Sovereign of Stolen Fate

The morning sun painted Jin Ye's room in soft shades of gold, bringing warmth and a sense of calm. Jin Ye sat cross-legged on his bed, deep in meditation. He breathed evenly, feeling his Qi move smoothly within him, stronger now after his recent breakthroughs.

Suddenly, a quick knock on the door broke his concentration. He sighed lightly and stood up, stretching his arms briefly before opening the door. Jin Mei stood there, her eyes bright with excitement but also worried.

"Brother! Mayor Wei Tian just announced a tournament," she said quickly, her voice filled with anxiety. "Everyone says it's because Wei Rong lost to you. They think your victory was just luck."

Jin Ye gently smiled, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Let them talk. Their opinions won't change the truth."

She hesitated, her small face lined with concern. "But what if they're planning something? You know Wei Rong won't let it go."

He nodded slowly, appreciating her care. "You're right. Wei Rong will want revenge, but this is exactly the chance I need. The tournament is the best chance for me."

Seeing his confidence, Jin Mei relaxed slightly. "Then I believe in you, Brother. Just be careful."

"Of course" he reassured her.

Later that day, Jin Ye found his secret spot deep in the forest. The area was quiet and peaceful, perfect for training. He began practicing carefully, moving through simplified forms of techniques he had used in his past life. Each movement was precise, using just enough Qi to build mastery without wasting any energy.

As he trained, Jin Ye thought about the tournament. In cultivation, every small increase in Qi Refinement made a huge difference. Each stage improved strength, speed, and how much Qi one could use. Higher-level cultivators were not just stronger physically; they could also use more powerful techniques that lower-level cultivators couldn't withstand. Facing someone even one stage higher was risky without careful planning and skill. He was sure Wei Tong had given Wei Rong to strengthen him, his son might be a good for nothing but he doubted he was as well.

By late afternoon, Jin Ye paused, breathing deeply, satisfied with his progress. Though tired, he felt good. His hard work was paying off, but he knew he had a long road ahead. 

While Jin Ye was busy practicing getting ready for the tournament an unfamiliar person arrived in the village.

The man stood taller than most villagers. He wore dark blue robes embroidered with golden cloud patterns, the unmistakable mark of the Azure Sky Sect—one of the most dominant martial sects in the region. Despite his restrained aura, the villagers could tell this man was far beyond anyone in this backwater village including the Mayor Wei Tian.

The man exuded the confidence of someone at the peak of mortal cultivation. 9th Stage Qi Refinement.

The villagers stared at him as he approached the town square wondering what he came here for.

"I heard there is to be a tournament," the man said, his voice deep yet calm. "Who among you is worth watching?"

The villagers exchanged hesitant glances before someone stepped forward.

"Everyone expects Wei Rong to win, but… there's talk of Jin Ye."

The sect cultivator's brows raised slightly. "Jin Ye?"

"The one who humiliated Mayor Wei's son last week. It's a secret not talked about but Mayor Wei arranged this tournament so his son could get his revenge."

There were murmurs among the crowd—skepticism and doubt mixed with lingering curiosity.

"Bah! That boy was lucky!"

"I bet Wei Rong was holding back!"

"He's only at the 2nd Stage of Qi Refinement. Even if he broke through to the 3rd What chance does he have now? You know how the Mayor works."

The Azure Sky Sect cultivator ignored the noise. He simply nodded as if committing the name to memory and walked toward the outskirts of the village, drawn by something unseen.

Far from the bustling village, deep within his secluded forest clearing, Jin Ye trained relentlessly.

His form shifted through the Moonlit Phantom Steps, a movement technique designed to erase his presence mid-motion, allowing him to weave unpredictably through combat. Even at his current level, his footfalls grew lighter, his silhouette flickering like a shadow, and with time, he could make his movements completely silent.

As he practiced, he transitioned into Rising Fang Strike, a precise and vicious technique designed to target meridians with pinpoint efficiency. Each thrust of his palm cut through the air, dispersing the mist around him in controlled bursts of wind. At his full power, this strike could cripple an opponent's Qi circulation, making it impossible for them to recover in battle.

Lastly, Scorching Palm, a technique that, at its highest level, could deal internal fire damage burning the meridians of an opponent upon impact. Right now, he could only weaken his opponent's physical endurance, but that alone could tip the balance in a prolonged fight.

Every movement was deliberate, optimized for efficiency and lethality. He had no room for wasted energy.

