Chapter 45 Hiding a Beauty in the Shadows, Deceiving the Heavens

[Deep within the Cangwu Mountain Range.]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's withered palm presses onto your shoulder, and the golden light of the Divine Ability [Karma Shackles] instantly erupts.]

[It strikes directly toward the Sea of Consciousness between your brows.]

["Seal!"]

[With a low shout from the Great Grandmaster, an overwhelming force of laws attempts to forcibly rewrite your cognition.]

[It seeks to strip away and Seal the memory concerning the "Investigation Bureau and the Fishing Plan."]

[And implants a false logic of "returning from solo training."]

[However, at the very moment that golden light is about to touch your Soul—]

["Buzz!"]

[Deep within your mind, the simulator that had been silent all this time suddenly blazes with light.]

[[Warning! Mental interference detected! Activating active defense mechanism...]]

[[Defense successful! "Virtual Personality Mirror" generated!]]

[A miraculous scene unfolds.]

[Your true consciousness seems to be instantly extracted, hovering at the topmost layer of your Sea of Consciousness.]

[Like a detached observer, you quietly watch the events below.]

[Down below, a "Virtual Li Ang" generated by the simulator...]

[...is perfectly cooperating with Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's Divine Ability.]

[Showing the confusion, struggle, and eventual calm that follows a memory Seal.]

[What Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian modified was only that "mirror image."]

[Your real memories remain completely unscathed!]

["Whew..."]

[In reality, Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian exhales a long breath and retracts his palm, his face slightly pale.]

[Even for him, performing such a delicate and meticulous karmic surgery is no easy task.]

["It is done," Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian nods confidently.]

[Your body goes limp, and you fall backward.]

[Cold Kite is quick to react, catching you in her arms.]

[She brushes the dust off your clothes, looking at your youthful face with a complex expression.]

[Then, she lifts you by the back of your collar like a little chick.]

["Let's go, send him back."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian waves his large sleeve, and a layer of golden Yuan Qi light shield appears out of thin air, enveloping the three of you.]

["Rise!"]

[In the next second, your figures directly defy the rules of gravity, slowly ascending into the sky.]

[Following that, Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian takes a step forward, and space seems to fold.]

[The surrounding scenery instantly stretches into blurred streams of light.]

[At the same time, a strange black ripple emanates from Cold Kite's body.]

[Shadow-type Talent: [Void Shadow Escape]!]

[This layer of black ripples merges perfectly with Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's golden light.]

[Erasing the auras, figures, and even the karmic fluctuations of the three of you from the physical plane.]

[Even with satellite scans, even if a Soaring Realm Expert were right in front of you, they would never discover the three of you in the air.]

[You remain "unconscious" in mid-air, but your true consciousness is carefully observing everything through the simulator's perspective.]

["Is this how high-level experts travel? It's too fast..."]

[Only half an hour passes.]

[The surrounding light dissipates, and the feeling of solid ground returns.]

[You have already crossed a distance of hundreds of kilometers.]

[Secretly and silently, you have arrived at a remote corner of the Longnan City Long-Distance Bus Station.]

["We're here."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian glances at the bustling Longnan City center.]

[The gentleness in his eyes vanishes instantly, replaced by the cold severity of a hunter.]

[His figure flickers and instantly disappears into the air, as if merging into the Void Realm.]

[Meanwhile, Cold Kite gently places you on a roadside bench.]

[She looks at you and whispers to herself: "I'm sorry."]

[Then, her body begins to liquefy, unexpectedly turning into a pool of black shadow.]

[It glides across the ground like flowing water, finally slipping soundlessly into your own shadow!]

[Person Hidden in the Shadow!]

[This is the ultimate close-quarters protection! A Soaring Realm Expert is now lurking beneath your feet, ready to draw her blade and kill for you at any moment!]

[Your eyelashes flutter slightly as you slowly open your eyes.]

[There is no hesitation or confusion in your eyes, only the exhaustion of a long journey and the peace of returning home.]

["Hmm? How did I fall asleep at the station?"]

[You rub your temples and glance at the familiar surroundings.]

[Recalling the extra bit of memory, it instantly "connects"—you just returned from Wuyue City by an unlicensed cab and was so tired that you dozed off on the bench for a while.]

["Finally back."]

