Chapter 41 — Night of Knives
The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
Lingxi had finally fallen asleep in the next room, her breathing soft and steady.
I sat by the window, eyes half-closed, my senses spread through the neighborhood like a web.
Every shift of the wind.
Every creak of wood.
Every heartbeat within a hundred meters.
Then—movement.
Four distinct presences.
Silent. Professional.
Moving in from different angles.
[Warning: Hostile intent detected.]
[Threat Level: High.]
I smiled thinly.
"They finally came."
The First Strike
The door exploded inward in a spray of splinters.
Two men in black surged through, blades flashing in the moonlight.
I was already moving.
Nen flared around me, merging with my profound energy in a perfect spiral.
Adaptive Flow guided every motion.
The first man lunged, his dagger aimed for my heart.
I sidestepped, caught his wrist, and twisted—
Bone snapped like dry wood.
A sharp elbow strike to the temple dropped him.
The second barely had time to react before a burst of energy-enhanced force sent him crashing through the wall.
The Rooftops
I launched myself upward, boots finding purchase on the tiles of the rooftop.
Two more assassins were waiting, crossbows aimed.
I moved before they fired.
One heartbeat.
Two.
By the third, both weapons were in pieces, their wielders unconscious on the tiles.
The Leader Appears
From the shadows, a slow clap echoed.
"Well done, Xiao Che," a voice drawled.
A tall man stepped into view, cloaked in black, eyes cold and calculating.
The leader of the hired killers—the mercenary captain from New Moon City.
"You've caused the Xiao Clan a lot of trouble," he said.
"And I'll admit… I underestimated you. That won't happen again."
His aura flared—sharp, refined.
At least True Profound Realm, and with the killing intent of someone who'd bathed in blood.
The Duel
He moved first, faster than I'd expected, blade slicing toward my throat.
I met his strike, Nen-hardened energy reinforcing my arm.
The impact rattled my bones, but Adaptive Flow absorbed the momentum, redirecting it harmlessly.
Then I countered—an open-palm strike enhanced with a spiral of profound energy and Nen.
The shockwave sent him skidding across the rooftop, his blade trembling in his grip.
His eyes widened.
"What are you?"
I didn't answer.
I simply moved again.
The Finish
The fight was brutal.
Precise.
Every exchange faster, sharper, deadlier.
But in the end, the fusion carried me through.
A feint.
A step inside his guard.
A strike to the solar plexus that left him gasping, followed by a clean blow to the temple that dropped him unconscious.
I stood over him, breathing hard but steady.
[Hostile Threat Neutralized.]
[Experience Integration: +4% Skill Synchronization.]
Aftermath
By dawn, the assassins were gone—some unconscious, some dragged away.
No bodies left behind, no evidence to trace.
But the message was clear.
The Xiao Clan had declared open war.
And now, I was done hiding.
---
Chapter 42 — The Hunt Begins
The sun rose over Floating Cloud City, painting the streets in pale gold.
For most, it was another quiet morning.
For me, it was the start of war.
---
Lingxi's Tears
"You can't keep doing this, Che-ge!"
Lingxi's voice trembled as she stood in the doorway, her eyes red from crying.
"They'll keep coming. They'll never stop. You'll… you'll—"
I gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I told you, Lingxi," I said softly, though my voice carried steel beneath.
"No one will ever hurt you again. Not them. Not anyone."
Her lips trembled.
"You're… changing. You feel… different."
I didn't deny it.
I was changing.
Faster, sharper, colder.
Every fight, every kill chipped away at who I used to be.
But in this world, sentiment was a luxury I couldn't afford.
---
System Alert
The familiar chime echoed in my mind.
> [Rank-Up Threshold Reached.]
[Special Simulation Trial: Available.]
[Options Unlocked: Select a world for the trial.]
I froze.
So soon?
> [Warning: Cooldown timer expired. Recommended to complete simulation before further high-risk encounters.]
I clenched my fists.
No.
Not yet.
Not until I dealt with the Xiao Clan.
"System," I whispered, "hold the simulation in standby. I have unfinished business."
