ARK SPIRIT

After passing through the gates of Third City, Hao Nhien instinctively glanced back up at the city wall.

The person who had been watching him from above while he was still outside had already disappeared. The sensation had been faint, carrying neither killing intent nor any trace of spiritual power probing him. If his spiritual awareness had not become far sharper after reaching Foundation Establishment, he might have thought he had imagined it.

Unable to find anything else, Hao Nhien temporarily pushed the matter aside.

Because once he entered the city, what caught his attention most was no longer that mysterious gaze, but the dense stream of people moving through every street.

Third City was far busier than it had been half a month ago. Yet this bustle was nothing like the prosperity of an ordinary city. Everything felt hurried and taut, like a bowstring drawn close to its limit.

Groups of lightly armored cultivators hurried along the main road. Some carried chests of pills, others pushed carts loaded with spirit stones toward the walls, while formation masters checked newly inscribed formation talismans as they walked. The grinding of wheels over stone, the clatter of armor, and the constant calls of stewards reading out squad names blended into a rhythm that belonged only to the front lines.

Along the distant walls, spiritual light flashed on and off without pause.

The giant crossbows were being inspected.

The city-protection formation was being replenished with spiritual power.

From time to time, a deep bell sounded from the northern side of the city, causing more than a few people in the streets to instinctively glance in that direction.

Trieu Phong noticed it as well.

“Military Affairs Hall first.”

No one objected.

The Military Affairs Hall was extremely busy. Cultivators responsible for records filled several rows of tables, constantly receiving command tokens, maps, and reports from squads that had just returned.

Trieu Phong waited for some time before it was finally his turn to hand over their command token and the map they had marked throughout the journey.

The report was not long.

Their route through the east and southeast.

The areas they had inspected.

The number of encounters with demonic beasts.

The unusual signs around the oasis.

The feeling of being followed during the days afterward.

And the squad’s injuries, gains, and changes in personnel strength.

After submitting the report, the squad was told to wait nearby. Before long, a soldier emerged from the inner rooms.

“Deputy City Lord Leng wants to see you.”

The Wind and Cloud Squad was led into a room farther inside.

Lanh Huyen stood before a large map hanging on the wall. Compared with half a month ago, several new red marks had appeared across it.

He did not turn around immediately.

“I’ve just read your report.”

Trieu Phong cupped his fists.

“Greetings, Deputy City Lord Leng.”

The others saluted as well.

Only then did Lanh Huyen turn.

His gaze passed over each of them before lingering on Quan Nha for an extra moment.

“Early Foundation Establishment.”

Then he looked at Luu Hoa.

“Your mid Foundation Establishment realm has stabilized.”

Finally, he looked at Hao Nhien before sweeping his gaze across the entire squad again.

“You have injuries, and your equipment has taken no small amount of damage. But your formation held, no one was lost, and two of you made major progress.”

“More importantly, the way you handle danger is no longer the same as when you first left the city.”

Trieu Phong said nothing.

Lanh Huyen studied the map for another moment.

“You covered a wider route than expected. You encountered third-rank demonic beasts and still kept the formation intact. Even your weakest member was never abandoned. Compared with when you first departed, you now know how to fight as a squad.”

He did not offer any lengthy praise, but everyone understood that this was already a high evaluation coming from him.

“This trip was not wasted. Your overall capability has improved considerably.”

Lanh Huyen paused before continuing.

“From today onward, you will no longer receive only training assignments in the rear.”

“But don’t misunderstand. That does not mean you are ready to charge straight into the front lines. In the Western Wastes, surviving for a long time matters more than winning one impressive battle.”

He pointed toward several red marks on the map.

“The situation outside is changing.”

“Rest for one day. Return to the Military Affairs Hall tomorrow morning for your next orders.”

Trieu Phong replied,

“Understood.”

Lanh Huyen was about to leave when his gaze suddenly paused on Tieu Lan, then shifted to the bandages still wrapped around Hao Nhien’s left arm.

“Medicine, artifacts, formation talismans. Whatever you are lacking, replenish it today. Tomorrow, you may not have the time.”

With that, he did not linger and headed directly toward the city wall.

The Wind and Cloud Squad watched him leave.

Tieu Van gave a quiet whistle.

“That last sentence didn’t sound like good news.”

