By the time Lan Tian returned from the edge of camp to the wounded soldiers' tent, dawn was beginning to break.
He crouched beside a lightly wounded soldier who had just been brought in and activated his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Vines wrapped around the wound on the man's arm, and the life energy of Endless Life seeped into his flesh, slowly healing the half-foot-long gash.
The whole process was smooth and practiced. The medics nearby had long since grown used to it and quietly carried on with their work.
As he tended the wound, Lan Tian weighed the information he had sensed the night before.
The ruins lay deep in the valley. Soul Beasts blocked the entrance, Fallen Soul Masters were caught between them and the imperial army, and the army watched from farther away.
The three forces held one another in check. None had made a move.
If he wanted to explore the ruins, slipping past the front lines was his best option.
The problem was that he knew nothing about the ruins' interior. If he became trapped inside or something else kept him from returning to camp, the sudden disappearance of a registered, conscripted Healing-type Soul Master would draw unwanted attention and investigation.
He knew how the imperial army operated. If someone vanished, they would investigate, pursue leads, and turn it into a major affair.
He was strong enough to protect himself, but the risk of exposing his identity was too great.
He needed a way to leave and explore the ruins without anyone noticing.
After treating the last wounded soldier, he stood and sat down in a secluded corner of the tent.
He recalled a byproduct of his earlier research into Soul Tool formations: the Wood Clone Technique.
The technique used the Blue Silver God