Three weeks passed quickly. Lin Xiao established a routine that puzzled everyone watching.
Every morning, combat training with Xiao Fan. The servant had reached Qi Condensation Seventh Stage, his progress shocking even Old Feng. His fighting style had evolved from textbook forms into something unpredictable and savage.
Every afternoon, cultivation theory with Su Mei. She had started coming daily, claiming it was to ensure proper resource usage. But she laughed more now, and her eyes followed Lin Xiao when she thought nobody was watching.
Every evening, private cultivation in his quarters. The original Gu Changye's technique was powerful but inefficient. Lin Xiao had redesigned it using Earth's understanding of energy systems. His progress toward Nascent Soul Realm had accelerated dramatically.
Tonight was different. The sect master had called a meeting.
The main hall was packed with elders and core disciples. Lin Xiao's father, Grand Elder Gu Tianming, stood beside the sect master's throne. His face was unreadable as always.
"The Ancient Demon Ruins open in six days. Our scouts report unusual activity. Other sects are sending their best disciples. The Jade Valley Sect, Azure Cloud Temple, Thousand Beast Gate, and even the demonic path's Blood Moon Pavilion."
Murmurs rippled through the hall. The Blood Moon Pavilion rarely entered orthodox territory.
"Additionally, we've detected spatial fluctuations suggesting the ruins go deeper than previous openings. There may be access to the core region this time."
Elder Wei stepped forward. "Sect Master, perhaps we should send elders instead of disciples."
"The ruins only permit those under thirty. It's always been this way."
"Then we should limit our losses. Send fewer disciples."
Lin Xiao spoke up. "Running from danger isn't how the Evernight Immortal Sect became powerful."
Elder Wei's face reddened. "Easy words from someone guaranteed a spot."
"Then take mine. I'll earn another spot through combat trials."
The hall went silent. The Sacred Son was offering to fight for his position?
The sect master leaned forward. "You'd risk your spot?"
"There's no risk. Unless Elder Wei thinks our disciples are too weak to face me?"
It was a trap. If Elder Wei agreed, he'd be admitting the disciples were weak. If he disagreed, Lin Xiao would fight and win, proving his point about not fearing danger.
"Combat trials tomorrow then. Anyone under thirty can challenge for the five spots."
Lin Xiao bowed. "I'll participate."
After the meeting, his father approached him. They hadn't spoken privately in months.
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing you'd disapprove of."
"I disapprove of most things you do."
"Then this will be consistent."
Gu Tianming studied his son. "You've changed. Three weeks ago you were an arrogant fool. Now you're... something else."
"People grow."
"Not this fast. Not this much."
Lin Xiao met his father's eyes. "Would you prefer I stayed a disappointment?"
"I'd prefer you stay alive. The ruins will be dangerous. That servant boy you're training, he's going to get you killed."
"Or save my life. Time will tell."
"You know something about him. That ring—"
"Is interesting. Nothing more."
They stood in silence. Father and son, strangers despite blood.
"Your mother would have liked who you're becoming."
Gu Tianming left before Lin Xiao could respond. It was the first time his father had mentioned his mother in years.
'Sentiment. Even the Grand Elder has weakness.'
Lin Xiao found Xiao Fan in the training ground, practicing alone. His movements were fluid now, no longer the awkward stumbling of a servant.
"Can't sleep?"
Xiao Fan stopped mid-form. "The ring keeps whispering. The emperor says the ruins will trigger something."
"Scared?"
"Terrified."
"Good. Fear keeps you alive. Arrogance gets you killed."
"Is that why you gave up your guaranteed spot?"
"I gave it up because Elder Wei annoyed me. Also because fighting for it sends a message."
"What message?"
"That I'm not soft. Half the sect thinks I've gone weak, training a servant, apologizing publicly. Tomorrow reminds them I'm still dangerous."
Xiao Fan hesitated. "The emperor in the ring... he says you're not trustworthy."
"He's right."
"Then why am I following you?"
"Because untrustworthy doesn't mean enemy. I'll use you, Xiao Fan. But I'll be honest about it. That's more than most will offer."
"That's depressing."
"That's reality. The cultivation world doesn't reward good people. It rewards strong people. Sometimes they overlap. Usually they don't."
Su Mei appeared from the shadows. She'd been listening.
"Eavesdropping is rude."
"So is corrupting innocents with cynical philosophy."
"He's not innocent. No orphan who survives to cultivation age is innocent."
She sat beside them. "The Jade Valley Sect is sending me to the ruins."
"Obviously. You're their best disciple under thirty."
"We might have to fight inside."
"Probably."
"I won't hold back."
"I'd be insulted if you did."
She pulled out a jade bottle. "For tomorrow's combat trials. Qi Restoration Pills. Military grade."
Lin Xiao examined them. "These are restricted. How did you—"
"I have my methods."
"Stealing from your own sect for me? I'm touched."
"I'm investing in my future husband surviving the ruins."
"Future husband? You've decided then?"
She punched his shoulder. "Provisionally. You still have three days to disappoint me."
Xiao Fan looked between them. "This is weird. You hated each other a month ago."
