Heavenly Eye Forward City

On the second day after leaving the storm shelter, Hao Nhien's group continued southwest. The great sandstorm had altered the terrain of the Western Wastes considerably. Many old dunes had vanished, while new stretches of sand now covered the road. Yet the most obvious difference was not the landscape, but the number of people appearing along the route.

The closer they drew to Heavenly Eye Forward City, the more beast caravans, merchants, and tribesmen they encountered. Most of them were traveling in the same direction.

Luu Thanh quickly began making use of what he was best at.

He had always found it easy to strike up conversations with strangers. When they encountered a beast caravan carrying animal hides, he casually asked for directions and praised a few of their goods. When they passed a group of young men riding desert horses, he asked about the price of the mounts before smoothly shifting the conversation toward conditions after the storm. When they came across a small merchant convoy with a wagon wheel stuck in the sand, he even dismounted to help push it free before naturally asking whether anything interesting had happened recently in Heavenly Eye Forward City.

Hao Nhien watched from behind for a while and found himself reassessing the young man. In the past, he had mainly thought of Luu Thanh as talkative and fond of gossip, but now that he looked at it differently, that ease around strangers could be extremely useful when applied properly. There was no need to interrogate anyone or resort to tricks. As long as people felt he meant no harm, a great deal of information would naturally come out on its own.

By midday, the three stopped beneath the shade of a tall sand ridge. Their Black Horses stood nearby, slowly chewing the dried desert grass Lanh Hoa kept in his storage pouch.

Luu Thanh took a drink of water, crouched down, and used a dry twig to draw several marks in the sand.

"Young Master, I found out quite a lot."

Hao Nhien looked at him.

"Go on."

Luu Thanh pointed the twig at one of the marks.

"The Sandfire Tribe currently has quite a few people working in the Forward City. Some are builders, some mine the special sandstone used for the walls, and a few know how to forge tools, so the Heavenly Eye has hired them as well. I heard the pay isn't low. Those who work well can earn more clean water and spirit stones than they would back in their tribe."

He drew another circle.

"The Sandwind Tribe mostly comes here to trade. They bring refined spirit sand, poison-resistant beast hides, Fire Sand Grass, and several kinds of medicinal powder used to reduce dehydration while traveling through the desert. They haven't exactly submitted to the Heavenly Eye, but their dealings with them have already become fairly deep."

Lanh Hoa looked at the marks in the sand.

"If people do business here long enough, they'll get used to depending on the city."

Luu Thanh nodded.

"That's what I thought too. At first it's only selling goods. Then they need warehouses, water, lodging, and protection. Once all of those things are in the Heavenly Eye's hands, pulling away won't be easy."

He added a few more marks.

"The Black Sand Tribe already sent people here before. The group we met this time heard that the Forward City had opened a new trade district, so they brought more people to take a look. The Flowing Sand Tribe is more cautious. They claim they're only stopping by because it's convenient, but from what I saw, most of them are here to observe. They're in no hurry to hand over their people, and they don't seem eager to stay either."

Hao Nhien asked:

"What about the Heavenly Eye itself?"

Luu Thanh lowered his voice.

"I ran into two groups that had just returned from missions outside. They didn't speak to me, but while they were resting and drinking water, they mentioned that this place isn't the only Forward City."

Hao Nhien's gaze shifted slightly.

"There are others?"

"At least two more were mentioned. I don't know whether they're finished yet, and I don't know how large they are, but it looks like the Heavenly Eye is building several places like this around the major nomadic routes."

Lanh Hoa frowned.

"If that's true, then this isn't just a single fortress."

"That's what I think too."

Luu Thanh planted the twig in the sand.

"Places like these can draw in people from the surrounding tribes. Those who come looking for work, trade, water, or shelter all pass through here before becoming more deeply involved with the areas controlled by the Heavenly Eye."

Hao Nhien looked toward the horizon.

Beyond the thin haze left behind by the storm, the faint outline of a city had already appeared in the distance. It was still far away, but the shape of the walls alone was enough to show that its scale was not small.

"This is how you build a net."

Hao Nhien spoke slowly.

"You don't need blades to force everyone into submission. As long as water, work, trade, and shelter gradually fall into your hands, the tribes will naturally find it harder and harder to leave."

Lanh Hoa looked toward the distant city.

"What if there are people from the Fire Qilin Tribe inside?"

"Then we have even more reason to go in and look."

Hao Nhien answered.

"But remember what I told you. We're not going there to cause trouble."

Lanh Hoa nodded.

By late morning the following day, the three finally arrived before Heavenly Eye Forward City.

The city rose from the desert like an artificial mountain newly raised from the yellow sands.

Its scale was far greater than Hao Nhien had expected, almost comparable to Third City. The walls stood dozens of zhang high and stretched so far in both directions that from the main gate, their ends could not be seen. The gray-yellow sandstone had been compressed and reinforced by formations, and faint lines of spiritual light occasionally shimmered within it beneath the sun.

