The air was thick with excitement.
Dozens of disciples from major sects stood at the entrance of the Emerald Sky Secret Realm — a place full of danger, mystery, and ancient treasures. It only opened once every hundred years, and inside were powerful beasts, old ruins, and lost cultivation techniques.
Shen Yue and Li Yueru stood among the Azure Heaven Sect's team, dressed once again in their elegant sect robes. Their eyes looked serious, but inside, both girls were thinking of something else — or rather, someone.
Lin Xian.
The peaceful days in the mortal town had left a deep mark on them. Shen Yue looked around at the crowd but didn't see that familiar gentle face.
"I wonder if Big Brother Lin Xian is watching," she whispered to Li Yueru.
Li Yueru didn't reply. But her hand clenched quietly around the small token Lin Xian had given them before they left — a charm with a calming aura.
---
Far away, hidden by a high-level stealth formation, Lin Xian watched the group from the shade of a forested cliff.
His clothes were simple, and his aura was completely hidden. No one could tell he was there.
'So it begins,' he thought. 'This secret realm is filled with opportunities. But more than that… it's a battlefield for fate itself.'
He already had a plan.
He wouldn't rush in with the crowd. Instead, he would enter from a side entrance he had discovered during his research — an old, forgotten path only someone with the [Villain System] could detect.
---
Inside the Secret Realm
The moment everyone stepped inside, the world changed.
The sky was greenish-blue, the trees were huge and glowing, and spiritual energy was thick in the air. Strange beasts roared in the distance.
Groups spread out, each team looking for rare herbs, treasures, or lucky chances. But danger was everywhere — one wrong move, and even a strong cultivator could die.
Shen Yue and Li Yueru worked together closely. Thanks to their time in the mortal world, their bond had deepened. Shen Yue listened to Li Yueru's advice carefully and didn't rush ahead like before.
But despite her efforts, Shen Tian — who was also in the realm — didn't treat Shen Yue any better. He still gave her cold looks, still ignored her efforts, and still acted like she was a burden.
One night, after a narrow escape from a spirit beast, Shen Yue sat quietly by a fire, tears silently falling from her eyes.
"I trained so hard… I just wanted him to say 'well done' once…"
Li Yueru hugged her gently. "You don't need his approval, Yue. You're already strong. He just doesn't see it."
Shen Yue nodded slowly, wiping her tears.
---
Elsewhere in the realm, Lin Xian was busy.
He had already taken two great inheritances without anyone knowing — a Thunder Spirit Root upgrade and a high-grade pill recipe. Both were originally meant for other sons of fate… but now belonged to him.
Each time he stole one, he felt his system power grow.
[Villain Points +1000]
[Fate Fragment Absorbed: Lightning Child]
He smiled.
'The more I take, the weaker they become.'
But he wasn't just collecting treasures.
He was watching Shen Yue and Li Yueru from a distance — making sure they were safe, stepping in secretly to remove dangers, and laying plans for when he would show himself again.
This secret realm wasn't just a test for them…
It was a test for him too — to see how far he could go in changing fate.
---
As the full moon rose high in the strange realm's sky, Lin Xian stood quietly on a cliff, watching the stars.
'Soon, they'll face real danger. That's when I'll step in. Not just as a savior… but as someone they can truly rely on.'
And down below, Shen Yue looked up at that same moon, holding the small charm in her hand tightly.
"I miss you, Big Brother…"
---
[Villain Points: 5200]
[Objective: Rescue Target During Life-Threatening Event (Pending)]