Inside the temporary command tent of the Setting Sun Camp in Tianxing City, Han Li was nourishing his meridians with the Star-Magnetic Heart-Protection Art. The map of surviving enemy forces in the Inner Star Sea spread across his desk had been saturated with star power, its ink bleeding around dozens of red circles marking areas already cleared.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent. A Star Palace steward lifted the flap and rushed in, his face pale as paper. "Elder Han! Urgent news! The Second Elder was ambushed on Blackstone Island, and over half his force has been killed or wounded!"
Han Li sprang to his feet, the Water-Magnetic Sword sliding half an inch from its sheath with a metallic clang. He had just finished three months of sweeping the Inner Star Sea clean, and he and the griffin had rested in Tianxing City for barely five days. How could such a disaster have struck so suddenly?
"Prepare a boat. Come with me to see the palace master."
Inside Heavenly Pivot Hall, Ling Yuling's moon-white skirt was stained with ink that had yet to dry, and his hair bun had grown slightly disheveled from days of ceaseless work.
He slapped a bloodstained dispatch onto the desk, his fingertips trembling. "The Second Elder led three thousand elite troops to clear out the Inverse Star Alliance's Branch Headquarters on Blackstone Island in the Outer Star Sea. We thought it was just an ordinary stronghold, but they had three old monsters at the nascent soul middle stage hidden there! The Second Elder's cultivation is on par with mine. Though he fought desperately to break out, nearly half his force was lost. Now they're trapped at Broken Stone Cliff, holding out behind a makeshift protection formation..."
Han Li unfolded the dispatch, his pupils contracting