Late into the night, the two finally saw the next Xun Gate, and as Shi Chun anticipated, nobody recognized them there.

Using the same method of communication, the people at this Xun Gate were somewhat reluctant to interact with them. Their indifference was one reason, but they also weren't sure through which Xun Gate Wu Jin had entered, disinclined to go out of their way to inquire for two random individuals.

But Shi Chun's pair was too willing to humble themselves and plead; the taller man didn't hesitate to kneel, touching others with his sincerity. The local Xun Gate guards couldn't withstand their persistent genuineness and eventually helped to inquire, revealing the location of the Xun Gate entrance for Wu Jin. Not more, not less, the tenth Xun Gate ahead was their destination.

With a thousand thanks, they departed and then began a long journey.

A journey with a destination isn't scary—it's aimless wandering that's fearsome.

Sunrise to sunset, not stopping to greet or call out to anyone they met, three days later in the clear morning, the road-weary pair finally found the Xun Gate at their destination. After confirming with the local Xun Gate guards, there was no mistake.

The two walked away from the barrier and leaped atop a hillside, turning their backs to the Xun Gate to gaze upon the desolate and vast wilderness.

Shi Chun pointed ahead and said, "It seems that Wu Jin's troops should have headed in this direction. With nearly ten thousand men sweeping through, it won't be hard to encounter them if we follow this path."

Wu Jinliang hoisted his large saber onto his shoulder and declared with boundless enthusiasm, "Let's go!"

The two rose into the air and sped off, searching along the way for tracks on the ground. The marks left daily by nearly ten thousand troops were extremely evident, showing that the army had grown so powerful they no longer bothered with concealment.

This was in full alignment with Shi Chun and his companion's predictions. Once they found the Xun Gate entrance to Wu Jin, they could quickly locate Su Yuan Sect without worrying about losing direction. The effort spent on finding the Xun Gate was wholly worthwhile, energy not wasted in vain.

Occasionally, they would also pull out a map to compare their location before continuing on their way.

In contrast to the large number of troops in Wu Jin, the pair on the road encountered nothing else but dedicated themselves to speeding along their route...

The battles became increasingly fierce, and within the Heavenly Mirror's reflection, it was common to see corpses brought into the drill ground with cries for people to claim them.

Inside the drill ground, many seats lay vacant. Some sects had lost all their disciples; those who felt there was no point staying any longer left with resentment, while others stayed to watch.

Elder Ke Yizong of Wukang Mountain longed for Elder Jian Lingzhen of Moon Valley to leave soon; Moon Valley's forces had already been decimated. Why linger any longer? But the other refused to depart, occasionally casting a lingering, resentful glance at him.

What was done was done; Wu Kang Mountain Sect Master Bian Jixiong was aware of the situation, but his temper bore no consequence.

As for those two notorious disciples, Elder Ke had lost track of them. Not everyone kept eyeing the "Ultimate Mountain and River Map," and since the traitorous pair had stayed motionless in one spot, it was assumed they would hide until the end. It wasn't until Elder Ke remembered to check again that he realized the two stubborn dots had vanished.

Once lost from sight, they became hard to find amidst the millions of dots on the "Ultimate Mountain and River Map." It was impossible to tell which was which in such a blur, unless one paid for precise positioning. Elder Ke had no interest in wasting money on those two; let them fend for themselves. His funds were better spent on Bian Weiyin and others.

Bian Weiyin's circumstances ceased further thoughts on Shi Chun and his plight. He did not understand precisely what was happening with Bian Weiyin, only seeing him join forces with Jieyun Mountain, engaging in combat, and even saw talismans being thrown. No amount of talismans provided by Wukang Mountain could withstand such use, especially with their limited production.

This was not the survival strategy Wukang Mountain had planned for Bian Weiyin's group, but an on-site change of plans. Officials on the outside could not judge the inside without knowing what truly unfolded.

Every evening at the pavilions atop the mountain reserved by Young Master Nan, the number of distinguished guests arriving to enjoy the spectacle increased, knowing the competitive area within was heating up. Disciples from various sects began to fight in the view of all, pulling at their patrons' hearts and boosting attendance.

Lan Qiaoyan and Miao Yilan had come for three consecutive nights too, since they had noted the disappearance of Shi Chun's indicator on the Mountain River Map.

Miao Dingyi did not appear again, and the mother and daughter would leave after staying a short half-hour to a long hour.

Just as the mother and daughter stood to leave from the viewing platform, a sudden commotion in the drill ground grabbed their attention.

"Shi Chun?"

"It's that Shi Chun and the big guy with the broadsword."

"It's Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang."

"Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang."

The two were all too familiar with these names and immediately turned their attention to the mirror image. There, three bedraggled individuals, injured and fleeing miserably, were suddenly intercepted by two men in chestnut-colored clothes. The taller one flamboyantly blocked the path with an exaggeratedly large saber, his demeanor overtly arrogant.

If not Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, who had vanished, then who? The mother and daughter stopped to watch.

As a sect leader who had just rushed over from his sect passed through the crowd, he overheard the names "Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang" being mentioned repeatedly. After taking a closer look at the light curtain and sitting down in his sect's area, he asked those nearby, "Who is Shi Chun?"

An elder immediately explained to him.

Elder Ke Yizong and the others from Wukang Mountain were somewhat baffled, scanning the crowd—how did those two attain such notoriety to be known by everyone?с

More than their names were known; the fact that they were fugitives from the Land of Exile had been found out by some and, after spreading for some time, most who took an interest knew as well.

In the best viewing spots, in towers and pavilions, several dozen domain masters had arrived, with conflicts across states emerging. Interest peaked, and the crowd began to swell.

Suddenly, a voice rose in the drill ground, causing dozens of domain masters to register surprise. Who could be so widely recognized by so many sects and readily named?

Even Life Continent Domain Master Wei Mo was momentarily stunned. He recognized the people in the mirror image, seared into his memory, yet he had never asked for their names. Everyone knew them? What were these two doing appearing out of nowhere?

"Which two are Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang?" A domain master inquired, as the mirror showed five individuals.

Someone replied, "The two dark and unremarkable ones."

"Why have I never heard of them? Who are they?" the domain master wondered. To be so famous yet unheard of by him felt irregular.

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