Marcus circulated qi to his feet. A thin thread. Careful. Controlled.
The air around his soles darkened. Like ink spreading in water.
He leapt forward.
His form vanished. Reappeared in the opposite corner. Twelve meters crossed in an instant.
Shadow Steps. The technique he'd bought from the system mall . Five thousand Kama Points. Worth every single one.
He tried again. Focused on a spot behind a dresser. Vanished. Reappeared exactly where he intended.
And again. This time to the ceiling beam. His feet found purchase. Balance perfect. No sound.
Each time his muscles burned slightly. Qi channels tingled with heat. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the room's chill.
But it worked. The technique worked flawlessly.
He dropped back to the floor. Checked the system panel.
SHADOW STEPS
Proficiency: Beginner (1/5)
Max Distance: 12 meters per burst
Cooldown: 3 seconds (after three consecutive bursts)
Qi Cost: 15-25 units per burst (scales with distance)
Passive Bonus: +20% stealth in shadows/low-light environments
Evolution Path Unlocked:
Requirements: 5,000 Kama Points + Mid-Tier Shadow-Attuned Manual
Upgrade: Void Phantom Steps (25m range, 1sec cooldown, phase through solid objects)
Marcus read the evolution path. Imagined it. Phasing through walls. Twenty-five meter jumps. One second cooldown.
With that he could escape anywhere. Infiltrate anywhere. Become untouchable.
But first he needed to survive today.
He imagined his escape route. Lian Xueyin still in breakthrough. Guards distracted. Him slipping through corridors like smoke. Jumping across rooftops. Vanishing into the wilderness.
Freedom within reach.
The dark voice stirred. Less mocking than usual. Almost approving.
*Finally something useful. Now stop admiring your new toy and move. That bitch's breakthrough won't last forever.*
"This time I'm the one doing the running."
Marcus approached the door. Pressed his ear against it. Listened.
Footsteps outside. Two guards. Their conversation drifted through.
"...heard the Sect Head reached Nascent Soul Stage 9. The qi fluctuations were incredible."
"Good for us. Sect's power increases. More resources. Better missions."
"Speaking of resources. Did you see that yang furnace she captured? Supreme Yang Physique. Once she drains him we'll all benefit."
"If there's anything left. You know how she gets when she finds a good cauldron."
They laughed. Moved on. Their footsteps fading.
Marcus waited. Let his heart slow. Let his breathing steady.
He'd swallowed the Aura Concealment Pill that morning. High-grade. Fifteen hundred Kama Points. His presence was completely hidden. His qi signature invisible.
Time to test it.
He opened the door slowly. The hinges were well-oiled. Silent.
Stepped into the corridor.
Shadow Step.
The world blurred. His form dissolved into darkness. Reappeared twenty meters down the hall. In the shadows between two torch sconces.
Perfect.
Two guards stood thirty meters ahead. Foundation Establishment cultivation. Their qi senses swept the corridor periodically. Standard patrol pattern.
The sweep passed over Marcus. Through him. Detected nothing.
One guard frowned. Tilted his head. "Did you feel something?"
The other barely looked up. "Probably a rat. These old buildings have them everywhere."
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just tired. Fourth watch in a row."
They returned to their conversation. Complaining about shift rotations.
Marcus breathed. Relief flooding through him. The pill worked.
He moved forward. Another Shadow Step. Twenty meters. Landed in deeper shadows near a support pillar.
Then another. And another. Each jump calculated. Each landing silent.
He passed through the inner compound. Guards everywhere. Dozens patrolling. Foundation Establishment disciples. Golden Core elders. All oblivious.
Some laughed. Some meditated. Some practiced techniques in training yards.
None sensed him. None saw him. A ghost moving through their midst.
When he reached the main corridor he saw it. Daylight ahead. The entrance archway. Broad daylight streaming in.
Harder to hide in light. Shadows were thinner. Less cover.
But he couldn't stop now. Couldn't wait for nightfall. Lian Xueyin could finish her breakthrough any moment.
Marcus studied the entrance. Four guards stationed. Two on each side. Golden Core cultivation. Alert. Professional.
He watched their patrol pattern. Counted rotations. Looked for gaps.
