A year later.
War raged across ten thousand li of Sunset Cliff's borderlands, where low-level cultivators from every faction slaughtered one another among the mountain Spirit Veins.
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"A whole year has passed. The Thousand Mechanism Sect's offensive in the south has been fierce, yet the Blood Demon Sect cultivators in the west have barely made a move."
Lin Chang'an studied the intelligence in his hand, his expression turning thoughtful. The person reporting to him was Bing Yun, who had chosen to join the war.
Although many cultivators had been drawn from the forces under Blazing Snow City, Bing Yun had volunteered of her own accord.
In that single year, there had been no battles between Spirit Transformation Cultivators, but frequent clashes at the Nascent Soul level had lent Bing Yun a sharper, more battle-hardened air. She had also grown far more reserved.
"True Lord, according to our recent investigations, the Blood Demon Sect is holding the Spirit Veins and passes throughout its territory. They appear to be preparing for a protracted war." Bing Yun reported respectfully. At Nascent Soul Middle Stage Peak, with several Nascent Soul-level Corpse Puppets to assist her, she was formidable within the Nascent Soul Realm. Otherwise, she could never have kept her subordinates in line.
Lin Chang'an merely nodded when she finished, then raised a hand and produced a bottle of Medicinal Pills.
"Not bad. I can see your cultivation has reached a bottleneck. These pills primarily strengthen your foundation and nurture your essence. They may help you break through sooner."
"Thank you, my lord."
Delighted, Bing Yun accepted the pills with a respectful bow, then slowly withdrew.
Once Lin Chang'an was alone, he returned to the report and sank into thought.
"A feint in the east to strike in the west—or