The muster bell's last note faded into the morning mist. Huo Chen arrived at the eastern gate as the final disciples assembled, their breath visible in the cold mountain air. The altitude made everything sharper—the chill, the light, the way sound carried across the compound.
Eight branch disciples formed up in a loose circle. Their auras flickered with varying intensity, most hovering between the fifth and seventh layers of Qi Refining. Huo Chen nodded to a few familiar faces. They'd trained together in the outer courtyards and do have a good relationship.
Elder Huo Rong stood at the center. Late forties, face weathered from years of field missions, his eight-layer Qi Refining base radiated steady authority. He wore gray elder robes modified for travel—hem shortened, joints reinforced with leather. A short sword hung at his hip, and he gripped a command talisman that pulsed with rhythmic glowing light.
He scanned the assembled group with the practiced eye of someone who'd led dozens of these missions. "The Eastern mine entrance sits eighteen li from this gate.
We'll move at a steady trot, two-column formation. The objective is straightforward—clear the perimeter of demonic beasts, secure any exposed spirit stones from the new vein and ensure the tunnels are safe for the ore carts." He paused, making sure everyone was paying attention.
"Auxiliaries, you'll mark hazards and keep the path clear for the carts coming behind us. Standard protocol. Everyone stays alert, everyone comes home." The group acknowledged with nods and quiet affirmations. This was routine work for the clan, necessary work.
Someone had to keep the mines operational, and that meant regular patrols to deal with the demonic beasts that inevitably moved into any concentration of spirit stones. Elder Huo Rong gestured forward and they set off.
The path wound through rolling hills dotted with sparse woodland. The landscape showed the marks of long cultivation work—cart tracks worn deep into the soil, trees planted in deliberate patterns to stabilize the earth.
The Qi here ran thin, most of it siphoned toward the mining operations and the clans ground proper. Conversation started naturally among the disciples, comparing notes on recent training sessions and discussing technique refinements.
After the first li, though, the talk faded as everyone settled into the rhythm of travel. Huo Chen focused on his breathing, cycling Qi through his meridians to keep his muscles loose and ready. He took position in the middle of the formation where he could observe the group's movement as a whole.
Two positions ahead, Huo Lian moved with the fluid grace that came from excellent instruction and abundant resources. She chatted quietly with a sixth-layer cousin about some technical aspect of flame manipulation. Huo Chen caught fragments of their discussion—something about controlling heat distribution in combat techniques.
Inside his dantian, the Earth Clone remained dormant. Chen kept his awareness on it without activating it. A eight-layer elder would sense any unusual Qi fluctuations, and there was no reason to draw attention during the journey.
But the scouting data from yesterday sat clear in his mind. He'd mapped the route through his clone's perspective, noted the terrain features and identified potential dangers. The sun climbed higher as the terrain gradually shifted. The hills grew steeper, the path narrowing as it wound between two low ridges.
The scent of damp earth and pine grew stronger. After about forty minutes of steady travel, they approached the slope he had identified during his scouting run. The ground looked solid enough at first glance. Packed dirt, slightly darker where water had settled after recent rains.
But his affinity with the earth picked up the subtle wrongness—the way sound resonated differently, the hollow feel beneath the surface. An old tunnel collapse, probably from a decade or more ago when the mining operations extended further east. Elder Rong raised his hand.
The talisman flashed red and the column halted. "Path narrows between the ridges ahead," He announced. "Single file through this section. Ground's been unstable with the recent weather. Watch your footing." Huo Chen moved forward slightly, timing his approach so it looked natural rather than rushed. "Elder Rong, there's a subsidence approximately ten paces ahead.
The soil pattern suggests a cavity underneath. Wide enough that if the whole formation crosses together, the ground might give way." Elder Huo Rong turned his attention to Huo Chen, then extended his spiritual sense into the earth. After a moment, he struck the ground with his sword's scabbard. The sound came back hollow, followed by faint crumbling from below. "Sharp observation," Rong said, his tone approving.
"That would've slowed us down considerably." He raised his voice to address the group. "Detour left along the ridge. Keep to the bedrock." Several disciples glanced at Chen with mild curiosity. Huo Lian looked back, her expression shifting from casual to attentive. Huo Chen had demonstrated useful field awareness, the kind that came from careful attention to detail.
The group adjusted smoothly, following the elder's direction toward more stable ground. The detour added about ten minutes to their travel time, but everyone navigated it without incident. Huo Chen felt satisfied with how that had played out.
He'd confirmed that his clone's scouting provided accurate, actionable intelligence. He'd also established himself in Elder Rong's awareness as someone observant and reliable—useful qualities that wouldn't raise questions about hidden capabilities. The path along the bedrock was rougher but safer. Huo Chen used the time to observe his fellow disciples more carefully.
Most carried themselves well, maintaining good Qi circulation and staying aware of their surroundings. The sixth-layer cousin walking with Lian demonstrated solid fundamentals, his movements efficient and controlled. Another disciple, a girl with a burn scar on her left hand, cycled her Qi with noticeable skill, preparing for potential combat ahead.
These were competent cultivators, each bringing their own strengths to the mission. The clan relied on missions like this to season younger disciples, giving them real experience beyond the practice yards. When they crested the final ridge, the forest sounds changed.
A howl cut through the air—sharp and metallic, distinctly unnatural. Another answered it. Then three more in quick succession, creating an overlapping chorus. Communication signals. Pack coordination. The Iron-Fanged Wolves had detected their approach. Huo Chen felt the weight of the jade mission token in his sleeve.
The mine perimeter was less than a league away now. The preparatory phase had ended. He studied the treeline ahead, already preparing his consciousness for what came next.
The main group would engage according to Elder Rong's battle plan, using formation tactics and coordinated techniques. Huo Chen would add his own contribution—information the others couldn't access, a tactical perspective from an unexpected angle.
Around him, disciples drew their weapons smoothly. Swords, sabers, iron-bound staves—each cultivator ready with their preferred armament. Chen rested his hand on his own blade, feeling the familiar weight. His heartbeat remained steady as he began the mental preparation, thinning his conscious presence in his physical body.
Elder Rong moved to the front, short sword already in hand. "Tight formation from here forward. When we engage, outer positions hold the perimeter while inner positions rotate through offensive strikes. Standard pack tactics—we work as a coordinated unit." Simple, clear and effective.
Elder Rong was giving them a framework that played to their training. Everyone knew their role. Execute the plan properly and the mission would succeed. The howls sounded again, closer now. Huo Chen could hear movement in the underbrush—multiple sources, circling, probing for information about the human group's strength and positioning. He drew a slow breath, thinking. "its time to deploy my advantage."