Then, he felt it.

A presence approaching.

Jin Ye turned, his sharp gaze locking onto the man in blue robes who watched him with interest.

The man studied him, arms folded. "You must be Jin Ye."

Jin Ye remained still, but his mind raced. Why someone be here?

"And you are?" he asked cautiously.

"Song Yuan, Outer Sect Disciple of the Azure Sky Sect," the man said, watching him with mild intrigue. "I heard rumors about you, and seeing as I'm bored I got curious."

Jin Ye's expression remained neutral. "I didn't think someone of your status would be interested in a small village tournament."

Song Yuan chuckled, his cultivation pressure subtly leaking, pressing down like a heavy storm cloud. The sheer weight of it sent a prickling sensation through Jin Ye's meridians, reminding him of the vast gap between them.

"I'm not. Think of this as me scratching an itch. I just hope this tournament doesn't bore me"

Jin Ye didn't flinch. He had felt the power of greater cultivators before.

Instead, he met Song Yuan's gaze without a shred of submission.

"And?" he asked.

Song Yuan studied him a moment longer before smirking. "It remains to be seen if you're worth watching. But tell me, Jin Ye… do you intend to stay in this village forever?"

Silence.

Jin Ye didn't hesitate.

"No. This place is just a stepping stone."

Song Yuan nodded approvingly. "Good answer. Come 1st in the tournament and impress me and I'll give you some information that can help with that"

With that, he turned and vanished, his figure flickering into the distance with a single step.

Jin Ye exhaled slowly.

An cultivator from a sect had noticed him.

And yet, that meant nothing if he failed to prove himself in the coming days.

The following days passed quickly, and soon the tournament day arrived. The village square buzzed with excitement. Villagers whispered eagerly, curious to see if Jin Ye's victory had been luck or skill.

"Do you really think Jin Ye can win again?" a young woman asked quietly, glancing toward Jin Ye as he walked calmly to the waiting area.

An older man shrugged. "Hard to say. He seemed strong, but Wei Rong reached the fifth stage recently. That's a big gap."

Nearby, Jin Ye overheard their conversation but remained unbothered, his expression relaxed.

That was when he heard the familiar voice.

"Well, well… I was hoping you'd show up, Jin Ye."

Wei Rong's smirk was unmistakable as he strode toward him, his movements showing confidence, his once bruised ego seemingly erased. The last time they had met, he had been humiliated—but now, there was a glint in his eyes, and Jin Ye could feel the Qi from Wei Rong.

5th stage Qi Refinement

So he had broken through after all.

Wei Rong crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as he looked Jin Ye up and down, amusement flickering across his face. "I almost thought you'd run after hearing about this tournament. Guess even a lucky dog doesn't know when to quit."

Jin Ye remained still, his expression unreadable.

Wei Rong leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough so only Jin Ye could hear. "Things are different now. I will crush you on the stage like the nobody you are."

He tapped his chest confidently. "I've stepped into the 5th Stage."

The words were coated in smug certainty, his tone deliberately slow, ensuring that Jin Ye had time to absorb them. Then, he chuckled, shaking his head as if amused by some private joke.

"You must feel it, don't you? That pressure? That weight?" He spread his arms slightly, basking in his own newfound strength. "What's it like, Jin Ye? Knowing that the gap between us has turned into a chasm?"

Wei Rong let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. "I almost feel bad for you. Last time, you got lucky—some fluke let you slip by. But today? You won't have that luxury. No tricks, no excuses. Just you, kneeling before me where you belong. So if you know what's good for if we meet on the stage, immediately bow down and kowtow and apologize and i might just let you off with broken legs."

Then, he smirked, his voice dripping with mockery.

"But hey… when you lose, you can always go back to being the worthless nobody you were meant to be."

Wei Rong let the words hang in the air, savoring the moment. The confidence, the certainty—it was all built on the foundation of his recent breakthrough.

And yet, despite the disdain in Wei Rong's voice, Jin Ye's expression never changed. His silver eyes remained cold.

For while Wei Rong had spent his time celebrating his breakthrough, Jin Ye had been training.

Jin Ye finally spoke, his voice calm and composed.

"That's it? You broke through and think your untouchable now? I beat you once and now your destined to always be below me"

A flicker of irritation passed over Wei Rong's face, but before he could respond, the tournament official called for the participants to gather.

The real battle was about to begin.