The Martial Chu Clan's Mountain Hall burned with light.
Flames ran along the copper pillars, red banners fluttered like tongues of fire, and every disciple in sight radiated pride and heat.
At the top of the stairs sat the patriarch Chi ming and his prodigy son,Chu chen , their auras glowing like twin suns.
Today was a festival of unity between the royal house and the Fire Dao clans. They always frame it as peaceful gathering but it way a way to guage each others strength.
Emperor Yue and Empress chu attended in person,alongside their son, the mysterious, blindfolded Crown prince Yue Zihan
The crowd quieted as the royal party entered.
Even the fire seemed to bow, dimming for a heartbeat as Zihan stepped into view.
He wore plain red robes, hands folded neatly behind his back, face unreadable beneath the silk blindfold.
"That's the prince? someone whispered.
"Why cover his eyes?"
"I heard he failed cultivation entirely."
Zihan heard them all and smiled faintly because mortals gossip best when they think they're whispering.
[System:] Attention density: 94%.
[Zihan:] I'm flattered. Should I charge admission?
[System:] Sarcasm logged. No CP awarded.
When the Emperor was seated, Chu chen stepped forward, bowing with perfect grace.
"Your Majesty, it honors our clan to welcome the royal family. As a token of respect, this humble one wishes to demonstrate the Burning Sun Fist."
The crowd roared approval.
Fire coiled around his arm, golden and pure, and when he struck the air, the heat warped air itself forming a fist of flame , splitting clouds above the mountain.
Applause thundered.
Even the Emperor nodded in admiration.
Then Chu chen turned, smiling politely toward Zihan.
"Your Highness, perhaps we could exchange a few friendly moves? For learning's sake, of course."
The hall hushed.
All eyes turned to the blindfolded prince.
Zihan tilted his head, considering.
Then he gave a slow, courteous bow.
"I appreciate the offer," he said mildly, voice smooth as smoke, "but I am here as a guest and I prefer not to cause too much of a ruckus."
A ripple of laughter spread half nervous, half confused.
Chu Chen blinked, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Surely, Your Highness jests. I can control my strength."
"I don't doubt it," Zihan replied, still smiling. "I just can't guarantee I'll control mine"
The laughter stopped.
[System:] Threat level of statement: 8/10.
[Zihan:] And I was being polite.
Chu Liang bowed stiffly, trying to recover.
"As expected, the prince values restraint. Admirable."
Zihan inclined his head. "Restraint is underrated. Too much noise makes weak fire think it's thunder."
[System:] Passive-aggressive burn detected. +3 CP.
[Zihan:] Worth it.
He turned back toward his parents, completely relaxed, as if the confrontation never happened.
But in the silence that followed Zihan never moved he closed his eyes as if bored by the event itself. In this state he entered into meditation to continue to consolidate his newly awakened power and continue to integrate with chaos. Introducing it little by little in his dantian to adapt to the star floating inside. Order.
[System:] Unintentional aura interference recorded. Energy leakage: 0.2%.
[Zihan:] I really need to get a leash for my soul.
The Emperor hid a smile behind his hand.
The Empress simply sighed, proud and weary all at once.
"Still the same," she murmured. "Always gentle, always terrifying."
[System:] +2 CP: "Maternal Admiration Achieved."
[Zihan:]…You're enjoying this, aren't you?
[System:] Watching mortals panic? Immensely.
Later, as the banquet began, Chu chen watched from afar, unease creeping under his skin.
The Crown prince's presence gnawed at him,an invisible gravity that made even his own flames flicker.
"He said he's only at the first stage," Chu Chen muttered.
Lan Xueyin, the Ice Lotus Saintess, sat beside him, calm as winter.
"Then be grateful he refuses to fight," she said softly.
"For your fire would have met something that does not burn ."
Her voice sent a chill through him deeper than any frost.
Across the hall, Zihan lifted his teacup, tilting it just enough for the steam to curl upward like a spirit.
Behind the blindfold, his mismatched eyes glowed faintly red and blue, chaos restrained.
[System:] Achievement Unlocked:
"Refused a Challenge but Still Won the Fight." +15 CP
[Reward Function:] Hidden option unlocked [Echo of Dominion ].
( Echo of dominion, one is able to create a domain where they have absolute control and those trapped inside are basically helpless unless the enemy is stronger than the domain owner.
Zihan's lips curved.
"Now we're having fun. "
....
Night fell over Chu Mountain, the festival lights dying one by one.
