Sovereign of Stolen Fate

The residence of Mayor Wei Tian stood imposingly at the village's center, its grandeur starkly contrasting the humble homes scattered around it. Behind its polished wooden doors, an atmosphere of tension lurked dangerously within its luxurious walls.

Wei Tian paced restlessly, his broad frame wrapped in opulent robes embroidered with subtle threads of silver, a testament to his wealth and power. His eyes burned darkly, fury etched deeply into his normally composed face. Opposite him, Wei Rong knelt submissively, head bowed, the arrogant bravado he once wore so proudly now shattered.

"Pathetic!" Wei Tian roared suddenly, slamming his palm violently onto an ornate wooden table, causing the delicate porcelain teacups to tremble. "You've disgraced our family's name, losing to that worthless Jin Ye!"

Wei Rong flinched visibly, shame and resentment intertwining across his reddened features. "Father, I underestimated him. He—he must have used some deceitful method. There's no other explanation!"

Wei Tian stopped abruptly, piercing Wei Rong with a withering stare, voice dripping disdain. "Deceitful methods? Do you truly think the villagers care about your excuses? What they saw was clear—my son got thrashed and humiliated by a talentless nobody!"

Wei Rong's fists clenched, anger rising beneath his embarrassment. "Give me another chance, Father! I'll crush him, I swear!"

Wei Tian regarded his son coldly, measuring him silently for a long moment before turning toward an ornate wooden chest placed securely behind him. With a flick of his wrist, he unlocked it, revealing various rare medicines, pills, and treasures meticulously arranged within.

"Here," Wei Tian muttered reluctantly, taking a small jade bottle from the chest and thrusting it into Wei Rong's eager hands. "This is a Thousand Refinement Pill. It should be enough to help you break through to the fifth stage of Qi Refinement. Fail again, and even this won't save you."

Wei Rong's eyes widened greedily, fingers clutching the precious pill tightly. "I won't disappoint you again, Father. Jin Ye will regret crossing us."

Wei Tian turned his back dismissively. "I will announce a tournament soon. That will be your chance. Win decisively in front of everyone and restore our family's image—or suffer the consequences of your failure."

Wei Rong got up and bowed deeply, determination blazing fiercely in his eyes as he retreated swiftly from the room. Wei Tian sighed heavily, his face shadowed by concern, understanding clearly that his reputation and power in this village hinged on appearances. He would do anything to protect his family's power, even if it meant crushing Jin Ye and his family publicly. No one can get the idea they can stand up to him.

Meanwhile, hidden within his humble home, Jin Ye sat cross-legged, immersed deeply in focused meditation. Disturbed only by the faint rustle of leaves and distant sounds of the bustling village. Over the past few days, he had meticulously cycled his Qi, stabilizing his foundation in the second stage of Qi Refinement.

But today felt different—his recent encounter and the mysterious absorption of energy from Wei Rong had accelerated his cultivation noticeably. The strange power he'd felt was subtle yet undeniably present, making Qi circulation smoother and cultivation markedly faster.

"This ability… it truly absorbs strength from my defeated opponents," Jin Ye murmured thoughtfully, opening his eyes slowly as he completed another successful Qi cycle. He sensed his cultivation pushing firmly against the boundary of the second stage, poised on the brink of breakthrough.

Taking a steady breath, Jin Ye channeled Qi once more, this time focusing carefully on breaking through. The energy surged steadily, pain mingling sharply with exhilaration as he felt the barrier crumble smoothly, pushing him clearly into the third stage of Qi Refinement.

A relieved sigh escaped Jin Ye, a satisfied smile curving his lips. It was progress, significant enough to offer some reassurance, though he understood it still paled dramatically in comparison to higher realms he'd once effortlessly reached.

Standing, Jin Ye stretched carefully, testing his physical limits. The confrontation with Wei Rong had demonstrated clearly how insufficient raw strength alone was. His past life's superior techniques were impossible to utilize with his current limited Qi pool, yet the principles behind those arts remained invaluable.

"I need to adjust my martial techniques as well," he reflected quietly, eyes narrowing as memories surfaced vividly of complex martial forms and powerful strikes he'd once executed effortlessly. "This body needs precision and efficiency, not overwhelming force at least not yet."

Determinedly, Jin Ye stepped outside, heading toward a secluded area behind his home. There, he began systematically experimenting, simplifying the Moonlight Dominion and Celestial Nightfall Palm among other techniques to suit his current strength and cultivation stage. He drew upon memories of countless battles, each technique adjusted meticulously, removing excess movements and focusing purely on precision and power.

As hours passed in patient practice beneath the pale sunlight filtering gently through swaying branches, Jin Ye gradually began mastering subtle yet effective variations of his old combat methods. Every move, from precise punches and palm attacks to nimble evasions, emphasized his newfound focus on control, accuracy, and economy of motion.

With each successful execution, Jin Ye felt his confidence rise, yet a sobering realization tempered his optimism. His confrontation with Wei Rong had indeed shown his capability, but it also highlighted how drastically weak he was compared to the broader cultivation world.

"I'm still far from true strength," he acknowledged softly to himself, sweat glistening along his forehead. Jin Ye clenched his fists "But I will use this place as a stepping stone to grow my strength. With my knowledge and expertise I'll reach and surpass any so called limits this time." 

As the moon light cast long shadows, Jin Ye concluded his practice, muscles burning pleasantly from exertion. He gazed thoughtfully at the village, lights flickering gently from distant windows. He knew Wei Tian's retaliation was inevitable, and Jin Ye knew he had to be ready. While this place was laughably weak in the grand scheme of things, to the current him it was extremely dangerous. So he knew it was crucial to strengthen himself quickly.

"A storm approaches," he whispered quietly, eyes sharp with determination. "I must be ready when it arrives I just hope it doesn't disappoint."

Returning to his room, Jin Ye once more entered meditation, consolidating the day's progress. As he settled into quiet contemplation, a faint stir of excitement mingled with caution within his heart.

His unique ability held untold possibilities, yet he didn't know the limits so each use carried risks he didn't fully understand. Could this power change him? Experimentation would have to be done and he knew the perfect test subjects.

Closing his eyes firmly, Jin Ye surrendered to deep meditation, determinedly cycling Qi again, not wanting to waste a moment. Every step forward brought him closer to uncovering the truth behind this mysterious power, and closer still to reclaiming what was stolen from him.

Within him, a subtle energy pulsed quietly, hidden yet profoundly powerful—a silent promise that Jin Ye's return to prominence was no longer just wishful thinking.

It was inevitable.