I sat cross-legged on the floor of my chamber in the Celestial Apothecary Guild, feeling the power coursing through my veins. One month had passed since I conquered all eighteen steps of the stairway to heaven, and my strength had grown exponentially during my seclusion.


    The Purple Spirit Fire responded to my will, dancing across my fingertips without conscious effort. I had reached the Peak Grandmaster level—a milestone that would have seemed impossible just months ago when I was still the despised son-inw of the Sterling family.


    Yet despite my progress, I felt constrained. A bottleneck blocked my path to the Enlightenment Stage.


    "Something''s missing," I muttered, opening my eyes.


    The walls of the chamber seemed to close in around me. The Guild had been my sanctuary, but sanctuaries, I realized, could also be prisons.


    A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts.


    "Enter," I called.


    Eamon Greene stepped inside, his expression bright with excitement. "Liam! I''ve been looking for you. I''ve just broken through to the Grandmaster level!"


    I smiled genuinely. "Congrattions, Eamon. Your hard work has paid off."


    "All thanks to your guidance," he replied, bowing slightly. "The other alchemists are calling me your first disciple, though I told them you never officially epted me as such."


    "Perhaps I should," I mused. Eamon had proven himself loyal and capable.


    His eyes widened. "You mean it?"


    Before I could respond, another knock sounded. The Fifth Elder entered without waiting for permission, his ancient face grave.


    "Liam Knight," he said formally, "the Pavilion Master requests your presence."


    I nodded, rising to my feet. "I''ll be there shortly."


    As Eamon and I followed the Elder through the Guild''s ornate hallways, I could feel the respect in the gazes of passing alchemists. The stares no longer bothered me—I had earned my ce here.


    We entered Mariana''s private chamber, where she stood before arge map of Veridia City, marking positions with glowing markers.


    "Pavilion Master," I greeted with a slight bow.


    Mariana turned, her eyes sharp with intelligence. "Liam. I''ve been monitoring your progress. You''ve reached Peak Grandmaster in just one month—impressive, even by your standards."


    "Thank you," I replied, "but I''ve hit a wall."


    She nodded knowingly. "I suspected as much. The path to Enlightenment requires more than just training in seclusion. It demands real-world challenges—life-or-death situations that force breakthrough."


    "My thoughts exactly," I said. "I need to leave the Guild."


    Eamon gasped. "Master Liam, you can''t! The deadline for rescuing Miss Ashworth is still weeks away. Outside, you''ll be hunted by—"


    "By the Ashworth family, the ckthorne family, and now the Veridia City Martial Guild," I finished for him. "I''m well aware of the risks."


    Mariana''s expression remained neutral. "And you believe you''re ready to face them?"


    I met her gaze steadily. "I won''t know until I try. What I do know is that I won''t grow stronger hiding here."


    A hint of a smile touched her lips. "Then I won''t try to stop you."


    She walked to a nearby cab and removed an object wrapped in silk. When she unwrapped it, I recognized an exquisite pill furnace—small enough to be portable but inscribed with rare formation arrays.


    "My personal furnace," she exined, holding it out to me. "I''ve had it for over a hundred years. It may serve you well on your journey."


    I epted the gift, feeling its weight—both physical and symbolic. "Pavilion Master, this is too valuable."


    "Consider it an investment," she replied with a rare smile. "Before you go, there''s something you should know. Dashiell ckthorne has entered closed-door training with Emerson Holmes, Vice President of the Veridia City Martial Guild."


    I raised an eyebrow. "The ckthornes must be truly desperate if they''re calling in such favors."


    "Don''t underestimate him," Mariana warned. "Holmes is a dangerous man, and a powerful cultivator."


    I nodded, tucking away this information. "When will you announce my departure to the Guild?"


    "I won''t," she said simply. "The fewer who know your movements, the better."


    As I turned to leave, she added, "The September 9th deadline approaches, Liam. Be careful."


    "I will." I nced at Eamon. "Are youing with me?"


    His face lit up. "You mean it?"


    "You''ve earned the right to watch my back," I told him.


    Within the hour, we had prepared our supplies. I stood at the entrance of the Guild, saying my farewells to the alchemists who had be something like family to me.


    "Don''t forget us when you be a Martial Saint," one joked.


    "As if he could reach that level," another teased, though respect shone in his eyes.


    "I''ll be back," I promised. "With Isabelle."


