The fleet maintained its lock on the perimeter as Ethan, the Vice Sect Leader, and the General landed smoothly on the cleared ground. Ethan didn't waste a single second he sprinted toward the rocky cliffside where the beetle had finally descended.
The black insect buzzed frantically before slipping straight into a narrow vertical fissure hidden behind a cluster of shattered boulders. Right next to the crevice was a concealed stone archway—the primary entrance previously guarded by the Thunderdragon Sect outpost.
Seeing the path cleared, several elite disciples from the vanguard immediately drew their blades and moved forward to breach the threshold.
"Halt! Do not take another step!" Ethan roared, his gravelly voice echoing sharply against the stone.
The disciples instantly froze in mid-stride, turning their heads in confusion. "Master Ethan? The enemy has been neutralized. Is there an issue?" one of them asked, his hand still on his hilt.
