Chapter One: Destiny.
Qingzhou, Ye Clan.
"Eight hundred?"
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth stared at Zhao Xiu, the steward of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, and said calmly, "Steward Zhao Xiu, Young Master Yang Jia has planned the demolition of the 'New City,' and our Ye Clan is more than willing to cooperate. However, based on the market rates nearby, our ancestral land is worth at least fifty thousand spirit crystals—yet you're only offering eight hundred..."
He paused before continuing, "Steward Zhao Xiu, back then, your Zhao Clan was nearly wiped out by the Qin Clan. It was our Ye Clan who stepped in to protect you, allowing your family to survive. And now, you repay old kindness with such ingratitude? Is this how you treat us?"
Zhao Xiu laughed. "Ye Tianming, let me be straightforward. I heard you secured a special admission quota to the Guanxuan Academy. My Zhao Clan wants that spot too. How about this—help my family just one more time?"
Behind Zhao Xiu, four guards from the Immortal Treasure Pavilion rested their hands on their sword hilts, leering mockingly at Ye Tianming.
Ye Tianming looked at Zhao Xiu. "Steward Zhao, treating people like this is a bit too much."
Zhao Xiu leaned back in his chair, glancing sideways at Ye Tianming. "Then what are you going to do about it? Huh? Come on, do me!"
He was clearly trying to provoke him.
The Immortal Treasure Pavilion was one of the two supreme powers in the Guanxuan Universe, a legitimate authority.
In Qingzhou, defying the authorities was a grave crime.
Seeing Ye Tianming remain silent, Zhao Xiu suddenly stood up, resting his hands on the table as he loomed over him. "Too scared?"
He laughed, lightly patting the official uniform he wore. "Of course you are. Not only have I become a steward of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, representing the authority, but our Zhao Clan's genius prodigy, Zhao Yu, has also joined the Guanxuan Academy in Qingzhou. Oh, and did you know? Zhao Yu has already been taken as a direct disciple by a powerful elder in the academy's inner sect. He..."
Suddenly.
Ye Tianming, who had been sitting, shot to his feet. Before Zhao Xiu could react, a sword pierced straight through his throat.
Shhhk!
Blood sprayed like a fountain.
Boom!
The grand hall's doors burst open as dozens of Ye Clan warriors stormed in, immediately targeting the four Immortal Treasure Pavilion guards. In moments, the guards were hacked to death under a flurry of blades.
Zhao Xiu, still barely alive, clutched his throat, staring at Ye Tianming in disbelief. "You're actually at the True Law Realm? Your Ye Clan is staging a rebellion!"
Ye Tianming yanked his sword out, then drove it savagely into Zhao Xiu's abdomen, twisting it viciously. "Bastard, wasn't it youwho begged me to do you? Well, I'll damn wellfinish the job!"
At that moment, a young man walked in—around seventeen, handsome and dignified.
Ye Nan, the Ye Clan's heir and Ye Tianming's elder brother.
Without a word, Ye Nan beheaded Zhao Xiu with a single slash, then efficiently collected the storage rings from the corpses.
He turned to a bloodthirsty-looking youth nearby. "Ye Zong, take these bodies, grind them into powder with a millstone, and scatter them in the Zhao Clan's well tonight... Remember, no poison. Our Ye Clan is an honorable house—we don't stoop to such vile acts."
The youth, Ye Zong, grinned widely, clenching his fists. "Big Brother, no need for a millstone. I prefer using my fists. Let me pound them into meat paste..."
With that, he excitedly dragged the five corpses out.
The other Ye Clan members busied themselves, moving tables and cleaning the floor, efficiently erasing the scene of carnage.
Ye Nan turned to Ye Tianming, tossing him the storage rings. "The Zhao Clan won't let this slide. They'll retaliate—especially Zhao Yu. This is all because of him. He couldn't stand that you secured the Guanxuan Academy's special admission and wanted to stop you from going."
With the Zhao Clan's revenge against the Qin Clan complete, only the Ye and Zhao Clans remained in Qingzhou. As the saying went—two tigers couldn't share one mountain.
