“Everyone, the purpose of gathering you all here is something you should already understand. We are heading to Cold Demon Ridge to eradicate the Blood Sect and wipe out these evil heretics.”
The red-robed elder spoke, his gaze sweeping across the crowd as he silently assessed the numbers. “For this expedition, only those with cultivation at the third-level Martial Emperor realm or above may enter the teleportation array. Those below the third-level Martial Emperor realm, please withdraw.”
As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of uproar rose.
This time, Tianji Holy Land had clearly not specified the exact cultivation requirement. Many present, even high-tier Martial Lords, had joined in.
Now, with Tianji Holy Land restricting it to third-level Martial Emperors and above, the Martial Lords and first or second-level Martial Emperors who had slipped in were all deeply dissatisfied.
Yet no matter how unhappy they were with Tianji Holy Land, they could only swallow it.
After all, the teleportation array was under their control, and their strength far outmatched everyone else’s. They could choose however they wished.
After one wave withdrew, nearly two or three thousand people remained on the square.
Even Lin Xiao was surprised. Tianji Holy Land’s rallying power was simply too great. In a single call, they had gathered two or three thousand Martial Emperor experts.
This force was nothing short of immense.
Of course, they were not all young people. Most were middle-aged or elderly.
It was perfectly normal for older cultivators to possess third-level Martial Emperor cultivation or higher.
Among them, high-tier Martial Emperors were the fewest in number. The lower the cultivation, the more people there were.
Lin Xiao even sensed several semi-Martial Saints concealed in the crowd.
This group heading to Cold Demon Ridge truly did not lack experts.
“Killing Blood Sect members means their storage rings belong to whoever slays them. Additionally, for every Blood Sect expert of a corresponding grade, Tianji Holy Land will reward a pill of the matching grade. For example, whoever kills a mid-tier Martial Emperor will receive a mid seventh-grade pill. Whoever kills a high-tier Martial Emperor will receive a high seventh-grade pill, and so on.”
The red-robed elder continued.
Hearing this, even Lin Xiao was inwardly shocked. Killing an expert of a certain strength earned a pill of the corresponding grade. Tianji Holy Land’s rewards were extraordinarily generous.
With two or three thousand people here, if everyone killed Blood Sect Martial Emperors, would that not mean handing out two or three thousand pills, or even more?
Yet after a moment’s thought, Lin Xiao shook his head inwardly.
The Blood Sect certainly did not have that many members. It was impossible for everyone to kill one, or for anyone to slaughter large numbers.
If the Blood Sect had only a few hundred people, even if all were killed by this group, Tianji Holy Land could still afford the rewards.
Moreover, if it were truly that easy, Tianji Holy Land would not need to recruit outsiders. They could simply sweep the sect themselves.
Going to destroy the Blood Sect would undoubtedly bring casualties. With such varied strength among these people, the death toll would likely be considerable.
Furthermore, if Tianji Holy Land truly dispatched a Martial Saint, the role of these people would mostly be chasing down any Blood Sect stragglers who escaped. The main force would rest with the Martial Saint.
Of course, for individuals, the rewards were not overly lavish. Simply taking the storage rings from slain Blood Sect members would probably yield far more than Tianji Holy Land’s pills.
Beyond that, there was the chance for training and other gains.
That was why so many had come.
“Tianji Holy Land will form twenty teams, each led by a high-tier Martial Emperor. You must follow the guidance of our elders. Opportunities will depend on your own abilities. The number of Blood Sect members you kill will be recorded by the team leaders and disciples.”
The red-robed elder announced loudly, “If your contributions are great, or your potential is outstanding, Tianji Holy Land will make heavy use of you.”
These words stirred the crowd once more. Being led by Tianji Holy Land elders raised no objections.
On the contrary, having experts in charge would make them safer.
Of course, with so many people, it was impossible to divide everyone strictly into twenty teams of over a hundred each and send them hunting in such large groups.
Later, each team would likely split further into smaller units.
What many valued most was the elder’s final remark: heavy use by Tianji Holy Land.
Once favoured by Tianji Holy Land, not only the individual but their entire faction would rise with the tide.
Naturally, Lin Xiao cared nothing for these rewards from Tianji Holy Land.
What he did not know was that those heading to Cold Demon Ridge were not drawn solely by such incentives. These rewards alone could not attract so many, especially the high-tier Martial Emperors and semi-Martial Saints.
“Now, everyone follow me to the teleportation array.”
At that moment, the red-robed elder turned and flew towards one part of the city.
The crowd followed closely. Lin Xiao flew along with them.
In a short time, they arrived before a vast compound. The red-robed elder led the group straight in, descending onto the central area surrounded by tall buildings.
The space here spanned two thousand zhang, dozens of times larger than the city centre square.
At its heart stood a platform a thousand zhang across, forged from special materials and etched with dense array patterns.
Above these patterns already stood seventy or eighty Tianji Holy Land elders and disciples.
As the large group arrived, many of these Tianji Holy Land members, especially the younger disciples, wore thick disdain on their faces.
Among the seventy or eighty, Lin Xiao spotted several somewhat familiar faces.
They were youths who had gone to Spirit Pool Island. Though he had not fought them directly, they had been in the same team as Mu Feng, the near-saint genius he had defeated. Their talent was surely no less impressive.
Most importantly, if he revealed his true appearance or used certain techniques, those few would recognise him instantly.
He had once defeated Mu Feng. Tianji Holy Land disciples, to greater or lesser degrees, would certainly hold grudges against him.
A Tianji Holy Land Martial Saint elder might even attack him directly.
If it were merely a first-level Martial Saint, he had nothing to fear. What worried him was a second-level Martial Saint, though the chance of Tianji Holy Land sending one directly was slim.
After all, a second-level Martial Saint was on the level of the Ji family great elder.
Even against a second-level Martial Saint, Lin Xiao was confident he could escape.
However, until he gained the trust of the Heaven-Swallowing Spirit Emperor, he did not wish to expose his identity prematurely and draw attention from the Ji family great elder or other Martial Saints.
“Everyone, if you are certain, enter the teleportation array.”
The voice of the Tianji Holy Land elder rang out.
The crowd exchanged glances, some hesitating. Tianji Holy Land had said a Martial Saint elder would come.
Where was he? Could they have been tricked?
Or was he hidden among them?
