Aimless Ascension

Gale was omniscient. Well, only in the couple of hundred-metre radius in the surroundings. His Spiritual Sense could cover only that much.

This ability wouldn't let him see—that was the job of the eyes—but it could enable him to detect the tiniest ripple in the natural energy flow. Naturally, any practitioner or even a normal person emitted a unique aura all the time which leaves a sign wherever they visit.

Although sneaky spy or assassin-type individuals trained to keep that unique aura in check, Gale couldn't anticipate another unique individual like that Ghost on his back.

So anyone below the gold rank would be detected under this spell unless they have a unique state like that Ghost.

Gale detected some old ripples of unique aura in the surrounding area, most of them were left behind by the battle he had with the Ghost. As for the rest, he wouldn't be able to distinguish if it were from the workers or someone else. It didn't take long for natural energy to get to the harmonising flow, overwriting others' signs. Gale would need to look more into the distance.

Gale pulled all of his Qi threads in one direction and linked them with the worldly energy in the east. He could easily scan one li in one direction.

'Gotcha,' Gale mused, finding the culprit he was looking for in an instant. Although he couldn't feel anything but the ripples in energy flow, he detected a thin aura emitting from the ground surrounded by undergrowth. The spy had tried to mask his aura with something--probably a concealment-type fate-lock, but failed to stay hidden under Gale's sense.

Gale didn't go after the culprit immediately, he scanned all the directions one by one. Sadly, there wasn't anyone else.

Gale took a deep breath and dismissed the art. He stood up and leapt off from the roof to land safely. He crept to the farmhouse nonchalantly, completely unconcerned about the presence of the hidden watcher.

Gale gave bulks of grass to the two bulls and stored a few weapons such as bow, arrows, sword, and spear inside his void-lock. He came out and made sure the lurker was in the same spot. A smile crept to his lips as he moved to a blinding spot from where the lurker was hidden.

Gale brought out the bow and arrow and aimed. Although he was also blinded of the lurker's position, Gale hardly need to see to shoot at an unmoving target.

He aimed the arrow at a sixty-degree angle, considered the wind and distance, lowered it slightly and released the string. The arrow sprang into motion, not glowing in the dark as Gale only enchanted it with the Guardian emblem, enhancing its piercing power and durability.

Gale didn't wait for the arrow to land and came out when a slight yelp echoed. Gale drew another arrow and aimed, reeling up in the air to get a full view of the culprit. For an extended moment, Gale made eye contact with the culprit.

The spy dashed, unbothered by the arrow sticking out of his waist. Gale's eyes narrowed as he released the string.

Unsurprisingly, this lurker wasn't as good as the Ghost.

The arrow pierced right into the right butt cheek, earning another scream of agony.

"Uhh," Gale pursed his lips and flew in the direction where the lurker fell. 'He won't be able to sit properly for about a month or two.'

However, Gale didn't have high hopes for anything out of him.

Gale dropped in front the agonising man and scanned him thoroughly, unbothered if he was being rude. Gale right out violated the practitioner's private space as all his secrets were laid bare in his eyes.

The spy was an iron ranker, in his middle years with two fate-locks. The first one was a common enhancing type, while the next was a shadow element which let him conceal himself in shadowy surfaces.

Obviously, the practitioner didn't have much of his potential left, though the decades of training left him in a much envious position for anyone who was trying to go the same direction of spirit arts.

"How?!" the man asked, gritting his teeth, completely bewildered. "How did you find me?"

Gale didn't utter a single word, only stared at him coldly as his intent rummaged through the man's being. He wasn't going to be an anime character and explain everything.

"Do I have to torture you to get all the answers," Gale asked, eventually, "or are you going to cooperate?"

The culprit, whose whole concern was pain and fear a moment ago, turned defiant. "Haha, kill me," he screamed. He stood on his four limbs, probably considering the success rate of his escape. "You won't get anything out of me."

"So torture it is," Gale said and withdrew the bow into the void lock.

"Fuck off," the loyal spy yelled, spitting in Gale's direction.

The spit would have landed right on Gale's cheek, but the wind changed its direction and splurged all the spit out of the way.

"You do have a death wish," Gale said. "But it won't come easily."

He stooped next to the man and slapped him in the face mercilessly. The rogue went unconscious and Gale dragged his body into the farmhouse.

The icy expression had evaporated from Gale's face by then, replaced by an annoying look.

It had to be a loyal dog of all things. Getting answers out of him would be bothersome. Gale knew very clearly how troublesome loyalists were, particularly when they were in the wrong.

Honestly, he didn't have the mood to start with him at the moment. So Gale dumped him inside the farm, locked him in chains and spread a few prepared trap constructs to fix him on the spot. Lastly, he put in a few constructs that act as an alarm.

Let's see if he could catch more rats with this bait.

***

His third and thankfully last uninvited guest came very late at night, breaking his much-deserved sleep. No matter, Gale welcomed the newcomer with a sword in hand.

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Thank you . . . conorogara666, UniBew, Ingotmaan, conorogara11, and SilverBioWolr for the reviews. (Though one of the reviews was deleted again.)

I haven't forgotten my challenge to update with 80 chapters in the following month.