> [Acknowledged. Simulation ready. No expiration.]
---
Preparation
The rest of the day passed in silence as I prepared.
Mapping the Xiao estate in my mind.
Studying patrol routes, guard rotations, the placement of their armory.
The Xiao Clan had power, wealth, and connections.
But they weren't prepared for me.
Not anymore.
---
The Calm Before
As night fell, I stood on a rooftop overlooking the city.
The wind tugged at my cloak, the streets quiet below.
This wasn't a hunt for vengeance.
This was surgery.
Precise. Clean.
Remove the tumor before it spreads.
The System's interface pulsed faintly in the corner of my vision.
> [Simulation Trial Pending.]
[Rewards: Bloodline Fragments, Unique Ability Enhancements, Skill Fusion.]
The thought made my pulse quicken.
But first, the Xiao Clan had to fall.
---
Resolve
I whispered into the darkness, my voice steady.
"Tonight, the hunt begins."
-
Chapter 43 — First Blood
The Xiao estate sat at the heart of Floating Cloud City, sprawling and well-guarded.
High walls.
Watchtowers.
Patrols at every corner.
For anyone else, it would've been suicide.
For me, it was just another battlefield.
The Infiltration
I moved through the shadows like water.
Adaptive Flow syncing with each heartbeat, each breath, each step.
Nen cloaked my presence; profound energy dulled my sound.
Two guards stood at the north gate, chatting idly.
They didn't even see me until they were unconscious.
Inside the Walls
I slipped through the courtyard, every sense sharp.
The estate pulsed with life—guards, servants, even a few cultivators lingering in the training grounds.
I avoided unnecessary bloodshed.
For now.
My goal was simple:
Break their strength.
Shatter their confidence.
Send a message that could not be ignored.
The First Target
The Xiao Clan's inner armory sat near the east wing.
Weapons. Scrolls. Medicines.
Everything they'd need to mount a serious counterattack.
I crouched near the outer wall, pressing a hand to the ground.
Nen-enhanced profound energy spread like ripples in water, mapping the building's interior in exquisite detail.
Six guards inside.
Two cultivators.
One alchemist.
Perfect.
The Strike
I moved.
Fast. Precise.
A blur of black against the moonlight.
The first guard fell before he could even draw his blade.
The second turned, eyes wide, but a burst of Nen-empowered force slammed him into the wall, knocking him cold.
The cultivators tried to mount a defense, their profound energy flaring—
But compared to the fusion humming through my veins, they were nothing.
A single motion, a spiraling strike, and the energy backlash shattered their defenses like glass.
The Explosion
With the room cleared, I planted the charges—small, crystalline seals of pure destructive energy I'd refined over the past week.
When they detonated, the explosion wasn't loud.
It was clean.
Precise.
The armory ceased to exist.
The Alarm
The shockwave rippled through the estate.
Bells rang.
Shouts filled the night.
Xiao Yulong's voice roared from the central courtyard.
"Find him! Tear the intruder apart!"
I smiled beneath my hood.
Perfect.
The Ghost in the Dark
As chaos erupted, I became a ghost.
Every strike was silent.
Every movement calculated.
Guards fell without a sound, patrols vanished into the night, and by the time the Xiao Clan realized what was happening, they were already crippled.
The Message
By dawn, the Xiao Clan estate was in shambles.
The armory destroyed.
Half their guards incapacitated.
And in the center of their courtyard, pinned to the flagstones by a dagger, was a simple note:
This is your only warning.
Touch her again, and you will cease to exist.
System Update
As I slipped back into my room, the System's voice chimed softly.
[Simulation Trial Ready.]
[Recommended: Initiate rank-up trial now. Threat level temporarily reduced.]
I exhaled slowly, eyes hard.
"Fine. Let's see what the next world has for me."
---
Chapter 44 — Simulation Trial: Blood and Steel
The room was silent when I activated the System.
Lingxi was still asleep, her breathing steady, unaware that I was about to step into another reality.
> [Initiating Rank-Up Simulation Trial.]
