Agony.
It felt as though countless red-hot steel needles were churning through his marrow, as though someone had seized his head and slammed it against a rock wall. When Xiao Yan snapped his eyes open, everything in his vision twisted and spun.
Shifting light stretched the cobwebs hanging from the wooden rafters into ragged strands. A faint medicinal scent mingled with a trace of mildew in the air, and the hard plank bed beneath him made his spine ache. This was nowhere he recognized—not the office building where he worked past midnight, nor the soft bed with faded sheets in his rented apartment.
"Hiss..." He tried to push himself upright, only to discover that every limb and bone felt as though it had fallen apart. The slightest effort sent pain drilling into his heart. His throat was so dry it felt ready to smoke, and all he could produce was a hoarse breath.
Unfamiliar memories flooded his mind without warning, like waters bursting through a broken dam.
Wutan City, the Xiao Clan, the Dou Qi Continent...
Xiao Yan, fifteen years old, had once been a cultivation genius the Xiao Clan saw only once in a century. At eleven, he had reached the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi and been hailed as the clan's future hope. But three years ago, for reasons unknown, his cultivation had begun retreating instead of advancing, falling all the way to the Dou Qi Third Stage. He had become the laughingstock of Wutan City, tumbling from the clouds into the mire, enduring endless cold looks and mockery.
"I... transmigrated?"
Having absorbed the original owner's memories, Xiao Yan—or perhaps he should now be called this world's Xiao Yan—felt towering waves crash through his heart. He distinctly remembered staying awake for three nights straight revising a proposal, then losing consciousness after a sudden, vicious pain in his chest. How had he opened his eyes in a world that existed only in a novel?
And it was the world of Battle Through the Heavens, which countless readers both loved and hated? He had become Xiao Yan, the protagonist who suffered humiliation early on before defying the heavens later?
As he struggled to digest this inconceivable reality, an emotionless mechanical voice suddenly rang inside his mind:
[Ding! Host soul fusion complete. Binding conditions met. Activating the Absolute Concealment System...]
[Activation successful! Host: Xiao Yan.]
[Current status: initial binding phase.]
[Core settings: host's initial cultivation—Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint (Half-Step Dou Di); soul realm—Emperor Realm.]
Xiao Yan's pupils abruptly contracted. He almost thought the pain had made him hallucinate. *Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint? Half-Step Dou Di? An emperor realm soul?* *What did that even mean?* According to the original owner's memories and his knowledge of the novel, this world's cultivation hierarchy ascended through Dou Qi, Dou Zhe, Dou Shi, Da Dou Shi, Dou Ling, Dou Wang, Dou Emperor, Dou Zong, Dou Zun, Dou Sheng, and Dou Di. Dou Sheng were already legendary beings who could move mountains, fill seas, and shatter space with a casual gesture. A Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint stood just one step from the Dou Di found only in ancient legends! *He had started at the very pinnacle of this world?* Overwhelming joy nearly swept away his reason. But before he could savor this surprise, the system's icy voice sounded again, like a bucket of freezing water poured over his head:
[Warning! The host must strictly obey the system's core rules. Failure to do so will trigger the erasure mechanism!]
[Core rule one: revealing your true strength in any setting that is not absolutely private is strictly forbidden. Exposure includes, but is not limited to: deliberately displaying Dou Qi fluctuations exceeding your current disguised realm, using high-level Dou Techniques under third-party observation (including perception or detection), or allowing others to witness your true cultivation.]
[Core rule two: all targets threatening the host (including, but not limited to, enemies, prying observers, and rule violators) must be eliminated without the host taking direct action. Permitted methods: engineering accidental deaths, inducing others to act, exploiting environmental hazards or backlash from rules, and so forth. Killing a target directly, or having the act definitively traced back to the host, constitutes a violation.]
[Violation penalties: first minor violation—deduction of one hundred years of lifespan; moderate violation—cultivation reduced to Dou Zun; severe violation or three accumulated violations—erasure of the host's existence, with complete destruction of soul and spirit.]
