The moon hung low over the Blackflame Domain, its silver light shrouded by crimson clouds that never dispersed. The world outside the Lian Family compound was a sea of dangers—wandering sects, righteous clans, rogue cultivators—all circling like wolves, eager for weakness. Within the ancestral halls, however, the atmosphere was no less treacherous. Ambition thrived in the shadows, even when cloaked beneath loyalty.
Lian Zhen sat cross-legged upon his stone bed, the faint afterglow of meditation flickering in his eyes. He could feel the system's presence humming in the depths of his soul, like a coiled beast waiting to be fed.
[Villain System Notification]
New Quest Generated: The Web of Deceit
Objective: Spread discord between two rival outer sects, ensuring neither gains an advantage against the Lian Family.
Method: Manipulation, false intelligence, or sabotage.
Reward: Unlock 20 Villain Archives.
Failure: Host's identity risks exposure.
Zhen's eyes narrowed as he reread the prompt. "The Web of Deceit…"
Unlike his trial at the Bloodstone Altar or his subtle sabotage of clan politics, this time the stage extended beyond the Lian Family. He was being tasked with pitting enemies against each other—righteous sects who would gladly unite if they ever discovered a greater threat.
He smirked. "So… the System wants me to set fire to the wolves, so they tear at each other before they notice us."
The thought pleased him. Subtle villainy demanded finesse, but it also brought power without the mess of direct confrontation. For now, he was still too weak to act openly. A shadow among shadows—that was the path.
The next day, Patriarch Lian Xu summoned his son to the clan's council chamber. Zhen entered quietly, bowing before the obsidian dais where his father presided. The Elders were not present this time—only the Patriarch, his black armor polished until it gleamed like night itself.
"Zhen," Lian Xu said, his deep voice cutting through the air. "You have endured the Bloodstone Altar. The clan acknowledges you as heir. But recognition means nothing without proof."
Zhen inclined his head, masking the flicker of pride that rose within him. "What does Father command?"
The Patriarch studied him with piercing eyes. "The Crimson Saber Sect and the Iron Vein Sect have begun probing at our borders. They believe the Blackflame has grown complacent."
He rose, stepping down from the dais, the weight of his aura pressing heavily on the chamber. "We cannot move openly yet. But a clever hand can stir chaos among our enemies, weaken them before we strike. I will test you here. If you succeed, your standing within the clan will rise. If you fail…" His eyes hardened. "The Blackflame does not shelter failures."
Zhen bowed once more, though within, he was nearly smiling. The Patriarch's command aligned perfectly with the System's Quest.
[System Notification: Main Objective aligned with Clan Directive. Additional rewards are available upon flawless execution.]
Perfect.
Zhen began his preparations that night. Within the System Space, he stood before the infinite doors of the Villain Archive. More had unlocked after his previous successes—thirteen additional legacies now waited to be drawn upon. He stopped before one door, its surface carved with symbols of shifting masks and blades hidden in sleeves.
With a groan, the door opened.
From the shadows emerged a thin figure clad in gray robes, his face obscured by a wooden mask painted with a smiling mouth. His voice slithered like silk.
"I am Xin Ren, Whisperer of Courts," the man said. "I toppled kingdoms with rumors. I poisoned brothers against brothers without lifting a blade. My art… is lies."
Zhen felt a thrill run through him. "Perfect."
[Villain Legacy Acquired: Court Whisperer's Guile]
Abilities unlocked: Voice of Suggestion, Forged Intel, Rumor Veil.
A wicked laugh threatened to escape his throat. With these tools, sowing discord between sects would be effortless.
Three days later, Zhen rode out with a small escort under the pretext of delivering trade goods. In truth, his path bent toward neutral grounds—an abandoned fortress where outer disciples of both Crimson Saber and Iron Vein Sect often gathered in secret, trading information, gambling, or making side pacts outside the eyes of their masters.
Zhen dismissed his escorts halfway with fabricated orders, masking his presence in the arts of Shadow Maiden Yue. Cloaked in shadow, his steps silent, he infiltrated the fortress at dusk.
Inside, disciples of both sects crowded around gambling tables, their voices brimming with arrogance and tension. He sat silently in a corner, veil hiding his features, ears pricked.
Perfect. These were young, brash, eager to prove themselves—and easily manipulated.
Zhen let his Voice of Suggestion seep out, twisting into the conversations like smoke.
"Did you hear…? The Iron Vein Sect is plotting to raid Crimson Saber's outer mines."
Moments later, another whisper spread to a different group. "The Crimson Saber Elders intend to assassinate Iron Vein's rising genius."
He wove rumors with careful balance—just enough detail to sting, just vague enough to be believed. With Forged Intel, he even slipped fake documents into their midst, coded messages that seemed genuine.
The fortress grew restless. Eyes narrowed. Voices raised. By the time the night ended, fists had been thrown and blades nearly drawn. Zhen slipped away into the shadows, his work complete.
The following week, news spread across the Blackflame Domain.
The Crimson Saber Sect launched a surprise raid on an Iron Vein outpost. Iron Vein retaliated with fire and steel, burning a Crimson Saber caravan. Both sides screamed betrayal, each convinced the other had struck first.
From the balcony of his chamber, Zhen watched the smoke rise in the distant hills. Sect battled sect, blood was shed—and the Lian Family watched safely from their walls.
[System Notification: Quest Completed – The Web of Deceit]
Reward: 20 Villain Archives unlocked.
Bonus Reward (Flawless Execution): Skill – Serpent's Tongue (Charm/Deception Amplifier).
Zhen inhaled deeply, the rush of power exhilarating. The whispers of villains within his soul grew louder, applauding his success.
That evening, Patriarch Lian Xu summoned him again. His father's lips curved ever so slightly—not quite a smile, but the closest he had come to approval.
"The Iron Vein and Crimson Saber bleed each other dry. And you were the hand that set the fire," the Patriarch said. "Good. Very good."
Zhen bowed. "All for the Lian Family."
But within, he laughed silently. For the first time, he felt not like a pawn within the family's games… but like the one moving the pieces.
As night fell, Zhen returned to his chamber. He closed his eyes, and once more, the System Space enveloped him. Doors trembled, villains stirred, shadows leaned closer. The power of 100,000 legacies waited, each whispering promises of conquest, corruption, and dominion.
His journey had only just begun.
But already, the world outside was beginning to shift.
And the Lian Family—his family—would one day rise above all, not just as a clan of villains… but as the very throne upon which the Final Villain Emperor would sit.