Chapter 27: The Heavenly Dao and the System

"W-what?"

Ye Chen’s eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the hand pinning his blade.

This was the "Twelve Heavenly Slaying Swords," his master’s supreme technique! Its terrifying power had been demonstrated just moments ago when a single stray ripple of sword intent had sliced his arm. As a ninth-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, to be so easily wounded by a mere sliver of intent spoke volumes of its lethality.

Yet now, a single hand had shattered his sword intent with effortless ease, suppressing the very power he had channeled.

Ye Chen looked up, and a familiar face—one that made his stomach churn—came into view. Xiao Chenxin wore a calm smile, secretly channeling a sliver of force to snap the blade.

[Heavenly Dao fluctuation detected!]
[This item may be Ye Chen’s symbiotic spiritual treasure!]
[If destroyed, you will surely suffer a backlash from the Heavenly Dao!]

Hearing the system’s warning in his mind, Ye Chen quietly withdrew his modest force. The Heavenly Dao and the system were entities of the same rank; there was no hierarchy of strength between them, only convenience. Until he had grown strong enough, he had to be cautious.

Releasing the sword, Xiao Chenxin clasped his hands behind his back and said calmly, "You made two mistakes in executing that move. Furthermore, while I can withstand the power of this strike, the same cannot be said for the others within Zhenyue City."

Ye Chen gritted his teeth. "Despicable! Using the lives of a city’s inhabitants to threaten me! I don’t need your reminders!"

He shifted his grip, turning his thrust into a sweep aimed directly at Xiao Chenxin’s neck. "And I don’t need your guidance!"

Xiao Chenxin smiled, his body suddenly dissolving into a wisp of azure smoke. When he reappeared, he was already dozens of meters away. His voice rang out, clear and resonant, across the heavens.

"Oh, looks like someone is getting flustered."

The mockery, echoing with the sensibility of another world, sent a surge of rage through Ye Chen’s heart. He glared at Xiao Chenxin, wishing he could plunge his sword into that mouth and tear it to shreds. Yet, the disparity in their strength was plain to see; Ye Chen had no choice but to suppress his fury for now.

He glared at Xiao Chenxin, then abruptly turned his head to look at Ling Hu, his former master. "Master, what exactly has he done to you?"

Seeing Ye Chen like this, a wave of inexplicable irritation rose within Ling Hu.

*What has he done?* He simply helped me see reality—the reality that I can never have you! What else could he have done?

Before Ling Hu could speak, Xiao Chenxin’s voice transmission arrived first. "Disciple, do not be angry. You still have a chance to speak with him; perhaps this misunderstanding can be resolved."

***

Xiao Chenxin’s provocation took effect instantly.

"A misunderstanding?"

In the past, if there had been any chance for an explanation, Ling Hu would have stepped forward to make everything clear. But now, she no longer needed to. She had accepted the truth. She had accepted that no matter how much effort she put in or how much she did, she would never obtain Ye Chen. She had known this result all along; she simply hadn't been willing to admit it.

Having faced reality, she would no longer weave unreachable, illusory dreams for herself. Her tone turned icy. "Master, there is no misunderstanding between him and me."

After saying this, Ling Hu looked at Ye Chen, her expression even colder. "My affairs are none of your concern. You never cared before, and there is no need for you to care from now on. How free, how wonderful."

Dropping those words, Ling Hu turned and walked away. When one loves a person, they appear glorious and magnificent, to whom even the sunlight cannot compare. When one stops loving, they are nothing more than the most ordinary speck of dust.

Xiao Chenxin raised a brow slightly and checked Ling Hu’s status panel.

[Name: Ling Hu]
[Fortune: Golden]
[Simp Value: 0]

Zero! It had been cleared!

Xiao Chenxin cheered inwardly. It was done! Ye Chen no longer had this capable master to protect him. Without his "guardian," Ye Chen’s path ahead would never be smooth sailing. He had lost the qualifications to compete on equal footing!

Before Xiao Chenxin could finish rejoicing, another system notification appeared.

"Congratulations to the host for damaging the Son of Fortune’s luck. Half of the lost fortune has been transferred to the host."
[Host’s Current Fortune: Black.]

The familiar act of plundering the fortune of the chosen one filled Xiao Chenxin with delight. This was the power of seizing Heavenly Dao fortune for his own use! It was as if the system had won a round in its game against the Heavenly Dao. As long as he remained persistent, it was not impossible for the system to eventually surpass the Heavenly Dao. After all, he could keep working for the system, targeting different Sons of Fortune. There would always be weaklings falling into his clutches!

Suddenly, Xiao Chenxin shifted the topic. "System, if I help you surpass the Heavenly Dao, will there be fewer 'natural-born simps'? For example... my predecessor?"

To this day, Xiao Chenxin had become increasingly certain that his predecessor had been manipulated by the Heavenly Dao into becoming a simp. Looking at how his orders today were obeyed by the entirety of the Yaoguang Holy Land without question, it was clear that the predecessor had held the same power. One word from him had been enough to shift the balance of the region.

And with Ye Chen, this Son of Fortune, active in the vicinity, if his predecessor had possessed even a shred of foresight to pull up the weeds by their roots or bring Ye Chen into the fold, the cultivation path prepared for Ye Chen by the Heavenly Dao would have been completely ruined.

Turning his predecessor into a simp had been the simplest way to resolve most of the threats posed by Ye Chen. Moreover, it was also the primary way Ye Chen had obtained resources and benefits from the Yaoguang Holy Land!

[Congratulations to the host for the correct answer.]
[But unfortunately, there is no reward.]

Xiao Chenxin couldn't help but pout. "I didn't want a reward anyway."

Having gained further insight into the relationship between the system and the Heavenly Dao, Xiao Chenxin grasped the "main quest" that the system had never explicitly stated: Topple the Heavenly Dao!

This mission was tied to his very life. If the system were destroyed by the Heavenly Dao, he—having helped the system oppose the Sons of Fortune and strip them of their luck—would clearly not have a good ending. To be precise, the moment he transmigrated, he was permanently bound to the system. Their lives were linked!

After briefly sorting his thoughts, Xiao Chenxin embraced the mission of opposing the Sons of Fortune. He would make these chosen ones truly understand the rigor of pulling up weeds by the roots and the foresight of strangling danger in its cradle. This was the wisdom of another world!

As Xiao Chenxin cleared his mind, he looked toward Ye Chen. While he had been lost in thought, Ye Chen seemed to have fallen into a state of sudden enlightenment, sitting cross-legged with his sword laid across his lap. Strange, magnificent ripples flowed all around him.

"This..."
"Is the Heavenly Dao playing dirty?"
"Can't win, so you start hacking? Have you no shame?"

Xiao Chenxin secretly fired off some spiritual energy, but before it could touch Ye Chen, the energy disintegrated. Not only was it granting Ye Chen enlightenment on the spot, but it was also personally acting as his protector! To maintain the Son of Fortune, the Heavenly Dao truly had no shame left!

Xiao Chenxin narrowed his eyes and asked the system, "What is this method?"
[Spatial Laws.]

Xiao Chenxin pondered for a moment, then called out to Ling Hu via voice transmission and tossed a cultivation manual to her. "A reward for you."

Ling Hu accepted the manual on the spot and bowed to Xiao Chenxin. "Thank you, Master."

[Congratulations to the host for triggering a ten-thousand-fold return!]