"Stop playing fucking dead! Get up, all of you!"
With one kick per person, Yan Xicai booted all the incredibly weak Law Enforcers to their feet.
Just as they were about to leave, a pair of hands violently hugged Yan Xicai's thigh. He looked back; it was Little Jian, covered in blood.
"Young Master Yan, I'm sorry. I really didn't do it on purpose just now... You won't actually strip me of my Law Enforcer status, right?"
"Law Enforcer?" Yan Xicai sneered coldly, tearing away Little Jian's hands with a kick.
"I said it from the start: whoever accumulated the least Killing Intent, I would strip their position... What makes you think you can continue being a Law Enforcer?"
"You run slowly! You can't even kill anyone!! You're just like your trash father! Both of you are meant to be people's dogs for your entire lives!"
Yan Xicai didn't even bother to spare him another glance, turning around and walking towards the Hill.
The other Law Enforcers staggered to their feet, cast a sympathetic look at Little Jian, and then followed Yan Xicai away...
As for Little Jian, he had clearly been kicked out of the picture by Yan Xicai.
Little Jian's blood-colored palms clenched unconsciously. He watched Yan Xicai's departing back, despair flashing in his eyes... He had been lame since childhood. If it hadn't been for his father working like a horse and a cow in the Yan family for so many years, there was no way he could have become a Law Enforcer. But now, coming to the Ancient Vault once, not only was he disfigured, but he was also stripped of his Law Enforcer status... Even if he returned, he could only be a cripple.
"Yan Xicai..." he murmured this name, the despair in his eyes gradually turning into deep resentment.
He slightly lowered his head. That hideously scarred face in the pool of blood looked like a demon's.
...
"Young Master Yan, that Little Jian is following us again."
A Law Enforcer saw the back figure staggering along behind them and spoke to Yan Xicai.
"Ignore him." Yan Xicai's gaze swept over the surroundings. In the distant Wilderness, eight or nine Law Enforcers happened to be gathered together, walking in this direction.
"Go, call them over."
With a point of Yan Xicai's finger, someone stepped forward, exchanged a few words with those people, and hurriedly brought them over.
"I am the team leader of the District One Enforcers, Wang Tao." The leading Law Enforcer respectfully extended his hand. "May I ask what instructions Young Master Yan has?"
Yan Xicai didn't have the slightest intention of shaking hands with him, speaking coldly, "Among you Law Enforcers from District One, has anyone stepped onto the Way of the Soldier God?"
"Yes, there is one."
Among the District One Enforcers, one person raised his hand.
"Do you want to enter Aurora City?" Yan Xicai asked straightforwardly.
"Aurora City?" That Law Enforcer who had stepped onto the Way of the Soldier God blanked, then was instantly overjoyed. "I want to, I want to! What instructions does Young Master Yan have?"
"Fire-Stealers are the public enemies of the Nine Great Human Realms. Today, if you follow me to exterminate them, I guarantee you will enter Aurora City and become an Enforcer of Aurora City." With a wave of Yan Xicai's large hand, an temptation that was hard for all Law Enforcers of the Seven Great Districts to refuse was thrown out on the spot.
The eyes of the other Law Enforcers from District One who hadn't obtained a Divine Path all went straight.
One must know, Aurora City was a dream-like existence to all the people of the Seven Great Districts. Ninety-nine percent of the residents in the Seven Great Districts would never be able to see the inside of Aurora City until the day they died. They could only hear some descriptions passed down by word of mouth from others. And Enforcers of Aurora City were worlds apart from Enforcers of the Seven Great Districts.
Hearing that they were going to kill Fire-Stealers, that Law Enforcer felt a bit conflicted... After all, he still somewhat lacked confidence in his own strength. But thinking of the opportunity to enter Aurora City, he still gritted his teeth:
"Alright, I'll go with you!"
"The rest of you who haven't stepped onto a Divine Path can come along as well. Although you can't enter Aurora City, I will offer you sufficiently generous resources..."
Under Yan Xicai's enticement of profit, all the Law Enforcers present chose to follow him. After all, they didn't have a Divine Path, so they didn't need to engage the Fire-Stealers in frontal combat. They could just slack off on the periphery and obtain this unexpected windfall, as well as gain the favor of the Stars Chamber of Commerce. It was undoubtedly a very good deal.
Having quickly gathered a group of people, Yan Xicai continued to ask:
"Have you seen any other Law Enforcers?"
"I saw the Law Enforcers from District 4. They just passed by over there."
"Let's go!"
"For groups of Law Enforcers with seven or more people, it doesn't matter, but for groups with fewer than seven, remember to verify their identities." Pu Wen reminded them timely.
At this moment, more than half the time had already passed since the crowd entered the Ancient Vault of the Military Path. Those capable of acquiring the Way of the Soldier God had basically all acquired it. The rest were all untalented Law Enforcers. Under Yan Xicai's recruitment, almost everyone would choose to join the crusade team.
Of course, there were also Law Enforcers who didn't want to take risks. But seeing the group of people gathered behind Yan Xicai growing larger and larger, after hesitating for a moment, they still chose to join... Humans were inherently creatures that excelled at following the crowd. When everyone else was doing the same thing, if they didn't do it, they would become an outlier in everyone's eyes.
In case Yan Xicai and the others succeeded in exterminating the Fire-Stealers and made a list after going out, those of them who hadn't joined wouldn't have an easy path in the future either.
A few hours later, Yan Xicai had already pulled together a "large army" of over fifty people. Among them, five had stepped onto the Way of the Soldier God and become First-Tier.
With so many people as muscle, Yan Xicai's back instantly straightened. He turned his head and asked Pu Wen:
"How much time is left until the Ancient Vault opens?"
"Less than three hours."
"That should be enough." Yan Xicai gritted his teeth. "Send people out to search for me! Even if you have to flip over the entire Trial Grounds, you must dig out those Fire-Stealers!"
As several Law Enforcers went ahead to search, Pu Wen's eyes flickered with a faint light. He spoke to the crowd:
"The other party's object-stealing ability is very tricky. In a while, we can't attack recklessly. Everyone, listen to me, we will..."
...
"Achoo!"
Number 8 suddenly sneezed.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing... I just suddenly felt a chill on the back of my neck."
Number 8 turned to look at the Fifty-Person Gully, which was littered with corpses. His brows furrowed unconsciously. "This shouldn't be... We've accumulated so much Killing Intent, yet we still haven't attracted the gaze of the Way of the Soldier God?"
"Could it be because we possess the Path of the Thief?"
"No, attracting the gaze has nothing to do with whether we have a Divine Path or not. Only after the Divine Path approaches us can it sense the aura of the Path of the Thief on our bodies... Not attracting the gaze might just be because we're too weak." A Fire-Stealer explained.
"...Then what do we do? The time limit for the Ancient Vault is almost up, right?"
Just as Number 8 was about to say something, his brows suddenly wrinkled. He turned to look at the cliffside nearby and spotted a Law Enforcer taking a glance in this direction before turning and running.
"We've been discovered?" A Fire-Stealer felt his heart jolt.
"So what if we're discovered? When they see us, they won't even have time to run..."
"True."
"Wait." Number 8 narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Things don't seem quite right..."