    As we prepared to depart, a familiar figure hurried toward us. Sofia Carrera, dressed in traveling clothes with a small pack on her back.


    "Master Liam," she called, stopping before me with a determined expression. "I wish to apany you."


    I studied her for a moment. Sofia had been one of the first to recognize my talent, but she was still rtively inexperienced. "Why?"


    "Because I can help," she replied without hesitation. "I''m skilled in poisons and antidotes. And because..." She paused, then straightened her shoulders. "Because I believe in what you''re fighting for."


    Behind her, I noticed other alchemists watching the exchange with interest. This moment would define our rtionship going forward.


    "The path I walk is dangerous," I warned her. "Those who follow me may not return."


    "I understand the risks," she insisted.


    I nodded slowly. "Then gather your things. We leave in ten minutes."


    As Sofia rushed off, Eamon leaned closer. "Are you sure about this, Master Liam? She''s—"


    "She''s stronger than she appears," I interrupted. "And we need all the allies we can get."


    The Fifth Elder approached as we waited, his ancient eyes studying me carefully. "Your aura has changed again, Liam Knight. You''ve made another breakthrough."


    I nodded. "Small, but significant."


    "Then perhaps you''re right to leave," he conceded. "But heed this warning: the Ashworth family has been spotted in the eastern district. They appear to be searching for something—or someone."


    My lips curled into a cold smile. "That''s even better. I can just use them to test my current strength..."


    The Elder''s eyebrows rose, but he made noment on my confidence. Instead, he pressed a jade token into my palm. "This will allow you to return to the Guild, should the need arise. One use only."


    I tucked it into my robes as Sofia returned, slightly out of breath but ready.


    "Let''s go," I said, stepping beyond the protective barriers of the Guild.


    The morning sun hit my face, warm and bright. I took a deep breath of the city air—a mix of spices, smoke, and humanity that the filtered atmosphere of the Guild hadcked.


    Eamon moved to my right, Sofia to my left. Both looked nervous but determined.


    Find the trantion on MV&LEMPYR.


    "Where to first, Master Liam?" Eamon asked.


    I gazed eastward, where the Ashworth family prowled. Their search was convenient—it saved me the trouble of hunting them down.


    "East," I replied, my voice hardening with resolve. "It''s time the Ashworths learned that the man they once looked down upon is now the hunter, not the prey."


    Sofia nced at me, perhaps startled by the coldness in my tone. But she didn''t question my decision.


    As we moved through the busy streets of Veridia City, I kept my senses alert. The Guild''s protection had been a double-edged sword—it kept enemies at bay but also dulled the edge of constant vignce.


    Now, every shadow might hide an assassin. Every passerby could be an enemy scout. The thought didn''t frighten me—it invigorated me.


    "Master Liam," Sofia whispered suddenly, "three men have been following us for the past two blocks."


    I nodded without looking back. "I know. Ashworth family scouts. Not very subtle, are they?"


    Eamon tensed beside me. "Should we confront them?"


    "Not yet," I replied calmly. "Let them report our position. I want to meet someone worth fighting."


    We continued walking, deliberately leading our followers toward a less popted area. The bustling market streets gave way to quieter roads lined with warehouses.


    "Perfect," I murmured as we entered a small square surrounded by abandoned buildings. "Now we wait."


    We didn''t wait long. Within minutes, the square''s entrances were blocked by ck-d figures—at least twenty of them.


    A man stepped forward, his expensive robes marking him as a member of the Ashworth family''s main branch. I recognized him instantly—Marcus Ashworth, one of Corbin''s cousins.


    "Liam Knight," he called, his voice dripping with disdain. "Did you really think you could wander through our territory without consequences?"


    I smiled, stepping forward. "Actually, I was counting on it."


    Marcus frowned, clearly confused by my response. "You... wanted us to find you?"


    "Of course," I replied, activating the Purple Spirit Fire. It coiled around my arms like living smoke. "How else could I demonstrate my new strength?"


    Eamon and Sofia positioned themselves at my nks, ready for battle.


    Marcus''s expression hardened. "Your arrogance will be your downfall. Men, take him!"


    The assassins rushed forward from all directions. I stood my ground, the Purple Spirit Fire growing brighter with each passing second.


    "Watch carefully," I told mypanions. "This is how you deal with the arrogant elite of Veridia City."


    As the first attackers reached me, I unleashed my power. The Purple Spirit Fire exploded outward in a wave of devastating energy.