ARK SPIRIT

A man in light armor approached from the corridor.

He was tall and broad shouldered, with sun darkened skin and several faded scars across his face. His hair was cut short, and his narrow eyes carried the cold sharpness of someone who had spent too many years among desert winds and battlefields. The words Third City were embroidered in dark red across the chest of his armor, with a roaring tiger emblem beneath them.

He swept his gaze over the nearly hundred disciples who had just arrived through the teleportation formation.

“Follow me.”

No one asked questions.

The disciples followed him across the stone courtyard, through two corridors, and into a large chamber near the center of the city. There was little decoration inside, only rough stone walls, a large wooden table, and rows of simple stone seats.

The armored man stopped at the head of the table.

“Sit. No need to stand on ceremony here.”

Everyone found a place.

Once the room had settled, he placed both hands on the table.

“I am Leng Huyen, Deputy City Lord of Third City and commander of the Fifth Company. Late Foundation Establishment.”

His gaze moved across the young faces before him.

“I am not telling you this to boast. I only want you to know that the man speaking to you has survived in the Western Wastes for more than three years.”

The room grew quieter.

Leng Huyen continued.

“The military structure here is simple. Twelve people form a squad, four squads form a platoon, and four platoons form a company. But during the first stage, you will not be sent directly to the front line.”

Several disciples raised their heads.

Leng Huyen ignored the reaction.

“The first three days are for learning the terrain, climate, and how to operate together. After that, you will begin with assignments near the city, such as patrols, guiding supply teams, checking supply points, or gaining field experience inside controlled zones. Whether you are sent farther out will depend on your performance.”

Hao Nhien quietly committed the details to memory. It made far more sense than throwing them into a real battle the moment they arrived in the Western Wastes.

Leng Huyen raised a hand.

A beast hide map immediately unfolded across the table. Spiritual light spread through the markings, gradually forming a miniature projection of Third City and the surrounding area.

“This is Third City. Behind the main defenses are the rest areas, supply stores, training grounds, and treatment stations. The true wasteland begins beyond the forward side of the city.”

His finger moved across several points on the map.

“Even near the city, there are wild beasts, poisonous winds, collapsing terrain, and zones where spiritual qi is unstable. Farther out are more dangerous patrol routes and territories controlled by local tribes.”

He looked up.

“During the familiarization period, you are not permitted to leave the designated areas without authorization. Do not act alone, do not separate from your squad, and do not drag others into danger just because you want to show off.”

A series of thin jade slips flew from his hand and landed before the disciples.

“City regulations. Read them carefully. Violations will be punished under military rules.”

Everyone accepted the slips.

Leng Huyen waited a moment before continuing.

“Now form your squads. Twelve people to a squad. Choose your own members first. Any missing positions will be filled later. During the first three days of training, any formation that proves unsuitable will be adjusted.”

The atmosphere in the room changed at once.

Those who already knew each other quickly gathered together.

Hao Nhien looked around.

At his side were Quan Nha, Tieu Lan, Tieu Van, and Lam Phong.

Five people.

In terms of cultivation alone, the group was not particularly strong. Hao Nhien had only just reached Foundation Establishment. Quan Nha was at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation, Tieu Van and Lam Phong were both at the eighth layer, while Tieu Lan was only at the fourth.

But Hao Nhien had no intention of separating Tieu Lan from the group.

The first stage was only training and field experience within safer inner zones. For her, it would also be a useful chance to adapt to the Western Wastes and learn how to treat injuries under real conditions instead of working only behind a medicine table.

He looked at the four beside him.

“We stay together.”

Quan Nha had no objection.

Tieu Van immediately nodded.

“Of course.”

Lam Phong agreed as well.

“I do not want to start changing people the moment we arrive.”

Tieu Lan simply nodded.

Hao Nhien turned toward the rest of the room.

“We still need seven more. Anyone want to join?”

Several people looked over.

Most quickly looked away again.

One early Foundation Establishment cultivator, one ninth layer Qi Condensation cultivator, two at the eighth layer, and one at the fourth layer was not the most attractive combination in the room.

After a while, three people stepped forward.

The first was a sturdy man with dark skin and an aura that radiated heat.

“Luu Hoa. Fire Peak. Early Foundation Establishment.”

He looked at Hao Nhien.

“I’ll join.”

