old times' sake."
His gaze swept calmly over the elders of the former Ten Great Dao Realms. The warning in his words was unmistakable.
The elders lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
Gan Tian then looked at the people Liu Yuan had sent.
"The same goes for you, fellow cultivators. Since Lord Liu Yuan put me in charge, I expect to hear only one voice when we carry out his orders."
"Every decision I make will serve the task our senior entrusted to us."
"If you have objections, raise them now. Once we begin, I expect absolute obedience."
A Hunyuan Infinite Late Stage expert under Liu Yuan stepped forward and cupped his fists to Gan Tian.
"Lord Gan Tian, there's no need for such stern words."
"We came under orders. Naturally, we will follow your commands."
"Good."
Gan Tian nodded, reasonably satisfied with the response.
On the surface, at least, he had brought the group together for now.
"Then I'll announce the first step of the plan."
He