Chapter 5801

The skirmish in the gorge altered Clara’s attitude overnight. Her doubts vanished, replaced by respect. She now sought Jared’s opinion first, allowing herself to act only after a small approving nod from him.

Interrogation proved swift. Under the twin pressures of Jared’s silent presence and the Mystic Sky Sword Sect’s interrogation methods honed for war, the captured Demon Sect disciples and Melded Beastkin warriors spilled their secrets like cracked jars.

“Spare us, sir!” one demon disciple stammered, sweat streaking the grime on his face. “We were ordered to sweep this sector for stragglers of the Myriad Beast Sect-especially Master Paxton and his aides… Oh, and any scouts from the Mystic Sky Sword Sect. If we spotted them, we were to fire a signal flare. Elite squads would move in at once!”

Clara’s tone was ice. “How many patrols in this sector? Where are the elites stationed? Speak.”

“I… I only know our unit,” the man whimpered. “Elder Rhys commanded with Captain Fangtooth at his side.”

“Master Thornscale sits at the Myriad Beast Sect headquarters with certain Infinite Soul Demon Sect leaders. Mixed squads of our clans and demon disciples comb the perimeter.”

“Rumor says they’ve ordered special sweeps of old hunting grounds and abandoned mines to the northwest and southwest—claim those mines hide fugitives,” another Melded Beastkin fighter muttered, clutching a splinted arm. “It’s a good hiding place, they said.”