One Man Enters The City

On a mountaintop east of Cat Loi City, three figures stood silently in the desert wind.

Hao Nhien stood at the front, with Cat Thanh and Lieu Thien Van on either side. All three were looking toward the distant city.

Cat Loi had changed hands.

The sand-yellow banner that had once flown above the walls was gone. In its place, large black flags now snapped in the wind from the watchtowers, the gates, and the highest points of the city.

Two white characters stood out against the black.

Huu Thanh.

Inside and outside the city, black-clad soldiers moved in organized groups. War wagons rolled through the gates one after another, siege artifacts were hauled toward advantageous positions, and fresh formation flags were being planted along the walls. Archers quickly occupied the watchtowers, while rows of black tents stretched across the sand beyond the city, reaching all the way to the low dunes in the distance.

Sa Lang were chained near the guard posts, while several Fire Sand Tigers lay beneath the shadows of larger wagons, occasionally letting out low growls.

Hao Nhien watched for a long time.

The way Huu Thanh had replaced the banners, occupied the formation nodes, deployed troops, and moved supplies into the city made one thing clear.

They intended to stay.

Cat Loi had not merely been seized as a trophy. It was rapidly being turned into a new stronghold.

From here, Huu Thanh could station troops, store water, stockpile spirit stones, and continue sending forces eastward.

The decision to display Huu Thanh’s banners openly across the walls carried another meaning as well. At least part of their purpose was to make every nearby power in the Western Wastes see who now controlled this place.

Beside Hao Nhien, Cat Thanh stood completely still.

His hands were clenched tightly, yet his eyes never left the black banners on the wall.

“My city…”

His voice had gone hoarse.

“My ancestral land now flies Huu Thanh’s banners.”

Lieu Thien Van looked at him.

“Old Cat, this is temporary.”

Cat Thanh said nothing.

Lieu Thien Van continued:

“The city can be taken back. The people have to survive first.”

Hao Nhien did not interrupt.

His gaze remained on the stream of black-clad soldiers entering through the gates.

A Foundation Establishment unit had just descended into the central district. Three large wagons were being hauled across the square, while a group of formation masters began setting formation flags around the main hall.

Farther away, another convoy carrying spirit stones was still entering through the southern gate.

Huu Thanh was truly turning Cat Loi into a forward base.

After a while, Hao Nhien finally spoke.

“Let them enjoy it a little longer.”

Cat Thanh turned toward him.

Hao Nhien looked down at the city.

“I’m going over there.”

Cat Thanh immediately stepped forward.

“You’re going into the city?”

“Yes.”

“There are nearly ten thousand troops in there, and plenty of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Whoever commands Huu Thanh is definitely inside.”

“I know.”

Cat Thanh stared at him.

“And you still want to go?”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“That’s exactly why I have to.”

Lieu Thien Van studied him for a moment.

“You want to confirm whether they’ve moved deep enough into the city?”

“Not only that.”

Hao Nhien rested a hand on his storage ring.

“I also want to confirm whether they truly intend to keep advancing east.”

Cat Thanh frowned.

“You still want to talk to them?”

“This time is different.”

Hao Nhien looked toward Cat Loi City.

“If I truly have to use the final measure, I want to know for certain that I gave Huu Thanh a chance to stop before things reached that point.”

Lieu Thien Van looked at him.

“And if they refuse?”

Hao Nhien was silent for a beat.

“Then the answer will be clear.”

Cat Thanh was still uneasy.

Hao Nhien added:

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“I’ve already chosen my retreat route, and I know exactly what I need to confirm. I won’t go any deeper than necessary.”

Lieu Thien Van looked at Cat Thanh, then said slowly:

“Let him go.”

Cat Thanh clenched his jaw, but in the end he did not stop Hao Nhien.

Hao Nhien stepped onto the Tieu Dao Sword.

The moment the flying sword left the edge of the mountain, Spirit Wings erupted behind him in one brief burst, pushing his speed higher before immediately folding away again.

The Tieu Dao Sword shot straight toward Cat Loi City.

