ARK SPIRIT

The river breeze swept across the deck.

The tea in Tieu Kiem’s hand was still warm. Thin wisps of steam rose from the cup, drawn by the wind into pale white strands before dissolving into the moonlight on the water.

Hao Nhien sat opposite him, his face still slightly pale because the poison in his body had not fully dispersed.

But after taking the Detoxification Pill Tieu Kiem had given him, the meridians in his chest no longer felt as numb and painful as before.

His true qi was still obstructed in places, but at least it no longer felt completely frozen.

He took a sip of tea, felt the cool taste spread down his throat, then smiled faintly and changed the subject:

“Brother Kiem, when it comes to pills and medicine, which sects or clans are the most famous?”

Tieu Kiem raised an eyebrow slightly.

“You’re interested in pills?”

He set down his teacup, his tone becoming a little more serious:

“Using pills to advance cultivation is a double-edged sword.”

“If you rely on them too much, your foundation can become unstable. Your realm may rise quickly, but your true qi will lack purity, and your state of mind may fail to keep pace. Later, breaking through major realms will become much harder.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“I understand what Brother Kiem means.”

“I don’t plan to rely on pills to raise my cultivation.”

He paused and looked toward Tieu Lan.

She was sitting beside him with both hands resting on her knees, listening attentively.

When she heard the word pills, her eyes clearly brightened, yet she tried to maintain a calm expression, as though afraid others might notice how much she was hoping to hear more.

Hao Nhien smiled faintly.

“It’s just that I was poisoned not long ago, so I want to understand more in case something similar happens again.”

“Besides, Tieu Lan has talent with medicinal herbs.”

“If there’s an opportunity, I want to find her a better place to study.”

Tieu Lan froze slightly.

She turned to look at him.

A trace of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Then she quickly lowered her head.

Her cheeks reddened slightly.

Tieu Kiem looked at the two of them, his expression softening a little.

“I see.”

He nodded.

“If we’re talking about pills and healing arts, the Medicine Sect is number one.”

“Besides them, the Tieu Dao Sect is also very strong. One of their main peaks specializes in the medicinal path.”

“There are also several clans with inherited medicinal traditions, but most of them pass their arts down only within the family, so outsiders rarely gain access.”

Hao Nhien had originally only meant to ask for Tieu Lan’s sake.

But the moment he heard the three words Tieu Dao Sect, something stirred in his heart.

Tieu Dao.

One Sword Tieu Dao.

The Tieu Dao Sword.

The Tieu Dao Sect.

Could there be some connection between these names?

He kept his expression calm and asked:

“Are the Medicine Sect and Tieu Dao Sect recruiting disciples during this selection?”

“Of course.”

Tieu Kiem smiled faintly.

“New disciples are the fresh blood of every sect.”

“For the recruitment taking place in Thanh Van City this time, almost every force with any reputation around the Eastern Plains will send people.”

“The Medicine Sect is quite strict in its selection.”

“The Tieu Dao Sect is… much more unpredictable.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“From the Medicine Sect’s name alone, I can roughly guess what they specialize in.”

“Pill refinement, healing, detoxification?”

“More or less.”

Tieu Kiem lifted his teacup and slowly said:

“The Medicine Sect is the strongest force in the Eastern Plains when it comes to alchemy and healing arts.”

“Their headquarters lies within a valley called Medicine King Valley.”

“That place has a special earth vein. Spiritual herbs grow everywhere, and medicinal qi lingers throughout the year.”

Tieu Lan’s eyes grew even brighter as she listened.

Tieu Kiem glanced at her and continued:

“The Medicine Sect’s cultivation is rooted in the medicinal path.”

“Those skilled in healing can use herbs and pills to pull someone back from the gates of death.”

“Those skilled in poison can refine poisonous pills capable of knocking a Qi Condensation cultivator unconscious within a short time.”

“Against truly powerful poison, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would not dare be careless.”

Tieu Lan shivered slightly.

Hao Nhien looked down at the tea before him and unconsciously remembered Moc Hoa’s poisonous smoke.

A seventh-layer Qi Condensation river bandit had nearly stripped him of all ability to resist with nothing more than a cloud of poison.

If a true expert of the Medicine Sect used poison

how terrifying would that be?

Tieu Kiem said:

“The Medicine Sect also has one very distinctive trait.”

