Elsewhere in the Azures Continent, thousands of Cultivators were gathered after exiting a series of large portals. These were the same portals created by Tenebris' subordinate, which sent everyone that passed through to a large cave in the Hillvire Empire.
This wasn't the main headquarters for Retribution, rather just a temporary one that would allow the organization to screen each potential new member.
Once they were screened, only then would they be sent to the real location. Since they had made enemies with the Yu Royal Family, Retribution couldn't allow their headquarters to be compromised.
Among the group of prospective Retribution members was Jenny and Briar, who had still decided to go through the portal despite William's warning.
Regardless of Retribution's stance towards William, it really didn't have much to do with them. They weren't at risk of being targeted, and they weren't nearly strong enough to be tasked to go after William.