The second was a slender young woman surrounded by a faint trace of moisture.

“Lam Tuyet. Water Peak. Early Foundation Establishment.”

She gave a small nod.

“I’ll join as well.”

The last was a thin man whose appearance was unremarkable, though his aura was steadier than the other two.

“Trieu Phong. Earth Peak. Mid Foundation Establishment.”

He glanced over the five already gathered.

“I’ll join.”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands.

“Welcome.”

That brought them to eight.

They were still short four.

After waiting a little longer, no one else came forward.

Leng Huyen passed by and stopped in front of their group.

“Eight.”

His gaze swept across Tieu Lan.

“Your overall cultivation is not high, and you even have someone at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation. It is not surprising that no one else wants to join.”

Tieu Lan’s expression did not change.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Hao Nhien did not explain.

Leng Huyen looked at him.

“You have two choices. Split up and join squads that already have openings, or keep this group and I will assign four people currently stationed in Third City to you tomorrow.”

Quan Nha spoke first.

“Keep the group.”

Trieu Phong nodded as well.

“I agree.”

Leng Huyen looked at him.

Trieu Phong spoke calmly.

“A weaker squad does not necessarily die sooner if it knows its own weaknesses. Three days of training will be enough to see whether this formation is usable.”

Leng Huyen studied him for a few breaths before nodding.

“Fine.”

He looked over the eight of them once more, then settled his gaze on Trieu Phong.

“Your cultivation is the highest among them. Mid Foundation Establishment, and your aura is stable. You will serve as squad leader for now.”

Trieu Phong nodded.

“Understood.”

Leng Huyen left the remaining positions for them to decide among themselves and moved on to another group.

Once he was out of earshot, Trieu Phong looked around.

“What about a deputy?”

Quan Nha answered first.

“Hao Nhien.”

He turned toward her.

“Me?”

She nodded.

“Yes. You react quickly and do not panic easily when something unexpected happens. I think you suit the role.”

Tieu Van grinned.

“I agree.”

Lam Phong nodded.

“No objection.”

Trieu Phong looked at Hao Nhien for a moment.

“Then you are the deputy.”

Hao Nhien did not refuse.

“Fine.”

The decision took only a few sentences.

Trieu Phong glanced around.

“Hao Nhien, think of a name for the squad.”

Hao Nhien was momentarily surprised. He fell silent, looked over the group, then his gaze happened to stop on Lam Phong and Tieu Van.

“How about the Wind and Cloud Squad?”

Tieu Van blinked.

“Wind and Cloud?”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Wind and clouds always travel together, just as we will have to support one another from now on. And the name carries a bit of that free and unfettered feeling as well.”

Tieu Van immediately laughed.

“Good! I like it.”

Lam Phong laughed too.

“There is Phong and there is Van. Looks like we were destined to use it.”

Quan Nha gave a small nod.

“Not bad.”

Tieu Lan smiled as well.

“It suits us.”

Trieu Phong looked around and nodded.

“Then it is decided. Wind and Cloud Squad.”

In only a few moments, their temporary group had gained a leader, a deputy, and a name.

Hao Nhien looked at the people around him. Only a short while ago, most of them had still been strangers. A name alone could not turn them into true comrades, but at least it was a beginning.

Leng Huyen had just returned when he heard the name.

“Good. Wind and Cloud Squad.”

Then he continued,

“Report to the western valley tomorrow morning. The first three days are for coordination and adapting to the terrain. Do not assume it will be easy.”

His eyes turned colder.

“Scouting activity outside the city has increased recently. If the situation changes, your training period may end early.”

The room fell silent.

Leng Huyen offered no further explanation. He turned and left, the faint sound of metal from his light armor fading down the corridor.

After a while, Tieu Van let out a breath.

“We just got here, and he is already saying training might end early.”

He gave a dry laugh.

“Third City really knows how to welcome newcomers.”

No one laughed loudly, but the tension in the room eased a little.

Hao Nhien looked toward Trieu Phong.

“Brother Trieu.”

“Yes?”

“You understand formations better than the rest of us. We will follow your instructions for squad coordination.”

“Fine.”

Trieu Phong stepped into the center of the room.

“Before we train, everyone briefly state your cultivation and specialties. Once we leave the city, knowing what your companions can do matters more than knowing where they came from.”

His gaze fell on Hao Nhien.

