The inspection of the Star Dou Great Forest continued for two days.
Of the 314 people on the Soul Hunting expedition, 196 laid down their weapons after seeing the three withdrawal orders. Seventy-three had helped maintain the Beast-Locking Stakes, while the rest followed Gu Changye in resisting. Eleven died in the fighting and more than forty were injured. No one who surrendered was executed.
All twelve heavy wagons were opened, and the Soul Beasts still alive inside were released back into the forest one by one. Xiao Wu took away those with lighter injuries. Those unable to move on their own remained by the lake for the time being, where Tang San and Oscar treated their wounds. Several healing-type Soul Masters who had surrendered voluntarily were allowed to help. The Soul Power Shackles on their wrists were not removed, but they could at least perform basic first aid to stop the bleeding.
Er Ming smashed the last wagon fitted with Blood Troughs into scraps of iron. He had wanted to throw the empty wagon into the lake as well, but Da Ming stopped him. He had to pile the scraps on the shore instead and wait for Spirit Hall's Enforcement Team to take them away. The dark-red droplets collected by the Mystic Origin Vast Sea Bottle were sealed in three layers of jade boxes and entrusted to Yuan Yu for safekeeping, lest the Rakshasa Corruption seep into the forest again.
Tang San had Bai He mark every position on the battlefield on a map. They recorded who had maintained each Beast-Locking Stake, which groups had kept attacking after the withdrawal orders, and separate accounts from the surrendering hunters and the Enforcement Team Soul Masters. If anyone later recanted, there would at least be traces at the scene to check against