Three miles from the mountain, the forces of the three sects approached. They halted together, forming a barrier around the mountain while observing from a distance.
The tall scholar, Dian Qingchun, head of Jianchun Academy of the Confucian Sect, held a feather fan, his hair dancing with the wind. Behind him, several middle-aged men voiced their concerns.
"Headmaster, should we trust Zhang Youji from the True Path Sect? If we ignore this blood sea, who can predict the Sacred Heart Sect's actions?" They were wary of the blood beasts, which mirrored the eight royal clans in both appearance and aura, making them formidable on the battlefield.
An elder, who commanded respect from the group, suggested, "We should join forces to fight our shared enemy, the Sacred Heart Sect."
