Welcoming the City Lord

The evening wind swept across the desert, carrying thin sheets of sand along the ground before scattering them at the foot of a low ridge of rocky hills.

The Hoa Ky army had temporarily halted where the road ahead split into two branches. One curved northward, wider but considerably longer, while the other passed through a gap between two ridges of grayish-brown rock. Though narrower, it was still broad enough for several dozen mounted riders to travel abreast before opening out again toward the south.

Hao Nhien stood beside his Sand Beast, studying the map in Luu Ho's hands. The scout who had just returned remained nearby, his breathing now steady, though a thick layer of dust still covered his clothes.

Luu Ho asked, "Duong Long's men said he wanted to meet me today?"

"Yes. They also sent someone back with us to serve as a guide. He's waiting outside."

Hao Nhien glanced over.

"Bring him in."

A short while later, a man in black armor was escorted forward. His cultivation was only at early Foundation Establishment, and the Heavenly Eye insignia was displayed on his chest. Upon arriving, he briefly surveyed the Hoa Ky soldiers behind Luu Ho before cupping his hands in greeting.

"Commander Luu, the City Lord was very pleased to hear that you had taken the initiative to leave Tien Thanh and welcome him."

The title City Lord caused several Hoa Ky soldiers behind Luu Ho to exchange subtle glances.

Duong Long had yet to set foot inside Tien Thanh, but those around him were already using the title as though it had always belonged to him.

Luu Ho showed no reaction.

"The situation in the east is unstable. We couldn't allow the City Lord to enter an area where trouble might arise without anyone to receive him."

The black-armored man nodded.

"That is precisely why the City Lord wishes to meet you. The main army is still advancing. If neither side stops, our forces should be able to join up around noon tomorrow."

"We'll continue south," Luu Ho replied.

The man showed no suspicion. After cupping his hands once more, he departed.

Only when he was out of earshot did Luu Ho lower his voice.

"Clan Chief, Duong Long has more than a thousand soldiers. If he remains in the middle of his army, making a move against him will be extremely difficult."

Hao Nhien rolled up the map and handed it back.

"Then don't try to force him to leave his army."

Luu Ho paused.

Quan Nha, standing nearby, turned toward him.

Hao Nhien merely smiled.

"Let him decide for himself that going ahead is the best choice."

The Hoa Ky force continued marching throughout the afternoon, stopping to rest only near midnight. The following morning, after allowing both the soldiers and their Sand Beasts sufficient time to recover, they resumed their journey.

Around noon, from the top of a low sand dune, Hao Nhien caught his first glimpse of the entire force Duong Long had brought with him.

There were more soldiers than the initial report had suggested.

At the front rode approximately two hundred Heavenly Eye cavalrymen mounted on lightly armored Sand Beasts. Behind them, infantry units marched in clearly defined formations, while several additional detachments brought up the rear, each bearing a different insignia. They had evidently come from tribes or other forces that had been absorbed into Heavenly Eye.

Black banners rose high above the formation, battle standards occupied the center, and the long trail of dust raised by the marching troops nearly obscured the horizon behind them.

Compared with the little more than three hundred Hoa Ky warriors, the difference in numbers was unmistakable.

Yet Hao Nhien did not dwell on it.

His gaze quickly settled on a group of nearly thirty mounted figures near the center of Duong Long's formation, where most of the strongest auras were concentrated.

There was one cultivator at peak Foundation Establishment, at least four at late Foundation Establishment, and most of the others had also reached the Foundation Establishment realm.

Duong Long was most likely among them.

Quan Nha spoke quietly.

"They're not weak."

"No," Hao Nhien agreed.

Luu Ho had already ridden forward on his Sand Beast, while Hao Nhien and Quan Nha maintained their identities as Giai Nhien and Tieu Nha, remaining in the third row of the Hoa Ky formation to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

The two forces halted nearly a hundred zhang apart.

A short while later, more than a dozen riders separated from Duong Long's army and approached.

The man leading them appeared to be in his fifties. He was not particularly tall or imposing, and wore a dark crimson robe over light armor. His black hair, streaked with silver, was tied neatly behind his head.

Foundation Establishment layer eight.

Hao Nhien needed only one glance to identify him.

Duong Long.

But his attention quickly shifted to the gray-robed man on Duong Long's right.

