The sun was just peeking over the horizon, but Priyanshu Yadav had not slept. He didn't need rest — not when the world was playing on the strings of his will.
His private chamber inside the outer courtyard of Evergreen Sect was now fortified, enchanted with low-level spatial concealment arrays and layered sound barriers. His cultivation hadn't risen dramatically yet, but his influence… had quietly become a spiderweb of invisible threads.
Just as he was sipping on spirit tea, the System's mechanical voice rang in his mind.
[DING!] New Mission Unlocked.Title: Crown of Chaos — Break the Sect's BalanceObjective: Cause internal conflict among core disciples of Evergreen Sect.Bonus Objective: Humiliate one top-ranking disciple in public without revealing your identity.Reward: Shadow Weapon – "Ghost Fang Dagger" + 1000 Villain Points + 1 Hidden Path Scroll.
A slow smile curled across Priyanshu's lips.
"This sect really thinks it can ignore me. Time to plant a few seeds," he whispered.
Meanwhile, in the Inner Sanctum of the Dark Heaven Society…
In the underground headquarters hidden beneath a waterfall, the Dark Heaven Society buzzed with silent activity. Masked members walked silently like ghosts, performing duties in total synchronization.
At the center sat a massive throne made of shadow-stone. Around it, six high-ranking members stood.
Vice Master – Crimson Fang (Rank: Hellfire)
Shadow Envoy – Mirror Ghost (Rank: Abyss)
Strategist – Raven Mind (Rank: Eclipse)
Executioner – Blade Crow (Rank: Hellfire)
Head Alchemist – Widow Orchid (Rank: Abyss)
Spy Lord – Thousand Eyes (Rank: Abyss)
Each rank reflected authority:
Rank 1: Mortal Fang (Entry-level)
Rank 2: Night Cloak (Trained Assassin)
Rank 3: Abyss (Commanders, Inner Circle)
Rank 4: Hellfire (Core Executives)
Rank 5: Crown (Leader Only)
Currently, only Priyanshu Yadav held the Crown Rank, though even the six high officials didn't know his identity. They called him "Lord Dark Heaven".
The Shadow Mirror Orb shimmered, revealing Priyanshu's projection cloaked in black mist.
"Prepare to move. A new pawn will rise in the inner sect of Evergreen. I want infighting. Whisper poison in their ears. Spread fake rumors," his voice commanded.
"Yes, My Lord," they echoed in unison.
Back in Evergreen Sect – The Seed is Sown
In the public sparring ground, a challenge was being thrown.
"Core disciple Aryan, I challenge you!" shouted Nikhil, a mid-tier inner disciple.
The crowd gasped.
Aryan was ranked seventh among the inner court — an arrogant genius. But Priyanshu had used subtle methods — spiritual herbs spiked to destabilize Aryan's control, hints dropped through minor disciples, and finally, whisperings that Nikhil had a 'secret backer.'
Nikhil didn't know he was being used. He only felt a strange confidence and a surge of mysterious Qi the night before.
The fight began. And to everyone's shock, Aryan stumbled early on, his attacks lacking power.
Nikhil capitalized and landed a heavy blow to Aryan's chest, making him fall on his knees.
A hush fell over the crowd.
"W-What happened to Senior Brother Aryan?!"
"He's... weak?!"
Aryan's face turned red with shame. He had never been humiliated like this before.
Priyanshu watched from the edge, face calm, hands behind his back. Beside him, his fake identity — "Yu Fei", the ordinary trash disciple — made him invisible to most.
[DING!] Mission Success – Humiliate a core disciple publicly.Reward: + Ghost Fang Dagger (Bound) + 1000 VP + Hidden Path Scroll
He felt a cold, black dagger appear in his inventory.
Priyanshu's Room – That Night
He sat cross-legged, examining the new weapon.
[Ghost Fang Dagger]– Grade: Epic– Effect: Attacks pass through spiritual shields below Nascent Soul Realm.– Passive: Instills terror in wounded enemies.– Bound to Host.
[Villain Points: 2100][New Shop Options Unlocked]
The System interface now had a new glowing tab:
[Shadow Asset Expansion] — Build strongholds, recruit agents, and control territories.
Priyanshu smiled.
"So… it begins."
He opened the Hidden Path Scroll, and a glowing map appeared — it pointed to a secret inheritance cave buried beneath the Evergreen Sect. No one else had access to it.