That night, as he trained near a frozen lake, a ripple disturbed the snow.
Then came a whisper.
> "Sovereign Child…"
Lu Fan spun—and barely dodged a blade made of liquid shadow. The attacker wore robes bearing the Three-Eyed Serpent, but his face was masked by bone.
A Void Reaper, the Temple's elite assassins.
> "The Grand Bishop sends regrets. You live too long."
The fight erupted in silence.
Lu Fan used Mirror Flow Steps, ducking under slashes that tore trees in half. He countered with Crimson Lotus Flame, forcing the assassin back—but the man was too fast, his strikes designed to erase Qi entirely.
But Lu Fan's concealment skill saved him. He faded out of the man's detection range, struck from behind with Nine Shadows Break, and incinerated the assassin's mask with Celestial Palm – Flame Spiral Variant.
The man staggered—and smiled.
> "Too late. The Temple has marked you."
Then he self-detonated.
Lu Fan stood in the ashes, wounded and shaken.
For the first time, he realized the Temple didn't fear him.
They feared what he might become.