The golden rays of the setting sun pierced through the ancient trees of the Verdant Forest, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the forest floor. Lin Feng emerged from the cave, his body pulsing with newfound power, the Luck-Devouring Divine Lotus spinning steadily within his consciousness like a miniature cosmos. His meridians, once narrow channels for spiritual energy, now felt like vast rivers capable of containing the power of mountains and seas.
The Void Emperor's inheritance has transformed me completely, Lin Feng thought as he stretched his arms, feeling the dragon bloodline course through his veins with a vitality he had never experienced before. I am no longer the rootless orphan who graduated from the Azure Dragon Sect. I am Lin Feng, inheritor of an emperor's legacy, master of all elements, and soon to be the true protagonist of this world.
As he stepped into the clearing, his heightened senses detected a familiar presence hiding behind a massive spirit tree. A subtle smile played across his lips as he recognized the cyan-tinted spiritual energy that could only belong to one person—Xia Qingyue.
I knew she would follow me, Lin Feng mused inwardly. Her obsession with Long Tian has blinded her to everything else, but it has also made her predictable. She saw me intercept the jade slip meant for Long Tian, and her yandere instincts couldn't allow such a threat to remain unchallenged.
Rather than confronting her immediately, Lin Feng decided to lead her deeper into the forest. He needed a secluded location, away from prying eyes and spiritual detection arrays. The perfect place presented itself—a small clearing surrounded by ancient spirit trees, their branches forming a natural canopy that would shield them from view.
Lin Feng set his backpack down and turned to face the direction from which he knew Xia Qingyue was watching. "You can come out now, Lady Xia Qingyue. I know you're there."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, from behind a large spirit tree, Xia Qingyue emerged. Her cyan hair was disheveled from the journey, and her cultivation robes were stained with forest dirt. But it was her eyes that held Lin Feng's attention—they burned with a mixture of determination and desperation, like a cornered spirit beast ready to fight for its life.
"You...you stole my fate," she whispered, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "You took everything from me. I can feel it—my connection to Long Tian has weakened. Something changed when we returned from the spider mission."
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "I don't know what you're talking about, Lady Xia Qingyue. I've done nothing to you."
"Don't lie to me!" she shouted, tears streaming down her porcelain cheeks. "I've been watching you. I saw how you intercepted the jade slip meant for Long Tian at the Mission Hall. I saw how you manipulated everyone against me. I saw how you smiled at my suffering!"
She drew a small dagger from her sleeve, its blade glinting in the dappled sunlight. "I was going to kill you in the spider queen's lair, but I couldn't do it with everyone watching. I was going to kill you in the village, but I lost my nerve. But now...now there's no one to protect you."
Lin Feng smiled—not his usual charming smile, but a cold, predatory grin that made Xia Qingyue hesitate. "You think I didn't know you were following me? You think I didn't sense your presence shadowing me through the city streets? You think I didn't notice you hiding behind trees as I purchased my supplies?"
Xia Qingyue's eyes widened in shock. "You...you knew?"
"Of course I knew," Lin Feng said calmly. "I let you follow me because I wanted to see how far you would go. I wanted to understand the depth of your obsession with Long Tian...and the depth of your hatred for me."
He took a step closer, his eyes locking with hers. "But let me tell you something, Lady Xia Qingyue. Your feelings for Long Tian are not love—they're obsession. You've placed him on a pedestal and built your entire identity around being close to him. But what happens when that pedestal crumbles? What happens when you realize he doesn't see you the way you see him?"
Xia Qingyue shook her head violently. "You don't understand! We've been together since childhood! He's always protected me, always cared for me—"
"Has he?" Lin Feng interrupted. "When the spider queen attacked, who saved you? When you failed during the battle, who stood by you? When Long Tian struck your face, who offered you comfort?"
Xia Qingyue's hand tightened around the dagger's handle, but her resolve was faltering. "I...I don't know what you want from me."
"I want to help you," Lin Feng said softly, taking another step closer. "I want to show you the truth about Long Tian—about the kind of man he truly is. He sees you as nothing more than a tool to be used, a stepping stone on his path to power. His family arranged your betrothal for political reasons, not because he loves you."
Xia Qingyue's eyes filled with tears again, but this time they were tears of confusion rather than anger. "No...you're lying. He promised me—"
"What did he promise you?" Lin Feng pressed. "Did he promise to make you his primary wife? Did he promise to cherish you above all others? Or did he simply tell you that your bond was special while simultaneously flirting with Su Wan'er, Bai Luoyan, and now Hua Lingwei?"
The dagger trembled in Xia Qingyue's hand. "He...he loves me. I know he does."