Unlike Third City, which had endured years of war and carried an old, solemn weight, Heavenly Eye Forward City still possessed the rough urgency of a massive structure under construction. To the north, scaffolding covered a long stretch of wall while desert beasts constantly hauled enormous blocks of sandstone through the ceaseless sounds of hammering, shouting, and formation carving.

Hao Nhien only needed a few glances to understand one thing clearly.

A Forward City that was not even finished was already nearly as large as Third City.

If what Luu Thanh had heard was true, the Heavenly Eye had at least two more places like this.

The resources required to build cities on this scale were already far beyond what an ordinary tribe of the Western Wastes could bear.

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The thought only strengthened Hao Nhien's belief that the Heavenly Eye's true foundation ran deeper than anything they currently understood.

Above the main gate was the symbol of an enormous eye engraved into glossy black metal. The eye was not fully open, only slightly narrowed, yet that half-lidded shape made anyone standing below feel as though they were being watched.

A temporary wooden barrier had been erected in front of the gate. Beside it stood several long tables where people lined up to register and pay an entrance fee.

A large sign beside the road read:

Entry Fee: Five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones Per Person.

Includes trading rights, access to public water facilities, and protection within the city.

Below that was another line:

Private fighting is forbidden within the city. Violators will be punished according to the laws of Heavenly Eye Forward City.

A long line had already formed before the registration tables. Some people silently took out spirit stones and paid. Others stood staring at the sign for a long time before finally stepping forward. A few groups clearly considered the fee too high and simply turned around and left.

Near the table on the left, a man in a desert cloak was arguing with one of the fee collectors.

"Five mid-grade spirit stones per person? This price didn't exist before the storm."

The soldier handling registration did not even look up.

"New rule."

"The city isn't even finished and you're already raising the fee?"

"Pay if you want to enter. If you don't, leave."

The man angrily pointed toward the city.

"This is the Western Wastes, not private land belonging to the Heavenly Eye. People have crossed this region for generations and no one has ever charged us for it."

Several people behind him immediately voiced their agreement. Some said five mid-grade spirit stones was no small amount. Others asked whether someone who only wanted to enter, buy a few things, and leave still had to pay the full price. The discussion quickly spread through the crowd outside the gate.

Standing beside Hao Nhien, Lanh Hoa's expression turned cold. His hand tightened briefly around the reins before loosening again.

He spoke quietly.

"This fee didn't exist five days ago. The Heavenly Eye is tightening its grip faster than I expected."

Hao Nhien did not answer immediately. He looked at the people voicing their dissatisfaction, then at those farther ahead who were still taking out their spirit stones and paying.

Most of them were unhappy.

But they still paid.

Inside the walls were spirit-water wells, trading districts, secure lodging, warehouses, and work. Five mid-grade spirit stones was not cheap, but many still considered what lay beyond the gate worth the price.

Watching people complain while continuing to hand over their spirit stones, Hao Nhien understood more clearly how the Heavenly Eye's net was being drawn tight.

The argument at the front began to grow louder.

At that moment, the sound of armor clashing came from within the gate. A middle-aged man in black armor stepped out, a short cloak over his shoulders and a larger eye emblem on his chest than those worn by the ordinary soldiers. Nearly ten cultivators carrying long spears followed behind him.

The man's aura had reached late Foundation Establishment.

He swept his gaze across the crowd and let spiritual power carry through his voice.

"Silence."

His voice was not particularly loud, but it was enough to suppress the noise around the gate.

"The entrance fee is a new rule issued five days ago. Those who pay are entitled to use the trade district, public water facilities, and the protection of the Heavenly Eye while inside the city. Private fighting is forbidden. If you have a grievance, settle it on the arena. Those who break the rules will be expelled or punished according to the severity of the offense."

He looked toward the man who had been arguing.

"No one is forcing you to enter. If you don't want to pay, turn around."

The man's expression turned ugly, but in the end he said nothing more.

The official did not press him further. He simply turned and walked back through the gate, leaving the soldiers to continue their work.

Hao Nhien watched for a moment before urging his Black Horse forward.

When it was their turn, he took out fifteen mid-grade spirit stones and placed them on the table.

"Three people."

The soldier quickly counted them and handed over three dark gray metal tokens. Each one bore a small eye symbol and a series of numbers.

"Keep the tokens. Return them at the gate when you leave. Lose one and you'll have to pay the fee again."

Hao Nhien accepted them and handed one each to Lanh Hoa and Luu Thanh.

The three passed through the wooden barrier.

Lanh Hoa did not look back at the registration table. Luu Thanh did not joke as he usually would.

Hao Nhien only said quietly:

"We're inside. That's what matters for now."

The city gate was wide enough for several beast caravans to pass through side by side.

As they went beneath the massive metal gate, Hao Nhien looked up at the enormous eye symbol above. Under the midday sun, the black metal reflected a cold sheen, making the half-closed eye seem even more like it was watching every person who passed beneath it.

Inside the city, however, the scene changed completely.

