The atmosphere in the Grand Heaven Auction House was thick with tension. While the elite of Cloud Mist City were still reeling from the explosion of the Thunder-Claw Tiger, Lu Chen remained as calm as a deep lake.
Manager Qin personally escorted Lu Chen to the underground vault. The air grew colder and the walls thicker, reinforced with Rank-2 suppression formations. Finally, they stopped before a pedestal where a long, obsidian object lay covered in dust.
"This is it," Manager Qin whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of respect and doubt. "The Origin Spirit Pen. Our best blacksmiths tried to melt it, and our strongest masters tried to infuse it with Qi. It remains unresponsive. To us, it is just an indestructible rod of unknown metal."
Lu Chen stepped forward. As his fingers brushed the cold surface, the Architectural God-Interface erupted with golden notifications.
[Target: The Origin Spirit Pen (Ancient Artifact - Sealed)]
[Current State: Dormant.]
[True Nature: The Sovereign's Stylus. Created from the rib of an Outer-Void Dragon.]
[Unlocking Requirement: Holy Origin Qi infusion at the 'Point of Genesis'.]
Lu Chen gripped the pen. To everyone else, it looked like he was holding a heavy stick, but to him, it felt like an extension of his own arm. He sent a thin thread of his Holy Origin Qi into a microscopic crack near the tip—the 'Point of Genesis' that only his Sovereign Eye could see.
Hummmmm.
The dust vanished instantly. The dull black metal transformed into a translucent, dark-gold jade. Lines of glowing silver runes began to swirl around the barrel.
Manager Qin gasped, stepping back as a wave of pure, ancient pressure filled the room. "It... it reacted? How is this possible?"
"Because you were trying to force it to obey," Lu Chen said, his voice echoing with power. "An Architect doesn't force a structure; he understands its intent."
[System Notification: Origin Spirit Pen Bound.]
[Active Ability: Structural Correction. You can now physically 'edit' flaws in non-living objects and lower-tier lifeforms.]
The Shadow in the Corridor
As Lu Chen and Su Lan exited the vault and headed toward the back exit of the auction house, the Architectural God-Interface flashed a violent crimson.
[WARNING: ABYSSAL GLITCH DETECTED.]
[Distance: 20 Meters. Threat Level: Stage 3 (Acupuncture Point Realm).]
[Analysis: A Demon-Possessed Human. Targeted Flaw: Host's Heart Center.]
The air in the narrow stone corridor suddenly turned putrid. A tall man in black robes, whom Lu Chen had noticed in the auction hall, emerged from the shadows. His skin was unnaturally grey, and his eyes were twin voids of swirling black mist.
"Teacher Lu Chen..." the man hissed, his voice sounding like two stones grinding together. "You saw too much in the hall. The 'Architect' must be erased before the plan begins."
Su Lan turned pale, her hand flying to her mouth. "A... a Demon? But they haven't been seen in our territory for centuries!"
"He's not a Demon, Lan'er," Lu Chen said, stepping in front of her, his hand tightening around the Origin Spirit Pen. "He's just a puppet with a virus in his system."
The possessed man roared, his fingers lengthening into sharp, obsidian claws. He lunged forward with a speed that exceeded the Rank-1 territory's limits. His claws were aimed directly at Lu Chen's throat.
[Architectural God-Interface: Analyzing Attack Pattern...]
[Technique: Shadow-Rip. Flaws: 72.]
[Critical Weakness: The energy source is concentrated in the left heel during the leap.]
Lu Chen didn't retreat. He didn't even use a defensive stance. As the claws reached inches from his face, he simply swung the Origin Spirit Pen in a short, precise arc, tapping the attacker's left heel mid-air.
Ting!
The sound was like a hammer hitting a bell. The possessed man's momentum didn't just stop; it inverted. He crashed into the stone floor, his left leg shattering as if it were made of glass.
"Aaargh! Impossible! How could a Stage-1 weakling see my movement?" the man screamed, black blood leaking from his mouth.