[You pick up your backpack, pat the dust off your pants, and stride toward home.]

[Everything is proceeding according to plan.]

[Even better than planned!]

[Returning to that familiar old rental apartment, you drop your backpack.]

[The first thing you do is take out your phone and dial that familiar number.]

["Beep... beep..."]

["Hello! You brat! You finally remembered to call?!"]

[From the other end of the line comes Wu Changhe's signature roar, full of irritability mixed with concern.]

["Half a month! A whole half a month!"]

["If you hadn't contacted me, I was going to call the police and file a missing person report!"]

[Hearing this familiar voice, a warm smile tugs at the corners of your mouth.]

["I'm sorry for making you worry, Teacher."]

[Your tone is sincere, "I went deep into the mountains for a closed-off special training session."]

["There was no signal in the mountains, so I called you as soon as I got out."]

["Training? Hmph, I bet you just went off to play!" Wu Changhe says stubbornly.]

[But his tone clearly softens, "How is it? You're not missing any limbs, are you?"]

["No, and I've made great progress," you say confidently.]

["I'll return to school tomorrow to end my leave, and I'll give you a surprise then."]

["Surprise? Just as long as it's not a shock!" Wu Changhe jokes.]

["Alright, since you're back, get some good rest. Come early tomorrow; I'm going to test you properly."]

["To see if you've been slacking off during this time. If you've regressed, I'll have your hide!"]

["Understood, Teacher Wu."]

["I'll show you my progress tomorrow."]

[You hang up the phone.]

[You aren't affected by the "bodyguard" at your side; instead, you act even more disciplined.]

[After dinner, you go to the narrow living room.]

[You don't talk to yourself, but directly begin your nightly mandatory practice.]

[Coiled Dragon Post Stance!]

[Feet gripping the ground, spine like a dragon.]

[You instantly enter that profound state of meditative stillness.]

[Your breathing is long and steady, and your blood and Qi flow through your body like molten mercury.]

[Eight Extremes Fist!]

[Transitioning between movement and stillness, your punches are fierce and powerful.]

[Every punch thrown is accompanied by the crisp sound of popping bones.]

[Hiding the Edge!]

[You compress your blood and Qi layer by layer, becoming like a peerless blade returned to its scabbard—all sharpness concealed, yet extremely dangerous.]

[Finally, you hone your Blade Intent.]

[Holding your combat blade, you repeat the actions of drawing and sheathing over and over.]

[With every draw, a subtle water-element ripple flows along the edge of the blade.]

[And in the shadows beneath your feet.]

[Cold Kite, in her "Shadow Escape" state, is silently watching all of this.]

["This kid's Foundation... is even more solid than I imagined."]

["This kind of tedious cultivation, he can actually do it as naturally as eating or drinking?"]

["No wonder he has such strength at such a young age."]

[Looking at the youth who is dripping with sweat but has determined eyes, she feels another touch of approval in her heart.]

[Midnight.]

[After finishing your practice, you take a cold shower to wash away the day's fatigue.]

[Lying in bed, you soon fall into a deep sleep.]

[Breathing steady, heartbeat strong.]

[While you are fast asleep, your shadow flickers slightly in the moonlight.]

[As if an invisible guardian is keeping watch over you.]

[Although your memory has undergone a bit of "modification," it doesn't affect your core plan.]

[Everything is proceeding smoothly.]

["I've established contact with the Wuyue City Investigation Bureau; the official net has been cast."]

["Next is to lay low and wait."]

["To see if there's another chance to go to Sunset Canyon for a second Awakening..."]

["As for promoting to the Origin Opening Realm, I'll put that aside for now."]

[You don't have the habit of talking to yourself; all these complex calculations are running at high speed within your mind.]

[Not a single word is heard by the "Soaring Realm Bodyguard" hiding in your shadow.]

[And so, time flows by like water.]

[By day, you are the star teaching assistant at school; by night, you are a Genius youth cultivating diligently.]

[In this seemingly peaceful half-year, Longnan City remains calm, with no signs of cult activity.]

[That so-called "Blood Shadow Life Replacement" plan seems to have truly become just a distant nightmare.]

[But you know, this is just the calm before the storm.]

[In the blink of an eye, the second semester of the second year of high school ends.]

[Summer vacation is about to begin.]