The rain of Haizhou was a distant memory, replaced by the oppressive heat of a crimson sky. Wei Chen stood on a balcony overlooking the Crimson Phoenix Dynasty, a sprawling city of lacquered pagodas and jade-tiled roofs, nestled in the shadow of a volcano that pulsed like a living heart. The air carried the scent of sandalwood and molten stone, and the streets below teemed with silk-robed nobles and armored guards, their movements precise, as if choreographed by an unseen hand. Wei Chen's obsidian robe, now adorned with silver lotuses, clung to his sweat-slicked skin, and the guandao in his hand felt heavier, its blade humming with dark qi.
He wasn't ready for this. The memory of pinning Luo Yan in the Shattered Jade Empire still lingered—her defiant eyes, her fleeting doubt. He'd stabilized that world, but at what cost? The Ebon Star Mandate burned in his chest, a restless force that whispered of power and ruin. The Cosmic System's interface flickered in his vision, unyielding:
World 2: Crimson Phoenix Dynasty:
. Role: Betrayer of the Dragon Throne
. Objective: Overthrow the Phoenix Emperor to stabilize the narrative.
. System Status: Active. Power Level: Mortal (Tier 1.5).
. Skills: Nether Lotus Strike (Tier 1), Ebon Lotus Aura (Passive, +10% qi regeneration).
. Ebon Star Mandate: Dormant (7% awakened). Risk: Uncontrolled activation may destabilize the world.
. Celestial Trial Imminent: Defeat the Phoenix Guard to cement your betrayal.
"Betrayer," Wei Chen muttered, gripping the balcony's jade railing. "First a Demon Lord, now this. What's next, burning down the heavens?"
The system pinged, unhelpfully: Narrative Stability: 60%. Initiate betrayal within 200 breaths to prevent collapse.
He cursed under his breath. The Crimson Phoenix Dynasty was breathtaking, its architecture a blend of mortal grandeur and celestial mystique, with phoenix statues perched on every rooftop, their eyes glowing like embers. But the system's timer was a noose tightening around his neck. He didn't even know who the Phoenix Emperor was, let alone how to overthrow him. And the Mandate—that chaotic star in his soul—felt like a volcano ready to erupt.
A shadow moved behind him, and Wei Chen spun, guandao raised. A figure stood in the doorway of the balcony—a woman in armor of crimson and gold, her hair bound in a high knot, a dao sword at her hip. Her eyes were sharp as jade, and her qi radiated like a furnace, marking her as a cultivator far beyond his Tier 1.5.
"You're bold to stand so openly, Betrayer," she said, her voice low but laced with steel. "I am Feng Liyue, Captain of the Phoenix Guard. Surrender, or I'll carve your heart out before you can sully the Dragon Throne."
Wei Chen's heart sank. Another hero, another fight he wasn't ready for. The system flashed:
Celestial Trial Initiated:
Opponent: Feng Liyue, Captain of the Phoenix Guard (Tier 4)
Victory Condition: Defeat or Subdue
Failure Condition: Death or Narrative Collapse
Warning: Narrative stability at 55%. Mandate instability rising.
"Fantastic," Wei Chen said, forcing a grin. "I don't suppose we could talk this out over tea?"
Feng Liyue's dao flashed, and a wave of crimson qi—shaped like a phoenix's wing—slashed toward him. Wei Chen dove, the attack shattering the balcony's railing into jade shards. He rolled to his feet, the system guiding his movements: Dodge left. Counter with Nether Lotus Strike.
He swung the guandao, unleashing a storm of black lotus petals. Feng Liyue deflected with a burst of fiery qi, but the petals grazed her armor, leaving scorch marks. She narrowed her eyes, reassessing him.
"A mortal with such qi?" she said. "What are you?"
"Just a guy trying not to die," Wei Chen snapped, dodging another slash. The Mandate's heat surged, and for a moment, the world flickered, as if reality itself was bending. He clenched his jaw, forcing it down. "Not now, you cosmic bomb."
The fight spilled into the palace courtyard, where lotus ponds reflected the crimson sky. Feng Liyue was relentless, her dao weaving flames that scorched the air. Wei Chen was outmatched—her qi was a blazing sun to his flickering candle—but the system's prompts kept him alive, highlighting her patterns: a slight pause after each phoenix strike, a tendency to favor her right side. His Ebon Lotus Aura pulsed, regenerating his qi just enough to keep swinging.
"You dare challenge the Phoenix Emperor's will?" Feng Liyue shouted, her dao igniting in a blaze of fire. "You'll burn for this treachery!"
"I don't even know the guy!" Wei Chen yelled, parrying with a burst of dark qi. The Mandate flared again, and a shadow pulsed from his guandao, cracking the courtyard's stones. The crowd of onlookers—nobles and guards—gasped, their murmurs shifting the narrative's weight.
System Notification: New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Lotus Barrage (Tier 2). Channel Mandate to unleash multi-strike dark qi.
Warning: Mandate awakening at 10%. Control required.
Wei Chen gritted his teeth. The Mandate was like a wild beast, tempting him to unleash it fully, but Tian Zhi's warning echoed: It could destroy everything. He focused on the system, letting it guide his strikes. A barrage of dark lotuses erupted, forcing Feng Liyue to raise a fiery shield. The impact staggered her, and Wei Chen saw his chance.
"I'm sorry," he said, lunging. He didn't aim to kill—only to end the fight. His guandao hooked her dao, twisting it from her grasp, and he tackled her into the lotus pond. Water splashed, and he pinned her, the blade at her throat.
"Yield," he said, panting. "I don't want to hurt you."
Feng Liyue's eyes blazed, but her struggle faltered. "You… spared me," she said, confusion softening her voice. "Why?"
"Because I'm not the monster you think," Wei Chen said. "This world's collapsing, and I'm the only one who can stop it."
The system chimed: Celestial Trial Complete. Feng Liyue Subdued. Narrative Stability Restored: 78%.
The courtyard faded, and Wei Chen was back in Haizhou's alley, rain soaking him once more. The Mandate's heat simmered, quieter now, but its presence was a constant weight. Tian Zhi appeared, her crimson robes untouched by the rain.
"You grow bolder," she said, her veiled face unreadable. "But the Mandate stirs. Control it, or it will control you."
Wei Chen wiped rain from his face, glaring. "And what about the people I'm fighting? Luo Yan, Feng Liyue—they're not my enemies. Why am I forced to hurt them?"
Tian Zhi's eyes gleamed. "The narrative demands conflict. But how you shape it is your burden. The next world will test you further."
The system flashed:
Power Level Increased: Mortal (Tier 2). New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Lotus Barrage (Tier 2). Ebon Lotus Aura upgraded: +15% qi regeneration.
Mandate Status: Dormant (10% awakened).
Next World: Starlit Abyss (Sci-Fi). Role: Void Tyrant.
Wei Chen's heart raced. Feng Liyue's confused eyes lingered in his mind, joining Luo Yan's doubtful gaze. He was still weak, but the Mandate's power—and the connections he was forming—hinted at a path he could forge. If he could survive the chaos within.