Three days later, news arrived from Hanshui Town: the white-robed man had moved his camp to Sunset Valley in the heart of Black Wind Ridge. He had formally raised the banner of "Bai Ze," taken in all remaining Cultivators from the Iron Sword Sect, Blood Demon Sect, and Qingdan Sect, and amassed a force of over five hundred.
Even more alarming, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and Hundred Herbs Hall had actually sent envoys of their own initiative, declaring their willingness to submit to Bai Ze's faction and offering half their resources as a token of allegiance.
"Commander, they're trying to take complete control of Black Wind Ridge!" Zhao Hu clutched the secret report, his hands trembling. "Five hundred Cultivators, plus the forces of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and Hundred Herbs Hall—their strength has already surpassed Yunshui City's!"
Lin Taichu stared at Sunset Valley's location on the map for a long while before speaking. "He isn't trying to control Black Wind Ridge. He's trying to establish a new power."
"A new power?" Qian Ming did not understand. "Black Wind Ridge has seen factions rise and fall for years, but no unified force has ever emerged. What makes him think he can do it?"
"Because everything has been calculated." Lin Taichu spoke slowly. "From the moment he used my hand to kill Blood Fiend Son, he had been laying out his plan step by step. He made the sects slaughter one another, then absorbed the remnants. Finally, he used threats and incentives to force the other sects into submission. His methods are ruthless."
At that moment, a guard hurried inside. "Commander, an envoy from Sunset Valley has arrived. He says he wishes to see you."
Lin Taichu's gaze sharpened. "Let him in."
The envoy was a middle-aged cultivator in a