The man was thin and wore no armor, nor did he display any Heavenly Eye insignia. His aura was deeply restrained, yet when he dismounted from his Sand Beast, his feet barely left an impression in the sand.

Peak Foundation Establishment.

Compared with Duong Long, this man was the one who truly caught Hao Nhien's attention.

Luu Ho dismounted first and cupped his hands.

"Greetings, City Lord."

Duong Long studied him for a moment before sweeping his gaze over the Hoa Ky soldiers behind him.

Nearly all three hundred warriors appeared to be present, but this did not particularly surprise him. Nap Long had never commanded only the Hoa Ky people. His forces also included Heavenly Eye soldiers and other units assigned to the northern district. Thus, even with Luu Ho bringing most of the Hoa Ky warriors out of the city, enough men would remain behind to maintain its defenses.

Nevertheless, the person Duong Long most wanted to see was absent.

"How is Nap Long?"

Luu Ho seemed to have anticipated the question.

"The General has remained behind to oversee Tien Thanh's defenses."

"The Tam Thanh army has appeared in the east, and every district within the city has shifted to a defensive posture. If Nap Long were to leave the northern district as well, there would be no one there with sufficient authority to command the troops in an emergency."

Duong Long remained silent for a moment, apparently satisfied with the explanation, before asking, "Has anything else happened in the city?"

Luu Ho replied, "Some of the Hoa Ky people have recently begun wavering."

Duong Long's eyes immediately turned cold.

"They want to return?"

"Some have mentioned it."

"How has Nap Long dealt with them?"

"The General hasn't taken action yet. He said that with the City Lord's arrival approaching, making a major issue of it now would only attract attention from the other factions. He intends to wait until you enter the city and settle everything at once."

Duong Long's expression softened slightly.

"He made the right decision."

Then he glanced eastward.

"Tell me about the Tam Thanh army."

Luu Ho answered, "Several days ago, our scouts discovered a Tam Thanh detachment moving rather quickly toward Tien Thanh. Their route has been unpredictable. Sometimes they advance, sometimes they stop, and occasionally smaller groups break off in different directions. We still haven't determined their objective."

The gray-robed man beside Duong Long asked, "Their strength?"

"The vanguard consists of only a few hundred soldiers, but additional dust clouds have appeared behind them. Our scouts haven't dared venture too close, so the total number remains unconfirmed."

"How far are they from Tien Thanh?"

"Five days ago, they were roughly ten days away at an ordinary army's marching pace."

"Have they advanced directly toward the city?"

"We haven't received any such report," Luu Ho replied. "However, several smaller groups changed direction toward the south and disappeared from our scouts' sight. We can't be certain whether they're merely reconnaissance parties or detachments searching for another route."

Duong Long looked toward the gray-robed man.

Neither spoke immediately.

After a moment, Duong Long asked, "If the entire army continues at its current pace, how long until we reach Tien Thanh?"

Luu Ho glanced at the army behind him before answering.

"A little more than three days."

Duong Long frowned slightly. After considering the matter, he asked, "What if only the elite troops go ahead?"

"If we change Sand Beasts along the way and avoid lengthy rests, less than a day."

Duong Long glanced back at his army, weighing the situation.

A moment later, he turned to one of his officers.

"The main army will continue along the original route. Report your position once every four hours."

The officer immediately cupped his hands.

"Understood."

Duong Long turned toward Luu Ho.

"You'll lead the way. I'll go ahead."

Luu Ho bowed his head.

"As you command."

Duong Long brought forty-three men with him.

There were not many of them, but almost none could be considered weak. The gray-robed cultivator at peak Foundation Establishment remained close by his side. Four late Foundation Establishment cultivators positioned themselves in pairs, two ahead and two behind, while most of the remaining men were also at early or middle Foundation Establishment.

Such a formation was more than capable of handling most ordinary ambushes in the desert.

Duong Long was cautious as well. He sent nearly half of his own men ahead, while the Hoa Ky soldiers divided into two wings, one leading the way and the other guarding the rear. At a glance, it resembled an ordinary escort formation.

Hao Nhien traveled on the left, with Quan Nha not far from him.

By midday, the group began entering the passage between the two ridges of rocky hills.

The terrain was not a true canyon, nor were the slopes on either side high enough to conceal a large ambush force. The sky remained clearly visible ahead, and the route behind them was unobstructed. Even someone as cautious as Duong Long had no reason to turn back simply because of the terrain.