"People change. Or maybe we never really hated each other. Strong emotions are complicated."
The emperor's voice whispered from the ring, audible to all three this time.
'The girl carries heaven's blessing. Her fate line intertwines with both of yours. Protect her, and fortune follows. Harm her, and the heavens will respond.'
Su Mei went pale. "Was that—"
"The Immortal Emperor. He seems to like you."
'I don't like anyone. I'm stating facts. This girl's destiny is significant.'
Lin Xiao filed that information away. The system hadn't identified Su Mei as a Child of Destiny, but the emperor recognized something special.
"We should rest. Tomorrow will be exhausting."
They separated. Lin Xiao returned to his quarters to find Old Feng waiting.
"Breaking into the Sacred Son's rooms is a capital offense."
"Good thing I'm just a harmless librarian."
"What do you want?"
"To make a deal."
Lin Xiao poured tea for both of them. "Speak."
"In the ruins, protect the boy. Ensure he survives whatever trials the ring triggers."
"And in return?"
"I'll ensure you survive what's coming."
"Threats?"
"Prophecy. The ruins' core region hasn't opened in ten thousand years. It's opening now because something inside has awakened. Something that's been feeding on the death qi of every disciple who's died in the outer regions."
Lin Xiao's system suddenly activated.
[Hidden Quest Unlocked: The Ruins' Heart]
[Warning: Extreme Danger]
[Reward: 10,000 Villain Points]
[Bonus Objective: Corrupt the Heart]
[Bonus Reward: Unique Skill - Death Commandment]
"You know what it is."
Old Feng nodded. "The Demon Emperor's final experiment. He was trying to create artificial life using death qi and corrupted fate lines. He sealed it when he couldn't control it."
"And now it's waking up."
"The seal has weakened over millennia. The thing inside has been feeding on every disciple who dies in the ruins, growing stronger. This opening, with five Children of Destiny entering? It's not coincidence. It's bait."
"The thing wants to feed on their fortune."
"Or possess one of them. Imagine a creature with ten thousand years of accumulated death qi wearing the body of someone with heaven's blessing."
Lin Xiao smiled. "That would be catastrophic."
"You're smiling about potential apocalypse?"
"I'm smiling about opportunity. This thing is powerful but probably insane after ten thousand years of isolation. That makes it manipulatable."
Old Feng stared at him. "You want to control it."
"I want to use it. There's a difference."
"You're more dangerous than I thought."
"Thank you. But you still haven't told me your real price."
Old Feng was quiet for a moment. "When the ring's trials activate, Xiao Fan will need an anchor. Someone to keep his consciousness stable while the emperor's soul fragment tries to possess him."
"You want me to be that anchor."
"You're the only one strong enough who'll be there."
"What about you?"
"I can't enter the ruins. The seal recognizes my qi signature."
'Because you're Feng Wuji's reincarnation. The Demon Emperor's seal would react violently to you.'
"Fine. I'll anchor him. But I want something else from you."
"Name it."
"Your real identity. Not now, but eventually. When this is over, you tell me who you really are."
Old Feng laughed. "You already know."
"I have theories. I want confirmation."
"Done. Keep the boy alive, and I'll tell you everything."
They shook hands. Old Feng's grip was stronger than any crippled librarian's should be.
After he left, Lin Xiao reviewed his preparations. Pills, weapons, talismans, and one special item from the system shop he'd bought with his accumulated points.
[Mask of the Deceiver - 100 Villain Points]
[Hides true cultivation level and intentions from all detection below Immortal Realm]
Tomorrow's combat trials would be interesting. But the ruins would be revolutionary.
The next morning came quickly. The combat arena was packed. Every disciple under thirty had come to watch or participate. Fifty challengers had registered for the five spots.
The sect master stood. "Rules are simple. Last five standing win. Killing is forbidden but crippling is allowed. Begin."
Chaos erupted. Weaker disciples immediately formed alliances. Stronger ones waited, watching.
Lin Xiao didn't move. He stood in the center as battles raged around him. A few disciples approached but backed off when they recognized him.
"Sacred Son! Face me!"
Wei Lin, his cousin. Nascent Soul First Stage, barely qualified age-wise at twenty-nine. He'd always resented Lin Xiao's position.
"Cousin. You sure about this?"
"You've gone soft. Training servants, apologizing to women. Time someone reminded you of your place."
Wei Lin attacked with the family's signature technique, Evernight Palm. Dark qi condensed into a massive hand that could crush boulders.
Lin Xiao sidestepped and tapped Wei Lin's shoulder. His cousin flew across the arena and through the barrier, eliminated.
"Anyone else?"
Three disciples attacked simultaneously. Lin Xiao moved between them like water, each touch sending one flying. He wasn't even using techniques, just perfect positioning and minimal force.
In minutes, only twelve remained. The Li twins, Su Mei who had entered at the last moment, Xiao Fan who'd somehow survived the initial chaos, and seven inner disciples.
"Xiao Fan doesn't belong here!" one disciple shouted. "He's just a servant!"
"Then beating him should be easy."
