"Of course. Since we're elders of the Heaven's Unity Sect now, we certainly won't let Sect Master Xia down."
"Exactly. Once we reach Central Origin Continent and find Earthblood, why worry about our cultivation failing to advance?"
"I've been stuck at Nascent Soul Perfection for a long time. I was told that after returning from this mission, I'd be given a material to help me break through. But if we obtain Earthblood, what would one mere material be worth?"
"Right! We'll cooperate fully with Elder Shana and clear out a safe path to Windmist City."
Everyone was sharper than the next, but when it came to intelligence networks, I wasn't a fool either. After seeing all those bigwigs declare their positions, I said, "Everyone, make a copy of the original map and take it back. Based on your own memories and intelligence, mark down everything you know, then compile it and submit it to me. Whoever contributes the most will receive a certain amount of merit and convenience once our Heaven's Unity Sect is safe; I'll award it according to the amount of effort contributed. Remember, you must not refer to one another's maps. Otherwise, the rewards will be divided equally."
The immortals immediately exchanged glances, but none dared defy my order. They each memorized Shana's map, with its many blank spaces, then took it back to fill in.
I had done this to keep them from paying lip service while secretly resisting, and also to test their loyalty. Who had provided more intelligence, who had contributed more to the sect, who was capable, and who was useless—all of it could be seen clearly from the markings on their maps.
Once all the maps were in my hands, I only needed to merge them, overlaying them against one another and