The moon hung high in the ink-black sky, its pale glow casting long shadows across Wu Tan City. The night was quiet, save for the occasional chirp of crickets hidden in the grass. A slight breeze stirred the leaves, whispering secrets to the darkness.
In the midst of this silence, Xiao Tian strode with steady steps along the stone path of the Xiao Family estate. His eyes gleamed with quiet determination, reflecting the moonlight like shards of ice. Every step he took was firm, every breath controlled. But beneath that calm exterior, his mind was turning rapidly.
"I need to see Xiao Yan first," he muttered to himself, eyes narrowing with purpose. "There's something off about all of this… and it starts with him."
He adjusted his robe and quickened his pace, weaving through the familiar courtyards and dimly lit walkways of the Xiao residence.
---
Meanwhile, in a secluded room deep within the Xiao Family compound, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
Xiao Yan sat alone, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles white with tension. His chest heaved with each ragged breath, eyes filled with a mixture of rage and sorrow. The room around him was dim, lit only by the faint flicker of a dying candle that cast dancing shadows across the walls.
"Why… why did this happen to me!?" Xiao Yan roared, his voice echoing through the otherwise still night. His words were raw with frustration, his tone cracked and desperate.
Once hailed as the genius of the Xiao Family—their pride, their hope—he had now fallen from grace. His talent, which once shone so brightly, had inexplicably vanished, leaving behind nothing but bitterness and shame. The title of Young Patriarch now felt more like a chain than a badge of honor.
His hands trembled as he grasped at his hair, his face contorted with fury. The weight of endless ridicule and whispers had built up like a dam about to burst.
"I was supposed to lead this family… I was supposed to rise to the top!" he spat out between gritted teeth, his eyes reddening with fury. His vision blurred as rage clouded his thoughts.
Unable to hold back any longer, Xiao Yan's anger exploded. He stood up abruptly, sweeping his arm across a wooden table, sending books, scrolls, and porcelain crashing to the floor. The sound of shattering glass filled the room, sharp and chaotic, mirroring his state of mind.
Crash!
Bang!
Pieces of vases and furniture splintered as he struck out at everything in sight, venting his frustrations in a blind fury.
In the chaos, his hand instinctively grabbed a small, seemingly insignificant black ring—a keepsake his mother had given him long ago. It had always sat quietly on his finger, a constant reminder of her love. But now, blinded by rage, Xiao Yan ripped it off and hurled it carelessly into the corner, where it landed with a dull clink among the wreckage.
"I don't care anymore!" he roared, his voice hoarse with emotion. "What use is this damn thing when everything is falling apart?!"
The room fell eerily silent after his outburst, save for the ragged sound of his breathing. His shoulders heaved as he stood amid the wreckage, chest pounding.
And then… something strange happened.
A faint tremor, almost imperceptible at first, rippled through his body. His eyes widened in shock as a sudden warmth surged in his meridians—a feeling he hadn't experienced in years. The long-lost sensation of Dou Qi began to stir within him, like a long-slumbering beast awakening from its deep sleep.
He stumbled back, clutching his chest in disbelief. "This… this can't be!" he whispered, eyes darting to his hands, which now trembled for an entirely different reason. He could feel it. The flow of energy, faint but unmistakable, was back.
Without a moment's hesitation, Xiao Yan leaped onto his bed and crossed his legs, his mind now razor-focused. He closed his eyes and began circulating his Dou Qi with practiced precision, guiding the energy through his meridians, feeling it strengthen and grow.
"Yes… yes!" he laughed breathlessly, his voice filled with pure elation. "I can cultivate again!"
Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, but this time they were not born of sorrow—they were tears of overwhelming relief and joy. The crushing weight that had suffocated him for so long suddenly felt lighter, as though a door had finally been opened after years of being sealed shut.
Outside the room, the night continued in quiet serenity, unaware that the fate of the Xiao Family—and perhaps the entire empire—had just begun to shift.
And Xiao Tian, still making his way toward Xiao Yan's courtyard, felt a strange pulse in the air, his steps slowing momentarily as if sensing that tonight… something had irrevocably changed.
---
Through the window, Xiao Tian watched as Xiao Yan, in his rage, hurled a black ring across the room, the treasured keepsake landing amidst the wreckage without a second glance.
That sight made Xiao Tian's brows knit together, confusion flashing in his eyes. That ring… isn't that the exact same ring he cherished so much in the original novel? The one his mother gave him? He always wore it, clung to it like a lifeline! How is he throwing it away like trash now?
His mind churned with thoughts, analyzing the situation with precision. Something's different. This isn't playing out the way it was supposed to…
Then, a sly grin stretched across his face, eyes gleaming with realization. Could it be… the so-called "plot" is shifting because of me? Interesting… very interesting!
Suppressing a chuckle, Xiao Tian's fingers twitched slightly as he whispered, "Stats!"
In an instant, a translucent blue panel materialized before his eyes, floating silently in the night air:
---
[Status Panel]
Name: Xiao Yan
Age: 12
Dou Qi: Dou Zhe – 2-Star
Soul Realm: Spirit Realm
Title: Son of Destiny (Luck: +1000%)
---
Attributes:
● Talent – 30
● Physique – 23
● Comprehension – 41
● Charm – 84
● Constitution – 15
● Perception – 50
• Dou Qi – 42
• Soul – 8
■ Bloodline – 0 (Unavailable)
■ Physique – None
■ Attributes – Fire (Trace of Wood)
Techniques: (Tap to View)
Skills: (Tap to View)
---
Origin Points: 17
Sky Points: 0
Rewards Unclaimed (Tap here to claim)
---
Xiao Tian's eyes swept over the panel, lingering on the title. Son of Destiny, he mused with amusement, a true child of luck, huh? 1000% Luck boost… no wonder fate always bends to his favor!
He let out a soft laugh under his breath. "That title… way too overpowered. But that only makes this more fun."
His gaze flicked back to the window, where Xiao Yan had now calmed down, sitting cross-legged and focusing on cultivation. Xiao Tian's eyes gleamed. He's busy right now… this is my chance.
Stepping forward silently, he slipped into the room like a shadow, careful not to disturb the focused Xiao Yan. His eyes landed on the black ring lying amidst the broken shards.
He bent down, plucking it up with a slow, deliberate movement. The ring was cool and smooth in his palm, seemingly ordinary at a glance, yet Xiao Tian knew better. His fingers traced the cold metal, and he smirked. "Tsk… this thing really does look good."
He straightened up, casting a glance around the wrecked room, feigning innocence. "Hmm… where's its owner, I wonder?" he muttered aloud, as if puzzled.
His eyes swept the space once more, lingering momentarily on Xiao Yan—who remained seated with eyes shut tight in deep cultivation—before shrugging. "Well, if no one's claiming it…" he said with a mock sigh, "I suppose I'll keep it safe for now."
Sliding the ring onto his finger with a practiced air of nonchalance, he admired it for a moment as it gleamed faintly in the moonlight. Fits perfectly, he thought with a secretive smile.
Without another word, Xiao Tian turned on his heel and exited the room as quietly as he had entered, leaving behind the slumbering Xiao Yan who was oblivious to the theft of what might be his most important treasure.
The night was still and calm once more as Xiao Tian made his way back toward his own courtyard, hands tucked into his sleeves, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.