Master Pure Land's gentle voice soothed everyone's panicked hearts like a clear spring.
The surrounding martial artists gradually quieted down. Some bowed their heads in silent mourning, while others wiped the tears from their faces.
The dead martial artists had all been their companions.
Watching Master Pure Land's actions, one martial artist gazed at him with admiration and sighed.
"Master Pure Land isn't just powerful. He truly has a compassionate heart."
Another martial artist agreed, his voice carrying lingering fear.
"If the master and Hero Jiang Tianye hadn't been here, all of us would probably have died at the hands of those white-robed men."
He recited the Rebirth Mantra three full times.
Only then did Master Pure Land open his eyes. His gaze swept over the surviving martial artists, and he spoke slowly.
"Benefactors, the white-robed men have been eliminated, but this was only the first trial. The road ahead is unknown, and there may be more dangers. This old monk would like to ask: do you still wish to proceed?"
As his words fell, the hall sank into a brief silence. Some lowered their heads to look at the corpses on the ground, hesitation in their eyes.
Others touched the weapons at their waists, their gazes still burning.
Before long, a Mortal Transformation Realm martial artist who had lost an arm spoke first.
"Master, I'm not leaving. I've come this far. Even if I die, I want to see what Martial Saint Azure Cloud's martial arts manuals look like."
Another martial artist immediately chimed in, greed glittering in his eyes.
"That's right. So many people have died here. We can't let our brothers die for nothing."
"I'm not leaving either. As long as I can get a martial arts manual, what's a little danger?"
To Su Fei's surprise, of