In mid-autumn, seven outlaws at or above the Condensing the Core Stage swore brotherhood on the Luo River, calling themselves the Seven Saints. They attempted to break into the Black Tower, rescue its imprisoned criminals, and throw the Jing'an Directorate into turmoil, seeking to make their names known throughout the world.
In the end, the Jing'an Directorate won an overwhelming victory. With Imperial Uncle Cao, the tower-guarding heavenly king, absent, they remained fearless in the face of danger, organized their response methodically, calmly assembled their grand formation, and fought effectively. Before the Great Grandmaster even returned, they had successfully killed one attacker and captured another alive.
Most notably, the man they killed had actually been slain with a single sword stroke by a Black Sash serving as the formation's pivot, using nothing more than the most basic Four Symbols Grand Formation. It was a thoroughly satisfying victory.
Bai Yousi, the heaven-reaching longsword ranked second on the Outstanding Talent Ranking, had not lost any of her imposing presence either. In this battle, she cut off the left hand of an expert at her own level, then captured another, displaying her might on every side.
But ultimately, what left the deepest impression on everyone was the Great Grandmaster's absolute dominance. Four Condensing the Core experts, one of whom might possibly have already achieved Core Formation, proved utterly powerless before the enraged Great Grandmaster and surrendered without resistance.
Among them, Lone Traveler Zhou Wuji, ranked fifth on the Black Ranking, was cut in half at the waist and died on the spot.
Of seven top-level experts capable of rampaging across the world, only the Reckless Vajra, a follower of Southern Emperor Guan Qi, saw which way the wind was blowing. He chopped off a corner of the Black Tower upon arrival, then fled