When the group had traveled nearly halfway through the passage, Luu Ho suddenly raised his hand, causing the men at the front to slow down.

Duong Long immediately asked, "Why are we stopping?"

Luu Ho turned his Sand Beast around.

"City Lord, there's something I wish to ask you."

The subtle change in his manner of address was enough to make Duong Long's eyes grow cold.

The gray-robed man beside him also raised his gaze slightly.

Duong Long asked, "What is it?"

Luu Ho looked directly at him.

"There are some Hoa Ky people in Tien Thanh who wish to leave Heavenly Eye."

Several of Duong Long's trusted subordinates immediately placed their hands on their weapons.

Duong Long, however, did not lose his temper.

"Leave for where?"

"Return to Hoa Ky."

Duong Long stared at Luu Ho for a long while.

"Do you understand what you're saying?"

"I do."

"And you want the same thing?"

"Yes."

Duong Long laughed, though there was no amusement in his eyes.

"I thought Nap Long had already dealt with this matter."

Luu Ho said nothing.

"Does Nap Long know what you're planning?"

"He knows."

"And?"

"Nap Long chose his path. I've chosen mine."

Duong Long's expression changed immediately.

"Where is Nap Long?"

This time, Luu Ho did not evade the question.

"Dead."

This chapter was taken without the author's permission. The author's official page is where the story is published and their work is supported.

A faint metallic sound rang out as one of the Heavenly Eye soldiers drew his sword half an inch from its sheath.

The gray-robed man raised a hand.

The soldier immediately stopped.

Duong Long continued staring at Luu Ho, his expression now utterly cold.

"You are soldiers under my command. Your names are registered in Tien Thanh's military rolls, your ranks were granted by Heavenly Eye, and your resources came from Heavenly Eye as well. Now you think you can simply leave with a few words?"

Luu Ho said, "I only want to ask you one thing. If a member of Hoa Ky no longer wishes to follow Heavenly Eye, would you allow him to choose his own path?"

Duong Long did not hesitate.

"No."

His answer was perfectly calm.

"What Hoa Ky needs now is unity, not a situation where everyone goes wherever he pleases. If every man beneath us chooses his own path, all we'll have left is a heap of scattered sand."

Luu Ho nodded.

"I understand."

He raised his hand.

There was no shouted command, nor any sudden eruption of killing intent. Yet more than three hundred Hoa Ky warriors began shifting positions almost simultaneously. Those at the front slowly turned back, the two flanks closed inward, and the soldiers at the rear came to a complete halt.

Without anyone needing to charge forward, Duong Long's group found itself enclosed within a tight ring.

Many hands tightened around sword hilts, but no one attacked.

Duong Long slowly looked around.

There were men he had known personally, men who had followed him for years, and others who had once received cultivation resources directly from his hands.

Now they all stood against him.

"Luu Ho."

His voice deepened.

"You've betrayed me?"

"I've returned."

"Is there a difference?"

A voice sounded from the left.

"A very great difference."

Duong Long immediately turned.

Giai Nhien stepped out from among the soldiers, with Quan Nha following half a step behind him.

The four late Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounding Duong Long immediately drew their weapons, while the remaining men quickly spread out to protect his position.

Hao Nhien did not look at Duong Long first.

Instead, his gaze settled on the gray-robed man.

"You're not from Heavenly Eye, are you?"

"No."

"Then why are you here?"

"I'm being paid to do a job."

Duong Long spoke coldly.

"Co Son, there's no need to speak with him."

Co Son did not turn his head. His eyes remained fixed on Hao Nhien.

"What do you want?"

Hao Nhien glanced at the sword in his hand.

"I only want to know whether the spirit stones he's paying you are worth dying here for."

Co Son's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You're very confident."

"I simply don't want to kill someone who has nothing to do with this."

Co Son gave a faint, disdainful smile.

"If you want me to leave, you'll at least have to show me that you're qualified to make such a demand."

Hao Nhien nodded.

"Very well."

The moment those words left his mouth, Spirit Wings erupted behind him.

There was no visible acceleration. The distance between them seemed to vanish in an instant.

Co Son's pupils contracted. Before he could even determine which direction Hao Nhien had moved, an invisible shock struck directly at his soul.

Soul Sword.

For a single beat, Co Son's thoughts went blank. His body still maintained its sword-bearing stance, but the commands from his soul lagged behind his opponent's movements.