The wild delight on Xiao Yan's face froze instantly, replaced by a bone-deep chill. Starting at the pinnacle sounded like being dealt a heaven-blessed winning hand, but these two rules practically suspended him over a fire! *He possessed the strength of a Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint, yet had to hide like a turtle with its head tucked into its shell, even racking his brains for a scapegoat whenever he wanted to kill someone? If exposed, he would lose his cultivation at best, and have his soul scattered into oblivion at worst?* *This was no system—it was a death warrant!* *Why?* he could not help asking inwardly. *If you've given me such tremendous strength, why impose such harsh restrictions?*
[System objectives: correct anomalies, preserve worldline stability, and collect "hidden trajectory" energy. Completing concealment missions, flawlessly eliminating targets, and advancing key plot points will earn the host corresponding rewards, including, but not limited to, clues to heavenly flames, ancient Dou Techniques, alchemy knowledge, and lifespan bonuses.]
[Final reward: complete all main missions to remove restrictions, freely wield your full strength, and obtain an opportunity to break through to Dou Di.]
Xiao Yan fell silent. *Correct anomalies? Preserve the worldline?* It sounded as though some higher-dimensional being was controlling everything. And he was the chosen "tool," possessing the power to overturn the chessboard, yet forced to place his pieces according to predetermined rules. He tried looking inward. With a single thought, an unimaginably vast power awakened within him. This was not the original owner's feeble Dou Qi, but terrifying energy like a slumbering primordial beast. As it circulated, he almost heard the thunder of stars revolving. Just a trace of its aura leaking out made the room's air tremble. The wooden table and chairs gave faint creaks, as though an invisible force might crush them at any moment. Alarmed, Xiao Yan hastily steadied his mind and forced that world-destroying power deep into his dantian, as though imprisoning a raging river behind the strongest of dams. He could clearly feel that his soul power had reached an equally inconceivable realm. A mere thought seemed enough to envelop all of Wutan City and discern every rustle of wind and grass in every corner. It felt more real than any holographic game he had played in his previous life—and far more terrifying. "Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint... It really is true," Xiao Yan murmured, his heart filled with a jumble of emotions. With this strength, he could easily sweep through all of Wutan City, and even make the Misty Cloud Sect wary of him. Yet now, he could only continue wearing the label of a "Dou Qi Third Stage cripple," scraping by amid others' mockery and contempt. Knock, knock, knock. A knock came at the door, accompanied by a somewhat rough voice. "Xiao Yan, are you awake? The clan leader sent me to check on you." It was Xiao Hu, a member of the Xiao Clan. According to his memories, this fellow had often thrown obstacles in the original owner's path, openly and secretly, out of jealousy for his talent. Now, mocking him had become a daily habit. Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened slightly. He swiftly adjusted his aura, reining in every last trace of his overwhelming presence until he once again became that pale-faced "cripple" with a feeble aura. "Come in," he said, making his voice as weak as possible. The door swung open, and a brawny youth entered. It was indeed Xiao Hu. He wore the standard uniform of a Xiao Clan disciple, with undisguised gloating written across his face. "Well, if it isn't our Xiao Clan's former genius! I heard your cultivation went wrong again yesterday and you passed out?" Xiao Hu sauntered to the bedside and looked down at Xiao Yan. "Makes sense. With Dou Qi Third Stage, what good will more practice do? You might as well give up now and stop embarrassing the clan." The original owner would likely have flown into a rage at those words, perhaps even struggling out of bed to fight Xiao Hu, only to receive an even worse beating. But the present Xiao Yan felt not a ripple within. A nobody who had not even reached Dou Zhe was no different from a noisy ant before a Nine-Star Dou Saint like him. He could even clearly see the meager Dou Qi moving sluggishly through Xiao Hu's meridians, riddled with weaknesses. If he wished, a single thought would utterly destroy Xiao Hu's soul and spirit, leaving not even a speck behind. But he could not.
[Warning! Potential conflict detected. The host's current disguised realm is the Dou Qi Third Stage. Do not react in a manner exceeding this realm.]
