"Next!"
Wutan City, Xiao Family Square.
A loud, resonant voice echoed through the air.
Xiao Yan raised his head groggily, his mind hazy, as if someone had stuffed it full of paste.
Where... was this?
His last memory was of sitting in front of his office computer—
He had worked overtime for three days straight. His vision had gone black, and then he'd known nothing more.
"Brother Xiao Yan, it's your turn."
A girl's gentle voice came from beside him, tinged with concern.
Xiao Yan turned and saw a girl in purple looking at him with worry.
She looked about fourteen or fifteen. Her features were strikingly beautiful, and her eyes were clear and lively as autumn waters. Yet between her brows was a captivating charm that didn't belong to someone her age.
Was she... Xiao Xun'er?
The moment her name surfaced, fragments of memory flooded into his mind like a rising tide.
Wutan City, the Xiao Family, the Dou Qi Continent, his cultivation regressing...
The humiliation of falling from a genius to a good-for-nothing.
"Holy crap!"
"Xiao Yan?"
The Xiao Family's useless young master, who'd started at the Third Stage of Dou Qi and been mocked by his entire clan? The one Nalan Yanran had visited to break off their engagement, prompting him to declare, "Don't bully a poor young man"? The one who'd eventually turned the tables, step by step, and become the supreme Flame Emperor?
"I actually transmigrated into the novel Battle Through the Heavens, into the body of its Flame Emperor, who shares my name!"
Xiao Yan was shaken to the core.
Suddenly—
"Xiao Yan! Are you going to take the test or not?"
Someone in the Xiao Family Square raised their voice impatiently.
"If you're not testing, get down already. Stop wasting our time!"
Murmurs of discussion rose all around him.
"That good-for-nothing probably doesn't dare take the test."
"He was at the Third Stage of Dou Qi last year. I bet he's still at the Third Stage this year. He's brought shame on the whole Xiao Family."
"Hey, that's not fair. He was once a once-in-a-century genius of our Xiao Family. He started cultivating at four, reached the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi at ten, and broke through to the Tenth Stage at eleven. He successfully formed a Dou Qi Vortex and became the youngest Dou Zhe in the family's history..."
"That's all in the past. Xiao Yan is a good-for-nothing now!"
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.
He walked toward the black Test Magic Stone Stele in the center of the square.
Whatever happened, he'd deal with what was in front of him first.
But—
The instant his palm touched the stele's cold surface—
[ Ding! Suitable host detected. Super Villain Counterattack System binding in progress... ]
[10%...50%...100%!]
[Binding successful!]
[The Super Villain Counterattack System is at your service!]
Xiao Yan's hand froze in midair, and his heart gave a sudden thump.
A system?!
The transmigrator's standard cheat had arrived!
[This system is called the "Super Villain Counterattack System." Its purpose is to help its host defy fate, suppress the chosen protagonists of the age, and achieve the supreme path of villainy!]
[Scanning host information...]
[Scan complete!]
[Host identity confirmed: Hun Tiandi (the ultimate villain in the current world, a stepping stone for the Destined Protagonist Xiao Yan, and clan leader of the Hun Clan)]
Xiao Yan: "???"
Wait, what the hell was this system?
What Hun Tiandi?
I'm Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family in Wutan City!
"System, are you sure I'm Hun Tiandi?"
Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. Had the system made a mistake?
[Ding—]
[Checking...]
[Check complete. System confirms that the host is indeed the ultimate villain of this world, Hun Tiandi!]
[Ding—]
[Unexpectedly detected that the host has successfully infiltrated the clan of the "Destined Protagonist Xiao Yan"!]
[Analyzing the host's infiltration strategy...]
[Analysis complete!]
[In order to find an opportunity to defeat the Destined Protagonist of this world, "Xiao Yan," the host crippled his own cultivation to the Third Stage of Dou Qi, disguised himself as a good-for-nothing of the Xiao Family, and bided his time!]
[System deeply moved... This is so touching! The host must have endured countless trials and humiliations for the great cause of villainous revenge!]
[Such ruthless resolve! Such decisive perseverance! You truly are the perfect villainous host for defying the Destined Protagonist!]
[As a special reward, the system presents the host with a Super Villain Counterattack Gift Pack: One Dou Wang Upgrade Card, which can instantly raise your cultivation to Dou Wang and easily suppress the Xiao Family!]
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, but for a moment, no words came out.
I'm just an ordinary transmigrator. How did I become Hun Tiandi?
Besides... wasn't Hun Tiandi the big boss from later in the novel? How could he possibly have come to the Xiao Family and pretended to be a good-for-nothing?
He checked his memories again.
That's right. I'm Xiao Yan, damn it!
Was there... something wrong with this system?
[Ding—]
[Newbie quest issued: The host's decision to cripple his own cultivation and infiltrate the Xiao Family, waiting for an opportunity to kill "Xiao Yan," is admirable. However, the "Destined Protagonist" is blessed by the supreme will of the world. Trying to kill him outright will inevitably trigger a "backlash." His fortune can only be steadily weakened by suppressing him.]
[Please crush the "Destined Protagonist Xiao Yan's" arrogance during the clan test!]
[Quest description: With an absolutely unmatched display of power, crush Xiao Yan in front of everyone, damage his Dao heart, and seize his destiny's fortune!]
[Quest reward: The ultimate treasure essential to every great villain—the Ten Thousand Soul Banner!]
[Failure penalty: None (The host has already fought so hard to defy the Destined Protagonist. How could the system bear to punish him too?)]
It was confirmed. This system had to be bugged.
It thought I was Hun Tiandi, and the quest was to humiliate Xiao Yan... But I was Xiao Yan!
Damn—
Did that mean I had to suppress myself?
Looking at the system quest, Xiao Yan was at a loss for words.
"Xiao Yan, stop wasting everyone's time!"
"Get on with it. Release your Dou Qi and strike the Test Magic Stone Stele!"
The Xiao Family testing elder urged him impatiently.
Xiao Yan had once impressed him, but now he was nothing more than a good-for-nothing of the Xiao Family.
Three stages of Dou Qi—such strength was a laughingstock in the Xiao Family.
"Yeah, Xiao Yan, hurry it up!"
"If you don't dare take the test, get down already!"
"Everyone knows what the result will be anyway!"
"Hahaha..."
Some of the Xiao Family youths nearby laughed mockingly.
Listening to the jeers ringing in his ears, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows slightly. These people's faces were truly irritating!
"I transmigrated, and I'm still supposed to put up with this crap?!"
"Whether or not the system got the wrong person, I might as well enjoy myself first!"
With that thought, Xiao Yan looked at the Test Magic Stone Stele in front of him and silently spoke.
"System, use the 'Dou Wang Upgrade Card' now..."
He wanted to see how the Xiao Family would react when they learned he was a Dou Wang.
[Ding—]
[Congratulations, host. Dou Wang Upgrade Card used successfully!]
Boom—
A vast, inexplicable force erupted from the depths of his dantian!
Xiao Yan felt every inch of his meridians cry out and every bone in his body tremble!
His Dou Qi surged wildly, instantly breaking through every shackle—
Dou Zhe!
Dou Shi!
Da Dou Shi!
Dou Ling!
Xiao Yan's cultivation soared at a speed beyond imagination, stunning in its rapidity!
At last, it settled firmly at One-Star Dou Wang!
Before you continue