Yunlan City, the Four Seas Merchant Guild.
In a quiet room, sandalwood incense curled through the air as Lin Chen and Li Yunshan sat facing each other.
"On your trip to Firecloud Valley, you single-handedly defeated the Main Line's grand elder, shaking both branches with your might. Everyone in Firecloud Valley now regards you with the utmost awe, my friend."
Li Yunshan lifted his teacup with a smile.
Lin Chen shook his head.
"We merely each got what we needed. Still, this affair swept a fresh wind through Firecloud Valley. That was a good thing."
"Indeed."
Li Yunshan nodded. "Liu Tong sent me a message yesterday, stating that Firecloud Valley wishes to establish closer ties with our guild."
"After all, Firecloud Valley has a fire vein, making it an excellent place for refining pills and forging artifacts. If this arrangement succeeds, it will greatly benefit our guild's expansion into those businesses."
Lin Chen nodded slightly and continued chatting with Li Yunshan. Suddenly, Li Yunshan changed the subject.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, what do you think of the matter with the Blood Fiend Cult?"
Lin Chen paused, then answered after a moment's thought.
"Sword Sect master Lu Yuan of the Azure Cloud Sect set out in person. He's an outstanding expert at the eighth level of the earth martial realm. Surely wiping out the Blood Fiend Cult's remnants shouldn't be difficult?"
"Hard to say." Li Yunshan shook his head.
"The Blood Fiend Cult's members are naturally weaker than we are, but their cultivation methods are bizarre. They're particularly adept at hiding and escaping."
"And the Northern Frontier's terrain is complex, with endless mountain ranges and countless caves. Tearing them out by the roots will be no easy task. I expect it will be a protracted campaign."
"Although Lu Yuan of the Azure