Trieu Phong replied,

“All the more reason to prepare.”

After leaving the square, the squad did not return to their courtyard immediately. The gains from their recent journey finally had a place to be put to use.

Trieu Phong quickly divided their tasks.

“Gather back at the courtyard by dusk.”

Lam Phong immediately looked toward the artifact-refining district.

“I’m getting my shield repaired.”

Luu Hoa followed him.

“I’m heading there too.”

Trieu Phong nodded.

“I’ll come with you.”

Tieu Van looked at the three of them, then lowered his gaze to the twin short sabers in his hands.

“I’ll also…”

Lam Phong glanced at him.

“You planning to buy a shield?”

Tieu Van looked at him.

“I’m buying sabers.”

“I thought after hiding behind my shield for the past few days, you were planning to change professions.”

“Next time, I’ll let the demonic beasts test your shield more thoroughly.”

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Luu Hoa burst out laughing.

The tension that had followed them into the city finally eased a little.

Lam Tuyet chose to visit the formation district and the medicine hall. She was still at early Foundation Establishment, but after many days of using her Water affinity in the desert, she had a much clearer idea of which spiritual liquids and materials she needed to replenish.

In the end, only Hao Nhien, Tieu Lan, and Quan Nha headed toward Medicine Street together.

Medicine Street lay to the southeast of the main road.

It was not as large as the marketplace in Thanh Van City, but nearly everything sold here was extremely practical. Qi recovery pills, antidotes, herbs for treating fire toxins, medicine for wounds caused by demonic beasts, and even powders specifically used to resist poisonous desert sand could all be found.

Tieu Lan walked more slowly than the other two.

She often stopped in front of a stall, asked the price, then used her fingertips to examine leaves, roots, or dried stems.

At one small stall, the owner enthusiastically held up a bundle of herbs.

“This batch has preserved its medicinal properties very well. It’s especially suitable for…”

Tieu Lan looked at it for only a moment before gently shaking her head.

“The roots were dried for too long.”

The stall owner paused.

Tieu Lan pointed to the darkened section near the base.

“It has lost nearly thirty percent of its medicinal potency. If it’s used to treat fire toxin, it will take much longer to work.”

The man was silent for two beats before giving an awkward laugh.

“Young lady, you know your herbs.”

Quan Nha stood beside her and looked at Tieu Lan for a moment longer.

“You understand medicinal materials better than I expected.”

Tieu Lan blushed slightly.

“I only learned from Master.”

Hao Nhien smiled.

“Senior Phong probably wouldn’t agree with the word ‘only.’”

The corners of Tieu Lan’s lips curved slightly.

After more than one shichen, the three of them had exchanged for some antidote ingredients, hemostatic medicine, and several types of spiritual herbs suited to the environment of the Western Wastes.

It was not much, but everything could be used immediately.

Tieu Lan checked her storage bag once more and said,

“With these, if anyone is affected by mild fire toxin or poisonous qi next time, I’ll be able to treat it more quickly.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Then it was worth it.”

Quan Nha looked at the stream of people outside.

“We should rest for a while too.”

Hao Nhien glanced around and noticed a tea house tucked away at the corner of the street.

An old wooden sign hung above its entrance, carved with four characters:

Cloud Sand Tea House

“Let’s sit there for a while.”

He said,

“We can rest our feet and listen for any news in the city.”

Tieu Lan nodded.

“All right.”

The tea house was not large.

Most of the customers were patrol cultivators, medicinal merchants, and a few formation masters taking a break between shifts. Compared with the main street outside, it was much quieter, but there was little sense of relaxation.

Everyone kept their voices low.

Every so often, someone glanced toward the Military Affairs Hall or the distant city wall.

The three chose a table near the window.

Tieu Lan ordered a pot of Cloud Sand tea brewed with Spirit Snow Flower. As soon as it was poured, a cool, refreshing fragrance spread through the air, carrying a faint chill that felt especially pleasant compared with the dry heat outside.

Hao Nhien took a sip.

The dryness that had built in his throat after so many days on the road eased noticeably.

Quan Nha looked out the window.

“Third City is more tense than when we left.”

“Mm.”

Hao Nhien could feel it too.

Half a month ago, the city had felt like a military camp preparing for something.

Now it felt like a fortress that already knew danger was drawing close.