Ye Tianming nodded. "I know."
Ye Nan asked, "What's your plan?"
Ye Tianming's eyes narrowed. "I'm going to the Guanxuan Academy... to kill Zhao Yu."
Ye Nan stared at him. "Kill Zhao Yu?"
Ye Tianming nodded. "The Zhao Clan dares to bully us so openly because of Zhao Yu—his status as a direct disciple of an elder in the Guanxuan Academy gives them leverage. The Immortal Treasure Pavilion's stewards side with them for the same reason. So..."
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Cut the weeds and dig up the roots. Slaughter his entire family—eliminate the threat forever."
Ye Nan asked, "Are you sure?"
Ye Tianming nodded. "No. But I'll do it anyway."
Ye Nan: "..."
After a pause, Ye Nan said, "When are you leaving?"
Ye Tianming replied, "Tomorrow."
Ye Nan nodded slightly, then added, "The An Clan sent word. They want you to visit them."
Ye Tianming sheathed his sword. "I'm going now."
"Tianming!"
Ye Nan called out. "I've never interfered in your relationship with An Qi, but you need to understand one thing... Even though you once saved her and she owes you, our Ye Clan and the An Clan are worlds apart. Often, a great kindness becomes a great enmity. You must realize that."
In the Guanxuan Universe, noble clans and sects were ranked from first to ninth tier. An Qi, Ye Tianming's childhood sweetheart, came from the An Clan, a branch of the An Family—a fourth-tier martial clan in Qingzhou. That alone was far beyond the Ye Clan's reach.
The Ye Clan was a bottom-tier, unranked family—practically insignificant.
Ye Tianming chuckled. "It's just the usual—upper class looking down on the lower class. If they truly disdain me, then screw them."
With that, he turned and left.
Outside the Ye Clan estate, as he passed by a bookstore, Ye Tianming suddenly stopped. Looking up, he noticed a golden aura floating several feet above him.
At the sight of it, Ye Tianming was first startled—then delighted.
A strand of Grand Dao Fortune.
A day ago, Yang Jia, the young master of the Guanxuan Universe, had returned to the realm. Out of compassion for all living beings, he scattered tens of thousands of strands of Grand Dao Fortune across the Ten Thousand States. Those under twenty years old who were fated could claim one.
A single strand of Grand Dao Fortune could guarantee that an ordinary person would at least reach the Saint Realm—and additionally, it granted a quota to the main campus of the Guanxuan Academy.
The moment the golden aura sensed Ye Tianming, it reacted as if it had found a treasure, joyfully rushing toward him. But when it was just half a foot away, it seemed to hit an invisible barrier and couldn't get any closer.
Ye Tianming hadn't expected to encounter one—but he didn't think much of it. He reached out, trying to grasp it, but his fingers passed right through. The golden aura strained toward him, yet they remained just out of reach.
After a few attempts, Ye Tianming gave up. He gave the strand a deep look before turning and walking away without hesitation.
If it's meant to be, it'll be. If not, so be it.
He wouldn't force it.
Inside the bookstore, a drunken Taoist-robed man had witnessed everything. He took a swig of wine before muttering softly, "As expected—the second-ever Heavenly Mortal Body in the universe. This tiny strand of Grand Dao Fortune isn't worthy of approaching him."
Outside the bookstore, in a corner, stood a girl.
Sixteen or seventeen, graceful and delicate, with a face like a painting—she was breathtakingly beautiful.
This was An Qi.
Watching Ye Tianming disappear, recalling how he had failed to grasp the golden aura, a complex look flickered in An Qi's eyes. She sighed softly.
"Too weak to bear great fortune... an unlucky person. We're simply from two different worlds."
With that, her conflicted emotions hardened into resolve. She turned and vanished into the distance.
Cut ties decisively.
What use was a man who couldn't even bear a strand of Grand Dao Fortune?
A woman had to be practical—she couldn't play the role of a charity case.
