"Under observation…"
The words echoed in Li Chen's mind long after the crowd began to disperse.
Disciples whispered as they left the plaza, casting glances at him—some curious, some wary, others openly hostile.
None of them looked at him the same way anymore.
Not like before.
Not like trash.
But not like an equal either.
Something in between.
Something… dangerous.
"Enjoying the attention?"
A cold voice cut through the noise.
Li Chen didn't need to turn to know who it was.
Zhao Tian.
He stopped walking.
Slowly, he turned.
Zhao Tian stood a few steps away, his white robes slightly disheveled, his usual calm replaced by something darker.
Anger.
No—
Humiliation.
"You were standing right behind me," Zhao Tian said, his voice low. "And suddenly… my spirit root drops."
His eyes narrowed.
"And yours rises."
The surrounding disciples slowed, pretending not to listen.
But all of them were watching.
Li Chen met his gaze.
"I don't know what happened," he said evenly.
A lie.
Again.
But this time—
Zhao Tian smiled.
"You think I'm a fool?"
The air grew tense.
Li Chen said nothing.
Because anything he said now—
Would only make things worse.
Zhao Tian stepped closer.
Close enough that only Li Chen could hear his next words.
"I don't know how you did it," he whispered. "But whatever trick you used…"
His eyes turned cold.
"…you'll regret it."
A chill ran down Li Chen's spine.
Before he could respond—
A sharp voice rang out.
"That's enough."
Both of them turned.
The elder stood nearby, his expression stern.
"Zhao Tian," he said, "you will return to the inner sect immediately."
Zhao Tian frowned.
"But Elder, I—"
"That was not a suggestion."
A brief silence.
Then Zhao Tian clenched his jaw.
"…Understood."
But as he turned to leave, his gaze lingered on Li Chen.
Filled with killing intent.
Li Chen watched him go, his heart heavy.
That wasn't over.
Not even close.
"Li Chen."
He stiffened.
The elder was now looking directly at him.
"You will follow me."
The inner hall of the outer sect was quiet.
Too quiet.
Li Chen stood in the center of the room, resisting the urge to look around.
The elder sat before him, eyes closed, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
Waiting.
Measuring.
Finally—
"You felt it, didn't you?" the elder said.
Li Chen's heart skipped a beat.
"…Felt what, Elder?"
The elder's eyes opened.
Sharp as blades.
"The heavens."
Silence.
Li Chen didn't answer.
Couldn't answer.
The elder watched him carefully.
Then—
"Most cultivators will never experience what you felt today," he continued. "To be noticed by the heavens… is both a blessing and a curse."
Li Chen's throat felt dry.
He chose his words carefully.
"I only felt… pressure."
The elder studied him.
Long.
Hard.
Then—
"Hmph."
He leaned back slightly.
"Whether you are hiding something or not… it doesn't matter."
Li Chen's chest tightened.
"If you are ordinary," the elder continued, "you will amount to nothing."
"But if you are not…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…then either you will rise…"
A pause.
"…or you will die."
The words fell like a verdict.
"You are now a variable," the elder said. "And variables are… troublesome."
Li Chen clenched his fists.
"From today onward," the elder continued, "you will remain in the outer sect."
"You are not permitted to leave without approval."
"You will report your cultivation progress every three days."
Li Chen nodded.
"…Yes, Elder."
"Good."
The elder waved a hand dismissively.
"You may go."
Night fell.
Li Chen sat alone in his small, dimly lit room.
The events of the day replayed endlessly in his mind.
The test.
The thread.
The system.
The heavens.
Nothing felt real.
And yet—
Everything had changed.
Slowly, he raised his hand.
Focused.
At first—
Nothing.
Then—
Faintly—
A thread appeared above his palm.
Thin.
Fragile.
But real.
Li Chen stared at it.
His fate.
His stolen fate.
"…So this is what it feels like."
A slow breath escaped his lips.
Then—
He focused outward.
Beyond his room.
Through the wall—
He saw them.
Threads.
Dozens of them.
Floating above the other disciples.
Gray.
Weak.
Some slightly brighter than others.
His heart began to race.
He could take them.
Each one—
A piece of strength.
A step forward.
But then—
The warning resurfaced.
[Heavenly Observation Active]
[Excessive Fate Consumption May Trigger Punishment]
Li Chen's expression darkened.
"So I can't just take everything…"
A limit.
There was always a limit.
But limits…
Could be tested.
His gaze shifted.
Farther.
Deeper into the sect.
And then—
He saw it.
A thread unlike the others.
Not gold.
Not gray.
Black.
It twisted in the air like smoke.
Unstable.
Violent.
Li Chen's breath caught.
"…What is that?"
The system responded instantly.
[Target Detected]
[Fate Classification: Corrupted]
[Warning: High Risk]
Li Chen's eyes narrowed.
Corrupted fate…
Dangerous.
Unpredictable.
But—
Stronger.
A slow, dangerous thought formed in his mind.
If golden fate belonged to the heavens' chosen…
Then what did black fate belong to?
And more importantly—
What would happen…
If he devoured it?
Li Chen stood.
Outside, the night was silent.
But within that silence—
Something was waiting.
And for the first time—
Li Chen took a step not as prey—
But as a hunter.