"Young Master Xu..."
Upon hearing Leng Tianhan's words, Leng Wushuang finally emerged from her grief.
However, she had no idea where Xu Chuan was.
Before, Xu Chuan had instructed them to rescue the others and then disappeared.
"I'm here."
"Long time no see, Sect Master Leng."
Xu Chuan's voice suddenly echoed.
They looked up and saw Xu Chuan had appeared above them at some unknown time, watching them with a faint smile.
"Greetings, Young Master Xu."
"Thank you for saving our lives, Young Master Xu!"
Leng Tianhan quickly bowed, keeping his position very low, daring not to presume familiarity.
Moreover, Xu Chuan was powerful and had saved their lives, so bowing was only proper and fitting.
If not for the crowd and Leng Wushuang's reputation to consider, he would have prostrated himself.
Beside him, Yu Qinghan was winking, signaling to her father, Yu Daocheng.
Seeing this, Yu Daocheng immediately understood that this young man was the powerful expert who had saved them from their predicament.
Although he looked young, Leng Tianhan's respect was clearly genuine.
At once, he also bowed and said, "Yu Daocheng of Tianhua Sect, thank you for saving our lives, Senior!"
"We have no way to repay your kindness, and we are willing to serve you as oxen and horses."
Although Yu Daocheng was older than Xu Chuan, in the martial path, the capable are teachers. It was not improper for him to call Xu Chuan Senior.
Seeing both sect masters bow in thanks, the other disciples who were also rescued, and people from other factions, immediately echoed, "Thank you for saving our lives, Senior."
Each of them was genuinely grateful.
If Xu Chuan had not intervened today, their fate would undoubtedly have been death.
The cruel methods displayed by the demons alone were sufficient proof.
Those demons did not regard them as humans at all.
They killed and ate them casually, and their capture here was for some other purpose.
Now that they had escaped, even if the Central Region was still in chaos, there was still a glimmer of hope.
"Sect Masters, please rise, and everyone else too."
Xu Chuan extended his hands, and everyone was involuntarily straightened up.
They tried to bow again, but found it impossible.
"Saving lives is the duty of us martial artists."
"Besides, my actions were not without cost."
Hearing the first sentence, they secretly rejoiced, thinking they had met a benevolent senior.
However, Xu Chuan's next sentence made many hearts tighten.
They inwardly exclaimed, had they escaped from the wolf's den only to fall into the tiger's mouth?
They wondered what the "cost" the young master spoke of would be.
"May I ask what cost Senior requires? We will do our best to provide it!"
Yu Daocheng, as a sect leader, directly voiced the doubts in everyone's hearts.
"Didn't they tell you yet?"
Xu Chuan raised an eyebrow and shifted his gaze to Leng Wushuang and Yu Qinghan.
As for He Chen, he was currently meditating with his eyes closed, recovering from his injuries.
He had been the main force in rescuing these people earlier.
The method of breaking the formation was also created by Xu Chuan based on the physique of a mixed-blood demon.
When breaking the formation, it would cause him backlash.
Yet, he had unhesitatingly saved everyone.
Truly worthy of possessing the Pure Heart of Destiny.
Under his gaze, Leng Wushuang and Yu Qinghan trembled as if a great terror had descended.
After a moment, Leng Wushuang quickly explained, "Young Master Xu, we were all too busy saving people earlier and didn't have time to inform my father and the others."
"We beg for your forgiveness!"
"It's fine. Since you haven't told them, I'll say it again."
Xu Chuan did not blame them; he was not that petty.
"Listen carefully!"
Xu Chuan's voice reached everyone's ears.
"I am Xu Chuan, the Holy Master of the Taiyi Holy Land in the Eastern Region. I have saved you today, and I require you to submit to my Taiyi Holy Land, obey my Taiyi's command, and serve my Taiyi diligently in controlling the Central Region and the Xuantian."
"This is my only request, and beforehand, the young masters of Lingxiao Sect and Tianhua Sect have already agreed on behalf of their respective sects."
"As for the rest of you," Xu Chuan pondered for a moment before speaking, "since there was no prior agreement, I will give you two choices."
"One, hand over all your cultivation resources, and I will let you leave."
"Two, like Lingxiao Sect and Tianhua Sect, submit to my Taiyi Holy Land!"
Upon hearing this, the people of Lingxiao Sect expressed no dissatisfaction.
Those who followed Leng Tianhan and the others from the Southern Region to the Central Region had been tested and were reliable in all aspects.
Moreover, Xu Chuan had saved them from dire straits twice, and their gratitude was immeasurable, so they naturally would not object.
Furthermore, it was the Taiyi Holy Land, a holy land with such a powerful individual. If they submitted, wouldn't they soar?
Lingxiao Sect was originally just a small sect.
On the side of Tianhua Sect, although a small portion of people had minor grievances, they dared not speak out against it without Yu Daocheng's consent.
However, the martial artists from the other factions were not as united.
Some revealed looks of longing. They were originally rogue cultivators, and now they had the opportunity to join such a powerful holy land, so they were a hundred percent willing.
Some were somewhat worried, wondering if the Taiyi Holy Land was too arrogant to claim control over the Central Region and Xuantian.
After all, even the previous Xuantian Holy Land had not achieved this.
Where did the Taiyi Holy Land get its confidence? Was it solely on him?
They hesitated, fearing they would become cannon fodder for the Taiyi Holy Land's ambitions.
As for the remaining individuals, they were martial artists from top-tier factions. They simply did not believe the Taiyi Holy Land could achieve this ambition.
Moreover, their own factions were powerful. They had only been captured here by accident.
Upon returning, they would immediately report to their sect and annihilate these demons!
Therefore, they would rather hand over all their resources than submit to the Taiyi Holy Land.
Thus, a situation of three parties contending emerged.
But no one dared to be the first to act.
Seeing this, Xu Chuan naturally couldn't be bothered to wait any longer, so he said, "I will give you one day to consider. After one day, you must make your choice!"
After speaking, Xu Chuan sent a trace of his consciousness into the Golden Ancient Hall world and found Xuan Lie, the Water-Repelling Divine Tortoise, who had been sleeping there for an unknown amount of time.
Since he had obtained the cultivation technique, he had been comprehending it and advancing.
He had long since completed his advancement, even reaching the peak of the Half-Emperor realm, but he was still in a deep sleep.
"Wake up, wake up, time to work!"
Xu Chuan kicked his head unceremoniously and shouted.
"Ugh, why are you shouting? Can't I get some good sleep?"
Stirred by Xu Chuan's kick, Xuan Lie grumbled and opened his eyes, his Half-Emperor peak aura suddenly shaking.
"Always sleeping, hurry up and come out, I need you for something!"
Xu Chuan said irritably.
"Got it, got it."
After speaking, he transformed into human form and appeared outside.
"You are responsible for guarding them here. If anyone chooses to leave, they must hand over everything they possess. Do you understand?"
Xu Chuan commanded.
"I have something to attend to."
"I'll leave this place to you."
After saying this, without waiting for Xuan Lie's reply, Xu Chuan flew off in a certain direction.