Morning sunlight streamed through the academy windows as Yuan City slowly woke to life. But within the Inner Disciple quarters, change had already arrived.
Alice stood before the mirror, her expression calm, eyes sharper than ever. The once-beaten orphan was now a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator—and a newly promoted Inner Disciple of the Royal Academy.
Her academy robes had changed too. The silver trim signified her new status, and the inner disciple token hanging from her waist confirmed it.
Yet, beyond the title and cultivation, nothing about her heart had changed.
> "Strength... is only useful when directed."
That direction came sooner than expected.
At the Disciple Hall, the moment she presented her identity token, an elder handed her a sealed jade scroll—her first official academy mission.
> "Your first task as an Inner Disciple," the elder said with a neutral tone. "A problem near Windmoon City. Bandit activity along the southern trade route. Investigate. Eliminate the threat if required. Report to the local sect outpost."
Alice bowed slightly in acknowledgment, accepting the scroll. She scanned the brief details—it was vague, but that suited her just fine.
On her way out, whispers followed in her wake.
> "That's her… the one who challenged and defeated a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the selection."
"So young… and she wasn't even from a noble family."
"A commoner orphan. Disgusting… yet terrifying."
She ignored it all.
Back in her room, Alice took a deep breath. Her black cloak lay folded neatly on the table, alongside a black mask with delicate etchings. It covered her upper face, sharp and cold, erasing her identity completely.
Not Red Phoenix this time.
This mission wasn't for gold or secrets—it was official, sanctioned, and tied to her new path.
With quiet resolve, she changed her attire—discarding the academy robes for lightweight travel gear. Over that, she draped the cloak, then secured the mask to her face.
Her long hair she tied up, hidden beneath the hood.
A shadow slipped out of the academy unnoticed, walking with silent confidence toward the southern road.
As she traveled through the wild outskirts between Yuan City and Windmoon City, the landscape grew quieter—dense trees lining the path, birds overhead, and the occasional distant howl of spirit beasts.
Alice stayed alert.
This wasn't just another mission. It was a test.
A test of what she had become... and what she would do with her power.
By dusk, Windmoon City appeared on the horizon—smaller than Yuan City, but still bustling with life.
Yet the surrounding atmosphere felt… strained.
Trade caravans moved nervously. Guards had increased at the gate. The local cultivators bore tense expressions.
> "The bandits aren't just a nuisance," Alice thought. "They're a threat."
With no time to waste, she entered the city, her black cloak flowing behind her like a wisp of shadow.
She had a mission to complete.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator had stepped onto the field.
And the Windmoon Bandits wouldn't know what hit them.