“Neutrality.”

“They don’t like involving themselves in conflicts between righteous and demonic paths, and they rarely commit fully to either side.”

“Anyone with spirit stones, medicinal ingredients, or something suitable to trade can buy medicine from them.”

“Righteous cultivators can buy from them.”

“Demonic cultivators can too.”

Hao Nhien frowned slightly.

“The righteous factions aren’t dissatisfied?”

“They are.”

Tieu Kiem smiled faintly.

“But being dissatisfied is one thing.”

“Daring to actually act against them is another.”

“What cultivator never gets injured?”

“What clan doesn’t need pills?”

“What sect has no disciples whose lives need saving?”

“The Medicine Sect has saved countless people and sold countless medicines, which means countless experts owe them favors.”

He tapped a finger lightly against the rim of his cup.

“That’s why there’s a saying in the Eastern Plains.”

“If you want to live long, don’t make trouble for Medicine King Valley.”

Tieu Lan repeated softly:

“If you want to live long, don’t make trouble for Medicine King Valley.”

She committed it to memory very seriously.

Hao Nhien looked at her, somewhat amused, but also pleased.

At least from now on, Tieu Lan was beginning to have a clearer direction.

Hao Nhien asked again:

“What about the Tieu Dao Sect?”

Tieu Kiem took another sip of tea.

“The Tieu Dao Sect is an extremely ancient lineage.”

“I’ve heard their main sect lies very far away, and their inheritance extends across many regions of the continent.”

“They also have a branch in the Eastern Plains, but the people there still call themselves disciples of the Tieu Dao Sect.”

Hao Nhien’s eyes shifted slightly.

An inheritance spread across many regions of the continent.

Could One Sword Tieu Dao have once been connected to them?

He did not ask immediately.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Tieu Kiem continued:

“The Tieu Dao Sect has seven major lines of inheritance.”

“Metal.”

“Wood.”

“Water.”

“Fire.”

“Earth.”

“Sword.”

“Medicine.”

“They have many disciples, but those disciples are not all gathered in one place.”

“Some live in seclusion in the mountains.”

“Some wander through cities.”

“Some become wandering heroes.”

“Some even blend into the mortal world as merchants, physicians, or storytellers.”

The more Hao Nhien listened, the more interesting he found it.

A sect whose disciples could become merchants, wandering heroes, physicians, or storytellers.

It truly lived up to the name Tieu Dao.

“How do they choose disciples?” he asked. “Are they as strict as the Medicine Sect?”

“Not strict in the same way.”

Tieu Kiem smiled faintly.

“From what I know, they place great importance on temperament.”

“The Medicine Sect looks at talent for the medicinal path, spiritual roots, and sensitivity to medicinal properties.”

“The Tieu Dao Sect is different.”

“Sometimes a person’s aptitude isn’t particularly high, but if their temperament suits the person taking disciples, they’ll still be accepted.”

“Sometimes a famous genius stands right in front of them, but if they simply don’t like the person, they’ll pass.”

Tieu Lan looked surprised.

“They’ll pass just because they don’t like them?”

“Mm.”

Tieu Kiem laughed.

“That’s why outsiders often have no idea what standards the Tieu Dao Sect actually uses.”

He looked at Hao Nhien.

“But broadly speaking, they prefer people who aren’t too bound by fame and profit.”

“Once they accept you, they may teach you many things.”

“But walking that path also means accepting one fact.”

“What fact?”

“No one will protect you forever.”

Tieu Kiem set down his teacup.

“Tieu Dao means freedom.”

“But freedom also means bearing the consequences of your own choices.”

“Quite a few disciples of the Tieu Dao Sect die outside.”

“Some die in secret realms.”

“Some die because they interfere in injustice.”

“Some die because they believe too much in what they call following the heart.”

Hao Nhien fell silent.

Follow the heart.

Those words were no longer unfamiliar to him.

But from Senior Tieu Dao to Tieu Kiem, every time he heard them again, they seemed to carry a little more weight.

He said softly:

“It sounds like absolute freedom.”

“But also full of risk.”

“Exactly.”

Tieu Kiem raised his teacup, his gaze resting on the moonlit river.

“Tieu Dao is freedom.”

“But freedom always comes with loneliness and danger.”

