Gantian led the army out of the Blackstone Star Belt.
He stopped in an open stretch of the Chaos Void, turned, and faced the fifty Hunyuan Wuji experts behind him.
Most of them had been elders of the Ten Great Dao Realms. Only a handful were Liu Yuan's trusted subordinates.
The two sides stood apart as clearly as two distinct rivers, each regarding the other with a trace of wariness.
Gantian took it all in.
"Everyone."
Gantian's voice broke the somewhat delicate atmosphere.
Every gaze turned toward him.
"I trust you all understand Lord Liu Yuan's orders."
"I will have full authority over the coming operation."
"I hope everyone can set aside past grievances and work together."
"If anyone pays lip service while defying my orders, or secretly obstructs us, do not blame me for disregarding old ties."
His calm gaze swept across the faces of the former elders of the Ten Great Dao Realms, one by one. The warning in his words needed no explanation.
The elders lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
Then Gantian turned his gaze toward the men Liu Yuan had sent.
"The same applies to you, fellow Daoists. Since Lord Liu Yuan has placed me in charge, I hope there will not be two conflicting voices when we carry out our orders."
"Every decision I make is intended to accomplish the task Senior entrusted to us."
"If you have objections, raise them now. Once the operation begins, I require absolute obedience."
A late Hunyuan Wuji expert under Liu Yuan stepped forward and cupped his fist toward Gantian.
"Lord Gantian, you need not put it so gravely."
"We were ordered to come here, and naturally we will follow your commands."
"Good."
Gantian nodded, reasonably satisfied with the result.
At least on the surface,