Cat Thanh remained on the mountaintop watching him go, while Lieu Thien Van slowly lowered the arms he had crossed over his chest.

Both men understood that Hao Nhien was not going there to show off.

He only needed an answer.

When Hao Nhien was still several hundred zhang from Cat Loi, the sound of war drums erupted from inside the city.

One drum followed another in rapid succession, and the entire wall came alive.

Archers rushed into position.

Long spears were raised.

Heavy crossbows swung toward him.

Formation flags along the walls began to glow.

A faint layer of spiritual light spread across the battlements.

In the camps below, the Sa Lang raised their heads at once, while the Fire Sand Tigers released low growls.

Whole units turned toward him.

The killing intent of an entire army gathered like overlapping waves and pressed toward a single figure suspended in the air.

Hao Nhien stopped the Tieu Dao Sword outside the range of immediate attack.

The wind pulled his robes taut, while the Fire Spirit Sword remained sheathed.

He infused spiritual energy into his voice.

“Quan Hao Nhien of the Hoa Ky Tribe requests to meet the commander of Huu Thanh.”

His voice carried clearly through the eastern section of the city wall.

The drums slowed.

Bows remained drawn and spearpoints stayed raised, but no one attacked immediately.

A moment later, an extraordinarily powerful aura rose from the area around the main hall.

Hao Nhien’s attention sharpened at once.

Peak Foundation Establishment.

The aura was fuller and far heavier than that of any late Foundation Establishment cultivator he had faced before.

It stood within the city like a mountain.

A tall man stepped out from the main hall.

He wore black armor beneath a cloak embroidered with golden thread, and his long hair was tied high behind his head.

A black flying sword shot toward him.

He stepped onto it and rose directly toward the wall.

The soldiers nearby lowered their heads in unison.

That reaction alone was enough for Hao Nhien to understand the man’s status.

The man came to a stop at the highest point of the wall, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked toward Hao Nhien from a distance.

“Clan Chief of the Hoa Ky Tribe.”

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“I’ve heard of you.”

He paused.

“I am the City Lord of Huu Thanh.”

Hao Nhien’s eyes shifted slightly.

That single sentence confirmed something important.

The man continued:

“You wanted to talk?”

“Yes.”

“You can speak from there.”

He gave a faint, cold smile.

“Or, if you truly want a clear answer, come closer.”

Hao Nhien guided the Tieu Dao Sword forward.

Immediately, more than ten streams of spiritual power locked onto him.

Three Foundation Establishment auras on the wall also rose at the same time.

The City Lord of Huu Thanh gave no order to stop him.

The distance rapidly shrank.

When only a few dozen zhang remained, the pressure of peak Foundation Establishment began to descend.

The air around Hao Nhien grew heavier.

The wind that had been blowing across the wall became disturbed under the spiritual pressure.

His shoulders sank slightly, and the Tieu Dao Sword beneath his feet trembled.

The gap in cultivation was unmistakable.

At that moment, the Hoa Ky Jade within his dantian trembled softly.

A stream of pure fire spiritual energy spread through his meridians, stabilizing the qi and blood in his body.

Behind him, faint firelight gathered into the vague outline of a Hoa Ky Beast.

The image appeared only briefly, more like an instinctive response from the Hoa Ky Jade than a true manifested form or complete divine ability.

Yet the ancient aura accompanying it helped Hao Nhien keep his body steady beneath the pressure.

The peak Foundation Establishment aura remained overwhelming, but it could no longer force him farther down.

Hao Nhien slowly straightened.

The smile on the City Lord’s face faded slightly.

Hao Nhien guided the Tieu Dao Sword down onto the wall.

Dozens of spearpoints immediately shifted toward him, while several nearby Foundation Establishment cultivators watched him carefully.

Hao Nhien ignored them.

His attention remained on the man before him.

“Cat Loi has withdrawn. Huu Thanh has taken the city.”

The City Lord raised an eyebrow.

Hao Nhien asked:

“Will you stop here, or continue east?”

The man laughed.

“You came alone to an army of nearly ten thousand just to ask that?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll answer you.”