By the time he recovered, the Fire Spirit Sword was already descending toward his face.

Co Son barely managed to raise his weapon.

Clang!

The two swords collided with an ear-piercing crash.

True Qi surged back through Co Son's blade and into his arm, forcing him several steps backward. His heels carved long furrows through the sand before he finally managed to steady himself.

Hao Nhien did not pursue.

He remained where Co Son had stood moments earlier, the Fire Spirit Sword lowered beside him, his aura as calm as though they had merely exchanged a casual testing strike.

Co Son was another matter.

He stared at Hao Nhien for a long while.

For the first time, genuine wariness appeared in his eyes. He seemed to be wondering how Hao Nhien had managed to appear directly in front of him.

The distance had been there.

Then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Several breaths passed in silence.

Duong Long frowned.

"Co Son?"

Co Son did not answer immediately.

He studied Hao Nhien once more before slowly sheathing his sword.

"I accepted spirit stones to escort you to Tien Thanh."

Duong Long's expression changed.

"What are you saying?"

"I never agreed to die alongside you."

Co Son's voice remained perfectly calm, though his eyes never left Hao Nhien.

"Especially when doing so would accomplish nothing."

Duong Long gritted his teeth.

"Heavenly Eye won't let this go."

Co Son gave a faint smile.

"I was never a member of Heavenly Eye."

He turned toward Hao Nhien.

"Can my men leave?"

Co Son indicated six members of Duong Long's party.

"They're with me."

Hao Nhien nodded.

Co Son said nothing further. The seven men quickly mounted their flying swords and departed from the passage between the rocky ridges. Even after flying a considerable distance, Co Son turned back for one final look.

Behind him, Hao Nhien watched until their auras had disappeared beyond the range of his perception before turning toward the thirty-odd men who remained with Duong Long.

"Anyone who isn't Hoa Ky and owes no blood debt to the Hoa Ky people may lay down his weapon. If you do, I won't kill you today."

No one moved immediately.

An early Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing tribal clothing looked at Duong Long, then at the more than three hundred Hoa Ky warriors surrounding them.

After several breaths of hesitation, he slowly lowered his sword to the ground.

A second man followed.

Then a third.

The four late Foundation Establishment cultivators around Duong Long remained in position.

Duong Long looked at those who had surrendered, his voice turning icy.

"You dare?"

Hao Nhien said, "They're simply doing what you just refused to allow the Hoa Ky people to do."

Duong Long whipped around toward him.

"Who exactly are you?"

"That doesn't matter right now."

Hao Nhien met his gaze.

"What matters is that you won't be returning to Tien Thanh today."

Duong Long drew his sword.

The four late Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately shifted positions. Two moved forward, while the others fell back to either flank, keeping Duong Long at the center.

Hao Nhien understood their intentions at a glance.

They had no intention of fighting to the death.

They were preparing to break through.

"Go!"

Duong Long shouted.

All five stepped onto their flying swords and shot toward Tien Thanh.

The four late Foundation Establishment cultivators remained together, maintaining a compact formation. Two cleared the path ahead, two protected the flanks, and Duong Long stayed between them.

Most of the Hoa Ky soldiers below were incapable of pursuing them on flying swords, while even those who had reached Foundation Establishment lacked the speed to directly intercept a formation composed entirely of powerful late-stage cultivators.

Hao Nhien immediately called out, "Luu Ho, hold the one on the far left. Quan Nha, draw the man on the right away from the formation. You don't need to defeat him."

Quan Nha had already stepped onto her flying sword.

"And the other three?"

Hao Nhien looked ahead.

"Leave them to me."

Spirit Wings unfolded.

Wind power gathered around his body, and his figure shot upward from the ground.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator at the rear had barely turned his head when Hao Nhien closed in.

His expression changed drastically.

He immediately swept his sword horizontally.

Hao Nhien did not retreat. His Spirit Wings abruptly redirected his movement, carrying him through the narrow opening at the very edge of the sword light as he continued pressing forward.

His opponent immediately pulled back his sword and slashed in the opposite direction.

This time, Hao Nhien did not evade completely.

The blade tore across his left shoulder, and blood immediately seeped through his clothing.

Yet just as his opponent believed he had forced Hao Nhien back, Hao Nhien pushed forward another step.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator froze.

