After finishing his favorite dish, pork pot, Liang heard the familiar sound of the door opening. His father had returned. Without hesitation, Liang rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
"Welcome home, Dad!" he said with a wide smile.
His father, Shen Hao, stood there with his usual aura of authority. A formal company suit wrapped around his slightly plump frame, glasses resting on the bridge of his droopy nose. His light brown hair was slightly thinning, and faint wrinkles lined his face. Despite his age, his sharp almond-shaped blue eyes still radiated energy and spirit. He was a B-level Manager by profession, but to Liang, he was the pillar of the family.
Shen Hao chuckled, patting his son's back. "Good job, boy! I heard you managed to awaken C-level Wind Walk." His voice carried both pride and relief.
Even a C-level skill was considered a strong foundation for a bright future.
"Yes, Dad!" Liang's eyes gleamed with determination. "Now our family will rise! Believe me!"
His father only smiled warmly, his heart swelling with happiness. "Yes, yes… You are the pride of our family."
The two chatted late into the night before going to sleep. Liang's room was ordinary—a study table, an AC, a cupboard, and a few stickers on the wall but tonight, it felt like the most precious place in the world. He lay on his bed, unable to contain his excitement. He murmured softly to himself, "Two overpowered skills from the start… this is just the beginning…" Moments later, he drifted into a peaceful sleep.
The Day of the Great Competition
Before the competition, Liang spent his days traveling with his family, cherishing the warmth of home. But soon, in the blink of an eye, the long-awaited Great Competition had arrived.
Taking the metro since the metro was near his home Liang traveled to the capital city of his province, where the event would be held. The massive ground was already filled with millions of students, each brimming with anticipation. Surrounding the stage at the front were seats reserved for the most powerful families, sects, and academies, all eager to scout the brightest talents.
A slim young woman walked onto the stage. Her fox-like eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence, her slender figure graceful like a dancer. Standing at 5'4, she radiated both elegance and authority. She was not just the announcer, but also an A-level Healer a profession highly respected in all realms.
She raised her voice, calm yet commanding:
"This competition will take place within a low-level labyrinth one that manifests as a vast jungle. It will be divided into three zones: the Outer Area, the Inner Area, and the Core Area. The deeper you go, the stronger the monsters you face and the greater the rewards."
Her gaze swept across the massive crowd.
"Weaklings are forbidden from entering the Inner Area. Only geniuses from great families or top-ranked professions may challenge the Core. Remember—this is not a dungeon, but a labyrinth. The deeper you go, the more complex it becomes."
Instead of fear, excitement burned in the eyes of the students below. They had been waiting for this day for an entire month.
Finally, after a stick of incense time, the teleportation began. In flashes of light, the participants were transported into the Outer Area.
Here, low-level monsters awaited Level 1 and Level 2 beasts. Students quickly fell into a frenzy of hunting. Excited cheers echoed everywhere:
"Got one!""A Muted Horned Rabbit!""Ha! A Muted Poisonous Snake! Points are mine!"
Each monster granted 4–5 points, and joy spread across the ground as weaker students tasted victory. But when the rankings appeared after only five minutes, the difference between geniuses and commoners became painfully clear.
Ranking Board:
Li Wei – 800 points
Lan Xueya – 750 points
Zhang Hao – 650 points
Chen Jie – 500 points
Wang Lei – 475 points
Gasps rippled through the participants. These were the names of the province's top geniuses their speed in killing monsters was terrifying.
Meanwhile, at the very top, Li Wei, the prodigy of the Li Family, stood within the Core Area. Surrounding him were piles of wolf corpses, each between Level 6 and 7. Yet, his sharp eyes were locked on a single opponent a massive wolf, its fur crackling with arcs of lightning. Its blood-red eyes burned with killing intent.
This was no ordinary beast it was the Wolf King, ruler of the pack.
But Li Wei was no ordinary human either. His profession was one of shadows, stealth, and death.
He was a
[SHADOW ASSASSIN]