As Arya contemplated his mission options, elsewhere in the city, two powerful figures had taken notice of his existence—each with vastly different motives.

One of them was Eldrin Faelan, a powerful yet elusive cultivator. Few people knew his true identity, as he was a renowned assassin known as the Elder Assassin. He had recently taken a junior under his wing—Deth—despite the young man's lack of talent. What set Deth apart was his absolute loyalty; he followed Eldrin's commands without question.

Eldrin had even gifted him a Peak 1st Rank Spirit upon accepting him as his disciple. However, when Deth returned home to visit his family, he was killed. Eldrin only discovered this tragedy when he went to summon him for his next mission.

Though Eldrin had not been particularly close to Deth, the fact that his personal disciple was murdered was a direct challenge to his authority. If he failed to avenge Deth, it would tarnish his reputation within the Assassin Guild, something he could not afford.

Determined to track down the killer, Eldrin arrived at the battlefield where Deth had died. Carefully analyzing the scene, he uncovered several key clues:

1. Deth had activated his Spirit Possession ability before dying. This meant one of two things—either his killer was at least Level 33 or they were a Weapon Master with an exceptionally strong spirit.

2. Traces of multiple elements lingered in the area—Fire, Ice, and Wind. This suggested the battle had involved more than just one opponent.

3. Deth's Assassin Guild emblem was missing.

The missing emblem was the most crucial clue. It was traceable, meaning that wherever it was now, Eldrin could track it.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

What Eldrin didn't yet know was that the killer was none other than Arya Veyne—who had fought alongside Kane. Arya had used both Fire and Water elements separately, but not in fusion, as that would have been too dangerous. He had collected Deth's emblem as loot, unaware that it was being tracked.

Now, a deadly assassin was after him.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, two young cultivators were deep in discussion.

"Selis, is it really worth traveling this far just to recruit a single strong cultivator?" one of them, Ryze, asked doubtfully. "According to the report from your contact at the academy, this guy rejected joining and let his friend enroll instead. Tracking him down will be difficult."

Selis sighed. "Ryze, you need to understand our situation. You and I are strong, but to compete in the upcoming tournament, we need at least five members and a recommendation. I can handle the recommendation part, but finding a powerful cultivator with both talent and a good personality is nearly impossible."

He continued, "From the information we received, this new guy—Arya Veyne—is only Level 22, but his strength matches that of a Level 25 or 26 fighter. He also has strong physical attributes, which means he could be a Weapon Master—exactly what we're looking for."

Ryze frowned. "Hmm… You might be right, brother Selis. But I could have gone to recruit him alone. You didn't need to come."

"No," Selis shook his head. "I need to see this guy for myself—to test him, to evaluate his personality. He possesses Elite Cultivator-level power despite only having a common-rank Seed Stone. That means he's either hiding something, or his constitution is special."

*Constitutions are unique physical or spiritual anomalies in cultivators that can influence their power, sometimes positively, sometimes unpredictably—just like combining two unknown substances.*

Selis smirked. "Even Master Malrik found Arya interesting and approved his qualifications. There's no need for hesitation. Once we examine his strength and character, we'll decide whether to let him join our group."

The two young men stood side by side, starkly different in appearance.

• Selis looked noble, dressed in refined white robes. His physique was well-balanced—neither too muscular nor too thin—but the energy radiating from his body made it clear he was incredibly powerful. He stood 5.3 feet tall, his posture commanding yet elegant.

• Ryze, on the other hand, had a lively and casual personality. He stood between 5.1 and 5.2 feet tall, with an approachable face. Despite his easygoing nature, there was a sharpness in his eyes.

A closer look at their hands revealed something else—both wore three rings on their fingers, a sign of their cultivation level. However, it was unclear whether they were Seed Masters or Weapon Masters.

Despite their young age, their strength was undeniable, hinting at both immense talent and a strong background.

Now, two powerful forces were searching for Arya—but for completely different reasons.

One sought vengeance.

The other sought alliance.

Unbeknownst to Arya, his past battle had already set powerful events into motion.