The morning sun pierced through the penthouse windows like accusatory fingers, casting long shadows across the rumpled sheets where Zhao Ling'er still slept. Her breathing was steady, her face serene in repose—a stark contrast to the passionate abandon she'd shown last night. I watched her for a moment, not out of sentiment, but calculation. She was mine now, partially bound by the system's seal, her Qi subtly linked to my own. But emotions were fickle; I needed to solidify that hold before Long Tian's threat could unravel it.
The message from the unknown number—clearly Long Tian—burned in my mind: "Meet me at the Forbidden Pagoda tomorrow, or your new toy dies." Crude, predictable. The protagonist's playbook: righteous fury, veiled heroism. In the novel, the Forbidden Pagoda was an ancient ruin on the outskirts of Beijing, a neutral ground for duels among cultivators. Sealed with formations that suppressed external interference, it was perfect for settling grudges without clan wars erupting. Long Tian likely chose it to "teach me a lesson" without witnesses, banking on his superior realm to crush me.
Foolish. He didn't know about the system, or how quickly I'd advanced. Foundation Building Early Stage overnight, thanks to the pills and manual. With Dragon's Breath Lv.1, I could boost my Qi output by 10%—enough to bridge the gap. But I wasn't going in blind. Brute force was for heroes; villains played smarter.
I slipped out of bed, dressing quietly in dark robes reinforced with subtle armor weaves from the Li Family vault. The Jade Dragon Ring hummed on my finger, its defensive array ready to activate. Before leaving, I leaned down and brushed Ling'er's hair from her face. "Sleep well, my queen. I'll handle this."
Her eyes fluttered open, hazy with sleep and lingering affection. "Li Wei? Where are you going?"
"Business," I replied smoothly, infusing Sinful Charm into my voice. "Stay here. Safe. I'll return soon."
She nodded, trust blooming in her gaze—thanks to the skill. But I saw the flicker of worry. Good; it would make her cling tighter later.
As I headed out, I checked the system status.
[Status:
Name: Li Wei (Alex Smith)
Level: 3
Cultivation Realm: Foundation Building (Early Stage)
Strength: 22
Agility: 16
Intelligence: 19
Charm: 20
Luck: 33% (Stolen from Protagonist: 28%)
Villain Points: 7700
Skills: Qi Sensing Lv.1, Dragon's Breath Lv.1, Sinful Charm Lv.1
Artifacts: Jade Dragon Ring (Low-Grade Defensive Item), Ancient Dragon Manual (God-Tier Cultivation Technique)]
Solid progress. With the extra points from conquering Ling'er, I browsed the shop en route to the pagoda.
[Shop Items:
Advanced Cultivation Pill: 2000 VP – Boosts cultivation by 30%.
Phantom Shadow Technique: 3500 VP – Allows short-range illusory clones for deception.
Luck Amplifier Elixir: 5000 VP – Temporarily doubles stolen luck effects for 24 hours.]
The Phantom Shadow caught my eye—perfect for mind games. I purchased it.
[Purchase Complete. Villain Points: 4200.]
[New Skill Acquired: Phantom Shadow Lv.1 – Create up to 2 illusory clones that mimic actions and Qi signature. Duration: 5 minutes.]
The driver—a loyal Li Family retainer—dropped me at the edge of the forested hills surrounding the pagoda. "Young Master, shall I accompany you?"
"No," I said. "This is personal."
The path wound upward, ancient stone steps cracked with age, overgrown with vines pulsing faint Qi. The air thickened with suppression formations, designed to limit external aid—no flying swords, no summoned beasts. Just raw power and wits.
At the summit, the Forbidden Pagoda loomed: a seven-tiered spire of weathered black stone, etched with draconic runes that glowed ominously. Long Tian stood at the base, arms crossed, his rugged frame clad in simple black attire that hid his veteran scars. His eyes burned with draconic fury, Qi aura flickering like flames—Foundation Building Mid Stage, Qi Sensing confirmed. Stronger than me on paper, but protagonists always underestimated villains.
"You came," he growled, voice echoing like thunder. "Brave, for a thief."
I smirked, stepping into the clearing. "Thief? I won that manual fair and square. You just couldn't afford it, 'Dragon King.'"
His fists clenched. "You know who I am. How?"
"Does it matter?" I circled him slowly, activating Qi Sensing to probe for weaknesses. A faint instability in his meridians—likely from his rushed return and incomplete recovery. Exploitable. "You're the exiled heir, back to reclaim your throne. Power, wealth, women. But here's the thing, Tian—destiny isn't set in stone. Not anymore."
He lunged without warning, palm striking out in a blast of draconic Qi. "Dragon Claw Strike!"
The air ripped as claw-like energy slashed toward me. I dodged with enhanced agility, feeling the wind graze my cheek. Close. I countered with Dragon's Breath, Qi surging as I punched back. "Take this!"
Our fists collided in a shockwave that cracked the ground. Pain jolted up my arm, but I held firm, stealing a sliver of his momentum.
[Qi Clash Detected. Minor Luck Drain: +1%.]
He staggered back, surprised. "Your cultivation... you were mortal yesterday!"
"Things change," I taunted. "Like how Zhao Ling'er changed her mind about you."
His face twisted in rage. "What did you do to her?"
"Seduced her. Claimed her. She's mine now." I activated Sinful Charm subtly, not to persuade him, but to amplify his emotional turmoil—make him sloppy.
"Liar!" He roared, unleashing a flurry of strikes. Dragon Qi coiled around him, forming ethereal scales that boosted his defense.