Heavenly Eye Forward City was still unfinished, yet the crowds already surpassed most settlements Hao Nhien had seen in the Western Wastes. The main road was wide enough for several beast-drawn wagons to travel side by side. One section had already been paved with formation-reinforced sandstone, while the rest remained flattened yellow sand.

On both sides of the road stood canvas tents, wooden shops, warehouses, and newly erected stone buildings. Workers from the Sandfire Tribe carried large blocks of stone, merchants from the Sandwind Tribe pulled covered carts, and newly arrived nomads walked through the streets holding their entrance tokens, curiosity and caution mixed in their eyes.

Heavenly Eye soldiers patrolled in groups of three or five. They did not deliberately provoke anyone, but their gazes constantly swept over places where too many people gathered for too long.

The scent of dust mixed with fresh spiritual mortar, the sweat of laborers, roasted meat, and wine from roadside stalls, creating the distinct atmosphere of a city being raised by manpower and ambition.

Luu Thanh looked around before speaking quietly.

"This place isn't even finished yet, and it's already as busy as a huge market."

Lanh Hoa looked toward a building in the distance where groups of young tribesmen were registering.

"A market only trades goods."

He paused briefly.

"This place trades people too."

This time, Luu Thanh did not argue.

Hao Nhien walked between the two men without staring at any one place for too long. Before they had reached the gate, he had already reminded them of the arrangement: in front of outsiders, both Luu Thanh and Lanh Hoa would address him as Young Master. It might make others assume they belonged to a wandering family or some minor force, but it was still far better than exposing the title Clan Head.

Luu Thanh had accepted the arrangement quickly, while Lanh Hoa had only nodded in silence.

After walking a little farther, Hao Nhien noticed a building that stood out near a central street corner.

It had been built from reddish-brown sandstone reinforced by formations. The outer walls were coated with heat-resistant plaster, while fired clay tiles covered the roof. Bronze lanterns engraved with flame patterns hung on either side of the entrance.

Above the main doors was a large sign bearing three dark-red characters:

Sandfire Pavilion.

Voices, clattering bowls, and calls for wine drifted out from inside. The scent of roasted meat reached all the way into the street.

Hao Nhien pointed toward it.

"Inside."

Luu Thanh immediately understood.

"A tavern is the easiest place to hear things."

The three handed their Black Horses over to the beast keeper outside before entering the Sandfire Pavilion.

The interior was larger than it appeared from outside. The floor was paved with relatively clean stone, and several sandstone pillars supported the roof, each carved with patterns of flames and swirling sand. More than half of the dozens of low wooden tables were already occupied.

Some merchants were bent over calculating prices. Construction workers still covered in red dust ate while speaking loudly. In one corner, several Heavenly Eye soldiers had removed part of their armor and were drinking. Most of the other tables were occupied by nomads, beast hunters, and people from smaller tribes who had recently arrived in the city.

Hao Nhien chose a relatively secluded table in the corner, a position that allowed him to see most of the hall without drawing too much attention.

The three sat down.

Luu Thanh rose naturally.

"I'll order."

Not long afterward, he returned with a server. A plate of roasted beast meat sprinkled with spicy herbs, a portion of desert flatbread, and three small jars of wine were placed on the table.

Luu Thanh opened one of the jars. The fragrance immediately spread out, carrying hints of tree resin and flower nectar, very different from the sharper Fire Sand Wine of the Sand Thunder Tribe.

He filled three cups.

"Young Master, Brother Lanh, try this."

Lanh Hoa looked at him.

Luu Thanh paused slightly. Clearly, the words "Brother Lanh" still did not come naturally to him.

He coughed lightly.

"It's only because we're in the city."

Lanh Hoa said nothing and simply picked up his cup.

Hao Nhien smiled faintly.

"You'll get used to it after a few days."

Luu Thanh immediately seized the opportunity.

"Exactly, Brother Lanh."

Lanh Hoa took a sip of wine and looked at him.

Luu Thanh immediately lowered his head and drank from his own cup.

The wine contained only a very small amount of spiritual qi. As it passed down the throat, it produced a warm sensation that gradually spread through the body, helping blood and qi circulate and easing the fatigue of long travel. For cultivators at their current level, the effect was negligible, but for Qi Condensation cultivators or people who frequently traveled through the desert, it was clearly quite useful.

Hao Nhien set down his cup without making his gaze wander too obviously. A place like the Sandfire Pavilion was not merely somewhere to eat and drink. It was also the best kind of place to hear people casually say things they would never deliberately tell a stranger out on the road.

Sure enough, before he had even finished half his cup, a man's voice sounded from the table behind them.

"I heard another group of Fire Qilin people entered the city yesterday?"

The person sitting with him answered casually.

"What's strange about that? More and more Fire Qilin people have been showing up in the Forward City lately."

The first man lowered his voice.

"I heard it has something to do with Duong Quang."

Lanh Hoa's hand, resting beside his wine cup, paused slightly.

The playful look on Luu Thanh's face vanished as well.

Hao Nhien maintained the same posture and did not turn toward the table behind him.

He simply lifted his cup and slowly took another sip.

At last, he had heard the name they needed.