[Candidate: Xiao Che.]
[Current Cultivation: Early Nascent Profound Realm.]
[Simulation Options: Anime, Movie, TV Universes Available.]
Three holographic panels appeared before me.
Each glowing with possibilities.
---
The Options
1. Naruto (Shippuden, Pre-War Arc)
Mission: Survive an S-Rank assassination mission.
Rewards: Chakra affinity, potential bloodline fragment.
2. Attack on Titan (Season 2)
Mission: Defend a walled settlement from Titan incursion.
Rewards: Titan physiology enhancement, combat reflex boost.
3. One Piece (Marineford Prelude)
Mission: Defeat a Vice Admiral in single combat.
Rewards: Devil Fruit fragment, Haki resonance.
---
My pulse quickened.
Each option was dangerous.
Each one offered a path to becoming something… more.
But I didn't hesitate.
"Option Three."
> [One Piece Simulation Selected.]
[Initializing transfer in 3…2…1…]
---
The New World
The world around me shattered like glass.
When it reformed, I stood on the deck of a battered ship, the salt of the sea stinging my nostrils, the roar of waves filling my ears.
A voice barked behind me.
"Che! Stop daydreaming! The Vice Admiral is coming!"
I turned.
A marine warship loomed on the horizon, its cannons already swiveling toward us.
> [Mission Objective: Defeat Vice Admiral in Single Combat.]
[Timer: 72 Hours.]
---
The Battle
The first clash was chaos.
Cannonballs tearing through the sea.
Bullets hissing past my head.
Then he appeared.
The Vice Admiral.
A towering man in a white coat, muscles like steel cables, aura sharp as a blade.
The ground beneath his feet cracked with every step.
"You're the challenger?" he sneered.
"I'll make this quick."
His fist blurred forward, coated in the black sheen of Haki.
---
Fusion Unleashed
I met the strike head-on.
Nen and profound energy spiraled together, my Adaptive Flow syncing perfectly with every movement.
The clash shook the air, a sonic boom ripping across the deck.
The Vice Admiral staggered back a step, eyes narrowing.
"…Interesting."
Then he smiled.
"Good. Let's see how long you last."
---
72 Hours of Hell
The fight lasted three days.
Three days of relentless combat, every second a test of skill, stamina, and will.
He pushed me to my absolute limit, his Haki strikes nearly tearing me apart.
I adapted.
I learned.
I survived.
And on the dawn of the third day, I struck.
A perfect spiral of energy condensed into my fist, crashing into his chest and sending him sprawling into the sea.
---
System Update
> [Simulation Complete.]
[Reward Acquired: Devil Fruit Fragment — "Kage Kage no Mi" (Shadow Manipulation).]
[Secondary Reward: Haki Resonance — Potential Unlocked.]
[Cultivation Rank Increased: Mid Nascent Profound Realm.]
---
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my room.
Sweat drenched my clothes, but my body pulsed with new power — a strange, cold shadowy energy swirling alongside my cultivation.
A slow smile curved my lips.
The Xiao Clan had no idea what kind of monster they had just provoked.
---
Chapter 45 — The Shadow's Edge
Morning light spilled through the window, but my room was still dark.
Not because of the curtains.
Because the shadows were listening.
They pooled unnaturally at my feet, thick and cold, shifting like living ink.
System Log
[New Ability Integrated: Shadow Manipulation (Fragment)]
- Allows partial control of shadows within a limited radius.
- Current Capacity: 3 Shadow Constructs, 5 Minutes Each.
- Passive Buff: Enhanced Stealth and Movement in Darkness.
My fingers flexed, and the shadows obeyed — thin tendrils snaking up my arm like loyal serpents.
A grin tugged at my lips.
"This… changes everything."
Testing the Gift
I slipped outside, into the forest beyond the Xiao clan's outer patrol routes.
"Let's see what you can do."
With a thought, the shadows erupted from the ground, shaping into a vague humanoid figure.
Its movements were clumsy, like a puppet learning to walk, but it responded to my will.