There. When they turned to scan the inner courtyard. Three seconds. Maybe four. Before they rotated back to face the entrance.
One chance.
Marcus waited. Watched. Counted.
The guards turned.
He moved.
Shadow Step. Twelve meters. Landed behind the left pillar.
Shadow Step. Twelve meters. Cleared the entrance. Outside now.
Shadow Step. Twelve meters. Into the shade of a tall building.
His legs screamed. Lungs burned. Qi reserves dropped sharply. Three consecutive jumps hit the cooldown. He'd have to wait three seconds before using it again.
But he'd made it. Outside the main compound. In the outer sect grounds.
His heart hammered against his ribs. Sweat poured down his back despite the pill. Every nerve screamed danger.
*Breathe. You're not clear yet. Keep moving.*
Marcus pressed against the building wall. Listened.
Sounds came from inside. Male voices. Groaning. Pain mixed with something else. Desperate pleasure. Agony and ecstasy blurred together.
More sounds. Wet. Rhythmic. The slap of flesh. Feminine laughter. Cold. Cruel. Amused.
He heard one man scream. Cut off suddenly. Then nothing.
Another voice replaced it. Younger. Begging. "Please... I can't... anymore..."
A woman's voice responded. Sweet. Gentle. Mocking. "Just one more round. You want to help me break through don't you? Be a good cauldron."
More wet sounds. More groaning. Fading. Weakening.
Marcus wanted to use qi sense. Peek inside. See what was happening.
But that would reveal his position. Any active qi use would pierce the pill's concealment.
*Don't. Be. Stupid. Keep moving.*
He moved on. Spotted a window. Second floor. Partially open.
Shadow Step. He appeared outside it. Peeked through.
A man lay on a bed. Being ridden by a sect disciple. Her hips moved relentlessly. Taking. Draining.
The man's skin shriveled as Marcus watched. Eyes sunken. Cheeks hollow. Life force being sucked out visibly.
A human cauldron. Used for cultivation. Discarded when dry.
Marcus's stomach turned. This sect was worse than he'd thought.
*Hide. Now. Guards coming.*
Marcus Shadow Stepped into deeper shadows. Moved toward the mountain edge.
Slowly. Carefully. Every step calculated. Every shadow his ally.
Finally he reached the ridge. The sect compound behind him. Forest below.
Time to descend. Fast.
He jumped. Shadow Stepped mid-air. Landed in tree shadows below. Picked a random direction. Ran.
---
The day passed. Marcus didn't stop. When fatigue hit he bought restoration potions from the system mall. Five hundred Kama Points each. Expensive. But necessary.
The liquid burned going down. Qi surged back. Muscles stopped screaming.
He kept moving.
Two days. His Kama Points ran dry. Exhaustion caught up. He couldn't continue without rest.
But worse. He hadn't seen anyone. No cultivators. No mortals. No cities. Just endless forest.
He found a cave. Hunted a boar. Roasted it over a fire.
The meat sizzled. Fat dripped. The smell made his mouth water.
Marcus tore into it. Grease coated his fingers. Warmth filled his belly.
For the first time in days he felt almost human.
He checked the slave seal. No flaring. No pain. Either Xue Lian knew what happened. Or she was too far away. Or too busy.
Either way the silence felt like mercy.
Five hours rest. Then he moved again.
*Be cautious. I sense cultivators nearby.*
Marcus stopped. Hid. Blended with a tree trunk.
He heard it. Wind tearing. The sound of flying swords.
He looked up. A group of cultivators flew past. Different sect robes. Both men and women. Heading west.
Relief flooded through him. Not Silence Lotus Sect disciples.
He followed them. Kept distance. Shadow Stepped from tree to tree.
They pulled ahead easily. Flying swords were fast. He was on foot. But their direction was enough. Toward civilization.
A day later Marcus saw it. A city. Massive. In the distance.
An hour more and he reached the gates.
Guards stood there. Towering. Humanoid but covered in scales. Their presence made the air feel heavy.
The system flashed.
WARNING: Giant Race Detected
Exercise Caution
Marcus joined the entry line. Watched others pay low-grade spirit coins for entry.
He had nothing. His coins were back in Tianluo City. With Xue Lian. With his life.
