To Whom The Deer Falls

To Whom The Deer Falls...

The mission hall was an integral part of the enigmatic Shadow Pavilion, encompassing nine tiers. Only individuals of specific authority could ascend to the upper echelons.

This structure served a critical purpose. Besides harboring the Pavilion's elite assassins, it housed an array of contracted killers. Anyone could enroll in the Pavilion's lethal service—all it required was signing the dotted line.

This very facet contributed profoundly to the Shadow Pavilion's dominance. A majority sought wealth, and so they enrolled as killers. Despite the grave peril, the profession proved exceptionally lucrative. Nevertheless, a systemic flaw persisted—numerous killers meant a greater likelihood of mission-related information leakage. Inescapable as it was, the Shadow Pavilion appeared untroubled. Given their lethal pursuits, they stood immune to vendetta.

One steadfast rule prevailed: missions targeting transcendent powers remained untouchable. Other requests, however, were fair game.

The fifth tier of the mission hall, accessible solely to Five-Star ranked assassins, hosted Heavenly Dipper Sovereign-level tasks. Five-Star operatives wielded formidable combat prowess, making them a chilling force to reckon with.

On this day, an exceedingly conspicuous contract surfaced within the fifth tier.

"Qin Wentian, a fourth-ranked Grandmaster from Chu, aged nineteen. Current cultivation estimated at third or fourth-level Yuanfu. Guarded by a second-level female Heavenly Dipper Sovereign. Possesses two fourth-ranked Puppets, preliminary realm combat strength approximating Heavenly Dipper." Next to the note, a depiction of Qin Wentian adorned the paper, alongside the bounty offered.

"Wow, this lad's the Moon Continent's youngest fourth-ranked Grandmaster. First Yuanfu cultivator I've seen worth such a fortune," a masked individual mused. Within these walls, interactions were shielded by obscurity. It prevented identity exposure should an assassination mission fall awry, particularly when dealing with high-profile targets.

"I wonder what quarrel the client bears with him. The price tag to take down a skilled Divine Inscriptionist is quite the sum." Though some assassins found the task puzzling, most weren't concerned. Money beckoned, and tales behind the contracts mattered little.

"I'm claiming this contract." A figure strode to the mission board, snatching the contract with a covetous glint directed at Qin Wentian's portrait.

"Heaven's Destruction, can the four of you handle it?" A voice chimed the instant the figure seized the contract.

A fearsome group known as 'Heaven's Ruin' comprised of four formidable individuals. Rumors whispered that two were married, while the other duo served as their disciples. Their sinister methods reeked of bloodlust, their expertise in assassination extensive.

"How tough could it be to eliminate a measly fourth-level Yuanfu cultivator? The spoils shall be mine," Heaven's Ruin sneered dismissively. Nearby, his companions nodded in agreement, two of them chuckling heartily. "Master, with this reward, you can soon purchase that set of defensive Divine Armor for our dear Madam."

"Indeed, the payoff should more than suffice for that. Plus, a surplus of Yuan Meteor Stones to spare. I'll acquire two fourth-ranked Divine Weapons for you both as well. How does that sound?" The figure grinned, already envisioning the coveted weapons before him.

A Yuanfu Cultivator posed no challenge. While he and his wife engaged the female Heavenly Dipper Sovereign and the two Puppets, his disciples could easily dispatch Qin Wentian.

For them, this mission was a walk in the park. Unlike other assassins, they worked seamlessly as a team. It felt akin to receiving money for nothing.

Fortune was gracing them this time, and they intended to milk it for all it was worth. The question lingered: who was their patron? Why such generosity for the demise of a Divine Inscriptionist, no matter how prodigious?

.........

Oblivious to his name's posting on the mission board within the Shadow Pavilion's fifth tier, Qin Wentian resumed his activities at the White Deer Institute. He awaited updates from the Thousand-Jue Alliance while dedicating himself to mastering a potent innate technique documented in the ancient Ascendant scroll.

As Qin Wentian delved into the ancient scroll, a mesmerizing panorama unfolded before him.

A solitary figure stood haughtily in mid-air, a few hundred feet from a timeworn mountain. That silhouette thrust forward with a single finger, its appearance reminiscent of solid gold. As the finger descended, a glistening aura enveloped the surroundings, casting a resplendent golden hue—the very embodiment of the Mandate of Gold.

In that moment, the cosmos seemed to revolve around that golden finger. Pointing at the ancient mountain, the figure summoned an immense concentration of golden luminescence at its fingertip. With a penetrating force, the finger's light pierced through the mountain, fragmenting it into countless glittering shards that hung suspended in the air.

"Heaven Sundering Finger. Mastery requires first cultivating the Gold-Element Cultivation Art to fortify the body before mastering this innate technique. At its zenith, a mere finger jab can rupture the very firmament," a voice echoed within his mind, jolting Qin Wentian.

The voice reiterated the necessity of the Gold-Element Cultivation Art, a practice that he had cast aside. The more it pressed, the more skeptical he grew.

"Why should I require the Gold-Element Cultivation Art to master the Heaven Sundering Finger?" Qin Wentian's eyes glinted. This innate technique was of Heaven rank, its potency proportional to one's cultivation and understanding.

The Gold-Element Ascendant cleaved a colossal mountain with a single finger thrust—an image etched indelibly in his mind. The concept of 'Heaven Sundering' lingered in the aftermath.

Of all his training, this was undoubtedly the most formidable innate technique he had encountered.

