The martial artists below had faintly divided into four groups, with the three great Lineages and their affiliated forces each occupying one.
The last group consisted of the Martial Academy's teachers and students, elders, and independent martial artists from the city who had come upon hearing the news.
Most of them bore grudges against the mountain bandits. A small number were opportunists, hoping to profit from this bandit-suppression campaign.
Liu Wangzhou and Shi Xiuyan stood to one side. Besides them, Elder Lu and Li Qinwu were also there.
Lan Yi continued, "Leave no mountain bandit alive!"
After speaking, he paused for a breath, his gaze sweeping over the thousand people below before he waved broadly toward the depths of Azure Radiance Mountain.
"Set out!"
At his command, the crowd filed out in a steady stream and advanced into the depths of Azure Radiance Mountain.
At the foot of Azure Radiance Peak, outside the underground palace.
Hei Kui bowed slightly and cupped his hands toward the Black-robed Man before him. "Lord Feng, the martial artists of Verdant Grain County are pouring out in a stream. How should we respond?"
A trace of panic colored Hei Kui's respectful voice, unlike the arrogance he usually displayed when speaking with Xue Ren.
Feng Chang turned around—it was the Black-robed Man from the underground palace.
His eyes held a smile as he said unhurriedly,
"I want them to come. If they didn't, wouldn't I have let those three Qi-Blood Realm martial artists escape for nothing?"
"But... but we can't hold off so many people. My men report that Verdant Grain County has sent over a thousand."
"Almost all of them are elites. There isn't a single martial artist below Flesh Tempering."
Feng Chang's gaze slanted slightly as he cast Hei Kui a sidelong look.