The ancient tree, once radiant with life, gradually dimmed as Sogen completed his cultivation. Its lush leaves withered into dull fragments of light, dispersing into the air like fading stars. Within moments, the towering presence that had dominated the battlefield was gone—as if it had never existed
Then—
"Sogen!"
A familiar voice spoke.
Khamas strode forward, his expression bright with satisfaction. His gaze swept across the group before settling on Sogen.
"You all did well. Better than expected."
Not long after.
The atmosphere shifted completely.
The tension of battle gave way to celebration.
Members of Felix gathered together, laughter and cheers echoing through the surroundings. Food, drinks, and loud voices filled the night. Almost everyone was present, basking in the glory of their victory.
The night was filled with laughter, song, and the strong scent of wine.
One by one, the members of the Felix Mercenary Group lost themselves to the celebration. Some staggered across the camp with cups in hand, some wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders while shouting incoherent praises, and others had already collapsed onto the ground, snoring loudly.
Yet despite their drunkenness, a single name continued to surface amidst the chaos.
"Sogen!"
"That kid is a monster!"
"Did you see that final sword strike?"
"Hahaha! Three against one and he still crushed them!"
The conversations varied, the voices differed, but the subject remained the same.
Sogen.
It was as if the entire celebration revolved around him.
The younger mercenaries spoke his name with admiration. The veterans spoke it with disbelief. Even those who had witnessed countless battles found themselves recounting his feats again and again, as though they feared the memory would fade if they stopped.
Tonight, he was not merely the hero of the feast.
He had become a story.
A story that would be repeated in taverns, whispered in marketplaces, and carried by travelers throughout the town.
The people of Hamar Town did not know it yet.
The merchants closing their shops, the cultivators training in their courtyards, the nobles resting in their estates—none of them knew that a new name had begun its ascent.
But like a spark falling upon dry grass, news of the Crimson Dust Tree Tournament would spread.
And when it did, countless people would hear of a young cultivator named Sogen.
A nobody today.
A rising star tomorrow.
At the center of it all sat Sogen, beside Khamas.
Yet… he didn't belong to the moment.
While others celebrated, his eyes remained distant, his thoughts elsewhere.
Before his eyes—
A translucent screen flickered.
[System Notification]
Rewards Granted.
80,000 System Coins.
Grade 2 High Grade-:Void Shift Talisman ×3.[ Instantly teleports the user up to 10 Km away.]
That much was expected.
But there was something else.
Something… troublesome.
The moment he had defeated all three opponents, a quest window had appeared.
[Hidden Quest Activated]
Objective: Unite Letinca and Felix.
Sogen nearly scoffed just thinking about it again.
Unite them?
Those two factions were sworn enemies.
A sonit rin already existed between them. The hatred ran deep—too deep.
And yet, the system casually demanded he bring them together.
[Sonit Rin: Blood Fued]
"Ridiculous…" he muttered under his breath.
Still, he couldn't ignore it. The rewards tied to hidden quests were not ordinary.
[1000% Lucky Enhancement Voucher ×1]
[Sword Heart Fragment ×100]
[Unlocking System Daily Roulette.]
[20% Price Reduction Voucher ×2]
[Technique Compression Voucher ×1]
[Master Level Insight Voucher ×1]
[Comprehension Acceleration Voucher ×2]
If he wanted to grow stronger… he had no choice but to consider it seriously, because the rewards are too good to leave.
Which meant—
He needed information.
Sogen turned his head slightly toward Khamas.
"Senior Khamas… there's something I want to ask."
Khamas glanced at him, mildly surprised by the sudden seriousness in his tone.
"Go on."
Sogen's gaze sharpened.
"When you first chose me… why were you so certain?"
He paused for a brief moment before continuing,
"You didn't question my background. You didn't hesitate. It was as if you already knew who I was… or what I was capable of."
This had been bothering him from the beginning.
Back then, he had been too focused on completing his mission to think deeply about it. But now, looking back—
Too many things didn't add up.
Why had Khamas trusted him so easily?
Why had he been so confident that it was Sogen not some hidden old expert?
Khamas chuckled softly, as if he had expected this question.
"It wasn't you I trusted."
"It was Siana."
At the mention of her name, Sogen's eyes flickered slightly.
"You've seen her ability," Khamas said calmly. "She can read simple movements, predict intent… but that's only the surface."
He leaned back slightly, his voice lowering.
"She can also deduce far more—physical traits, weight and movement patterns, which can be used to estimate your biological age
…."
Sogen's expression grew serious.
Khamas went on,
"When we were investigating the Dima Loan Sharks, Siana personally went to observe the aftermath."
"From traces left behind, she analyzed the opponent."
"Weight. Speed. Movement Pattern. Even the aftermath of a white-grade technique."
His eyes locked onto Sogen.
"And from all of that…"
"She concluded that the one who destroyed them—"
"—was young."
A brief silence followed.
"At first," Khamas admitted, "we believed it was the work of an old expert. Someone experienced, someone who had perfected a combination white-grade technique."
"We thought… if we could find that person, they might guide Gale and Siana."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"But in the end…"
"It wasn't some hidden master."
"It was you."
The sounds of celebration continued in the background.
But at that moment—
Sogen felt something shift.
After witnessing how much a mere D-grade talent could infer from a handful of clues, Sogen felt a cold shiver crawl down his spine.
Until now, he had subconsciously regarded talent grades as little more than measures of cultivation speed and combat potential. Yet this incident forced him to confront a terrifying truth.
The cultivation world itself was an anomaly.
On the surface, Hamar Town appeared peaceful—a small settlement struggling to survive at the edge of obscurity. Yet beneath that fragile facade lurked endless conflicts. The Dima Loan Sharks preyed upon the weak, Kristin's faction moved in the shadows, while the Letinca and Felix Mercenary Groups remained locked in years of bloodshed and grudges.
If a mere town hidden in the corner of the world contained so many schemes, disputes, and hidden currents, then what of the places where true power gathered?
What kind of monsters resided there?
What kind of conspiracies were woven by those who stood at the peak of cultivation?
If a remote backwater town like Hamar contained so many hidden currents, then what about the great cities?
What about the ancient sects that had stood for thousands of years?
What about the sacred lands that ruled over countless kingdoms?
How many secrets were buried there?
How many monsters walked among their disciples?
How many terrifying geniuses could see through plots before they were even set in motion?
The more Sogen thought about it, the colder his body became.
The more Sogen thought about it, the heavier his heart became.
In a world where talent could sharpen not only one's cultivation but also one's intellect, perception, and ability to uncover secrets, every genius was a potential anomaly. Every powerhouse was a mystery unto themselves.
Suddenly, the cultivation world no longer appeared as a path toward immortality and glory.
It resembled an endless abyss.
The deeper one ventured, the more bizarre, terrifying, and incomprehensible it became.