"Does he?" Lin Feng asked gently. "Then why was he so quick to believe I had poisoned you? Why did he refuse to listen when you tried to explain what happened in the spider queen's lair? Why did he accept the alliance of Su Wan'er and Bai Luoyan against you without question?"
Xia Qingyue's shoulders slumped, and the dagger fell from her hand to the forest floor. "I don't know...I don't know anymore."
Lin Feng moved forward and gently wiped the tears from her face with his thumb. The gesture was tender, yet calculated—a master cultivator understanding the precise moment to strike at an opponent's weakest point. "You deserve better than to be someone's secondary choice, Lady Xia Qingyue. You deserve to be cherished for who you are, not for what you can provide to someone else's ambitions."
Xia Qingyue looked up at him, her sapphire eyes searching his face for sincerity. "Why are you telling me this? What do you want from me?"
Lin Feng smiled—this time his genuine, charming smile. "I want to help you see the truth. I want to show you that there's more to life than chasing after someone who doesn't truly value you. And in return...I want your help."
"My help?" Xia Qingyue asked, confused.
"Yes," Lin Feng nodded. "Long Tian has many secrets—secrets that could destroy him if they were revealed. I believe you know some of these secrets. I believe you've seen things others haven't noticed."
Xia Qingyue hesitated, then slowly nodded. "I...I have noticed things. Things about his family, about his cultivation techniques...things that don't make sense."
"Exactly," Lin Feng said. "And that's why I need your help. Together, we can discover the truth about Long Tian—and about the world that created him."
Xia Qingyue took a deep breath, her eyes still filled with uncertainty but also with a spark of something new—curiosity, perhaps, or hope. "What do you propose we do?"
Lin Feng knelt down and retrieved the jade slip he had intercepted from Long Tian. "This message was meant for him. It reveals the location of the Void Emperor's inheritance—a treasure that could elevate a cultivator to unprecedented heights. Long Tian was meant to find this inheritance, to use its power to further his destiny as the chosen one."
He held the jade slip out to her. "But I have taken this opportunity from him. I have claimed the Void Emperor's inheritance for myself. Now, I want to offer you a choice. Will you continue to chase after Long Tian's shadow, or will you walk with me on a new path—one where you can discover your own strength and destiny?"
Xia Qingyue stared at the jade slip, then at Lin Feng's face. The forest was silent around them, as if holding its breath for her decision.
Finally, she reached out and took the jade slip from his hand. "Show me," she whispered. "Show me the truth."
Lin Feng smiled and took her hand in his. "The path to truth is never easy, Lady Xia Qingyue. But I promise you this—when we reach the end of it, you will be stronger than you ever imagined possible."
As they walked back toward the cave where Lin Feng had claimed the Void Emperor's inheritance, the sun dipped below the mountains, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. Xia Qingyue's cyan hair glowed in the fading light, making her look like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.
She is beautiful, Lin Feng thought, watching the play of light across her delicate features. But her beauty is overshadowed by her insecurity, her obsession with Long Tian. I must help her see her own worth—not as someone's possession, but as her own person.
The cave entrance materialized before them as Lin Feng activated the spatial formation with the precise movements he had learned. Inside, the ethereal glow of the spirit stones illuminated the intricate carvings that depicted the Void Emperor's life journey—from humble beginnings to supreme power.
"This is where I obtained the inheritance," Lin Feng said, leading Xia Qingyue to the central chamber. "The Void Emperor was a supreme expert who mastered all elements—fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, space, time, life, and death. His legacy is not just power, but wisdom."
Xia Qingyue looked around in awe, her fingers brushing against the glowing walls. "I can feel the spiritual energy here...it's unlike anything I've ever experienced."
Lin Feng nodded. "This place has been untouched for centuries. The formations are still intact, the spiritual energy undisturbed. The Void Emperor truly was a supreme expert to create such a sanctuary."
He led her to the stone platform where the three treasures had rested. "Here is where I stood when I claimed the inheritance. The storage ring, the Luck-Devouring Divine Lotus, and the dragon blood essence—all designed to elevate a worthy successor to unprecedented heights."
Xia Qingyue turned to him, her eyes wide with wonder. "You have all three?"
Lin Feng extended his hand, and fire danced across his palm before transforming into water, then earth, then wind. "I have mastered all elements. The Luck-Devouring Divine Lotus has transformed my body, allowing me to comprehend and utilize all forms of spiritual energy. And the dragon blood essence has strengthened my bloodline, granting me longevity and enhanced physical capabilities."
He closed his hand, extinguishing the elemental display. "But power alone is meaningless without purpose. I have a greater goal—to uncover the truth about the world, about destiny, about the so-called protagonists who are blessed by the Heavenly Dao."
