The world of cultivation is structured by a hierarchy and a history divided into three distinct epochs, each lasting hundreds of millions of years.
The first was the Original Era, dominated by creatures of pure power called Origins like dragons and phoenixes, before the Immortal Slayer put an end to it.
This was followed by the Era of the Rakshasas, those monsters born from the hatred of the Origins, whose chaotic energy, the Khao, still erodes the foundations of reality today.... And finally the third era, the Era of the Dao, where humans pierced the mysteries of ascension through Cultivation. At the top of this structure stands one of the most powerful organizations, the Supreme Dao Sect, an organization whose influence extends across the entire Upper Realm.
*Supreme Dao Sect...*
" To prove your worth and your understanding of the laws of the world, you will be sent to the Night Cloudy Mountains. These ancient ruins house Rakshasas and remnants of past eras. Only those who return with proof of bravery will be considered as potential successors."
Among the crowd, Xuan BaiShe observed the scene with indifference. His long silver hair, the tips of which turned black, fell elegantly over his shoulders. To the outside world, he was the young scholar of the immortal Xuan family, a talented and respectful genius. In reality, he did not give a damn about what Pangu was saying.
Pangu's announcement caused a murmur of excitement, but BaiShe focused only on one person in the crowd. A young man with short blond hair and red eyes stood a little apart, radiating an imperious and arrogant aura. It was Lin Feng.
[Ding ! Target detected: Lin Feng]
[Role: Son of Luck. Luck points: 2000.]
BaiShe adjusted his monocle, a purple glow briefly crossing his silver pupils.
" A son of luck, that's exactly what I thought."
'Two thousand luck points... That's a more than generous harvest for the beginning. Even if it's mediocre for a son of luck.' he thought coldly.
'The system requires a thousand points for the first invocation of Villainesses. If I completely absorb his essence and his luck, I will have more than enough to summon an ally from the mythical era.'
While he was already planning Lin Feng's downfall, a familiar presence caught his attention. His adoptive sister, Xuan Ling, affectionately nicknamed Ling'er, stood a few steps away.
BaiShe approached her, a gentle smile on his lips.
"Ling'er, this expedition will be dangerous. You should stay close to me so I can protect you." he said in a protective tone.
She turned toward him, but her eyes contained no trace of the affection she once had for him. Her expression was ice-cold, her features frozen in a contemptuous arrogance that did not suit her.
"Keep your advice to yourself, BaiShe. I no longer need your protection, nor your hypocrisy." she replied in a cutting voice.
BaiShe remained motionless as she walked away without a backward glance.
" I see... You're acting tsundere~. Nevertheless, you are becoming more and more interesting Ling'er. "
' Anyway, I should focus on this son of luck. '
He knew however that haste was the enemy of strategy. As the possessor of the Immortal Sage Heart, he understood the patterns of destiny. The appearance of a Son of Luck like Lin Feng was never an isolated event. Around such individuals, destiny intensifies, increasing the luck of the people linked to them.
' It's an opportunity to harvest several targets at once.'
His mental reflections quickly led him to a key figure. Lin Feng, although from common origins without a prestigious lineage, had climbed the ranks of the sect thanks to an extraordinary talent, attracting the attention of an influential master.
" Elder Xia Fei..." he murmured to himself.
Xia Fei was the younger sister of the patriarch of the immortal Xia family, one of the four great lineages of the Upper Realm.
By taking Lin Feng under her wing, she had bound herself to his destiny, becoming by extension a prime target for BaiShe.
' A jade beauty just the way I like them...'
He observed Lin Feng one last time. The young man seemed confident, unaware that he was nothing but cattle destined to be fattened before the slaughter.
BaiShe knew that Night Cloudy Mountain would be the ideal setting for his first great act of devouring. The mountains were infested with horned Rakshasas, monstrous creatures capable of projecting Khao energy lasers. In the chaos of such an expedition, accidents were frequent, and disappearances, inevitable.
***
P.O.V : BaiShe
The morning sun filtered through the century-old trees that lined the paved paths of the Supreme Dao Sect. I advanced with a slow step adjusting my monocle with my right hand while my other hand remained nonchalantly placed behind my back.
" This disciple salutes the young master ! " A young man bowed.
" The young master Xuan has such a refined aura ! "
" He is extremely handsome !"
" His fiancée is so lucky, if only I could be his servant, I would be happy all my life. "
Many female cultivators were singing praises, as usual when in the presence of my magnificence, they were undoubtedly moved... I was heading toward Xia Fei's quarters. After the recent events and the growing tensions within the sect regarding the selection of the heir, a bit of tea and conversation with her seemed like the necessary distraction.
Moreover, her calm temperament and natural kindness made her an easy target to manipulate, a resource I intended to fully exploit to reach Lin Feng. Her quarters were located in a more isolated area, where the spiritual energy was particularly dense and soothing.
As I turned the corner of a jade pavilion, the ambient air changed abruptly. It was not a disturbance of the Qi, but something much more subtle.
A soft floral scent suddenly filled my nostrils. It was a unique fragrance, a blend of wild lotus and frosted metal. My body froze instinctively. This scent, I knew it only too well.
I slowly turned my head. A few meters away, a silhouette was moving away with one step, turning her back to the entrance of Xia Fei's pavilion.
" Master LingBao..."
Even from behind, her presence was overwhelming.
" This impudent disciple salutes his venerable master."
She wore a fitted outfit of midnight blue silk, embroidered with golden dragon patterns that seemed to undulate with each of her movements.
The fabric was so thin that it shamelessly highlighted her wide hips and the generous curve of her buttocks, firm and plump. Her long white hair, of an almost unreal purity, cascaded in a silky flow down to the small of her back, contrasting magnificently with her tanned skin.
She stopped for a moment, without turning around. Her voice devoid of any warm emotion echoed in the silence of the garden.
" I will be absent for some time, Disciple, during this time refine the art of the sword. "