The morning fog hadn't lifted yet, but Yue Xiaolan was already in the courtyard, blade sheathed at her side, eyes trained on the distant mountain ridge. She didn't speak as Li Wei approached—didn't even glance at him.
But he could feel it.
Tension.
Readiness.
Something was coming.
"Xiaolan," he said cautiously, "you've been standing here since before dawn."
"I received a message," she said, voice sharp as frost. "From the Glacial Wyrm Sect."
Li frowned. "Let me guess. Your dad found out I exist."
"No," she replied. "The sect is calling all cultivators under thirty to gather for the Heaven's Chosen Trials."
The Heaven's Chosen Trials
Li's jaw dropped.
"You mean the Heaven's Chosen? The tournament where one winner is guaranteed entry into the imperial sects?"
She nodded. "It happens once every five years. The top sects send their best. Winning… changes everything."
System Alert: Major Plot Event Triggered
⚔ Questline Branching: "Heaven's Chosen Trials"
Enter the preliminary rounds (mandatory)
Survive bounty hunter attacks en route
Optional: Win with at least one Fate-Bound Companion
Rewards: Rare Technique Manual, System Upgrade, Harem Expansion Path
Li Wei looked at his palm. It trembled—not from fear, but from the sheer magnitude of what this meant.
Fame. Power. Recognition. Danger.
He didn't feel ready.
Which meant it was time.
"I'm going," he said.
"Good," Yue Xiaolan replied. "Because whether you go or not… they're coming for you now."
The Ambush
That night, while Lana Qi fiddled with her drone above the dojo roof and Shen Ruo tended to an injured sparring student, Li went to the back alley for some peace.
He didn't get it.
The shadows moved unnaturally.
Then—clang.
A throwing knife whistled past his cheek and embedded in the stone wall.
System Alert: Danger!
Assassins Detected – Bounty Activation Confirmed
Number: 3
Threat Level: B-Class Mercenaries
Quest: Survive Ambush
Reward: +4 Levels, Unique Passive – Iron Will
Li's body moved before he thought.
He ducked as a second blade sliced through the air.
Two figures in black robes and white demon masks dropped from the rooftop, while a third approached from behind with a whispering spear.
"Li Wei," one said. "You've become… inconvenient."
"Better than irrelevant," Li quipped, dropping into Tiger Stance.
They attacked as one.
The Fight
The first assassin was fast—too fast.
Li blocked the first few strikes, but his bones shuddered.
He activated Focused Strike, weaving between their attacks, landing counters.
But it wasn't enough.
Health -19%
Stamina -12%
Use "Pulse of Restoration"?
Warning: Not near Shen Ruo.
He grit his teeth. "Then I'll do it the hard way."
The third assassin lunged from behind.
Li spun midair, kicking the spear aside—only to be grabbed by the first.
Pinned.
He couldn't breathe.
"System," he gasped, "any tricks left?"
Emergency Skill Activation:
☄ Adrenaline Overclock (Temporary Buff)
+50% Strength, +30% Reaction Speed, 60 seconds
Li exploded upward, breaking the hold, flipping over their heads.
He hit the ground hard.
Then the roof exploded.
Reinforcements Arrive
"HEY!" Lana Qi shouted, launching herself down in a flying punch with her metal gauntlets sparking. "You jerks messing with my test subject?!"
She crashed into one assassin, cracking his ribs with a thunderous bang.
A second later, icy mist blanketed the alley. Yue Xiaolan glided in, blade flashing in a perfect arc that sliced a mask in half.
From behind, a gentle golden aura lit the darkness—Shen Ruo, staff in hand, voice like a temple bell.
"You harm him, you face all of us."
Li, half-conscious, couldn't help but smile.
Full-Squad Combat
The system screamed:
Synchronized Combat Mode Engaged
Allies: Yue Xiaolan (Sword), Lana Qi (Tech), Shen Ruo (Support)
Team Buff Activated: "Fate-Linked Core"
Team Coordination: +35%
Damage: +15%
Affection Rate Multiplier: x2 (battle-born bonds are strongest)
Li rallied.
With Yue freezing their legs, Lana blasting their arms, and Shen healing damage in real time, Li was the center of a coordinated storm.
He launched a perfect combo: Tiger Claw → Basic Kick → Focused Strike
Final hit: palm to the chest.
CRACK.
The lead assassin collapsed.
The others scattered—retreating into smoke bombs.
DING! Quest Complete: Survive Ambush
+4 Levels
New Passive Gained: Iron Will
Reduces incoming mental control or fear effects
Grants +10% resistance to pressure-based techniques
Bond Progression Triggered (All Fate-Bound): +5 Affection Points Each
Lana Qi: "You okay, dumbass?"
Yue Xiaolan: "You should've called us."
Shen Ruo: "I felt it… the moment you were in danger."
The Morning After
The dojo was in chaos. Sensei was furious, having barely missed the action.
"You drew assassins to sacred ground," he snapped.
"I didn't invite them," Li muttered.
Sensei sighed. "You're beyond my level now. Which means you'll need to start acting like a martial adult."
He handed Li a sealed scroll.
"Your formal invitation. The Heaven's Chosen Trials begin in 10 days. You'll leave in 3."
Emotional Aftershocks
That night, the trio gathered in his room—uninvited but welcome.
Lana patched up his arm.
Yue Xiaolan sharpened her sword quietly nearby.
Shen Ruo refilled his tea with a faint smile.
"Why did you all come?" he asked.
Yue: "Because I promised to fight beside you."
Lana: "Because you're fun to fix."
Shen Ruo: "Because you're not alone anymore."
He swallowed the lump in his throat.
The system pinged:
Optional Affection Event Available: Choose a girl to walk with under the stars.
Li stared at the quiet night sky, then turned.
"…Anyone want to go for a walk?"
All three stood up at once.
"…Uh."
They stared at him.
He stared back.
"System?" he whispered.
You made your bed, bro. Good luck.