Chapter 17: Weaving the Web of Fate
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The Realm of Fallen Heavens
The moment Lucian Valcrest stepped into the Hidden Realm, he felt an ancient, oppressive aura pressing down.
The sky was a chaotic swirl of gold and crimson, and broken celestial structures floated in midair, remnants of an age long past.
The realm was vast—filled with dangers and opportunities alike.
But unlike the others, Lucian had information they did not.
The Villain System had provided him with a map—one that revealed:
The true location of divine treasures.
The most dangerous zones to avoid.
The fate encounters meant for the Chosen Ones.
'Fate is nothing more than a script,' Lucian mused. 'And I will be the one rewriting it.'
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Guiding the Righteous While Leading Them to Disaster
As the large group of cultivators entered, tensions ran high.
Different sects eyed each other warily—alliances were fragile, and betrayals were inevitable.
But then, Lucian stepped forward, radiating an aura of nobility.
"My fellow cultivators," he said in a calm, commanding tone, "we may come from different factions, but we must not forget that this realm is filled with ancient dangers. If we act recklessly, we may never leave alive."
Many nodded in agreement.
The Saintess of the Moonlit Blade, Lirienne Feng, glanced at him thoughtfully. "Young Master Lucian speaks wisely. It would be best if we avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Even Annalise Vermillion, a known rival of Lucian in public, begrudgingly admitted, "Tch. I suppose he has a point."
Lucian internally smirked.
He had once again cemented himself as the moral pillar of the group.
But his true goal?
To lead them toward misfortune while ensuring his own safety.
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The Altered Fate Encounters
While others debated, Lucian activated the Villain System's Fate Manipulation skill.
He could see the "threads" of destiny connecting certain heroes to their fated treasures.
And with a mere thought, he subtly altered their course.
The Chosen Hero, Xian Mu, was meant to find the Phoenix Heart Flame in an underground cavern. Lucian redirected him toward a nest of Void Serpents instead.
The Imperial Disciple, Feng Hao, was supposed to inherit an immortal's sword. Lucian's manipulation caused a minor shift—now the sword would recognize someone else as its master.
Even Seraphina Yue, his own fiancée, was unknowingly following a path he had set for her.
The system flashed with notifications.
[System Alert: Heaven's Chosen Path Has Been Disrupted!]
Xian Mu's Heaven Points: 47 → 39 (Luck Decreased)
Feng Hao's Fate Destiny Item Has Been Reassigned!
Villain Points Gained: +30
Lucian hid his smile.
One by one, he was removing the pieces of the board.
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Seraphina's Growing Suspicion
As the groups began their exploration, Seraphina Yue couldn't shake a strange feeling.
She had been here in her past life, yet… everything felt slightly off.
'Something isn't right,' she thought. 'The events aren't unfolding the way I remember them…'
Her gaze flickered to Lucian, who stood with perfect composure, offering advice and guidance to the others.
To everyone else, he was the embodiment of virtue.
But Seraphina knew the truth.
She knew what he was destined to become.
Yet, this time, he had not fallen.
'What are you planning, Lucian?' she thought, clenching her fists.
Unbeknownst to her, Lucian was already ten steps ahead.
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The Villain's New Reward
As the night fell, Lucian finally checked his latest reward from the system.
[System Notification: New Villain Reward Unlocked]
Treasure: Eclipse Mirror
Function: Allows the user to 'reflect' chosen destiny encounters onto others.
Lucian's breath slowed.
'This… This is perfect.'
With this, he could take away any fated encounter meant for a hero and gift it to someone else—or even himself.
"The gods of fate truly have no power over me anymore," he murmured.
A new game had begun.
And only he knew the rules.
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