Control… fluidity… connection…
After two hours, the construct moved almost naturally, striking wooden posts with practiced precision.
By the fourth hour, I was laughing.
"This is insane," I whispered.
"I could take down patrols without ever showing my face…"
Strategic Shift
Back in my room, I spread a rough map of the Xiao estate across the floor.
The armory was already gone.
Their supply lines crippled.
Their morale fractured.
Now, it was time to break the spine of the beast — Xiao Yunhai and Xiao Yulong.
The shadows pulsed at my feet, eager.
This time, there would be no warning note.
No mercy.
Lingxi's Unease
That night, Lingxi stopped me at the door.
"You're leaving again," she said softly, her hands gripping her sleeves.
I hesitated.
She didn't need to see what I was becoming.
What I was willing to do.
But her eyes… they were sharp, searching, afraid.
"Che-ge," she whispered.
"Promise me you'll come back. No matter what."
I forced a smile and nodded.
"Always, Lingxi."
But deep down, I wondered if I was already too far gone.
System Alert
[Warning: Rapid Adaptation Detected.]
[Cooldown Before Next Simulation: 28 Days.]
[Recommendation: Focus on real-world integration and threat elimination.]
I looked down at the map again, my fingers tracing the path to the Xiao patriarch's quarters.
The hunt was almost over.
Chapter 46 — Shadows of Retribution
The Xiao estate was quiet that night.
Too quiet.
The guards paced their usual routes, oblivious.
The lamps flickered in the cool breeze, casting long, thin silhouettes across the courtyard.
Perfect hunting grounds.
Preparation
I crouched atop a tiled roof, shadows clinging to my body like a second skin.
[Shadow Manipulation Active.]
[Construct Limit: 3.]
[Duration: 4:59.]
Four minutes and fifty-nine seconds.
That's all I had before my constructs dissolved.
Plenty of time.
The First Strike
Two guards blocked the path to Yulong's residence.
I didn't even draw my blade.
The shadows surged forward, wrapping around their throats like serpents.
They didn't even have time to scream.
Just a faint gurgle before they slumped silently to the ground.
I dragged their bodies into a corner, out of sight.
The Inner Courtyard
I slipped through the courtyard like a whisper.
No footsteps.
No sound.
The shadows rippled beneath me, syncing perfectly with my breathing, my heartbeat.
I could feel them — like extensions of my own body.
Every corner.
Every angle.
Every escape route mapped in my mind.
**Xiao
Chapter 47 — The Beast Strikes Back
The Xiao Clan moved fast.
Faster than I expected.
By dawn, the city was locked down.
Every gate guarded.
Every street patrolled.
Even the City Lord's mansion had been alerted.
They didn't know who I was.
But they knew someone was hunting them.
And they were scared.
---
The Trap
That night, they set their bait.
A "secret" meeting in the outer courtyard, guards lined along every wall, crossbows ready, profound practitioners on every roof.
Dozens of them.
Waiting.
Watching.
Praying I'd take the bait.
I did.
---
The Shadows Rise
I slipped into the courtyard like a whisper, cloaked in shadow.
Every sense sharp, every nerve alive.
> [Shadow Manipulation Active.]
[Construct Limit: 3.]
[Enhanced Stealth Mode Engaged.]
The first guard never saw the blade of darkness slice his throat.
The second dropped with a muffled gasp as tendrils yanked him into the void between lanterns.
By the time they realized they were under attack, a third of their force was already gone.
---
Panic
"THERE! BY THE EAST WALL!"
Arrows rained down.
Profound energy flared.
But they were shooting at ghosts.
The real me was already behind them, my shadows weaving chaos through their ranks.
I moved like water, every strike precise, every kill silent.
One by one, their formation crumbled.
---
Xiao Yunhai's Rage
From the inner balcony, the patriarch roared, his aura flaring violently.
"SHOW YOURSELF, COWARD! FACE ME!"
For a moment, I considered it.
To end him here, now.
But no.
Not yet.
This wasn't just about vengeance anymore.
This was about control.
Dominance.
And I wanted them to drown in their fear first.
