They might have called it a quiet departure, but too many people from the various sects had gathered here. Almost everyone who could return had returned, and all were waiting for the exit to open so they could leave. Their forces had practically surrounded the hills around the exit, so Li Hongjiu and his companions were bound to attract someone's notice as they left.
Especially with Li Hongjiu's current reputation, he had already become a figure who drew attention wherever he went. Quite a few people therefore saw him leave.
Xie Wantian and Chi Anlan, the Fengluo Cult disciples mingling among the various sects, had been watching Li Hongjiu's group from time to time out of guilty unease. Naturally, they also saw his departure.
Plenty of people wondered why he was leaving at a time like this, but with the exit about to open, hardly anyone bothered to investigate despite their doubts.
Gu Liani and the others from Summer Path Mountain had also returned. They had been among the earlier arrivals, and now they frequently scanned their surroundings from the hilltop, searching and waiting.
Their targets were naturally Shi Chun and his companions. Their disciples had already searched the area and confirmed that the Bright Mountain Sect's group had not yet returned.
Since parting ways with Shi Chun's group, they had found no more divine fire. In particular, with the Extreme Fire Sect, the Golden Hall, Eastern Firmament Island, and Falling Flame Mountain hounding them, they had no chance to search in peace, so they had returned relatively early.
Little did they know that the Extreme Fire Sect's group truly had no intention of letting them go, especially with the Golden Hall and the other two groups cooperating. Yin Tianlu was still preoccupied with Shi Chun's claim that he had