Morning arrived with a silver glow.
Soft sunlight slipped through the paper windows of the bridal chamber, falling across crimson silk curtains and the scattered frost patterns still lingering on the polished jade floor.
The air itself felt different.
Denser.
Sharper.
Filled with spiritual energy.
Lin Tianyu slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he remained still, feeling the flow of power inside his body.
His meridians pulsed like rivers of molten gold.
The Nascent Soul within his dantian sat cross-legged in a radiant lotus of spiritual qi, far more stable and powerful than the night before.
A slow breath left his lips.
Nascent Soul Fourth Layer.
The breakthrough was real.
The system rewards had not only healed the fatal injury from last night but had also pushed his cultivation even higher.
His gaze shifted to the side.
Mu Xue'er was still asleep.
Her silver hair spread across the pillow like moonlit silk, and even in sleep, a faint frost aura drifted around her body.
Lin Tianyu's expression softened.
The cold and distant Moon Frost Fairy from last night now seemed far more peaceful.
The system suddenly chimed.
[Ding!]
[Daily Reward Unlocked]
[Reward: Spirit Gathering Pill x1]
Interesting.
So there were daily rewards too.
That would be useful.
He quietly rose from the bed and moved toward the balcony.
The Lin Clan estate stretched before him.
Towering pagodas.
Training grounds.
Lotus ponds.
Elder halls.
Servants were already moving about the courtyards below.
But the moment he stepped outside—
The system panel exploded in crimson light.
[Ding!]
[High-Priority Fate Target Detected]
Lin Tianyu's eyes sharpened.
A golden panel unfolded before him.
[Target]: Xiao Feng
[Title]: Son of Heaven
[Destiny Rank]: Gold
[Current Realm]: Foundation Establishment – Peak
[Luck Value]: 950
[Threat Level]: High
[Fated Opportunities Nearby]: 3
Lin Tianyu narrowed his eyes.
So the chosen son had finally appeared.
The name itself sounded like it had walked straight out of a cultivation novel.
Classic.
A poor genius.
Likely underestimated by others.
Hidden talent.
Hidden master.
Fortuitous encounters.
The original "main character" of this world.
A slow smile formed on Lin Tianyu's lips.
Perfect.
He had no intention of letting such a person grow uncontested.
The system chimed again.
[Fate Vision Activated]
Suddenly, images flashed through his mind.
A young man in simple grey robes.
Sharp eyes.
Cold expression.
A sword strapped to his back.
Behind him stood a translucent old man's spirit.
An ancient soul.
Lin Tianyu's pupils contracted.
A cheat within a cheat.
So Xiao Feng already had the standard protagonist package.
Hidden master.
Sword talent.
And likely heaven-defying luck.
The vision continued.
A cave.
An ancient sword tomb.
A silver-haired woman in danger.
A crippled elder kneeling in gratitude.
Then—
Everything shattered.
The system panel flashed urgently.
Writing
[Primary Fate Event Detect] ed]
Event: Ancient Sword Tomb inheritance
Time Remaining: 7 days
Future Owner: Xiao Feng
Reward Value: Extremely High
Lin Tianyu's heartbeat quickened.
There it was.
The first major opportunity.
An inheritance.
A protagonist-defining event.
If Xiao Feng obtained it, his rise would become much faster.
But now—
The system had revealed it first.
Excellent.
Very excellent.
Behind him, a soft voice spoke.
"You're awake early."
Lin Tianyu turned.
Mu Xue'er stood at the doorway.
Her silver hair fell over a pale blue inner robe, and the cold elegance in her face had returned, though now there was a subtle warmth in her eyes when she looked at him.
Her cultivation aura was clearly stronger than yesterday.
Core Formation Eighth Layer.
The dual cultivation had truly benefited both of them.
Lin Tianyu smiled faintly.
"The morning is peaceful."
Mu Xue'er stepped beside him and looked out over the estate.
Then her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Something is troubling you."
Sharp.
Very sharp.
No wonder she was considered one of Azure Cloud City's geniuses.
Lin Tianyu decided not to hide it completely.
"A certain young man has entered the city."
Mu Xue'er glanced at him.
"An enemy?"
Lin Tianyu's eyes deepened.
"Not yet."
A brief pause.
"But he may become one."
Her expression turned serious.
"Do you know who it is?"
Lin Tianyu looked into the distance.
"Xiao Feng."
The moment he said the name, Mu Xue'er's expression changed.
Recognition.
"Outer disciple of Azure Sword Sect?"
Interesting.
So she knew of him.
Lin Tianyu turned toward her.
"You know him?"
Mu Xue'er nodded slightly.
"He has been making a name for himself recently. They say he defeated three inner disciples despite being only a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Her eyes sharpened.
"There are even rumours that Elder Han of the Sword Sect is interested in him."
Lin Tianyu's smile slowly deepened.
Perfect.
The future ally had already entered the story.
The system flashed again.
[Secondary Fate Event Detected]
Writing
[Future Ally]: Elder Han
[Destined Loyalty]: Xiao Feng
[Interception Possible]: Yes
This was better than expected.
Not only the inheritance.
Even the future ally could be stolen.
Lin Tianyu turned inwardly calm.
This was the core of his path.
Steal the opportunities.
Steal the allies.
Steal the destiny.
Before the Son of Heaven could rise.
Mu Xue'er studied his expression.
Then she said quietly,
"You're planning something."
Lin Tianyu smiled.
"I am planning many things."
The two stood in silence for a moment.
Then a servant rushed into the courtyard below.
"Patriarch!"
The servant knelt immediately.
"There is an urgent report from the city market!"
Lin Tianyu's gaze sharpened.
"Speak."
The servant lowered his head.
"A young swordsman fought the Zhao Clan's young master in the central square this morning."
He swallowed nervously.
"The young master Zhao lost in one strike."
Lin Tianyu's eyes flashed.
Xiao Feng.
The protagonist had officially entered the stage.
And from this moment—
Their conflict had begun.