In the Hidden Dragon Continent, artifacts were ranked as: Mortal, Spirit, Treasure, and Magic.
Each tier had upper, middle, and lower grades.
To Lin Yun, Magic-grade was the pinnacle—anything beyond was unthinkable for someone like him.
Yet here was Xiao Pingtian, freshly robbed of his Five-Petal Bloodvine, only to have a lower-grade Magic weapon—the Frostflame Sword—delivered to his doorstep like takeout.
Perfectly timed for his imminent breakthrough to the Ten Thousand Laws Realm.
Un. Fair.
In the Flowing Clouds Sect, even elders typically wielded only lower-grade Magic artifacts. Middle-grade were rare. Upper-grade?
There was exactly one—the sect's sacred heirloom, reserved for apocalyptic scenarios.
Meanwhile, Xiao Pingtian was about to get a Magic weapon just for reaching the threshold of the Ten Thousand Laws Realm.
This… this was the privilege of Heaven's Chosen!
Xiao Pingtian's gaze sharpened.
This menial had the audacity to space out in his presence?
Waste his time?
Unforgivable.
His fingers curled around his sword hilt.
One draw. One kill.
Lin Yun snapped back to reality as killing intent prickled his neck. He hastily bowed.
"Senior Brother, this lowly one just broke through to the Narealm. I… lost myself in the moment."
"I beg forgiveness. I was heading to the Inner Affairs Hall for the outer disciple trial."
Xiao Pingtian's spiritual sense swept over Lin Yun.
Hmph. Narealm, barely.
Plausible enough.
He brushed past without a word.
Lin Yun's eyes gleamed. "Senior Brother, are you submitting your mission at the Cloud Pavilion?"
Silence.
Undeterred, Lin Yun called after him: "The trails to Southmist Peak are muddy these days! Tread carefully!"
Internally, he smirked.
Everyone knows you're a germaphobe, you icy bastard.
You'll never walk through mud.
Right on cue, Xiao Pingtian paused mid-step, nose wrinkling at the imagined filth.
"Hn."
With a flick of his sleeve, he summoned a flying sword and whooshed away.
Lin Yun grinned.
Heaven's Chosen?
Favored by destiny?
Still outplayed by this trash mob!
[Southmist Peak – "Frostflame Sword" Heist]
Lin Yun dove into the icy-hot spring, teeth chattering.
Freezing. Boiling. Freezing again.
His muscles screamed.
"For… future… gains!"
Gritting his teeth, he plunged deeper—until a glow pierced the water.
There.
A sword, pulsing with blue-white light.
The moment he gripped it:
Left hand—frozen solid.
Right hand—blistering burns.
"Gah! Worth it!"
He blood-bound it in one swift bite.
The Frostflame Sword hummed, then settled into his grasp—a blade of intertwined crimson and azure.
Effects:
Releases devastating frostfire waves.
Auto-cultivation mode: Cycles energy to temper the wielder's body *24/7.*
Lin Yun cackled.
"A cheat item disguised as a sword!"
"No wonder it's Xiao Pingtian's plot armor!"
Then he checked his updated life panel:
[Fate]: Lone Star of Calamity (Black)
[Destiny]: Impending Doom (Black)
[Ending]: After decades of struggle, gets ambushed and thrown off a cliff. Splat.
[Recent Plot Point]: Dies in one month. No corpse recovery.
Lin Yun's joy evaporated.
"You've got to be—"
Two cheat-tier steals, and I'm still scheduled for death?!
Then it clicked.
This "one-month deadline"…
Is it a trial? Survive it, and the "Lone Star" curse breaks?
Hell yes.
Time to double down on milking Xiao Pingtian.
If it ain't broke, milk it dry.
[Meanwhile – Xiao Pingtian's Side]
Ah—CHOO!**
Xiao Pingtian sneezed mid-flight, nearly veering off his sword.
Why do I feel…
…like prey being stalked?
Before he could ponder, a voice boomed:
"Pingtian. Your mission?"
Sect Master Gu Xiande—a man whose ambition rivaled his power—smiled down from a marble platform.
Xiao Pingtian bowed. "Flawless success, Master."
Gu Xiande's eyes gleamed. "Good. As you approach the Ten Thousand Laws Realm…"
"I've prepared a grand opportunity for you."