Elder Zhang's private study was a sanctuary of luxury. Rare spirit woods lined the walls, and the scent of calming incense—worth ten spirit stones an ounce—filled the air.
Elder Zhang sat behind his massive mahogany desk. He was shaking.
Across from him, sitting in the guest chair with his feet propped up on the expensive wood, was "Han Fei."
"Stop shaking," Mo Tian said, examining a jade slip he had pulled from the shelf. "It makes it hard to read your handwriting."
"Master..." Elder Zhang swallowed hard. "The Sect Master has requested a report on the Zhao Hu incident. He... he wants to know why the Fire Prison's heat fluctuations were so erratic."
"Simple," Mo Tian tossed the jade slip onto the desk. "Write this down: 'During the interrogation, Disciple Zhao Hu attempted to use a forbidden fire talisman to extract a confession. The talisman malfunctioned, destabilizing the magma and causing a backlash that incinerated him. Disciple Han Fei survived due to his protective proximity to the blast doors.'"
Elder Zhang's eyes widened. "That... that is absurd. No one will believe Zhao Hu was that incompetent."
Mo Tian leaned forward, his eyes flashing with a purple glint.
"They will believe it if you say it, Elder. You are the authority. And besides... the Zhao Clan is currently leaderless and in chaos. Who will challenge you? Zhao Hu's father? He is a drunk."
Elder Zhang hesitated, then picked up his brush. He realized with a sinking feeling that this monster was right. The lie was audacious, but it relied on the one thing the Sect loved more than truth: Process. As long as the paperwork was signed by an Elder, it was truth.
"It is done," Elder Zhang whispered, sealing the scroll.
"Good." Mo Tian stood up. "Now, let's talk business. Open the Vault."
"The... the Vault?" Elder Zhang paled. "The Pill Hall's reserve vault requires the Sect Master's token!"
"Not that vault," Mo Tian waved his hand dismissively. "I mean your vault. The one behind the painting of the crane. The one where you keep the pills you skim off the top of the monthly budget."
Elder Zhang froze. "How... how do you know about that?"
Mo Tian tapped his temple. "I have the Eye of Truth, Zhang. I see everything. I see the skimming. I see the bribes from the Zhao Clan. I see the illegal Spirit Beast trafficking you did ten years ago."
Elder Zhang slumped. He walked to the painting, deactivated the array, and revealed a hidden safe.
Inside were rows of jade bottles. Foundation Building Pills. Spirit-Cleansing Pills. Bone-Forging Pills.
"Pack them up," Mo Tian ordered. "All of them."
"But... this is my retirement!" Elder Zhang wept.
"Consider it an investment," Mo Tian smiled cruelly. "You are investing in your continued existence."
Silver City - The Shadow Court
Ghost One and Gu Sha stood at attention in the basement.
The room had changed. It was no longer a damp cellar. It had been reinforced with soundproofing arrays. Maps covered the walls. A strategic table sat in the center.
Mo Tian (wearing the mask) entered, tossing a heavy storage bag onto the table.
Clink.
"Christmas came early," Mo Tian announced.
Ghost One opened the bag. His stoic assassin face broke into a grin. "Foundation Building Pills? Ten of them? And... hundreds of cultivation resources."
Gu Sha, the Blood Devil Emissary, sniffed the bottles. "These are High-Grade pills from the Azure Cloud Sect. Pure Righteous Qi." He looked at Mo Tian with awe. "You robbed their Pill Hall?"
"I liquidated some assets," Mo Tian corrected.
He pointed to Gu Sha.
"Gu Sha. Take these resources to your remnants. I don't want a ragtag group of beggars. I want a disciplined unit. Use the pills to heal their old injuries. Use the gold to buy better gear."
"Yes, Blood Monarch!" Gu Sha saluted, clutching the bag like a holy relic.
"Ghost One," Mo Tian turned to the boy. "Select the three most promising 'Blood Children.' Give them the Foundation Building Pills. Force their breakthrough. I need lieutenants, not just soldiers."
"It will be risky," Ghost One warned. "Forced breakthrough damages potential."
"We will fix their potential later," Mo Tian said coldly. "War does not wait for perfection."
He walked to the map on the wall. He pointed to a large red circle marked in the wilderness to the North.
The Ancient Trial Grounds.
"In three months, the Sects will gather here," Mo Tian said. "It is a pocket dimension. A sealed world. Once the doors close, the Elders cannot see inside."
He turned to his two subordinates.
"That is our hunting ground. I intend to turn the 'Righteous' geniuses into resources. I will need the Shadow Court to infiltrate the support staff. I will need the Blood Devil Sect to set up an ambush perimeter outside."
"And you, Master?" Gu Sha asked.
"Me?" Mo Tian laughed. "I will be inside. Playing the part of the victim."
[System Notification] [Grand Mission Generated: The Harvest of Geniuses] [Objective: Enter the Ancient Trial Grounds.] [Sub-Objectives:]
Kill/Devour 50 Geniuses.
Corrupt the Trial Core.
Eliminate the "Son of Destiny" (Target Pending). [Reward: Upgrade System to Level 2.]
"Son of Destiny..." Mo Tian mused. "Every story has a hero. I wonder who the Heavens have sent to stop me this time?"
Azure Cloud Sect - The Main Peak
While Mo Tian plotted in the dark, the light was shining brightly on the Main Peak.
A young man stood before the Sect Master. He wore simple, rough-spun robes, but his back was straight as a spear. He carried a heavy, black heavy-sword on his back.
His eyes were clear, burning with an unshakeable determination.
"Disciple Ye Chen greets the Sect Master," the young man bowed.
The Sect Master smiled, stroking his beard. "Ye Chen. You were a servant sweeping the outer stairs just a year ago. Yet, you have awakened the Ancient Solar Physique and defeated the Outer Sect top rankers in a single move."
"It was luck, Sect Master," Ye Chen said humbly.
"Luck is a part of strength," the Sect Master nodded. "The Ancient Trial Grounds open soon. I am granting you a special slot. You will lead the team."
"But Sect Master," an Elder interjected. "What about Yan Luo? Or the Inner Disciples?"
"Yan Luo is the Saintess, she will oversee the team," the Sect Master said. "But Ye Chen... he has the Destiny of a leader. I can feel it."
Ye Chen clenched his fist. I will not let you down. I will find the cure for my little sister in the Trial Grounds! And I will find out who killed my village!
Ghost Hollow
Mo Tian sat in his renovated hut. The Purple Nether Flame floated in front of him, now docile and obedient.
Suddenly, the System pinged.
[Alert: Destiny Fluctuation Detected.] [Target Identified: Ye Chen.] [Archetype: The "Underdog" Protagonist.] [Plot Armor Level: Maximum.]
Mo Tian looked at the screen. He saw the image of the young man with the big sword and the determined eyes.
"Ah," Mo Tian smiled, and the Purple Flame flared up, casting long, dancing shadows on the wall. "The classic 'rise from nothing' hero. The one who fights for justice, protects the weak, and always gets the girl."
He crushed the image in his hand.
"Ye Chen. You have worked hard to climb out of the mud. It would be a shame if someone... pushed you back in."
Mo Tian stood up.
"Three months. Time to cultivate."