The next morning, Yuan City was in chaos.
News spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys, from merchant stalls to tea houses. The infamous Mo Han, lord of the underground arena, known for trafficking and brutal pit fights, had been assassinated in his heavily guarded manor.
By Red Phoenix.
"Another one dead…"
"That makes two—both monsters in human skin."
"They say she appeared like a ghost, left no trace but a red feather burned into the walls…"
"Is she even real?"
Whispers fluttered through the air, carried by curiosity, fear, and admiration. Common folk dared to hope. Merchants held their breaths. And the powerful grew wary.
In the city square, someone had already begun painting Red Phoenix feathers on walls—mocking the guards and showing silent support.
---
Meanwhile, Alice walked through the Royal Academy courtyard, her face calm and unreadable.
Dressed in the standard grey disciple robes with her academy token hanging from her waist, she looked like any other young cultivator. Her long dark hair was tied up casually, her expression focused. No one would suspect that beneath that calm surface was the very same person who had slain a Qi Condensation 8th-level cultivator just hours ago.
She had slept barely two hours before returning to the academy grounds unnoticed, washing away the scent of blood and burning talismans.
Now, she walked among disciples her age, blending in with ease.
"Did you hear about Red Phoenix?"
"I swear, she's targeting all the scum in the city."
"I bet even the city lord's feeling nervous."
Alice silently sipped her tea from a small table in the academy's outer courtyard, her hearing sharp as ever. Information was power. And today, the city was full of it.
"She left a feather again."
"People say she's got fire and darkness element, deadly for stealth."
"No one's seen her face, only a red mask and lips."
Alice's lips curled slightly.
Good. Let them wonder.
---
Later, at the outer disciple training field, she joined the routine morning cultivation session.
The instructor, a Foundation Establishment realm elder, paced among the students as they practiced breathing techniques, unaware that one of his students had already surpassed half of them in skill and power.
Alice calmly circulated her Qi, concealing the true depth of her cultivation. She kept it restrained at 6th level Qi Condensation, neither too slow nor too fast, blending perfectly with the average talents around her.
"Focus. You must harmonize your breathing with your Qi flow," the elder barked.
Alice followed suit but with minimal effort. Her real cultivation happened at night. These sessions were for blending in—not progress.
---
As the sun rose higher, the academy messenger disciple approached.
"All outer disciples, reminder: Resource distribution resumes in ten days. Train hard."
Ten more days to either make another breakthrough or plan her next move.
Alice's mind was already ticking. She had 700 Tier 1 spirit stones saved from her first assassination, and her next target would fetch even more. But with higher targets came higher risks.
Her goal was clear—Foundation Establishment Realm.
Once she reached it and passed the inner disciple exam, she'd gain full access to better cultivation resources, secluded training grounds, and even specialized elemental techniques.
The faster I grow, the safer I become. The stronger I get, the closer I come to controlling my own fate.
For now, she would wear the mask of a silent, hardworking disciple. She would study, train, and gather information.
And at night, when shadows swallowed the city—Red Phoenix would strike again.