The moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale glow over Yuan City's rooftops. Dressed in a simple black outfit and wearing a plain black mask that hid her identity, Alice moved silently through the back alleys like a shadow returning home.
Gone was the crimson mask of Red Phoenix.
Tonight, she was no assassin—just a cultivator seeking tools for the future.
The underground market came alive at night, hidden beneath the old temple ruins at the city's edge. Its entrance was an illusion array, visible only to those who knew where to look. With a tap of Qi, the illusion shimmered and parted, revealing a narrow stairway descending into flickering torchlight.
Alice stepped inside.
Voices murmured in hushed tones. Smugglers, rogue cultivators, dark alchemists, mercenaries—this was where Yuan City's true economy thrived. Here, spirit stones spoke louder than titles.
Her sharp eyes scanned the stalls.
Weapons, pills, manuals, talismans—everything was categorized by tier, from Tier 1 trinkets to rare Tier 3 treasures. She paused before a weapons stall manned by an old blacksmith with iron fingers and a gaze like fire.
"I'm looking for a Tier 2 dagger," she said, her voice cold and to the point.
The man studied her for a moment, then nodded and pulled out a long box. Inside rested three weapons.
The first: a sleek, dark dagger with a flame-shaped edge—Burning Fang, infused with fire Qi.
The second: a curved blade that shimmered in the shadows—Night Whisper, infused with darkness Qi.
The third: a heavy, rune-engraved dagger pulsing with raw force—Stone Cutter, a brute's weapon.
Alice didn't hesitate. She picked up Night Whisper. It felt like it belonged in her hand.
"Perfect match," the blacksmith muttered. "You got the coin?"
"1 Tier 2 spirit stone."
He grinned. "Deal."
Alice placed the single gleaming Stone on the table. With a satisfied nod, the man wrapped the dagger in black silk and handed it over.
---
Next, she made her way toward the skill scroll stalls.
Her old techniques were practical, honed by years of assassination, but she needed something more—something that aligned with her cultivation path.
A hooded vendor leaned forward as she approached.
"Looking for killing skills… or escaping ones?" he asked with a grin.
"Killing," she replied.
He unfurled a scroll. "This one might suit you. Shadow Fang—a Tier 2 dark-element assassination skill. It creates a blade of condensed darkness Qi that strikes from the user's shadow. Silent. Lethal. Hard to block."
Alice read the description carefully, then glanced at the price: 600 Tier 1 spirit stones.
Fair.
She nodded and handed over the stones. The vendor gave her the scroll, then whispered, "You're not the only hunter in this city. Be careful. Red Phoenix may be feared, but others envy her coin."
Alice's eyes narrowed beneath the mask. "Let them try."
---
With her new dagger and scroll secured in her Storage Ring , Alice disappeared back into the alleys.
She returned to her hideout just before dawn, slipping through the academy barrier unnoticed. She cleaned up quickly and changed into her disciple robes, storing her mask and black cloak away beneath the floorboards.
By sunrise, she was meditating in the courtyard, calm and quiet, blending in once more.
But in her heart, Red Phoenix was sharpening her claws.
She now had the weapon, the skill, and the next name on her list.
And when night came again, the city would bleed.