"I don't see your movement," Lu Chen said, walking slowly toward him. "I see the 'glitch' in your foundation. You sacrificed your soul for power, but you forgot that a house built on sand cannot withstand a single breeze."
The man tried to ignite his Qi for a self-destruction blast—a common demonic tactic to take out the enemy.
"Don't bother," Lu Chen said. He raised the Origin Spirit Pen and 'drew' a glowing golden circle in the air.
[Ability Used: Structural Lock!]
The golden circle flew forward and branded itself onto the man's chest. Instantly, the violent black energy swirling within him was frozen. He couldn't move a single muscle, let alone detonate.
Lu Chen leaned down, his eyes turning cold. "Now, tell me. Who sent you? And why are you targeting the Cloud Mist Academy?"
The puppet laughed hysterically. "The Academy... is just the beginning. The Great Architect of the Abyss is coming... your 'All Path' will lead only to a grave!"
Before Lu Chen could probe further, the black mist inside the man's eyes turned into a liquid and poured out of his ears. Within seconds, the body dissolved into a pool of foul-smelling black sludge.
[Target Neutralized.]
[Essence Absorbed: 500 'Dark Library' Points.]
The Healing of the King
Lu Chen turned back to Su Lan, who was trembling. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and a surge of Holy Origin Qi instantly calmed her nerves.
"We need to get to the Tiger Cub," Lu Chen said. "And then, we go back to the Academy. The 'trash' students I'm supposed to teach... they are the only ones who can help me rebuild this broken world."
They returned to the VIP holding area where the Thunder-Claw Tiger cub lay in a small cage. It was barely breathing, its fur matted with dried blood and purple electricity.
[Target: Thunder-Claw Tiger Cub]
[Status: Critical. Structural Integrity: 12%.]
Lu Chen opened the cage. He took the Origin Spirit Pen and touched the cub's forehead.
"You were meant to be a King of the Heavens," Lu Chen whispered. "Let me fix your blueprint."
He began to draw glowing runes directly onto the cub's fur. Each stroke of the pen absorbed the violent purple electricity, converting it into pure, manageable energy.
Slowly, the cub's breathing stabilized. Its fur began to glow with a brilliant white-gold light. Suddenly, it opened its eyes—no longer filled with pain, but with a fierce, intelligent lightning.
It let out a low, vibrating growl and nuzzled Lu Chen's hand.
[Success: Beast Taming Complete.]
[Evolution Initiated: Heavenly Lightning King (Rank 1 - Growing).]
"We have our transport," Lu Chen smiled. He picked up the cub, which was now radiating a protective aura.
The Return to the Academy
When Lu Chen reached the gates of the Cloud Mist Academy, it was already past midnight. The rent deadline had passed. Elder Gu and the Academy Landlord were standing at the gate, flanked by guards, ready to throw Lu Chen's belongings into the street.
"Finally!" Elder Gu sneered. "Lu Chen, the guards are already inside. Your three 'disaster students' have been kicked out as well. Leave now, or—"
Elder Gu stopped mid-sentence. His eyes drifted to the glowing, white-gold tiger cub in Lu Chen's arms. Then, he noticed the ornate, dark-gold pen tucked into Lu Chen's belt.
But most of all, he saw the aura. Lu Chen didn't look like a disgraced teacher anymore. He looked like a Sovereign standing among mortals.
"Elder Gu," Lu Chen said, his voice carrying the Sovereign Architect's Pressure. "I believe I told you I would pay the rent."
He reached into his sleeve and tossed a heavy pouch at the Landlord's feet.
Clink! Clink! Clink!
The pouch burst open, spilling dozens of shining Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
"There are 100 stones here," Lu Chen said coolly. "50 for the rent, and 50 for the trouble you caused my students. Now, get off my property before I decide to 'renovate' your face."
Elder Gu was too shocked to speak. The Landlord scrambled to pick up the stones.
Lu Chen walked past them, his footsteps heavy with destiny. He headed straight for the "Trash Class" dorms. It was timeto meet the first of his 15 Disciples and begin the true training.
System Goal Updated: Recruit Disciple #1 - The Sword-Heart Genius with Broken Meridians.]