Night descended, shrouding the ancient land of Lam Kinh in a pitch-black canopy. The waxing moon hung suspended at the zenith of the sky, its moonlight filtering through the dense canopies of ancient trees, scattering ethereal, illusory streaks of silver upon moss-covered temple roofs and solemn stone steles. The night breeze swept through the bamboo forest, rustling the leaves in a melodic whisper, like a profound song echoing from the ancient past.
Yet, this tranquility was merely a facade.
Hidden behind tree trunks, atop the eaves, and deep within the shadows untouched by the moon's glow, countless pairs of wolf-like eyes were silently observing. Lam Kinh tonight was no peaceful holy land; it was a fully set chessboard, merely waiting for the final pieces to enter the fray.
Inside a simple wooden cabin on the edge of the bamboo forest, six figures sat gathered around a flickering oil lamp. The atmosphere was incredibly heavy.
"The situation is clear," Uncle Sword spoke, his voice low and gruff. "The enemy has laid out an inescapable net. Marquis Yong'an has released false information, claiming that the tomb of a Le Dynasty king contains the Elixir of Immortality, luring countless rogue cultivators and minor martial factions here to serve as cannon fodder. Meanwhile, his elite forces, the Black Dragon Stronghold, and even the Azure Cloud Sect, are secretly encircling Mount Lam Son. Their true objective is the Heart of the Dragon."
"Then we cannot afford to delay," Tran Kien said, his eyes displaying an uncanny resolve. "Tonight, when the moon reaches its peak, the Dragon Qi will be at its most prosperous, and the Shamanic map will react most intensely. This is our window of opportunity."
"It's too dangerous!" Ly Tin immediately objected. "That is also when their guards will be on highest alert! Marching in at that time is no different from courting death!"
"On the contrary," Tran Kien shook his head. "The most dangerous place is precisely the safest. They are all focusing on the main mausoleum complex where Marquis Yong'an planted the false rumors. No one will suspect that our true destination is that seemingly ordinary Mount Lam Son." He pointed at the topographical map. "Furthermore, I have found a path."
He traced his finger along a tiny, unmarked trail on the map—a path that seemed to have been abandoned for ages. "According to the Unified Geography of Imperial Viet, this was an old patrol route used by the Imperial Guards in ancient times, leading straight up the western flank of Mount Lam Son, bypassing almost all major checkpoints. It has been abandoned for hundreds of years; no one will pay it any mind."
A daring stratagem. Not a head-on clash, but like a sharp dagger, slipping past all defensive lines to pierce straight into the enemy's heart.
Uncle Sword looked deeply into Tran Kien's eyes, then nodded. "Good. We will follow your plan. In this chess game, you are the grandmaster."
Midnight. The moon reached its zenith, shining with blazing clarity.
Six figures, as agile as night panthers, silently slipped out of the bamboo forest, blending seamlessly into the darkness. They did not travel in a cluster. They split into three small groups, moving in a triangular formation to mutually support one another.
Uncle Sword took the vanguard alone. His body was like a falling leaf, drifting through the night without producing a single sound. His Sword Intent emanated outward, forming an invisible net that sensed every movement and every abnormal fluctuation of Qi in the surroundings.
Ly Tin and Trinh Cong guarded the flanks. One a mighty general, the other a seasoned retainer, they coordinated flawlessly, protecting the two most crucial individuals in the center.
Tran Kien and Lam Vy walked in the middle. Tran Kien wasn't just walking; he was leading the way. The Shamanic map in his robes radiated a warm aura, guiding him along the most precise path. Simultaneously, his connection to the Dragon Veins pushed all his senses to an incredibly acute level. He could intuitively feel where the traps lay and where the enemy's eyes and ears were hidden.
They bypassed the main temple complex with ease. Just as Tran Kien had predicted, the entirety of the enemy's attention was glued to the royal tombs.
But just as they began to set foot on the hidden trail leading up Mount Lam Son, Uncle Sword suddenly stopped, raising a hand in a silent signal.
"There are people," he transmitted his voice through Qi.
The group immediately took cover behind a cluster of massive boulders.
Up ahead on the trail, a small campfire flickered. Four men sat around the flames, drinking wine. They wore no uniform indicating affiliation with any major power, appearing to be ordinary rogue cultivators drawn by the rumors. However, Uncle Sword could sense that the Qi fluctuations of these four were exceptionally sharp—each and every one of them was an expert at the Late stage of the Qi Condensation Realm. This was clearly a hidden outpost.
"Leave them to me," Ly Tin whispered, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. He prepared to strike and resolve the issue quickly.
"Hold on," Tran Kien stopped him. "Killing them will make noise and alert the other checkpoints. We can slip past more quietly."
He surveyed the surrounding terrain. The trail passed through a narrow ravine, flanked by dense thickets.
He turned to Lam Vy. "Lam Vy, can your Lac Bird ceramic shard handle this?"
Understanding his intent, the young girl nodded. She brought out her mother's token, closed her eyes, and focused her spirit. The Lac Viet bloodline within her surged. The earthen shard slowly emitted a gentle, jade-green luminescence.
From the surrounding thickets, faint rustling sounds suddenly echoed. Then, dozens, hundreds of fireflies emerged from nowhere, congregating to form a glittering swarm that danced mesmerizingly before the four rogue cultivators.
"What... what is that?" The four men stared in bewilderment at the magical sight before them.
But that was not all.
At that exact moment, Tran Kien silently made his move. He did not use his Primordial Qi to launch an attack. Instead, simulating the mechanics of the Myriad Li Soaring Crane Formation, he used it to manipulate the wind.
A gentle breeze, carrying the scent of wildflowers mixed with a potent, sleep-inducing pollen he had prepared beforehand, quietly wafted toward the four rogue cultivators.
Mesmerized by the bizarre swarm of fireflies, they inhaled the faint fragrance. Their minds immediately grew hazy, and their eyelids became heavy as lead.
"So sleepy..." one of them let out a long yawn.
"Must be the wine..." another mumbled.
Before long, all four heads slumped forward, falling into a dead slumber.
Without a single sound, the six figures glided past the outpost, delving deeper into the ancient trail leading to the mountain peak.
Lam Kinh, the sacred land, had completely opened itself before their eyes. Yet, they knew in their hearts that the closer they got to the Heart of the Dragon, the more perilous and unpredictable the trials ahead would become.