The morning sun filtered through the paper windows of Lin Feng's secret residence, casting golden patterns across the silk bedding where he and Xia Qingyue lay entwined. The scent of plum blossoms drifted through the open window, mingling with the lingering aroma of their passionate night. Lin Feng's crimson eyes—now permanently altered by the dragon blood essence—gleamed with satisfaction as he watched Xia Qingyue's peaceful slumber.
Her cyan hair spilled across the pillow like amethyst silk, and the morning light highlighted the delicate features that had once captivated Long Tian. Lin Feng traced a finger along her jawline, feeling the smoothness of her skin—a testament to the dragon bloodline now flowing through her veins. The Luck-Devouring Divine Lotus within his consciousness spun steadily, absorbing the golden threads of fortune that had once connected Xia Qingyue to Long Tian's destiny.
Xia Qingyue is mine now, Lin Feng thought with triumph. The first piece of Long Tian's harem has fallen. His heavenly luck weakens while mine grows stronger.
As if sensing his thoughts, Xia Qingyue stirred, her sapphire eyes fluttering open. She looked up at him with a mixture of shyness and devotion that would have melted even the sternest elder's heart.
"Husband," she whispered, the word causing Lin Feng's heart to skip a beat despite his calculated nature. "The sun is already high in the sky. We should prepare before returning to the city."
Lin Feng smiled, his heart swelling with pride at her transformation. The yandere girl who had once plotted to kill him in the spider queen's lair was now a devoted companion who looked at him with eyes full of trust and affection.
"You're right," he said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "But first, I must explain something important to you. Something about the dragon bloodline I shared with you last night."
Xia Qingyue sat up, her robe slipping slightly to reveal the delicate curve of her shoulder. "I felt it coursing through my veins," she admitted. "A warmth unlike anything I've ever experienced. My cultivation base feels... different. Stronger somehow."
Lin Feng nodded. "The Void Emperor's inheritance contained a vial of pure dragon blood essence. When I consumed it, it transformed my body, enhanced my senses, and granted me the ability to see the luck that surrounds living beings." He gestured to his eyes. "These crimson orbs are no longer human eyes. They can perceive the golden auras of heavenly fortune that surround those blessed by the Dao."
He took her hand in his, allowing a thread of spiritual energy to flow between them. "Last night, I shared this bloodline with you. Your lifespan has been extended by centuries, perhaps even millennia. Your cultivation potential has increased exponentially. And most importantly—" his voice dropped to a whisper—"you are now bound to me through blood and destiny."
Xia Qingyue's eyes widened in understanding. "That's why I can feel... something connecting us. Like an invisible thread woven from starlight."
Lin Feng smiled. "The dragon bloodline creates bonds stronger than steel. Any who share my blood not only gain longevity and enhanced cultivation, but their fates become intertwined with mine. As I grow stronger, so do you. As my luck increases, so does yours."
He stood and stretched, his muscles rippling with newfound power. "But this is only the beginning. Long Tian still has two more beauties in his harem—Su Wan'er and Bai Luoyan. And he has a family empire backing him, powerful allies in the Mission Hall, and cheat abilities that allow him to grow stronger with each challenge."
Xia Qingyue nodded gravely. "What's our next move?"
Lin Feng's crimson eyes gleamed with calculation. "We must be strategic. First, we need to establish our base of operations. I've already purchased this residence, but I want you to move your belongings here permanently. No more living with the others."
Xia Qingyue bit her lip. "But what about our scheduled missions? We're supposed to meet the others at the Mission Hall this evening to accept new silver-ranked tasks."
"Exactly as I planned," Lin Feng said with satisfaction. "The next mission involves retrieving rare herbs from the Kingdom of Light—a neighboring realm with whom our city has tense relations. The mission requires us to split into two teams. I've already arranged for us to be paired together while Long Tian takes the other mission with Su Wan'er and Bai Luoyan."
Xia Qingyue frowned. "But that means we'll be separated from Long Tian. How will this help weaken his luck further?"
Lin Feng's smile turned dangerous. "Because while we're away, I have another plan in motion. I intercepted another jade slip meant for Long Tian—one that contained information about his brother, Long Chen. It seems our protagonist has a sibling who was exiled from their family but has recently returned to the city."
Xia Qingyue gasped. "His brother Leon? I've heard rumors about him. They say he's a powerful cultivator in service to the royal family."
Lin Feng nodded. "Exactly. And here's where my plan comes together. Long Chen has his own golden aura of heavenly luck—though not as strong as his brother's. When brothers with heavenly fortunes clash, the resulting chaos creates opportunities for someone like me to step in and claim the spoils."
