Outside the Grand Hall, the courtyard was in chaos. Servants rushed to scrub the blood from the duelling platform, but each time they thought it clean, the stain seemed to seep deeper into the cracks, like the stone itself refused to forget.
Beyond the walls, rumours spread like wildfire through every corridor, tea house, and training yard. Some disciples spoke his name in trembling whispers. Others spat it like poison. But all of them watched the steps where Zhao Feng had died — and wondered when the next would fall.
Li Tian ignored them all.
He stood at the far edge of the training grounds, where the marble path ended in a row of ancient plum trees. Their white blossoms drifted down, landing silently on his black robes and long dark hair. He brushed them off without a thought.
The System's voice purred behind his eyes.
[Villain Points: 1000.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Villain Store.]
A flicker of golden-black light formed in his mind — an ethereal panel shimmering before him like a forbidden treasure trove. The items listed pulsed with faint, wicked auras:
[Forbidden Technique: Soul-Devouring Palm — 800 VP]
Drain your enemy's life force to strengthen your cultivation. Banned by every righteous sect.
[Poison Needle Array — 500 VP]
A hidden trap that can cripple even a peak-stage cultivator
[Disguise Mask — 200 VP]
Perfect illusion. Change your face, your aura, your voice.
[Blood Contract Seal — 1000 VP]
Bind another's life to yours — they betray you, they die
Li Tian's eyes narrowed on the Soul-Devouring Palm. Once, he would have flinched at the idea. A forbidden technique, cursed by every sect. But now… it felt like a natural fit.
If the world calls me a villain, he thought, I might as well wield a villain's blade.
The scent of plum blossoms mingled with the iron tang of dried blood still clinging to his memory. He could almost taste it — the raw, vicious power he'd gained from Zhao Feng's death. The rush was terrifying… and intoxicating.
[Ding! Next Mission Generated.]
[Objective: Consolidate your fear. Recruit a loyal subordinate within 24 hours. Make them witness your cruelty. Bind them to your side. Reward: Secret Art of Shadow Steps. Failure: Loyalty of your clan drops by 50%.]
Li Tian's mouth curved in a thin smile. Fear and loyalty… never one without the other. The old Li Tian would have begged for friendship. This one would buy it with terror.
He turned back toward the courtyard — just in time to see a small figure bowing awkwardly at the base of the plum tree. A boy, no more than fifteen, clad in plain servant's robes, his head down but his eyes wide with barely hidden fear.
Li Tian arched a brow. "And you are?"
"Xiao Chen, Young Master." The boy's voice cracked as he spoke. "E-Elder Wu sent me. The Council demands you… come at once. The Zhao Clan's messenger is there. They— they want answers. And your head."
Li Tian barked out a soft laugh — no warmth in it, only a cold amusement that made Xiao Chen flinch. Of course they want my head. They always do.
He stepped forward. Xiao Chen tried to retreat, but Li Tian's hand shot out, catching his shoulder in a grip like iron.
"Do you fear me, Xiao Chen?"
The boy's mouth opened, then closed. His head bobbed wildly. "Y-yes, Young Master."
"Good," Li Tian murmured. He leaned in so close that Xiao Chen could feel his breath against his ear. "Fear keeps you alive."
He released the boy, letting him stumble back. Xiao Chen's knees almost buckled, but he forced himself upright, fists clenched at his sides.
Li Tian studied him — thin wrists, hunched shoulders, eyes that darted like a cornered rat. Perfect, he thought. No one notices the mouse until it steals their last grain of rice.
"You serve me now," Li Tian said flatly. "From this moment on, you are my shadow. You see what I want you to see. You hear what I want you to hear. And if you betray me—"
He lifted a finger and traced an invisible line across his own throat. Xiao Chen's face turned chalk white.
[Subordinate Target Identified: Xiao Chen. Loyalty: 10%]
Li Tian turned, his robes whispering against the marble path. "Come. Let the Council scream. Let them plot. Let them see who they fear now."
Xiao Chen scrambled to follow, stumbling twice as he hurried to match Li Tian's steps.
The Council Hall was a sprawling chamber of carved jade pillars and lacquered screens. It reeked of incense and old grudges. Ten elders sat in a semicircle, their eyes sharp and cold. At the far side, dressed in green silk, stood the Zhao Clan's envoy — a middle-aged man with a hawk-like face, lips twisted in rage.
As Li Tian stepped in, the hall fell silent, like prey spotting the wolf for the first time.
"Li Tian," Elder Wu began, voice carefully calm, "you have brought great shame—"
Li Tian raised a hand. The elder froze mid-sentence.
"You may decide if it is shame or salvation," Li Tian said. His voice carried a calm, cutting tone. "Zhao Feng challenged me to a duel before the entire clan. I killed him — fairly. Publicly. Did I break any law?"
The Zhao envoy spat on the jade floor. "Your arrogance will doom your clan! Do you think the Zhao Clan will suffer this insult—"
Li Tian's eyes cut to him. Cold. Merciless. "You think your clan was humiliated? Good. Bury him in silk and gold, but his bones are dust beneath my feet. You want my head? Try and take it."
The envoy's face turned purple. One elder coughed awkwardly. Another covered a smirk behind a sleeve.
Li Tian stepped forward, every word slow and deliberate. "Do you wish to war with the Li Clan today? If so, let the blood run before dusk."
Silence. The elders shifted uncomfortably. The Zhao envoy looked around — realizing, maybe for the first time, that no one moved to back him.
Li Tian tilted his head. "No? Then crawl back to your masters. Tell them the next genius they send will die faster than the last."
The envoy's hand trembled at his side. He spat again, turned on his heel, and stalked out, sleeves snapping like an angry snake.
Li Tian watched him go, then turned to the elders. They stared at him — some in anger, some in fear, a few with something like grim respect.
"Is there anything else?" Li Tian asked, his tone polite but deadly.
No one answered.
Li Tian smiled. He turned, flicking his sleeve. Xiao Chen hurried to open the heavy doors before him.
Outside, the sky was split by thunder — low, distant, promising storms to come.
And somewhere behind him, the System purred like a demon's lullaby.
[Mission Progress: Subordinate Loyalty 10% → 20%]
[Villain Path: On Track]
Li Tian stepped into the courtyard once more, where rumours were already sprouting like weeds in the cracks of stone.
The villain was alive. The villain was walking free. The villain was watching.
And soon, the entire cultivation world would kneel — or burn.