Two weeks passed, and in that time, many things changed.
The once-silent war between the Jiang Clan and the Stone Path Hall was no longer hidden in the shadows. It had started to draw the attention of other powers—like the Yun and Wu Clans, as well as external organizations, including the one Ya Fen belonged to. The reason was simple: the conflict had escalated. Stores were being torched, farms growing precious cultivation plants raided, and members from both sides killed without mercy.
The scale had reached the point where even cultivators at the peak stage of Rank 1 were being deployed. That was the limit. Any higher, and the war would no longer be "contained"—it would spiral into a full-blown conflict, one that would see villages and towns razed to the ground. Because once Rank 2 cultivators entered the battlefield—the highest power either side possessed—nothing would remain untouched.
And in the middle of this rising storm stood Lin Shu, used as a pawn, drained of everything the institute could squeeze out of him.
In just two weeks, he'd been sent on five separate missions. Why? Because he survived a Blisterbomb. Because he lived through something that should have crippled or killed a normal mid-stage Rank 1 cultivator. The institute took that as proof: he could take it. They began treating him like a high-stage Rank 1 cultivator, despite the fact he was still four—maybe five—years away from that level under normal progress.
They didn't care. He was useful now, and that was all that mattered.
Twice during those missions, he encountered young masters of the Jiang Clan. Luckily, neither were direct heirs—if they had been, he'd be dead. He failed both missions, forced to flee for his life. Against them, his only advantage was defense—his cultivation, techniques, and Qi reserves were inferior. Their attacks overwhelmed him. The only thing that saved him was the strength of his body.
He'd also been poisoned multiple times. Enough that he had to spend a fortune on antidotes. The institute offered no free services. If he died, they'd step over his corpse and send someone else. His Burning Vein Art—as potent as it was for healing physical wounds—did little against the poisons they used. And while his Ivory Dominion had a hidden ability to cleanse toxins that corroded the bones, every poison thrown at him targeted his organs instead. His greatest tools were useless.
He sat now in his tent, preparing for yet another mission, staring at his dwindling savings.
"I've had to spend one-third of my wealth just to survive these missions," he muttered to himself, frustration building in his chest. "And the rewards? They don't even make up the difference. I'm losing more money than I'm earning. I only have 8335 gold coins left."
His eyes darkened.
"My plan to complete the second stage of the Thunderforge Physique is ruined… The Crimson Flow Pill I was aiming for? Out of reach now. At this rate, I won't last two more weeks before i run out of wealth."
And yet he couldn't desert. They always sent him with cultivators at the high stage of Rank 1—those with superior movement techniques, greater attacking strength. He couldn't abandon them without being caught. And even if he could kill something, he wasn't allowed to loot the corpse. The institute claimed everything. No spoils. No profit.
It had reached a point where he was paying the institute to risk his life.
Meanwhile, the students with powerful backers—those with bright futures—were sent to the mine or on easy missions. Even though some of them were far stronger than him, they were protected, nurtured. Lin Shu was thrown into the fire, over and over.
A deep hatred for the institute began to take root in his heart.
"They reached into my pocket, he thought bitterly, a pocket I've killed to fill. And I'll kill to protect. But how do I fight an organization that doesn't even see me as a soldier?"
No. He wasn't a soldier. A soldier held value. Lin Shu was a pawn—a disposable shield. A body to throw at the enemy until it broke.
"I should've left," he muttered, his voice low and cold. "But how could I have known a war with the Jiang Clan was coming?"
And now he couldn't desert. He was always watched. And the missions? They weren't even covert anymore. They were becoming open battles. No more assassinations. Just carnage.
If this isn't full-blown war yet… then what will it look like when it truly begins?
As Lin Shu stood up, pale ivory began to form beneath his clothes—hidden armor forged from his Ivory Dominion technique. He left his face, neck, and hands unprotected, but he was always prepared to coat them at a moment's notice if needed.
He stepped out of his tent and began making his way toward a small wooden house. Over the past two weeks, the mine had truly transformed into a fortress—new structures had risen everywhere. Yet, despite all the new buildings, Lin Shu still slept in the same tent. The houses had been given to instructors and favored prodigies. As always, he was excluded.
Slowly, he reached the wooden building—the designated place where students received their next assignments. And just like before, this wasn't a request. He had no choice. Refusing meant punishment.
Inside, he found an instructor waiting behind a desk. Without a word, Lin Shu handed over his student emblem. The instructor examined it, searched through a few documents, then read aloud.
"Student number 257, Lin Shu. You're assigned to lead a mission alongside several other students."
The instructor's tone grew colder, more focused.
"Your objective is to kill a girl named Jiang Yuyan. She's a high-stage Rank 1 cultivator. She's not particularly strong or fast—her strength lies in ambush tactics. If confronted directly, she'll flee immediately. So you'll either need to ambush her first… or let her attack you, and then strike when she reveals herself.
"But take note: she's one of the Jiang Clan's young masters. However, she isn't from the main family, so she isn't heavily protected. Several attempts have already been made to kill Young masters like her, and all of them failed.
"This is our only chance to get her. She's currently hiding in a safehouse east of the mine. She'll attempt to flee back to her clan soon. While capturing her would be ideal… if you think she might escape, kill her without hesitation."
The instructor handed him a scroll.
"The exact location is written here, along with other necessary details. Burn the scroll once the mission is complete. Your team is waiting outside. Dismissed."
Lin Shu took the scroll and left the house. His expression didn't change, but his thoughts stirred.
"Maybe this mission won't be too hard. I've either been the weakest or one of the stronger ones in past missions… but if I've been made the leader, then I'm most likely the strongest in the group. That should make things easier… well, I'll find out soon enough."
Lin Shu opened the scroll and quickly scanned the contents. Listed were the names of his teammates: Yong De, Yu Xuan, and Wang Muchen. Including himself, the team totaled four.
He knew all of them by name. After spending nearly a month in the mine, he had seen most of the active students at least once. To his relief, none of them were particularly powerful.
"Finally… a good mission," he thought, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. "I've been thrown to the lions for two weeks straight."
In a noticeably better mood, Lin Shu made his way toward the meeting point. When he arrived, he saw the group already gathered and talking amongst themselves. As they noticed his approach, one of them spoke up.
"You're Lin Shu, right?"
He gave a small nod.
"Great, I'm Yong De," said the first boy. He had light brown skin, matching eyes and hair, and carried a saber on his back.
"I'm Wang Muchen," said the second. His hair was black and cropped extremely short, and he wore a sword at his waist.
"And I'm Yu Xuan. Pleased to meet you," the third boy said, offering a polite smile. He had long brown hair tied into a ponytail, freckles dusting his face.
"Pleased to meet you all," Lin Shu replied calmly. "I take it you've all read the scroll and understand the mission?"
All three nodded.
"Good," Lin Shu said, turning toward the east. "We leave now."
Without wasting another second, Lin Shu stepped forward, his team falling in beside him as they dashed toward the mission's location.