At the next table, several lightly armored cultivators were speaking in voices barely above a whisper.

“…the squad from the northwest still hasn’t returned.”

“I heard it wasn’t only demonic beasts.”

“There were people from the local tribes too.”

“They kept charging even after they were wounded, like they couldn’t feel pain.”

“Quiet. The Military Affairs Hall has forbidden anyone from discussing things before an official notice is issued.”

The rest of the conversation immediately dropped even lower.

Hao Nhien set down his cup.

Northwest.

That word brought back the reports he had heard before leaving the city.

Patrol squads had lost contact.

Outposts had been attacked.

Some of the traces did not match the usual methods of the local tribes.

It seemed none of it had truly ended.

Tieu Lan gently placed her hand over his beneath the table.

“Young Master.”

Hao Nhien turned toward her.

“Do you think we’ll be sent closer to the front tomorrow?”

“Not necessarily.”

He gently squeezed her hand.

“But we’re not the same as when we first arrived.”

Tieu Lan nodded softly.

Her fingers remained in his.

Quan Nha looked out the window for another moment before speaking.

“Once we finish the tea, we should go back and rest.”

“We receive our next assignment tomorrow. We should be in the best condition possible tonight.”

Hao Nhien was about to reply when the door of the tea house opened.

The wind chime hanging above it gave a soft ring.

A tall man stepped inside.

He wore white robes edged with silver sword patterns, his black hair tied neatly high behind his head. A slender sword, curved like a drifting cloud, was embroidered across his chest.

His presence was sharp without being overbearing, like a sword resting inside its sheath. Even without being drawn, those nearby could still sense the cold edge hidden within.

Hao Nhien froze.

That face was far too familiar.

The man who had once appeared on the Thanh Van River.

The man who had saved him from a deadly situation on the water.

Tieu Kiem.

A senior brother of the Sword Sect.

Tieu Kiem’s gaze swept through the tea house before stopping on Hao Nhien.

He paused as well.

Then he laughed.

“Quan Hao Nhien?”

At that moment, Hao Nhien suddenly remembered the sensation of being watched from the city wall.

He looked at Tieu Kiem.

“Brother Kiem, were you just up on the wall?”

Tieu Kiem walked over.

“I saw someone from a distance who looked like you, so I took another look. I didn’t expect it to actually be you.”

The last trace of doubt in Hao Nhien’s mind immediately vanished.

He stood and cupped his fists.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Tieu Kiem.”

Tieu Kiem looked him up and down, the surprise in his eyes growing clearer.

“Your aura has changed this much…”

He placed a hand on Hao Nhien’s shoulder, sensed for a moment, then raised his brows.

“Foundation Establishment?”

Hao Nhien smiled.

“Yes.”

“When we met on the Thanh Van River, you were still in Qi Condensation. I didn’t expect you to have crossed this threshold by the time we met again.”

Tieu Kiem shook his head.

“Sit. Let’s talk.”

Hao Nhien introduced the two beside him.

“This is Quan Nha, one of my squadmates. She recently entered early Foundation Establishment.”

“And this is Tieu Lan. Senior Brother has met her before. She handles medicine for our squad now.”

Quan Nha cupped her fists.

“Quan Nha greets Senior Brother Tieu Kiem.”

Tieu Lan also bowed.

“Tieu Lan greets Senior Brother.”

Tieu Kiem returned the greeting, then studied Quan Nha for an extra moment.

“Your foundation is very solid.”

His gaze lingered briefly, as though he had noticed something unusual in her aura, but he did not ask further.

“Your squad is quite interesting.”

Hao Nhien ordered another cup.

After a few pleasantries, he gave Tieu Kiem a brief account of what had happened since their separation on the Thanh Van River.

Joining the Tieu Dao Sect.

The outer sect trials.

Breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

Then coming to the Western Wastes and joining the Wind and Cloud Squad.

He did not go into great detail, but even that was enough to make Tieu Kiem fall silent several times.

“You’ve progressed far faster than I expected.”

Hao Nhien shook his head.

“Most of it was the situation forcing me forward.”

Tieu Kiem laughed.

“What cultivator isn’t forced by circumstance?”

He lifted his tea and continued,

“The difference is that some people are forced until they break, while others are forced until they become swords.”

