In the grand hall of the Wang Family manor, flickering lantern light danced across ancient scrolls and polished jade pillars. Wang Chun had just finished recounting every twist of fate—the hidden opportunities, the Marrow Cleansing Pool's miraculous emergence, and Wang Tian's meteoric rise in strength.

  Wang An listened in stunned silence, his weathered face paling then flushing with disbelief. He gripped the armrests of his chair, knuckles whitening. The humiliations in the Royal City flashed before him: sneering cultivators mocking the Wang name during the Radiant Cloud Sect wager, their words like daggers he could only swallow. How to react? Rage? Joy? Finally, a thunderous laugh erupted from his chest, echoing off the vaulted ceiling.

  "Hahahaha! Thank the heavens for blessing my Wang Family! In the future, we'll soar to heights others can't even dream of!"

  His glee ignited the room. Wang Chun grinned fiercely, slapping his thigh. Wang Tian nodded, eyes gleaming.

  Wang An leaned forward, voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. "The first batch of disciples enters the Marrow Cleansing Pool in three days. Excellent. But nephew..." A heavy pause hung in the air, thick as storm clouds. "The Clan Competition approaches. You remember, right ?"

  Wang Tian's jaw tightened, a spark of anger flaring at the mention. "Of course, Uncle. Four months remain. This time, the other families will scheme to crush us, currying favor with that cursed Radiant Cloud Sect. But it won't happen." His voice rose, laced with venom. "It's time to unleash the Wang Family's true power."

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  The Clan Competition—held every two years to crown Crimson Sky City's strongest clan—pitted only the young generation go against one another. And the victory granted entry to the grand 100-Clan Competition across the region, where the champion clan earned tax exemption from the Royal Family until the next cycle. For a decade, the Wangs had dominated in raw strength yet crumbled in the arena, their recognition stolen by lesser foes.

  Wang Chun's chest swelled with pride. "With the Marrow Cleansing Pool, it's no longer a dream. Disciples first, then elders—we'll all temper our marrow and shatter our limits. Ten years of humiliation... answered in blood and glory that day."

  The trio's fervor rippled outward; the entire Wang Family buzzed with anticipation. This was their first stride toward the pinnacle.

  After brief final words, Wang An retired to rest, exhausted from his unbroken journey from the Royal City. Wang Chun strode off to inspect the pool once more. Alone in the vast hall, Wang Tian rose to leave—

  [New Quest Issued]

  [Quest: Win the Crimson Sky City Clan Competition and Prove the Wang Clan's Might.]

  [Rewards: Scaled to Performance.]

  Surprise flickered across his face, though he'd half-expected it. The vague rewards? A sly twist from the System—he smirked, undeterred. With the pool and daily sign-ins, victory was as simple as sipping tea.

  A jolt hit him then: Today's sign-in! "System," he commanded crisply, "SIGN-IN."

  [Command Initiated. Signing In...]

  [Sign-In Successful! Congratulations, Host: Shadow Assassin Summoning Card Obtained.]

  Wang Tian's pulse quickened—this was the second summon after Jin Dan's card! Eager, he slipped into a shadowed alcove off the hall, palm glowing as he crushed the ethereal card. A chill wind swirled, birthing a lithe figure cloaked in writhing darkness: the Shadow Assassin, eyes like void abysses, twin daggers humming with killing intent.

  "Master," it rasped, voice a whisper of silk over steel, "I am Yan Luo, born of endless night. Command me to reap your foes unseen."