Early the next morning, the Grand Council Hall of Dry-Well Capital was packed with generals, ministers, and former sect elders.
A giant sand-table map of the entire continent sat in the middle of the hall. To the west lay the green oases of the Red-Sand Wastes; in the center lay the rich plains and highways of the Central Continent; and all along the southern edge stood a towering wall of jagged black peaks known as the Spine-Mountain Range.
Just then, the heavy double doors of the council hall banged open.
General Tie Zhan marched in at top speed, holding a tray of steaming pork buns in his left hand and a glowing red border report in his right. He stuffed four big pork buns into his mouth at the same time, his cheeks puffing out like two iron cannonballs as he saluted Pei Xuan on the main seat.
“Mmph! Mmph-mmph! Lord Pei!” Tie Zhan chewed twice, swallowed all four buns with a loud GULP, and wiped his mouth on his armored sleeve. “Fresh drone-bird pictures just came in from Iron-Gate Pass! The situation in the Southern Demon Lands is way bigger than the midnight scout thought!”
Tie Zhan tossed the glowing jade slip onto the central sand-table. Immediately, a three-dimensional light projection designed by Mo Xiaoliu rose into the air above the map.