Ye Tianming entered the An Estate, where a butler led him to the main hall before leaving with a pot of spirit tea.
Ye Tianming didn't drink. He waited for about fifteen minutes before An Xiao finally arrived.
Ye Tianming rose and bowed. "Uncle An."
An Xiao smiled warmly. "No need for formalities. You're a friend of Xiao Qi and Xiao Yan—you can treat this place as your own home."
Ye Tianming understood the politeness but said nothing.
After they sat down, An Xiao suddenly placed a box before him. Opening it revealed three precious 'Qi-Drawing Pills'—each worth a thousand spirit crystals.
Ye Tianming was puzzled.
An Xiao chuckled. "You once saved Xiao Qi. I never properly thanked you. Soon, we'll be heading to the Guanxuan Realm, and I want to repay this debt. From now on, Xiao Qi owes you nothing."
Ye Tianming wasn't surprised. He glanced past the screen to the faint silhouette of a graceful figure.
His gaze lingered on that familiar, beautiful outline.
After a moment, a voice came from behind the screen. "Tianming, you're a good person... but we're not suited for each other."
Ye Tianming immediately stood. "Miss An, rest assured—if anyone asks in the future, I'll say I don't even know you."
With that, he turned and left.
Without looking back.
Behind the screen, An Qi watched through the window as Ye Tianming vanished into the courtyard. Her eyes flickered with conflict and reluctance—but gradually, those emotions hardened into determination and coldness.
If you can't make a clean break, you'll suffer the consequences.
If he had no future, why cling to him? Would they both not end up in pain?
With that thought, a powerful aura suddenly surged from her body.
The Law Realm.
She was startled—she hadn't expected breaking off her feelings to instantly grant her a breakthrough. If I had known, I would've done it sooner.
She turned and left, her eyes devoid of any lingering attachment.
In this lifetime, her heart belonged only to the Great Dao. A man from a bottom-tier family with no future could never aid her path.
A woman only needed strength and excellence—then she could have any man she desired.
Seeing An Qi's breakthrough, An Xiao was overjoyed. "Excellent, excellent. Who would've thought cutting off this karmic tie would bring such a reward? Truly double the joy—no, triple, since the Nanling Clan has agreed to Xiao Nan's marriage with Nanling Yun."
A smile spread across his face. The An Clan was merely a remote branch of the An Family, barely qualifying as a fourth-tier clan. But the Nanling Clan was a second-tier noble house, and they even had some ancient ties with the Guanxuan Sword Sovereign. This was truly a stroke of luck.
"Dad, Sister, I don't think this is right."
From a corner, a youth reading a book spoke up.
An Yan, An Qi's younger brother.
An Xiao looked at him. An Yan stood slowly, speaking earnestly, "Tianming and my sister have been childhood sweethearts. He saved her. Regardless of whether he deserves marriage in return, he at least deserves gratitude and remembrance. But now, just because we fear the Nanling Clan's misunderstandings, we summon him and force him to sever ties—this is simply dishonorable."
An Xiao's expression darkened. "Do you realize? Your sister is already engaged to the Nanling Clan. If they find out about their past or if Ye Tianming spreads rumors, it could ruin her reputation..."
An Yan shook his head, interrupting. "Dad, that's still the wrong way to think. Why should our An Clan grovel to the Nanling Clan? The top noble houses will never respect us just because we fawn over them. The more we try to please them, the more they'll look down on us. Different circles mean no need to force integration..."
He paused before adding, "Besides, Sister and Tianming were completely innocent. If Nanling Yun holds a grudge over their childhood friendship, would she truly be happy with such a petty man?"
An Xiao's face darkened further.
An Yan closed the ancient text, gazing out the hall's doors as his expression grew solemn. "I've known Tianming since we were children. I know his talent—he's a once-in-a-generation genius, skilled in both cultivation and combat, decisive in slaughter. Our An Clan treated him this way today... and in the future, it may bring disaster. So, Father, if you insist on playing the villain, then do it thoroughly—just kill him. Don't leave behind a hidden threat."