Chapter 214: Chapter 214 — Pieces On Board
The morning training session gradually returned to normal after Sheng Lu’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Lu Fang’s last-second counterattack.
Disciples continued sparring across the training grounds while laughter still echoed from nearby platforms. Several younger disciples repeatedly reenacted Sheng Lu’s face-first landing with dramatic exaggeration until Elder Jian Fan threatened to personally train them.
Alchemy disciples hurried toward Elder Wan’s residence with baskets filled with herbs.
Everything appeared normal.
Yet beneath the routine—
The entire sect was preparing for war.
Shaurya’s mind remained elsewhere.
The moment he left the training grounds, his relaxed smile faded slightly.
His hands remained inside the pockets of his black-and-gold coat while mountain winds drifted through the fluttering banners overhead.
Shaurya left the inner courtyard and followed the stone pathway descending toward the eastern side of the sect.
Several months ago, that area had been empty.
Now—
A large three-story building stood proudly beneath the mountain sunlight.
The Administrator Hall.
One of the newest additions to the Sanatan Flame Sect.
After King Tian Long’s warning about the dangers beyond the kingdom, Shaurya had immediately used the system to construct the hall and establish a proper intelligence network for the sect.
Information.
Reports.
Trade routes.
Regional movements.
Village affairs.
Sect records.
Everything flowed through this building.
And the person placed in charge of it—
Naturally—
Was Elder Wu.
Because if anyone could manage mountains of paperwork without losing their sanity, it was him.
At least that was Shaurya’s theory.
Whether Elder Wu agreed with that decision remained unclear.
The moment Shaurya entered the building, organized activity unfolded before him.
Dozens of disciples moved between desks carrying jade slips and reports.
Floating scrolls traveled through formation pathways toward different departments.
Large spiritual maps covered entire walls, displaying nearby territories, trade roads, villages, and regional movements.
The hall felt busy.
Efficient.
Alive.
A complete contrast to the controlled chaos found elsewhere in the sect.
Several disciples noticed Shaurya entering and immediately greeted him.
"Good morning, Master!"
"Master!"
"Master, the northern trade report has been completed!"
Shaurya nodded casually at everyone while continuing deeper into the hall.
"Good work."
"Don’t overwork yourselves."
"And whoever keeps submitting reports with drawings in the margins..."
He glanced toward one nervous outer disciple.
"...stop decorating official documents."
The disciple instantly looked guilty.
Several others immediately lowered their heads to hide their laughter.
Meanwhile—
At the center of the hall stood Elder Wu.
Surrounded by floating reports.
Three jade slips hovered before him while several disciples waited nearby for instructions.
Without lifting his head, Elder Wu spoke.
"You usually only come here when you need something."
Shaurya stopped walking.
Then looked genuinely offended.
"That is an outrageous accusation."
Elder Wu calmly signed one report.
"Is it?"
"Absolutely."
Another report floated away.
"You have entered this hall eleven times."
Shaurya narrowed his eyes.
"...You counted?"
"Ten of those visits involved you asking for something."
A brief pause.
"One visit involved you getting lost."
Several disciples immediately failed to suppress their laughter.
Shaurya looked personally betrayed.
"I was inspecting the building."
"You walked into the archive storage room."
"I was conducting a thorough inspection."
"You asked a bookshelf for directions."
Dead silence.
The disciples lost control completely.
Even a few nearby staff members had to look away.
Shaurya pointed accusingly toward Elder Wu.
"You remember entirely too much."
"I manage information."
"That’s unhealthy."
"It’s literally my job."
Shaurya stared at him for several seconds.
Then sighed dramatically.
"...Continue."
"I thought so."
Elder Wu finally looked up.
A faint trace of amusement appeared in his eyes before disappearing almost immediately.
Shaurya pulled a chair over and sat down across from the desk.
The playful expression gradually faded.
"Any information from King Tian Long?"
That question instantly changed the atmosphere.
Several disciples nearby stopped laughing.
Elder Wu’s gaze sharpened slightly.
Without another word, he opened a storage ring and removed several sealed jade slips.
"Yes."
His voice became noticeably more serious.
"The king’s spies sent their latest reports shortly before dawn."
Then he placed the jade slips onto the table between them.
"And I believe you’ll find them very interesting."
Shaurya’s eyes sharpened slightly.