---
The Retreat
When the last of the guards fell silent, the courtyard looked like a slaughterhouse.
Shadows retreated to my feet, whispering like loyal hounds.
On the wall, written in their own blood, I left a single line:
Next time, I won't miss.
Then I vanished into the night.
---
System Log
> [Cooldown Remaining: 21 Days.]
[Shadow Manipulation Mastery: 15%.]
[Passive Unlock: Shadow Step — Short-range teleport within connected shadows.]
I stared at the glowing notification, a slow smile creeping across my face.
Teleportation.
Now we were getting somewhere.
---
Would you like Chapter 48 to show the City Lord getting involved — sensing that the balance of power in Floating Cloud City is spiraling out of control?
---
Chapter 48 — The City Lord Moves
Floating Cloud City hadn't slept in days.
Rumors spread like wildfire — whispers of a phantom killer who walked through walls, who struck and vanished, leaving only corpses and fear in his wake.
The Xiao Clan had doubled their patrols.
The Burning Heaven Sect's envoys had begun sniffing around.
And now… even the City Lord was restless.
---
City Lord's Mansion
Qin Wuyou leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, fingers drumming against the armrest.
"They say Yulong died without even lifting a finger," his steward reported.
"And last night… fifteen more guards. Slaughtered. No trace left behind."
Qin Wuyou opened his eyes.
Cold, sharp, calculating.
"And Yunhai?"
"Enraged. Paranoid. He suspects everyone, even his own people."
A faint smirk tugged at Qin's lips.
Good.
Let the beast devour itself.
Still, the balance of power in the city was delicate.
If this phantom assassin continued unchecked, Floating Cloud City could spiral into chaos.
And chaos attracted attention.
Attention from powers far beyond this small city.
---
A Shadow in the Crowd
From the busy streets below the City Lord's mansion, I watched the bustle of activity with quiet amusement.
Xiao Clan guards everywhere.
Scouts from other factions pretending to be merchants or travelers.
And now, City Lord spies mixed in, whispering in corners.
The city was a chessboard.
And I was holding pieces none of them could even see.
---
System Log
> [Cooldown Remaining: 18 Days.]
[Shadow Step — 10m Radius, 3 Charges Per Day.]
[Integration Rate: 18%.]
Ten meters wasn't much.
But in the narrow alleys of Floating Cloud, ten meters was the difference between escape and capture.
Between predator and prey.
I could feel the City Lord's eyes searching.
And that made me smile.
Let him look.
Let them all look.
Because no one was ready for what was coming.
---
Lingxi's Worry
That night, Lingxi cornered me again.
"Che-ge," she whispered, her eyes glistening.
"Everyone's talking about the Phantom. About the killings. The Xiao Clan… they're hunting harder than ever. I'm scared for you."
Her hands trembled as they clutched my sleeve.
I gently placed a hand over hers.
"I told you, Lingxi," I said softly.
"They'll never find me."
But in my heart, I knew the storm was only just beginning.
---
A New Player
Later that night, as I moved through the outer district, a sharp chill ran up my spine.
Someone was watching me.
Not a guard.
Not a scout.
Something else.
Something… stronger.
---
Chapter 49 — Embers in the Dark
The night air was heavy.
Too heavy.
Even the shadows around me felt tense, whispering warnings I couldn't quite understand.
That's when I sensed it — a ripple of profound energy, sharp and suffocating, cutting through the city like a predator's gaze.
Someone strong had arrived.
Stronger than anyone I'd faced in this backwater city.
---
Burning Heaven Sect Envoy
In the City Lord's mansion, Qin Wuyou greeted the visitor with his usual mask of politeness.
"Elder Mo," he said smoothly, bowing slightly.
"To what do we owe the honor of a Burning Heaven Sect envoy in our humble city?"
The man didn't even acknowledge the courtesy.
Tall, lean, and dressed in crimson robes that seemed to flicker like flame in the lamplight, Elder Mo's eyes swept across the hall, cold and merciless.