“If you choose that path, remember”

“one step of Tieu Dao may cross a thousand miles.”

“But if you lose your way in the mortal world, you may spend your entire life without finding the road home.”

Hao Nhien looked toward Tieu Lan.

She too was listening intently.

He suddenly remembered what Tieu Dao’s remnant soul had once told him:

Do not pretend to be Tieu Dao.

Right now, he still had too many attachments.

Too many things to do.

Too many people he could not let go of.

He was not Tieu Dao.

Nor did he need to rush toward it.

He only needed to keep walking honestly.

“Thank you for the guidance, Brother Kiem.”

Hao Nhien said.

“I’ll remember it.”

Tieu Kiem nodded and continued:

“We talked about the Medicine Sect and the Tieu Dao Sect because you asked about pills.”

“But if you want to reach Thanh Van City without being completely blind to the cultivation world, there’s a larger picture you should understand.”

Hao Nhien sat a little straighter.

“Please enlighten me, Brother Kiem.”

Tieu Kiem looked out over the river.

His warm, low voice sounded as though he were telling an old story.

“This continent is vast beyond measure.”

“It is divided into four great regions.”

“The Eastern Plains.”

“The Western Wastes.”

“The Southern Frontier.”

“The Northern Frostlands.”

“Each region contains countless sects, clans, cults, merchant associations, wandering cultivators, and demonic cultivators.”

“They compete for spiritual qi.”

“For secret realms.”

“For inheritances.”

“For opportunities.”

He paused.

“We are currently in the Eastern Plains.”

“If we only speak of the most influential forces in this region, people usually mention one phrase.”

“Five Sects.”

“Three Cults.”

“One Palace.”

Tieu Lan repeated softly:

“Five Sects, Three Cults, One Palace.”

Tieu Kiem nodded.

“First, the Five Sects.”

“The five most influential great sects in the Eastern Plains.”

“Most outsiders place them on the righteous side, though each sect follows its own way.”

He raised one finger.

“First, the Sword Sect.”

“My sect.”

“We specialize in the sword path, with the sword heart as our foundation.”

Hao Nhien looked at Tieu Kiem.

He remembered the sword strike that had killed Moc Hoa.

Tieu Kiem continued:

“In Thanh Van City, there is a place called Sword Cloud Pavilion. It is where the Sword Sect recruits and evaluates outer disciples.”

“If you really want to try joining the Sword Sect, go there and find me, or simply leave your name.”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands.

“I’ll remember.”

Tieu Kiem raised a second finger.

“Second, the Thanh Van Sect.”

“They specialize in formations and artifact refinement.”

“They possess the Thanh Van Grand Formation, an extremely powerful defensive formation that protects their sect.”

“In one-on-one combat, their disciples usually aren’t as strong as sword cultivators like us.”

“But if you give them enough time to set up a formation—”

“even ten sword cultivators might hesitate to charge in.”

He raised a third finger.

“Third, the Huyen Thien Sect.”

“They specialize in talismans and spell arts.”

“Most of their disciples have rather rigid temperaments.”

“They like exterminating demons and destroying evil.”

“They frequently clash with the demonic path.”

Tieu Kiem took a sip of tea.

He did not go into too much detail.

Hao Nhien looked slightly surprised.

“What about the other two sects?”

Tieu Kiem smiled.

“You just asked about them.”

Hao Nhien laughed as well.

Tieu Kiem continued:

“Fourth, the Medicine Sect.”

“Fifth, the Tieu Dao Sect.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

Tieu Kiem set down his teacup.

His tone became slightly colder.

“The Three Cults are different.”

Tieu Lan unconsciously shifted a little closer to Hao Nhien.

Tieu Kiem said:

“The Three Cults are the three strongest demonic forces.”

“First, the Blood Demon Cult.”

“They cultivate blood arts, using fresh blood and blood essence to advance their cultivation.”

“Cruel.”

“They kill without hesitation.”

“They are hunted by the righteous factions more than any other group, but they are extremely good at hiding, so they are very difficult to eradicate completely.”

“Second, the Yin Soul Cult.”

“They cultivate souls.”

“They refine yin spirits.”

“They can command resentful spirits in battle.”

“They are more secretive than the Blood Demon Cult, favoring assassination and yin techniques that disturb an opponent’s mind.”

