"Spirit Venerable Xiao sent you two here. Did you think it was truly as simple as delivering a message?"
"Since he was willing to send you, at a time like this no less, and even gave you the authority to represent Heavenly Abyss Pass, that was the price of having me, Qing Chen, lend my aid."
Tie Ming and Wei Ting paled.
Qing Chen's words tore through the paper covering the window they had been unwilling to peer through.
What sort of man was Xiao Canglan?
His calculations left nothing unaccounted for; he dominated two circuits and held Wu Gui in check.
His decision had placed two "living command tokens" representing Heavenly Abyss Pass into Qing Chen's hands, to use as he pleased.
If the worst truly happened, he need only make scapegoats of these two.
He could say they had falsely conveyed Heavenly Abyss Pass's orders and execute them.
"But..." Tie Ming still wanted to argue.
He belonged to the Iron Household, a True Lord of its direct line. Would Xiao Canglan truly dare?
But Qing Chen had already turned back around, cutting him off.
"There are no buts. The game has begun, and once a piece is placed, there is no taking it back. Since you two have entered the game, settle down and watch. I guarantee you will see the ending."
With that, he ignored the two unsettled men behind him and instructed Jia Daoyi beside him, "Pass down my orders. The fleet is to maintain speed and formation. All cultivators under the Battle Hall are to focus and prepare for battle. No one is to act without my command."
"As you command, Sect Leader!" Jia Daoyi answered solemnly and swiftly relayed the orders.
He cared nothing about the Vajra Zen Sect or the world descending into