The Sovereign's Palace.
"Content," the Sovereign murmured, swirling a glass of glowing amber liquid (manifested Whiskey). "It is King."
He stood before the massive control panel of the Tower. The forty-two survivors were currently resting in the Hall of Glory on Floor 5. They were safe, for now.
"Unit Alpha," the Sovereign commanded. "The drama is too good to keep to myself. Initiate Project: Heavenly Broadcast."
"Scope?" Alpha asked.
"Global," the Sovereign grinned. "Every major sect. Every mortal capital. Let them see their 'heroes'. Let them bet on their lives."
He pressed a large, red button marked [GO LIVE].
The Myriad Spirit Realm.
It began with a hum that vibrated through the crust of the earth.
Above the Iron Blood Sect, the Azure Sword Sect, the Imperial Capital, and White River City, the clouds swirled and parted.
Massive rectangles of shimmering light, miles wide, materialized in the sky. They were clearer than mirrors, brighter than the moon.
"What is that?"
"Is it a sign from the Ancestors?"
Millions of heads looked up. Peasants dropped their hoes. Emperors stepped out of their palaces.
Suddenly, the screen flickered to life.
A split-screen view appeared. On the left, a handsome youth with a sword (Ye Qingyu). On the right, a scowling youth cleaning a strange black metal object (Lin Fan). In the bottom corner, a woodcutter feeding his sister (Zhang Wei).
A voice, booming and majestic (the Sovereign's autotuned voice), rolled across the heavens:
[Welcome, Mortals and Cultivators, to the Tower of Heavenly Trials.]
[Observe the struggles of your chosen ones.]
[Witness the rise of Legends.]
Floor 5: The Hall of Glory.
Lin Fan didn't hear the voice in the sky. He only heard the notification in his head.
[System Update: The 'Leaderboard' is now active.]
[Status: You are being watched by 4.2 Billion entities.]
"Watched?" Lin Fan frowned. He looked around the golden hall. He saw floating orbs of light hovering near them—camera drones disguised as Spirit Wisps.
In the center of the hall, a massive obsidian obelisk rose from the floor. Golden names burned into its surface.
[Current Rankings (Based on Points)]
Lin Fan (Iron Blood Sect) - Points: 2,450 - [Title: The Kill Stealer]
Ye Qingyu (Azure Sword Sect) - Points: 1,900 - [Title: The Sword Prince]
Su Mei (Shadow Pavilion) - Points: 1,200 - [Title: The Ghost]
Fatty Wu (Rogue) - Points: 800 - [Title: The Bowling Ball]
...
Zhang Wei (Iron Blood Sect) - Points: 50 - [Title: The Mule]
"Number one?" Lin Fan smirked. "Of course."
But then, he noticed something else. Next to the names were small, scrolling texts. They were comments. Live Comments from the outside world.
Lin Fan focused on his name.
"Look at that arrogant face! I want to punch him!"
"He used a hidden weapon to steal Young Master Ye's kill! Shameless!"
"Why does he look so annoying? Even his breathing offends me!"
"Kill Lin Fan! Justice for the Sonic Bat!"
Lin Fan's eye twitched. "The Ring..."
The Ring of the False King was transmitting its Taunt Aura through the broadcast. To the billions watching, Lin Fan was the physical embodiment of everything they hated. He was the Villain.
He looked at Ye Qingyu's comments.
"So handsome! Sword Prince!"
"His posture is like a pine tree!"
"Marry me, Young Master Ye!"
And finally, Zhang Wei's comments.
"Why is he carrying a box? Is that... a girl?"
"He gave up the Flashlight to save the fat one. Such virtue!"
"He is weak, but his heart is gold. Protect the Woodcutter!"
Lin Fan felt a vein pop in his forehead. He was the strongest. He was the smartest. He was First Place. And the world hated him.
"Fine," Lin Fan spat, looking directly at one of the camera wisps.
He walked up to the lens until his face filled the sky screens of the entire continent.
"Listen to me, trash of the world," Lin Fan sneered, his voice amplified by the broadcast magic. "Keep booing. I don't need your love. I need your points."
He held up his Desert Eagle.
"While you cheer for your 'Princes' and your 'Saints', I'll be the one standing at the top. Hate me all you want. You can't kill me from your couch."
He tapped the screen.
"Watch closely. I'm going to win this whole damn thing."
The Outside World.
BOOOOOO!
The roar of disapproval from the Myriad Spirit Realm was deafening.
In the Iron Blood Sect, Sect Leader Ren Tianxing rubbed his temples.