"We heard," Elder Mo said, voice low and sharp, "that the Xiao Clan's heir was killed… by some phantom assassin."
Qin Wuyou's smile didn't waver.
"Rumors tend to grow wild in small places. Perhaps the truth is less… dramatic."
Elder Mo's lips curled in a humorless smile.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps there's someone here who dares spit in the face of the Burning Heaven Sect's allies. I will find out which it is."
---
Hunted
From the rooftops, I watched the crimson-robed man move through the streets below.
Every step he took radiated pressure, like the world itself was bending around him.
Peak Spirit Profound Realm, maybe even higher.
I stayed perfectly still, even holding my breath, as his aura swept past me.
For a moment, I felt it — that instinctive pull of prey before a predator.
> [Warning: Power Disparity Detected.]
[Recommendation: Avoid Direct Confrontation.]
No kidding.
One wrong move, and I'd be nothing more than ash.
---
Strategic Patience
Back in my room, I stared at the glowing map of the Xiao estate and the city grid overlay the system had generated.
For the first time since my rebirth, I felt… cornered.
The shadows whispered at my feet, eager, restless.
But I ignored them.
Charging blindly would get me killed.
I needed a plan.
I needed power.
---
System Log
> [Cooldown Remaining: 16 Days.]
[Upcoming Special Simulation: Cultivation Rank-Up Unlock — Bloodline/Unique Power Integration Possible.]
Sixteen days.
That's all I needed.
Sixteen days to stay alive, to grow stronger, to prepare.
Because when the cooldown ended…
The Phantom of Floating Cloud City would rise again.
---
Chapter 50 — Ash and Silence
The city was restless.
Every alley, every market, every quiet courtyard was heavy with tension.
The Xiao Clan had unleashed their dogs.
But worse than that…
The Burning Heaven Sect's envoy had begun to hunt.
---
The First Hunt
I felt it before I saw it — a sharp shift in the air, the faint hum of oppressive profound energy sweeping through the streets.
Elder Mo.
Moving.
Hunting.
I froze where I crouched on the roof of a tea house, my shadows wrapping tight around me like a cloak.
Then, a scream split the night.
I watched from above as a man — a petty thief I'd seen loitering near the outer markets — collapsed in the street, his body charred black, smoke curling from his lips.
The envoy didn't even look back.
Just kept walking, his aura sweeping the city like a net, searching for something.
For me.
---
Bait
I should've stayed hidden.
Waited it out.
But when I saw the envoy corner a young girl near the well — someone who'd done nothing but be in the wrong place at the wrong time — my body moved before my mind caught up.
A shadow lance shot from the darkness, striking the stone beside Elder Mo with a sharp crack.
The girl stumbled free, screaming as she bolted into the night.
Elder Mo froze.
Then, slowly, his head turned toward where I'd been.
"Found you," he said, voice calm and cold.
---
Predator and Prey
I ran.
Shadows surged underfoot, propelling me over walls and across rooftops as flames erupted behind me, turning the street into molten ruin.
> [Shadow Step — 3 Charges Remaining.]
I blinked through a wall of smoke, reappearing in a narrow alley three streets over.
My heart hammered in my chest, but I didn't slow down.
Another surge of heat — closer this time.
He was following my trail.
Relentless.
---
The Narrow Escape
The moment his flames engulfed the alley, I triggered my last Shadow Step, vanishing into the darkness of a collapsed warehouse on the city's edge.
Silence.
Only the echo of my ragged breathing.
> [Warning: Cooldown for Shadow Step Active — 24 Hours Remaining.]
I leaned against the wall, trembling, every muscle tight with adrenaline.
I had escaped.
Barely.
But the message was clear:
If Elder Mo found me again before my cooldowns reset…
I wouldn't get a second chance.
---
Resolve
Back in my room, I stared at the faint glow of the system screen.
> [Cooldown Remaining: 15 Days.]
[Simulation Unlock Approaching — Special Rank-Up Event Available.]
Fifteen days.
That's all.
Fifteen days to grow stronger.
Fifteen days before the Phantom stopped running…
…and started hunting.
---