The southwest was the direction the tides of blue-grey fog were arriving from.
That was the direction Star Gazing Settlement was, located in the middle area of the Western Mountains and Valleys.
"Of the four groups, I, Silver Extreme, accompanied by Heart Tethering Maiden, will lead the first group.
"Accompanying us will be the second group, led by Warrior of Spring and Shade of Autumn. Together, the first and second groups will lead the frontmost retaliation against the tide.
"We will be located in the southwestern area of Wind Shaven Mountain, and will breach the fog and ensure that it diverts outwards.
"Because of the nature of these beasts, they can not survive outside of the fog. If this were all there was, as long as the fog did not reach up the mountains, the ordeal would be easily resolved.
"But as the beasts move with the fog, the fog can move with the beasts.
"Presumably, even after being diverted outwards, the beasts within will naturally be drawn to this Settlement and bring fog with them to intrude upon us.
"Thusly, the south-southwest and west-southwest areas will be under threat, which is where the third and fourth groups will be stationed."
The Retaliatory Division's purpose was akin to bifurcating the tide and handling any runoff that may intrude upon the mountain's higher ground.
"The mortal Warriors of this Settlement and Union Settlement will act as the last line of defence, picking off any stragglers that may have slipped past us.
"But we will work to ensure no such stragglers escape us!"
Silver Extreme declared.
The authority in his voice rang through the air.
Sun felt the emotions within him being roused yet again, but also felt an odd feeling within himself.
'Again...? I'm feeling something like this again?'
Ambition soared within him, but also a sense of dread, which he desperately stifled.
'I can not let myself waver at a time like this... I can't let myself waver at all...!'
As he quietly tried to steel his resolve, Fend Di Ji spoke up next,
"The third group will have our Settlement's general as their leader, Feng Jiangjun.
"I hope you all from Union Settlement can get along well with him."
Feng Jiangjun was stern as he spared a gaze at the Settlement Lord.
"As for the fourth... I heard that Brother Silver has appointed Liming Zi as the leader. Can this Cultivator come forth?"
Sun turned his surprise to the side, his slightly widened eyes looked towards Liming Zi as she slowly stepped up.
"To have Brother Silver entrust this position to you... I hope you can meet the high expectations placed upon you."
Feng Di Ji scrutinised Liming Zi, this woman before him, whose name he had never heard of before.
'To think that Silver Extreme would employ such a character with this responsibility...
'Not only the most experienced with the fog, or so he says, but also an Ex-Immortal Seed...!
'Why would such a figure be deployed here?'
The Settlement Lord kept those thoughts within himself, not showing any wavering on his face as he waited for her response.
"I will serve my role, ensuring the survival of this Settlement and the people under my command."
"That is good to hear."
Liming Zi remained with the others, while Feng Di Ji turned his voice towards the crowd.
"The final notice to pass on to you all is the method which will allow you to traverse the soil of Wind Shaven Mountain.
"To those who don't know, the peculiar properties of the soil will cause those who step upon it to sink. Without the proper method, you will be swallowed and suffocate far below the surface.
"We of Qing Mao Dao Settlement have a method which will allow you to traverse this soil safely."
He pointed once more, dispelling the image of the mountain and reassembling the wisps of white wind into another image.
It was a three-spoked wheel with imagery depicting something like hair swaying in the wind. There was a circle in the centre of the image, and a heart within that circle.
"This is Dao Art—Faithful Steps.
"It is what we of Qing Mao Dao Settlement have created to traverse the soil without sinking.
"Embed this Dao Art in your mind, and practice this during the remaining three nights before the tide."
With that, the final moment of the assembly arrived.
The Cultivators were divided between the groups, with Silver Extreme and Warrior of Spring leading the least number of people, and Feng Jiangjun and Liming Zi leading the majority.
Naturally, Sun was a part of Liming Zi's group.
"Li Zi, when did you get appointed as a leader?"
"When I was perusing Union Settlement's districts, while you were refining your halberd's Innate Qi."
Sun was still surprised that Liming Zi was appointed a leader of this group, but only because it was unexpected.
She fit the role, Sun knew that, and didn't doubt her capabilities in this position either.
On that note, Sun himself felt another troubling emotion within him, but it was not the trepidation nor the dread brought about by the tides.
Like bitterness in the back of his throat, a taste that lingered with inadequacy.
Breathing out a sigh, Sun could only stifle this unpleasant feeling.
"Well... I guess I'll be in your hands?"
"That is so, but I will be relying on you just as much."
"Is that so...?"
He felt that unpleasant emotion subsiding, and coughed as he asked,
"How so?"
"...Well..."
Liming Zi turned to the people that were assigned to her, a group of two dozen Cultivators from Union Settlement.
A light frown creased her brows.
"Should anyone get injured, myself included, I hope to rely on your capabilities as a Medical Expert."
"...?"
Sun wore a sheepish smile in response,
"You know I'm heading down the path of a Warrior, right?"
Liming Zi turned back to Sun, releasing the tension in her brows.
"Of course, but your ability to heal should not have dwindled. As long as your Way remains solid and unwavering, then none of your abilities should dwindle.
"Actually, I surmise that your retained skills in combat should be a result of your Tempered Faith. Your talent is also remarkable.
"Even if you pursue the path of a Warrior, the path of a Medical Expert should not diminish.
"In this regard, I hope that you will allow, not only me, but these people, all of these people, to rely on you in these dire times."