Joshua moved through Di with purpose, his newfound strength a silent companion at his side.

  His eyes took in every detail, every whispered conversation, and every furtive glance. The city was a living, breathing entity, and it had secrets to share if one knew how to listen.

  He started in the bustling markets, where information flowed as freely as the coins that changed hands.

  Merchants spoke in hushed tones of the Li clan's growing influence, their eyes darting around nervously as they shared tales of their brutal tactics and unyielding ambition. The air had tension, and the scent of fear was palpable.

  He talked to the old man who sold the best tea leaves, the young girl who had a knack for eavesdropping, and even the stoic guardians of the city gates, who spoke of strange comings and goings in the dead of night.

  Joshua ventured into the shadowy alleys, where the whispers grew louder and the air was thick with the scent of danger. It was here that he found the Information Broker, the place where the most reliable information could be bought for the right price. A hooded figure emerged from the gloom, a twisted smile playing across their face.

  Joshua wearing a mask and underneath it is a realistic silicone face mask as a double in insurance.

  "What does the young master seek?" the broker inquired, their voice a low purr.

  Joshua leaned in, the shadows playing across his mask.

  "I need information on the Li clan," he said, his voice firm.

  "Their movements, their strengths, their weaknesses."

  The Information Broker's smile grew wider.

  "Ah, a man with a quest," they said, stroking their chin.

  "Very well. But information is a valuable commodity. What do you offer in exchange?"

  Joshua reached into his robe, his hand closing around the cold, heavy gold ingots. He pulled out a small pouch and placed it on the makeshift table between them. The gold glinted in the dim light, a silent testament to the seriousness of his intent.

  "I offer you these gold ingots," he said, his voice as unyielding as the metal he offered. "In exchange for the information I seek."

  The Information Broker's eyes glinted greedily as they took in the pile of gold before them. They picked up a single ingot, weighing it in their hand before biting into it. The satisfying clink of teeth on metal echoed through the alley, confirming its authenticity.

  "Very well," they said, their voice a low rumble.

  "The Li clan is indeed growing bolder. They have the ear of the second prince, and their forces are mobilizing. They seek to eliminate any who stand in the way of the prince's rise to power." As he handed a stack of papers.

  Joshua's heart raced as the implications of the broker's words sank in. The Li clan had a patriarch, Li Kuangdi, who was a formidable Master martial artist at Core level. His brother, Li Bingde, operated the Li Blade Master Hall, another Core-level master with a cunning mind and a penchant for strategy. With ten elders at the Refined Qi level and a legion of disciples and family members boasting Innate Qi, their combined might was not to be underestimated.

  The papers he held were detailed and precise, listing the locations of the Li clan's strongholds and the movements of their most dangerous operatives. It was clear that the broker had done their homework.

  The Li clan had indeed infiltrated the very fabric of Sunset Breeze Pass City their tendrils reaching into every corner of the city.

  Joshua knew that he couldn't take on the entire clan alone, not yet. But if he could eliminate their most powerful members, the ones at Core level, he might be able to buy some time for the Tri Body Hall. He studied the map, his eyes lingering on the symbols that marked the locations of the Li clan's core members.

  The first target was Li Bingde, the strategist who operated the Li Blade Master Hall. He was known to be ruthless and cunning, but he also had a penchant for late-night walks, unaccompanied by any guards. It was a risky move, but it presented an opportunity.

  Joshua waited in the shadows, the sniper rifle cradled in his arms like a lover. He had chosen a vantage point that offered a clear shot to the balcony where Li Bingde was said to contemplate his schemes.

  The moon was high, casting a silver light that painted the city in stark contrasts of shadow and illumination.

  The night was still, the only sound the distant murmur of the city's nocturnal life.

  He took a deep breath, feeling the Qi within him resonate with the energy of the weapon. He had to be patient, to wait for the perfect moment. A single misstep could mean not only failure but also discovery, and he couldn't afford either.

  Finally, the figure of Li Bingde appeared on the balcony, his silhouette stark against the flickering candlelight from within.

  Joshua's heart pounded in his chest, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the target. His hand was steady, his mind clear. This was it.

  But as he took aim, a flicker of movement at the corner of his vision caught his attention. He spun, the sniper rifle at the ready, only to find a group of Li clan members emerging from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malice.

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  The Information Broker had played him for a fool, selling his deal with the broker and delivering him right into the enemy's hands.

  Joshua's mind raced as he took in the situation.

  He was outnumbered and his back was to the wall. But he wasn't going down without a fight. He had the power of the crack at his disposal, and he wasn't about to let these thugs take him down.

  He turned his attention back to Li Bingde, who was still smiling, seemingly unfazed by the situation. The rage boiled within him, and without a second thought, he squeezed the trigger. The rifle kicked back into his shoulder, the sound of the shot echoing through the night. The bullet sped through the air like a fiery comet, a silent promise of death.

  Through the scope, he watched as the bullet found its mark. Li Bingde's head exploded in a shower of bone and brain matter, his body crumpling to the ground like a rag doll. The world around him grew still, the only sound the ringing in his ears from the gunshot.

  For a moment, all was silent.

  And then chaos erupted, rain suddenly purring down from the sky as chaos happen in the surrounding area.

  The Li clan members below him scrambled into action, their shouts piercing the night as they realized their leader had been struck down.

  Joshua didn't wait for them to regroup. He leaped into the crack, the swirling energy enveloping him as he teleported away from the scene. The world around him was a blur as he moved through place and went to Terra for a while.

