"Fortunately, the corpse remains intact."
Relief flooded through his nervous system as he examined Li Cun's cooling body. His previous experimentation in the trial zone had revealed copying talent's crucial limitation—excessive damage to corpses rendered talent scanning impossible.
"Copy Shadow Talent."
The mental command activated his supernatural ability instantly. Power flowed from dead flesh into living consciousness as elementary shadow mastery integrated with his existing capabilities.
Rather than risk discovery by returning home immediately, he initiated fusion on-site. The grove's isolation provided perfect privacy for transformation.
Elementary shadow talent caused minimal discomfort compared to his previous integrations. Eight hundred pounds of physical strength, combined with accumulated fusion experience, had built substantial pain tolerance. Slight aches and perspiration were manageable inconveniences.
Ten minutes of controlled agony yielded extraordinary results:
Name: Ye Tian
Cultivation Talent: Intermediate
Speed Talent: Elementary
Knife Talent: Intermediate
Shadow Talent: Elementary
"Four distinct talents."
Satisfaction warmed his chest like liquid fire. Within Linhai Base's population, he was certain no individual possessed greater supernatural diversity. Same-level invincibility was now mathematically guaranteed.
"Li Cun should carry valuable resources."
Methodical searching revealed treasures beyond his wildest expectations.
The assassin's black blade caught moonlight with predatory gleam—no chips or damage despite extensive use. Blood grooves carved along the central ridge suggested professional craftsmanship far exceeding his current weapon's quality.
"Yuan soldier grade at minimum. Perfect replacement for my damaged steel."
But the monetary discoveries eclipsed even superior weaponry.
Three gold cards. Five white cards. Scattered paper currency.
His hands trembled as mathematical implications crystallized. Gold cards represented one million yuan each. White cards contained ten thousand yuan. Total liquid assets: over three million yuan.
"More wealth than most families accumulate across generations."
Pure exhilaration coursed through his system. Gold cards functioned as advanced banking technology—manufactured by major bases, accepted throughout the region. Even traveling to distant territories wouldn't diminish their value.
Combined with shadow talent, this financial foundation could accelerate his development beyond Mo Shaobei's ability to counter.
"But one problem requires immediate resolution."
Killing intent crystallized like ice in his veins.
Mo Shaobei represented existential threat. Li Cun's prolonged absence would trigger escalation—late-stage Martial Artists or even Elite warriors hired for the next assassination attempt.
Preemptive action was mandatory.
"Direct retaliation invites Mo family annihilation. But indirect approaches..."
Strategic inspiration struck like lightning.
Li Cun's corpse, his weapon, his shadow talent—perfect impersonation materials.
"Dispose of evidence first."
Corpse burial required careful site selection and thorough concealment. Deep excavation, natural camouflage, location memorization for potential future needs.
Even eventual discovery would occur months later, long after current objectives were achieved.
Darkness had settled completely when he finally returned home. But rest was impossible—shadow talent demanded immediate mastery.
Initial experimentation revealed significant limitations alongside obvious advantages.
Shadow state required continuous energy expenditure and absolute darkness. Direct illumination forced immediate exposure. Attacks were impossible while concealed, and receiving damage terminated the effect instantly.
"Stealth and assassination tool. Useless for direct confrontation."
But for his intended purposes, such restrictions were acceptable.
"Li Cun's techniques."
The recovered manual contained knowledge worth armies. Shadow Knife—a bronze-level blade technique featuring a single devastating move called Shadow Kill. Lightning-fast assassination strike that could end combat before enemies realized danger.
More valuable than the technique itself was theoretical foundation. The manual explained blade mastery's three fundamental levels: Shape, Momentum, Meaning. Most humans achieved basic Shape through practice, but Momentum required innate knife talent. Meaning remained legendary among ordinary warriors.
"Bronze-level techniques demand knife talent for cultivation. Li Cun possessed the manual but lacked genetic requirements—fatal weakness that cost him everything."
Classification systems intrigued him further. Black Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold—ascending tiers of supernatural martial techniques. Elementary practitioners might achieve partial mastery of Black Iron methods, but higher grades remained impossible without corresponding talents.
"Mo Shaobei enjoys a few more days of breathing. Once Shadow Knife reaches basic proficiency, his execution begins."
Three Days Later
Intermediate knife talent provided supernatural learning acceleration. The bronze-level Shadow Knife technique—typically requiring decades for marginal progress—yielded to his genetic advantages within seventy-two hours.
Entry-level mastery was achieved. His blade work had evolved significantly, approaching true Momentum comprehension through systematic study.
Late Night - Mo Family Estate
Mo Shaobei paced his private chambers like a caged predator, rage building with each passing hour. Three complete days without word from Shadow violated every professional standard.
Li Hai stood nearby, recognizing his young master's mounting fury with practiced ease.
"Elder Li, did that worthless Shadow abscond with my payment? A full martial artist unable to eliminate one Apprentice-level peasant?"
Venom dripped from every syllable.
"Young Master, Shadow's reputation has remained spotless across years of contracts. Perhaps he accepted simultaneous assignments, delaying our target?"
"He better pray that's the explanation. Otherwise, Shadow will discover Mo family wrath personally."
Mo Shaobei dismissed his servant with irritated gestures.
Li Hai departed the residence, walking through estate grounds toward his own quarters. The night air carried unusual tension—predatory awareness that made his skin crawl with primitive warning.
"Excessive worry. Who would dare attack Mo family property?"
But his instincts screamed danger even as logic dismissed the concern.
Shadow materialized from absolute darkness like death given form. Black steel gleamed in starlight as Shadow Kill technique unleashed its lethal precision.
The blade moved faster than conscious thought. Li Hai's enhanced reflexes barely registered the weapon's approach before steel opened his throat in a crimson cascade.
Dying awareness brought horrifying recognition.
"Shadow? Why would Shadow kill me?"
The question died with its asker as blood pooled across manicured gardens.
In the darkness, Ye Tian smiled behind his stolen identity. The Mo family's destruction had officially commenced.
Phase one: complete.
[End of Chapter 15]