Out of the silver mist stepped a woman in robes of pure white silk, cinched with a jade belt. Her hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and her eyes were as sharp as the sword hanging at her hip. Behind her followed a silent, elderly man whose presence felt like a mountain pressing down on the clearing.
Han's System flickered urgently.
[TARGET ANALYSIS]
Name: Su Yan (Sect Leader's Daughter)
Level: 15 (Foundation Establishment - Early)
Danger Level: Lethal.
Name: Elder Gao
Level: ??? (SYSTEM INSUFFICIENT)
Danger Level: Impossible.
"An Outer Disciple?" Su Yan stopped, her brow furrowing as she looked at the black sludge on the ground around Han. "The Qi in this area has been completely drained. Did you do this?"
Elder Gao stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Han. "Young man, your aura is... chaotic. You have just broken through three stages in a single night. That shouldn't be possible for someone with your talent profile."
Han bowed low, hiding his eyes. He knew that the wrong word here meant death. "Disciple Han greets the Great Elder and the Young Mistress. I... I found a discarded pill near the waste bins. I didn't know it would be this powerful."
A lie. A thin one.
Elder Gao walked in a circle around Han, his pressure making Han's newly refined bones creak. "A discarded pill? To achieve a Stage 3 Body Refining breakthrough from a 'discard' would require a miracle."
He stopped in front of Han and reached out, his hand glowing with a terrifying gold light. He was going to probe Han's Dantian. If he found the Causality Shard or the Heavenly Manual, Han was dead.
[EMERGENCY QUEST TRIGGERED!]
Objective: Deceive the Elder.
Action: Use [System Masking] (Cost: 50 EXP).
Reward: Survival, 200 EXP, Reputation: Intrigued.
Activate Masking! Han screamed internally.
As Elder Gao's fingers touched Han's chest, the System redirected the Elder's Qi into a "dummy" energy loop. To the Elder, it felt like Han had simply taken a very volatile, low-quality explosive pill that had ruined his potential forever in exchange for a quick burst of strength.
"Tsk," Elder Gao pulled back, his face filled with pity and a hint of disgust. "You fool. You took a 'Burning Blood' pill. You've gained strength for today, but you've burned away your future. You will never reach the Core Formation stage now."
Su Yan sighed, her coldness turning into a mild disappointment. "Another one seeking a shortcut. Leave this place, Disciple. The Spring is for those who have the patience to cultivate properly."
Han kept his head down. "Yes, Mistress. This disciple understands his mistake."
As he turned to walk away, a notification popped up.
[QUEST COMPLETE]
Experience Gained: 200 EXP.
Level Up! Current Level: 4.
Bonus: You have gained the "Hidden Predator" status. The Sect now believes you are a talentless failure, giving you 100% stealth for your future growth.
Han walked back toward the Outer Circle, a small, dark smile on his face. Let them think his future was burned. While they slept, he would consume the very foundations of the mountain.
But as he reached his shack, he saw a mark carved into his door. A bloody circle with an 'X' through it.
The Shadow-Thief Guild. The people who had owned the black shard before it ended up in Han's hands were coming to collect.
Han gripped the Dragon-Bone Needle in his sleeve. "Level 4 isn't enough," he whispered. "System, find me a High-Reward Quest. I need to kill."
[SCANNING...]
New Quest: The Night of Red Steel.
Objective: Assassinate the three Guild Scouts lurking in the forest.
Reward: "Void-Step" (Movement Technique), 500 EXP, 1x Mystery Key