In the following four or five days, he gritted his teeth and continued to train several more times. Fortunately, the deadly sensation became less severe each time. By the fifth time, the pain was almost negligible.
For the next ten days, he trained almost every night for five to six hours, treating it as a substitute for sleep. Hard work always pays off. After half a month, he could clearly feel significant changes in his body. The most noticeable improvement was in his defensive ability.
To compare, before he started formal training, he had Casey attack him with full force. Standing still, he activated his bloodline power to form a defensive aura and withstood Casey’s strike. With Casey’s current strength, a full-force attack could kill a ninth-rank Sacred Realm warrior. At that time, Billy was pushed back three to four hundred meters by Casey’s blade energy, and the churning blood in his heart made him spit it out. Although not severely injured, he did sustain some damage.
Half a month later, the same strike only pushed him back a dozen steps, and apart from slightly disordered breathing, he was unharmed. This was one of the benefits brought by the ‘Strengthening Bloodline Method.’ And this was just the result of half a month of training! Given time, if he could truly reach perfection in this method, his defensive ability would be beyond words.
“Boss, it’s been so long without any movement from Blood and Devil Sects. Could they be plotting something big?” White Tiger asked Billy one morning while they were chatting in the City Lord’s Mansion.
Since the incident in Desire City, a month had passed. But Blood and Devil Sects had been dormant, with no major actions. Occasionally, there were reports from other empires about attacks on their subordinate kingdoms by Blood and Devil Sects, but these were small-scale skirmishes involving only two to three hundred people at most, and their combat power was mediocre. Any empire could easily suppress them with a small force.
“I’m not sure,” Billy shook his head slightly. He truly didn’t know what the two sects were planning. Information from Sheardal Imperial City was scarce, and Opal and Amber hadn’t gathered much useful intel.
“Boss, do you think Blood and Devil Sects might have sent people out of Forbidden Ruins Space again?” Ian Blade asked worriedly.
“Probably not,” Casey responded for Billy. “According to Opal and Amber’s letters, the highest cultivation level of those who left Sheardal Imperial City in the past month was mid-stage Sacred Realm. They should know that such individuals couldn’t accomplish anything significant.”
“That’s true,” Ian Blade nodded.
Just then, Stephanie Stuart, Edie Fennimore, and Sol Stuart hurried in.
“Billy, we just received a letter from Opal. Blood and Devil Sects are making a big move!” Edie Fennimore said as they approached.
“What kind of big move?” Billy asked, slightly surprised.
“According to Opal, one or two hours ago, three groups of people left Sheardal Imperial City one after another, each group numbering around a thousand,” Edie Fennimore replied. “Judging by their routes, they are likely heading for the capitals of the other three empires!”
“Hmm?!” Billy was taken aback again. “Did Opal mention the high-end combat power of these groups?”
“Each group is led by a half-step into Holy Realm warrior and a ninth-rank Sacred Realm warrior,” Edie Fennimore continued. “Additionally, each group has four or five seventh-rank and eighth-rank Sacred Realm warriors, along with several early to mid-stage Sacred Realm warriors.”
“So exaggerated?” Hearing this, Azure Dragon and others frowned deeply.
From their understanding of the three empires, only Crimson Flame Empire had a ninth-rank Sacred Realm warrior and an eighth-rank Sacred Realm warrior, along with two seventh-rank Sacred Realm warriors. Ice Cloud Empire and Rainbow Moon Empire’s strongest warriors were only mid-stage Sacred Realm.
With such combat power from Blood and Devil Sects, the capitals of the three empires stood no chance of resisting!
“Boss, the three capitals are in danger!” Soul Chaser looked at Billy. “Should we go to support them?”
“This matter isn’t that simple,” Casey responded after some thought. “Blood and Devil Sects should know that besides them, Skydragon City is the strongest force in Forbidden Ruins Space. If they want to unify Forbidden Ruins Space, their primary target should be Skydragon City. If I were them, I would concentrate my forces to take down Skydragon City first; the other three empires are not worth worrying about. But they chose to attack only the three empires’ capitals instead. Something is off!”
“Casey’s analysis makes sense,” Stephanie Stuart nodded. “Blood and Devil Sects’ real target might not be the three empires’ capitals.”
“Hmm?!” Judge and Soul Chaser also realized something.
“Aunt Stephanie, do you mean Blood and Devil Sects are using this as a diversion?” Felicia asked after a pause. “They know we have an alliance with the three empires and won’t stand by idly. Then, when we send people to support them, they’ll attack Skydragon City?”
“Very likely!” Stephanie Stuart nodded. “According to our information, there are at least two Holy Realm experts in Sheardal Imperial City who haven’t moved yet. They are probably planning to come to Skydragon City!”
“Understood!” Felicia nodded.
“Damn!” White Tiger cursed. “Blood and Devil Sects have given us a tough choice!”
“Indeed!” Black Tortoise replied. “Sending people to support the three empires is risky; not sending anyone is also risky. How do we choose?”
Everyone’s faces grew serious. It was indeed a difficult decision.
If they sent people to support the three empires, Skydragon City would be left vulnerable! If they didn’t send anyone, the capitals of the three empires would fall today!
“Boss, what’s the plan?” White Tiger asked Billy after a while. “Should we send people?”
“Of course!” Billy replied firmly.
“Boss, what about Skydragon City?” Azure Dragon asked seriously.
“Even if we disregard our feelings about seeing the citizens of the three capitals slaughtered,” Billy took a deep breath and continued, “if we ignore their plight today, Skydragon City will be completely isolated. The outcome for us would be no different.”
“Understood!” Azure Dragon and others nodded.
“Billy, how do you think we should deploy our forces?” Stephanie Stuart asked Billy.
She had already considered this aspect! Whether for themselves or others, Skydragon City must send people out today! This was something Blood and Devil Sects had undoubtedly anticipated!