The four men stopped, and the other three looked at Chai Zhi.
As the Xuanwu General, Chai Zhi had no choice but to cup his hands toward Fang Yun and use Tongue Blossoms Thunder. "May I ask, Void Sage Fang, are you looking for the four of us?"
"You misunderstand, Grand Academician Chai. I'm not looking for you four. Carry on; there's no need to mind me." Fang Yun's Walking the Blue Clouds drifted leisurely toward Chai Zhi.
Chai Zhi inwardly sensed trouble. He cupped his hands, turned, and flew toward the Xuanwu Army, secretly exchanging voice transmissions with the others as he went.
"What do you think Void Sage Fang has hidden in his gourd?"
"No idea. Whatever it is, it probably isn't anything good."
"We haven't killed a single one of his Demon Barbarians before. He probably won't attack us."
The four Grand Academicians suddenly fell silent. At a time like this, something so humiliating had actually become a reason they could use to protect themselves.
After a long while, Chai Zhi said, "He has already wiped out the Demon Barbarians on three small mountains, far surpassing us. The challenge has a five-day deadline. If we can't settle this quickly, we'll inevitably lose to him, then have to apologize to those lowborn wretches of Xiang Prefecture and utterly disgrace the Qing Kingdom! Even if it costs me my life, I will never sit back and let that happen! Come, we'll follow our original plan. If he dares interfere, I'll hold him off while the rest of you slaughter the Demon Barbarians!"
"The Qing Kingdom's reputation rests on our shoulders. We must never surrender it to another!"
"I'm already prepared to use Jade-Blooded Loyalty!"
The four Grand Academicians flew above the Xuanwu Army and met with the fifth Grand