I emerged from my cultivation chamber after thirteen days of intense seclusion, feeling both powerful and frustrated. My dark energy had grown substantially, but I''d hit a stubborn bottleneck at Foundation Building Stage 6.


    "Damn it," I muttered, sshing cold water on my face.


    Despite consuming rare spiritual herbs and pushing my limits, Stage 7 remained just out of reach. Still, I couldn''t deny the new abilities I''d gained. My vision had developed strangely—I could now see through solid objects when I concentrated, like having X-ray vision from those oldic books.


    I tested it by staring at the wall separating my chamber from the hallway. After focusing for a moment, the solid surface became transparent, revealing Eamon pacing outside.


    "Interesting," I said to myself, releasing the technique.


    When I opened the door, Eamon jumped.


    "Young Master! You''ve finally emerged."


    "Any updates while I was secluded?" I asked, stretching my stiff muscles.


    Eamon nodded gravely. "Severalmunications from your allies, but nothing urgent enough to disturb your cultivation."


    My spiritual sense suddenly prickled. Something felt off in the energy currents around me, but I couldn''t pinpoint the source. I made a mental note to investigateter.


    ---


    Conrad Thornton copsed into his chair, staring at the withered corpse that had been delivered to his private study.


    "Uncle Armando..." he whispered, his voice breaking.


    The loyal retainer who had served his family for decades was now nothing but a dried husk, drained of life and spiritual essence. Uncle Armando''s face was frozen in a silent scream, his body shriveled like an ancient mummy.


    Conrad covered his face with trembling hands. First, his eldest son''s death six months ago, and now this. The Thornton family was crumbling around him.


    His phone rang, disrupting his grief. The caller ID showed an unknown number.


    "Who is this?" he answered, his voice hoarse.


    "Look at your beloved uncle," Adrian Bauer''s cold voice replied. "That''s what happens to those who defy Earth Fiend Valley."


    Conrad''s grip tightened on his phone. "You monster—"


    "Spare me your righteous outrage," Adrian cut in. "Your son Miles is currently enjoying my hospitality. Would you like him returned to you in the same condition as your uncle?"


    Conrad''s blood turned to ice. "If you''ve harmed my son—"


    "He''s alive. For now." Adrian''s tone was casual, as if discussing the weather. "I''ve administered a special poison of my creation. Without the antidote, which only I possess, he''ll suffer a slow, excruciating death over the next seven days."


    Conrad mmed his fist on the desk. "What do you want?"


    "The same thing I wanted before. Liam Knight. Deliver him to me, and your son lives."


    "Knight is too powerful," Conrad argued desperately. "I can''t force him to—"


    "You needn''t defeat him," Adrian interrupted. "Simply lure him to your residence. I''ll handle the rest."


    Conrad closed his eyes, torn between loyalty and his love for his only remaining son. Miles was hisst heir, the future of the Thornton bloodline.


    "I... I need time to think."


    "You have one hour," Adrian replied coldly. "After that, I start sending pieces of your son back to you. I''ll call again for your answer."


    The line went dead.


    Conrad stared at Uncle Armando''s corpse, then at the family portrait on his wall—his wife, dead five years now, himself, and his two sons. Only Miles remained.


    "Forgive me," he whispered, though he wasn''t sure who he was asking forgiveness from—his ancestors for betraying their honor, or Liam Knight for the treachery he was about tomit.


    ---


    Three days after Adrian''s ultimatum, I was reviewing alchemical forms when my phone rang. Conrad Thornton''s name shed on the screen.


    "Conrad," I answered. "What can I do for you?"


    "Liam," Conrad''s voice sounded strangely wooden. "I was hoping you might join me for a meal today. I have some information that might interest you."


    I frowned at his unnatural tone. Conrad was usually precise and formal, but this sounded rehearsed.


    "What kind of information?"


    "It''s... sensitive. Not suitable for phone conversation."


    My instincts red. Something was definitely wrong.


    "Is everything alright, Conrad? You sound tense."


    There was a brief pause. "Everything is fine. I''ve simply had a long day. Will youe?"


    I weighed my options. If Conrad was in trouble, refusing might make things worse. If it was a trap... well, I wasn''t exactly defenseless.


    "What time should I arrive?"


    "Four o''clock would be perfect."


    "I''ll be there," I promised.


    After hanging up, I summoned Eamon.


    "I need you to discreetly investigate the Thornton family. Something''s not right with Conrad."


    Eamon bowed. "At once, Young Master."


    ---


    In a hidden chamber beneath the Thornton family residence, Adrian Bauer sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, surrounded by five withered corpses—once-powerful Thornton family elders whose life force had fueled his cultivation.


    He opened his eyes, savoring the power coursing through his veins. "Delicious," he murmured.


    Miles Thorntony unconscious in the corner, pale and sweating as the poison worked through his system.


    Adrian''s phone chimed. A message from Conrad confirmed that Liam Knight would arrive at four o''clock.


    "Perfect." Adrian smiled coldly. "The founder will be pleased."


    He had studied Knight''sbat style extensively. The young alchemist was impressive, but Adrian had centuries of experience and now, thanks to the Thornton elders, significantly more power.


    "Your time in the spotlight ends today, Liam Knight," Adrian whispered, preparing the array that would neutralize Knight''s spiritual energy upon activation.


    --- <var ss="frag-cdcfcd">Read<i ss="node-sep"></i>ahead<i ss="node-sep"></i>and<i ss="node-sep"></i>get<i ss="node-sep"></i>updates<i ss="node-sep"></i>at<i ss="node-sep"></i>*.</var>


    At precisely four o''clock, I arrived at the Thornton family residence in Shince City. The usually bustlingpound felt eerily quiet. No servants greeted me at the gate, and the few guards present avoided eye contact.


    Eamon had discovered little in his hasty investigation—only rumors that several Thornton elders had mysteriously disappeared in recent days.


    I activated my new vision ability, scanning the main building. Multiple figures were inside, their energy signatures fluctuating with tension. One signature, however, burned differently—dark and ancient, hidden beneath the ground level.


    "So there is something wrong," I muttered, as I approached the front entrance.


    The door opened before I could knock. Conrad stood there, his face drawn and aged ten years since I''dst seen him. A sh of undisguised unease crossed his features when our eyes met.


    "Liam," he greeted me, voice strained with forced politeness. "Thank you foring."


    I maintained a casual demeanor while my senses remained on high alert. "Of course, Conrad. You mentioned having information for me?"


    Conrad''s eyes darted briefly to something behind me, then back. "Yes. Please,e in."


    As I crossed the threshold, my spiritual sense screamed a warning. Energy patterns in the floor beneath me began to stir, forming what I recognized as a suppression array.


    Conrad''s face twisted with a mixture of shame and resignation as he stepped aside.


    "I''m sorry, Liam," he whispered. "They have my son."


    The floor beneath me glowed with activating runes, and from the shadows emerged Adrian Bauer, his hands already forming seals to trigger the trap.


    "Wee, Liam Knight," Adrian said with cold satisfaction. "I''ve been looking forward to our meeting."


    The floor erupted with blinding light as the suppression array fully activated, and I realized I''d walked straight into a carefullyid trap.