  He emerged from the crack in a quiet alley, the cool night air a stark contrast to the heat of the battle that had just unfolded.

  His hands were steady, but he couldn't ignore the tremble in his legs. He had just taken a life, and no matter how much he had prepared himself, it was never an easy thing to do. But he knew that in the grand scheme of things, it was a necessary sacrifice. The Li clan had left him no choice.

  Joshua leaned against the rough brick wall, his eyes closed, and took deep, calming breaths. The tremble grew less pronounced with each inhale and exhale. He had to focus, had to push aside the doubt and guilt that threatened to overwhelm him. This was the path he had chosen, the burden of his newfound power.

  With renewed resolve, he opened his eyes and stepped back into the crac after hours have pass. The whirlwind of energy engulfed him once again, and he allowed himself to be carried away. He emerged in the bustling streets of Di, the cobblestone pathways gleaming with the recent rain.

  The night was still, the air thick with the scent of wet earth and the distant echoes of the city's heartbeat.

  Joshua had to be careful; the Li clan would be on high alert after the death of Li Bingde. He had to find his next target quickly and strike before they had a chance to regroup.

  He made his way through the shadows, his steps silent and sure, the sniper rifle a comforting weight at his side.

  The rain had stopped, but the night air was still damp and heavy with the scent of wet earth. The cobblestone streets of Di were slick underfoot, reflecting the flickering lights of the lamps that lined the alleyways. The city was a maze of rooftops and hidden passages, a perfect hunting ground for someone with his abilities.

  Joshua moved with the grace of a predator, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of his next target. The Li clan had to be feeling the loss of their Core martial artist, and he knew that he had to capitalize on their disarray. His mind was clear, his purpose unwavering. He would not rest until the threat to the Tri Body Hall had been neutralized.

  As he approached the Li clan's stronghold, the air grew colder, the very essence of the crack seeming to condense around him. He felt the eyes of the city on him, the whispers of his name a constant reminder of his mission. The stronghold loomed ahead, a fortress of power and malice in the heart of Di.

  Joshua climbed the tallest building outside the fortress walls, his Qi-enhanced strength making the ascent feel like a mere stroll.

  At the top, he set up his sniper rifle, the sleek metal gleaming under the moon's watchful eye. He lay prone, the cool, damp roof beneath him, and peered through the scope. The stronghold was a sprawling complex, its walls and towers stark against the night sky.

  He searched the windows and balconies, his eyes peeled for any sign of movement. The patriarch was a shrewd man, likely to be surrounded by guards, but Joshua was counting on the element of surprise.

  His heart thudded in his chest with each beat, the anticipation building like the crescendo of a symphony. His breath was steady, his mind focused solely on the task at hand.

  After what felt like an eternity, he spotted him—Li Kuangdi, the patriarch of the Li clan. He was pacing in a well-lit room, his silhouette stark against the backdrop of flickering candles.

  The man's presence was palpable, even through the crosshairs of the scope. Joshua's hand tightened around the rifle, his finger hovering over the trigger.

  Li Kuangdi was speaking in heated tones to a group of elders, his face a mask of fury as he recounted the events of the evening.

  The room was a study in contrasts: the calm, calculated expressions of the elders versus the rage etched into every line of Kuangdi's face. He pointed an accusatory finger at the sky, as if the very heavens were to blame for the loss of his kin.

  "The one who did this," he spat, his voice thick with emotion, "will pay dearly. They shall taste the full might of the Li clan!" His eyes blazed with a ferocity that seemed to light the candles flickering on the walls.

  The elders nodded solemnly, their own expressions a mix of shock and anger at the audacity of the attack.

  "Do we have information of the man?" Li Kuangdi ask the elders.

  "Only that he was skilled beyond measure and used some sort of sorcery to escape," one of them replied, his voice trembling slightly.

  Li Kuangdi's face grew darker with a sneer.

  "Sorcery, you say?" His eyes narrowed as he strode closer to the window, his silhouette briefly blocking the candlelight.

  "Yes, my Patriarch," the elder responded, his voice low and tremulous.

  "It was as if he could kill a person and summon rain as he disappeared."

  Li Kuangdi's expression grew contemplative as he stared into the night. The whispers of the city were muted by the thick stone walls, yet he could almost feel the ripples of fear spreading through the streets like a living entity. He knew that the death of Li Bingde was a message, a declaration of war from someone who had the audacity to challenge the Li clan openly.

  "It must be the work of a rogue cultivator," he murmured to the elders, his eyes never leaving the window.

  "Someone who seeks to exploit the chaos of the imperial succession to further their own ends."

  With a snap of his fingers, the room filled with the sound of parchment rustling as his men brought forth scrolls filled with the names of known troublemakers and enemies of the Li clan.

  "Find him," Li Kuangdi ordered, his voice echoing through the chamber.

  "I want his head on a spike. A bounty will be placed on the one who calls himself 'The Thunder and Rain'. I want him found and brought to me, dead or alive. Spare no expense, leave no stone unturned."

  The elders nodded fervently, already scribbling orders and dispatching messages. The Li clan's retribution would be swift and brutal.

  And then, without warning, Li Kuangdi's head shattered the inwards splattered and showering the room with blood and flesh.

  A second later, after the patriarch's head erupted in a shower of blood and bone, the force of the explosion sending his body crumpling to the ground.

  The elders' cries of shock and horror pierced the night as the room descended into chaos.