Only the training arena still burned,a wide marble courtyard lit by braziers, ringed with statues of ancient fire saints.
Inside waited Chu Chen, barely hiding his irritation.
Beside him stood his cousin Chu Rong, his sworn brother Han Feng, and two elders watching like wolves smelling blood.
"He humiliated you in front of everyone," Han Feng hissed.
"Are you truly letting him walk away?"
Chu Liang's jaw clenched.
"I only want a… conversation."
Everyone knew what that meant.
The Chu Clan's "conversations" usually ended with ashes.
When Yue Zihan arrived, he had no escort, only the blindfold and that same unhurried calm.
Moonlight caught the edge of his robe; it looked like shadow pretending to be silk.
"Your Highness," Chu chen said evenly, "thank you for accepting my invitation."
"I didn't," Zihan replied, voice lazy. "But your messenger mentioned death duel, and I dislike false advertising."
Zihan decided to scan Chu chen, he wanted to see what he was made of.
" system partial scan" he was not wasting his hard earned Cp on him.
[ system] 10 Cp have been deducted
Chu Chen – heir to Chu clan
Age : 15 years
Body: Burning sun battle body
Cultivation: late stage of foundation establishment
Loyalty: 0%
Soul: orange
Likeness : -15
[System ] He really hates you
He shrugged his shoulders
The elders shifted uncomfortably.
Chu chen bowed stiffly. "So be it. Let the heavens judge."
[System:] Duel parameters: lethal confirmed.
Moral deviation threshold crossed
Zihan:] About time.
Chu chen moved first, blazing forward in a storm of flame.
Every strike exploded the air; the courtyard walls glowed molten.
His Burning Sun Body shone like a miniature star.
Zihan didn't move.
He merely turned his head slightly, as if listening to a distant song.
The flames curved around him and,like embarrassed children,missed.
Gasps filled the night.
Chu Rong shouted, "Illusion art! Coward tricks!"
Zihan sighed. "If I were using illusions, you'd already be dancing."
[System:] Enemy aggression detected.
Sin Value +3 (Lethal Intent received).
Madness Index: Stable (12%).
Chu chen roared, unleashing his full sun-form.
The marble floor melted; wind turned to heat.
Still, Zihan only raised a hand and slapped the air, " tiresome."
The sound ,barely a word ,rippled through the arena.
The air itself flinched.
Han Feng screamed as his weapon cracked in half.
Chu Rong fell to one knee, clutching his chest.
Only Chu chen remained standing, his aura flickering wildly.
"What… what are you?" he gasped.
"Uninterested," Zihan said simply.
Then he walked forward.
Each step silenced a flame.
[System:] Host's aura bleed: 0.4%.
Collateral psychological trauma detected awarding Madness Points +10.
Zihan placed a single finger on Chu Chen's forehead, and pushed,
"Sleep."
There was no flash, no roar.
Just stillness.
Chu chen collapsed, unconscious but alive, his fire completely extinguished.
The elders trembled.
Han Feng tried to speak his mouth moved, but no sound came.
Zihan looked at them without expression.
"Your prodigy challenged royalty to a death duel," he said quietly.
"I chose mercy. If you prefer the alternative, I can correct that."
No one answered.
Even the night held its breath.
He turned and left the courtyard.
The fires did not reignite until he was gone.
[System Log:]
Death Duel completed :opponent spared.
Sin Value +15 (Accepted duel; intent lethal).
Madness +5 (Partial loss of empathy).
Reward: Title Unlocked : The Unmoved Heir.
Chaos Points +20 (Victory via suppression).
[System:] Analysis You've acquired a pattern: provoke, underwhelm, terrify.
[Zihan:] Efficient, isn't it?
[System:] Psychologically catastrophic for them.
[Zihan:] For me, it's Tuesday
Back in the Chu family guest chamber, Zihan washed his hands in silence.
The water darkened for a moment, showing reflections of faces that had almost died.
He blinked once, and the vision vanished.
[System:] Sin: 18 / 100. Madness: 17 / 100.
Thresholds approaching awareness shift.
[Zihan:] Good. Let them whisper monster. It saves introductions.
He smiled faintly under the blindfold, whispering,
"Mortals burn bright. But madness burns deep."
And somewhere in the depths of the system, a new line flickered:
```
[Hidden Function Unlocked]
"Sin Conversion Protocol": Convert accumulated Sin into Chaos Power at risk of sanity loss.
The night shivered.