The sky cleared by noon.
Not suddenly—no dramatic dispersal of clouds—but slowly, as if something above the heavens had reconsidered its stance and chosen restraint.
Li Yuan felt it.
Fate had paused.
---
The Third Elder's warning echoed in his mind as he returned to the outer residence. Other disciples passed him on the path, bowing slightly, their gazes carrying an unfamiliar weight.
Respect?
No.
Unease.
When the weak stopped looking weak, the world became cautious.
---
Inside the courtyard, Chen Yue was standing beneath the old spirit tree. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering across her robes like fragments of gold.
She looked… different.
Not visibly so.
But Li Yuan felt it immediately—the quiet firmness in her presence, the subtle harmony between her body and the surrounding qi.
"You met the elder," she said without turning.
Li Yuan stopped.
"You felt that too?"
She nodded. "Something brushed past me. Like an invisible hand testing whether I would break."
Li Yuan's eyes darkened.
"The heavens don't test without intent."
---
That night, cultivation became impossible.
Every time Li Yuan attempted to circulate qi, the surrounding energy reacted—compressing, aligning, waiting.
It was as though the world itself expected instruction.
Finally, he stopped.
The system interface opened smoothly, no longer abrupt or intrusive.
---
[Eternal Progenitor System]
World Response Level: Passive Negotiation
Explanation:
When a bloodline reaches sufficient influence, fate no longer dictates blindly.
Instead, it adjusts—seeking balance.
Current Status:
The world is attempting to assess long-term impact.
---
Li Yuan laughed softly.
"So now it wants to talk."
---
Sleep came late.
And with it—
A dream.
---
Li Yuan stood in an endless void. No stars. No earth. Only threads—countless glowing lines stretching infinitely in all directions.
Some were thin and fragile.
Others thick, radiant, ancient.
One thread pulsed brighter than the rest.
It led through him.
And beyond.
---
A presence stirred.
Not a being.
A concept.
---
"You carry continuity," the presence resonated.
"Continuity disrupts cycles."
Li Yuan did not bow.
He did not kneel.
"I don't disrupt," he replied calmly. "I endure."
Silence followed.
Then—
"Endurance reshapes destiny."
---
Li Yuan woke with a sharp inhale.
Cold sweat soaked his back.
The system was already active.
---
[Eternal Progenitor System]
Hidden Event Completed:
— First Contact with Fate Will —
Result:
• Resistance increased
• Erasure probability reduced
• Legacy persistence +10%
Warning:
From this point onward, fate may attempt indirect correction.
---
"Indirect," Li Yuan muttered.
"That's more dangerous."
---
The correction came the very next day.
A sect decree.
Outer disciples were to be reorganized—relocated to different courtyards "for efficiency."
Li Yuan read between the lines instantly.
Separation.
Observation.
Pressure.
Chen Yue noticed his expression.
"They're trying to move us," she said.
"Yes," Li Yuan replied. "Because fate can't push directly… it borrows human hands."
---
He made his decision.
For the first time since arriving at the Azure River Sect—
Li Yuan acted openly.
---
At dusk, he went to the contribution hall.
And exchanged everything.
Years of accumulated points vanished in moments.
In return, he received a single item.
A low-grade—but ancient—Blood Stability Pill.
Worthless to most.
Priceless to him.
---
The system reacted instantly.
---
[Eternal Progenitor System]
Action Recognized.
Legacy Anchoring Initiated.
Descendant Stability: Reinforced
Note:
The world will now struggle to alter early outcomes.
---
That night, Li Yuan personally prepared the pill.
Not with fire.
Not with qi.
But with intent.
When Chen Yue swallowed it, warmth spread through her body—not explosive, not violent, but profound.
She gasped softly.
"I feel… rooted," she whispered. "Like I belong here."
Li Yuan closed his eyes.
"That's because you do."
---
Far above the sect.
Beyond the sky.
Something shifted.
Not in anger.
Not in fear.
But in calculation.
---
Lines of fate adjusted.
Calamities delayed.
Opportunities rerouted.
Enemies not yet born hesitated.
---
The system delivered its confirmation.
---
[Eternal Progenitor System]
First Bloodline Anchor: Established
From this moment onward:
• The bloodline cannot be easily severed
• Descendant existence recognized by heaven
• Legacy path unlocked (Dormant)
---
Li Yuan looked at the sleeping Chen Yue.
A small smile touched his lips.
"So this is how it begins," he whispered.
"Not with conquest."
"Not with slaughter."
"But with existence."
---
Outside, the spirit tree rustled though there was no wind.
Its leaves shimmered faintly.
.....