After meeting up with Huang'er using their prearranged signal, the two of them were in no hurry to join any particular group. They had discovered that such groups were far too numerous in Taia City.
If not ten thousand, then at least three to five thousand.
"Money can make even ghosts push the millstone — that saying really is no lie." Jiang Chen marveled quietly, though he knew perfectly well that these so-called loose cultivators posed no real threat to him whatsoever.
But the fact that a single bounty notice could spark such a frenzy still made him sigh inwardly. Men die for wealth; birds die for food.
Resources in the world of martial cultivation were scarce, and that problem was felt even more acutely by loose cultivators. So whenever a major sect or a great empire issued a bounty notice, it inevitably whipped the Divine Abyss Continent into a frenzy.
This time was no exception.
There were only about ten days left before the rumored public execution of Palace Master Danchi.
Though anxiety gnawed at Jiang Chen, he couldn't exactly go around asking questions everywhere.
And while loose cultivators were numerous and talkative, the information and intelligence they could offer was mostly hearsay — speculation without any real practical value.
To avoid drawing attention, Jiang Chen and Huang'er joined a loose cultivator squad.
Before they joined, the squad had only eight members. Its leader was a brawny middle-aged man named Ke Ding, a third-stage Saint Realm powerhouse who hailed from the Upper Eight Domains, or so it was said.
"Brothers, with so many squads out there, it's rare that you chose to join mine. I won't give you any flowery speeches — but if we do manage to claim that bounty, I won't let you two go unrewarded."
Ke Ding laughed heartily, projecting an air of unshakeable camaraderie.
But Jiang Chen didn't put much stock in such declarations. People willing to risk their lives for a bounty — the idea that they had any real moral bottom line was something Jiang Chen simply couldn't believe.
"Boss Ke, we trust you completely," the other loose cultivators echoed in agreement.
Jiang Chen also smiled and said, "Boss Ke, your strength is truly formidable — my brother and I both admire that greatly. Oh, and Boss Ke, there are so many squads out here. Do we have any kind of plan?"
"Yeah, boss — so many squads. If we don't have a plan and end up stumbling around like the rest of them, how are we ever going to land any of the rewards?"
Ke Ding chuckled. "No real plan just yet. We'll play it by ear and see how things develop."
As they were speaking, a wave of noisy clamor suddenly erupted from the outer perimeter.
"All loose cultivator squads, listen up! Have your squad leaders step forward immediately for inspection!"
Inspection?
There were at least several tens of thousands of loose cultivators present, forming a vast multitude of squads. When they heard that domineering voice, a wave of boos swept through the crowd.
Clearly, being subjected to an interrogation was an utter humiliation for loose cultivators.
"Silence!"
A voice like a peal of thunder rang out from the void, and a powerful Imperial Realm pressure spread across the entire plaza in an instant.
Tens of thousands of loose cultivators, crushed beneath that Imperial Realm pressure, fell utterly silent. It was as though the area had been cleared in a heartbeat — not a single sound could be heard.
An Imperial Realm powerhouse!
Moreover, this was clearly no ordinary early-stage Imperial Realm cultivator. At the very least, this was a mid-stage Imperial Realm expert — fourth stage at minimum, and possibly as high as the sixth stage.
Along the outer edges, row upon row of sect disciples in standardized uniforms had sealed off the entire perimeter of the plaza.
These sect disciples included a contingent from the Imperishable Celestial Capital, along with large numbers from the Red Cauldron Central Domain.
Though this was technically the territory of the Sword Field Central Domain, the latter clearly had an excellent relationship with the Imperishable Celestial Capital. Not only had they placed no restrictions on the movements of the Imperishable Celestial Capital and the various sects of the Red Cauldron Central Domain, but they had even dispatched considerable forces to lend support.
In an instant, the atmosphere on the scene grew far more heavy and tense.
The leaders of those loose cultivator squads, though deeply unhappy about it, still made their way to the front one by one to submit to the questioning and inspection.
Jiang Chen and Huang'er stood within their squad. Facing such a massive operation, they showed not a trace of fear.
With tens of thousands of loose cultivators milling about, an inspection like this was hardly going to uncover anything useful. And they had nothing to worry about on their own account.
After a short while, Ke Ding returned from the front, trailed by several Imperishable Celestial Capital disciples behind him.
Ke Ding pointed at Jiang Chen and Huang'er. "Sorry, brothers. The Imperishable Celestial Capital people say that anyone who shows up in a pair must be interrogated. I'm sorry, but our squad can't keep you."
Just moments ago, Ke Ding had been projecting brotherly loyalty — but now he flipped his face faster than a turning page, practically eager to see Jiang Chen and his companion gone, like they were the plague itself.
"Step forward." The leading Imperishable Celestial Capital disciple sized up Jiang Chen and Huang'er.
Killing intent surged darkly within Jiang Chen, but he forced it down and walked out of the squad, casting a flat, indifferent glance at Ke Ding without saying a word.
Fortunately, there were quite a few loose cultivators who had come in pairs. Pairs were being pulled out one by one — over a thousand people in total.
These thousand-odd individuals were herded together into a group.
"Dharma King Gong, they're mostly all here now." A person in charge from the Imperishable Celestial Capital addressed Gong Wuji before him with utmost respect.
After more than half a year, Jiang Chen once again laid eyes on Gong Wuji. The man's killing intent was even more potent than before — clearly, the death of Gong Qi was something he still hadn't come to terms with.
"Take them away."
Gong Wuji wasted no breath. With a single wave of his hand, he issued the command.
The loose cultivators erupted.
"On what grounds?!"
"We're all loose cultivators — what grudge do we have against your Imperishable Celestial Capital?! On what grounds are you taking us away?!"