As midnight descended, an oppressive silence blanketed the Cloud Market. The air was thick with tension, the ground trembling ever so slightly, as though nature itself held its breath. Anxiety gripped the hearts of cultivators and civilians alike. Sleep was a luxury no one could afford.
Suddenly, the earth quaked beneath their feet, a low rumbling tremor that shook windows and rattled lanterns.
"Activate the protection array!" a commanding voice boomed from atop the market gate.
In response, a translucent golden dome of light shimmered into existence, enveloping the entire market like a divine barrier. Under the pale moonlight, only cultivators at the Late Stage Qi Refining Realm with strong divine sense and high perception could clearly make out the distant, surging tide of demonic beasts approaching from beyond the horizon.
"Prepare your spells! Ready on my command!" the commander barked.
"Now!"
The night exploded into brilliance. Spells of every element and origin streaked through the sky, blazing fireballs, razor-sharp water blades, jagged earth spikes, dancing arcs of lightning, and glittering metal shards. The battlefield was transformed into a symphony of light and destruction.
When the beast tide closed in within ten kilometers of the market, the frontliners surged forward like a wave, weapons drawn and hearts pounding.
"Die, you wretched beasts!"
"Feel the edge of my sword!"
"ARGHHH! My arm—!"
Screams of fury, cries of pain, and roars of defiance melded into a chorus of chaos. The battle raged until sunrise, with the skies painted red by fire and blood. But as the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds, the demonic beasts abruptly withdrew, as if heeding the silent command of a higher power.
Though the battle had ended, the cultivators knew all too well, this was merely the first wave. The true strength of the beast tide had yet to emerge.
.....
Meanwhile, in the backlines, the logistics division was in a frenzy. Every talisman master, alchemist, and craftsman pushed themselves to the brink, desperate to prove their value. Failure only meant one thing, reassignment to the frontlines.
"Here thirty talismans, fifteen Fireball Talismans, ten Evil-Repelling Talismans, and five Light Shield Talismans. All are Middle Grade." Lan Rui placed his neatly stacked sheets on the counter.
The receptionist, a young man with thin spectacles and sleepy eyes, blinked in surprise. "You're… quite skilled for someone your age, Most loose cultivators struggle for years to reach this level. If you keep this up, you might even receive an invitation from one of the Three Immortal Families to serve as a guest talisman master."
Lan Rui offered a polite smile but said nothing.
Feng and Mu Family perhaps… but the Li Family? That's a distant dream.
The Li Family was famous for their lineage of talisman masters. Among their clan, dozens of First Rank High Grade talisman masters thrived, making a mere Middle Grade like Lan Rui seem insignificant.
After collecting a fresh batch of materials, Lan Rui stepped out of the building, only to be intercepted by a tall, stern-faced man in a black robe. On his chest was the insignia of two crossed swords, a mark of a lieutenant in the frontline forces. His aura was heavy and suffocating, his cultivation level is Late Stage Qi Refining Realm at the very least.
"You are Lan Rui?" the man asked, his voice cold and clipped.
"Yes," Lan Rui replied cautiously. "May I help you?"
"You've been reassigned to the frontline under my command. Follow me. Now."
Lan Rui's heart dropped. "But I'm with logistics. There must be a mistake…"
The man stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "This is an official order. If you refuse, you'll be arrested on the spot for insubordination, You can file a complaint later, if you survive long enough." His tone brooking no argument.
Around them, curious gazes turned into knowing stares murmurs spread like wildfire. Some snickered. Others glanced at him with pity or disdain.
Lan Rui clenched his fists but knew resistance was futile. "Understood. Where are we going?"
"Good, you know your place. We're meeting the rest of the squad," the man said with a sneer, turning on his heel.
After a short journey, they arrived at a modest wooden barrack near the edge of the encampment. Inside, a dozen cultivators gathered around a flickering lamp. Only one wore the sword insignia likely a junior officer. The rest were like Lan Rui, loose cultivators with no background and likely conscripted with little choice.
"Alright, folks! We've got a new member. This is Lan Rui, treat him well," the lieutenant said with an unpleasant grin before slumping into a chair.
As Lan Rui looked around uncertainly, an elderly man with grizzled hair, white streaks in his beard and sharp eyes approached.
"Hey, kid. Did you offend someone?" the old man asked. "It's rare for someone your age to be dumped in this squad unless they offended someone."
Lan Rui sighed. "Seems like it. I didn't think he had that kind of authority..." He knows who's work is this but he can't do anything so he just go with the flow for now.
The old man shook his head with a mix of pity and familiarity. "My name is Gao Wen. Just call me Old Gao. Don't try to be a hero here. Just try to survive."
"Old Gao," Lan Rui nodded. "What do you mean by 'this squad'? What's our assignment?"
"This is the scout team," Old Gao said, voice low. "Scouts. We patrol the outer battlefield. Locate hidden beasts, ambush nests, and intercept stragglers. It's high-risk, low reward. Sometimes we're bait. Sometimes we're fodder. Either way, we're expected not to return."
Lan Rui swallowed hard.
Old Gao leaned closer. "We also hunt down those who wander too far from the horde, but those ones? They're either scouting for their own kind or baiting us. Either way, it's risky."
"But it's not hopeless," Old Gao said, voice softening. "There are tricksand ways to sense beast patterns, avoid confrontation, survive ambushes. I'll teach you. Just don't draw too much attention, especially not from him."
For the next incense stick's time, Old Gao explained everything, the tactics, survival tricks, the ways to read beast tracks, and how to flee when things went south. Lan Rui absorbed it all like a sponge, every detail a lifeline.
Then, the lieutenant's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Enough rest! We will move out in one hundred breaths. Gear up!" His gaze lingered on Lan Rui with a mocking smile before turning away.
Lan Rui's heart tightened. "That smile… I need to stay alert. I can't trust anyone here. Betrayal could come at any moment."
.....