The coldness in his smile deepened.

“Huu Thanh will continue.”

Hao Nhien looked at him.

“What would make you stop?”

“Hand over Cat Thanh.”

The reply came immediately.

“The Hoa Ky Tribe submits to Heavenly Eye, and the ties between Hoa Van, Cat Loi, and Tam Thanh are severed.”

Hao Nhien asked:

“And if I refuse?”

The City Lord studied him for several breaths.

“I’ll give you three days.”

“If those conditions have not been met after three days, this army will leave Cat Loi and march directly on Hoa Van.”

Hao Nhien did not answer immediately.

The wind swept across the wall, making the black banners above them snap sharply.

He asked:

“And after Hoa Van?”

The City Lord gave a cold smile.

“By then, you won’t be in a position to ask.”

Hao Nhien fell silent.

The answer was already clear enough.

The man continued:

“Don’t think Tam Thanh can protect you. Huu Thanh has arrived, and the other two forward cities of Heavenly Eye are not standing idle.”

Hao Nhien looked at him.

The City Lord went on:

“You broke the beast formation, killed people of Heavenly Eye, and shattered our advance force. We’ve already given you enough time to choose.”

By the time he finished, the last doubts in Hao Nhien’s mind had begun to settle.

He had come here to confirm one thing.

Now he had his answer.

Hao Nhien rested a hand on his storage ring.

Two Thunder Bursts remained inside.

He had killed with a sword before and had watched life and death be decided within a single exchange.

Thunder Burst was different.

A sword decided the life or death of the person standing before him.

Thunder Burst could drag thousands into death in a single instant.

Hao Nhien did not need them to die.

He only needed them to stop.

But Huu Thanh’s answer had already made their intention clear.

Seeing Hao Nhien remain silent, the City Lord gave a cold laugh.

“Finally afraid?”

Hao Nhien looked at him.

The man took one step forward.

“You have some ability, but you’re still only at middle Foundation Establishment. The only reason you can stand in front of me today is because I allow it.”

The pressure of peak Foundation Establishment rose again.

The Hoa Ky Jade within Hao Nhien trembled, helping stabilize his qi and blood.

He remained where he was.

“If Huu Thanh stops at Cat Loi, does not pursue Cat Thanh, and does not continue east, this can still end here.”

The City Lord looked at him as though he had heard something absurd.

“And what gives you the right to say that?”

Hao Nhien did not answer.

He only wanted to hear it one last time.

The man did not make him wait.

“Cat Thanh is handed over. Hoa Ky submits. Your alliance dissolves. If those things haven’t happened after three days, Huu Thanh will take what it wants itself.”

Hao Nhien remained still for several breaths before finally nodding.

The City Lord frowned.

Hao Nhien looked at him.

“I only wanted to confirm that I had done everything I could before choosing the next step.”

The smile on the other man’s face gradually disappeared.

Hao Nhien turned away.

The Tieu Dao Sword appeared beneath his feet.

The City Lord called after him:

“Hao Nhien.”

He paused.

“I give you three days. After that, Huu Thanh will not ask again.”

Hao Nhien turned his head.

The wind swept through his hair, while behind him, the faint firelight of the Hoa Ky Jade appeared for only a moment before fading.

“I don’t need three days.”

The man narrowed his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Hao Nhien looked at him one last time.

“I already have my answer.”

The Tieu Dao Sword rose and carried him away from the wall.

Behind him, the City Lord of Huu Thanh remained standing where he was, while the Foundation Establishment cultivators on the wall watched him leave with cold eyes.

Hao Nhien offered no explanation.

His spiritual sense swept across the terrain below as he moved.

The city wall.

The encampments.

The rows of war wagons.

The position of the central army.

Farther behind them lay the mountain range where the Thunder Rite was hidden deep within the rock.

The distance was still wrong.

He needed a position where the blast could engulf most of Huu Thanh’s forces concentrated around Cat Loi, while keeping the center far enough from the rear mountain to reduce the risk of affecting the Thunder Rite.

At some point, a small object had already appeared in his palm.

Thunder Burst.