The eve of the Centennial Competition was marked by a banquet so lavish it seemed designed to intimidate. The Imperial Moon-Viewing Pavilion was draped in curtains made of cloud-silk, and the tables groaned under the weight of spirit-fruits and the meat of 5-star mountain drakes.
The Third Prince, Prince Zhao Mu, sat at the head of the crescent-shaped table. He was a man of sharp angles and restless energy, his 7-star Golden-Winged Roc perched on a massive jade stand behind him. The bird's eyes were like molten gold, and every time it shifted its wings, a faint pressure of wind-elemental energy pushed against the chests of the guests.
Lin Xuan sat at the far end of the table, flanked by Lin Feng. While the other provincial lords were busy flattering the Prince, Lin Xuan was quietly feeding the Scarlet Weaver a drop of blood-ruby essence. The spiderling, nestled in the fold of his sleeve, vibrated with a predatory heat.
"I hear the Sovereign Sect has quite the reputation for 'miracles'," Prince Zhao Mu said, his voice cutting through the laughter of the nobles. He didn't look at Lin Xuan; he looked at the Moon-Glow Larva on Lin Xuan's shoulder. "But miracles are often just clever tricks played by those who lack true, overwhelming power."
The room went silent. The Prince finally turned his gaze to Lin Xuan. "Master Lin, your caterpillar healed a swan. Impressive. But in the arena, healing is just a way to delay the inevitable. What can your bugs do when faced with a sky-cleaving talon?"
Lin Xuan took a slow sip of his wine before setting the glass down. "Power is a matter of perspective, Your Highness. A roc rules the sky, but it cannot see the thread that binds its wings until it is too late to fly."
A collective gasp rippled through the pavilion. To challenge the Prince's beast so directly was bordering on treason.
The Prince's eyes narrowed. "A bold claim. Perhaps a small demonstration? My personal guard has a 5-star Obsidian Rhino. It's slow, but its hide is immune to physical and elemental attacks below the 6-star rank. If your 'insects' can even leave a scratch on it, I'll grant you a boon."
"I don't need a scratch," Lin Xuan said, standing up. "I'll take the Rhino's strength instead."
The Scarlet Weaver's Debut
The guests moved to the pavilion's courtyard. A massive, armored rhinoceros, its skin shimmering like dark volcanic glass, was led into the center. It let out a low, vibrating rumble that made the wine glasses on the tables shatter.
"Begin," the Prince commanded.
Lin Xuan didn't move. He simply extended his hand. From the shadow of his cuff, a flash of brilliant crimson shot out.
The Scarlet Weaver landed on the stone floor. It looked pathetic compared to the mountain-like rhino—a tiny red dot on a field of grey. The Rhino snorted, sensing no threat, and prepared to charge.
"Xiao Hong," Lin Xuan whispered. "Path 3: Blood-Siphon Web."
The spiderling didn't jump. It spun.
In a heartbeat, a network of threads—red as fresh arterial blood—exploded across the courtyard. They weren't thick; they were as fine as hair, nearly invisible in the moonlight. The Rhino charged, its massive hooves tearing up the stone, but as it passed through the threads, it didn't break them.
The threads sank into its hide.
The Rhino let out a sudden, confused bellow. It slowed down, its massive muscles trembling. To the shock of the spectators, the vibrant grey of the Rhino's skin began to turn ash-white. The red threads, however, began to glow with a terrifying, pulsing light.
"It's... it's draining the beast's vitality!" Lin Chen whispered from the sidelines, her tablet recording a massive energy transfer. "The Weaver isn't attacking the armor; it's treating the Rhino's blood as a fuel source!"
The Rhino collapsed to its knees, its 5-star strength completely siphoned away in less than thirty seconds. The Scarlet Weaver sat in the center of its web, now glowing like a hot coal, its body slightly larger and its aura far more menacing.
Lin Xuan walked over and picked up the spider. He looked at the Prince, whose face was a mask of suppressed rage.
"The Rhino is alive," Lin Xuan said coolly. "But it will need a month of recovery. As for the 'boon'..."
Lin Xuan pointed toward the Golden-Winged Roc. "Tomorrow, in the arena, I want the Prince to play for high stakes. If I win, the Sovereign Sect takes over the Imperial Beast-Resource Distribution. If I lose... you can have the Larva."
The Prince stood up, his aura erupting in a golden flare that cracked the floor beneath him. "You have a deal, provincial brat. But know this: my Roc does not bleed. It only destroys."
The Sovereign's Quiet Evening
Back in their guest quarters, the atmosphere was thick with adrenaline. Lin Feng was pacing the room, her eyes wild with excitement. "Did you see their faces? The Prince looked like he wanted to swallow his own tongue!"
Lin Yue approached Lin Xuan, her expression more sober. She began to unbutton his outer robe to check for any spiritual backlash, her fingers lingering on his skin. "You've made a dangerous enemy, Xuan'er. The Prince won't just try to win tomorrow. He'll try to kill you to save face."
"Let him try," Lin Xuan said, pulling Yue into his arms. The warmth of her body helped ground the cold, calculating energy of the System. "The Roc is fast, but it's arrogant. It thinks it's at the top of the food chain. It has no idea that the hunter has already arrived."
He looked at the three insects resting on the table: the Jade Larva, the Shadow Ant, and the Blood Spider. They were his trinity of the Forbidden Path—Healing, Assassination, and Depletion.
[System Notice: Hidden Mission - 'The Fall of the Golden Sky' - Active.]
[Target: Defeat the Golden-Winged Roc in under 3 minutes.]
[Reward: Soul-Contract Item - 'The Hornet's Sting'.]
"Sleep well, Sisters," Lin Xuan said, his gaze fixed on the Imperial Palace rising in the distance. "Tomorrow, the sun sets on the Zhao family's arrogance."