Versatile Mage: Shadow Assassin

Underground, Silver Trade Building.

Outside the Earth Spring, two guards stood watch while chatting idly.

"We'd better stay alert. Last time, those Giant-Eyed Blood Rats nearly dug their way in here," one of the female guards, Lin Yuxin, reminded them.

"Oh come on, Vice Guard Leader Lin Yuxin, you're overthinking it. Those rats tunneling here was pure chance," said a newly assigned guard, clearly not taking it seriously. "Besides, didn't that tunnel collapse? There's nothing to worry about."

Lin Yuxin frowned slightly, clearly displeased with the new guard's lax attitude, but she didn't press the issue.

"I'll go take a look outside," Lin Yuxin said as she turned to leave.

After exiting the underground hall, Lin Yuxin headed to the Mage Association.

A few days ago, in the tunnel where the Giant-Eyed Blood Rats had burrowed, she had discovered a puddle of liquid that closely resembled Earth Spring Water.

To determine exactly what it was, Lin Yuxin had collected a sample and brought it to a potion expert at the Mage Association who specialized in material analysis. Today, the results were due.

Although this wasn't technically part of her duties, ever since her younger sister had been saved a year ago by a hunter named Qi, Lin Yuxin had been doing everything she could to help others in return.

This recent tunnel incident—where the Blood Rats nearly reached the Earth Spring—was too close for comfort. To prevent more innocent casualties, she repeatedly returned to that cavern in hopes of eliminating the creature.

When she arrived at the alchemist's lab at the Mage Association, the expert gave her the results.

"It's not Earth Spring Water," the alchemist explained. "But aside from some unique properties, it's nearly identical—enough to pass as the real thing."

"What are its unique properties? Could it be that there's a second Earth Spring?" Lin Yuxin asked, clearly puzzled. She could faintly sense the scent of conspiracy behind this.

"There's no second Earth Spring," the alchemist said seriously. "This water can also temporarily enhance the strength of practitioners or living beings. But it's more like a stimulant—it rapidly drains nutrients and energy from the body in exchange for temporary power, driving the subject into a frenzy. They lose all rationality."

Lin Yuxin was stunned, then stood quietly for a moment, lost in thought.

"Let's hope it's just a coincidence," she murmured, shaking her head and turning to leave.

"Need an umbrella? Looks like it's about to rain," the alchemist asked.

"No need. I'm a water-element mage—why would I need an umbrella?" Lin Yuxin replied with a smile, heading back toward the Silver Trade Building.

Dark clouds loomed slowly over Bo City in the distance...

Tianlan Magic High School.

Jing Wuji looked up at the sky. Just moments ago it had been bright, but now it was completely overcast.

Thick clouds signaled an imminent downpour.

There were faint rumbles of thunder within the dark mass, and even the wind was hot and stifling.

Summer rains often came as violent storms, and before the rain fell, the air would always feel oppressively heavy—agitating and uncomfortable.

Hmm, Xinxia didn't bring an umbrella. I'll pick her up after the oath-taking ceremony. Mo Fan should be back soon, too—it's been a whole week already.

The principal's speech from the stage was becoming a blur to Jing Wuji, his thoughts drifting far away...

Xuefeng Mountain Outpost.

A dusty white pickup truck rumbled its way up the narrow mountain road into the small outpost nestled on the slope of Xuefeng Mountain.

Just as it arrived, a torrential downpour began, instantly shrouding the entire mountain in a curtain of rain.

"That was close—this shipment would've been ruined if I'd been even a little late," said Mo Jiaxing, jumping out of the truck and glancing nervously at the downpour.

"Hey, does that rain look... colored to you?" asked one of the more observant veteran hunters.

"Yeah, kind of yellowish... looks like piss," another laughed.

Passing by them, Mo Jiaxing smiled and greeted a few familiar hunters, but upon hearing that, he couldn't help but glance up at the rain-filled sky again.

Inside the outpost, everything seemed normal. At the northern checkpoint, Zhan Kong's subordinate, Wan Duanfeng, was on duty.

Wan Duanfeng was a mid-tier earth-element mage—when it came to defense, no one in Bo City could match him.

Clad in a full-body leather raincoat, he stood in the storm, gazing solemnly into the distance, emanating a dignified and commanding presence.

Suddenly, through the rain-drenched forest in the distance, a blinding light pierced the orange-yellow veil of rain.

"Light Signal?!" Wan Duanfeng's eyes widened and his expression darkened.

Light Signals were an essential communication and positioning spell used by military mages—typically deployed as warning signals.

Before he could even react, another beam of Light Signal cut through the stormy air in the distance.

"Blue Alert!" Wan Duanfeng roared.

There were four alert levels—Blue was the second highest.

The last time an alert had been issued, it had been Orange—the highest level.