At the same time.
Elsewhere, when the first Cloud-Piercing Arrow fell into the Great Xun army formation, there was no longer any way back at the border.
"Enemy attack!"
The alarm bells atop the city walls rang nine times in succession.
Great Qian cultivators charged out from the eastern valley, destroying the watchtowers first before attacking the core of the city-protecting formation. The Great Xun defenders had long been prepared; hundreds of spells descended at once, blasting the ground before the valley into a scorched wasteland.
Half an hour later, the Great Qian main force pressed against the border.
The two dynasties had officially gone to war...
That afternoon, two proclamations spread across the borderlands.
Great Xun claimed that Great Qian cultivators had crossed the border and killed more than seven hundred civilians, while also destroying three spirit mines. The corpses and Image-Recording Stones were all present.
Great Qian likewise produced evidence.
They declared that Great Xun had long since sent people to infiltrate their territory, poison border commanders, seize military supplies, and leave behind Great Xun military tokens at the scene.
Both sides claimed to be the victims, and both sides' evidence matched up.
The sects along the border soon received orders: those who had pledged allegiance to Great Xun had to send disciples to war.
The sects near Great Qian received the same demand.
Several small sects tried to remain neutral, but their mountain gates were sealed by the army that very day. Spirit Stones, pills, and food were all requisitioned, while the sect disciples were forcibly incorporated into military formations.
On the third day, the flames of war burst beyond the border cities.
Great Xun invaded two Great Qian border cities, while Great Qian cultivators bypassed the frontal battlefield and directly attacked Great Xun's rear.
Villages and