Sowhere in the Dadangar Sea. Far away from Erald Cove Island.
The night sky above Kalingoot was dark and quiet, with only a half moon hanging low among thin clouds.
From afar, there was nothing to see but empty sea. No ships passed nearby, and no waves behaved out of place. Yet hidden beneath a massive array formation, a huge island existed in silence.
The array bent light and sense alike. It hid sound, blocked spirit sense, and twisted space just enough to make the island feel like part of the sea itself. Only those with the right marks or tokens could pass through safely.
Inside the array, Kalingoot’s base was anything but quiet.
The island was vast, with wide shores and deep inland areas. A tense, military-like mood filled the air. Cultivators moved everywhere, each group busy with their own task. No one laughed.
No one wasted ti. Everyone knew that a full-fledged war with the Dadangar Alliance was coming.
Near the coast, several large ships were anchored in natural harbors. These were not normal ships. Their decks were wide and flat, built to carry formations and weapons instead of goods.
Groups of array masters stood on the decks, drawing lines of light in the air and fixing formation plates into place. Spirit stones were slotted into grooves, and thin beams of energy connected one plate to another.
Nearby, weapon refiners worked day and night. Long spears, heavy blades, and strange spirit cannons were laid out in rows. So cultivators tested their balance. Others carved runes into their surfaces, sweat dripping down their faces as they focused.
Other groups carried crates up and down the docks. These crates held spirit herbs, beast blood, talisman paper, refined tals, and sealed bottles of essence. Every item was checked twice before being loaded onto the ships.
Further inland, the island’s defenders worked on protection. Large formation pillars stood at key points, already glowing with a soft light. Cultivators moved between them, reinforcing the main protective formation layer by layer.
So used Essence Equation runes, carefully pressing them into weapons or armor to strengthen their power and make them more stable in battle.
In open fields, groups of talisman masters sat in circles. Each group worked together to create Area of Effect talismans. Sheets of talisman paper floated in the air as brushes moved quickly across them. When one talisman was finished, it was passed to the next person for sealing. Piles of completed talismans stacked up beside them.
Not far away, alchemists were just as busy. Large cauldrons bubbled quietly under controlled flas. So brewed body-strengthening pills ant to push cultivators past their limits.
Others worked on liquid enhancents that could be applied directly to weapons before battle. The sll of herbs mixed with the sharp scent of refined essence.
All across the island, lights flickered like fireflies under the hidden array. Every cultivator, whether on the shore or deep inland, was preparing in their own way.
From a high cliff near the center of the island, two figures stood side by side and watched everything unfold.
This was a natural vantage point. From here, one could see the docks, the inland camps, and even the faint glow of the protective formations covering the island. Ships moved slowly in the harbors. Lights flickered as cultivators worked through the night.
The man standing on the right was the Second Supre of Kalingoot, Koya.
Koya looked like a man in his early forties in mortal standards. He was tall and broad, with a strong and muscular build. Unlike most cultivators who wore long robes, Koya dressed simply. He wore an open sleeveless vest and plain pants, leaving most of his chest bare. Thick chest hair was clearly visible, and he showed no sha or care for it at all.
A huge broadsword rested on his back. The blade was wide and heavy, and its hilt rose over his shoulder. Just standing there, Koya gave off a strong and steady presence. His aura was deep and solid, showing clear control and confidence.
Like the Third Supre, Loken, Koya also carried a borrowed Spirit Core. It allowed him to use 3rd Order Spirit spells even though he was only at the Foundation Establishnt Perfection realm. But unlike Loken, Koya had full command over it from the start. His borrowed Spirit Core felt stable, calm, and fully under his control.
Koya had existed his six months long close door cultivation a few days ago. He was a bit surprised to learn that Kalingoot had sustained major setbacks within a few months. But he didn’t think the situation was out of control yet. After all, the Kalingoot hadn’t shown its full force yet.
Standing to Koya’s left was Loken.
Compared to Koya, Loken looked weak and thin. His body was frail, and his height was average at best. Next to Koya’s large fra, Loken looked like a scrawny young man. His face was pale, and his posture lacked the sa confidence.
Koya slowly turned his head and looked at Loken. His brows furrowed slightly.
"Brother Loken," Koya asked in a deep voice, "didn’t you want to make a move on a few islands governed by the Dadangar Alliance before? You were the only one among us three Supres who didn’t want to enter close-door cultivation. You said you wanted to choose a new place to settle in. Why did you co back without making any move?"
Loken’s body stiffened for a mont.
His mind shook.
How could he say the truth?
How could he admit that he had indeed tried to take Erald Cove three months ago and had been beaten by its island owner, Aksai?
How could he admit that not only had he lost, but even the ghost ntor living inside his borrowed Spirit Core had been devoured and erased by Aksai?
And worse still, Aksai had sent him back alive.
Not as a free man, but as a spy.
The heretic Spirit farr wanted Loken to play a major role in bringing down Kalingoot from within.
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