Chapter 15
The tarnished silver key felt heavy in Ye-Liyun's hand. He had bought himself three days, but the price was an assassination. He was a Qi Condensation master, but The Viper was a seasoned gang leader, and Lady Lin had just handed him a suicide mission.
"Liyun! The Viper is expecting an attack! He knows The Broker is after him! You must use cunning! The hideout is near the South Gate—the same warehouse where you were teleported!" the Emperor warned.
Ye-Liyun moved through the city's slums under the cover of a moonless night. He reached the abandoned warehouse. The air was thick with the faint, complex spiritual energy of the Blood-Key Array.
He approached the main entrance, a massive, rusted metal door. He inserted the tarnished silver key into the lock. The key glowed, and the Array's energy field shimmered, parting just enough to allow him passage.
He slipped inside. The warehouse was vast and dark, filled with the shadows of stacked crates. The air was heavy with the smell of stale wine and blood.
"He's here, Liyun! In the center! He's a Qi Condensation master, but he's injured! He's waiting for you!"
"Injured?"
"Yes! Lady Lin's network must have softened him up! But he's not alone! I sense three other Qi Condensation cultivators guarding him! You must take them out silently!"
Ye-Liyun moved like a ghost, relying entirely on the stealth techniques learned during the Month of Shadows. He used the crates for cover, his eyes adjusting to the darkness.
He found the first guard—a burly man patrolling a narrow aisle. Ye-Liyun used the Emperor's knowledge to strike a pressure point on the guard's neck, dropping him instantly and silently. He repeated the process for the second and third guards, his new Qi Condensation strength making the strikes lethal and efficient.
He reached the center of the warehouse. The Viper was sitting on a makeshift throne of crates, his arm heavily bandaged, a cruel smile on his face.
"I knew The Broker would send a rat," The Viper sneered, his voice raspy. "But a boy? You must be desperate. Did you think I wouldn't notice my guards falling silent?"
"Liyun! He's a veteran! He's using a low-level sound-sense array! He knows you're here! Attack now!"
Ye-Liyun didn't hesitate. He launched himself forward, channeling his full Qi Condensation energy into his fist. The Viper, despite his injury, reacted instantly, raising a spiritual shield.
The blow struck the shield with a deafening CRACK! The shield shattered, and the force of the blow sent The Viper flying backward, slamming into a stack of crates.
The Viper coughed, spitting blood. "You're strong for a boy! But you're still a fool!" He pulled a small, glowing vial from his robe and drank the contents. His eyes instantly turned blood-red, and his spiritual energy surged to a terrifying level.
"Liyun! He used a forbidden blood-rage pill! His power is doubled! You must use the Art! Now!"
Ye-Liyun knew he couldn't win a direct fight. He circulated the Supreme Immortal Body Refinement Art, channeling his Qi into his legs. He moved with impossible speed, circling The Viper, forcing the enraged man to turn constantly.
He used the Emperor's knowledge to spot a flaw in the warehouse structure—a massive, rusted chain holding up a heavy steel beam.
Ye-Liyun feigned an attack, drawing The Viper toward the chain. As The Viper lunged, Ye-Liyun dodged, channeling his Qi into a focused, razor-thin strike aimed at the chain's weakest link.
The chain snapped. The heavy steel beam crashed down onto The Viper. The gang leader screamed, his blood-rage pill unable to save him from the crushing weight.
Ye-Liyun stood over the wreckage, panting. He had won. He quickly retrieved the Viper's head (as per the mission) and, more importantly, found a small, sealed box hidden beneath the throne.
"Liyun! The box! It contains the Cloud-Heart Flower! Take it! We must leave!"
Ye-Liyun snatched the box and sprinted out of the warehouse, the Blood-Key Array closing silently behind him.
He returned to Lady Lin's estate and presented her with The Viper's head and the sealed box.
Lady Lin's eyes widened, first in shock, then in a cold, satisfied pleasure. "You succeeded. You are more capable than I thought. Here is your reward."
She handed him the Cloud-Heart Flower—a magnificent, pulsing blue herb. Ye-Liyun immediately retreated to the basement, circulating the Art and consuming the herb. The powerful, steady Qi instantly stabilized his meridians. The Art was finally safe.
He returned to Lady Lin, ready for the next phase.
"The Scroll is safe, Lady Lin. I have completed your test. Now, I need a steady supply of resources. Your Black Market is too small. I need to join a larger organization."
Lady Lin smiled, a genuine, predatory expression. "I knew you would say that. The Broker's network is local. But I have connections to a continental organization. They are the true power in the shadows. They are called Stygian."
She began to detail the organization: "Stygian is a vast, secretive organization with many secret realms as their bases and high-ranking members in the royal court. They trade in goods, information, and assassination. They will get you anything you demand, provided you have the coin."
"Liyun! This is it! The next level! This organization is ancient and powerful! We must join them! Their secret realms will be the perfect place to train!"
"How do I join?" Ye-Liyun asked.
"To become a direct operative, you must first sign an equal-soul Divine Soul Contract with them and acquire at least 100 merit points to be eligible. This ties you to secrecy, guarantees your devotion, and enables them to track your location for mission assignments."
Lady Lin explained the rules: "You will be assigned tasks, graded by difficulty, that you must complete annually. The loot you earn on your missions is entirely yours. However, failure means a deduction of a hundred points. If your score drops below a hundred, you won't be assigned new tasks until you earn your way back up. They are ruthless, but they offer the best resources in the world."
Ye-Liyun listened intently. A Divine Soul Contract was a massive risk, but the reward—access to continental resources and secret training realms—was worth it.
"I accept," Ye-Liyun said, his eyes burning with ambition. "I will join Stygian."
Lady Lin nodded, pleased. "Excellent. Your first step is to acquire your operative token. You will meet a contact at the old ruins outside the city tomorrow. Here, take your pick from these tokens."
She presented an array of items: emblems, weapons, and treasures, each bearing the insignia of a black spider.
Ye-Liyun picked out a small, black spider token. "I will use this."
"Liyun! You are about to enter a world of true power! The Stygian will be your forge! But remember the Scroll! You must use their resources to grow strong enough to betray them all!"
Ye-Liyun stored the token in his Pocket Realm. He was no longer just a banished son; he was a secret operative, a double agent, and a thief of divine mandates. He was about to enter the shadows of the continent.