The slums were silent at night, save for the occasional bark of a stray dog or drunken shout from a distant alley. Wrapped in a tattered cloak and wearing the shadows like a second skin, Alice moved through the darkness with practiced ease. Her body still ached, but after hours of rest and makeshift healing, it was good enough for movement.
Her destination: the city library.
From the girl's memories, it was clear that commoners weren't welcome there at night, especially orphans with no background or coin. But Alice was no commoner—not anymore. She was an assassin reborn, and she knew how to move unseen.
The library stood in the northern district, close to where the wealthier families resided. Four towering floors of dark stone and ancient wood, its windows dimly glowing with magical lanterns that never extinguished. Guards stood at the entrance during the day, but now? Only a pair of sleepy sentries remained by the main gate, barely alert.
Amateurs.
Alice didn't approach from the front. She scaled the outer wall from a neighboring building, slipping across the rooftop like a whisper. A cracked attic window on the third floor welcomed her in.
With a soft thud, she dropped inside.
Dust clung to the old floorboards, but the interior was elegant and grand. Towering shelves held thousands of books, scrolls, and manuals. Crystal globes floated silently, shedding gentle blue light that illuminated the polished corridors.
Alice's violet eyes flicked around as she crouched low and moved silently. Her first goal: information.
She navigated to the second floor, where records about the city and empire were stored. Dozens of books lay organized by topic. She pulled one labeled "Crimson Empire: Structure and Power" and skimmed its contents.
The Crimson Empire. A low-tier empire bordering several others, ruled by cultivators who had reached Tier 6 at best. The emperor was a Void Comprehension cultivator—a rare powerhouse in this region, but nothing compared to higher realms. Noble clans, merchant families, and sects held most of the power. Cities like this one—Yuan City—were stepping stones for rising talents.
Alice committed the knowledge to memory.
Next, she searched for cultivation knowledge. On the third floor, she found what she was looking for: a book titled "Foundations of Cultivation."
She sat in a shadowed corner and flipped it open.
> "Cultivation is the path to power, achieved by refining Qi within the body, expanding meridians, forming cores, and eventually merging with the Dao. Cultivators rise through nine tiers, each with nine minor levels…"
1. Qi Condensation – Tier 1: Absorb Qi into the body, open the meridians.
2. Foundation Establishment – Tier 2: Strengthen internal flow and balance elemental energy.
3. Core Formation – Tier 3: Condense Qi into a powerful core.
4. Nascent Soul – Tier 4: Birth of the spiritual soul, marking true strength.
5. Soul Transformation – Tier 5: Begin manipulating spiritual laws.
6. Void Comprehension – Tier 6: Understand the void and near-immortality.
7. Dao Unification – Tier 7: Merge body and soul with the Dao.
8. Immortal Ascension – Tier 8: Begin breaking free of mortality.
9. Immortal Realm – Tier 9: Transcend the mortal plane.
Each stage was vast. The gap between tiers was like heaven and earth. Most people never surpassed Tier 2 or 3 in their lifetime.
> "Cultivation manuals, techniques, weapons, pills, and arrays are all ranked by tier. A Tier 1 manual is common and easy to learn. A Tier 9 manual is legendary, reserved for ancient sects and immortal beings."
Alice closed the book.
So, power here wasn't just raw strength—it was a structured system. One she could climb.
She rose to her feet and headed to the fourth floor. The forbidden floor. Cultivation manuals.
Here, the air was different. Cold. Thick with lingering energy.
A glowing formation sealed most shelves, accessible only with permission from city authorities or noble sects. But not all were locked. Alice's sharp eyes noticed a shelf in the far corner with less powerful runes—likely overlooked or dismissed.
She approached carefully, avoiding the sealed sections, and began inspecting the old scrolls. Most were Tier 1 or 2. Basic techniques. Nothing suited her yet.
Until one caught her attention.
It was hidden behind a row of discarded scrolls, tucked away like a forgotten relic. The leather cover was marked with black ink, shaped like writhing flames.
She picked it up and read the title:
"Whispers of the Abyss: Dark Flame Cultivation Manual – Tier 4"
Her heart skipped.
Dark Element. A rare, dangerous affinity. The girl she'd merged with had an affinity for darkness, suppressed and never awakened. Alice could feel the quiet resonance in her soul. This manual was calling to her.
She opened the first few pages.
> "Only those who embrace the dark and walk alone may survive this path. Draw Qi from the shadows. Temper your spirit through isolation. Burn your enemies with silent flame."
Alice's lips curved into a grin.
Perfect.
She rolled the scroll tightly, tucking it into her cloak. She would study it later. For now, she had to leave before the morning shift began.
Just as she turned to go, she froze.
Footsteps.
Distant. Barely audible. But someone was coming up the stairs.
Alice vanished into the nearest gap between shelves, holding her breath.
A robed figure stepped into view—a librarian or cultivator, she couldn't be sure. He lit a nearby lamp, checked a few scrolls, then yawned and muttered something about "night inspections."
After a few moments, he left.
Alice didn't move until the steps faded entirely.
She escaped the way she came, slipping out through the attic window and disappearing into the night before the first rays of dawn touched the horizon.
Back in the slums, she unrolled the manual on the floor of her broken home. In the quiet of early morning, she began reading in full.
This was the beginning.
She didn't have talent. She didn't have resources.
But she had experience, patience… and now, a Tier 4 cultivation manual.
She closed her eyes, crossed her legs, and began breathing as instructed.
For the first time, she felt it.
Qi. Cold, dark energy flowing faintly into her body.
The shadows answered her call.