The Vespers advanced with surgical precision through the smoldering remains of the enemy camp. Their boots pressed into the blood-soaked and ash-covered ground as their muskets swept every corner for movement. The scattered bodies and the lingering scent of gunpowder bore witness to the recent battle.
The operation had been a success, but the mission was not yet over.
Shen Bao surveyed the battlefield with a cold gaze. Without wasting time, he ordered:
"Secure the area. Search every building, every tree, every tunnel. Leave nothing unchecked."
The soldiers dispersed, methodically inspecting every possible hiding place. Firm steps, precise movements, brief and effective communication.
Ye Han approached, musket in hand, standing at attention before reporting:
"Perimeter secured. We are securing the bodies and collecting useful equipment. We found a wounded man—gunshot wound, weak vital signs."
Shen Bao turned his head with interest. A prisoner.
"Show me."
The Vespers surrounded a man lying on the ground, his robe soaked in blood. Despite the wound, his gaze still burned with restrained fury. Xuan Jie.
A living cultivator was an unexpected prize. Valuable information. Techniques, tactics, hierarchies.
Shen Bao did not hesitate.
"Stabilize him. Hands and feet bound. We're taking him back to base."
Two soldiers stepped forward immediately. They bandaged the worst wounds with quick, efficient movements while firmly restraining his weakened body. Xuan Jie tried to speak, but managed only a ragged whisper.
Shen Bao leaned in slightly, his voice as sharp as a blade.
"Don't waste your strength. You'll have time to talk soon enough."
The Vespers secured the area with relentless precision. While some soldiers examined the enemy corpses, others searched the buildings for documents, weapons, or any clues about the enemy's operations. The camp, though devastated, still held secrets to uncover.
Ye Han approached Shen Bao again.
"We found several crates in an underground storage room. They seem to contain some kind of refined mineral. We don't know its value yet."
"Load them up. We'll analyze them at the base."
As the soldiers transported the crates, they found the captive miners—men and women in rags, their hands calloused and their faces etched with exhaustion. They recoiled in fear at the sight of the Vespers.
One of the miners, a man with a patchy beard, cautiously stepped forward.
"Who are you? Are you going to kill us too?"
Shen Bao regarded him with a neutral expression before replying.
"You are free to go."
Silence filled the cave. Some miners exchanged incredulous glances. Others, realizing the truth, began to sob.
"We have nowhere to go," a woman murmured. "Our villages were destroyed when we were captured."
Shen Bao crossed his arms, considering. Releasing them here would condemn them to starvation, the cold, or worse—to being captured again. If they took them along, they could become a burden… or a resource.
"If you can work, we can take you with us," he finally declared. "We can't promise luxury, but you'll have food and shelter."
"I'll do whatever it takes," a man said.
"So will I," added a younger miner.
But not all shared their decision. A group remained still.
"I appreciate what you did," one of them said. "But I want to go back."
A few miners nodded silently and stepped away from the group.
Shen Bao watched them for a moment before turning away.
"We move in five minutes. Anyone staying behind does so at their own risk."
Those who chose to leave began to gather. Among them, a few young men with determination written on their faces.
The Vespers completed the final inspection. Once the last valuable item was secured, they departed.
The basement of Omega Zero was shrouded in darkness. Against a wall of cold stone, Xuan Jin lay completely immobilized. A restraint collar anchored to the wall restricted his movements, while his hands were trapped in a steel box, eliminating any possibility of resistance. Though weakened, he was still a cultivator.
Several meters away, beyond the thick bars, Ethan observed in silence. At his side, Shen Bao and a group of Vespers maintained a disciplined formation, awaiting orders.
"Good work," Ethan praised in a neutral tone. "You met expectations."
"Sir," Shen Bao responded with a slight nod. "The mine was secured. We eliminated resistance without any casualties."
Ethan scrutinized the prisoner carefully. "Any attempts to manipulate Qi?"
"Negative," Shen Bao reported. "The collar and restraints have completely neutralized him."
Ethan nodded slightly. "Good. We'll proceed with the interrogation. If he cooperates, there will be no need for additional measures."
Xuan Jin, who had remained silent until then, raised his head with effort and spat on the ground. "No matter what you do. You won't get anything from me."
Ethan did not react. His voice remained impassive. "You'll decide that in the next few minutes."
