Xu Tian sat cross-legged on the Patriarch's ruined throne, surrounded by scattered treasures he had casually looted from the clan vault.
Piles of spirit stones, pills, weapons, and ancient manuals lay around him like children's toys. He picked up a glowing sword, flicked it, and watched it shatter into dust.
"Low-grade trash. All of it."
The system laughed in his head.
[Host, that was a quasi-spirit weapon. The clan's greatest treasure.]
Xu Tian shrugged.
"I've seen better toothpicks."
He tossed a handful of high-grade spirit stones into the air and juggled them absentmindedly, waiting.
The entire Xu Clan held its breath.
Everyone knew she was coming.
A cold wind swept through the shattered hall doors.
Xu Lingxue stepped inside.
Snow-white robes, long black hair flowing like ink, a slender sword across her back. Her face was beautiful in the way a glacier is beautiful: perfect, untouchable, and deadly.
Early Foundation Establishment realm.
In a backwater clan like this, she was a dragon among worms.
Her icy gaze landed on Xu Tian.
The temperature in the hall dropped sharply.
"Xu Tian," she said, voice calm and clear. "You have one chance to kneel and explain before I cut you down.
"Xu Tian stopped juggling the spirit stones. They clinked to the floor.
He looked her up and down slowly, then smiled the laziest, most infuriating smile imaginable."Ah, the childhood fiancée. Still as pretty as I remember. Cold though. Like a block of ice that thinks it's special."
Xu Lingxue's eyes narrowed.
The watching elders and disciples felt sweat on their backs. No one had ever spoken to the clan's holy daughter like that.
Xu Tian stood up, stretched, and yawned.
"I said earlier I'd give you three seconds to entertain me. Out of generosity, let's make it five."
He spread his arms mockingly.
"Come. Impress me."
Xu Lingxue did not reply with words.
Her figure blurred.
A secret movement technique from the Azure Sword Sect: Phantom Snow Step.
In the eyes of everyone present, she vanished.
Then reappeared directly behind Xu Tian.
Her sword was already drawn, the blade resting lightly against his throat before he could even turn.
Cold steel kissed skin.
The hall went dead silent.
Every elder's jaw dropped.
The untouchable monster… had been caught off guard?
Xu Tian's body froze.
His golden eyes widened a fraction.
A single, genuine thought flashed across his mind.…Huh?
The system's voice exploded in delight.
[Host! Host! You just got sneak-attacked by a little girl! In front of the entire clan! This is going in the permanent records!]
For one glorious second, the proud Xu Tian looked honestly surprised.
Xu Lingxue's voice rang coldly behind him.
"Time's up. Any last words?"
Then she felt it.
Her sword… would not press forward.
No matter how much spiritual power she poured in, the blade refused to cut even a hair.
Xu Tian slowly turned his head, the sword still against his neck.He looked at her over his shoulder.
The surprise was already gone.
In its place was a wide, manic grin that sent chills down everyone's spines.
"Oh my. You actually made contact."
His voice was soft, almost affectionate.
"That tickled."
Crack.
The sword blade shattered into countless fragments, falling like snow.
Xu Lingxue's expression finally changed. She leaped back instantly, sword hilt still in hand, eyes wary.
Xu Tian turned fully to face her.
He scratched his neck where the broken blade had touched.
A tiny red mark was there.
It faded in less than a second.
But it had been there.
He stared at the spot, then started laughing.
Soft at first.
Then louder.
A low, rolling laugh that echoed through the hall like distant thunder.
Everyone felt their hearts stop.
The elders backed away unconsciously.
Xu Lingxue gripped her broken sword tighter.
Xu Tian wiped a fake tear from his eye.
"Zero point three seconds. A new personal record."
He took one step forward.
The entire Patriarch Hall trembled.
Spiritual pressure poured out of him like an ocean, not directed, just leaking.
Xu Lingxue's knees buckled.
She slammed into the ground, one knee down, teeth gritted, desperately resisting.
The watching clan members all dropped flat, faces pressed to the floor.
Xu Tian walked forward slowly until he stood over her.
He crouched down to eye level.
His golden eyes gleamed with mad delight.
"You're fun."
He reached out and patted her head like one might pat a puppy.
Xu Lingxue's face flushed red with humiliation and fury.
Xu Tian stood up, still grinning.
"Tell you what. Because you made me feel something for the first time today…"
He flicked his finger.
A small jade bottle flew into her hand.
Inside was a single crimson pill that radiated terrifying spiritual energy."
Eat that and you might survive the next time we play."
He turned away, already losing interest.
"Also, the betrothal is officially back on. I've decided you're mildly entertaining."
Xu Lingxue crushed the bottle in her fist, but did not throw it away.
Xu Tian walked toward the exit, humming again.
Behind him, the system spoke with open amusement.
[Host, you let her cut you on purpose, didn't you?]
Xu Tian's grin widened.
"Maybe."
He paused at the doors and glanced back at the kneeling clan.
"Oh, and clean up the mess. I'll be napping on the sacred mountain for a bit."
Then he looked directly at Xu Lingxue.
"Try to get stronger, fiancée. Next time, aim for one full second."
He vanished in a flicker.
The pressure lifted.
The entire clan remained on the ground for a long time.
Xu Lingxue stared at the intact crimson pill in her palm.
Her hand trembled.
Not from fear.
From pure, burning rage.
And somewhere deep inside, a tiny spark of something else.
Far away, Xu Tian lay on the clan's sacred spirit peak, hands behind his head, staring at the clouds.
The tiny red mark on his neck was long gone.
He chuckled to himself.
"Finally."
The system asked curiously.
[Finally what, Host?]
Xu Tian closed his eyes, smile fading into genuine contentment.
"Something interesting happened."
High above, storm clouds began to gather over Linxu City.
The Azure Sword Sect's recruitment airship was arriving ahead of schedule.
And rumors of a monster in the Xu Clan were already spreading