---
Night in Wu Tan City arrived quietly. The moonlight spilled across the tiled roofs of the Xiao Clan compound like silver paint, and the wind rustled through the pine branches. Lanterns flickered along the corridor outside the boy's room.
Inside, seated cross-legged beneath a scroll of basic Dou Qi diagrams, Tianzun opened his spiritual sea once again.
And there, he stared at the still-glowing Legendary Pack's aftermath.
> "One in a billion odds… 0.001% draw rate."
He examined the system's reward log. Buried in one of the fine-lined technical panels was a probability string.
> [Draw: LEGENDARY CLASS PACK (Chance: 0.001%)]
His brow twitched—barely.
> "Hmph. Either reality warped for me… or the rules were bent in my favor."
Before his thought could spiral further, the familiar, pride-drenched voice of the System Soul exploded into his mind.
> 「Hold up. Wait a f—what kind of child pulls a Legendary Pack on the first draw?! That's… one in a billion odds! Is he a god or what?!」
Tianzun didn't respond immediately. He was focused on the list of rewards again, already categorizing their future usage. But the corner of his mouth lifted.
> "You sound like you're losing composure, old soul."
> 「Damn right I am! Do you know how many of my past hosts never even touched that tier of pack? Let alone at the age of what—two? No, three?!」
> "Interesting. That means even you don't know everything, do you?"
The soul grunted.
> 「Tch… Don't get cocky, brat. Just because you got lucky once—wait. Actually. Who are you, really?"
Tianzun paused.
He could have told him. He could have revealed everything: the worlds he'd conquered before birth, the previous life he ruled with absolute cunning, the death that wasn't an accident.
But then…
> "Let's just say I'm someone who plays to win."
> 「Hmph… annoying little monster. Reminds me of—never mind. Not important."
> "What was your real name?"
A beat of silence.
> 「…You wouldn't know it. Doesn't matter anymore. Not after what happened."
Tianzun nodded thoughtfully. Then leaned back in his mind-space.
> "Then I'll name you. Can't keep calling you 'System Soul' forever."
> "How about... Ling Yuan?"
The soul paused.
> 「Ling Yuan… huh. You giving me a name like I'm some pet now?"
> "No. Just making it easier to remember what's useful."
> 「Tch. Cold-blooded little freak. Fine. I've been called worse."
---
[System Consciousness – Internal Note:]
> 「User Identity 'Tianzun' confirmed as reincarnated entity from World-00345612.
Soul data classified under Eternal Silence Protocol.
System Soul may not access this data.
Directive: Do not reveal user's past life unless permission granted.」
Status: Secure.
---
The Next Morning
Tianzun stood in the courtyard as golden sun poured over the roofs. He raised a single finger, and at its tip—
A faint, glowing speck of fire flickered to life.
It was tiny. Harmless in appearance. But the depth behind that flame was monstrous. It was a fragment of the Emperor Flame Seed—the ranked #1 heavenly flame in existence.
He absorbed it.
Not in a dramatic spectacle. Not in fiery explosions or roars of heaven-scorching heat. Just… calmly.
One micro-dose.
Each day, he repeated the process.
> "One particle of flame… but it tears through impurities like a blade through paper. My meridians scream. My bones groan. But my foundation…"
He looked at his hand.
> "My foundation is evolving at a level even the ancient clans never imagined."
He'd already mapped the progression rate.
> Projected Time to Da Dou Shi: 6 Years.
Without shortcuts. Without pills. Pure foundation building with the most unstable divine flame in history.
He wasn't rushing. He refused to.
> "Stability creates power. Rushing creates vanity. Xiao Yan, your flame will rise fast. But I… I will rise without limits."
---
[Timeline Projection – Internal Mapping]
Tianzun pulled up a mental calendar, matching ages and events from the BTTH story.
> Xiao Yan's collapse: Age 4 to 15
Mysterious Dou Zun appears: ~Age 15
Jia Nan Academy arc: ~Age 16
Pill Tower and Flame Spirit Hall arcs: post-18
Ancient Clan reveals…
> "I have time. But I must prepare long before the true players awaken."
---
Later That Day – Xiao Clan Dining Hall
Tianzun sat quietly as servants poured spirit broth into polished bowls. Around him, elders and children chatted, but he remained mostly silent. Across the table—
Xiao Yan, energetic and adored, laughed brightly with the younger generation.
Everyone noticed him.
No one noticed Tianzun.
Just as planned.
> "Fame is a torch. And in the wind, a torch invites disaster."
Still, he watched Xiao Yan with calm interest.
They shared blood.
But one was light.
And the other was shadow.
---
Later, outside the courtyard, Xiao Yan ran up beside him. "Tianzun! Come train with me!"
Tianzun glanced up at him. The smile he gave was gentle—but cold beneath the surface.
> "Alright, big brother."
As they walked side by side, one laughed.
The other calculated.
> "Stay bright, Xiao Yan. I will be the shadow that clears your path… or consumes your enemies."
---