The room trembled as Zhao Feng's qi flared, rattling the lanterns on the walls. The once-quiet infirmary now felt like the eye of a storm.
"You dare!" Zhao Feng roared, veins bulging at his neck. "You think you can humiliate me, Li Xian? In front of Su Yao? I'll rip your tongue out and feed it to the dogs!"
His hand tightened around his sword hilt, spiritual energy igniting along the blade. Even weakened, he radiated the overwhelming strength of a true genius—while Li Xian lay broken, barely able to move.
Any normal man would have cowered.
But Li Xian laughed.
The sound was ragged, blood bubbling from his lips, yet it cut through the fury in the room like a blade of its own.
"You're trembling, Zhao Feng. Afraid, aren't you? Afraid that when Su Yao looked at me… she saw something in me she doesn't see in you."
Zhao Feng's face twisted with rage, his killing intent surging like a tidal wave.
Su Yao's breath hitched. For a heartbeat, her hand twitched at her side.
The system's cold voice slid into Li Xian's mind:
> [Target Su Yao: Emotional fluctuation detected.]
[Affection +5%. Hidden emotion: Protective Instinct Awakening.]
Good, Li Xian thought, just a little more…
Zhao Feng lunged, his sword arcing toward Li Xian's chest, spiritual energy screaming through the air.
At that instant—
"Enough!"
Su Yao moved.
Her jade-like palm struck Zhao Feng's blade aside with a flash of cold light. Spiritual energy rippled, slamming into the walls. The sword's strike gouged the stone floor inches from Li Xian's bed.
The room fell silent.
Zhao Feng stared at her, disbelief written across his face. "Y-Yao… you—you protected him?!"
Her veil fluttered in the displaced wind, revealing the perfect curve of her lips, pressed tight in conflict.
"I protected the sect's dignity," she said coldly, though her voice was taut, strained. "Killing a cripple in the infirmary—like a rabid beast—would disgrace us all."
But Zhao Feng's eyes had already reddened with jealousy. "Don't lie to me! You've always despised him. Yet now—you look at him!" He jabbed his finger toward Li Xian, trembling with fury. "You dare defy me… for him?!"
Su Yao's silence was answer enough.
The system chimed softly:
> [Target Su Yao: Emotional denial detected.]
[Affection +9%. Hidden emotion: Doubt.]
Li Xian, still lying in bed, smiled faintly. Blood stained his lips, but his gaze burned with amusement.
"See, Zhao Feng? Even your precious saintess hesitates. Why? Because deep down, she knows what you'll never admit."
Zhao Feng's teeth ground together. "Shut up!"
Li Xian's voice dropped, low and taunting. "That I am no longer the trash you mock. That when I rise… she'll belong to me again."
Su Yao's breath caught—eyes flashing with a mix of anger and something she didn't want to name.
The system whispered in his ear:
> [Affection +12%. Progress accelerating.]
[Warning: Host lifespan now reduced to 6 days due to Heavenly Decree suppression.]
Zhao Feng could no longer contain himself. With a roar, he raised his blade again, qi surging like a flood.
This time, Su Yao did not move fast enough. The sword descended, murderous intent locking onto Li Xian's heart.
Li Xian's body screamed in pain, his limbs refusing to obey. Yet in that desperate moment, something deep within him stirred.
A shadow.
Dark, crimson light flickered from his chest, coiling up his veins like demonic fire.
The system roared:
> [Emergency Awakening Triggered!]
[Demonic Bloodline – Stage One: Unsealed.]
Li Xian's eyes snapped open, glowing faintly red.
And when Zhao Feng's blade fell—
A black claw of energy burst from Li Xian's body, intercepting the strike. Sparks and screams filled the room as the two forces collided.
Zhao Feng staggered back, horror flooding his face. "W-What… what are you?!"
Li Xian sat up slowly, blood still dripping from his wounds, but his aura now radiated something dark, suffocating, otherworldly.
His grin was sharp, wicked.
"What am I?" His voice echoed like a demon's whisper. He glanced at Su Yao, whose jade-like eyes widened in shock, trembling just enough to betray her heart.
"I am the man who will make even heaven kneel."
The claw of darkness writhed behind him, hungry, alive.