A swift and decisive battle?
Li Chen inwardly shook his head.
He wanted no such thing. It ran completely counter to his purpose.
Right now, he needed a legitimate excuse to enter seclusion, impose a lockdown, and forbid cultivators from poking around at will.
What could be more legitimate than a state of war? During wartime, ordinary people who showed up there would truly have to weigh the consequences carefully.
"By the way, did you know that the patron behind the Hecheng Merchants' Association is a Puppet Master Grand Artisan named Ma Wanbao?"
Mei Xuan told Li Chen another piece of news.
"He is over three hundred years old and has been a Grand Artisan for two hundred years. His attainments are considerable."
"In particular, his two wives, Lady Tian and Lady Wang, are both Outer Dao female cultivators at Core Formation. Neither advanced through his Enhancement Modification."
"With three Core Formation cultivators in one household, Ma Wanbao is a legend in He City! That Sang Chong you captured earlier is Lady Wang's older male cousin. From what I can tell, you want to provoke a war with our Mei Family, but the Hecheng Merchants' Association may not simply watch from the sidelines. If they enter the fray, their support will be formidable. You would do well to handle Sang Chong appropriately."
Li Chen was mildly surprised. "There's a connection like that?"
This really was unexpected.
Still, on reflection, it made little difference. Whether Core Formation cultivators or Grand Artisans, they all had to be wary of Taiqiu Immortal City and the Golden Sun Gate. They might not dare attack openly.
Li Chen did not believe he had offended Ma Wanbao too deeply. The tangled interests involved here were not something a mere Sang Chong could sway.
If Grand Artisan