It was neither a sneer nor a mocking laugh, just a soft chuckle from the heart, as though he genuinely found it amusing.
"You're right."
Zhou Xuan nodded, his tone as casual as if he were chatting with someone in a teahouse.
"This illness is nothing urgent."
The smile on Mu Qingyun's face stiffened.
Zhou Xuan turned toward Wuchen and tipped his chin at the crowd in the plaza.
"Since it's nothing urgent, let's not waste time here. Please head back, everyone. Take your time studying it."
The air in the plaza froze for a moment.
Then everyone was stunned at once.
Mu Qingyun's smile froze completely on his face.
Qiu Xie's mouth hung open, but not a single word came out.
The sect masters who had been backing away, making a show of being ready to leave at any moment, all found their feet nailed to the spot.
Wait.
That wasn't right.
This wasn't how the script went.
They had imagined all sorts of outcomes.
Zhou Xuan flying into a humiliated rage, Zhou Xuan arguing his case, Zhou Xuan bargaining, even Zhou Xuan threatening them with outright force.
This was the one outcome they had never considered.
He really was telling them to leave.
"Zhao Tu." Zhou Xuan's voice was quiet.
A tall figure strode out from the side of the plaza.
Zhao Tu had changed into black armor. His face was expressionless, and more than twenty elite Cultivators of the Supreme Force Immortal Vein followed behind him, each wearing a saber.
"Clear the plaza."
Zhou Xuan delivered the order.
Zhao Tu cupped his fist, then turned and walked toward the crowd in the plaza.
He neither channeled his mana nor issued any threats. He simply led his men straight toward them.
The Extreme Firmament Cultivators spread out on