Night fell heavily over the academy.
Lantern light flickered along the stone pathways, stretching shadows across walls and rooftops. The air was quiet—but not peaceful.
It was the kind of quiet that came before blood was spilled.
Inside a private chamber reserved for elite students, Li Jun stood motionless.
His fists were clenched so tightly that blood seeped from his palms.
Elite.
Zhang Wei was now Elite Rank.
The word echoed in his mind like a curse.
"That shouldn't be possible," Li Jun muttered.
He had watched the match with Zhao Feng from beginning to end. Every movement. Every strike. Every impossible burst of strength.
No tricks.
No outside interference.
Pure domination.
And that was what terrified him the most.
Li Jun wasn't afraid of strong people.
He was afraid of unknown variables.
Zhang Wei had become one.
Li Jun took a deep breath and forced his expression to calm.
Panic would only lead to mistakes.
And Li Jun did not survive this long by making mistakes.
He turned toward the shadows.
"Come out."
Two figures stepped forward.
Both wore black cloaks bearing no insignia. Their auras were restrained, but sharp—like blades hidden in cloth.
Assassins.
Not academy students.
Not bound by academy rules.
"You know the target," Li Jun said quietly.
"Zhang Wei."
One of the figures hesitated.
"He's Elite Rank now," the assassin said.
"The price increases."
Li Jun's eyes turned cold.
"I don't care," he said.
"I want him crippled."
The second assassin frowned.
"Killed?"
Li Jun shook his head slowly.
"No," he said.
"Alive."
A cruel smile touched his lips.
"I want him dragged back to where he belongs."
At the same time, I sat alone in my residence.
The room was dark.
Quiet.
Perfect.
The system panel hovered in front of me, glowing faintly.
Name: Zhang Wei
Rank: Elite
Power: 134
Status: Rising Core Elite
Skills:
– Shadow Step
– Body Reinforcement
Titles:
– Fear Incarnate
I studied it calmly.
Elite Rank.
In the academy, that meant untouchable.
Outside?
It meant nothing.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
Threat Detection Activated.
Multiple hostile entities approaching.
Estimated arrival: 10 minutes.
Direction: Eastern passage.
Number: Three.
I smiled faintly.
"So you finally moved."
I stood up and walked toward the window.
Moonlight bathed the rooftops in silver.
The eastern passage connected the academy to the outer storage grounds—a blind spot in security.
A perfect place for an ambush.
I stepped out.
The night air was cold.
My footsteps were silent as I moved across the rooftops, Shadow Step activating instinctively.
I didn't hide my presence.
I wanted to be found.
The system chimed softly.
[DING!]
Fear Incarnate passive effect active.
Mental pressure applied to hostile targets.
I landed lightly in the eastern passage.
Narrow.
Dimly lit.
Stone walls on both sides.
A killing ground.
Three figures emerged from the shadows ahead.
Their movements were precise.
Professional.
Not students.
Good.
"Zhang Wei," one of them said, voice flat.
"Come quietly."
I tilted my head slightly.
"Li Jun sent you," I said calmly.
A flicker of surprise crossed their eyes.
"So you know."
"I know everything," I replied.
The assassin raised his hand.
The other two vanished.
Fast.
Too fast for ordinary cultivators.
But not for me.
Shadow Step.
The world flickered.
I reappeared behind the first assassin.
My palm struck his spine.
Body Reinforcement surged.
A dull crack echoed.
He collapsed without a sound.
The second assassin slashed from my blind spot.
A blade grazed my shoulder.
Blood spilled.
Pain flared.
Then vanished.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Combat damage detected.
Adaptive growth triggered.
Power +5.
I smiled.
I grabbed the assassin's wrist mid-strike and twisted.
Bone snapped.
He screamed.
I drove my knee into his chest.
He flew backward and slammed into the wall, coughing blood.
The third assassin appeared behind me, dagger glowing with poison.
I didn't turn.
I stepped forward.
Shadow Step.
He stabbed empty air.
I reappeared above him.
My heel came down on his shoulder.
He dropped to the ground, screaming.
The passage fell silent.
Three bodies.
One breathing.
I crouched in front of the last assassin, gripping his jaw and forcing his head up.
"Tell Li Jun something for me," I said quietly.
His eyes trembled.
"W-what?"
I leaned closer.
"Tell him this was mercy."
Fear flooded his expression.
I knocked him unconscious and stood.
The system pulsed violently.
[DING!]
Hostile ambush defeated.
Hidden Condition Met:
Elite Rank suppression without lethal force.
Rewards Granted:
Power +12
Skill Evolution Progress +15%
Warning:
Primary antagonist has escalated hostility.
Next phase:
Direct confrontation inevitable.
I exhaled slowly.
The next morning—
The academy exploded.
Three unknown cultivators had been found broken near the eastern passage.
Alive.
Barely.
Rumors spread faster than fire.
"Did you hear?"
"They tried to assassinate Zhang Wei!"
"They weren't students!"
"And he crushed all three alone!"
Fear deepened.
Respect solidified.
Inside his chamber, Li Jun stared at the report in silence.
His hands shook.
Failed.
They failed.
Three professionals.
Crushed.
Alive.
That detail haunted him most.
It wasn't victory.
It was a warning.
Li Jun finally understood.
Zhang Wei wasn't climbing anymore.
He was hunting.
Li Jun sat down heavily, sweat dripping down his back.
"This… has gone too far," he whispered.
He clenched his teeth.
If indirect methods failed—
Then there was only one option left.
At the same time, Elder Qin stood at the edge of the academy balcony, gazing into the distance.
The morning wind tugged at his robes.
"Elite Rank," he murmured.
"Assassination attempts."
He sighed.
"The academy can no longer contain him."
Behind him, another elder spoke quietly.
"Should we intervene?"
Elder Qin shook his head.
"No," he said slowly.
"Let the world test him."
His eyes sharpened.
"Only true monsters survive beyond these walls."
I stood at the academy gate, looking outward.
The world beyond was vast.
Dangerous.
Perfect.
The system chimed one last time.
[DING!]
Main Arc Update.
Academy Phase nearing completion.
Next recommended action:
Step beyond protected grounds.
New enemies await.
I smiled.
And took a step forward.