"Who's there?!"
As soon as Shadow Thorn heard the voice, her entire body stiffened in terror. Every nerve in her body snapped taut. That voice hadn't come from her—someone else was nearby. Someone who had seen her, sensed her presence. Recalling how her dagger had failed to pierce earlier, she immediately realized that a powerful individual had discovered her and was giving chase, someone even her shadow stealth could not evade.
A wave of fear surged through her instantly.The situation was too terrifying.
Without a second thought, she bolted away at top speed, diving into the shadows and fleeing from Xuanhuang City.
"Too terrifying. There's such a powerful expert hidden within Xuanhuang City… A Life Aperture realm cultivator, and a top-tier one at that. Their aura was flawless—deep and unfathomable. I'd stand no chance in a direct fight."
Some inner sense told her clearly that she couldn't possibly defeat the mysterious expert. For someone to appear beside her without her noticing was more terrifying than a blade already at her throat.
"Why did you stop running? Giving up already?"
But just as she thought she had escaped, the eerie voice echoed in her ears again.
"What?! He's still on me? Damn it!!"
Her face went pale. Still, her strong will held. Realizing she couldn't escape, she drew a slender, pitch-black sword. The blade was long and narrow, like a wasp's sting—designed for speed. She slashed, and the sword flashed like lightning—silent, deadly, and devoid of killing intent.
But a sword with no killing intent was more dangerous—it meant death hidden within.
Skill: Godslayer Execution!
"A sword from the shadows… Fast. But still… not fast enough."
A mocking voice rang by her ear.
The strike missed—completely ineffective.
"Who are you? Wait… I've seen you before. You're Yi Tianxing, the Lord of Xuanhuang City!"
Shadow Thorn's gaze locked onto her opponent. For the first time, unable to dodge, she clearly saw his face. Her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
It was Yi Tianxie—another side of Yi Tianxing, the same face, same body. Even those closest to him could not tell the difference.
He could easily pass as Yi Tianxing.
"You killed someone in my city and thought you could leave just like that? A bit too naive, don't you think?"
Yi Tianxie smiled wickedly, sizing her up. He hadn't expected the assassin to be a woman—one with an alluring body under a tight outfit. A beauty capable of killing from the shadows. He could tell she wasn't human but belonged to a foreign race similar to the Trolls he had encountered before. Her abilities in shadow manipulation were dangerously effective for an assassin.
"What do you want, Lord Yi? The deed is done. Even if you come after me, that person won't come back," she said coldly.
"Well then, you'll have to leave something behind," Yi Tianxie said with a smirk.
"What do you mean?" she frowned, glancing around for an escape route.
"Simple. Hand over your clan's cultivation method. I'll give you a ten-breath head start to flee," he said, eyes gleaming strangely.
What he truly wanted… was the Shadow Demon Codex. The cultivation techniques of the Shadow Demon Clan, rich in shadow attributes, were a treasure to him. With the Scripture of Forgetting, the Myriad Demon Evil Sutra, and the city's library of techniques, he was close to creating his own supreme technique—he only lacked a method tied to shadow.
Obtaining it from her would be a major breakthrough.
"You want the Shadow Demon Codex? That's impossible. Even if I die, I'll never give it to you!"
Her expression turned fierce. The Codex was the foundational cultivation scripture of her race. It contained all their secret arts, from opening shadow-based apertures to fate diagrams. Revealing it would be a fatal blow to her people.
"You won't talk? Oh, you will."
Yi Tianxie chuckled confidently.
"Hmph. So what if you're the city lord? You think I'm afraid? We Shadow Demons fear nothing—not even death!"
Her eyes flashed coldly. As she spoke, she vanished, reappearing behind Yi Tianxie.
Combat Skill: Shadow Step!
Combat Skill: Shadow Kill Sword Technique!
She struck from the shadows, fast as lightning, step and sword as one—aiming straight for his skull.
From beneath the shadows, two massive black nails shot up, targeting his feet.
Life Aperture Divine Ability – Shadow Nail!
If hit, they would pin the enemy in place, rendering them immobile and defenseless—perfect for an assassin's killing blow.
"I'm close. Just a little closer—"
In a fraction of a second, she was about to stab him in the head. She imagined the sword punching through his skull.
But in the next moment, her expression twisted.
Her sword didn't land. Yi Tianxie had vanished, evading both the blade and the Shadow Nail, which had never failed her before.
"Shadow is useless against me."
Yi Tianxie's voice came from behind. A pair of arms wrapped silently around her body, hands landing directly on her chest.
A jolt of shock ran through her—no one had ever touched her in such a place. Her whole body froze, strength draining away.
"You vile—!"
She shouted in humiliation and fury, struggling violently. But his grip was overwhelming, and her sword was knocked to the ground.
The more she resisted, the more disturbing sensations flooded her.
"Tell me where the Shadow Demon Codex is. I'll let you go," Yi Tianxie whispered into her ear.
"Never!"
"Then don't blame me for what comes next."
"You call yourself a city lord? Do you think your people would accept this if they knew? You'll be ruined."
"I don't care. Men and women—this is nature. If you're scared, give me the Codex. For it, I'll do anything."
"Just kill me already. You're no real lord. I'll scream for help!"
"I'll make you scream, alright. And don't even think of suicide—you're already sealed."
She realized he had already locked her cultivation and mana.
"You're disgusting…"
"Scream all you want. No one will hear."
Yi Tianxie sneered and dragged her into the shadows.
Moments later, the sound of clothes tearing and panicked screams filled the darkness.
"Will you talk now?"
"No!"
"Then you'll regret it."
"Hah—kill me if you dare. I'll take you with me!"
The voices echoed from the shadows.
Back in the City Lord's mansion, Yi Tianxing, who had been cultivating, suddenly paused and frowned.
Then he shook his head with a wry smile. "That guy… doing that kind of thing too? Hasn't got an ounce of my class. If this gets out, I'll lose all face."
But he didn't stop it.
Yi Tianxie was his shadow self—one who absorbed the seven emotions and desires of the world, including lust and evil thoughts. He didn't restrain himself—he indulged.