Chen Xiao's punch erupted with a force far beyond the Foundation Establishment stage.
Nangong Qi groaned violently. His body was hurled backward, smashing into the ground with a bone-jarring impact. At the same moment, three teeth—bloody and dislodged—floated helplessly in the air.
Chen Xiao tapped lightly on the ground with his toes. His figure flickered like a phantom, closing in on Nangong Qi without hesitation. Both fists blurred into afterimages, raining down an unrelenting barrage upon the young marquis.
The immortal cultivators observing from the edges of the courtyard twitched involuntarily.
Even after a lifetime of witnessing martial prowess, what they saw now made their eyes widen. After careful inspection, it was unmistakable: this was Chen Shao!
But this time, Chen Xiao did not rely on immortal magic or arcane Taoist techniques.
No, this was the most rudimentary, chaotic, street-fighter style of all: the turtle punch.
Yet… it was precisely this unpredictable, seemingly unsystematic assault that left Nangong Qi without any means of counterattack.
He struggled, trying to fight back, only to find his body constrained as if invisible chains had bound him. Even the circulation of his true energy felt impossibly heavy, sluggish, trapped.
The onlookers were stunned.
All the Chen family cultivators had been ready to rush forward, to protect their young master. And yet… it turned out that it was Chen Xiao himself who was holding Nangong Qi down, using nothing but a set of combined turtle punches.
Our young master… is this… so formidable?
Whispers rippled through the courtyard. Even earlier that morning, Liu Ruyan had been knocked flat by the young master's shoe—perhaps a prelude to what they were now witnessing.
"Chen Xiao!!" Nangong Qi roared, fury and disbelief mixing into a feral shout.
Chen Xiao inclined his head lightly. "Dad is here."
Puff.
The words struck like a hammer. Nangong Qi coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth.
"You're already vomiting blood?" Chen Xiao sneered, amusement flickering briefly in his dark eyes.
With a swift motion, Chen Xiao traced a crimson talisman across Nangong Qi's body.
In an instant, he vanished.
A roaring flame ignited on Nangong Qi's skin. His face paled. Recognition dawned—this was the fifth-level fire talisman, the one that had vanished moments ago, now imprinted upon him instead of Chen Xiao!
The blaze erupted uncontrollably, enveloping Nangong Qi completely. The fine brocade of his robe instantly turned to ash.
"Evil creature!!!"
A sharp, enraged voice cut through the chaos from the inner hall of the Nangong family. A green sword light sliced toward Chen Xiao with lethal precision.
"It's Sikong Zhao!" someone gasped.
"The number one swordsman of the Dayu Immortal Cultivation Dynasty! This is the younger brother originally assigned by this master to assist you!"
Chen Xiao's mind echoed with Yun Ranran's exasperated voice. "I was instigated by the villain of destiny! Although I've already studied the plot, this betrayal still infuriates me. Sikong Zhao, meant to aid you, has been intercepted by the villain and turned into a pawn for Nangong Qi!"
The voice explained the mechanics of destiny and luck: the heavenly-assigned allies possessed innate fortune, but if subdued by the villain, that corresponding luck would be plundered.
As Yun Ranran's voice faded, Chen Xiao saw the oncoming sword.
Bang!
Before the attack could reach him, another flying sword intersected, shattering Sikong Zhao's blade. A middle-aged man in a weathered green robe fell from the sky, landing before Chen Xiao.
"Grandpa Taizu!" Chen Xiao's heart skipped.
The figure was none other than Chen Fengyang, ancestor of the Chen family, a warrior of the Tribulation Crossing stage. His presence radiated an overwhelming aura of power.
Chen Fengyang's head turned toward Chen Xiao, nodding faintly. Then he shouted with authority, "Why bully the weak in a contest between juniors?"
The words barely fell when Chen Fengyang became a shadow in motion. Sikong Zhao had no choice but to grab Nangong Qi, fleeing into the sky, unable to challenge a master of the Tribulation Crossing stage.
By now, Nangong Qi's clothes had been incinerated. Sikong Zhao held the young marquis aloft, parading him through the streets, though the terrifying flames continued to lick at his body. Chen Xiao raised his hand, and the photo stone in his grasp clicked, recording the entire scene.
"Tsk… Mashiro," Chen Xiao muttered, a dry smirk crossing his lips. "This capital is quaint… but I wonder how much Yubaozhai would pay for such a spectacle?"
He stored the projection stone in his storage ring. The villain of destiny would get two unforgettable surprises at tomorrow's auction.
Chen Fengyang did not attack further. His form slowly dissipated. This was only an incarnation; his true body remained in seclusion, preparing for the heavenly tribulation three years hence. Chen Xiao had no reason to pursue him. Nangong Qi, after all, was shielded by the Destiny Villain System. All that remained was to continue injuring him and consuming the system's energy.
Meanwhile, Sikong Zhao and Nangong Qi fled in panic. Chen Xiao turned to Liu Yuanzun.
"Master Liu, now we should discuss compensation. Ten million high-grade spirit stones… or the Liu family will remain enslaved."
The Liu family cultivators had barely recovered from the chaos when Chen Xiao's words hit them. Shock painted every face.
Liu Yuanzun stammered, "Chen… Master Chen… hasn't… Xiao Hou… no… Nangong Qi paid the ten million high-grade spirit stones for our Liu family?"
Chen Xiao's lips curled into a faint sneer. "Paid for your Liu family? No… those ten million high-grade spirit stones were Nangong Qi's challenge to me. They cannot be counted as your family's debt."
Veins bulged on Liu Yuanzun's forehead. "Chen Xiao! Young Marquis Nangong explicitly stated that the ten million high-grade spirit stones were to repay the Liu family's debt!"
Chen Xiao said nothing. He merely produced another photo stone. The image of Nangong Qi challenging him with ten million high-grade spirit stones glimmered vividly.
"Take it," Chen Xiao said, waving his hand.
Boom!
A vast formation rose from the earth, enveloping the Liu family estate. Chen family cultivators streamed in, securing the area.
"Enough," Chen Xiao declared.
At that moment, a cold, steady voice resonated from outside. A beautiful girl in a flowing green dress stepped forward. Her gaze locked on Chen Xiao.
"Chen Xiao… that's enough."
This girl was his destined heroine—Xiao Yueqing.
Chen Xiao's brow furrowed. He had once harbored favorable impressions of her. But now… she had been swayed by Nangong Qi. Yesterday, his recklessness had put their engagement at risk. Xiao Yueqing's behind-the-scenes schemes had nearly turned him into a laughingstock.
Much of his luck and fortune had also been plundered by the villain system.
A faint green halo shimmered in Xiao Yueqing's eyes as she stared directly at Chen Xiao.
In that gaze, Chen Xiao saw both condemnation and inevitability. The original destined heroine had arrived.
And the game… was about to change once more.