He had never expected Hao Nhien to accept a sword wound merely to close the final half-step between them.

They were now too close for a longsword to generate its full power.

Hao Nhien used his left forearm to lock the man's sword wrist while simultaneously driving his right fist into his chest.

Thud!

Before the man could adjust his center of gravity, Hao Nhien's right elbow struck beneath his ribs.

There was no dazzling sword light or spectacular eruption of True Qi. Instead, the force traveled in a complete chain through Hao Nhien's feet, hips, back, and shoulder before concentrating at a single point.

Crack!

The sound of breaking bone rang out clearly.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator spat a mouthful of blood. His body curled inward, and his vision immediately darkened.

Hao Nhien released him.

The man plunged toward the desert below.

Two Hoa Ky cultivators at Foundation Establishment immediately rushed forward to capture him.

Blood was still flowing from Hao Nhien's shoulder, but after a brief glance at the wound, he turned away.

He had no time to prolong the battle.

Duong Long was still ahead.

Quan Nha was still behind.

The second late Foundation Establishment cultivator had witnessed the entire exchange.

He immediately crushed a talisman.

Red light enveloped his flying sword, greatly increasing its speed, while a long black spear appeared in his hands.

Rather than waiting for Hao Nhien to approach, he turned and thrust directly into the angle of Hao Nhien's advance.

"Heavenly Fire Piercer!"

The spear's projected force stretched for dozens of zhang.

This time, Hao Nhien did not charge straight in.

Using Spirit Wings, he repeatedly changed direction, staying close to the edge of the spear's attack as he gradually narrowed the angle between them.

The man immediately understood his intentions. His spear shifted trajectories continuously, trying to keep Hao Nhien beyond a distance of three zhang.

The two fought while racing through the air.

Each time Hao Nhien attempted to close in, the spearhead appeared directly in his path.

This opponent was clearly much more skilled at maintaining distance than the previous one.

After two attempts, Hao Nhien stopped trying to force his way in by the same method.

When the spear swept horizontally for the third time, he abruptly lowered his body, allowing the spearhead to pass overhead before striking the shaft with his Fire Spirit Sword.

Clang!

The spear shook violently.

His opponent immediately twisted his wrist to withdraw it.

But Hao Nhien had already seized the shaft with his left hand.

The man pulled hard.

Rather than resisting the force directly, Hao Nhien moved with the pull, using his opponent's own strength to propel himself forward.

The three-zhang gap vanished in an instant.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator's expression changed.

He immediately released his spear and struck at Hao Nhien's chest with his palm.

Hao Nhien angled his shoulder and absorbed part of the blow. His blood and Qi surged violently within his chest, but the Fire Spirit Sword had already descended before his opponent could withdraw his hand.

Slash!

The blade cut deeply through the man's right shoulder.

He roared, nearly losing all strength in that arm.

Hao Nhien twisted his body and drove his knee into the man's abdomen.

His opponent was knocked from his flying sword.

Before he could regain control of his body, Hao Nhien pushed off his own flying sword and plunged after him. The Fire Spirit Sword pierced his other shoulder, pinning him to the sand.

Boom!

Sand erupted around them.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator desperately circulated his True Qi to resist.

Hao Nhien withdrew his sword and struck a vital point along the side of the man's neck with the hilt.

His opponent immediately went limp.

Hao Nhien left only a brief command for the soldiers behind him.

"Secure him."

Then he shot back into the air.

Only Duong Long remained ahead.

The distance between them had grown considerably.

Duong Long did not turn back to rescue anyone. He poured all his True Qi into his flying sword.

Hao Nhien accelerated.

His left shoulder still ached, and the blood and Qi in his chest had yet to fully settle after the palm strike, but he showed no sign of slowing down.

Combining Spirit Wings with wind power, he repeatedly altered his flight path. Rather than following Duong Long's exact trajectory, he cut across shorter routes.

The gap rapidly narrowed.

Duong Long finally looked back.

When he saw Hao Nhien still pursuing him, his expression changed immediately.

He made a sharp turn, dropped to a lower altitude, and curved around a sand dune.

Hao Nhien did not follow the curve.

He cut straight across the dune's crest.

Just as Duong Long emerged on the other side, Hao Nhien's flying sword shot out from beneath his feet.

Whoosh!

Duong Long immediately twisted his body.