He paced the room, his thoughts organized despite the complexity of his scheming. "Long Tian will be focused on Su Wan'er and Bai Luoyan while we're away. Meanwhile, Long Chen will be searching for his brother, unaware that he's being manipulated into a confrontation. The tension between them will grow, their golden auras clashing like dragons in battle. And when they finally meet..."
Xia Qingyue shivered at the cold calculation in his voice. "You truly believe Long Tian and his brother will fight each other?"
Lin Feng's smile widened. "The Heavenly Dao has already set this in motion, my dear. Long Chen's return has created a fork in destiny's path. The world spirit, sensing Long Tian's weakening luck after your defection, has strengthened his brother's fortune to compensate. But with my interference, the balance will tip. And when brothers with heavenly fortunes clash, the resulting chaos will create the perfect storm for me to harvest their combined luck."
Xia Qingyue looked at him with awe. "You see the threads of fate so clearly."
Lin Feng cupped her face in his hands. "With the Void Emperor's inheritance, I can see not just the threads of fate, but the very loom upon which destiny is woven. And I intend to claim my place at that loom."
After preparing a simple breakfast infused with spiritual herbs, Lin Feng and Xia Qingyue packed their belongings. Lin Feng had already stored most of their supplies in his storage ring—a space large enough to hold an entire mountain range. The ring hummed with power against his finger, its ancient runes glowing faintly whenever he channeled spiritual energy through it.
"I still can't believe the capacity of this ring," Xia Qingyue marveled as she watched him store an entire set of furniture inside it with a mere thought. "It's unlike any storage artifact I've ever seen."
Lin Feng chuckled. "This is no ordinary ring. It contains a miniature world within its confines—a realm where time flows differently and spiritual energy is concentrated a thousandfold. With practice, I may even be able to cultivate inside it, accelerating my progress through the cultivation realms."
He closed his eyes, focusing his perception inward. The Luck-Devouring Divine Lotus spun steadily in his consciousness, its nine petals representing the nine fundamental elements of the universe. Fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, space, time, life, and death—all were under his command now.
"I've been studying the inheritance's knowledge," he said after a moment. "There are countless worlds like ours in this universe, each with its own set of rules. The chosen ones—those blessed by their world's spirit—are given heavenly luck to maintain order and stability. They're what mortals call 'protagonists.'"
Xia Qingyue nodded slowly. "And Long Tian is such a chosen one."
"Precisely," Lin Feng confirmed. "His world has blessed him with luck that turns garbage into legendary treasures and transforms dangers into opportunities. But this luck isn't infinite. By stealing it from him piece by piece—first you, soon the others—I weaken his connection to the heavenly Dao while strengthening my own."
He extended his hand, and fire danced across his palm before transforming into water, then earth, then wind. "There are eight orders of strength in the cultivation path. Our world can only produce protagonists capable of reaching the fourth order. Long Tian should have fourth-order strength as he's this world's chosen one."
Xia Qingyue's eyes widened. "And you?"
Lin Feng's crimson eyes gleamed. "I'm already at the second order after claiming you. With each piece of Long Tian's luck I steal, my strength increases. When I reach the fourth order—the limit of this world—I can break through the barriers between realms and enter more advanced cultivation worlds."
He took her hands in his. "But I won't leave you behind, my dear. The dragon bloodline connects us. As I grow stronger, so do you. Together, we'll transcend the limits of this world."
Xia Qingyue's eyes filled with tears. "I was always second choice—my family's lesser daughter, Long Tian's backup betrothed. No one ever truly saw me, truly valued me for who I am."
Lin Feng wiped away her tears with his thumb. "I see you, Xia Qingyue. Not as Long Tian's betrothed, not as the daughter of an important clan, but as you truly are—a 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."
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. "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 nodded, her resolve hardening. "I will follow you, husband. Wherever your path leads, I will walk beside you."
As they approached the city gates, Lin Feng felt the Luck-Devouring Divine Lotus within him spinning faster. He could sense Long Tian's golden aura of heavenly fortune weakening with each passing moment. The threads of destiny that had once connected him to his harem were slowly unraveling.
First Xia Qingyue, Lin Feng thought with satisfaction. Soon, Su Wan'er and Bai Luoyan will follow. And when Long Tian stands alone, stripped of his heavenly backing, I will be waiting to claim what remains of his luck.
He glanced at the two women walking beside him—Xia Qingyue, who had once been Long Tian's betrothed, and soon to be joined by others. All would become pieces in his grand design, stepping stones on his path to becoming the true protagonist of this story.