He opened the system panel. Kama Points had regenerated. Over one thousand. The novel sales continuing.
He bought a low-grade recovery potion. Five hundred points. Held it ready.
His turn came.
"Entry fee. One low-grade spirit coin."
"I was robbed by bandits. I have nothing except this."
Marcus held up the potion vial.
The guards looked ready to throw him out. Beggars tried this constantly.
But one guard paused. Took the vial. Sniffed it.
His eyes widened. "This is... high quality. Are you an alchemist?"
Marcus nodded. "Yes."
"Your name?"
"Lin Mo."
The guard scanned an array tablet. Created a temporary identification token.
Flame Phoenix City
Name: Lin Mo
Age: 27
Profession: Alchemist
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Stage 1
They let him through.
Marcus entered the city. Looked up.
Buildings towered. Five hundred meters tall. Maybe more. The streets bustled. Merchants. Cultivators. Mortals. Thousands of people.
The air smelled of spices. Incense. Sweat. Life.
He asked directions. Found an alchemist shop. "Li Alchemist" the sign read.
Inside men browsed potions. Pills. Formations glowed faintly on display cases.
Marcus approached the receptionist. Tall thin man in alchemist robes.
"How can I help you?"
"Do you buy potions?"
"Yes. What do you have?"
Marcus pulled another low-grade recovery potion from the system. Handed it over.
The man took it to a testing device. Inserted the vial. Formations glowed.
His expression changed. Surprise. Respect.
"Tier ten quality. Exceptional purity." He looked at Marcus differently now. "I can offer one thousand mid-tier spirit coins."
Marcus nodded. Took the coins. Left.
The weight in his storage pouch felt reassuring. He had money. He had options.
He found a restaurant. Most tables were full. Only one empty.
Marcus sat. Ordered from the menu. Exotic beast meat. Expensive. But he could afford it now.
A woman approached. "May I sit? Everywhere else is full."
Marcus looked up.
Mature. Around forty. Beautiful face. Sharp eyebrows. Pink lips. Impressive figure.
"Of course."
She sat. Pulled out a book from her storage ring. Started reading. Not interested in conversation.
Marcus's eyes caught the title.
Bound by Desire
By Lin Mo
His heart stopped.
*What a coincidence. You're getting popular.*
Marcus forced himself to breathe normally. "That book looks good."
She smiled. "It's incredible. I'm halfway through. Can't put it down."
"Where can I buy it?"
"Not available here yet. My sister gave it to me. From Tianluo City."
Marcus's mind raced. The book had spread. Across cities. People were reading it. Loving it.
That meant Kama Points. Thousands. Maybe tens of thousands.
"Can I ask something? I'm new here. How far is Tianluo City?"
She considered. "About a week's journey. maybe more."
A week. He'd come so far. But at least he was still in the same kingdom.
The food arrived. Exotic beast meat. Spirit-infused vegetables. Rice that glowed faintly with residual qi.
Marcus shared with Jenny. She refused at first. Proper etiquette. Then accepted when he insisted.
They ate in comfortable silence for a while.
Then she closed her book. Set it aside. Really looked at him.
"You said you're new to the city?"
"Arrived today. First time in Flame Phoenix City."
"Where from?"
Marcus hesitated. Lied ...Shang yuan city ."
"Long journey. Dangerous too. The wilderness between cities isn't safe for solo travelers. Especially mortals." She paused. "Though you're Foundation Establishment. That helps."
"Barely Foundation Establishment. Just broke through recently."
"Still. Most people travel in caravans. Or hire guards. You came alone?"
"Didn't have much choice."
Jenny studied him. Didn't push. "Well you made it. That's what matters."
She took a sip of tea. "Flame Phoenix City is different from other cities. Bigger. More cosmopolitan. We have cultivators from a dozen different sects. Merchants from three continents. Even some beast clans live here openly."
"I saw giants at the gate."
"The Stonescale Tribe. They've served as city guards for two centuries. Loyal. Powerful. Nobody attacks a city protected by giants."
Marcus filed that information. "What about sects? Any major ones headquartered here?"
"Three main ones. Crimson Phoenix Sect. They focus on fire cultivation. Very aggressive. The Jade Merchant Alliance. They're more political. Focus on wealth and connections. And the Azure Sky Pavilion. Scholarly sect. Arrays and formations mostly."
