The de in my hand hummed with dark energy as I cut through the first Guild member. His eyes widened in shock—not just at the attack, but at seeing me. A dead man. A ghost returned from the void.


    "Knight!" he gasped before his head separated from his shoulders.


    I didn''t pause. The second cultivator barely had time to draw his weapon before my de pierced his heart. Dark energy pulsed through the wound, preventing any healing techniques from taking hold.


    The remaining five finally recovered from their shock, forming a defensive circle. Their white robes with silver trim—once a symbol of prestige—now marked them as targets in my eyes.


    "Formation!" the leader shouted, a burly man with a scar across his nose. "Heavenly Guardian stance!"


    They moved with practiced coordination, but I''d seen this formation before. The Veridia City Martial Guild had used it against me in ourst encounter.


    Iughed—a cold, hollow sound that echoed across the rocky terrain.


    "You think I haven''t learned?" I asked, channeling energy into my legs. "You think I haven''t grown?"


    Iunched myself at the weakest point in their formation—the gap between the leader and a younger cultivator whose hands trembled slightly. Dark energy coated my de as I shed through their defenses, severing the young man''s arm at the elbow.


    His scream was cut short as I reversed my grip and drove the de through his throat.


    Four left.


    "It can''t be him!" one of them shouted, voice high with panic. "Knight is dead! Radford confirmed it!"


    "Does this feel like death to you?" I asked, driving my fist into his sr plexus.


    The impact shattered his internal organs. He crumpled, blood spilling from his mouth.


    The leader was skilled—I had to give him that. He managed tond a ncing blow across my shoulder, his de leaving a shallow cut that burned with spiritual energy.


    I ignored the pain and countered with a technique I''d learned from those ancient corpses in the tomb—the Void-Piercing Strike. My de seemed to disappear, then reappear inside his chest.


    "How—" he gasped, staring down at the sword protruding from his sternum.


    "Practice," I replied, twisting the de before yanking it free.


    Thest two tried to flee. I let one go—a messenger to spread the word of my return—but caught the other by his robe.


    "Please," he begged. "I''m just a core collector. I don''t know anything!"


    "Core collector?" I repeated, my voice dangerously soft. "Exin."


    His words tumbled out in a panicked rush. "We—we''re just here to gather beast cores from the sea caves. For the auction in Veridia City next week."


    "Auction?"


    "The Guild''s quarterly auction. High-grade items only. All the major families and sects attend."


    Interesting. I filed that information away forter.


    "And what makes these cores special enough for an auction?" I pressed.


    "They''re royal serpent cores," he stammered. "Used for the bloodline enhancement procedure. The rarest—"


    I didn''t let him finish. My de silenced him permanently.


    Standing amid the carnage, I wiped my sword clean on a dead man''s robe. Six bodiesy scattered on the rocky ground. Six fewer Guild members in the world.


    The Man with the Mustache emerged cautiously from his hiding spot, eyeing the bodies with a mixture of approval and concern.


    "Well," he said, stroking his facial hair nervously. "That was efficient."


    I bent down to search the bodies, collecting spatial rings and any useful items. "You heard what he said? About an auction?"


    He nodded. "The Guild''s quarterly event. Very exclusive. Very dangerous for someone like you to attend."


    "Sounds perfect," I replied, pocketing a jade token from the leader''s ring. "If I want to understand the Guild''s true strength, that''s where I''ll find it."


    "And the messenger you let escape?"


    I smiled grimly. "Let him spread rumors. Let them wonder. Fear works better in darkness."


    The Man with the Mustache shivered slightly. "You''ve changed, Liam."


    "Death has that effect."


    ---


    Two dayster, we reached the maind. The beast cores I''d collected would have to wait—I had more urgent business to attend to.


    "Jade Moon Vi first," I told the Man with the Mustache as we traveled south through dense forest. "I need to see what remains."


    He frowned. "Is that wise? If the Guild has seized control—"


    "I''ll observe from a distance," I assured him. "I''m not ready for a direct confrontation yet."


    The closer we got to my former home, the more my stomach twisted with dread. The forests surrounding Jade Moon Vi had always been vibrant, filled with medicinal nts I''d cultivated myself. Now they seemed subdued, the spiritual energy diminished.


    We approached from the east, using a hidden path I''d created months ago for emergencies. From a ridge overlooking the vi, I finally saw what had be of my sanctuary.


    The external walls remained intact, but the Jade Moon insignia had been removed, reced with an unfamiliar symbol—a golden sun rising over mountains.


    "The Ascendant Saints Order," the Man with the Mustache whispered, recognizing the emblem. "Tobias Bhus''s new sect. They''vepletely taken over."


    My fists clenched so tightly that my nails drew blood from my palms. "Bhus," I spat. "I should have killed him when I had the chance."


    Guards in golden robes patrolled the walls—at least three times the number I''d maintained. The defensive formations I''d established still functioned, but they''d been altered, strengthened with techniques I didn''t recognize.


    "They''ve been busy," I muttered, scanning theplex. "Where would they keep Phoebe?"


    "If she''s still alive," the Man with the Mustache cautioned.


    "She''s alive," I said firmly. "Bhus would want to extract every bit of knowledge about my alchemy techniques before disposing of her."