Even the surrounding disciples became curious.
Elder Wu activated the jade slips.
Several spiritual projections immediately appeared above the desk.
Maps.
Routes.
Military positions.
Formation markers.
Supply lines.
Everything unfolded clearly in midair.
At the center rested a massive crimson marker.
Liu Tong’s army.
Elder Wu pointed toward it.
"The latest estimate confirms approximately eight hundred thousand mercenaries under Liu Tong’s command."
The administrative hall became silent.
Even after hearing the number before, it still sounded absurd.
Shaurya folded his arms.
"Still eight hundred thousand."
Elder Wu nodded.
"The estimate remains consistent."
His finger moved across the map.
"Their current position is here."
A glowing route appeared across the western territories.
"They established temporary camps along the western trade roads before entering Capital City territory."
The projection expanded further.
Several military camps became visible.
"They are advancing steadily."
"Disciplined."
"Organized."
"No signs of internal disorder."
Shaurya quietly observed the projection.
Then Elder Wu continued.
"The army itself is extremely dangerous."
His voice grew heavier.
"The weakest members are Foundation Building cultivators."
Several nearby disciples inhaled sharply.
Elder Wu wasn’t finished.
"Most of the force consists of Golden Vein cultivators."
"Thousands of them."
"Properly trained."
"Properly coordinated."
His gaze moved toward Shaurya.
"That is what makes them dangerous."
"Not individual strength."
"Their coordination."
A brief silence followed.
Then another projection appeared.
"The strongest confirmed individuals within the mercenary army appear to be at Peak Golden Vein Realm."
Shaurya nodded slowly.
Reasonable.
Dangerous for kingdoms.
Not dangerous for him.
Elder Wu clearly understood that as well.
Which was why he immediately moved to the more important information.
Two additional markers appeared behind Liu Tong’s army.
One carried a sword insignia.
The other a cloud symbol.
"The Celestial Sword Sect."
"The Cloud Peak Sect."
Shaurya’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Finally.
The supporting forces.
Elder Wu expanded both projections.
"These two organizations answered the Righteous Alliance’s request."
"Neither sect is directly subordinate to Liu Tong."
"They are allies for this operation."
"Nothing more."
Shaurya quietly listened.
"Leaders?"
Elder Wu answered immediately.
"Huo Ling."
A portrait appeared above the map.
Sharp eyes.
Calm face.
Composed.
"Celestial Sword Sect Master."
Elder Wu paused briefly.
"According to the king’s intelligence division..."
His expression became slightly more serious.
"...he is the most difficult person among the three to deceive."
Shaurya raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
Elder Wu continued.
"Huo Ling rarely acts without calculating benefits."
"He is patient."
"Careful."
"And unlike Liu Tong..."
A brief pause.
"...he thinks before moving."
The portrait slowly faded.
Then another appeared.
A woman.
Composed.
Elegant.
Watching everything carefully.
"Xia Lu."
"Cloud Peak Sect Master."
Elder Wu folded his hands behind his back.
"She is extremely cautious."
"Very observant."
"She trusts evidence more than emotions."
"Her sect specializes heavily in intelligence gathering."
Shaurya remained silent.
Memorizing everything.
The projection shifted again.
Both sect markers appeared beside Liu Tong’s army.
"They have each dispatched disciples to accompany the campaign."
"Officially to support the Righteous Alliance operation."
"Unofficially..."
Elder Wu shrugged slightly.
"...probably to observe each other."
Shaurya smiled faintly.
Professional cooperation.
Not friendship.
Not loyalty.
Simply shared interests.
Exactly the kind of relationship powerful organizations preferred.
Elder Wu continued.
"More importantly."
His finger moved toward a different section of the report.
"The food supply."
Now Shaurya became interested.
"Go on."
"The mercenary army does not rely on outside merchants."
A new projection appeared.
Large mobile kitchens.
Supply wagons.
Storage formations.
"The entire logistics chain belongs to Liu Tong himself."
"No external suppliers."
"No hired merchants."
"No civilian contractors."
"Everything is managed internally."
Shaurya’s expression didn’t change.
But Elder Wu noticed the slight disappointment in Shaurya’s eyes.
"The food distribution system is handled by fifty trusted chief cooks personally selected by Liu Tong."
The spiritual map expanded as fifty markers appeared throughout the army formation.
