Night descended over the Crimson Dawn Sect like a velvet shroud, silent and deceptively peaceful. The crimson moon hung low over the mountains, casting long, eerie shadows across the outer courtyard.
Lian Hong stood alone beneath an ancient pine tree, its crooked branches swaying lightly in the wind. The chill in the air did nothing to cool the fire simmering in his veins.
His first Hidden Quest—Defeat someone stronger than him.
An outer-sect disciple.
A year ago, a request like that would've been suicide.
Today?
Lian Hong's fingers curled slightly, and a ripple of qi danced across his knuckles.
He was ready.
His eyes narrowed as he scanned the dimly lit walkway leading toward the sect's warehouse. Guards rotated there nightly—usually outer disciples who treated the post as an excuse to slack off.
And among them…was someone who would be perfect for this quest.
Liu Yan.
An outer disciple at Qi Gathering Third Layer, barely competent but extremely arrogant. His past self would've bowed and scraped in front of him.
This time—
Lian Hong's lips curved faintly.
"Tonight, you'll be the stepping stone."
Footsteps echoed in the distance, accompanied by lazy humming. A tall, skinny youth in outer-sect robes sauntered down the path, swinging a bamboo stick as if patrolling a playground.
Liu Yan.
He hadn't changed.
Still oblivious.Still conceited.Still pathetically unaware of danger.
Perfect.
Lian Hong stepped out from behind the tree.
"You're early for patrol," he said calmly.
Liu Yan nearly tripped. "Huh? Who—oh. It's just you, the servant brat." He laughed mockingly. "What, did you steal something? Or are you here to polish my boots like last time?"
Lian Hong didn't move.
"Liu Yan," he said quietly, "do you remember extorting me for spirit rice last month?"
The outer disciple blinked.
"Uh… I extort a lot of you servant worms. You'll need to be more specific."
Lian Hong nodded thoughtfully.
"Then allow me to jog your memory."
He took one step forward—and disappeared.
At least, that's what it looked like to Liu Yan.
"W–What—?!"
Before the outer disciple could react, a fist slammed into his stomach with bone-crushing force.
WHAM!
Liu Yan's body lifted off the ground, thrown backward several feet before skidding across the dirt.
He gagged, clutching his abdomen. "H-HOW—!? You're just a servant disciple! How did you—"
Lian Hong approached slowly, controlled, each step carrying a calmness that terrified more than rage ever could.
"You're Qi Gathering Third Layer," he said, "but your foundation is sloppy. Your posture is unstable. Your breathing technique is full of leaks."
He tilted his head slightly.
"And your awareness is nonexistent."
Liu Yan scrambled up, panic overtaking arrogance.
"You— don't come any closer! I'm an outer disciple! If you attack me, you'll—"
THUMP.
Lian Hong's foot struck the side of his knee.A crack followed.Liu Yan screamed, collapsing again.
Lian Hong crouched beside him.
"You abused your status for years," he said softly. "Tonight, I simply return the debt."
Liu Yan's eyes widened, terror flooding them.
"Please—PLEASE! I won't do it again! Let me go!"
Lian Hong looked into those shaking eyes—
—and saw the countless humiliations, threats, and mockery he had suffered in his past life.
This man had no intention of changing.Men like him only understood one language.
Fear.
Lian Hong moved like lightning.
One strike.Precise. Controlled. Devastating.
His fist slammed into Liu Yan's chest.
Liu Yan's consciousness snapped as he hit the ground, completely defeated.
Silence returned to the courtyard.
Then—
[Ding!Hidden Quest Complete!]
A golden surge filled Lian Hong's mind.
[Rewards obtained:]• Advanced Attribute Points ×5• Random Technique (Mortal–Earth Rank)• Unknown Bonus: Unlocked]
His breath hitched.
Earth-Rank…?Even a Mortal-Rank technique was priceless. Earth-Rank was the kind that only inner-sect elders guarded with their lives.
"System," he said steadily. "Show the technique."
The screen unfurled.
[Congratulations!You have obtained:〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉 – Low Earth Rank]
Lian Hong's heart pounded.
Earth-Rank movement arts were rare treasures capable of allowing cultivators to cross realms in battle. This single technique was more valuable than all the servant compound's resources combined.
He studied the description.
〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement〉 allowed the user to:
• Melt into shadows• Move explosively in short bursts• Evade attacks with predictive footwork• Create afterimages at high speed
Perfect for overwhelming stronger opponents.
The final reward began to pulse.
[Processing Unknown Bonus…Bonus unlocked:'Predator's Intuition' (Passive Skill)]
Lian Hong froze.
A passive skill?
He read its details.
[Predator's Intuition]A passive battle instinct awakened from defeating prey stronger than yourself.Effects:• Heightened danger perception• Increased accuracy under combat stress• Instinctive recognition of enemy weaknesses
In essence—
This ability turned him into a hunter.
A true predator.
Lian Hong exhaled slowly, his aura simmering with newfound power.
He glanced down at the unconscious Liu Yan.
The old Lian Hong would've apologized.Begged.Hidden his strength.
But now—he walked away without looking back.
A predator does not explain himself to prey.
And the sect?
This small incident wouldn't even cause a ripple.Outer disciples bullied servants all the time.But tomorrow—
Tomorrow, the entire outer-sect would feel something shift in the air.
A new presence.
A rising threat.
A genius born from ashes.
Lian Hong's eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight.
"Wei Changbai…"
He whispered the name like a promise carved into stone.
"Soon."