Chapter 10: The Patriarch's Shadow
The Blackflame Grand Hall was quieter than usual. The obsidian pillars, etched with runes of conquest and blood, cast long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly into the dark corners. Torches flickered, their flames struggling against an unseen heaviness. It was not an ordinary meeting of the clan elders—it was one called by Patriarch Lian Xu himself.
At the center, on the elevated dais, sat the Patriarch. His aura was sharp and oppressive, like a blade drawn and pressed against every throat present. Even the elders, each with centuries of cultivation, avoided his gaze.
And below him, standing alone in the center of the hall, was Lian Zhen.
The young heir's robes were neat, his posture calm, but his eyes carried a depth far beyond his years. He stood still, yet something was unsettling about his composure—as though he had already anticipated every word, every outcome that would come from this gathering.
The Patriarch's voice finally broke the silence.
"Zhen. Step forward."
His words were calm, yet they struck like thunder. Zhen walked forward, his footsteps echoing against the vast chamber, until he stood directly beneath the Patriarch's throne.
"You've been making waves," Lian Xu said, his sharp eyes narrowing. "The elders whisper. The disciples whisper. Even the servants whisper. They say you have grown sharper, darker… that you no longer act as the child you once were."
Zhen lowered his head slightly, feigning humility. "Father, I only seek to honor the Blackflame bloodline."
One of the elders leaned forward, his expression grave. "Honor? Patriarch, we mustn't ignore what has transpired. Three promising disciples have been expelled due to incidents tied to him. Two have gone missing. And the treasury guards swear they saw shadows moving under his command."
Murmurs spread among the elders. Accusations, suspicions, fragments of fear—each one weighed heavily in the air.
Zhen remained silent. The System's cold chime echoed in his mind.
[Villain Quest Triggered: Dance with Suspicion]
Objective: Survive the scrutiny of the Patriarch and elders without revealing the System.
Reward: Villain Skill Unlock – Cloak of Deception.
His lips almost curled into a smile, but he suppressed it, bowing slightly. "Esteemed elders, I am but a boy striving to prove myself. If shadows follow me, perhaps it is because I train in solitude, where others dare not tread."
"Lies," one elder hissed. "This boy reeks of cunning. Patriarch, you must test him."
Lian Xu raised a hand, silencing the hall. His gaze bore into Zhen's very soul, as though to strip him bare. For a long moment, father and son locked eyes—one sharp with suspicion, the other steady with calculated innocence.
Finally, the Patriarch spoke. "Then we shall test him. Not with words, but with blood."
A ripple of shock passed through the elders.
"The Bloodring Trial?" one elder asked cautiously.
"Yes," Lian Xu confirmed. "If he is to inherit my bloodline, let him prove his strength—not merely against the altar, but against death itself."
The Bloodring. A trial where chosen disciples were pitted against one another in a sealed arena, until only one remained standing. Victory meant glory; failure meant death.
The elders exchanged uneasy looks, but none dared oppose the Patriarch's will.
Zhen's heart thudded once in his chest—not from fear, but from excitement. The System whispered again.
[Quest Updated: Survive the Bloodring Trial. Eliminate all opponents to claim dominance.]
Reward: 100 additional Villain Archives unlocked.
His fingers curled slightly at his side. One hundred villains? His breath nearly caught. The shadows within him stirred, laughing, whispering, urging him toward slaughter.
Zhen bowed deeply. "I will not disappoint, Father."
Three days later, the Bloodring arena was filled with the Blackflame clan. Disciples gathered in the stands, shouting, mocking, whispering. Elders sat in their thrones above, watching with solemn eyes. And at the very top, Patriarch Lian Xu observed in silence, his gaze unflinching.
The ring itself was a vast stone circle, carved with runes that sealed it off from escape. Bloodstains marred the ground, remnants of countless trials past.
Ten disciples stood within the ring. Among them, Zhen. Each of the others eyed him with undisguised hostility—whether from jealousy, suspicion, or pure hatred.
"Kill the Patriarch's brat first," one muttered.
Another spat. "He thinks himself untouchable. Let's end him together."
The gong thundered, and the trial began.
Zhen didn't move immediately. He stood calmly as the first two disciples rushed at him, blades glinting. Their movements were sharp, but reckless—driven by arrogance.
The System's whisper guided him.
[Villain Archive Accessed: Shadow Maiden Yue]
Skill: Silent Step.
His body blurred, vanishing from their sight. Before they could react, Zhen appeared behind them, his hand striking one's neck with precise force. The disciple collapsed, unconscious but alive.
The second swung wildly, panicked. Zhen twisted, his movements fluid, and his palm struck the boy's chest. A crack of bone echoed, and the disciple coughed blood, crumpling to the ground.
Gasps erupted from the stands.
Two down. Eight remained.
"Damn him!" another roared, rallying the others. Four charged at once, elemental flames and blades flashing.
Zhen's mind raced. If he revealed too much of the villains' arts, suspicion would deepen. He needed subtlety.
[Villain Archive Accessed: Poison Monarch]
Skill: Venomous Breath (Minor).
His lips parted, releasing a faint, invisible mist. The charging disciples faltered, their steps slowing. Their skin paled, veins darkening beneath. Panic overtook them as their strength faded.
Zhen advanced, his expression calm, and struck each one down with minimal effort. To the crowd, it looked as though his sheer martial skill overwhelmed them—but he knew the poison had tilted the scales.
Six remained unconscious, defeated. Four still stood, their faces pale with fear.
"Monster…" one whispered. "He's not human."
Zhen tilted his head slightly, his voice calm. "If you believe that, then why stand before me?"
The boy screamed and rushed at him. Zhen sidestepped, grasped his arm, and snapped it with a brutal twist. The crowd winced at the crack.
Three left.
The last three disciples huddled together, trembling. Fear had taken root in their hearts—the very seed Zhen desired.
[System Notification: Villainous Aura Increased. Fear Points collected: 37.]
Zhen's eyes gleamed. He stepped forward slowly, letting the weight of his presence crush them. "Kneel, and you may live."
The disciples hesitated—then, one by one, they fell to their knees, their weapons clattering against the stone.
The gong thundered once more. The Bloodring fell silent.
Lian Zhen stood alone, victorious.
From his throne, Patriarch Lian Xu's eyes narrowed. He saw not a boy, not a son, but a shadow growing beneath his house. Dangerous. Unpredictable.
Yet… useful.
"The trial is complete," the Patriarch declared. "Lian Zhen is the victor."
The hall erupted in murmurs, some fearful, some admiring. But none could deny the truth.
Zhen looked up, meeting his father's gaze. He bowed respectfully, but in his heart, he laughed.
Because in that moment, under the eyes of the entire clan, he had taken his first step.
Not as heir.
Not as son.
But as a shadow.
And soon, the shadow would eclipse them all.