While Xu Yuan was discussing matters with the Overseer...
At the same time...
On the other side of the city...
In an abandoned underground Air-Raid Shelter...
The All Things Unity Society.
A group of black-clad Cultivators stood before a massive Summoning Array.
"Begin!"
At the command, the Commanders formed seals and cast their spells together.
Black mist surged up from underground and spread in every direction.
As the Mystic Arts took effect...
The mist gathered into Runes that danced in midair, twisting into shape and gradually giving off powerful waves of energy.
The Long-Distance Spirit-Summoning Array, which surpassed ordinary Mystic Arts, was about to activate!
"Wait."
A figure stepped out of a nearby Teleportation Array and appeared before them.
Bai Yuanze.
"Don't do it," he said gravely.
The Cultivators exchanged troubled looks.
"Commander Bai, the President gave this order personally. We can't disobey the order."
An old man stepped forward as he spoke.
"This is an internal matter. There's no need to go this far. Besides, an attack like this won't kill him. He'll come and kill every one of you," Bai Yuanze said. No one believed him.
They had gone to great lengths to bring this Summoning Array out of the Ninefold Nether. Its pieces had been carried inside the bodies of many Cultivators, and extracting them alone had taken considerable effort. It came from an Old God and was powerful enough to kill any human.
"I'm sorry, Commander Bai, but this is the President's order. We can't disobey... Here's the Command Token."
The old man's voice was stiff.
He took out a Command Token, waved it before Bai Yuanze's eyes, then motioned for the ritual to continue.
Pain crossed Bai Yuanze's face.
If anyone could be sacrificed, then whatever this organization ultimately achieved would have nothing to do