The cultivators in each squad clustered into smaller groups, with those from the same sect almost invariably sticking together.
For one thing, they knew one another's cultivation methods and temperaments best, so working together allowed them to unleash their greatest strength.
For another, when life and death hung in the balance, they trusted only their own fellow disciples.
Ding Yushan was seasoned in handling affairs, and his cultivation was impressive as well. Though he had only just reached the great perfection of foundation establishment, his foundation was exceptionally solid. Moreover, with so many gathering points, few false-core cultivators had come to Heavensoaring Sect in the first place. After a round of fierce competition, he actually secured a place among the squad leaders.
Besides commanding their squads in the field, each leader carried a ten-thousand-mile voice transmission talisman. This talisman was the entire squad's last means of saving their lives.
When Ding Yushan first received this transmission talisman, every member under him looked on with envy, especially the leading disciples from the other two sects. But they knew they were no match for him and could only give up resentfully.
The other two sects in Ding Yushan's squad were Spirit Transformation Sect, with three members, and Nine Palaces Mountain, with four. Together with the three from Ding Yushan's own sect, they formed a squad of exactly ten.
Spirit Transformation Sect specialized in talismans, while Nine Palaces Mountain excelled in formations.
Next, Ding Yushan and the others learned what their missions involved: either monitoring a particular sect or following a certain person. Naturally, these assignments had to suit their cultivation levels. Sending them to follow a false-core or Golden Core Realm cultivator would only expose them—or amount to suicide.
Afterward, Heavensoaring Sect's five Golden Core Realm elders separately informed them that the