The morning calm was shattered.
The servant's report still lingered in the air like the echo of a blade striking stone.
A young swordsman.
One strike.
The Zhao Clan's young master was defeated in public.
Lin Tianyu did not need the system to tell him who it was.
Xiao Feng had begun moving.
And that meant fate itself had started accelerating.
Mu Xue'er stood beside him on the balcony, her icy blue eyes narrowed as she looked toward the distant heart of Azure Cloud City.
"The Zhao Clan's young master is at the late Foundation Establishment Realm," she said softly. "Defeating him in one strike is no small feat."
Lin Tianyu gave a faint nod.
"Yes."
But inside, his thoughts were far deeper.
The Son of Heaven has begun his rise.
That first public victory was never just about strength.
It was about momentum.
Reputation.
The beginning of the legend.
Every cultivation protagonist started like this.
A public humiliation.
A defeated, arrogant young master.
A crowd left speechless.
A rising name.
The system suddenly flashed before his eyes.
[Ding!]
[Fate Flow Acceleration Detected]
A golden screen unfolded.
[Son of Heaven: Xiao Feng]
[Current Momentum]: Rising
[Reputation]: +120
[Luck Value]: 980 → 1000
[Primary Fate Opportunity unlocking in 5 days]
Lin Tianyu's expression darkened slightly.
So his luck had increased after the public battle.
As expected.
This world itself was feeding him fortune.
Mu Xue'er noticed the slight shift in his expression.
"What are you thinking?"
Lin Tianyu turned to her.
"Tell me everything you know about Xiao Feng."
Her eyes flickered with surprise.
But she answered immediately.
"He entered the Azure Sword Sect three years ago."
She folded her arms lightly, her silver hair dancing in the breeze.
"At first, he was nothing special. Average talent. Poor background. No clan support."
Classic.
Lin Tianyu almost laughed inwardly.
The most dangerous kind.
The underestimated protagonist.
Mu Xue'er continued.
"But in the past six months, he has risen rapidly."
"One breakthrough after another."
"One victory after another."
Her voice turned colder.
"Some even say fate itself favours him."
Lin Tianyu's smile slowly deepened.
That is because it does.
But not for long.
The system suddenly chimed again.
[Ding!]
[Future Opportunity Analysis unlocked.]
A golden compass-like interface appeared.
Lines of light spread across the city map.
Then one line glowed bright crimson.
A location.
Northwest mountains.
Outside Azure Cloud City.
Lin Tianyu's eyes sharpened.
The system panel expanded.
Writing
[Future Opportunity Revealed]
Location: Black Moon Ridge
Event: Ancient Sword Tomb
Unlock Time: 5 Days
Destined Owner: Xiao Feng
Value: Heaven-grade inheritance
Possible Rewards:
Sword Intent SeedHeaven Sword Scripture Saint-grade weapon Hidden remnant soul inheritance
Lin Tianyu's heartbeat quickened.
This was huge.
A protagonist-defining inheritance.
Something that could push Xiao Feng from a rising genius into a true monster.
And now—
It had been revealed to him first.
Mu Xue'er noticed his gaze fixed on space.
Though she could not see the system, her instincts were sharp enough to sense something significant.
"You found something."
It was not a question.
Lin Tianyu turned toward her.
"Yes."
His voice was calm.
"A secret inheritance."
Her blue eyes widened slightly.
"Where?"
He pointed toward the distant mountain range.
"Black Moon Ridge."
The moment he spoke the name, her expression changed.
"That place…"
She frowned.
"It is dangerous."
"Many cultivators enter."
"Few return."
Lin Tianyu nodded.
All the better.
Danger was where fate loved to hide opportunities.
And where chosen sons usually thrived.
But this time—
The patriarch would arrive first.
The system flashed once more.
[Secondary Fate Line Detected]
Another golden line emerged from the inheritance point.
This one led to a different location.
A small village near the outer city.
The panel has been updated.
Writing
[Future Ally Opportunity]
Target: Elder Han
Current Status: Hidden in Azure Cloud City outskirts
Future Fate: Saved by Xiao Feng after a poison attack
Loyalty Potential: Extremely High
Interception Success Rate: 87%
Lin Tianyu's eyes gleamed.
This was even better.
Not just inheritance.
A future ally.
An elder powerful enough to become Xiao Feng's sword mentor.
If he stole Elder Han before Xiao Feng reached him—
The protagonist's future path would be cut in half.
Mu Xue'er watched the faint smile on his lips.
For the first time, a chill ran down her spine.
This was not the smile of a clan patriarch protecting his family.
This was the smile of a hunter who had just found his prey's trail.
"Are you going after it?"
Lin Tianyu looked toward the mountains.
"Yes."
His voice was steady.
"I will personally claim the inheritance."
A brief pause.
"And perhaps something else."
Mu Xue'er understood immediately.
Xiao Feng.
This was not simply about treasure.
This was a move against fate itself.
She took a step closer.
"Then I'm coming with you."
Lin Tianyu looked at her.
"You just advanced last night."
Her expression remained cold and firm.
"My cultivation is stable."
Then, softer—
"And I am your wife now."
The words landed with unexpected warmth.
For a moment, Lin Tianyu simply looked at her.
Then he nodded.
"Good."
If Xiao Feng was the Son of Heaven—
Then Mu Xue'er was now the first woman fate had lost to him.
The first fracture in heaven's script.
And soon—
The inheritance would be the second.
Far away, in the central square of Azure Cloud City—
A young man in grey robes sheathed his sword.
Xiao Feng.
His lips curved slightly as the defeated young Zhao master lay unconscious on the ground.
The crowd whispered his name.
Admiration.
Shock.
Fear.
His legend had begun.
But above the city walls, dark clouds slowly gathered over Black Moon Ridge.
The first battle for destiny was approaching.