The Rise of the Black Plain

Hours after the incident around Dry City, all the local army allies in this city had already found out about what had happened.

At first, these people already knew about the negotiations going on between the Brown family and the government of the Black Plain. But none of them had any details about such a thing, so they had only found out about the results after Minos' subordinates had come to report them about the incident.

And with that information in hand, it wasn't long before these people began to notify their families!

...

In one of the highest level rooms of the local Cultivation Tower...

The three Spiritual Kings of the Miller family who were here in Dry City by Minos' agreement with this organization were already talking about the latest matter.

After sending their reports with the latest information to their family headquarters, these three could only wait for what would happen next.

Minos had already made sure to take a course of action with no turning back, and now the milk had been spilled. Consequently, from now on, they would have to live under the strain of the war that would soon come to this city.

But unlike their family, these three individuals were on the Black Plain and would play a very active role in the battles to come.

Thus, they had to prepare themselves for what would happen next!

Anyway, while those three were sitting on cushions in the center of that cultivation room, the strongest Spiritual King of the three then began to talk about their progress. "You two, how is your progress? Will either of you be able to increase at a level before the royal family sends troops here?"

Hearing that, the two individuals, level 53 and 54, shook their heads in denial.

The weaker one then said. "No. I still need more than a year to get a level promotion at my current speed."

"As for me, I will need even more time..." The other said while he had a regretful expression on his face.

'I will also need several months to be able to reach level 56...' That individual who asked the question from before thought to himself, realizing that he was in the same situation as his companions.

They were all long past the ideal age to cultivate most efficiently. Because of this, even using more efficient cultivation techniques and using more resources in their training, they could no longer increase their level frequently.

Not only that, but since each of them had already reached their levels a certain amount of time ago, they were not that far away from their breakthroughs. Otherwise, those periods required for advancement that they cited could be even longer!

They were already old foxes, individuals with ages that could only be compared with Celeste, Regina, and Angela's, the most aged soldiers in Minos' army.

But compared to these women, none of them had access to the Spatial Kingdom, a cultivation sanctuary, nor did they fight as often as those women did.

Consequently, their cultivation speeds were naturally inferior.

The level 53 individual then spoke again. "Anyway, I've already managed to learn two combat Silver-grade techniques, one defense, and the other focused on attack. So, I guess my situation won't be so bad during this period..."

"Hmm, same for me. But I have learned a movement and defense technique. Then I'm afraid I'll have to rely more on you two to attack our future enemies..." The level 54 old elder Miller commented as he looked at his two companions seriously.

The stronger of the three then thought for a moment and commented. "Well, that's not bad. But I don't think any of us will be able to learn the fourth technique before the battles around this place start."

"In any case, the future battles will be quite difficult for us who are in Dry City. So, don't be careless and eliminate all the enemies!"

"Yes!"

"We can't let the enemies find out about our relationship with the Black Plain!"

Upon hearing this, those two couldn't help but nod in agreement to this level 55 Spiritual King.

They all knew that the Miller family would not act openly during the early part of the conflict between Minos and the Brown family.

After all, it would be very nice to have an internal ally on the enemies' side!

Hence, Abby's family would act as an enemy of the Black Plains during this period while passing internal information from the Brown family forces to the Black Plain Army.

That would help Minos' organization to act by surprise on certain occasions. At the same time, the Miller family could make pretend battles against the Black Plain forces and leave some of their 'casualties' in this place without generating suspicion.

Consequently, unlike their family members outside this place, these three men would have to fight the Brown family forces immediately. And to maintain the secrecy of the Black Plain's alliance with House Miller, they would have to eliminate all enemies who saw them.

Because of this, their job would be somewhat complicated!

With this in mind, it didn't take long for those men to get back to their training.

...

Meanwhile, Vivian and Grace were finishing a meal in their apartment in this city.

Vivian was dressed as usual, in noble attire that highlighted her beauty. At the same time, her girlfriend was wearing a uniform standard in Dry City, one that had the design of a golden tree.

That's right, after her initial time in this city, Grace had decided to join the local army!

Because of this, she was already learning the Silver-grade techniques and cultivating in the Spatial Kingdom whenever she had the opportunity.

But of course, Vivian knew nothing of this since Grace had signed a contract that required the secrecy of this information from the army.

But anyway, these two had already gotten used to their new reality in this city. So, this subject of Grace in the army was not something they talked about very often. And as such, right now, they were discussing something much more relevant.

"That miserable Roy managed to escape!" Vivian angrily  said while holding a small letter in her right hand, something she had just received.

Roy was the Spiritual King who had tried to capture Vivian after she had invaded and escaped from that Chambers family base, where Minos had rescued Peter.

At that time, Roy had been the cause of the death of Vivian's bodyguard. Because of this, her family war had started, and Davy's sister could not forget such a person whom she had promised to kill.

"It's a shame..." Grace commented in a deep tone while looking into her companion's eyes. "But is there any news of where he escaped to?"

"We can go after him in the future."

"The message I received only talks about the results of the Persephone invasion. And the despicable Roy was not among the dead in that place."

"But the investigations are still ongoing, and for now, there is nothing new about him." Vivian said, crumpling that message into a little ball of paper and tossing it away.

"I see..."

"But let's wait. This person doesn't have many places to run, so sooner or later, we'll find his tracks."

"The most important thing now is for you to focus on reaching level 50!"

"With this recent incident, it won't take long before you are forced to fight for Dry City!" Grace said this seriously, recalling the information they had received earlier, something Vivian had written in a letter and sent in a crow to Primrose, her family's headquarters.

Hearing her beloved's advice, Vivian nodded in agreement, almost forgetting her disappointment at discovering that Roy had run away. "I know..."

"I will attempt to accomplish this in the next few weeks!"

"Good!"

"But, Grace, when will the Brown family forces get here? It should take them some time to gather troops, right?"

"Hmm, well, it depends. I've heard from the administrative experts in the army that they expect some attack right away from the royal family. So, maybe, even before numerous troops from that organization leave the capital, a smaller group will challenge the Black Plain."

"But, yes, even that group should take a few days to be dispatched and then travel here."