Ethan remained silent for a few more seconds, observing him as if he were nothing more than a subject of study. He knew that initial resistance was inevitable; after all, Xuan Jin was a fourth-level Qi cultivator, with a hardened body and a will tempered by years of training. But all men had a threshold for pain, and the information accumulated in AION over centuries of human history made this child's play.
With a slight hand gesture, he signaled Shen Bao and the Vespers to prepare.
Xuan Jin chuckled mockingly, despite the dryness in his throat. "Do you think a little pain will make me talk?"
Ethan did not respond. A Vesper slowly approached, drawing a knife from a nearby metal tray. He twirled it between his fingers, letting the light reflect off its blade with an icy gleam.
"Conventional methods may be useless against cultivators," Ethan commented calmly.
"But the body is still the body. Blood, nerves, tendons... No matter how much you strengthen it. Everything has a breaking point," he said, his cold voice echoing through the dark basement.
The first cut was superficial, barely grazing Xuan Jin's arm, but enough for his skin to react. He did not make a sound. The Vesper continued, each movement calculated to avoid lethal damage, yet precise enough to send waves of pain through the nerves.
"Your resilience is admirable," Ethan remarked without emotion. "But even the strongest have a limit."
Xuan Jin gritted his teeth, his breathing heavy. The minutes stretched on, each one marked by the metallic sound of the knife and the murmurs of the Vespers in the background. Finally, a strangled cry escaped his lips, followed by a gasp.
"Ready to talk?"
Xuan Jin lifted his head, his eyes filled with rage and exhaustion. For a moment, he seemed about to spit out another taunt, but instead, he let his head drop with a barely audible whisper. "I'll talk..."
Ethan showed no reaction.
"Good. Let's start with the basics," he said calmly. "How are Qi cultivators distinguished? How do you tell their level apart?"
Xuan Jin took a ragged breath before responding.
"A Qi cultivator's level is measured by the purity and density of their internal energy. From the first to the third level, Qi is unstable and crude, barely enough to strengthen the body and enhance perception. From the fourth to the sixth level, Qi becomes more refined and can be used for more advanced combat techniques like fireballs. From the seventh level onwards, the cultivator can project their energy outside the body more easily, and their vitality is several times greater than that of an ordinary mortal."
Ethan nodded.
"How do these levels compare to Foundation Establishment and Golden Core?"
Xuan Jin closed his eyes for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts.
"Foundation Establishment is the next step on the cultivation path. A Qi cultivator is still mortal, but upon forming their Foundation, their body and soul begin to transform. It's the threshold between humanity and the path to immortality. A Foundation Establishment cultivator can easily crush any Qi cultivator. As for the Golden Core..."
His voice turned rougher.
"They can annihilate armies on their own. Their Qi is so dense that their mere presence imposes pressure on the weak. They are beings who can live for centuries and withstand wounds that would kill anyone else."
Ethan remained impassive.
"Interesting. Now, tell me about the strength of the Xuan family. How many cultivators do they have?"
Xuan Jin hesitated, but Ethan's cold gaze kept him in place.
"The Patriarch, Xuan Fei, is a seventh-level Qi cultivator. He is a formidable warrior and an expert in spear techniques. However, the true pillar of the family is the Grand Elder, Xuan Jinhai, who has reached the ninth level of Qi cultivation. He has lived for over a hundred years, and his mastery of Qi is such that he can face multiple enemies of his level."
He paused before continuing.
"Additionally, the family has five elders at the eighth level and forty members between the third and sixth levels."
Just as he finished speaking, a mechanical notification resonated in Ethan's mind.
[Analysis in progress: Detecting anomalies in microexpressions and eye movement. Discrepancy with previous patterns: High. Probability of deception: 98.3%.]
Ethan did not react immediately. His eyes fixed on Xuan Jin with absolute calm.
"You're lying."
Xuan Jin blinked, feigning confusion.
"What are you saying? I have no reason to—"
Ethan raised a hand, stopping any excuse.
"Let me rephrase my question. How many cultivators do you really have? Don't waste any more of my time."
Xuan Jin clenched his teeth, his knuckles white from the tension. He knew he couldn't deceive him.
"Sixty members between the third and sixth levels," Xuan Jin said through gritted teeth.
"Continue. I want to know more about their techniques, forging methods, and the type of materials they use..."