"Each one oversees a separate division. They travel with the army at all times. No outside access. No independent vendors. No replacement personnel."
Shaurya slowly tapped the desk with one finger.
Thinking.
Very secure.
Far more secure than most military organizations.
Elder Wu watched him quietly before shaking his head with a faint smile.
"You’re disappointed."
"A little."
The honest answer drew a small laugh from the elder.
"I suspected as much."
Then Elder Wu leaned forward slightly and pointed toward the supply routes once more.
"There is one detail worth mentioning."
Shaurya’s attention sharpened immediately.
Elder Wu’s finger stopped over the network connecting the kitchens to the main divisions.
"Liu Tong trusts those cooks more than most of his officers."
The room fell silent.
Shaurya’s gaze remained fixed on the glowing map.
The supply lines.
The command structure.
The camps.
The kitchens.
The allied sects.
The officers.
One by one, the pieces settled into place inside his mind.
Shaurya quietly studied every detail displayed across the floating maps.
The routes.
The supply lines.
The command structure.
The camp layout.
Not a single detail escaped his attention.
For several minutes, he remained completely silent while the glowing projections drifted between them. Only the faint rustling of jade scrolls and the soft hum of formation arrays disturbed the stillness inside the Administrative Hall.
Elder Wu observed him calmly.
He had worked alongside Shaurya long enough to recognize the signs.
Whenever the sect master became this quiet, something dangerous was usually being created.
Eventually, Elder Wu folded his hands behind his back and asked,
"What exactly are you looking for?"
Shaurya’s gaze remained fixed on the map.
The camp markers reflected faintly within his golden eyes.
Then a small smile appeared on his face.
Not arrogant.
Not confident.
Thoughtful.
"Opportunity."
The answer was simple.
Yet it immediately caused Elder Wu’s eyes to narrow slightly.
Because whenever Shaurya started searching for opportunities, someone inevitably ended up regretting their life choices.
The Administrative Hall grew quiet once more after Elder Wu finished presenting the intelligence reports.
Floating maps continued hovering above the table while spiritual markings pulsed softly across the projected terrain. The advancing army, supply routes, command structure, and faction symbols remained suspended between them like pieces arranged across a giant chessboard.
Elder Wu observed him silently.
Then finally asked:
"What exactly are you planning?"
Shaurya remained seated for another second.
Then a smile slowly appeared on his face.
Not the grin he wore while provoking people.
This one looked calmer.
More dangerous.
He rose from his chair and stretched his shoulders lightly.
"You’ll know soon enough."
Elder Wu immediately looked unimpressed.
"I expected that answer."
Shaurya laughed.
"Then why ask?"
"Occasionally I hope you’ve matured."
"...Cruel."
Ignoring the complaint, Elder Wu folded his sleeves calmly.
"You clearly noticed something."
"I did."
"What?"
Shaurya pointed toward the map.
Then casually changed the subject.
"Elder Wu."
"Hm?"
"How long do you think they’ll remain in their current camp?"
That question caused Elder Wu to pause.
His gaze shifted back toward the floating reports.
After a few moments of thought, he answered.
"Based on the latest intelligence..."
His finger moved toward Liu Tong’s encampment.
"They only recently established their position."
Several logistical symbols illuminated across the map.
"Even if they intend to move quickly, an army of that scale cannot simply march continuously."
Shaurya nodded slightly.
Reasonable.
Elder Wu continued.
"They need rest."
"They need reorganization."
"They need food preparation."
"Equipment maintenance."
"Scout reports."
His finger tapped lightly against the map.
"Realistically..."
A brief pause followed.
"They’ll remain there for at least fourteen to sixteen hours."
The camp marker glowed faintly.
"Possibly longer."
"Even Liu Tong cannot rush eight hundred thousand mercenaries without consequences."
Shaurya’s smile widened slightly.
"Good."
Then suddenly—
He stopped walking.
Elder Wu noticed immediately.
Because that expression appeared again.
The expression that usually meant Shaurya had found something.
Slowly, Shaurya turned back toward the table.
"Elder Wu."
The elder narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Yes?"
Shaurya pointed toward the supply section of the map.
"Where exactly are they getting food?"
Silence.
Elder Wu blinked once.
Then looked back toward the reports.
"The food?"
"Yes."
Shaurya’s voice remained calm.