She gestured around the restaurant. "You'll see their disciples everywhere. The red robes are Crimson Phoenix. Green are Jade Merchant. Blue are Azure Sky."
Marcus looked. She was right. Different colored robes scattered throughout. Some tables were clearly sect groups. Others mixed.
"They get along?"
Jenny laughed. "Barely. There's always tension. But the City Lord keeps them in check. He's Nascent Soul Stage 7. Former military general. Doesn't tolerate sect politics disrupting his city."
"Sounds like a strong ruler."
"He has to be. This city sits on three major trade routes. Wealth flows through here constantly. Without strong leadership it would collapse into faction wars."
She refilled her tea. "That's why the Grand Competition is such a big deal. It lets the sects compete without actual bloodshed. Alchemy contests. Combat tournaments. Array challenges. Beast taming exhibitions."
"You mentioned massive prizes?"
"Oh yes. First place in each category gets ridiculous rewards. Spirit stones. Cultivation manuals. Artifacts. And more importantly. Status. Winning brings prestige to your sect or family."
Marcus leaned forward. "What are the categories exactly?"
Jenny counted on her fingers. "Alchemy. Combat divided by cultivation stage. Array mastery. Talisman crafting. Beast taming. There's also a newer category. Artifact forging."
"Can anyone enter?"
"Anyone Foundation Establishment or above. You register. Pay the entry fee. Compete. Though most contestants are backed by sects or wealthy families. Independent cultivators rarely win."
"Why?"
"Resources. A sect disciple has access to rare materials. Advanced techniques. Personal tutors. An independent cultivator? They're working with scraps and self-taught methods."
She smiled. "Not impossible to win. Just difficult."
Marcus thought about it. A month away. He had the system. He could buy techniques. Materials. Information.
They talked for another hour. Jenny told him about the city's districts. The markets. The dangerous areas to avoid. The best places to buy materials.
She explained the city's cultivation culture. How sects recruited. How independent cultivators survived. The unwritten rules everyone followed.
Marcus absorbed it all. Asked questions. Built a mental map.
For the first time since the cruise ship he felt almost normal. Just a conversation. A meal. Learning about a new place.
No slavery. No dual cultivation. No life-or-death situations.
Just Marcus. Having dinner with an interesting woman.
When they finally finished the sun had set. The restaurant lit lanterns. The atmosphere shifted from busy to intimate.
Jenny stood. "I should go. My family will wonder where I am."
"Thank you for the company. And the information."
"It was nice. Talking to someone new. Most people in this city I've known for years." She smiled. "Same conversations. Same gossip. You're refreshingly different."
She pulled out a jade slip. Wrote something on it with qi. Handed it to him.
"My contact information. Message me tomorrow morning. We'll meet at the city square. I'll show you around."
Marcus took the slip. "I will. Thank you Jenny."
She picked up her book. Bound by Desire. Tucked it carefully into her storage ring.
"Oh. And Marcus?"
"Yes?"
"Welcome to Flame Phoenix City. I think you'll like it here."
She left. Walking with confident grace. Disappeared into the crowd.
Marcus sat alone. Finished his tea. Let himself relax.
The dark voice stirred. Quiet. Almost respectful.
*Smooth work. Got a mature married woman offering to be your personal guide. Didn't even have to use the physique.*
"She's just being friendly."
*Sure. Keep telling yourself that. Meanwhile I'll be here when she invites you to her family warehouse for 'private lessons.'*
Marcus ignored it. Paid for the meal. Left the restaurant.
The city streets were different at night. Quieter. Lanterns floating overhead. Formations casting colored light.
Beautiful in a way Tianluo City never was.
He found an inn. Cheap but clean. Rented a room for the week.
Lay on the bed. Stared at the ceiling.
Tomorrow he'd explore. Meet Jenny.
Tonight he'd just rest. Let his body recover. Let his mind process everything.
He was free. For now. The seal hadn't activated. Xue Lian was far away. The Silence Lotus Sect hadn't found him.
Small victories.
Marcus closed his eyes. For the first time in weeks he fell asleep without nightmares.