Hao Nhien paused for a moment.

Tieu Kiem did not continue joking.

His gaze shifted outside the window, where groups of cultivators were still hurrying through the street.

“I just returned from the outer lines.”

His voice lowered.

“Third City is much more tense now than it was half a month ago.”

Hao Nhien sat a little straighter.

“Senior Brother knows what’s happening?”

Tieu Kiem thought for several breaths.

“The cities and frontline camps form several layers of defense. The farther west and northwest you go, the greater the distance between points of support.”

“The enemy still hasn’t revealed its full deployment. But their activity has increased significantly in recent days, especially among the local tribes.”

Tieu Lan’s fingers tightened slightly around her cup.

Tieu Kiem continued.

“Their cultivation isn’t necessarily high. What makes them difficult is their condition.”

“Some continue charging even after they’ve lost the ability to fight properly. Others are nearly unconscious and respond only to commands.”

“They also know how to coordinate with demonic beasts.”

Hao Nhien narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Who is behind them?”

Tieu Kiem shook his head.

“There is no conclusion yet.”

“The Military Affairs Hall has forbidden squads from discussing it freely. All we know is that some force is controlling them from behind the scenes, probing the defensive lines and constantly changing the way it attacks.”

He paused.

“The most dangerous thing is not how strong the enemy is.”

“It’s that we still don’t know what it wants.”

Hao Nhien said nothing.

Demonic beasts at least still had instincts.

A force capable of testing the defensive lines, using local tribes, coordinating with demonic beasts, and remaining hidden behind them was far more unsettling.

Tieu Kiem looked at him.

“How many Foundation Establishment cultivators are in the Wind and Cloud Squad now?”

Hao Nhien answered,

“Trieu Phong and Luu Hoa are at mid Foundation Establishment.”

“Quan Nha, Lam Tuyet, and I are all at early Foundation Establishment.”

“Lam Phong and Tieu Van are still in late Qi Condensation.”

“Tieu Lan handles medicine.”

Tieu Kiem frowned immediately.

“Too weak.”

He spoke without softening the words.

Hao Nhien did not argue.

“Good coordination can let you deal with demonic beasts stronger than any one of you individually.”

“But the front lines are not the eastern training zone.”

“The enemy knows how to lay traps, feign retreat, lure squads beyond the range of support, and target healers, formation masters, and messengers first.”

Tieu Kiem’s gaze settled on Hao Nhien.

“If the Wind and Cloud Squad is truly sent to the outer lines, don’t volunteer for direct combat missions.”

“You are currently better suited for short-range scouting, message delivery, guiding routes, or nearby rescue missions. Tasks that require speed, judgment, and coordination, rather than standing in the middle of a battlefield to see who is harder to kill.”

Hao Nhien felt his thoughts become much clearer.

This was exactly the problem he had begun to sense through the battles of the past several days.

The Wind and Cloud Squad had grown stronger.

But becoming stronger did not mean they were ready to face everything.

They needed a real battlefield in order to grow, but they did not need to be thrown directly into the place where people died fastest.

Hao Nhien cupped his fists.

“Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother.”

Tieu Kiem nodded.

“I also need to visit the Military Affairs Hall tomorrow.”

“If I see Leng Huyen, I’ll mention it.”

“But the final assignment will still be his decision.”

He lifted his teacup.

“All right.”

“Drink. It’ll be a waste once it gets cold.”

Hao Nhien smiled and raised his cup.

Tieu Lan and Quan Nha did the same.

Outside the window, Third City remained as noisy as ever, armor clashing, spirit-stone carts rolling through the streets, and voices calling out patrol squads without pause.

At that moment, a deep bell suddenly rang from the northern side of the city.

A second followed.

Then a third.

As the third bell faded, the conversations inside the tea house almost immediately fell quiet. Outside, several squads of cultivators changed direction and hurried toward the Military Affairs Hall.

Tieu Kiem set down his cup.

The smile disappeared from his face as he rose to his feet.

“I have to go to the Military Affairs Hall.”

He took two steps, then stopped and looked back at Hao Nhien.

“Don’t go far tonight.”

With that, he left the tea house.

Hao Nhien watched his figure disappear into the stream of people outside.

The day of rest

Lanh Huyen had just given them no longer seemed nearly as peaceful as it had before.