From the beginning, Ethan planned to kill Shadow Lee, and for that, he had made thorough preparations.
Compared to the time when he planned to kill Shadow Ryu, Ethan now had more spirit stones and experience.
So, after reviving, Ethan returned to Ironwood Town, and bought the necessary items for his plan to kill his assassin, and these talismans were among them.
The talismans turned into fist-sized water blades in mid-air as they flew toward Lee.
"Do you think those Aqua Blade Talismans can kill me?"
Lee had expected Ethan to attack him; however, he hadn't expected the other party to use Aqua Blade Talismans, which were the weakest among Rank 1 Talismans.
'Swiish'
'Splash'
He easily cleaved the incoming Water Blades with his dagger and mocked Ethan.
"You play with those Water Blades; I will go now."
On the other hand, Ethan threw another dozen Water Blade Talismans before turning around and running into Blackcloud Forest using his [Shadow Steps].
"Damn you…."
Since Ethan had the same cultivation level as him, Lee was expecting a proper fight between them; however, he didn't expect the other party to shamelessly run away.
'Slash'
'Splash'
Seeing Ethan escape, Lee used his full strength to destroy all the Water Blades before chasing after him into Blackcloud Forest.
'Swoosh'
'Swoosh'
Ethan led the way, with Lee hot on his heels, as they plunged several kilometers into the depths of Blackcloud Forest.
"You can't outrun me."
Lee was considered a genius for achieving the completion stage in [Shadow Steps] before breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
So, Lee was confident in catching up to Ethan, and as he thought, it wasn't long before he closed the gap and caught up to him.
"Die now."
While running, Lee swung his dagger to strike Ethan down in a single attack.
'Swoosh'
Suddenly, Ethan's speed doubled as he easily dodged the incoming strike and laughed, "It's not me who will die today, but you."
Ethan finally executed the last step of his plan—using the Beast Essence Powder.
'Swiish'
'Clang'
Soon, one after another, three glass bottles smashed against Lee's soaked body, the contents spilling over him. In no time, he was completely enveloped in a radiant Beast Essence Powder, amplified by the moisture clinging to him.
Previously, when he used the Beast Essence Powder on Shadow Ryu, half of the powder had flown away due to the wind.
So, Ethan came prepared this time, drenching the assassin with water to make sure the Beast Essence Powder stuck to his body.
"Y-you… you killed Shadow Ryu like this?"
Suddenly, Lee realized that he was getting killed the same way his previous guild member had died.
He had mocked Shadow Ryu for getting killed on a basic mission, and now, he was also about to die at the hands of the same person who had been considered nothing more than a basic mission by their guild.
"However, before I die, I am going to kill you."
Shadow Lee didn't give up despite knowing that survival was impossible for him tonight.
Hence, he decided to kill Ethan before he got killed by the Rank 1 and Rank 2 Spirit Beasts in Blackcloud Forest.
"I have prepared so much to kill you. Do you think I wouldn't prepare something to protect myself?"
Ethan scoffed at Shadow Lee before activating a black-coloured talisman.
[Black Camouflage Talisman]
'Swiish'
In the next moment, Ethan disappeared from Lee's sight, making Lee furious; however, there was nothing he could do about it now as he was already surrounded by the Spirit Beasts.
The Black Camouflage Talisman was a special Rank 2 Talisman that could temporarily turn the user invisible. Ethan had to spend almost all his Spirit Stones and Qi Refining Pills to exchange for this Talisman.
"Even if I die, my [Eternal Shadow Guild] will hunt you down."
While fighting the Spirit Beasts, Shadow Lee maniacally laughed at Ethan's inevitable future, which was bound to end in tragedy.
'…'
Hearing those words, Ethan remained silent. He was already prepared for the consequences of his actions.
Whether he killed Shadow Lee or not, Ethan knew he would be hunted. So, he chose to kill Shadow Lee, having one less enemy to deal with in the future.
While in invisibility mode, Ethan continued watching the fight between Shadow Lee and the Spirit Beasts, which lasted only 30 minutes.
'Swiish'
As Shadow Lee became a meal for the Spirit Beasts, Ethan received a series of System Notifications, making him happy.
'Ding,
The host's Special Talent [I Am Your Killer] has been triggered.
.
.
.
...
A few thousand kilometers away from Ethan's location…
'Huh? A fellow guild member has fallen?'
A middle-aged man was tending to his plants when he suddenly received a [Soul Whisper] in his ears.
"This is my first mission since ascending to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Once I complete it, I can finally afford Rank 5 Seeds to unlock the new effects of my Special Talent."
The middle-aged man thought with a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.
He was Shadow Lu, a member of the infamous [Eternal Shadow Guild].
Like any other guild member, receiving a [Soul Whisper]—a direct mission order—filled him with excitement.
Not only did it mean extra contribution points, but it also presented a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal.
'With Rank 5 Spirit Plants under my care, I can accelerate my cultivation even further,' Lu mused.
For years, Lu had dedicated himself to nurturing plants, each harvest strengthening his foundation, eventually reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm recently.
Now, he was confident that by cultivating even higher-ranked plants, the path to the Golden Core Realm was within reach.
"It's all thanks to my Special Talent," he murmured to himself, a small smile playing on his lips.
'But first, I have to complete this mission.'
Shadow Lu's eyes gleamed with resolve as he vanished into the shadows, ready to secure his next step toward greatness.