Who am I?
Where am I?
What should I do?
Am I even asleep?
Why did I suddenly end up here?
Chen Xiao looked around, completely confused. Up, down, left, right — in every direction stretched an endless, boundless starry sky. The stars looked close enough to touch.
Just as Chen Xiao was struggling to make sense of it all, a girl appeared before him. She seemed around sixteen or seventeen. She wore a long white dress, her eyes bright, her teeth white, her hair black like clouds.
Chen Xiao couldn't help but stare.
This girl was stunning. Every frown, every smile, every subtle gesture carried an innate beauty. Her delicate face had not a single flaw. It was as if carefully crafted by the gods themselves.
Chen Xiao's fiancée, Liu Ruyan, was famously the most beautiful woman in Aurora City. Yet compared to the girl in front of him, Liu Ruyan seemed ordinary, even insignificant.
The girl's bright eyes filled with concern as she looked at him. "Chen Xiao! The villain of destiny has already targeted you. What should we do?"
Chen Xiao blinked, finally finding his voice. "No… Who are you?"
The girl froze for a moment, then scratched her head awkwardly. "I forgot to introduce myself. My full name is Tiandao, but people call me Yun Ranran."
Chen Xiao frowned in disbelief. "Tiandao? You mean… the Way of Heaven? Don't mess with me. I'm not well educated, but I know that's impossible."
Yun Ranran spoke firmly. "I'm not lying. I really am the Way of Heaven… Intern, that is." She paused, then added, "I'm the daughter of the previous Tiandao. When the previous Tiandao retired, I succeeded him."
Chen Xiao opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn't know what to say.
Seeing his silence, Yun Ranran continued. "Your name is Chen Xiao. You are seventeen. You come from the Immortal Realm, the Great World of the Eastern Wasteland, the Glazed Immortal Realm, and the Great Yu Immortal Dynasty. Your family is one of the eight great immortal families — the Chen family of Aurora City. You are the son of the family head, Chen Junluo. Most importantly… you are the protagonist I have chosen."
Chen Xiao's mouth twitched.
Yun Ranran's expression grew serious. "The script I am giving you… it's the classic story of a broken engagement. Your childhood sweetheart leaves you. You come to your senses, work hard, and finally find your destiny. From there, your journey is full of sparks and lightning, pretending to be confident but often slapped in the face, until you reach the pinnacle of immortality."
Chen Xiao remained silent.
Yun Ranran's tone shifted, almost desperate. "But now… everything has changed. Your fate has been hijacked by the Destiny Villain System. A minor villain has suddenly become the destined villain. He robs your opportunities, your allies, your heroine, your luck, and in the end… even your life. He takes everything from you, rises to the peak of villainy, and replaces your path."
Chen Xiao could only stare.
Yun Ranran guided him to sit on an invisible platform in the void. A refreshing fragrance filled the air. "Let's look at the plot first," she said, waving her hand.
Before him appeared a scroll — the Book of Heavenly Dao. Its pages were dense with images and texts detailing both his past and future. Some events had already occurred. Others were yet to come.
It was only now that Chen Xiao truly believed her. This girl… really was the Way of Heaven.
Yun Ranran's finger jabbed at the scroll, her face filled with frustration. "This is what's going to happen tomorrow. Your fiancée will break off your engagement — a pivotal moment for you. You should have replied with your famous line: 'Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west; don't despise the young and poor,' divorced her immediately, and begun a three-year plan toward your success. But now… the villain of destiny has intervened, hijacking your words and blocking your path."
She continued, voice tense. "What should have been your highlight moment became a battlefield of misfortune. Three years later, your ancestor Chen Fengyang faces a deadly tribulation. You intervene, blocking the last three tribulations, helping him survive. That's supposed to be the beginning of your family's rise — another personal highlight. But now… the Destiny Villain System ruins it. Chen Fengyang fails, the Chen family is wiped out, and you wander the world, destitute and miserable. Your chance, gone. Your little brother and your heroine, taken by the destined villain."
Chen Xiao felt his head spinning.
Yun Ranran stopped for a moment, catching her breath. She had spoken for two hours, detailing every misfortune and trap. Chen Xiao finally found room to speak. "Are you really the Way of Heaven?"
Yun Ranran nodded heavily.
Chen Xiao frowned. "If you're the Way of Heaven… why not just use divine power to destroy that villain system?"
Yun Ranran sighed. "I told you — I'm just an intern. And the Destiny Villain System isn't part of the Heavenly Dao. It has a special power I can't interfere with."
Chen Xiao stroked his chin. "So… you came to me."
Yun Ranran's eyes brightened. She patted his chest with confidence. "If the villain cheats, we cheat too! Together, you and I — the Heavenly Dao and the Son of Destiny, the chosen protagonist — we can defeat the Destiny Villain System!"
Chen Xiao hesitated. "Anything… we can do?"
Yun Ranran nodded. "Any cheat works."
Chen Xiao examined the scroll again, thinking seriously. "My ancestor fails his tribulation… Can you give me a cheat to control it?"
Yun Ranran paused, then beamed. "Of course! The Heavenly Tribulation is bound by the laws of Heaven — impartial, strict. But if we allow a living being to control it, the rules don't matter. I can give you that power, so you can strike at anyone you want. But first… you must become my disciple. Only as a disciple of the Heavenly Dao can I pass on the power of the Heavenly Tribulation."
Without hesitation, Chen Xiao knelt. "Disciple Chen Xiao, greetings to Master!"
In his mind, two plans formed instantly: controlling the tribulation guarantees his family's survival, and he can ambush the destined villain at any point. If the villain dares to survive the tribulation, Chen Xiao will be ready.
Yun Ranran reached out, touched his head, and said softly, "Be good, my disciple. Now, get up."
Chen Xiao quickly sat beside her. "Master… who is my destined heroine? Liu Ruyan?"
Yun Ranran shook her head. "No. She's just a tool, a supporting role. Your true destined heroine is your non-blood-related cousin who is staying with your family. But she's already been recruited by the villain of destiny and plotted against you. I'll find you a new one."
Her eyes suddenly lit up. If she became his destined heroine herself, she could use Chen Xiao's luck to escape the Tao realm, go to the mortal world, and confront the Destiny Villain System directly.
Chen Xiao didn't know her thoughts. He asked another question: "Who is the villain of destiny?"
Yun Ranran shook her head. "It could be anyone. Whoever is bound to the Destiny Villain System becomes the villain. I can't catch it… only you can."
Chen Xiao stared at her, determination building.