Dawn broke over the forest, painting the mist in shades of gold and silver. The joint sect unit had taken careful positions around the clearing where the manipulator's energy signature had grown strongest overnight. Li Chen stood at the forefront, his sword qi humming faintly around him, a living thread of silver-white intent weaving through the forest.
The other sect leaders—Mo Yun of the Mountain Sect, Shen Yue of the Star Sect, and River Sect's Han Zhi—surveyed their disciples, nodding in silent coordination. Li Chen had allowed them to lead in minor adjustments, testing their capacity to act independently while remaining aligned with his strategic vision.
Xu Ming, beside Li Chen, felt the thrill and tension coiling in his chest. His sword qi, integrated with his five-element chaos physique, flowed like liquid silver, ready to extend at a thought. The breakthrough to Qi Condensation had sharpened not only his power but his perception—he could sense even the faintest fluctuations of the manipulator's energy.
From the shadowed treeline, the manipulator finally emerged, cloaked and silent. Their presence alone seemed to bend the residual energy around them, guiding subtle movements of wildlife and lingering beast qi as if the forest itself obeyed their will.
"Stay calm," Li Chen whispered to the unit. "Observe intent first. Strike decisively second."
As expected, the manipulator did not attack directly. Instead, a subtle pulse radiated outward, and the remaining beasts in the forest surged forward, coordinated, but not chaotically. They moved with intelligence, testing gaps, circling flanks, and pushing the disciples toward narrow paths.
Mountain Sect archers released a volley of arrows, enhanced with elemental energy, striking some of the advancing beasts. Star Sect cultivators reinforced barriers while River Sect disciples redirected streams of water to impede movement.
Xu Ming extended his sword qi, guiding the inner disciples' movements and reinforcing protective barriers. A particularly large beast lunged toward a faltering Mountain Sect disciple, and his silver-white arcs intercepted with precision, sending the creature tumbling harmlessly aside.
Li Chen's calm voice cut through the chaos: "Good. Keep them within the trap. Observe the manipulator—every movement is intentional."
Even as the battle raged, Li Chen noticed subtle traces that suggested the manipulator's actions were not isolated. Faintly, an energy signature above the forest pulsed in a rhythm too regular for mortal creatures. He felt it deep within his sword qi—a faint influence, as though something or someone from the upper realm had their hand in the beast tides.
He didn't mention it aloud. For now, observation was key. But the suspicion gnawed at him. Could these attacks be orchestrated on a much larger scale?
Meanwhile, Xu Ming's sword qi brushed against a faint, unexpected energy in the clearing—a whisper of warmth, fleeting yet deliberate. His mind flicked to the mysterious beauty from the secret realm, the one who had seemed to vanish without a trace. Could her presence, distant and subtle, be connected somehow? He dismissed it for now, keeping his focus on the immediate threat, but the seed of curiosity and unease had been planted.
Li Chen moved among the disciples with minimal motion, issuing commands through gestures and brief words. "Han Zhi, redirect the flank. Shen Yue, reinforce the barriers here. Mo Yun, push your archers closer to the ridge—they need the height advantage."
The disciples reacted swiftly, gaining cohesion under pressure. Xu Ming flowed alongside them, extending sword qi to redirect a pack of beasts that attempted to break the inner circle. The lattice of arcs shimmered in the morning light, precise and elegant, forcing the beasts to retreat harmlessly.
For the first time, the combined efforts of multiple sects were clearly coordinated. It wasn't just Li Chen and Xu Ming anymore—the unit functioned as a cohesive force, each member contributing, adapting, and surviving.
The manipulator, recognizing the cohesion, withdrew subtly, allowing the remaining beasts to retreat with them. They vanished into the forest, leaving only traces of residual energy pulsing faintly—a taunt, a message, or perhaps an invitation for the next encounter.
Li Chen surveyed the clearing, sword still faintly humming with residual qi. "They are intelligent, but not reckless," he murmured to Xu Ming. "This confrontation was a test, and we passed. But the manipulator's intent extends beyond beasts. Someone from above may be involved, shaping events subtly from the upper realm. And… there are others observing, possibly distant allies or unknown variables."
Xu Ming's brow furrowed, still catching his breath. "And the… the mysterious beauty from the secret realm? Could she be involved?"
Li Chen's eyes flickered briefly, betraying a rare hint of thoughtfulness. "Perhaps. But for now, she is a shadow—a variable. Focus on what is in front of you. Observe, adapt, and grow stronger. Everything else will reveal itself in time."
The disciples regrouped, exhausted but victorious. Li Chen gave final instructions for securing the villages and preparing for future tides. The borderlands were far from safe, but today, they had survived, coordinated, and learned.
And in the shadows of the forest, the manipulator remained, watching, calculating, and waiting for the next move.