---
Inside Ye Tian's Chambers.
Ye Tian sat in his room, deep in thought.
His golden finger, a mysterious black ring, pulsed with energy.
A moment later, a beautiful woman materialized before him.
She had long black-gold hair, her eyes shimmering with a profound light that once held unquestionable authority.
But now, her expression was tense, her divine aura faintly trembling—something Ye Tian had never seen before.
"Master, what's wrong?" Ye Tian frowned.
The woman took a deep breath, hesitating before speaking.
"Ye Tian… tell me you are not going to provoke him."
Ye Tian's brows furrowed. "Him? Who?"
Her golden eyes darkened.
"Ling Tianxiao."
A moment of silence.
Then—
Ye Tian laughed.
"So even you fear him?" His voice was filled with disbelief.
His master, the supreme-level cultivator who had guided him, who always spoke of defying fate—was scared?
But his laughter died when he saw her expression.
She wasn't merely afraid.
She was submissive.
Her body language, her tone—it was as if she was standing before her ruler.
Ye Tian's fists clenched.
"Why? Aren't you a former Supreme? Didn't you tell me that no one in this realm is worthy of my fear?"
The woman bit her lip, struggling with herself before she spoke.
"I did. But that was before I realized who he truly is."
She lowered her head, her voice almost pleading.
"Ye Tian… he is the Heir of the Ancient Dragon Clan."
The moment she said those words, a strange pressure filled the room.
Ye Tian's body stiffened.
His master… was lowering her head in front of someone she had never even met?
This was wrong.
This was impossible.
He gritted his teeth. "So what if he's from the Ancient Dragon Clan? This is the Lower Realm!"
The woman's shoulders trembled, and she shook her head.
"You don't understand…" she whispered.
Her fingers tightened as she continued.
"Even though he is suppressed, even though he is only in the Nascent Soul Realm… he is not normal."
She stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper.
"If he learns of my existence… I must submit to him."
Ye Tian froze.
"What?!"
His master's expression was pained.
"My soul is bound by the bloodline of the Ancient Dragon Clan. He is the rightful heir, and I am merely a remnant of the past. If he commands me, I cannot resist."
She took a shaky breath, her voice trembling.
"I… I would have no choice but to serve him. To obey him. Even if I wished to help you… I couldn't go against his will."
Ye Tian's mind went blank.
He had always believed his golden finger was his greatest advantage.
His strongest trump card.
But now?
Now he was being told that the moment Ling Tianxiao saw her, his greatest golden finger would become useless?
More than useless—she would betray him.
Ye Tian's hands shook with frustration.
"Master… you're saying that if he orders you to serve him, you will willingly abandon me?"
Her body flinched at the accusation.
"I…"
She opened her mouth but couldn't deny it.
The silence was deafening.
For the first time in his life, Ye Tian felt powerless.
This wasn't just about strength.
This was bloodline suppression.
An absolute, inescapable rule set by the very foundation of their cultivation world.
And he was on the losing side.
Ye Tian's breathing turned ragged.
His pride refused to accept this.
"I won't let that happen," he muttered, his voice filled with obsession.
His master's golden eyes flashed with sadness.
"Then you are already walking toward your own destruction."
With those final words, her figure faded back into the ring, leaving Ye Tian alone.
His heart burned with defiance.
His master's fear only fueled his hatred.
Even if Ling Tianxiao was above him now…
That would change.
One day, he would crush that arrogant young master.
And when that day came—
He would take everything from him.
Even his so-called fate.
---
At the same time, Liuxian Xue sat in quiet
meditation, yet her heart was anything but calm.
Her entire being felt different ever since she had walked beside Ling Tianxiao.
Her spiritual energy, once pure and untouchable, felt as if it were being refined even further, evolving into something beyond her understanding.
And then there was her body—
She clenched her hands.
Why does it feel like I'm becoming more… sensitive to him?
For years, she had remained indifferent to all men, immune to desires and emotions, yet something about Tianxiao shattered that balance.
She had seen countless arrogant geniuses, countless so-called prodigies who thought they were untouchable.
Yet this man…
His confidence wasn't arrogance.
His presence wasn't forced.
And worst of all—her own heart was betraying her.
She bit her lip.
No, it's just an illusion.
As the Saintess of Azure Sky Sect, she had a responsibility to remain above emotions.
Yet, deep inside, she couldn't deny it anymore—
A part of her was already drawn to him.
The next day, a grand gathering was held in the Azure Sky Sect's main hall.
Disciples, elders, and even the Sect Master himself gathered as Ling Tianxiao took a seat at the center.
Liuxian Xue stood beside him, as per her role to accompany him.
Yet the air in the hall was tense.
Especially because Ye Tian stood up.
His voice rang out, filled with righteous indignation.
"Young Master Ling, I have heard much about your background and prestige."
Tianxiao raised an eyebrow, leaning lazily on his chair.
"And?"
Ye Tian's eyes flashed with cold intent.
"As a guest, would you honor me with a friendly spar?"
The hall fell into silence.
This wasn't a simple challenge.
It was an indirect test of Ling Tianxiao's strength.
The inner disciples watched with anticipation.
Would the prodigy of the sect defeat this outsider and prove that talent from the Lower Realm was not to be underestimated?
Or… would something far worse happen?
Liuxian Xue's expression darkened.
Idiot.
She didn't know why, but every fiber of her being screamed that this was a terrible idea.
Yet before she could interfere, Tianxiao smiled.
"Fine."
Ye Tian's heart burned with triumph.
This is my chance!
He would humiliate this so-called Young Master in front of everyone, restoring his status in the sect!
But what he didn't realize was—
He had just taken his first step toward death.