The disciple charged at Xiao Fan. The ring pulsed, and Xiao Fan's speed doubled. He dodged and struck the disciple's nerve points with precision Old Feng had taught him. The disciple collapsed, paralyzed.
"Holy shit, the servant can fight!"
The Li twins moved together, their twin cultivation technique making them nearly unbeatable in synchronized combat. They targeted Su Mei.
She smiled. The temperature dropped twenty degrees. Ice formed beneath the twins' feet. When they slipped, she struck both with Frozen Heart Palm, sending them into the barrier.
Five inner disciples remained besides Lin Xiao, Su Mei, and Xiao Fan. They looked at each other, then rushed Lin Xiao together.
"Mistake."
Lin Xiao's cultivation erupted. Not his full power, just enough to reach Nascent Soul pressure. The five disciples were pressed to their knees by spiritual weight alone.
"Yield."
They yielded.
Eight fighters left. Three spots remaining.
The last five inner disciples had formed an alliance. They surrounded Xiao Fan, seeing him as the weakest.
"Five against one? That's cowardly even for inner disciples."
"This is combat, not honor court!"
They attacked together. Xiao Fan fought desperately but was overwhelmed. Just as they moved for the finishing blow, Su Mei intervened.
"Five against two then."
Her ice techniques complemented Xiao Fan's speed perfectly. When he dodged, she froze. When she created openings, he struck. They moved like they'd trained together for years instead of weeks.
But five Qi Condensation Peak cultivators were still too many. Su Mei took a palm strike to her ribs. Xiao Fan was bleeding from multiple wounds.
Lin Xiao sighed. "This is taking too long."
He appeared between them and the five disciples. One finger tap each. All five collapsed unconscious.
"Sacred Son, we could have—"
"You were about to lose. I don't like losing."
The crowd erupted. Five spots, three winners. But technically, Lin Xiao had helped Su Mei and Xiao Fan, which could disqualify them.
The sect master stood. "The five spots go to Gu Changye, Su Mei, Xiao Fan, Wei Lin, and Li Haoran."
"But Sacred Son eliminated Wei Lin and Li Haoran!"
"They lasted longer than anyone else eliminated. The rules said last five standing, not last five conscious."
Elder Wei protested. "Sect Master, surely—"
"My decision is final. These five will represent Evernight Immortal Sect in the Ancient Demon Ruins."
Later, Wei Lin cornered Lin Xiao. "You humiliated me."
"You humiliated yourself. I just helped."
"This isn't over."
"It never is with you."
Wei Lin stormed off. Lin Xiao knew his cousin would cause problems in the ruins, but that was fine. Every story needed expendable antagonists.
Xiao Fan was with Old Feng, getting his wounds treated. The old man's medicine worked impossibly fast.
"You did well, boy."
"I almost died multiple times."
"But you didn't. That's what matters."
Lin Xiao entered. "Su Mei's ribs are broken."
"Bring her here."
Su Mei limped in, supported by Lin Xiao. Old Feng examined her injuries with practiced ease.
"Three broken ribs, internal bleeding, damaged meridians. You fought through all this?"
"I've had worse."
"When?"
"When my master trained me. She believed pain was the best teacher."
Old Feng applied medicine and needles with precision that spoke of centuries of experience. Su Mei's injuries visibly healed.
"You're not just a librarian."
"And you're not just a pretty face. We all have secrets."
The emperor's voice echoed from Xiao Fan's ring.
'The old man reeks of reincarnation. His soul is older than his body by millennia.'
Everyone looked at Old Feng. He smiled.
"Even emperors can be wrong sometimes."
'I'm never wrong. You're someone significant. I just can't place who.'
"Perhaps we knew each other in a past life."
'Perhaps. Or perhaps you're hiding behind veils even I cannot pierce.'
The conversation was loaded with hidden meanings. Lin Xiao enjoyed watching the verbal dance between two ancient beings pretending to be normal people.
"Three days until the ruins open. Everyone rest and prepare. Xiao Fan, the emperor will probably have instructions. Listen to them. Su Mei, your sect will want you back tonight. Tell them you're staying here for medical treatment."
"That's a lie."
"Yes."
She laughed. "Fine. But you owe me."
"Add it to my tab."
That night, Lin Xiao stood on his balcony overlooking the sect. In three days, everything would change. The ruins would test everyone who entered. Some would die. Others would emerge transformed.
And hidden in the depths, an ancient experiment waited to feed on destiny itself.
The system showed him the assembled forces.
[Children of Destiny Confirmed for Ruins:]
- Xiao Fan (Evernight)
- Chu Tianming (Azure Cloud)
- Blood Princess Yue (Blood Moon)
- Beast Saint Mo Chen (Thousand Beast)
- Sword Fairy Liu Ruyan (Jade Valley)
[Warning: Multiple destiny lines converging]
[Probability of catastrophic event: 87%]
[Recommended strategy: Accelerate chaos, harvest in confusion]
'Five protagonists, one ancient evil, and me. This will be fun.'
The moon was full. In three days, it would be dark.
Perfect weather for hunting destiny.