A Twisted Fate: The Birth of Shadows

Klaus sat in his dimly lit chamber, his fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the wooden armrest of his chair. The tea in his cup had long gone cold, yet he made no move to drink it. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each more intricate than the last. The conversation with the Holy Maiden had left an unusual aftertaste, and now, as the silence settled, a new realization began to take shape. 

The pieces on the board were shifting. 

And he had to move first. 

As he exhaled, ready to delve deeper into his thoughts, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind. 

**[System Notification: Host, I would like to suggest changing your cultivation path. The cultivation method followed in this realm is weak and unsuitable for you.]** 

Klaus's interest piqued instantly. He leaned forward, resting his chin against his interlocked fingers. 

"Oh?" His voice carried a dangerous curiosity. "And why exactly is it weak? What path do you suggest?" 

The system's voice remained calm, emotionless, yet there was an undeniable weight behind its words. 

**[Consider this: take an example—Mike, whose cultivation peak is merely at the Soul Formation Realm. According to this realm's standards, that's equivalent to the Celestial Authority Realm at its peak. Yet, despite being at a lower cultivation level, he can easily defeat your grandfather, Grand Fathehen, who stands at the Cosmic Sovereign Realm's early stages. Do you know why?]** 

Klaus's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're saying that Mike—someone much weaker in cultivation—can defeat my grandfather?" 

**[Yes.]** 

A cold chuckle escaped Klaus's lips. 

"How amusing." 

His grandfather was considered one of the strongest figures in this realm, a titan whose presence alone could shake empires. And yet, the system claimed that someone far weaker could defeat him? 

His amusement, however, faded when the system continued. 

**[Your grandfather is only powerful in your eyes. In reality, he is merely a peak existence in *this* realm, but that does not make him the strongest. I can sense individuals far beyond his level—entities you are not yet ready to meet. But you *will* meet them, host. Eventually.]** 

A strange silence settled in the room. 

Klaus tapped his fingers against the chair's armrest, deep in thought. 

"So," he murmured, "if I follow this realm's cultivation system, I'll eventually hit a ceiling. No matter how strong I become here, I'll be nothing in the grand scheme of things." 

**[Exactly.]** 

Klaus took a deep breath, his mind racing through the implications. He had always known there were limits, but this… this changed everything. If he truly wanted to dominate, he had to take a different path. 

"What do I need to do?" he asked finally. 

**[First, open the shop as soon as possible. Second, acquire the right cultivation techniques. The answers you seek will reveal themselves once you obtain them.]** 

Klaus's eyes flickered with anticipation, but before he could ask more, the system spoke again, this time with a dangerous edge. 

**[Now, about the protagonist.]** 

The atmosphere in the room shifted. 

Klaus smirked. "Ah, yes. Zhou Chuan." 

**[New information detected: Protagonist Zhou Chuan has awakened *Luck Weaver Physique*.]** 

Klaus's fingers, which had been lightly tapping against the wooden armrest, suddenly stopped. 

A slow, eerie silence filled the chamber. 

Then, he let out a soft chuckle. 

"So… he has *Luck Weaver* now?" 

**[Affirmative. However, it is in a weakened state. The protagonist's current fortune is unstable due to recent events. His fate is at a crossroads, and external manipulation can further weaken or alter his destiny.]** 

Klaus's smirk turned into a sharp, almost predatory grin. 

"Unstable, you say?" 

**[His luck is wavering, but it is not yet at the point where you can eliminate him. If left unchecked, fate will correct itself, and he will regain his destined path.]** 

Klaus's smirk faded, his expression darkening. 

"And we can't have that, can we?" 

His mind reeled with possibilities. If Zhou Chuan's luck was unsteady, then something—or someone—was influencing it. 

Then, a thought struck him. 

The Holy Maiden. 

His fingers stopped tapping. His entire body went still. 

"Is *she* the reason?" he whispered to himself. 

She still hesitated. Still refused to believe the rumors. 

Could it be that her lingering doubt was keeping Zhou Chuan's fate from completely collapsing? 

A sharp glint passed through Klaus's eyes. 

"If that's the case…" He let out a low chuckle, his voice filled with an eerie amusement. "Then don't blame me for what I'm about to do, Holy Maiden." 

This was her fault. 

She had interfered. 

And now, she would suffer the consequences. 

Klaus stood up, moving toward the window. His silhouette was bathed in the moonlight as he gazed at the distant figure of Zhou Chuan's courtyard. 

If the Holy Maiden was the reason his luck hadn't collapsed entirely, then Klaus would sever that thread completely. 

He would make sure she lost faith in Zhou Chuan entirely. 

No… he would make sure she despised him. 

And what better way to do that than to use fate itself against him? 

The system had given him three key methods to destroy Zhou Chuan's luck. 

1. **Force him into despair** – Ensure that every step he took ended in failure and humiliation. 

2. **Steal his connections** – Isolate him completely, making even those closest to him abandon him. 

3. **Interfere with his destiny** – Block his encounters, steal his opportunities, and lead him further into ruin. 

And Klaus… he would do all three. 

He would push Zhou Chuan further into despair, ensuring that he faced not only failure but also shame so great that it shattered his spirit. 

He would make the Holy Maiden question everything until she turned away from Zhou Chuan completely. 

And finally, he would rob Zhou Chuan of his fate itself. 

He would prevent every fortuitous encounter, every stroke of luck, and every divine opportunity. 

The protagonist's road to greatness would end before it even began. 

And when Zhou Chuan stood at the edge of ruin, when he was at his lowest, Klaus would be there—watching. 

Smiling. 

"Let's see how long fate continues to favor you, protagonist." 

With a final glance at the moonlit courtyard, Klaus turned away. 

The game had begun.