As the pursuit dragged on, the sects dogging them relentlessly gradually realized something was wrong.
The Thousand Rocks Sect party had been heading toward the exit at an unhurried pace when, at a gesture from Gong Shixi, they all suddenly landed and stopped.
Facing the scout who had come to report, Gong Shixi asked in startled disbelief, "They're heading for the Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground?"
He had redirected all his feelers searching for clues to the divine fires toward watching Shi Chun's group. His awareness of their situation was relatively keen, and he already knew they were in trouble.
He had been certain Shi Chun's group would sooner or later flee toward the exit to seek shelter, which was why he had been heading there.
He was going to the exit for one reason alone: once Shi Chun's group arrived, he would have ways to fan the waves and drive them into a dead end.
With divine fires tempting everyone, he believed stirring things up would be easy.
The messenger nodded. "Word came back from the third team. Based on the direction Shi Chun's group is taking and the way they're being hounded, the sect over there judged that they're very likely heading for the Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground. They're probably planning to use the dangers there to shake off their pursuers."
Gong Shixi's already sinister-looking face grew increasingly clouded and uncertain, and his two wisps of mustache twitched again and again.
After turning it over repeatedly, he decided the report was probably correct. It was certainly possible, but it had truly exceeded his expectations. He let out a short laugh. "No wonder they took first place at the Skyfall Meteor Assembly. Ruthless enough, aren't they? They turn down a way to live and would rather risk the forbidden ground. They won't