Chapter 27: Altering Destiny
Chapter 27: Altering Destiny
“System, what’s the specific plan for altering fate?”
With 300,000 Destiny Points invested, Su Ming needed absolute certainty that this would succeed.
[Revive the remnant soul of the extinct mythical beast Taotie within the artifact and have it forcibly seize Chu Fan’s body while reducing the spiritual energy conversion rate.]
[Due to the massive Destiny Points expenditure in awakening Taotie, both Chu Fan’s body and soul will be susceptible to its influence.]
Reading the system’s report, Su Ming sensed a hint of foreboding.
“System, is there a chance Taotie’s remnant soul might acknowledge Chu Fan and willingly offer him its power?”
[This possibility was accounted for during the design phase.]
[Once revived, Taotie’s remnant soul will be permanently set to never submit to Chu Fan and will not fully bind with him.]
[Even if forced into a life-or-death symbiosis, it would rather self-destruct than yield.]
[After modification, whenever Chu Fan uses the artifact to devour, 30% of the energy will go to him, 50% to Taotie, and the remaining 20% will be acquired by the host.]
With the system laying out such thorough precautions, Su Ming had no further reservations.
Once Chu Fan obtained this artifact, Su Ming could continuously siphon value from him.
These 300,000 Destiny Points were worth every penny.
“Good! Execute the plan!”
[Destiny Points deducted. Altering Chu Fan’s core destiny encounter now.]
Seeing this prompt, Su Ming finally relaxed and focused entirely on the sparring match before him.
Though the immediate issue was resolved, he couldn’t afford to slack off in collecting Destiny Points—especially now that he was down to just 4,000.
……
“Brother Jiang Wang, is this the ruin you mentioned? Why does it feel… ominous?”
Chu Fan stared at the abyss-like darkness ahead that devoured all light, cold sweat trickling down his forehead as his limbs trembled uncontrollably.
The man he addressed as “Brother Jiang Wang” smiled kindly and reassured him in a gentle tone.
“Don’t worry. I’ve been here many times—I can guarantee your absolute safety.”
“Chu Fan, didn’t you say you wanted to grow stronger? What lies inside is perfect for you… provided you can endure the scorching flames.”
Jiang Wang patted Chu Fan’s shoulder encouragingly, every bit the picture of a benevolent mentor.
What Chu Fan didn’t know was that this very Jiang Wang ranked among the top three most wanted criminals on every orthodox faction’s bounty list.
Jiang Wang—peak Star Realm cultivator, the Northern Frontier’s most treacherous demonic practitioner.
But Chu Fan was oblivious. To him, Jiang Wang was his savior.
Without Jiang Wang, he would have died long ago in this godforsaken land.
Chu Fan had no idea where he even was. When he first woke up, all he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling, Jiang Wang tending to a furnace beside him while explaining their surroundings.
Before Jiang Wang could finish, a horde of demonic beasts suddenly attacked.
Realizing they were all at the Nirvana Realm, Chu Fan thought he was done for.
Thankfully, Jiang Wang revealed his peak Nirvana Realm strength and drove the beasts back.
For the next two days, Chu Fan survived in the Northern Frontier solely thanks to Jiang Wang.
Facing one of the demonic path’s top three fugitives, Chu Fan unwittingly spilled every detail about himself.
From his words, Jiang Wang learned of Su Ming—that extraordinary existence.
When Su Ming’s parents descended upon the Heaven Primordial Continent over a decade ago, every cultivator had felt their terrifying pressure.
This Chu Fan had a grudge against Su Ming and possessed a rare physique.
To Jiang Wang, he was the perfect pawn.
Over those two days, Jiang Wang subtly manipulated Chu Fan, supplementing his influence with demonic cultivation techniques at night to corrode his mind and deepen his obsession with defeating Su Ming.
Then, as if by accident, he revealed the location, traps, and hidden treasure of this ruin—luring Chu Fan into taking the initiative.
The ruin’s restrictions had already been scouted by demonic cultivators—only those below the fifth level of the Nirvana Realm could enter.
Inside burned a peculiar flame that devoured spiritual energy.
Despite deploying countless artifacts and even sacrificing lives, the demonic factions had failed to cross that sea of fire.
But Chu Fan was the perfect candidate.
His Yang Fire Physique might grant him immunity to those flames.
“Chu Fan, the path to power is never smooth. True opportunities demand risking your life!”
“Of course, if you were like Su Ming—born with powerful parents—everything would naturally come easy…”
At the mention of Su Ming, Chu Fan clenched his fists.
Just thinking of that face made his blood boil with rage.
“Brother Jiang Wang, if I obtain the artifact you mentioned… I can surpass Su Ming, right?”
“I can’t say for certain, but since it’s an ancient ruin, whatever lies within will surely propel you to greatness…”
“I understand…”
With that, Chu Fan gritted his teeth and stepped into the darkness ahead.
“I hope you successfully retrieve that artifact… and hand it to me.”
At this moment, Jiang Wang shed all pretense, revealing a sinister grin.
According to their sect’s ancient records, this artifact was forged from the soul of a mythical beast—at least at the half-step Void Realm level.
On the Heaven Primordial Continent, such an artifact would be peerless.
Inside the ruin, Chu Fan experienced the flame Jiang Wang had described—the kind that devoured spiritual energy.
Now, they clung to his body, gnawing away at his reserves.
Once his energy was exhausted, the flames would begin consuming his life force.
Even with his Yang Fire Physique’s innate resistance, Chu Fan could feel his spiritual energy rapidly depleting.
“If you devour my energy, then I’ll devour you!”
With that thought, he opened his mouth and inhaled the flames, forcibly refining them within his body.
Perhaps by sheer luck, his Yang Fire Physique actually began assimilating the ingested flames.
Realizing this, Chu Fan was ecstatic—the sea of fire before him was no different from precious medicine now.
As he absorbed the flames and advanced, he casually picked up scattered bones along the way.
His reasoning was simple: if these remains hadn’t been incinerated in such an environment, they must be valuable.
Finally, he reached the ruin’s deepest chamber and saw it—a ferocious beast’s head enshrined atop an altar.
The moment he recognized it, Chu Fan’s pupils constricted.
It was the head of Taotie!
Memories of the secret realm flooded back—the humiliation of being effortlessly scorned by Su Ming resurfaced.
Without hesitation, Chu Fan strode toward the altar, sliced his palm open, and pressed his bleeding hand against the beast’s head.
“Submit to me! Become my strength! Help me crush that damned Su Ming beneath my feet!”
As his blood coated the head, a deafening roar—pure Taotie—shook the entire ruin, reaching even Jiang Wang outside.
Hearing it, Jiang Wang couldn’t help but smirk.
The artifact had acknowledged its master. The ruin’s restrictions had lifted.
His plan had succeeded.