The five Earth-Bearing Sect cultivators who crossed Two-Worlds Pass into the five commanderies were led by Zhou Meng, a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator. Of the other four, two were at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and two at Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
Why had they not sent anyone at Foundation Establishment Perfection? Cultivators at that level generally stayed within the sect, cultivating in seclusion and rarely venturing out. Otherwise, like Lu Xiu, they held command over a region and its armies, facing off against the Gilded Metal Sect at Two-Worlds Pass.
Though Zhou Meng was only at Foundation Establishment Late Stage, he was renowned within the sect for his ferocity in battle. His combat strength was no weaker than that of a cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection. With him overseeing the Blood Sacrifice and four Foundation Establishment cultivators at his side, few in the five commanderies could stop them—unless the Gilded Metal Sect decided to "intervene and slay the demons."
"Senior Brother Zhou, shall we go to Anhe Commandery or Hanzhang Commandery first?" asked a cultivator shrouded head to toe in a gray robe.
Anhe Commandery and Hanzhang Commandery both bordered Two-Worlds Pass, so either was easy to reach.
Zhou Meng stood in the pouring rain and pondered for a moment. "Hanzhang Commandery first. We'll conduct a Blood Sacrifice in the Rongmu Lin Clan's territory and see if we can force that old fossil Lin Jinhe out."
Under the agreement between the two sects, this operation was not only for the Blood Sacrifice. They also had to help the Gilded Metal Sect probe the strength of the immortal clans under its rule. Wei Liang had already given them a list of targets, with the Rongmu Lin Clan at the top.
The Lin Clan's ancestor, Lin Jinhe, had reached Foundation Establishment