Forged in Blood and Shadow

After acquiring the mask, John headed back to the inn. Sensing he was being followed, he ducked into a nearby alley and used his Shadow God technique to conceal himself within the shadows. Three members of the Skyfall Sect arrived at the alley's entrance. One of them, a youth named Jolee, the son of the Skyfall branch leader, spoke with barely contained rage, "Spread out! Find him! By all means necessary, he will pay for killing my sister. I will make sure he dies by my own hand!" The three dispersed.

Once they were gone, John emerged from the shadows, a wry smile on his face. "So, they're from the Skyfall Sect," he muttered. "And the girl is still alive? This world is as dangerous as it is interesting. There must be ways to bring people back from the dead." He returned to the inn, went to his room, and retrieved the mask. This mask… for some reason, my shadow Qi is reacting to it. He channeled his Qi into the mask. After a few minutes, it was enveloped in thick shadow Qi. Nothing's changed, he observed. Maybe I need to put it on. He thought, If I want revenge, I have to become stronger. He placed the mask on his face.

Once they were gone, John emerged from the shadows, a wry smile on his face. "So, they're from the Skyfall Sect," he muttered. "And the girl is still alive? This world is as dangerous as it is interesting. There must be ways to bring people back from the dead." He returned to the inn, went to his room, and retrieved the mask. This mask… for some reason, my shadow Qi is reacting to it. He channeled his Qi into the mask. After a few minutes, it was enveloped in thick shadow Qi. Nothing's changed, he observed. Maybe I need to put it on. He thought, If I want revenge, I have to become stronger. He placed the mask on his face.

Instantly, a shadowy duplicate of himself materialized before him. John jumped back in surprise, but the shadow remained motionless. He tried speaking to it. "Who are you?" he asked, but the shadow didn't react. Moving closer, he thought, It's just a shadow. Upon closer inspection, he realized the shadow was an exact replica of himself. He reached out to touch it, but it remained unresponsive. What does this thing even do? he wondered. He commanded, "Sit." The shadow sat. "Stand up." It stood. I don't think that's all there is to it.John sat down cross-legged in a meditative posture, focusing his Qi into the mask. His consciousness was drawn into the shadow. He could move freely within it! He could even use his Shadow God technique and enter other shadows. A wide grin spread across his face. "With this," he whispered, "I'm one step closer to revenge." He couldn't contain his laughter. He then began cultivating.Three months later, he had advanced to the late stage of Qi Forging. He went to a nearby stream to bathe, then dressed and used his Shadow God technique to return to the inn. He went to the dining area for a meal. He overheard people talking about the Skyfall Sect placing a bounty on a man who had attacked the young lady of the sect. They can search all they want, he thought. She only saw me once. How can she describe me? Even if she does, it won't be accurate.Just then, a man in the inn produced a stone that projected an image—an image of John himself! He froze, shocked. What the f**? I have to get out of the city!* He quickly placed a small bag of coins on the table and tried to leave, but the man with the projection stone recognized him. He and several others gave chase.John fled the inn, running out of the city. He knew he couldn't fight them in the city without attracting unwanted attention, so he headed for a nearby forest. His pursuers were relentless. He stopped running, and they stopped behind him. "Are you finally tired of running?" one of them taunted.

I'm at the late stage of Qi Forging, John thought.

"There are five of us and only one of you," the man said. "Do you really think you can fight us all at once? Even if you're at the late stage of Qi Forging, I'm at the middle stage, and the rest are at the low stage. After we capture you, we'll get our reward from the Skyfall Sect."

John smiled coldly. "If you want to die so badly," he said, "I won't stop you." He took the mask from his robes and put it on. His shadow materialized beside him and immediately lunged towards the leader of the group. John used his Shadow God technique, merging with his own shadow and reappearing behind the other pursuers. Using Qi-woven threads, he swiftly bound their necks and pulled, decapitating them in a spray of blood.The leader, witnessing the gruesome scene, recoiled in horror. He turned to face John, only to see the headless bodies of his men. Enraged, he gripped his weapon tightly and charged. John dodged the attack, controlling his shadow to strike from behind. The leader blocked it. John then attempted to bind him with Qi-woven threads, but the leader threw his weapon at him. The shadow intercepted the weapon and plunged it into the leader. John then pulled on the threads, tearing the leader's body apart in another bloody explosion.

Blood rained down, coating John and his mask. He looked up at the sky, a chilling smile on his blood-soaked face. "Skyfall Sect," he whispered, "I'm coming for your heads." He then continued his escape, deeper into the forest.