⛰️ Ashen Root Sect – Outer Ridge Arena
The sky darkened as a foreign cloud ship descended.
Etched with golden sigils and swirling lenses, it bore the insignia of one of the Five Peak Clans—Heaven's Eye Sect.
> "Why are they here…?"
"This is just a regional trial!"
Sect elders from Ashen Root whispered uneasily.
Then a voice echoed:
> "We are not here to interfere… only to observe."
A tall youth stepped forward, eyes glowing with radiant golden light—Zhao Tianrui, Heaven-Eyed Prodigy. Rumored to possess the Celestial Pupil, capable of reading fate itself.
> "There is someone here we wish to witness."
"A nameless swordsman… they say he moves like shadow and wind."
---
🌙 Observation Tower – Shěn Nìchén Watches
From a distance, concealed by a deeper layer of void.
His sword rested across his lap, his eyes closed—but his senses sharpened.
> "Celestial Pupil… troublesome."
"Still, no matter the eye—void swallows all light."
> 🔔 [System Notification]
⚠️ Threat Level: Elevated – Divine Perception Detected
Activating System Cloak...
Status: Undetectable
Bonus Effect: All fate signatures have been wiped.
Celestial Pupil will see: "A mortal. Unremarkable. Average."
---
👁️ Zhao Tianrui – Confused
He scanned the crowd.
> "Where is he?"
"The shadow... I felt it here—"
He turned to the elder beside him.
> "Strange. It's like someone erased their thread from Heaven's Loom."
"No one here possesses anything worth observing."
His gaze paused on Shěn Nìchén for only half a second.
> Average spiritual pulse.
No extraordinary Qi.
Sword? Plain iron.
"He's not even worth testing."
And just like that—he looked away.
But Lán Xueyin, watching from afar, smirked slightly.
> "You truly are the void."
---
⚔️ Later That Night – Hidden Caveabode
Shěn Nìchén cultivated in silence.
The power of the Nascent Soul Realm surged within his meridians—clean, pure, stable.
> 🔔 [System Update]
🎯 Reward: Silent Crown Pill – Enhances soul cultivation by 300 years worth
✅ Hidden Bonus: Void Horizon Sword Scroll
➤ Supreme Sword Technique
➤ Attuned only to users with no destiny
➤ Even Immortal Weapons will shatter before its complete form
He opened the scroll. A single word was etched in ancient, primal script:
斷 – Cut.
He whispered,
> "To sever fate. To silence gods."
And outside, stars dimmed for a moment.
---
📜 Heaven's Eye Sect – A Silent Panic
Zhao Tianrui sat in his meditation chamber, unable to sleep.
> "Why can't I find him?"
"Why did the loom of fate skip…?"
He poured his energy into the Celestial Pupil again.
Only black.
Then a whisper echoed across his soul:
> "Those who stare too long into the void…"
"…will never blink again."
His body convulsed, eyes nearly rupturing.
> "A curse?! No—a warning."
He gritted his teeth.
> "We're not done. Not yet."
---
❄️ Elsewhere – Lán Xueyin Meditates
The Saintess sat in an ice lotus field.
She recalled his presence. His aura. His lack of it.
> "You hide not just from them—but from Heaven itself."
"That's why I..."
She paused, gazing at her palm, where a faint trace of void qi danced.
> "...want to walk beside you."
But for now, she waited.