"That boy... Lin Fan..." Ren Tianxing sighed. "He is strong. But he has offended the entire world in ten seconds. He is a diplomatic nightmare."
"He is a disgrace!" Elder Gu (Tiger Faction) spat. "He mocks the ancestors! We should expel him!"
"He is Rank 1," Ren Tianxing countered coldly. "As long as he holds that rank, he is the face of our Sect. Even if it is an ugly face."
In the Azure Sword Sect, Jian Chen laughed.
"Iron Blood Sect has produced a clown. My disciple Ye Qingyu is the true dragon. Look at the public support! The Mandate of Heaven is with us."
In a small village, an old woodcutter sat on a stump, watching the sky with tears in his eyes.
"Wei'er..." he whispered, seeing his son Zhang Wei sitting alone at the bottom of the leaderboard. "You are alive. Stay safe. Don't try to be a hero."
Floor 5. The Shop Update.
Back in the Tower, the "Puppet" behind the counter clapped its hands.
"The Leaderboard comes with rewards!" the puppet announced.
A chest appeared before Lin Fan.
He opened it. Inside wasn't a weapon or a pill. It was a Black Cloak.
[Item: Mantle of the Villain]
[Grade: Spirit Tool]
[Effect: Stealth +20 in shadows. Intimidation +50. When wearing this, your face is obscured by shadows.]
"Finally," Lin Fan muttered, throwing the cloak on. "Now I don't have to look at your ugly faces, and you don't have to look at mine."
He swirled the cloak. He looked like a reaper.
Ye Qingyu received a Silver Sword Tassel that increased his attack speed.
Zhang Wei received... a Bag of Rice.
"It is high-quality Spirit Rice," Zhang Wei noted gratefully, bowing to the puppet. "My sister can eat this."
"Attention, Ascenders," the Sovereign's voice cut in again.
The golden doors at the end of the hall began to rumble.
[Floor 6: The Arena of Fates.]
[Mode: 5v5 Team Battle.]
[Captains have been selected based on Ranking.]
Lin Fan froze.
[Team A Captain: Lin Fan (Rank 1)]
[Team B Captain: Ye Qingyu (Rank 2)]
[Team C Captain: Su Mei (Rank 3)]
...
"You must select your teams from the remaining survivors," the puppet explained. "Schoolyard Pick rules. Captain Lin Fan, you have the first pick."
Lin Fan looked at the survivors.
They all looked away.
No one wanted to be on the Villain's team. They feared him. They hated him. And they knew that if they joined him, the Azure Sword Sect (Team B) would target them.
"I have first pick?" Lin Fan's voice came from under his dark hood.
"Yes," the puppet smiled.
Lin Fan scanned the room. He needed meat shields. He needed utility.
He pointed a gloved finger at the corner.
"I pick... the Fat One."
Fatty Wu dropped his noodles. "Me?! Why me?! I'm neutral! I'm a pacifist!"
"You have a turtle shell," Lin Fan said. "Get over here."
Fatty Wu cried, but the rules forced him to waddle over to Lin Fan's side.
"Ye Qingyu," the puppet said. "Your pick."
Ye Qingyu smiled confidently. "I pick the elite disciples of the Azure Sword Sect."
The draft continued. Ye Qingyu picked strong warriors. Su Mei picked assassins and scouts.
Lin Fan was left with the scraps. The injured. The terrified. The weak.
Finally, there was one person left.
Zhang Wei.
He stood alone, holding his box. No one had picked him. He was Rank 42. He was a burden.
It was Lin Fan's turn for the final pick.
Lin Fan looked at Zhang Wei. The man who had blinded him. The man who had saved him. The man who annoyed him the most.
"Fate is a funny thing, isn't it, Woodcutter?" Lin Fan laughed dryly.
"It seems so," Zhang Wei replied calmly.
"Get over here," Lin Fan commanded. "If you die, do it quietly."
Zhang Wei nodded and walked over to stand beside the crying Fatty Wu and the brooding Lin Fan.
Team Lin Fan (The Misfits):
Lin Fan (The Villain/DPS)
Fatty Wu (The Tank/Bank)
Zhang Wei (The Support/Burden)
Rogue Cultivator A (Cannon Fodder - Injured leg)
Iron Blood Disciple B (Cannon Fodder - Terrified)
Team Ye Qingyu (The Golden Squad):
Ye Qingyu (Sword Genius)
Azure Elite 1 (Spear User)
Azure Elite 2 (Shield User)
Beast Tamer (Has a Wolf)
Healer Girl (Rare Support Class)
The Sovereign's voice echoed.
[Teams Set.]
[Floor 6 Objective: Capture the Flag.]
[Prepare for Combat.]