Even though there were about a thousand disciples in total, not a single soul dared to revolt against the Ghost Sect or attempt to flee.
Expressions of sheer terror and fright were obvious in the way some curled into themselves and hid behind others while glancing warily at the scary-looking corpse soldiers and generals. Some of them clumped nearer the more powerful cultivators of the sect, desperately finding a sense of security in depending on their members. Moreover, the disciples found it more dreadful to look at the undead, and it was clear as day that they would not even consider fighting them.
Disappointedly shaking his head at the pitiful sight of the members of the Sun Sect, Austin briefly considered that the disciples must have gotten too relaxed and complacent from their peaceful lives that they did not have the courage to fight when they were faced with real, imminent danger. 'A cultivator is only worth something if they can at least defend themselves, ' he thought bitterly and rolled his eyes at the waste of potential the disciples exhibited as they cowered among themselves like frightened preys.
As Austin scanned the crowd for familiar faces, he recognized some of his old acquaintances from when he had stayed in the sect.
One of the people among the crowd was Marquis, who Austin recalled as having ranked first among the Top 10 outer disciples.
In the past, it was the same man who had reminded Austin that the disciples who snagged a position in the top three of the Top Ten Outer Disciples Ranking Challenge would be given the opportunity to be promoted to the rank of a principal disciple. After the tip given by Marquis, Austin then attended the competition and managed to become a principal disciple.
Because of his advice, Austin had a good lasting impression of Marquis and considered him to be a dear friend.
After ascertaining the condition of the disciples, Austin right there and then decided to rescue them first. Shaking off the residual fatigue from his body and stretching his limbs from being crouched for a while, he nodded determinedly at Violet who had seemed to understand what was going to happen and started to lightly jog in place in preparation. With a hand raised, Austin led the troop of corpse soldiers with Violet by his side and marched toward the Martial Arts Square.
"Freeze! State your name and your purpose for coming here!"
A loud voice abruptly called from their front as they neared the edge of the grounds, cutting off their stride.
Staring at the source of the voice, Austin saw a skinny looking man clothed in black robes and sporting a scowling face at the sudden arrival of their army. Behind the disgruntled man was a dozen more members of the Ghost Sect wearing the same black suits that seemed as if they were absorbed by their own shadows. Alerted by the number of soldiers behind Austin, they unmistakably tried to block their way into the square.
The man in front of the Ghost Sect members was visibly shocked when he glanced behind Austin and Violet's frames and saw a determined hundred-or-so corpse soldiers idly stood behind, waiting for a command.
Discernibly confused, the thin man inquired in a doubtful tone, "Are you a new member of our noble sect? Your face is unfamiliar."
"Why are you leading so many corpse soldiers to this place when they were stationed below to be guards?" the man demanded.
It was apparent that the man doubted Austin's real identity as he kept switching his skeptical gaze from Austin's grinning face to the undead soldiers behind him. The corpse soldiers under the boy's control made him feel unsettled, somehow.
Looking at the disconcerted man, Austin was amused when he heard him describe their sect as "noble". Even Violet let out a light chuckle before coughing and schooling her expression into that of seriousness.
"I come here to take over this place. I believe it is none of your business,"
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