Su Ming looked at Qingyunzi kneeling on the ground, his tone level.
"Neglect of duty should warrant severe punishment."
"But we need every capable hand right now, so your punishment will be to redeem yourself through service. Take your men immediately and clear out the remaining heretical cultivator outposts around Falling Wind Valley. Strengthen the border patrols. If anything goes wrong again, you will answer for both offenses."
Joy surged through Qingyunzi, and he hurriedly kowtowed.
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Alliance Leader! I will redeem myself through service and never betray your trust!"
He had expected to be stripped of his position as elder at the very least. Instead, he had merely been ordered to make amends through service. Naturally, he was moved to tears of gratitude.
Su Ming waved a hand, motioning for him to rise.
"Enough. Now, down to business."
He pointed at the map and secret letter on the table.
"Take a look for yourselves."
Xuanyuan Tian Ji hurriedly handed the letter and map to the three elders.
They quickly gathered around to read them.
The more they read, the graver their expressions became.
By the time they finished, all three sucked in a cold breath.
Three sub-altars conducting sacrifices simultaneously, summoning Nether Generals, and coordinating attacks from within and without.
Any one of these things could plunge the allied army into eternal damnation.
"That was close... far too close..."
Elder Bai Xuan muttered to himself, a chill running down his back.
The Eastern Sub-Altar lay right on the edge of the Qingqiu Defense Zone, yet he had noticed nothing.
If the Black Baleful Church launched an attack from the east, the Qingqiu Defense Zone would bear the brunt of it. There was no way it could withstand a Nether General's assault.
Elder Blood Vigor's expression