“Deputy first.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Hao Nhien. Early Foundation Establishment. Wind affinity. I am strongest in speed and mobility, so I am suited for close reconnaissance, opening a path, sudden attacks, or drawing enemies out of position. My advantage drops considerably if I am forced into prolonged defense or confined terrain.”

Trieu Phong nodded.

Quan Nha stepped forward next.

“Quan Nha. Ninth layer Qi Condensation. Charm affinity, poison arts, and swordsmanship. I can disrupt an opponent briefly, create openings, or assist with assassination.”

She paused.

“My Charm Eyes cannot be maintained for long. Do not build a strategy around continuous control.”

“Understood.”

Tieu Lan stepped forward next.

Compared with the others, she was much smaller. Her pouch of medicinal supplies still hung at her side.

“Tieu Lan. Fourth layer Qi Condensation. I am skilled in medicine and medicinal materials.”

She almost slipped into her usual way of speaking, then corrected herself.

“I can stop bleeding, treat external injuries, handle some common poisons, and prepare temporary remedies.”

She looked at the others.

“I cannot contribute much in direct combat. But if someone is injured, I will do my best to keep them alive until we can bring them back to the city.”

Luu Hoa’s expression toward her immediately became more serious.

“Then I may have to rely on Miss Tieu Lan in the future.”

She nodded.

“I will do my best.”

Tieu Van spoke next.

“Tieu Van. Eighth layer Qi Condensation. Earth affinity body cultivator. I can hold the front line, take hits, and raise temporary earth walls.”

Lam Phong laughed.

“That suits you.”

Then he added,

“Lam Phong. Eighth layer Qi Condensation. Twin sabers. I handle mobility on the flanks and can cut off pursuit.”

Luu Hoa specialized in Fire affinity attacks, particularly forcing enemy movement and creating walls of flame. Lam Tuyet focused more on control, using moisture, water shields, and cold qi to slow enemies and support defense.

Finally, Trieu Phong introduced himself.

“Mid Foundation Establishment. Earth affinity. I specialize in defensive positions and will coordinate the squad formation.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Good.”

Trieu Phong sat down, picked up a small piece of stone, and quickly sketched a formation on the floor.

“Hao Nhien stays in front, but you cannot pull too far ahead. You are the fastest among us, which also means you are the one most likely to make that mistake.”

Hao Nhien smiled.

“I’ll remember.”

“Quan Nha stays slightly behind the front line. She needs a clear field of view to find openings and should not be locked into the foremost position.”

Quan Nha nodded.

“Tieu Van and I hold the defensive axis. Luu Hoa and Lam Tuyet take the two flanks, one focused on offense and the other on control. Lam Phong stays mobile and fills any gap that appears in the formation.”

Lam Phong nodded.

“Understood.”

Finally, Trieu Phong pointed to the rear.

“Tieu Lan stays behind the main formation. During training, she can move with us, but she is not to go beyond the defensive line.”

Tieu Lan answered,

“I understand.”

Trieu Phong stood.

“Tomorrow we start by learning how to move together. No fighting yet.”

He looked around the group.

“If we cannot even move as one, meeting an enemy will only turn us into a mess.”

No one disagreed.

The night in Third City passed quickly.

Or rather, it was not the kind of night that allowed anyone to sleep deeply.

Outside the stone window, footsteps and the sound of armor seemed never to stop. From time to time, a short bell rang from the city walls, followed by voices calling back and forth through the desert wind.

Hao Nhien slept only briefly before waking.

Near dawn, he sat up.

Dry wind from the Western Wastes slipped through the gap in the window, carrying a trace of fine sand. Feeling it against his skin, Hao Nhien found himself thinking of the Spirit Wings and the changes in his Wind affinity after reaching Foundation Establishment.

He did not circulate his cultivation.

There was something more important to do that morning.

By the time the sun rose above the horizon, the western valley outside Third City had been stained a deep red.

The Wind and Cloud Squad stood in the middle of the training grounds.

The area was a rough field of broken stone more than a hundred zhang across. Low spirit stone pillars surrounded it, forming a simple protective barrier. Hot wind swept over the rocks, carrying thin veils of sand. The air smelled of scorched earth, metal, and the particular dryness of the Western Wastes.

The four missing squad members had not yet been assigned, so the eight of them would train together for now.

