Casualties

Before leaving, the register handed to him contained 1,836 names; now, 532 had died or gone missing.

Not counting the wounded, the casualty rate was nearing one-third.

Five hundred people?

Compared to all the beings in this place, it was just a drop in the bucket.

Compared to the total number of people who died on the battlefield today, it was also hardly worth mentioning.

But for the Wendao Sword Sect, five hundred people represented the sum total of new disciples recruited over nearly twenty years.

Such a high casualty rate was likely the highest in thousands of years, second only to the battle at the Demon Suppression Abyss.

And this was the loss from less than half a day.

It was unimaginable.

If Xu Xian had not charged through the fray six times, one could only wonder how many more would have died.

It was no wonder everyone’s expressions were so grim.

Xu Xian lowered his gaze and remained silent, but the blood-stained paper in his hand inadvertently began to crinkle.

The casualties...

They were too high.

Even though he knew in his heart that this was the price that had to be paid for competition.

Yao Xiaoxiao comforted him softly, "Little Grand-Uncle, it is actually quite good already; if it weren't for you, I'm afraid not even half of those standing here would be alive."

The others also began to offer their comfort.

"That's right, without you, Little Grand-Uncle, I'm afraid not a single person from my platform would have survived."

"No one expected the opportunity of the Emperor's Tomb to be such a bloody slaughter."

"Who could have known... sigh..."

Bitterness, helplessness, resentment, and anger churned within their minds, their gazes reflecting far more than just complexity.

The Wendao Sword Sect was simply too eye-catching in Fanzhou.

The humans of the Central Plains.

The demons of the North Sea.

The beasts of the East Desolation.

The demons of the Demon Abyss.

There were also the spirits scattered throughout Fanzhou and even the Twelve Immortal Demon Caves, all of whom had tangled grudges with the Wendao Sword Sect.

Previously, they didn't dare move in Fanzhou, especially after the campaign in the East Desolation when the world suddenly went quiet, but that didn't mean the hatred had vanished.

They were simply afraid.

Now, within the Unordered Lands of the Emperor's Tomb, they had encountered such a trial of slaughter, and those people could not possibly pass up such an opportunity.

They had naturally risen up to attack in groups.

The disciples of the Wendao Sword Sect had lost their cultivation and faced enemies several times their number in such an environment.

The severity of the situation was obvious.

Had it not been for their own strength and Xu Xian's timely arrival, it would have been perfectly reasonable for some platforms to have been completely wiped out.

The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be blown down by the wind; it was a simple, clear truth.

Xu Xian folded the paper, silently memorizing the number 532.

He then handed the paper back to Lin Qianqian.

"Keep it safe."

"Okay," Lin Qianqian nodded obediently.

Xu Xian took a swig of wine and instructed the group, "From now on, no one is allowed to enter or leave this cave until the Emperor's Tomb opens in ten days."

His voice was slow and soft, yet it carried an unquestionable certainty.

This was not a discussion.

It was an announcement.

Some expressed understanding, but others did not.

One person asked, "Then what about the Great Emperor's inheritance? Are we not going to fight for it?"

Many eyes turned toward him.

They had come here specifically to fight for the opportunities within the Emperor's Tomb.

Now that so many fellow disciples had died, if they gave up now, they would truly be losing the rice after failing to catch the chicken.

Xu Xian said firmly, "Of course we will fight for it."

Everyone was confused.

Xu Xian continued, "However, you won't be going; I will go alone."

As he spoke, he deliberately showed the number on the back of his hand.

Some looked worried.

Some spoke up in concern.

Voices rose in a clamor, all expressing a desire to accompany Xu Xian and fight by his side.

They said they weren't afraid.

They weren't afraid of battle, and they weren't afraid of sacrifice...

Xu Xian appreciated their sentiment but still refused.

To mitigate further losses.

That was the reason he gave them.

In the current situation, it was too chaotic outside, and if they ventured out rashly, the Wendao Sword Sect would certainly be besieged.