The system's alert sounded at just the right moment. Xiao Yan lowered his eyelids, concealing the indifference that briefly flashed through his eyes. His voice held just the right measure of humiliation and resentment. "How I'm doing is no concern of yours." "Heh, still acting tough?" His response momentarily caught Xiao Hu off guard before he sneered. "Fine. Let's see whether you can keep acting tough when Miss Nalan arrives." *Miss Nalan?* Something stirred in Xiao Yan's heart, and he immediately understood. *Nalan Yanran!* *The broken engagement!* This was the turning point in Xiao Yan's fate in the original novel, and the most humiliating scene in his life as a "cripple." Judging by the timeline, it would probably happen today. Seeing the slight change in Xiao Yan's expression, Xiao Hu thought he had struck a sore spot and grinned smugly. "Nalan Yanran is a genius disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect. She's already at the peak of Dou Zhe and about to break through to Dou Shi. And you? A Dou Qi Third Stage cripple. Coming here in person to break the engagement gives the Xiao Clan plenty of face. Don't fail to appreciate it. If you make a scene, you'll embarrass the entire clan!" With that, Xiao Hu swaggered out without caring how Xiao Yan reacted, deliberately slamming the door with a bang as he left. Silence returned to the room. Xiao Yan slowly raised his head. Not a trace of humiliation remained in his eyes, only calm contemplation. *Breaking the engagement?* For the original owner, it was a monstrous humiliation, the final straw that crushed his dignity. For the current Xiao Yan, however, it scarcely mattered. Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect were beneath his notice. If he wished, he could wipe the Misty Cloud Sect from the Dou Qi Continent with a wave of his hand. But he could not. The system sought to preserve worldline stability, and the broken engagement was clearly a key plot point. He had to follow the "script," even displaying the same resentment and anger as the original Xiao Yan to play the role of the "cripple" perfectly. "Nalan Yanran... the Misty Cloud Sect..." Xiao Yan murmured, lightly tapping the edge of the bed. "Very well. Let me see just how this world's people and events differ from what the book described." He could sense that Nalan Yanran's impending arrival seemed to have activated something on the system panel.
[Temporary mission triggered: handle the broken engagement flawlessly.]
[Mission requirements: 1. Maintain your "Dou Qi Third Stage" persona and display emotions appropriate to that identity (anger, humiliation, resentment); 2. Do not reveal your true strength before any Misty Cloud Sect disciple (including Nalan Yanran); 3. Follow the original novel's trajectory, accept the broken engagement, and declare, "Do not scorn a young man for his poverty."]
[Mission rewards: base rewards—Body Tempering Pill Formula x1, Dou Zhe-Level Dou Qi Recovery Art x1; flawless completion reward—random heavenly flame fragment x1.]
[Failure penalty: deduction of fifty years of lifespan.] ```
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow.
There were mission rewards too?
It seemed he not only had to perform in this grand drama of a broken engagement—he had to perform "flawlessly."
He took a deep breath and began adjusting his emotions. Though he felt utterly unmoved inside, his face had to display just the right amount of anger, humiliation, and stubbornness. For someone who had spent years clawing his way through office life as a corporate drone, that was hardly difficult.
At the same time, he secretly circulated his soul power, drawing the entire Xiao Clan estate into his perception.
He "saw" Xiao Zhan waiting anxiously, "heard" the clan members whispering, and "sensed" two auras rapidly approaching the Xiao Clan estate.
One was young, yet already possessed peak Dou Zhe strength. Its aura was proud and aloof—it belonged to Nalan Yanran.
The other aura was much more concealed. It appeared to be merely at the Dou Shi realm, but Xiao Yan's emperor realm soul keenly detected a stronger power hidden within that person's body. Deep within their soul, a faint mark seemed to flicker, maintaining a hazy connection with somewhere far away.
"A deacon of the Misty Cloud Sect? Carrying a tracking mark, too?" An icy smile curved Xiao Yan's lips.
It seemed this broken engagement was not as simple as it appeared. The Misty Cloud Sect had been secretly watching the original owner from the very beginning.
Very well.
I'll use you to test the rules of this Absolute Concealment System, and see just what this body and its pinnacle strength can accomplish.
Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, only blazing anger and resentment remained in their depths, befitting the identity of "Xiao Yan the cripple."
The grand drama was about to begin.
Before you continue