"Eight hundred thousand cultivators."
His eyes moved toward the camp projection.
"Even if they eat less that’s still an absurd amount of ingredients."
A brief pause followed.
"And unlike sect cultivators..."
His gaze sharpened.
"Mercenaries won’t happily survive on spiritual pills alone."
Now Elder Wu understood the question.
He began reviewing several intelligence slips again.
Meanwhile, Shaurya remained completely silent.
Waiting.
Several moments later—
Elder Wu spoke.
"No."
Shaurya looked up.
"No what?"
"They do not possess enough ingredients."
The elder activated another report.
Supply records appeared above the map.
"And they certainly do not have storage rings to transport food for an army this large."
Several logistical routes illuminated across the projection.
"Most of their reserves are temporary."
"They’re sufficient for movement."
"But not for a prolonged campaign."
Shaurya’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Exactly as expected.
Then Elder Wu’s expression shifted slightly as he found the relevant report.
"There it is."
A new route appeared across the map.
This one originated far behind Liu Tong’s army.
Elder Wu pointed toward it.
"The Cloud Peak Sect."
Shaurya remained silent.
Elder Wu continued.
"They possess significantly greater commercial influence than Liu Tong."
"Trade agreements."
"Merchant connections."
"Transportation networks."
Several large vessel symbols appeared above the route.
"And most importantly..."
The elder tapped the projection.
"Spiritual ships."
The route brightened immediately.
"Cloud Peak Sect is responsible for transporting food, ingredients, and logistical supplies."
"They are effectively managing the army’s resupply operations."
For the first time during the entire conversation—
Shaurya smiled broadly.
A genuine smile.
The kind that immediately made Elder Wu suspicious.
"...Why are you smiling?"
Shaurya ignored the question and stepped closer to the floating map. His gaze settled on the glowing supply route connecting the Cloud Peak Sect to Liu Tong’s army. A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Perfect."
Elder Wu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Perfect?"
Shaurya pointed toward the route marked by the spiritual ships.
"Send a message to King Tian Long’s spies."
The moment those words left his mouth, Elder Wu sensed trouble.
"What kind of message?"
Shaurya’s smile didn’t change.
"Tell them to stop focusing on Liu Tong."
That answer immediately caught Elder Wu off guard.
"...What?"
"Our target isn’t Liu Tong."
The statement hung heavily inside the Administrative Hall.
For a moment, Elder Wu simply stared at him.
Meanwhile, Shaurya continued studying the map as though everything was perfectly obvious. Calm. Relaxed. Confident. Like he was already looking several moves ahead while everyone else was still staring at the board.
His finger moved across the glowing route once more.
"I want every Cloud Peak Sect spiritual ship tracked."
Elder Wu remained silent.
"Every departure."
His finger shifted toward another marker.
"Every destination."
Another route illuminated.
"Every supply transfer."
Then another.
"Every schedule."
The map glowed brighter as logistics routes spread across the western territories.
Finally, Shaurya folded his arms.
"I want to know when they leave, where they stop, what they carry, and who receives it."
Elder Wu watched him carefully.
The more Shaurya spoke, the less he understood.
Something was forming inside that mind of his.
Something complicated.
And judging by that smile, something deeply troublesome.
After several moments, Elder Wu finally asked the obvious question.
"...Why?"
Shaurya turned toward the exit.
The smile on his face somehow became even more suspicious.
"Because wars aren’t won by killing generals."
He paused briefly.
"They’re won by controlling what feeds armies."
Elder Wu’s expression changed slightly.
For the first time since the conversation began, he felt like he had glimpsed a small piece of what Shaurya was planning.
Not the whole strategy.
Just enough to know it was dangerous.
Without saying another word, Shaurya began walking toward the door.
The massive wooden gates opened automatically before him.
Sunlight spilled into the hall.
Then he left.
Leaving behind floating maps, unanswered questions, and one increasingly concerned elder.
The doors slowly closed.
Silence settled over the Administrative Hall once more.
Elder Wu stood alone beside the glowing projection, Dozens of glowing markers floated above the table, representing armies, sects, roads, supply depots, and marching routes. To anyone else, they were pieces of information.
To Shaurya—
They were pieces on a board.
Several long seconds passed.
Then he sighed.
"...Someone is about to have a very bad week."
To Be Continued....