The sword, originally aimed at his back, changed direction at the last moment and pierced straight through his right thigh.

Thud!

Duong Long roared.

The flying sword beneath him lurched violently, and his speed dropped at once.

Hao Nhien was already upon him.

Duong Long spun around and slashed backward.

Hao Nhien deflected the attack with his Fire Spirit Sword, but Duong Long had no intention of fighting. The moment his strike was completed, he tried to flee again.

Hao Nhien gave him no chance.

A fist slammed directly into his chest.

Boom!

Duong Long was thrown from his flying sword and crashed into the sand.

The moment he landed, he rolled aside and swung his sword upward toward Hao Nhien's legs.

Hao Nhien shifted half a step away before stamping down on his wrist.

Crack!

Duong Long cried out in pain, and his sword fell from his hand.

Hao Nhien immediately struck several points around his chest and ribs, disrupting the circulation of his True Qi before binding his hands behind his back with a spirit-sealing restraint.

Duong Long continued struggling.

"Release me!"

Hao Nhien looked at him briefly.

"You should save your strength."

He handed Duong Long over to two Hoa Ky Foundation Establishment cultivators who had just caught up, then immediately turned back.

Luu Ho was still holding off a late Foundation Establishment opponent.

Both men were at layer seven, but Luu Ho had made no attempt to claim victory. He simply forced his opponent to change direction repeatedly, cutting off his escape route with his sword whenever the man tried to break away. The battle had become a prolonged struggle.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator was clearly growing impatient.

Finally, he ignored an incoming strike from Luu Ho and forcibly charged past him.

Luu Ho's blade struck his shoulder.

The man did not stop.

Just as he accelerated, Luu Ho unexpectedly threw his sword.

The blade spun through the air and struck the flying sword beneath his opponent's feet.

Clang!

The flying sword lurched sideways.

For an instant, the man lost his balance.

Luu Ho was already behind him.

A punch struck his back, driving him downward. Luu Ho followed immediately, pressing his knee against the man's shoulder as they both plunged into the sand.

When Hao Nhien approached, Luu Ho already had his sword pressed across his opponent's throat.

Hao Nhien saw no need to intervene.

"Can you handle him?"

Luu Ho was breathing somewhat heavily, but he nodded.

"Yes."

Hao Nhien immediately turned to look for Quan Nha.

She was the farthest away.

From the beginning, he had only asked her to keep her opponent occupied, but the gap between a middle Foundation Establishment cultivator and one at late Foundation Establishment was still considerable.

As Hao Nhien approached, his expression instantly grew cold.

There was blood at the corner of Quan Nha's mouth.

Her left sleeve had been torn, and a sword wound ran from her shoulder almost to her elbow. Though not deep, the blood had already stained half her sleeve red.

Her late Foundation Establishment opponent was not having an easy time either.

Quan Nha's Bewitching Eyes had repeatedly amplified judgments and expectations already present in his mind. Each time he thought he had correctly anticipated the direction of her evasion, she would appear somewhere else.

But the difference in cultivation remained.

Quan Nha had already consumed a great deal of True Qi.

The moment her opponent saw Hao Nhien approaching, he immediately turned and fled.

Quan Nha exhaled.

"If you'd arrived a little later, I really would have had to run."

Hao Nhien did not answer immediately.

His gaze settled on the wound on her shoulder.

"How badly are you hurt?"

"Just a flesh wound."

Hao Nhien gave a faint nod.

Then he turned.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator had already fled more than a hundred zhang.

This time, Hao Nhien had no need to trade injuries for a chance to close the distance. Duong Long had been captured, and Luu Ho was fully capable of dealing with his own opponent. Hao Nhien now had enough time to make full use of every advantage at his disposal.

Spirit Wings opened to their fullest extent. The wind power surrounding his body was driven to its limit.

Within only a few breaths, he appeared behind the fleeing man.

Sensing the aura approaching from behind, the late Foundation Establishment cultivator immediately turned and slashed backward. Sword light swept horizontally, almost completely sealing off Hao Nhien's path.

Hao Nhien did not stop.

The wind power around him abruptly changed direction, pulling his body clear of the sword light by the narrowest of margins. The instant the blade passed, his Spirit Wings erupted again, propelling him forward so quickly that his opponent barely had time to register the figure appearing before him.

The man's expression changed drastically.