Moreover, the Heaven Sundering Finger wasn't exclusively reliant on Astral Energy of the gold element. Other sources could be harnessed, even his ferocious demonic Astral Energy. With anticipation gleaming, he shut his eyes, embarking on the cultivation of the potent Heaven Sundering Finger technique.

As Qin Wentian continued cultivating, he soon realized that activating the finger technique consumed an astronomical amount of Astral Energy. The energy drain was astonishingly high, enough to astonish even him. If he attempted to substitute Divine Yuan Energy for Astral Energy, he could only dread the astronomical cost in Divine Energy it would entail.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but sigh as he grasped the reality that cultivation indeed demanded substantial resources. He ruminated on the fact that without a surplus of Yuan Meteor Stones to replenish the Astral Energy within his Yuanfu, he wouldn't even have been able to commence practicing this technique. Without sufficient resources, his only option would be to gradually absorb Astral Energy from the Heavenly Layers—a painstakingly sluggish and inefficient process.

Without a doubt, resources were essential on the path of cultivation. This realization emphasized why so many people of humble origin were willing to brave danger, all for the sake of amassing resources.

After lamenting for a while, Qin Wentian succumbed to a self-created dreamscape—a realm where his imagination could flourish unrestricted.

A day elapsed…

The following morning, representatives from the Thousand-Jue Alliance arrived, bearing the items he'd requested. Qin Wentian reimbursed them, resuming his cultivation.

As he gazed upon the items before him, a smile tugged at his lips. He could finally proceed to the second stage of the Fiend Art Transformation.

Compared to the arduous nature of the Heaven Breaking Finger, cultivating the second stage of the Fiend Art Transformation was notably more manageable.

Over the next few days, a profound surge of demonic energy enveloped the mountain slope behind the White Deer Institute, stirring curiosity among many. Whispers circulated about what could be transpiring. Was Qin Wentian harboring an immensely potent demonic-type Astral Soul, currently immersed in the cultivation of a demonic innate technique?

Despite the intrigue, none dared to disturb Qin Wentian. Occasionally, vague forms of demonic beasts would ascend into the sky before vanishing into thin air.

Three days later, torrents of demonic energy enveloped Qin Wentian, transforming him into a fearsome apparition of a demonic beast. His aura resonated with such profuse demonic energy that it rivaled the emanation of high-grade demonic beasts.

"Argh…"

A guttural roar echoed akin to a beast's primal howl as copious amounts of demonic energy spiraled around him, coalescing into a vortex that surged into Qin Wentian's body. Swiftly, the swirling fog dissipated, revealing his figure. Yet, he stood transformed from his previous state, exuding vitality that resonated with the essence of demons.

The Fiend Transformation Art united the advantages of both humanity and demons, amalgamating them within his body. By utilizing human qualities as a foundation, this art catalyzed the human body's assimilation of demon-like traits, ultimately granting him the resilience and vigor characteristic of demons. It effectively harmonized the unique strengths of both species within his human form.

At this point, anyone who approached Qin Wentian would instantly recognize his newfound power. His every motion was imbued with vitality, and his body's fortitude had outpaced those of his peers at the same level of cultivation. In a contest of pure physical strength, devoid of Astral Energy or innate techniques, he could effortlessly rend apart his adversary's form. His constitution had evolved to rival that of demons.

"Second stage of the Fiend Transformation Art, accomplished," Qin Wentian exulted. The rapidity of his progress with the art was almost unbelievable, likely owing to some aspect of his bloodline.

Having mastered the second stage of the Fiend Transformation Art, Qin Wentian persevered in honing the Heaven Breaking Finger while awaiting the Thousand-Jue Alliance's intelligence on Hua Xiaoyun.

Seven days swiftly transpired. The Leng Clan responded, conceding to Qin Wentian's demands. They chose to eliminate Heavenly Dipper Sovereign Leng Mao and the others on the list. The Leng Clan acknowledged that the risk associated with harboring this group outweighed any benefit of defying Qin Wentian. His status as a guest elder of the Thousand-Jue Alliance further discouraged the Leng Clan from persisting in their opposition.

Meanwhile, Hua Xiaoyun's patience had eroded entirely. He paid another visit to the Shadow Pavilion, where he learned that his mission to assassinate Qin Wentian had been accepted. The hired killers were plotting an ambush in the Eastern Region. Determined to witness Qin Wentian's demise firsthand, Hua Xiaoyun ventured into the Eastern Region.

Unbeknownst to him, his entry into the Eastern Region didn't go unnoticed.

Qin Wentian received word of Hua Xiaoyun's presence, which stirred an icy glint in his eyes. It was almost uncanny how he had arrived just in the nick of time. Yet, if he intended to kill Hua Xiaoyun, how could he manage to keep such an act hidden from the far-reaching spy network of the Hua Clan?

Qin Wentian comprehended the vastness of the Hua Clan's reach as a transcendent power. Their intricate web of influence spanned far and wide, and it was undoubtedly formidable. Executing Hua Xiaoyun openly would inevitably expose his actions. Eliminating a prominent scion of the Hua Clan? That would invite immediate discovery and drastic consequences. His presence in the Moon Continent would be unsustainable if he took such a step.

Nevertheless, the fact remained—Hua Xiaoyun had to meet his end.

In a dire scenario where no other recourse materialized, and if he were forced to depart the Moon Continent, he would still ensure Hua Xiaoyun's demise.

Silently, Qin Wentian departed from the White Deer Institute, refraining from disclosing his intentions even to Bailu Yi. He hesitated to embroil anyone else in his mission to eliminate Hua Xiaoyun. This endeavor was his alone to shoulder, a score of retribution that only his hands could settle.