Wariness

Lifeless bodies lay down over the surface, painting the ground red with blood as a raw stench emanated around the area.

"Hmph! Trash like these are supposed to enjoy the benefits of joining our Alliance? They sure do know how to dream..." The sharp-eyed Outer Hall Elder spat out in a cold tone.

His clothes were drenched in blood after he personally and cruelly executed these Fifth Stage experts when refused to obey his command.

"What a waste of resources... At least, they were useful for quenching our anger." Another Sixth Stage expert sneered as he cruelly laughed.

He clothing looked like it belonged to the Alstreim Family.

Ruthless and unreasonable! This was how the world works here despite the claim of Claire on how beautiful it was.

Compared to the Grand Sea Continent which has partly stabilized by reaching consensus, this world was still battling for supremacy which none had been able to take for themselves.

There were too many top powers, which in turn encouraged the cultivators here to scheme and plunder to enrich their own authority and wealth, even at the prospect of death.

Here, reputation was like a drug. They get drunk on it so much that they even sacrifice their own families to maintain their reputation; face.

People serve their masters with utmost loyalty! Just so that they don't get abandoned later on in their life. They wag their tails better than dogs to enrich their lives and won't hesitate to do their master's bidding!

This was a dog eat dog world! People were afraid to trust, cautious of each other, wary of everything, suck up to their superiors and maintain status quo with their acknowledged equals.

This was quite true in the Grand Sea Continent as well, but it was not quite as rampant as this world.

"I wonder if those ten guards managed to kill some of our enemies. They are pretty strong at their level if you consider their prowess." The Outer Hall Elder said as he touched his chin.

"Tch! Those ten guards clearly knew that they were going to be harshly treated when we return to the Tripartite Alliance even though it isn't their fault. So they cleverly planned and acted as if they went to sacrifice themselves! Only to return later on and tell the higher-ups that they did their best. If you don't believe me, then watch the entrance. The truth should be revealed then..." A blue-robed woman spoke as if she knew it all.

She looked innocent when she curved her lips with a smile on her face.

The other two's face twitched as they looked at her seductive silhouette. They so much wanted to have her but knew that appearances were quite deceptive.

It was especially clear in this woman's case who was known for her viciousness in dealing with men. It was rumoured that she ruthlessly dealt with men when battling, such as dealing them a generation shattering blow.

"Haha, if Outer Sect Elder speaks so, then it might be the case..." The two of them nodded and replied.

They didn't want to offend a person of equal status for no reason either, especially after they knew that this woman was favoured by an Inner Sect Elder.

Suddenly, the distorted space flickered, causing their eyes to narrow.

"Ahhh! Help me!" A miserable silhouette, drenched in blood ran towards them with a frightened face.

Their faces changed as they quickly asked, "What happened?!"

They could recognize him as one of the 180 Fifth Stage Experts they sent in the first wave.

The miserably injured man slightly rejoiced when the distorted space behind him flickered again.

A figure quickly shot towards him as the energy around the figure turned unstable.

"Not good!' This kind of feeling erupted in those three elders minds, causing them to back out subconsciously.

*Boom!*

The figure who rushed out exploded into hundreds of bloody chunks as the explosion levelled the whole area but didn't manage to leave a dent on the spatial tunnel.

The three elders had a look of utter confusion gleaming in their eyes.

The two of them looked at the woman and asked with a strange expression on their faces, "As you said, a guard really did appear, but why did he self-destruct?"

The woman had an equal look of confusion written all over her face, "How should I know?!"

The three of them were visibly confused and they could see the looks of each other, increasing their doubts about this event.

The three then secretly looked at each other suspiciously.

They couldn't tell who orchestrated this farce, but they absolutely couldn't see the motive to do so.

'Could it be the guards went berserk and chose to self-destruct on us as an act of revenge instead of self-destructing at those enemies?'

They couldn't help but think that way since they couldn't realise the motive of the orchestrator.

The three went silent, warily looking around trying to gauge each other, but the atmosphere just kept getting worse.

"Say, let's report to the higher-ups..." The blue-robed woman said as she dispelled the hostility gathering around them.

"Lets's do that..." The other two elder nodded their heads in agreement.

Although all three of them belonged to the Tripartite Alliance, they were of different groups after all.

So, fights to the death were quite common unless one is found out of their transgressions.

Still looking warily at each other, they sent word through the jade stone to their respective seniors and waited for further instructions.

They fiddled with the jade stone after some time and spoke some words unto it a few minutes later.

They looked at each other, slightly nervous, "Did you guys get called to the headquarters?"

The other two nodded their head slowly, indicating that they received the same instructions.

"Well, let's just hope that they'll let us go with light punishments..." The blue-clothed lady smiled.

The other two cursed as they knew that she had the favour of an Inner Sect Elder.