Lan Tian had been studying the Elder Soul Tool Blueprint in his workshop at the City Lord's Mansion for some time.
The blueprint's contents ran far deeper than he had initially expected. Its array structures differed fundamentally from the modern Soul Tool designs he knew, employing a more primitive approach that was nevertheless extremely efficient.
One design method in particular, "nested energy circuits," layered multiple arrays together with exquisite precision, allowing each circuit to draw on the lingering energy of its neighbors to strengthen itself.
After several days of repeated calculations, he finally found a viable way to apply this nesting method to upgrades for the Fiefdom Array and the Teleportation Array.
The new array structure could double the Fiefdom Array's defensive coverage while taking the Teleportation Array's range and stability up another notch.
Just as he was about to begin the modifications, someone knocked on the workshop door.
Old Ke's voice came through the door panel. "Master Lan, someone has arrived from the Northern Border. He says he has urgent military intelligence to report in person."
Lan Tian set down the blueprint and went downstairs to the Council Hall.
A messenger wearing the regulation leather armor of the Northern Border garrison stood waiting in the hall. His face was weary, dried mud and dust still clung to his boots, and his lips were cracked and peeling. Clearly, he had traveled through the night.
Upon seeing Lan Tian, he immediately dropped to one knee, took a wax-sealed Military Report from inside his clothing, and presented it with both hands.
"City Lord Lan, Commander Qin ordered me to deliver this urgent message! Three days ago, the Star Luo Empire's Northern Border garrison suddenly launched a large-scale offensive, breaking into Tian Dou's border territory from three directions at once. Our troops scrambled