Trieu Phong stood at the center of the field.

“Today we only practice basic formation movement. No combat and no showing off. The only goal is to move without breaking formation.”

He looked toward Hao Nhien.

“Deputy, take the lead.”

Hao Nhien nodded and stepped forward.

At first he kept his speed moderate, but after only a few moments, his body, still adapting to Foundation Establishment spiritual power, instinctively began to accelerate. By the time the footsteps behind him grew noticeably more distant, he realized he had opened a gap of nearly eight zhang.

“Stop.”

Trieu Phong’s voice rang out.

Hao Nhien turned.

“You are leading the way, not leaving the squad behind.”

Hao Nhien looked at the distance between himself and the others and immediately understood the problem.

“My mistake.”

He returned to position.

Tieu Van laughed.

“Deputy, run a little farther and all we will see is your dust.”

Hao Nhien shook his head.

“I’ll slow down next time.”

Trieu Phong offered no further comment.

“Again.”

The formation began moving once more.

This time, Hao Nhien only circulated a portion of his Wind affinity spiritual power around his feet, keeping his speed within a range the entire squad could follow.

Tieu Lan remained at the rear, inside the formation’s protective range. She did not need to match the strongest bursts of speed, but she still had to learn how to maintain proper distance whenever the others shifted positions. A sorted medicine pouch hung at her side alongside several bottles of simple medicinal powders and a jade slip for notes.

Hao Nhien occasionally looked back.

Tieu Lan did not move into the center of the formation. She simply watched the others carefully. When someone scraped a hand against a sharp stone, she noted the position and timing but did not rush forward and disrupt the formation.

As they passed through a narrow rocky gap, the formation quickly stretched out.

“Close in.”

Trieu Phong gave the order at once.

Tieu Van moved closer to the central axis. Lam Phong stepped forward to fill the gap behind him, while Hao Nhien reduced his pace.

When they reached a steep sandy slope, Luu Hoa tried to use Fire affinity beneath his feet for extra force. The loose sand immediately shifted.

His body tilted.

Lam Tuyet reacted at once. Moisture seeped into the sand beneath his feet and condensed for a brief moment, firming the loose ground enough for him to recover his balance.

Luu Hoa looked at her.

“Thank you.”

Lam Tuyet only said,

“Do not use fire directly on loose sand next time.”

Luu Hoa fell silent for a moment.

“I’ll remember.”

Near midday, the wind in the valley suddenly strengthened.

Layers of sand swept through the air, rapidly reducing visibility.

Trieu Phong immediately called out,

“Hold formation.”

Hao Nhien instinctively began gathering more Wind affinity spiritual power to tear open a path through the sand.

But halfway through, he stopped.

If he cleared only the space around himself and pulled ahead of the others, he would simply repeat the same mistake.

He reduced the force.

A layer of Wind affinity spiritual power spread along their route, not trying to overpower the wind directly, but merely diverting the incoming sand to either side.

At almost the same moment, Lam Tuyet released a thin veil of moisture through the formation. Tiny droplets clung to the dust and sand, making the silhouettes of the squad members easier to distinguish.

Trieu Phong stamped one foot against the ground.

A low earthen wall rose along the right flank, blocking part of the hot wind.

“Stop.”

The squad halted at once.

Their formation was still uneven.

The gap between Luu Hoa and Lam Tuyet was wider than it should have been. Tieu Van had fallen half a beat behind, and Tieu Lan had also needed to adjust her position to remain inside the protective range.

But no one was lost.

No one panicked.

Trieu Phong looked around.

“Better than the first attempt.”

Tieu Van braced his hands on his knees and exhaled.

“If this is only training, I am starting to wonder what real combat will feel like.”

Lam Phong laughed.

“At least you are still standing.”

“Of course I am. I am the wall.”

Luu Hoa brushed sand from his hair.

“That wall almost swallowed a mouthful of sand just now.”

Lam Tuyet turned her face away.

The corner of her mouth moved.

Tieu Van immediately pointed at her.

“Miss Lam, you just laughed, didn’t you?”

“No.”

“I clearly saw it.”

“The wind.”

Tieu Van fell silent.

Hao Nhien could not help laughing as well.

The stiffness between the eight of them had already begun to fade.

They were still far from being a truly coordinated squad, but at least they had begun to watch one another’s positions instead of focusing only on their own roles.