Chapter 1 - The Worst Spirit Root in the Sect
The testing hall went silent after the thunder.
Elder Veyr looked up at the ceiling, annoyed rather than afraid.
"Weather," he said.
Nobody believed him.
I still had the blue screen in front of my face.
[HEAVENBREAKER PATH UNLOCKED]
[Level: 0]
[Realm: Mortal]
[Spirit Root: Ash — F]
[Defiance Points: 1]
[Heaven's Debt: 1]
[New Skill Available: Defiant Breath]
I blinked. The screen remained.
Veyr pointed at me. "Did you not hear me? Leave."
Every instinct told me to obey. I had no cultivation. No family backing. No hidden master waiting behind a waterfall.
I had a cracked root and one copper coin.
Then another notification appeared.
[FATE EVENT: EXPULSION]
[Predicted outcome: Kai Renn leaves Iron Lotus Sect and dies to mountain wolves before midnight.]
[Defy the outcome for a reward.]
I almost laughed.
The system was not offering to save me.
It was telling me exactly how I was supposed to die.
So I bowed to Elder Veyr.
"Thank you for the warning."
He smirked.
I walked out of the hall while three hundred disciples watched.
Jace Thorn, the sect's newest A-rank genius, called after me.
"Try not to get eaten before dinner, Kai."
I raised one hand without turning around.
Then I took the mountain path.
At sunset, the wolves came exactly where the system said they would.
Seven of them.
I had no sword.
No qi.
No chance.
The blue screen flashed.
May you like
[DEFY OR DIE.]