He tried to retreat, but Hao Nhien had already denied him the space needed to recover his sword stance.

The Fire Spirit Sword descended from above.

At the same moment, Hao Nhien's flying sword separated from beneath his feet, swept low, and shot upward from below.

One attack from above.

One from below.

Both arrived almost simultaneously.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator gritted his teeth. He raised his longsword to block the Fire Spirit Sword while forcibly redirecting the flying sword beneath his feet to avoid the attack rising from below.

He had barely managed to escape the two-pronged assault when Soul Sword struck directly at his soul.

There was neither light nor sound.

His thoughts suddenly trembled, and the commands issued by his soul no longer connected seamlessly with his body. The disruption lasted only an instant, but at such close quarters, a single delayed beat was enough to collapse his entire defense.

The Fire Spirit Sword forced his longsword aside.

The flying sword below immediately changed direction and pierced his thigh.

Thud!

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator had barely cried out in pain when Hao Nhien advanced another half-step and drove his left fist into his chest.

Boom!

The protective True Qi across his chest shattered.

His entire body was thrown from his flying sword, blood pouring from his mouth as he crashed into the sand.

Hao Nhien did not immediately follow him down. He remained suspended in the air, watching his opponent struggle to push himself upright.

By now, the difference between them had become unmistakable. It was not that any single technique Hao Nhien possessed was overwhelmingly powerful, but that he could link his methods together with almost no opening for his opponent to respond.

Only now did the late Foundation Establishment cultivator below truly understand this. A flicker of terror appeared in his eyes.

He had barely managed to rise when Hao Nhien landed before him.

Hao Nhien studied him for a moment, then glanced toward the blood still staining Quan Nha's shoulder in the distance.

The Fire Spirit Sword descended.

Thud!

A single thrust pierced the man's shoulder and pinned him to the ground.

He screamed.

Hao Nhien withdrew the blade and struck his thigh next.

The wounds were not enough to kill him, but they were more than enough to destroy any chance of escape.

The late Foundation Establishment cultivator gritted his teeth against the pain.

Hao Nhien spoke coldly.

"You should consider yourself fortunate that she suffered only a flesh wound."

He struck a vital point near the man's temple with the hilt of his sword.

His opponent immediately lost consciousness.

Hao Nhien bent down, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him up as though lifting a sack.

When he returned, Quan Nha was still standing on her flying sword.

She glanced at the blood staining his left shoulder, then at the man dangling from his hand. A faint smile curved her lips.

"Did you go to capture him, or trade injuries with him?"

Hao Nhien looked at her.

"If you can still joke, I suppose you're all right."

"I was always all right."

Quan Nha wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

"It's just rather exhausting to keep someone a layer above me occupied."

Hao Nhien did not answer immediately. His eyes returned to the wound on her shoulder before he finally spoke.

"Let's get down and treat your injuries first."

Quan Nha nodded softly.

By the time they returned to the ground, Duong Long had been forced to kneel on one knee in the sand, his hands bound behind his back. The remaining men had either surrendered their weapons or been restrained separately, while the late Foundation Establishment cultivators who had attempted to break through the encirclement were being escorted back one after another.

Duong Long raised his head toward Hao Nhien.

His eyes lingered on the blood staining the young man's shoulder and arm before shifting to the men who had once protected him, now being brought back as prisoners.

His expression grew increasingly grim.

"Giai Nhien..."

He spoke slowly, his gaze never leaving the figure before him.

"I've never heard of anyone like you among the Hoa Ky people."

Hao Nhien stopped in front of him.

"That's hardly surprising."

Duong Long narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Hao Nhien did not answer immediately. He simply regarded the older man for a moment before giving a faint smile.

"Giai Nhien was never my real name."

Duong Long's expression changed at once.

He studied the face before him carefully, searching his memory for a name that might match the strength he had just witnessed. Yet even after several breaths, nothing came to mind.

"Who exactly are you?"

Hao Nhien did not answer. He simply turned away, leaving Luu Ho to escort Duong Long back toward the camp.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Duong Long watched his retreating figure, the uncertainty in his eyes deepening.

He did not know how this young man had gained control of Hoa Ky, nor could he understand why Luu Ho and more than three hundred warriors obeyed him without hesitation.

But there was one thing Duong Long was beginning to realize.

Giai Nhien was not the name he needed to remember.

It was the man behind that name whom he truly needed to know.