Wuchen stepped through the Stone Gate and stood on the White Jade Steps.
The afternoon sunlight fell on him, yet brought not a trace of warmth to the people in the Square.
Dozens of people were still gathered below.
They were all leaders of small and medium-sized factions with meager reserves, clutching Storage Bags they had scraped together and staring anxiously at the Stone Gate that had just closed.
Many of them were already giving off a foul stench, with black, murky fluid dripping from the hems of their clothes.
Wuchen cleared his throat.
"Everyone." His voice, amplified by spiritual power, carried across the entire Square. "My young master has a message for you."
The Square instantly fell silent. Everyone unconsciously squeezed forward, afraid of missing even half a word.
"The first batch of treatment slots is full." Wuchen repeated Zhou Xuan's exact words without expression. "If you want to live, bring out your true reserves in exchange."
After those words fell, the Square remained silent for three full breaths.
Then the crowd erupted.
"Full? What do you mean, full?"
An old man in gray robes lunged two steps forward, the muscles in his face twisting with agitation.
"We've waited in line for three days and nights! We've brought everything our sect could spare! And now you tell us you're full?"
"True reserves? What more do you want?"
A middle-aged female cultivator beside him spoke in a shrill voice, her eyes red as she clutched her Storage Bag in a death grip.
"We even handed over our Patriarch's Life-Bound Treasure, and that still isn't enough? You're driving us to our deaths!"
"Bloodsuckers! You're looting a burning house!"
"Bring Zhou Xuan out! We demand an explanation!"
Despair spread rapidly through the crowd.
Some collapsed to the ground and wept bitterly, while