I weaved through the assault, using Phantom Shadow for the first time. Two illusory clones materialized beside me, mirroring my stance. We attacked in unison—fists, palms, kicks. Long Tian struck one clone, dispersing it in a puff of smoke, but my real strike landed on his side, cracking ribs.
He grunted, blood trickling from his lip. "Illusions? Cowardly tricks!"
"Effective tricks," I corrected, pressing the advantage. We clashed again, Qi exploding in bursts that shook the pagoda's foundations. His strikes were powerful, each one carrying the weight of his destined aura, but mine were precise, targeting meridians to disrupt his flow.
As we fought, memories from the novel flashed: Long Tian's unbreakable will, his plot armor turning defeats into growth. I couldn't kill him yet—too early; the system warned of backlash. But humiliate him? Steal more luck? Absolutely.
I feinted left, then struck his shoulder with a Qi-infused palm. He blocked, but I followed with a knee to the gut. He doubled over, and I whispered, "You think you're the hero? Heroes fall hardest."
Enraged, he activated his signature move: "Dragon Ascendant Roar!"
A sonic wave of Qi blasted outward, shattering nearby stones. I crossed my arms, Jade Ring activating to form a barrier. The force pushed me back, skidding across the dirt, but I held.
[Defensive Success. Villain Points +1000.]
Now, my turn. Channeling the manual's essence, I gathered Qi into my core. "Dragon's Fury Palm!"
Borrowed from his own technique, twisted by my villainous intent. My palm glowed crimson, slamming into his chest. He flew back, crashing into the pagoda wall, coughing blood.
"Impossible... how do you know that?" he wheezed, struggling to rise.
"I stole more than your manual," I said, approaching. "Your luck. Your future."
But he wasn't done. With a defiant glare, he pulled a hidden vial from his sleeve— a Blood Essence Booster, meant to be his next plot device in the novel. He swallowed it, aura exploding to Foundation Building Peak.
"Die!" He charged, faster now, strikes blurring.
I cursed inwardly. Protagonist cheats. I activated Dragon's Breath to max, boosting my strength, and met him head-on. Fists blurred in a deadly dance, the clearing torn asunder. A lucky hit grazed my ribs, drawing blood, but I countered with Phantom Shadow again—clones confusing him long enough for a solid kick to his knee.
He dropped to one knee, panting. "This isn't over..."
"Oh, it is—for today." I loomed over him, Qi gathering for a finishing blow. But instead of killing, I placed a hand on his head, activating a hidden system function I'd unlocked mid-fight.
[Luck Siphon Activated: Drain Protagonist's Destiny.]
A vortex of ethereal energy pulled from him, flowing into me. His eyes widened in horror as his aura dimmed.
[Major Luck Stolen: 20%. Total Luck: 54%.]
[Villain Points +5000.]
[Level Up: Level 4.]
[Strength +3, Agility +2, Intelligence +1.]
Power flooded me, healing my wounds instantly. Long Tian collapsed, unconscious but alive—barely.
I stood over him, breathing heavy. Victory tasted sweet, but incomplete. Killing him now might trigger some heavenly tribulation or backup plot twist. Better to let him stew, grow paranoid.
As I turned to leave, a rustle in the bushes caught my ear. Qi Sensing flared—multiple signatures, Qi Condensation levels. Assassins?
Three figures emerged, masked in black, blades drawn. "Young Master Li, your end has come. Courtesy of the Wang Family."
Ling'er's fiance's clan. They'd tailed me, or perhaps Long Tian. Opportunistic bastards.
I cracked my knuckles. "Bad timing, gentlemen."
The first lunged with a poisoned dagger. I sidestepped, grabbing his wrist and twisting—bone snapped. He screamed as I drove his own blade into his throat.
The second hurled shurikens laced with Qi. Phantom Shadow clones drew the fire; I closed in, palm striking his chest, shattering his sternum.
The third tried to flee, but I was faster. A Qi blast to the back ended him.
[Combat Victory: Eliminated Minor Antagonists.]
[Villain Points +1500.]
Blood on my hands, but no remorse. In this world, weakness was death.
I dragged Long Tian's body to the pagoda entrance, leaving him for his allies to find. A message: I'm coming for everything.
Back at the penthouse, Ling'er waited anxiously. "What happened? You're hurt!"
"Nothing I couldn't handle," I said, pulling her into an embrace. Her concern was genuine now, deepened by the bond.
But as we kissed, passion reigniting, my mind raced ahead. The Wang Family would retaliate. Long Tian would recover stronger. I needed allies, more power.
That night, as Ling'er lay beside me again, her body entwined with mine in a slower, more intimate dance—her hands exploring with newfound confidence, our Qi merging in waves of ecstasy—I pondered my next steal.
She whispered my name—Alex, again— in the throes, but I let it slide, focusing on the pleasure, the control.
[Heroine Bond Strengthened: Zhao Ling'er (50%).]
[Shared Skill Unlocked: Illusion Veil Lv.1 – Create minor disguises or conceal presence.]
As dawn broke, a new system message appeared.
[New Mission: Infiltrate the Hidden Auction Alliance. Steal the Protagonist's Next Treasure – The Phoenix Heart Orb.]
[Reward: 10,000 Villain Points, +25% Luck, Unlock Gacha System.]
Long Tian's next big break. But not if I got there first.
Yet, a whisper of unease: How did Ling'er know my real name? Was the system glitching, or was something deeper at play?
I pushed it aside. Paranoia later. Conquest now.
The dragon stirred, but the villain rose higher.
[Conquest Progress: 35%. Warning: Protagonist's Allies Approaching.]
[End of Chapter 3]