Red Talon Piercing The Darkness

When the door across the hall shut, Hong Zhao didn't even notice. He was instead deep within his cultivation. It had been a months since he had slipped the silent whisper powder within the drink of the first to raise their voices against Zheng Guo. Now, he had silenced all opposition from the esteemed families within Yuan City. Since it was all cloak and dagger, he didn't receive any cultivation boost from the jobs he had done, but he didn't count that as a loss. As he cultivated during the day, his strength would rise ever so slightly. He would set aside a small amount of time to spar with Xuan Hua, as well as spend a little bit if time weekly with Zhu Bai to maintain friendship with him, as well as gift him cultivation resources.

As Zhu Bai had listened to Hong Zhao and took the resources each time he came, he had already reached the ninth star student rank, putting him at the fastest to achieve such a rank within his family. Just being twelve years old and already at the peak of the student rank was something to praise one for, unless of course you were Hong Zhao.

As Hong Zhao sat atop his bed cultivating, he could feel the qi reaching the peak of his dantian. His qi spiral had already bulged with energy as it tried to break through once more. Hong Zhao felt as though he were cheating with his devouring qi claws. Since the claws took the cultivation of the ones he killed, he was able to jump through the ranks with ease. Even a genius of this world was no match for the speed he was now going.

Though the kills of the families did nothing for his cultivation base, Hong Zhao left the city from time to time to pit himself against the many fierce beasts which roamed the forest. While he was there, he would talk with Shadow to pass news to the shadow sect. He had already begun his move while he was held prisoner by Zheng Guo. He had known Shadow had followed him to the city the moment he was in the city lord's hands. Shadow's glowing green eyes watched him as he was taken into the city. It seemed the loyal panther had waited for Hong Zhao to exit the city before going back to the sect.

When Hong Zhao finally had the time, he went to his friend and caught him up on everything he had been through. Even the beast seemed to laugh as he heard that his master was put into a cell with other cultivators. It was as if even Zheng Guo wished to gift him with strength. Though he had gotten to Yuan City as a cultivator of the disciple rank, having put him in a cell with so many other disciples, he had no other way to go but up.

Now, Shadow had gone back to the shadow sect and given instructions to go out to the neighboring towns and cities and cull the obvious opposition to Zheng Guo. This had been at least two months since Hong Zhao had given these instructions. Normally, it would take someone at least six months to make it back to the shadow sect from Yuan City, but Shadow was a magical beast. Not only was he a magical beast, but he had already made it to the seventh star of the warrior rank due to the constant battles he engaged within the forest. The speed of an average ninth star student ranked cultivator would put the average of travel to six months, but with the speed of a half step warrior ranked expert, especially one of the magical beasts, the trip would only take around a month.

After the instructions were given to Li Wen, groups were sent out to begin weeding out the opposition to the city lord. He had first been very confused as to why they would be helping their enemy, but when he received the rest of the instructions, a cold gleam could be seen in his eye as he gave the order.

Hong Zhao had been listening to gossip through his shadow puppets, mostly of neighboring towns and villages blaming the city lord for attacks on their families. Soon, he knew something would have to give.

Though so much was going on, Hong Zhao kept his mind on the breakthrough he was rushing towards. The energy funnel above him grew rapidly as time went by. Though he didn't know how long he had been sitting there, it had been three days since he began pushing through. When finally the barrier broke, he let out a stale breath of air as he opened his eyes. A manic grin was plastered on his face as he could feel the power flow into him. He flexed his fist as he tested his strength. He was already nearing twelve years old in this life, his body seemed to belong to someone in their early teens. Lean muscles could be seen underneath his simple spun shirt which stuck to his body due to the sweat.

Hong Zhao got out of his meditative stance and jumped to his feet. He began to work out his sore muscles which screamed at him after staying still for so long. As he stretched, he could sense a familiar presence from across the hall from his room. his lip curled in a half smile as he took his shirt off and wiped the excess sweat from his body. He then took the basin of water which was placed on his desk and began to wash himself. After the water was more murky than clear, he placed the cloth on the basin and took a black robe with simple gold embroidery and dressed himself. When everything was as it should be, he opened the door and went across the hall.

"Long time no see, Zheng Chi." He said silently through the door. Though they were somewhat friends, Hong Zhao couldn't help a cold voice from calling out her name. He still wasn't happy with how he had come to be in Yuan City. If she could set up an ambush once for him, there was no doubt in his mind that she would do the same again if the pay was right.

"Don't be like that, Jason." A familiar voice sounded from the other side of the door. Though the voice was familiar, it was not the same voice that he had heard less than a year ago. It sounded more like the voice he had remembered from so long ago, in his previous life. As the door slid open, Hong Zhao's eyes took in the now slightly more mature version of Ren Cai. "Think what you want of me, but please call me Ren Cai."