The grand arena of the Azure Sky Sect was filled with spectators. The news had spread fast—Ye Tian, an inner disciple, had challenged Ling Tianxiao, the honored guest of the sect.
It was foolish. Beyond foolish.
But Ye Tian stood defiant, his eyes burning with ambition.
His ring, the mysterious artifact housing a remnant soul, pulsed with golden light, feeding him guidance and techniques.
"Ye Tian, do not be reckless," his master's voice whispered in his mind. "That man… is not someone you can fight."
But Ye Tian refused to listen.
The sect disciples whispered amongst themselves.
"Does Ye Tian truly think he can fight Young Master Ling?"
"He's insane! Even our Sect Elders wouldn't dare challenge him!"
Yet, Ye Tian stood firm, his eyes locked on Ling Tianxiao, who remained calm, indifferent, and utterly unbothered.
The Moment of Truth
Ye Tian gripped his sword, his Qi surging. His golden ring gleamed as his master forcefully boosted his energy, bringing him to the Nascent Soul realm for a brief moment.
"I will not kneel!"
With a roar, Ye Tian charged forward, his sword slashing down with all his might.
The attack carried the power of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, the very limit of what the Lower Realm could contain.
The air split apart, the force of his attack shaking the arena.
The disciples gasped—perhaps, just maybe, Ye Tian could push Ling Tianxiao to move.
Yet—
Tianxiao did not move.
He did not draw a weapon.
He did not raise a hand.
He merely… breathed.
And then—
BOOM!
A single pulse of his aura exploded outward.
Not an attack.
Not a technique.
Just his existence.
Ye Tian's sword stopped mid-air.
His body froze.
His entire being was locked in place, his knees trembling as an invisible pressure bore down upon him.
"Ah—!"
With a sickening crack, his knees gave out.
He collapsed, his forehead slamming into the stone ground, his body trembling like an insect before a dragon.
The crowd fell silent.
No one moved.
Even the elders watched in stunned horror.
Tianxiao finally spoke, his voice calm, yet filled with an undeniable weight:
"Kneel."
And Ye Tian could not resist.
Even his master—the once-proud expert of the Ancient Dragon Clan—was silent in fear.
Tianxiao's golden eyes glowed coldly as he looked down upon the so-called "protagonist."
"You are unworthy."
The humiliation was absolute.
Ye Tian, the supposed "chosen one," was now a worthless insect beneath his gaze.
The Sect Master, unable to let this disgrace continue, spoke in a grave tone:
"Ye Tian. You have insulted our esteemed guest. For this, you shall be imprisoned."
Ye Tian's eyes widened in disbelief.
"No—Sect Master, I—!"
"Take him away."
The guards moved swiftly, grabbing Ye Tian by the arms and dragging his broken form away.
His mind was numb, his pride shattered, and worst of all—
His master had said nothing.
The so-called "golden finger" that should have made him invincible… had fallen completely silent before Ling Tianxiao.
As he was dragged to the sect's underground prison, only one thought remained in Ye Tian's mind.
"How… how could I lose like this?!"
As Ye Tian was dragged away, Ling Tianxiao suddenly felt a strange ripple in the air.
A golden glow flickered before his eyes, unseen by anyone else.
Then, a cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
---
[Ding! You have plundered a portion of "Ye Tian's Fate."]
Luck Drain: -500 Fate Points from Ye Tian
Protagonist Halo Weakening: 3% Decrease
Accumulated Fate Points: +500
[New Quest Unlocked: The Death of the False Dragon]
Objective: Eliminate Ye Tian completely.
Reward: Chaos Forbidden Yin-Yang Body, Partial Unlock of Immortal Dao Body & Sword Heart.
---
Tianxiao's lips curled slightly.
"So, it begins."
The so-called "protagonist" had already begun to lose his fate.
Soon, Ye Tian would have nothing left.
---
Ye Tian's Status Window
Inside the sect prison, Ye Tian lay in chains, his body still trembling from the weight of Ling Tianxiao's aura.
He gasped for breath, sweat drenching his robes.
Desperation filled his eyes.
Then—his golden ring pulsed weakly, and a translucent screen appeared before him.
---
[Ye Tian – Status Window]
Title: Inner Disciple of Azure Sky Sect
Race: Human
Cultivation: Nascent Soul (Artificial Boost – Failing)
Bloodline: Ancient Dragon Clan (Weakened – Suppressed by a Higher Bloodline)
Fate Value: 4500 → 4000 (-500)
Golden Finger: Supreme Dragon Master (Severely Weakened)
[Status Effects:]
Protagonist Halo: 97% Remaining (Decreasing)
Soul Suppression: Unable to Resist Higher Bloodlines
Weakened Luck: Less Likely to Encounter Fortuitous Encounters
---
Ye Tian's face turned pale.
"No… No, this can't be happening!"
He had always felt lucky, always had things fall into place for him.
Now, that luck was draining away.
And worse—his master, the mighty soul in the ring, remained silent, as if afraid.
"Master! Say something!"
After a long pause, a cold voice finally spoke.
"…You are in danger, Ye Tian. That man is not someone you can fight."
For the first time, Ye Tian felt true fear.