> "A seed of doubt, once planted, grows faster than a thousand swords."
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One Week Later — Azure Heaven Sect
The morning sun climbed slowly over the vast mountains, lighting up the grand halls and endless training fields of the Azure Heaven Sect.
On the surface, everything seemed peaceful.
Disciples practiced their sword arts, Elders lectured on cultivation theory, and servants rushed to finish their morning tasks.
But beneath the calm, small cracks were starting to appear.
---
Among the Outer Disciples
Whispers floated through the air like a poisonous mist.
> "Hey, did you hear? Elder Du caught Shen Tian sneaking into the forbidden library!"
> "No way! Shen Tian is the Son of Destiny. Why would he steal from his own sect?"
> "Heh. Just because he's favored by the heavens doesn't mean he's clean."
> "I heard someone saw him meeting rogue cultivators outside the sect late at night..."
Rumors.
Suspicion.
Jealousy.
All of them spread like wildfire, carried by fearful and envious hearts.
But none of them knew the truth.
The whispers hadn't started by accident.
They were planted.
---
Hidden in the Outer Courtyard
In a shadowy corner of the outer courtyard, hidden atop an abandoned watchtower, Lin Xian leaned against the cold wall, arms crossed.
A faint, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
> "Good... Just a little more."
He had carefully chosen targets — restless outer sect disciples, ones with grudges against the inner sect, ones overlooked and discarded.
He never approached them directly.
Instead, he leaked "secrets" through anonymous letters and manipulated conversations.
False evidence was left subtly:
An inner robe found near the forbidden library.
A spirit jade missing from the treasury.
A broken talisman from the elder's tower.
Enough clues to raise doubts.
But never enough to trace back to him.
Besides, who would suspect Lin Xian, an ordinary, forgotten outer disciple?
He wasn't even important enough to be noticed.
That was his greatest shield.
---
Inside the Elder Halls
Even among the sect's Elders, tension brewed.
Elder Du slammed his palm onto a jade table, his face twisted with anger.
> "That boy Shen Tian is getting too arrogant! He broke the sect's rules and disrespected the forbidden places!"
Another Elder, calmer and older, shook his head.
> "Careful with your words, Du. Shen Tian carries the sect's hope. He is blessed by the Heavenly Dao itself."
Still, several Elders remained silent — their eyes flickering with hidden thoughts.
> "If Shen Tian rises too high, what will happen to our families?"
> "Will we still hold power in the sect, or be forgotten?"
Old ambitions.
Old fears.
Lin Xian's seeds of doubt were working exactly as planned.
---
That Night — Lin Xian's Courtyard
Under the pale moonlight, Lin Xian sat cross-legged on a worn stone bench, gazing up at the night sky.
In front of him, a faint blue panel floated silently.
---
[Villain System]
» Objective: Betray the Azure Heaven Sect (Progress: 8%)
» Villain Points: 50
» Passive Skill: [Whisper of Doubt] — Small chance to worsen distrust among enemies.
» New Reward Unlocked: [Minor Illusion Talisman Blueprint] (Allows creation of fake evidence!)
---
He closed the panel and narrowed his sharp eyes.
> "Still too slow," Lin Xian muttered. "I need something bigger... something that will break the sect's pride."
He thought carefully.
Shen Tian would soon lead a grand hunt to capture a rare spirit beast — an event the sect heavily promoted to boost Shen Tian's reputation.
Important Elders would accompany him.
The sect would be vulnerable.
If Lin Xian moved at the right time...
He could shake the very roots of the Azure Heaven Sect in a single night.
> "Let the Son of Destiny choke on his own ambition."
He chuckled softly.
> "And let the heavens watch helplessly."
---
Meanwhile — Far Across the Mountains
Under the shadow of an ancient tree on a misty peak, a figure in dark robes stood quietly. We see her figure for the first time but not her face .
Women had a tall, slender figure, graceful yet distant, like a flower in the snow. Her face was cold and flawless, with sharp features and pale skin. Her eyes were narrow and icy, showing no emotion, as if nothing in the world could touch her heart. Even her slight movements felt distant, making people afraid to get too close.
She watched the distant Azure Heaven Sect with cold, sharp eyes.
Her violet gaze was like the blade of an executioner — calm, ruthless, and precise.
She had been observing Lin Xian in secret ever since she felt the faint stirrings of rebellion within the sect.
> "Interesting," she murmured.
"You hide your hatred well, Lin Xian. Much better than those other fools.
But only using pety tricks will not yeild any benifit if this how far you can think your end will be same as those fools"
She wrapped her long sleeves around herself as the cold mountain winds blew.
> "Perhaps you are nothing special. Just an another fool "
She turned away, vanishing into the mist.
The game had begun.
And blood would soon follow.
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