Note: I was reviewing Chapter 33—I mentioned five elders and the Grand Elder. Technically, there are only five, as the First Elder is considered the Grand Elder. Sorry for the confusion, I've already corrected it.
On another note, a group of cultivators was advancing through a dense mountainous forest. The mist floated like a veil among the trees, and the constant crunching of branches under their feet was the only sound accompanying their advance. Sunlight barely managed to filter through the thick canopy, casting long and sinister shadows across the ground. The birds had long since fallen silent.
At the front of the group marched Xuan Tao, leader of the Xuan family's guard. His steps were firm, his gaze sharp as a spear. Behind him, ten cultivators followed with discipline: three at the intermediate level of Qi refinement and six at the lower level. Despite their numbers, the figure that dominated the group's atmosphere walked in the center.
It was an imposing figure: straight-backed, robe billowing with each step, eyes like blades beneath white eyebrows. He appeared to be an old man, but his bearing was that of a restrained beast. He was the Second Elder of the Xuan family: Xuan Jinfeng.
His gaze was not that of a mere observer; it was the gaze of a predator scanning his territory for prey. The respect Xuan Jinfeng commanded did not stem from his title, but from his bloody record and the brutal strength that still coursed through his body. It was said he could overpower three cultivators of the same level and still have energy to spare.
Within the Xuan family, only the Grand Elder stood above him in power. But in terms of ferocity and determination, many claimed that Jinfeng had no equal.
He had insisted on participating in the mission personally. Reports weren't enough. He wanted to see with his own eyes the unknown enemy that had dared to touch Xuan property.
The journey from Black Rock City had been peaceful, without incident. Finally, after crossing one last mountain ridge, they arrived at a high point from which they could see the valley housing the black iron mine.
They were approximately two kilometers from the mine. From the weed-covered slope, the group of cultivators came to a halt. In the distance, among the crags and stone structure, some silhouettes could be seen under the dim morning light.
Xuan Jinfeng stopped cold. His robe fluttered lightly as he raised his gaze toward the mining area. He said nothing at first, but his sharp eyes scanned every corner of the terrain as if he could tear through the mist just by looking.
Xuan Tao, who had been walking behind, stepped forward and spoke in a low voice: "Second Elder… from this distance, we can see figures. A dozen, maybe more. But we can't be sure."
Xuan Jinfeng narrowed his eyes. His voice, cold and firm, cut through the air: "Wait here. I'll investigate personally. Xuan Tao, come with me."
There was no discussion. Both immediately held their breath, activating a technique commonly used among cultivators to conceal their presence. Their steps became as light as the breeze, disappearing among the trees in the direction of the mine.
A few minutes later, already hidden behind a rocky formation, they watched attentively. From that position, they could see better: the figures patrolled silently around the mine's central building. Their movement was methodical, precise. More than a dozen… probably twenty.
Jinfeng furrowed his brow as he activated a series of techniques to sense the flow of spiritual energy. But he found nothing.
"I feel no trace of Qi. No fluctuations, no spiritual pressure…"
His voice carried a serious tone, rare for someone like him.
"Are they the same ones who attacked that time?" he asked quietly.
Xuan Tao swallowed hard.
"Replying to the Elder… yes, it's them. They have the same aura… that same strange silence. Although their equipment is different. Seems like another squad, perhaps part of a larger force. The previous group was smaller."
"Different equipment?" Jinfeng asked suspiciously.
"I'm not entirely sure. Last time, they wore robes and hoods. Now… they're fully armed."
The Second Elder narrowed his eyes, focusing his vision on one of the figures.
What Xuan Tao had called a staff was strange.
It was a long metal weapon of unknown design, with a sharp point protruding like a spear, held with discipline by each of the guards. The Vesper they were observing wore black armor, a full helmet, and carried that strange artifact with absolute familiarity.
"That's no staff… it looks like a black iron spear," Jinfeng murmured. "Who arms mortals with black iron?"
He closed his eyes again for a second, pushing his senses to the limit.
"No… no doubt about it. They are mortals. Unless they are all stronger than I am or use extremely powerful treasures to conceal their level—which would be absurd. If they had such strength or resources, they wouldn't waste time raiding a black iron mine."
To someone of that caliber, this place would be… trash.
A heavy silence fell.
"And yet," he added tensely, "they're there… perfectly armed, perfectly coordinated. Patrolling as if guarding the imperial palace."
"No… even the imperial guards aren't this precise. Not this disciplined…"
The wind blew between the stones, dragging a mournful whisper that was lost in the mountain's echo.
"What kind of force trains mortals to this extent?" murmured Jinfeng. "Who equips them with black iron and gives them weapons we don't even recognize?"
He frowned with growing concern.
In the distance, one of the Vespers stopped. His helmet slowly turned in their direction.
For an instant, the air seemed to freeze.
Xuan Jinfeng held his breath.
But the Vesper simply adjusted his position, turned on his heels with military precision… and continued his round.
The Second Elder kept his gaze fixed for a few more seconds. Then, he murmured with his brow deeply furrowed:
"Impossible… a mere mortal shouldn't be able to perceive me."
He fell silent, thinking.
"Maybe it was a coincidence," he finally said.
Xuan Jinfeng said no more. He gave a slight signal to Xuan Tao, and both slid backward into the shadows of the rocks. In complete silence, they retraced the route they had used to approach. The mountain breeze brushed the leaves, barely audible among their controlled steps. When they reached the point where the other cultivators were waiting, Xuan Jinfeng still had his brow furrowed.
Meanwhile, in the mining area, the Vesper who had stopped was still watching the hills. His posture remained firm, like a statue of blackened steel.
Aminute later, he slowly turned and resumed his patrol.
When he crossed paths with another guard, both slowed their steps in sync, as if the conversation that followed had already been rehearsed.
"Shift change completed," he murmured.
"Nothing out of the ordinary here," replied the other, without looking at him.
There was a brief silence. The first one slightly shifted his gaze toward the hill.
"I felt something," he said in a low voice.
"What kind of 'something'?"
"A gaze. Cold. Direct."
"Did you see anyone?"
"No. I checked carefully. Rocks, trees… all silent. But it was real. As if someone was measuring us from the shadows."
The second Vesper barely turned his head, with an almost imperceptible gesture.
"Do we report it?"
"We have nothing solid but.." the first hesitated.
"But if something was there, and managed to get that close without being detected… that does deserve attention."
"I'll do an extended round on the next shift," the second Vesper replied, his tone low but firm.
Both nodded and continued walking in opposite directions. Nothing more was said.
The soldier stopped near a trench structure and located a superior.
The guard approached, raising his voice just slightly to avoid disturbing the calm of the surroundings.
"Sir, during the west zone watch… I had a feeling."
The Captain looked at him in silence for a moment.
"Speak clearly."
"I didn't see anything. I didn't hear anything. But it was as if someone was watching me. It only lasted a moment. I checked the area. Found no traces. No signs, no movement."
The Vesper frowned, but did not show disbelief.
"An illusion?"
"I don't think so. It wasn't fear… or anxiety. It was like a subtle pressure. Cold. Precise."
He hesitated a moment, then added:
"It could have been a cultivator using concealment techniques. If so, we have no way to detect it."
The officer nodded once.
"I'll report it to Officer Jian Huo. This kind of detail must not be ignored."
"Thank you, sir," he replied, bowing his head.
As the Captain withdrew toward the central building, the Vesper remained still for a moment, looking toward the forest as if expecting to feel that gaze again. But this time, there was nothing.
Only the creaking of wood beneath his boots, the distant murmur of the wind, and the shadows slowly stretching across the earth.