    I activated a minor concealment technique and moved closer to the vi''s eastern section, where the residential quarters were located. The Man with the Mustache followed reluctantly, his own concealment less effective but adequate for our needs.


    As we neared the walls, I spotted a familiar figure in one of the garden pavilions—Phoebe Reeves, my former assistant and trusted friend. She was alive, but clearly not well. Her once-vibrant appearance had dulled, her movements slow and defeated as she tended to a small patch of herbs.


    Two guards stood nearby, watching her with bored expressions. Not prisoners, then—guards for a valuable asset.


    "Wait here," I whispered to the Man with the Mustache. "I need to speak with her."


    "Are you insane?" he hissed. "The ce is crawling with Bhus''s people!"


    But I was already moving, slipping between patrol patterns with practiced ease. The defensive formations were impressive but had one critical w—they''d been built upon my original designs, and I knew every weakness.


    Reaching the garden undetected was simple. Getting Phoebe''s attention without alerting the guards would be trickier.


    I waited until she moved to the far side of the herb patch, then flicked a small pebble thatnded silently at her feet. She nced down, confused, then around—and nearly gasped when she saw me crouched behind a flowering bush.


    To her credit, she recovered quickly, continuing her work while gradually moving closer to my position.


    "You''re supposed to be dead," she whispered when she was near enough, her back to the guards.


    "Sorry to disappoint," I replied softly. "Are you alright?"


    A bitter smile touched her lips. "House arrest is better than execution, I suppose. Tobias keeps me alive for my knowledge of your alchemy techniques." <q ss="story-note-vis">Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе (М|V|L0ЕМРYR) hоsts thе оriginаl.</q>


    "Has he hurt you?"


    She shook her head slightly. "Not physically. He needs me cooperative."


    One of the guards looked our way, and Phoebe immediately bent to examine a nt, speaking in a normal tone about its medicinal properties.


    When the guard''s attention wandered again, she continued in a hushed voice. "The Guild has seized control of all the northern sects. Bhus renamed this ce and dered himself Grandmaster of the Ascendant Saints Order."


    "And my resources?" I asked. "My research?"


    "Most was confiscated. Some I managed to hide." She touched a jade pendant at her neck—a storage item I''d given her for emergencies. "The most crucial forms are safe."


    "Good girl," I said, feeling a surge of pride despite the grim situation. "Listen carefully—I''m going to Veridia City to assess the Guild''s strength. When the time is right, I''ll return for you and reim what''s mine."


    "Be careful," she warned. "The Guild is stronger than before. They''ve been harvesting something... something powerful from Isabelle Ashworth''s blood."


    The mention of Isabelle sent a fresh wave of rage through me. "I know. All the more reason to stop them."


    "Reeves!" one of the guards called. "Time to go inside."


    Phoebe straightened. "They watch me closely at night," she whispered. "Don''t try anything reckless."


    "When have I ever been reckless?" I asked with a hint of my old humor.


    The ghost of a smile crossed her face. "Stay alive this time," she murmured before turning away.


    I watched her go, mentally adding another debt to the Guild''s ount. They had taken everything from me—my home, my research, my people, and Isabelle. Each theft would be repaid in full.


    ---


    The journey to Veridia City took another day, even pushing ourselves to our limits. We entered the city separately—the Man with the Mustache through the main gates, I through a less conventional route over the southern wall.


    "We need information before the auction," I told him when we reunited at a small teahouse in the Lower District. "Someone who knows Guild operations but isn''t directly involved."


    "I might know someone," he replied thoughtfully. "An information broker who serves multiple masters. Expensive, but reliable."


    "Set it up," I agreed, sliding him a pouch of spirit stones. "In the meantime, I have another call to make."


    He raised an eyebrow. "Care to share with the ss?"


    "An old acquaintance," I said vaguely. "Someone who owes me answers."


    After parting ways with the Man with the Mustache, I made my way through the familiar streets of Veridia City, keeping to shadows and alleyways. The city had changed in my absence—more Guild patrols, more checkpoints, fewer ordinary citizens out after dark.


    The Guild''s influence had grown like a cancer.


    I finally reached a modest townhouse in the Mid District—the residence of Emerson Holmes, a merchant with ties to both the Guild and various underworld elements. He had supplied me with information in the past, always for a price.


    More importantly, he was a notorious drunk whose tongue loosened considerably after a few cups of wine.


    I slipped past his minimal security and entered through an upstairs window. The house was empty save for a few servants who retired early, leaving me free to make myselffortable in his study.


    Hours passed before I heard the front door open, followed by unsteady footsteps and drunken humming. Perfect. Holmes was returning home in exactly the state I''d hoped for.


    I settled deeper into the plush sofa facing the study door and waited.


    The door swung open, and Emerson Holmes stumbled in, fumbling with themp. When he finally got it lit, he turned—and saw me sitting calmly on his sofa.


    The effect was immediate and satisfying. All color drained from his face. The wine cup he held crashed to the floor, spilling red liquid like blood across the expensive carpet.


    "Knight?" he whispered, his voice suddenly sober. "But you''re—"


    "Dead?" I finished for him, smiling coldly. "I''ve been hearing that a lottely."