Riley and his men took control of the spiritual mine once again, their banners rising high above the rugged hills.
The dust had barely settled, and the scent of blood still lingered faintly in the air.
To the uninformed, it might have seemed like just another skirmish over territory and resources.
But those who understood the deeper currents of the cultivation world knew—this was only the beginning.
"I smell war in the air," an old merchant muttered as he watched soldiers patrol the city gates.
His voice trembled slightly, though he tried to mask it behind a calm facade.
"I know, right?" replied a younger cultivator standing nearby. "The Starry Sky Pavilion won't take this lying down. They've already lost a great elder—one of their pillars. This is a humiliation they won't let go unpunished."
Another man leaned in, whispering, "I heard the Ash Maker is a wise master despite his age. Maybe that's why he's still here. He must be expecting retaliation."