The Mission Hall loomed ahead, its azure dragon pillars gleaming in the midday sun. Inside, Long Tian and his remaining companions were surely waiting, unaware that their destinies were already unraveling.
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 stand by my side as I challenge the heavens themselves.
As they entered the city, Lin Feng could already feel the tension in the air. The cultivation world was on the verge of upheaval, and he would be the one to reshape it according to his will. 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.
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 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.
As Lin Feng and Xia Qingyue entered the Mission Hall, they found Long Tian and the others waiting near the mission bulletin boards. Su Wan'er and Bai Luoyan were deep in conversation, while Long Tian stood apart, his expression troubled.
When he saw Xia Qingyue enter on Lin Feng's arm, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Where have you two been? We've been waiting for hours."
Lin Feng smiled smoothly. "Apologies, Long Tian. Xia Qingyue needed time to... reflect on recent events. We've both been reconsidering our place in this team."
Long Tian's gaze flickered between them, his golden aura of luck dimming slightly as he sensed the change in their bond. "What do you mean?"
Before Lin Feng could respond, Hua Lingwei descended the stairs, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the hall. Even Su Wan'er's impressive figure seemed ordinary compared to Hua Lingwei's mature charm. Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall to the floor, her face round as the moon, and her skin white as snow.
"Ah, our silver-ranked cultivators," Hua Lingwei greeted with a warm smile. "I have two important missions for you, both capable of advancing you to gold-ranked status. But each requires a different approach."
She gestured to the bulletin boards where two jade slips floated, glowing with inner light. "The first involves assisting the royal knights in exterminating a horde of menacing goblins in a distant town. This mission will take approximately a week to complete and offers significant merit points."
"The second," she continued, "requires retrieving rare herbs from the Kingdom of Light's restricted forest. These herbs are needed for an ancient elixir recipe. However, the Kingdom of Light has tense relations with our city, making this mission particularly dangerous."
Long Tian's eyes lit up with heroic determination. "The goblin extermination is perfect for us. I've been wanting to test my combat skills against stronger opponents."
Lin Feng stepped forward. "Actually, Long Tian, I believe splitting into two teams would be more efficient. The goblin mission requires strong frontline fighters, while the herb retrieval needs agile cultivators with good perception. Given our current strengths, Xia Qingyue and I would be better suited for the herb mission, while you, Su Wan'er, and Bai Luoyan take the goblin extermination."
Long Tian frowned, clearly displeased with the suggestion. "But we're a team. We should stay together."
Su Wan'er stepped forward, her voice sweet but laced with hidden ambition. "I agree with Lin Feng. The goblin mission suits our strengths better. Besides," she added with a glance at Xia Qingyue, "you and Xia Qingyue have been... distant lately. This might give you time to resolve your differences."
Bai Luoyan nodded quickly. "Yes, it makes perfect sense. Two teams can complete both missions simultaneously, doubling our merit points."
Long Tian sighed, his hero's personality activated. "Very well. But remember to stay safe. The Kingdom of Light is dangerous for outsiders."
As the teams finalized their plans, Lin Feng noticed a strange light in Su Wan'er's eyes. Unlike Bai Luoyan, who seemed oblivious to the changes in Xia Qingyue, Su Wan'er's sharp gaze had already detected the shift in her former rival's demeanor. There was suspicion there, and perhaps even a spark of interest.
Su Wan'er isn't as easily manipulated as Xia Qingyue was, Lin Feng realized. She'll require a different approach. Perhaps... playing on her ambition rather than her emotions.
After the meeting concluded, Lin Feng and Xia Qingyue left to prepare for their journey. As they walked through the bustling streets, Lin Feng could feel the threads of destiny weaving around them, the first strands of his grand design falling into place.
"The path to becoming the strongest cultivator under the heavens has truly begun," Lin Feng thought as they entered a shop to purchase supplies. "And I will walk this path with my own two feet, without relying on any cheat system or divine blessing."
His crimson eyes gleamed with determination, 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 journey to the Kingdom of Light awaited, but Lin Feng's mind was already racing ahead to the battles that would follow. With each piece of Long Tian's harem that fell to him, his power would grow, and his destiny would become unshakeable.
Long Tian, you have no idea what awaits you. Your heavenly fortune will soon become my stepping stone to immortality. And your beautiful companions... they will call me master before this is over.
As the sun set over the city, casting long shadows across the streets, Lin Feng knew that the true game had only just begun. The path ahead was long and dangerous, but with the Void Emperor's inheritance and the dragon bloodline flowing through his veins, he was ready to face any challenge that came his way.
And he would use all of it to reach the pinnacle of power.