Hearing the words “cultivate souls,” Hao Nhien felt something stir inside.

If the Yin Soul Cult learned of his soul-related ability, he might draw even more attention from them.

Tieu Kiem continued:

“Third, the Heavenly Evil Cult.”

“The most extreme of the Three Cults.”

“They place their own desires above everything else.”

“They accept no laws or limits.”

“Dual cultivation.”

“Body possession.”

“Demonic arts.”

“Blood sacrifice.”

“If something benefits them, there is almost nothing they will not dare to do.”

“Disciples of the Heavenly Evil Cult often advance very quickly.”

“But their minds are also the easiest to distort.”

Tieu Lan’s face turned slightly pale.

Hao Nhien glanced at her.

He placed one hand lightly on the edge of the table a little closer to her.

Tieu Lan noticed.

Her eyes gradually softened.

Tieu Kiem’s gaze passed over that small movement, then quickly moved away.

He continued:

“The One Palace is Bich Van Palace.”

“It is a very unusual force.”

“Most of its disciples are female cultivators.”

“Their cultivation is rooted in soft yin techniques, illusion formations, and charm arts.”

“They are neither truly righteous nor truly evil.”

“They rarely provoke trouble first.”

“But once they do make a move, they are extremely troublesome.”

“Many people die inside their dream illusions without ever realizing they were caught.”

Hao Nhien frowned slightly.

“Illusion formations and charm arts?”

“Mm.”

Tieu Kiem said:

“Many people believe their willpower is stronger than everyone else’s.”

“In the end, they die because of that very confidence.”

He looked at Hao Nhien.

“If you meet someone from Bich Van Palace, don’t trust everything your eyes show you.”

Hao Nhien silently committed it to memory.

Do not trust everything your eyes show you.

That advice had value.

Tieu Kiem continued:

“Besides the Five Sects, Three Cults, and One Palace, there are also many cultivation clans around Thanh Van City.”

“Three stand out above the rest.”

“Yang.”

“Li.”

“Zhao.”

“The Yang family is famous for formations and mechanism arts.”

“Secretive, conservative, and rarely social, but with deep foundations.”

“The Li family specializes in medicinal herbs and pills.”

“Their inheritance is not as strong as the Medicine Sect’s, but they are wealthy and control many sources of rare spiritual herbs.”

“The Zhao family specializes in artifact refinement and magical treasures.”

“They have the Zhao Family Treasury.”

“It is said to contain many ancient treasures.”

“This family is quite ambitious and frequently becomes involved in struggles over secret realms.”

He looked at Hao Nhien.

“As for your Quan family”

“compared with those three, they are a level below.”

“But in Thanh Van City, they are still qualified to sit at the table with the local powers.”

Hao Nhien silently absorbed each name.

Five Sects.

Three Cults.

One Palace.

Three great clans.

The Quan family.

The Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow Rankings.

Thanh Van City suddenly no longer seemed like a simple name somewhere along the road.

It was like a great gate.

Beyond that gate was not merely the Quan family.

But a world far more complicated than he had imagined.

Tieu Kiem lifted his teacup.

His voice slowed.

“On this continent, the righteous and demonic paths fight, clans interfere, and sects compete.”

“To put it plainly”

“many things ultimately come down to one word: profit.”

He looked at Hao Nhien.

His gaze was calm yet sharp.

“But Hao Nhien.”

“Do not see profit everywhere and start believing cultivation is nothing but competition.”

“If all you know is how to compete”

“sooner or later, the very desire to compete will drag you to your death.”

“Cultivation is about surpassing yourself.”

“Competing for resources is difficult to avoid.”

“But if resources become the only thing in your heart”

“your path will only grow narrower.”

Hao Nhien fell silent.

The words were not spoken loudly.

But they came at exactly the right time.

He had just killed because others tried to rob him.

He had just gained spirit stones.

Cultivation manuals.

A medicinal record.

He had just heard about rankings.

Sects.

Clans.

Opportunities.

If he was not careful, it would be easy for his heart to be pulled along by the word profit.

Tieu Kiem took a sip of tea.

Then smiled.

“A good cup of tea.”

“A bright moonlit night.”

“Sometimes that is enough to remind someone why they still want to keep walking.”

Hearing that, Tieu Lan lowered her head and looked at her own cup of tea.

