Northeast of the military camp lay a vast area separated by subsidiary formations, spanning roughly forty-odd li.
At this moment, in a cave residence at the foot of a mountain in one corner of that area, though it was already the dead of night, two people were still talking inside.
They were two women with graceful figures, both dressed in yellow gowns. Their features were exquisite, their skin fairer than snow, and their black hair was piled high, making their slender, snow-white necks appear even more striking.
The two even looked remarkably alike. Seated in the main hall, their flowerlike faces were both clouded with worry.
"Elder Sister, our casualties have already been considerable these past few days, yet theirs have not been many at all. I said long ago that they were treating our clans as the vanguard.
"If this continues, what good will it do even if we gain benefits in the end? Our clan will certainly suffer grievous losses this time. We only just began to recover, and before long, we may even be worse off than before our return!"
One of them spoke indignantly.
"We sent word back yesterday, but the clan has yet to reply. Today, I also went to inquire with the other clans. They likewise sent messages back, yet received no response from their clans.
"The Nine-Headed Green Phoenix Clan made their promises sound grand at the time. They said they would also send people into battle and would not let our clans suffer losses. Now, they truly have sent people out, but those people seem more like they are only directing us on what to do.
"When it comes to attacks, they only send a portion of their cultivators to participate. The main assault is still being carried out by our four