Xia Qingyue's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Lin Feng's eyes glowed with an inner light as he activated his dragon-vision, allowing him to see the luck that surrounded all living beings. "I can see the luck that flows through the cultivation world. I can see how some are blessed with golden auras of fortune, while others struggle against currents of misfortune. Long Tian has such an aura—a golden light that protects him, guides him, and presents him with opportunities."
He turned to face her directly. "But I have discovered something even more profound. Luck is not a fixed quantity. It can be stolen, redirected, and consumed. The Luck-Devouring Divine Lotus allows me to absorb the luck of others and convert it into pure cultivation energy. With each piece of Long Tian's harem that falls to me, his heavenly fortune diminishes, and my strength increases."
Xia Qingyue stepped back, her hand flying to her mouth. "You...you absorbed my luck?"
Lin Feng nodded. "When you chose to follow me rather than remain with Long Tian, your luck shifted. The golden threads that once connected you to his destiny now flow toward me instead. This is how I knew you had made your decision even before you told me."
He moved closer, his voice softening. "But this is not just about power. This is about freedom. Long Tian's luck is not a blessing—it's a chain that binds him to a predetermined path. He cannot deviate from his role as the protagonist, cannot choose his own destiny. But I...I am free. I forge my own path, make my own choices, and claim my own destiny."
Xia Qingyue looked down at her hands, then back at Lin Feng. "What about me? Am I free?"
Lin Feng cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You can be. But first, you must break your chains. You must stop defining yourself through Long Tian's eyes and start seeing yourself as you truly are—a talented cultivator with her own strengths, her own desires, her own destiny."
He released her and stepped back. "I have a proposition for you. Stay with me. Train with me. Let me teach you the true path of cultivation—not just physical strength, but wisdom, comprehension, and self-mastery. In return, you will help me uncover Long Tian's secrets."
Xia Qingyue hesitated, her mind clearly torn between her past and her future. "What about our original plan? What about exposing Long Tian's true nature?"
Lin Feng smiled. "That can wait. First, you must strengthen yourself. Only when you are strong enough to stand on your own can you make choices that are truly yours. Remember what I told you about being a good girlfriend? The same principle applies here. To be strong for others, you must first be strong for yourself."
He activated one of his recording orbs, capturing their conversation. "I want to document our journey together. Not just for proof, but as a reminder of how far you've come. One day, when you look back at this moment, you will see how much you have grown."
Xia Qingyue watched the orb with curiosity. "Why do you record everything?"
Lin Feng's smile turned enigmatic. "In the cultivation world, evidence is power. But more importantly, memories shape who we are. I want to help you build new memories—memories of strength, independence, and self-discovery."
He deactivated the orb and tucked it away. "But enough talk. Let's begin your training. The first lesson is simple: trust yourself. Your instincts have guided you here. Trust that they know what you truly need."
Xia Qingyue nodded slowly, a new determination dawning in her eyes. "Show me."
The night deepened as Lin Feng and Xia Qingyue sat beneath the stars, the spiritual energy of the Verdant Forest flowing around them like an invisible river. Lin Feng had built a small campfire, its flames dancing in time with the rhythm of the forest.
"Tell me about your family," Lin Feng said, offering her a cup of tea infused with spirit herbs. "Your memories, your dreams."
Xia Qingyue accepted the cup, her hands trembling slightly. "Why should I tell an outsider like you these things?"
Lin Feng chuckled. "We're hardly outsiders anymore. You followed me into this forest, risked everything to confront me. And I've shown you my greatest secret—the Void Emperor's inheritance. I think we've moved beyond the boundaries of 'outsider' and 'insider.'"
Xia Qingyue looked away, her eyes reflecting the firelight. "My parents...they never truly loved me. I was always the second choice, the backup plan. My younger sister received all the attention, all the resources for cultivation. I had to fight for every scrap of recognition."
Her voice grew softer, more vulnerable. "When I met Long Tian as children, he was the first person who saw me—not as his betrothed, not as the daughter of an important clan, but as Xia Qingyue. He protected me from bullies, shared his cultivation insights with me, made me feel special."
She looked at Lin Feng, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know what you said about obsession. But how can I not cling to the only person who ever made me feel valued?"
Lin Feng placed a hand over hers, the warmth of his touch contrasting with the cool night air. "Because you deserve more than to be someone's second choice. Because you are stronger than you realize. Because the person who truly values you is sitting right here."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I see you, Xia Qingyue. Not as Long Tian's betrothed, not as the daughter of a powerful clan, but as you truly are—a talented cultivator with fire in her soul and strength in her spirit. I see your determination, your loyalty, your capacity for love. And I value all of it."
Xia Qingyue's breath caught in her throat. No one had ever spoken to her this way—not her parents, not Long Tian, not anyone. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, tracing paths down her cheeks.