Their losses would only intensify.

Staying here was different.

At the very least, they wouldn't have to worry about being attacked from both sides, and he had already made arrangements; with just a few people at the entrance, one man could hold the pass against ten thousand.

He didn't believe those forces would try to fight their way in at any cost.

When picking persimmons, one always starts with the softest ones.

Furthermore, everyone was competing for the inheritance of the Emperor's Tomb, and it all came down to merit points.

Instead of wasting time here, those people would rather go elsewhere to kill others.

Holding their ground was not an issue.

Although losing one-third of their number was a bloody lesson, such casualties were within expectations.

It was barely acceptable.

In the path of cultivation, when was anything ever smooth sailing?

Especially when one was born into the Wendao Sword Sect.

Xu Xian also added that as a single person, his target was small and he could come and go as he pleased; if they all went together, the target would be too large, and they wouldn't be able to help but would instead hold him back.

He told them to stay put and leave the rest to him.

Xu Xian had spoken so bluntly that even if they were reluctant, they couldn't say anything more and could only follow his policy of mitigating losses.

Moreover, they had great confidence in their Little Grand-Uncle.

In just two short hours today, he had charged through the crowds several times and emerged unscathed; no one outside could do anything to him.

As long as no unexpected variables appeared, first place would surely belong to Xu Xian.

No one could compete with him.

Still, someone suggested organizing a group to sneak out when the time was right to retrieve the bodies of the fallen disciples.

Even if they were dead, they should be brought home.

Many people supported this, and some even volunteered, each more eager than the last.

But they were still heartlessly rejected by Xu Xian.

He said, "You know they are dead, so what is the point of doing this? Do you want to throw your lives away too? Do you think the list of names isn't long enough? Do you really think the dead would thank you if they knew?"

"Stop dreaming."

"Stop doing such useless things."

His few words were incredibly harsh, leaving everyone stunned and unable to utter a single syllable.

The words were coarse, but the logic was sound.

It was also the first time they had seen their Little Grand-Uncle speak with such irritable severity.

They obediently shut their mouths and chose to acquiesce.

"Everyone, just stay put."

Xu Xian gulped down several mouthfuls of wine and emphasized his point a few more times before dismissing the group, leaving only a few of his inner circle behind.

Lu Yuan, Xiaoxiao, Qianqian, Chu Yi, and Kongkong.

He gave them instructions once more.

He told Lu Yuan to guard the entrance and Xiaoxiao to look after the wounded.

Chu Yi and Kongkong asked what they were supposed to do.

Xu Xian was very blunt.

"Just don't run around."

The two little ones looked aggrieved.

Lin Qianqian asked, "Then what about me?"

Xu Xian said, "You watch them and make sure they don't run around."

Lin Qianqian: "Uh..."

The two little ones: "...."

Their depression doubled.

After a few more kind words of instruction, Xu Xian stood up to leave, and the others rose to see him off at the cave entrance.

During that time, they still insisted on accompanying him, whether through pleading or acting spoiled.

He was immune to it all.

"Alright, I'll be fine; just remember not to do anything reckless."

"Oh!"

"Okay!"

"Fine!"

"Be careful."

"Don't overextend yourself."

Xu Xian gave a perfunctory reply.

Before he stepped out of the cave, Lu Yuan whispered in his ear, "Remember to bring back my cloak."

Xu Xian feigned ignorance, "What cloak?"

"The Immortal King's Shroud."

"Didn't I tell you it was lost?"

Lu Yuan was speechless, laughing in exasperation, "I'm only blindfolded, not actually blind; do you think I can't see that cloak is being worn by that demon girl?"

"Uh..."

Xu Xian's face flushed with embarrassment, but he had miscalculated, so he tried to cover it up.

"Um... really? She picked it up?"

Lu Yuan: "Keep pretending!"

Xu Xian: "It was lost in the Demon Abyss; it's actually quite reasonable that she found it."

Lu Yuan: "Heh!"