A cold, mechanical voice echoed through the endless darkness, its tone devoid of emotion as it resonated directly within Lin Xuan's consciousness.
[Host detected. Soul resonance confirmed. Initializing system binding… Binding progress: 12%… 36%… 71%…]
A faint pulse spread through the void like a heartbeat, steady and oppressive, as if something ancient was awakening.
[Binding complete.]
For a brief moment, everything fell silent, the darkness returning to stillness.
Then the voice spoke again.
[Heaven-Stealing System Activated.]
Lin Xuan abruptly sat upright, air rushing violently into his lungs as if he had just escaped drowning. His chest rose and fell rapidly while cold sweat soaked his back, his entire body trembling from the shock.
"What…?" he muttered, his voice hoarse and unsteady.
For a few seconds, his mind remained blank. Then, like a flood breaking through a dam, memories surged back—the burning sky, the collapsing sect, and Zhao Tian standing high above him, ending everything with a single finger.
"…I died," Lin Xuan whispered, his hands slowly clenching into fists.
That much was certain.
So why was he still alive?
Frowning, he looked around. The room was small and simple, with a wooden bed, rough stone walls, and a faint scent of incense lingering in the air. Everything felt strangely familiar, as though he had returned to a distant past.
He rose to his feet and walked toward the bronze mirror hanging on the wall. The moment his reflection came into view, he froze.
The face staring back at him was far too young, with smooth skin and clear eyes untouched by time. There were no traces of the two centuries he had lived.
"…Eighteen," he said slowly, his voice trembling. "I came back?"
He stared at the mirror for a long moment before letting out a quiet laugh, disbelief and relief mixing together.
"So heaven really gave me another chance."
Just as he was about to think further, the cold voice returned once more.
[System initialization complete.]
Lin Xuan stiffened slightly. "…What?"
Glowing words formed within his mind, clear and impossible to ignore.
[Host: Lin Xuan | Status: Body Strengthening – Second Layer | Primary Function: Artifact Detection | Primary Function: Artifact Extraction]
Lin Xuan blinked, processing the information. "A… heaven-defying artifact," he murmured under his breath.
Having lived for two hundred years, he had seen countless treasures and ancient ruins, yet something like this—something that directly interfaced with his mind—was completely beyond his experience.
Rubbing his temples, he exhaled slowly. "Alright… if this is real, then explain something."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then—
[Scanning surroundings…]
A brief pause followed.
[Heaven-defying artifact detected.]
Lin Xuan's expression sharpened instantly. "Where?"
[Distance: 58 meters | Location: Black Mountain Sect Courtyard]
His heart skipped a beat. A heaven-defying artifact inside the sect?
Without hesitation, he pushed open the wooden door and stepped outside.
Bright sunlight flooded the courtyard, where disciples had already gathered. Some practiced sword forms with focus, while others chatted casually under the shade of trees. The scene was peaceful, completely different from the destruction etched into his memory.
Then the system spoke again.
[Target artifact located.]
Lin Xuan's gaze slowly swept across the courtyard before stopping on a familiar figure.
A young man dressed in white robes stood among a group of disciples, calm and relaxed as he laughed lightly with them.
Zhao Tian.
"Senior Brother Zhao, how did you break through so quickly?" one disciple asked excitedly.
Another shook his head. "Seriously, I've been stuck at Body Strengthening for months."
Zhao Tian smiled modestly and scratched his head. "You're exaggerating. Maybe I just got lucky."
"Lucky?" someone scoffed. "If that's luck, then what are we?"
Laughter broke out among the group.
Lin Xuan watched silently from a distance as the system confirmed again within his mind.
[Target artifact confirmed.]
A slow smile formed on his face. "So it's you…"
The man who would destroy his sect in the future.
And now, the truth was clear—Zhao Tian's strength came from an artifact.
Lin Xuan folded his arms, his gaze growing colder. "If that's true…"
Before he could finish, another message appeared.
[Artifact extraction condition: Physical contact.]
He let out a quiet chuckle. "Physical contact, huh?"
As if fate itself had arranged it, a voice suddenly called out.
"Hey! Lin Xuan!"
A tall disciple waved at him. "Why are you standing there like you've seen a ghost?"
Several people turned to look, including Zhao Tian.
Keeping his expression calm, Lin Xuan walked over. The tall disciple laughed and casually patted his shoulder. "Senior Brother Zhao, this is Lin Xuan."
Zhao Tian nodded politely. "Nice to meet you."
Lin Xuan returned the gesture with a small nod, hiding the storm in his eyes.
At that exact moment, a disciple suddenly rushed past them in a panic. "Move! Move!"
The man slammed into Lin Xuan from behind, throwing him forward. Lin Xuan stumbled and crashed straight into Zhao Tian, both of them instinctively grabbing each other to maintain balance.
For a brief moment, their hands touched.
Inside Lin Xuan's mind, the system's voice rang out.
[Contact confirmed. Extraction process initiated.]
His heart began pounding violently, but his expression did not change.
Zhao Tian frowned slightly. "You alright?"
"Yeah," Lin Xuan replied quickly.
Meanwhile—
[Extraction progress: 42%… 79%…]
Seconds stretched endlessly.
Then—
[Extraction complete. Heaven-Stealing Artifact activated. Theft concealed. Target unaware.]
Zhao Tian released his arm and stepped back casually, completely unaware of what had just occurred. "Be careful next time," he said.
Lin Xuan nodded lightly. "Thanks."
The conversation resumed as if nothing had happened. No one noticed anything unusual.
But a faint smile slowly appeared on Lin Xuan's face.
Because Zhao Tian had no idea that the greatest treasure supporting his future… had just been stolen.