Lin Feng reached out and wiped them away, his thumb brushing gently against her skin. "Don't cry. These tears are for the past. The future is yours to write."
He stood and extended his hand to her. "Come. I want to show you something."
Xia Qingyue hesitated for only a moment before taking his hand. Together, they walked to a small clearing where a spirit spring bubbled up from the earth, its waters glowing with pure spiritual energy.
"This is a Moonlight Spring," Lin Feng explained. "Its waters have special properties—they reflect not your physical form, but your spiritual essence. Look into it, and you will see your true self."
Xia Qingyue knelt by the spring, her reflection shimmering in the glowing water. At first, she saw only her physical form—her cyan hair, her delicate features, her cultivation robes. But as she gazed deeper, the water began to shift, revealing her spiritual essence.
Her reflection transformed, showing a figure wreathed in flames—not the golden aura of heavenly luck that surrounded Long Tian, but a deep blue flame that pulsed with inner strength. This was her true potential, her authentic self—the cultivator she could become if freed from the chains of others' expectations.
"Do you see?" Lin Feng asked, kneeling beside her. "This is who you truly are. Not Long Tian's betrothed, not your clan's second choice, but Xia Qingyue—the cultivator who commands the flames of heaven and earth."
Xia Qingyue reached out, her fingers brushing the surface of the water. The reflection shifted again, showing her standing tall and confident beside Lin Feng, their auras intertwined like two dragons ascending to the heavens.
"I...I never knew," she whispered. "I never saw myself this way."
Lin Feng placed a hand on her shoulder. "That's because you've been looking through others' eyes. Today, you begin to see through your own."
He helped her stand. "The path ahead won't be easy. There will be challenges, setbacks, moments of doubt. But you won't face them alone. I will be with you, every step of the way."
Xia Qingyue turned to face him, her eyes blazing with newfound determination. "Teach me. Show me the true path of cultivation. Help me become the person I saw in the spring."
Lin Feng's smile widened. "The first step is trust. Trust yourself, trust me, trust the path we walk together. Only then can you truly begin to grow."
As they returned to the campfire, the stars above seemed to shine brighter, as if blessing their new alliance. Lin Feng activated another recording orb, capturing the moment—not just for evidence, but as a reminder of the beginning of Xia Qingyue's transformation.
The first piece of Long Tian's harem has fallen, Lin Feng thought with satisfaction. His luck has been weakened, and I have grown stronger without his knowledge. But this is only the beginning. Su Wan'er and Bai Luoyan will follow, each piece of his fortune becoming mine.
He glanced at Xia Qingyue, who was now sitting by the fire with a new confidence in her posture. And she...she will become more than just a tool to weaken Long Tian. She will become my ally, my companion, perhaps even...more.
As the fire crackled and the night deepened, Lin Feng knew that the cultivation world would soon learn the name of Lin Feng, and it would tremble before his power. The path to becoming the strongest cultivator under the heavens had truly begun, and he would walk it with his own two feet, without relying on any cheat system or divine blessing.
I will become the true protagonist of this story, Lin Feng vowed silently. I will claim these beauties, seize these treasures, and break through the heavens themselves.
The moon was high in the sky as Lin Feng and Xia Qingyue prepared to rest for the night. Their journey back to the city would begin at dawn, but for now, they sat beneath the stars, the first threads of a new destiny weaving around them.
Long Tian, you have no idea what awaits you, Lin Feng thought with a smile that would have chilled the bones of any who saw it. Your heavenly fortune will soon become my stepping stone to immortality. And your beautiful companions...they will call me master before this is over.
The night was young, and Lin Feng's journey had only just begun. With the Void Emperor's inheritance, the Luck-Devouring Divine Lotus, and the dragon bloodline flowing through his veins, he was ready to face any challenge that came his way.
The path to becoming the strongest cultivator under the heavens has truly begun, Lin Feng thought as they settled down to sleep. And I will walk this path with my own two feet, without relying on any system or divine blessing.
His eyes gleamed with determination in the firelight, already calculating his next move against Long Tian and his remaining companions. The cultivation world would soon learn the name of Lin Feng, and it would tremble before his power.
I will become the true protagonist of this story, Lin Feng vowed silently. I will claim these beauties, seize these treasures, and break through the heavens themselves.
The moon was high in the sky as Lin Feng and Xia Qingyue finally drifted to sleep, the first embers of a new destiny glowing brightly between them. The path ahead was long and dangerous, filled with powerful enemies and cunning opponents. But Lin Feng was no longer the same man who had arrived in this world with nothing but his wits and determination. He was now a cultivator with the inheritance of an emperor, the bloodline of a dragon, and the power to steal destinies.
And he would use all of it to reach the pinnacle of power.