The Celestial Sect's imperial courtyard shimmered with holy light. White marble towers pierced the clouds, and celestial bells rang in harmony with the winds.
At the heart of it all stood Princess Lira, the Celestial Sect's most gifted prodigy in five thousand years.
Her beauty was not of the world—silver hair cascading like moonlight, violet eyes that shimmered with divine starlight, and a presence so pure that demons wept at her feet.
She was hailed as the future Saintess, the light of the continent.
"Too much light…" Priyanshu muttered, standing invisibly atop a cloud, watching from afar.
He had used his domain's shadow affinity to conceal his presence. Even the legendary Sky-Piercing Formation couldn't detect him.
[System Update]Target: Princess LiraThreat Level: High (Heaven's Chosen)Mission Objective: Corrupt or ConvertProgress: 0%
Priyanshu smirked. "This is going to be fun."
With a flick of his finger, he tossed a Dark Bloom Seed down into the Sect's medicinal spring—a gift from the system's villain store. It would quietly corrupt the spiritual water over the next week, replacing its purity with subtle chaotic essence.
"Let's see how she handles a little taste of darkness."
But he wasn't here just to corrupt. He needed information, and for that, he needed to get close.
The system pinged again.
[New Identity Acquired: Alchemist Lin of the Eastern Cloud Sect]
Appearance changed
Voice modulated
Background inserted into reality for 24 hours
With a shimmer of light, his face and aura changed. He now looked like a handsome, gentle scholar—young, talented, and totally non-threatening.
Perfect.
He descended into the outer hall of the Celestial Sect, where Lira happened to be reviewing visiting disciples.
"Next!" her clear voice rang.
Priyanshu stepped forward, robes billowing, his eyes full of 'humble genius' energy.
"Alchemist Lin greets Princess Lira."
Their eyes met.
Her gaze narrowed just slightly. Something in her soul stirred danger. Curiosity? She wasn't sure.
"...Proceed," she said at last.
From the shadows, the system whispered:
[Warning: Lira's Fate Thread reacts to your presence. Synchronization chance: 3% and rising.]
Priyanshu hid a grin. Just as planned.
As he presented his concocted pills, he subtly released a trace of chaotic aura into the room. A butterfly fluttered in through the window and landed on her finger.
It was black with glowing red veins.
A symbol of silent corruption.
And she smiled at it.
"Strange… I like this one."
Priyanshu's eyes glinted behind his mask of calm.
"Step one: interest. Step two: influence. Step three…"
He didn't say it.
But the villain never needed to say his plan out loud.
He only needed to execute it—in the shadows.