"Let me!" As Joe Di strode directly toward the Thundercrest Sect's protective array, Daniel Xing had already stepped forward and smashed his halberd against the barrier.
The others could only sigh at the sight. Joe Di could attack this protective array, but Daniel Xing, you really shouldn't—unless you don't plan to stay in Thundercrest Continent any longer.
Joe Di naturally understood the consequences of Daniel Xing's actions. Daniel's hatred for Riley Thunder was deep, and he also wanted to win Joe Di's favor.
However, Joe Di would not let Daniel Xing bear the brunt of any retaliation alone. After Daniel struck the Thundercrest Sect's protective array, Joe Di calmly addressed the other Immortal Emperors, "This beast horde was brought here by Riley Thunder, so attacking the Thundercrest Sect's barrier is not a one-man responsibility. If anyone is unwilling to act, step forward and leave this place immediately."
Whether or not the beast horde was actually brought by Riley Thunder, Joe Di didn't care. Regardless of the truth, it was best to throw the blame his way first.
Everyone was stunned. What did this mean? Was he asking them to pledge their allegiance?
Joe Di gazed coldly at the assembled Immortal Emperors and sect leaders. He had already made up his mind: if these people refused to act, then after he tore open the Thundercrest Sect's array and rescued Qu Hen and Chen Zishun, he would leave immediately. Whether Thundercrest Continent was destroyed by the beast horde was none of his concern.
Iron North Mountain caught sight of Joe Di's cold smile and instantly understood. Joe Di was different from them—he was here to save people, not to live on Thundercrest Continent. As for the continent's fate, what did it have to do with Joe Di? He was merely a passerby.
Joe Di was powerful enough to slay the Thunder Emperor. Even when beset by the Thunder Emperor and six other Immortal Emperors, Joe Di remained utterly fearless. If Joe Di left, Thundercrest Continent wouldn't even be able to resist the beast horde—it would be doomed.
No matter what schemes he had, Thundercrest Continent absolutely could not fall to the fiend beasts. If it did, he would lose his base of operations—and what use would anything else be?
"I agree with Emperor Joe. Guildmaster Quentin Qu and Deputy Guildmaster Sam Shen of the Alchemist Guild came to Thundercrest Continent to help us. Riley Thunder framed Zhong Ao without reason and imprisoned both Guildmasters—such actions are unjust. Thundercrest Sect, as the foremost sect of our continent and the source of our immortal veins, should be defending Thundercrest Continent, not attacking friends who came to aid us. What use is a sect like this to our continent?"
"That's right, Sect Master Iron North Mountain is correct. Keeping such a sect is useless to Thundercrest Continent." Another Immortal Emperor spoke up, then unleashed his artifact, joining Daniel Xing in attacking the Thundercrest Sect's protective array.
At this moment, the other sect masters and Immortal Emperors also realized that Thunder Emperor, Jed Carey, and Hugh Hayes—all three of Thundercrest Sect's top experts—had likely fallen to Joe Di. What was once the number one sect was now barely second-rate.
Given that, what was there left to fear?
Soon, more and more cultivators joined in the assault on the Thundercrest Sect's protective array. It was only a ninth-level immortal array—no matter if they were just putting on a show, after a few strikes, it cracked open completely.
Joe Di didn't even lift a finger.
The disciples of Thundercrest Sect stared in shock as their protective array was shattered by the gathered sect masters. After a long moment, an Immortal Elder rushed forward to try and stop them, but a sect master simply raised his hand and unleashed an immortal essence hand seal, pulverizing the elder instantly.
Only then did the rest of the Thundercrest Sect's disciples realize that there wasn't a single Immortal Emperor left in the sect. With so many powerful cultivators storming in, Thundercrest Sect was finished.
Just yesterday, these cultivators were proud to be disciples of Thundercrest Sect. Now, they scrambled to escape. Even the most loyal among them weren't foolish enough to resist so many Immortal Emperors head-on.
But Iron North Mountain was ruthless—if he acted, he would leave none alive. Any cultivator who tried to flee Thundercrest Sect was cut down by the deadly edge of his blade.