The news spread through the cultivation world like wildfire.
The Ancient Heavenly Flame had disappeared.
No one knew who had obtained it.
Rumors claimed that an ancient expert had awakened.
Others believed a hidden Emperor Realm cultivator had taken it.
Only two people knew the truth.
Knox Void.
And Adrian Vale.
Inside the grand hall of the Void Emperor Clan, dozens of elders stood respectfully.
At the highest seat sat Elara Void.
Beside her stood Knox.
One elder stepped forward.
"Young Master, the Heavenly Dao Academy has announced the opening of the Four Divine Academies Trial."
Knox raised an eyebrow.
"The Four Divine Academies?"
The elder nodded.
"It is held once every ten years. The greatest geniuses of the younger generation will gather there."
"The winners will obtain access to the Primordial Secret Realm."
Knox's eyes narrowed.
He remembered this event.
In the original story, Adrian would meet one of his greatest allies there...
And his first love.
The Moonlight Temple's Saintess.
Seraphina Luna.
A woman whose beauty could shake kingdoms.
A genius whose talent rivaled the strongest heirs of ancient clans.
She would eventually become one of Adrian's greatest supporters.
But...
That was the original story.
Knox smiled faintly.
"This time, things will be different."
Three days later...
The floating city of Heavenly Dao Academy appeared among the clouds.
Gigantic spiritual beasts flew across the sky.
Thousands of young geniuses arrived from every corner of the Eternal Divine Realm.
Ancient sects.
Royal families.
Immortal clans.
Everyone had come.
As the Void Emperor Clan's flying palace descended...
The entire academy fell silent.
"The Void Emperor Clan..."
"They actually came."
"I heard their young master is incredibly ruthless."
"I hope we don't provoke him."
Knox ignored the whispers as he walked through the academy gates.
His expression remained calm.
His black robe fluttered gently in the wind.
He wasn't trying to appear intimidating.
He simply didn't care what others thought.
[Ding!]
[Special Destiny Event Detected.]
[Target Nearby.]
[Name: Seraphina Luna.]
[Title: Saintess of the Moonlight Temple.]
[Destiny Rank: SS.]
[Future Relationship: Ally of the Chosen Hero.]
[Suggestion: Interfere.]
Knox looked toward the distant training grounds.
A crowd had gathered.
Standing at the center was a young woman dressed in pure white robes.
Silver hair reached her waist.
Crystal-blue eyes reflected the moonlight even beneath the afternoon sun.
Her beauty was beyond ordinary.
She seemed untouchable.
Like a goddess who had descended into the mortal world.
Around her, countless young geniuses watched with admiration.
Some were captivated.
Others were intimidated.
Knox merely observed.
"So..."
"This is Seraphina Luna."
At that moment...
A disciple accidentally stumbled into her.
His sword slipped from his waist.
Before it could strike another student...
Seraphina gently raised her hand.
Moonlight gathered around her fingertips.
The falling sword froze in midair.
Then it slowly returned to its owner.
The crowd erupted in praise.
"Amazing!"
"What incredible control!"
"As expected of the Saintess!"
Seraphina simply smiled.
"There is no need to thank me."
"We cultivators should protect one another."
Knox heard her words.
Then he chuckled.
A nearby disciple looked at him nervously.
"Young Master... is something funny?"
Knox answered calmly.
"No."
"I just heard someone speak like the world is fair."
Seraphina noticed him.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment...
The noisy surroundings seemed to disappear.
She saw no greed in his gaze.
No admiration.
No desire.
Only curiosity.
That alone surprised her.
Most men looked at her with obsession.
This one looked at her as if she were an unsolved puzzle.
Seraphina walked toward him.
The crowd gasped.
"She's approaching Knox!"
"This won't end well."
Stopping a few steps away, she bowed slightly.
"You must be Young Master Knox of the Void Emperor Clan."
Knox nodded once.
"And you are the Moonlight Temple's Saintess."
She smiled politely.
"I've heard many rumors about you."
"I've heard many about you as well."
For a few seconds...
Neither spoke.
Then Seraphina asked,
"May I ask you a question?"
"You already did."
She blinked.
A few nearby disciples almost laughed before quickly holding it in.
Knox's expression remained perfectly serious.
Was that...
A joke?
Even Seraphina couldn't stop a faint smile from appearing.
"You truly are different from the rumors."
Knox shrugged.
"Rumors are written by people with too much free time."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"Tell me, Young Master Knox."
"What do you believe is the purpose of strength?"
The crowd immediately became silent.
This was a famous question.
Many great cultivators had debated it for centuries.
Knox answered without hesitation.
"Freedom."
She tilted her head.
"Freedom?"
"If you're weak..."
"Others decide your fate."
"If you're strong..."
"You decide your own."
He looked at the endless sky.
"I don't seek strength to protect the world."
"I seek strength so no one can threaten the people I care about."
Seraphina remained silent.
His answer...
Wasn't cruel.
Nor was it noble.
It was honest.
"I believe," she said softly, "that strength should protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Knox smiled faintly.
"Then we are not so different."
She looked surprised.
"We simply start protecting from different circles."
"You protect everyone."
"I protect my own."
Neither of them realized it...
But this brief conversation had already begun changing destiny.
[Ding!]
[Major Destiny Change.]
[Seraphina Luna's interest in the host has increased.]
[Relationship Status: Curious.]
[Reward: 800 Villain Points.]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Silver Tongue.]
[Description: The host's words become more persuasive when speaking the truth.]
Knox dismissed the notification.
"So even conversations can change fate."
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Far away, hidden behind a stone pillar...
Adrian Vale watched everything.
His fists tightened.
In the original path of destiny...
Today was supposed to be the day he first met Seraphina.
Instead...
Knox had arrived before him.
For the first time since obtaining his mysterious master's guidance...
Adrian felt that fate itself was slipping through his fingers.
And standing at the center of every change...
Was the villain.
End of Chapter 4