The corner of her lips curved slightly.

Hao Nhien also looked out over the river.

Moonlight covered the water.

Small ripples moved like countless silver scales.

The night wind passed over them.

Cold.

But clean.

He let out a quiet breath.

“So vast.”

Tieu Kiem looked at him.

Hao Nhien slowly said:

“Before this, all I knew was Thanh Van Town.”

“Thanh Van Mountain.”

“Dong City.”

“The Quan family.”

“The Han family.”

“Only now do I realize how vast the Eastern Plains truly are.”

“And beyond the Eastern Plains are the Western Wastes, Southern Frontier, and Northern Frostlands.”

“Each region has countless sects, clans, and powers.”

He paused.

“This continent is so vast that it inspires both awe—”

“and fear.”

Tieu Kiem smiled faintly.

“That is only one corner.”

“You’ll be even more surprised later.”

“Why?”

“Because it is very large.”

Tieu Kiem shrugged.

“I don’t know all of it either.”

Hao Nhien laughed.

“Brother Kiem speaks very honestly.”

“Sword cultivators don’t like going in circles too much.”

“But Brother Kiem is also very good at drinking tea and talking about the Dao.”

Tieu Lan suddenly added.

Tieu Kiem froze.

Then laughed loudly.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Tieu Lan laughed as well.

The laughter lightened the atmosphere on the boat considerably.

A short while later, Tieu Kiem stood.

“I still have business to attend to.”

“I should leave first.”

“Keep heading downstream.”

“In about three days, you’ll reach the outer docks of Thanh Van City.”

He looked at Hao Nhien.

“The poison in your body has been suppressed for now.”

“Give it a few more days, and as long as nothing unexpected happens, the rest should gradually disperse.”

“Once you reach the city, if you want to be safer, find a large medicine shop and buy a better Detoxification Pill.”

“Or visit one of the Medicine Sect’s local halls.”

He paused.

“As for the Sword Sect”

“there is no need to rush.”

“If you’re interested, come find me at Sword Cloud Pavilion.”

“If I’m not there, simply leave the name Quan Hao Nhien.”

Hao Nhien stood.

He cupped his hands deeply.

“Today, Brother Kiem saved my life.”

“And gave me a great deal of guidance.”

“Hao Nhien will remember it.”

Tieu Lan also hurried to her feet and bowed.

“Tieu Lan thanks Brother Kiem.”

Tieu Kiem waved a hand.

“Good tea.”

“I didn’t lose out.”

With that, he walked toward the side of the boat.

The silver-white sword at his waist gave off a faint hum.

Clink.

A streak of sword light appeared beneath his feet.

Tieu Lan’s eyes widened.

Hao Nhien did not blink either.

Tieu Kiem stepped onto the sword light.

His white robe fluttered lightly in the night wind.

He turned back toward the two of them.

And smiled.

“Thanh Van City is not peaceful.”

“But for the two of you—”

“perhaps it will also be interesting.”

With those words, the sword light lifted him into the air.

In the blink of an eye, the white-robed figure swept across the river.

It became a faint streak of light beneath the moon.

Then disappeared into the distance.

On the deck, Hao Nhien stood still for a long time.

Tieu Lan spoke softly:

“Young Master.”

“Brother Kiem is really powerful.”

“Mm.”

Hao Nhien looked toward the direction where the sword light had disappeared.

“Very powerful.”

Tieu Lan hesitated slightly.

“Are we really about to reach a place with many people like that?”

Hao Nhien remained silent for a breath.

Then said:

“There may be people even stronger.”

Tieu Lan became slightly tense.

Hao Nhien turned toward her.

He smiled faintly.

“But it’s all right.”

“We don’t need to defeat anyone immediately.”

“Then what do we need to do?”

Hao Nhien looked toward the river ahead.

“First, survive.”

He paused.

“Then learn.”

Tieu Lan nodded very seriously.

“Yes.”

“Survive.”

“Then learn.”

The small boat continued downstream.

The pots of medicinal herbs on the deck swayed gently in the night wind.

Inside the cabin, the Hundred Herbs Record rested quietly on the small table.

Inside the storage ring, the Tieu Dao Sword remained silently asleep.

Within Hao Nhien’s meridians, the pale-blue Spirit Sword had also settled back into stillness.