At this moment, the cold, death-like blue-haired man beside Ye Tianxie suddenly moved… No, rather than moved, he directly vanished—only to reappear in an instant beside the entangled blue wolf and blood phoenix… No! That was a thousand meters away… That was teleportation!

  The clash between Blood Feather and Blue Soul, both unleashing their full power, produced unimaginable shockwaves. Yet, the blue-haired man stood there, untouched, as if the overwhelming force had no effect on him—not even a single strand of his hair was disturbed.

  Sensing the blue-haired man's approach, the blue wolf's glow intensified, and its eyes shone with an even more dazzling blue light. The blood phoenix, suppressed to the brink of exhaustion, struggled ever more feebly, pinned beneath the wolf's razor-sharp fangs.

  “Huh? What’s he doing…? He looks really powerful.” Guoguo widened her bright eyes in wonder.

  Ye Tianxie: "…"

  The blue-haired man slowly raised his right hand. At that moment, the sky darkened slightly, and a bolt of pitch-black lightning descended from above, striking his palm. The black lightning twisted and crackled… taking shape—forming a bizarre sword enveloped in a dark aura.

  The blade was merely half a meter long—longer than a dagger used by assassins but shorter than a standard sword. The raging lightning coiling around it made it look both mysterious and ominous. Even from a great distance, Ye Tianxie could hear the sword's electric whispers.

  The black short sword descended slowly under Ye Tianxie's gaze—so slow it seemed incapable of causing any real destruction. Yet, as it fell, the blood phoenix let out a truly despairing screech…

  Szzz—

  Though the sound came from a thousand meters away, it nearly tore through Ye Tianxie’s eardrums.

  The black sword struck the blood phoenix’s forehead—precisely where the crimson feather lay. Alongside the tearing sound came the phoenix’s anguished cry. As it howled, the blood feather was torn from its body, swept up like a leaf in a violent storm, soaring far, far away… straight toward Ye Tianxie.

  With the blood feather gone, the blood phoenix’s cries abruptly ceased. The crimson glow enveloping its body faded rapidly before its form began to dissolve into the swirling blood mist. From its proud head, to its neck, to its majestic wings, to its entire phoenix body… it vanished like a sculpture of dust blown away by the wind.

  The blue-haired man withdrew his hand, and the black sword in his grasp dissolved into a streak of dark lightning before disappearing entirely. He watched emotionlessly as the blood phoenix faded before him…

  A beast that had thrown all of Skydust City into turmoil had been utterly obliterated, reduced to drifting blood mist under the hands of a man and a wolf… completely annihilated, vanishing without a single trace.

  The towering blue wolf’s glow gradually dimmed, and its fierce aura receded completely. Then, its massive body began to shrink at an astonishing speed, transforming in the blink of an eye into a wolf of normal size. It now stood quietly behind the blue-haired man, its menacing wolf eyes unchanged.

  Blue hair. Blue wolf.

  There was no doubt—the blue-haired man was an NPC, and an overwhelmingly powerful one at that. There was no way he was a player. And the terrifying blue wolf… the wolf formed from the Blue Soul of the Fate Core… Could it be… his beast?

  “Blood Feather! Blood Feather… Master, it’s the Blood Feather!!” As Ye Tianxie was still in shock, Guoguo bounced excitedly on his shoulder, pointing at the crimson feather drifting toward them, her expression frantic as if she had spotted the most delicious food in the world.

  The blood feather floated closer, reflected in Ye Tianxie’s pupils until it finally, precisely, landed before him. He extended his hand and grasped it—the feather was as light as air. At that moment, a strange, unsettling force surged from the feather, piercing straight into his soul.

  His heart trembled, and he quickly gathered his focus, suppressing the chaotic emotions threatening to erupt.

  Before entering the Skeleton Cavern, he never expected to cross paths with the Blood Phoenix, nor to witness a battle between two mythical beasts. He never imagined the Blood Phoenix would be the Blood Feather itself, let alone that it would perish right before his eyes… From the moment the cavern collapse began, everything had become unpredictable—shrouded in an eerie, dreamlike unreality.

  Blood Feather…

  Gazing at the glowing crimson feather in his palm, Ye Tianxie tightened his grip. Instead of questioning Guoguo, he turned toward the blue wolf and the enigmatic blue-haired man.

  Where the blood phoenix once stood, nothing remained—not even a trace. And now, the blue-haired man and the blue wolf had vanished as well.

  A flicker of blue caught his eye. Ye Tianxie turned his head just in time to see the blue-haired man and the blue wolf shift through space, appearing right beside him. The man’s expression remained as cold and lifeless as ever, his emotionless gaze locking onto Ye Tianxie the moment he arrived. That stare… devoid of warmth, gave no indication of his intent, making it impossible to read his thoughts.

  Behind him, the blue wolf also fixed its terrifying gaze upon Ye Tianxie. Under its piercing eyes, he felt as though two icy daggers were pressed against his body.

  “Who are you? Why did you help me…? And how do you know… that I needed the Blood Feather?” Ye Tianxie broke the silence, his voice steady.

  The blue wolf’s intervention had been no coincidence. Nor had the blue-haired man’s. And for him to deliberately send the Blood Feather into Ye Tianxie’s hands… That could never be a coincidence.

  How did he know Ye Tianxie needed the Blood Feather? Could it be… that he knew about the Fate Clock?

  “…Your strength alone could never obtain the Blood Feather. So… I helped you.”

  The moment the man spoke, Ye Tianxie was taken aback. Beneath his rigid, emotionless expression, his voice was unexpectedly gentle—like a warm, soothing breeze… like a whispered caress to a lover.

  “Oh la la, this strange uncle has such a nice voice,” Guoguo murmured softly into Ye Tianxie’s ear.

  “…Why help me? Shouldn’t you at least tell me your name first?” Ye Tianxie remained composed, showing no sign of emotion. As the man had said, it was impossible for him to have obtained the Blood Feather by his own power. Even if he reached level fifty, or even level one hundred, he still wouldn’t have stood a chance against the Blood Phoenix. He had to admit—the Blood Phoenix existed on a level that no player could ever hope to reach.

  And by his response… he had all but admitted that he knew Ye Tianxie needed the Blood Feather.

  The only ones who should have known about the Fate Clock were himself and Guoguo. So how did this man…

  “Your Eternal Fate Clock requires it. You require it.”

  The blue-haired man’s words confirmed Ye Tianxie’s suspicions, sending another ripple through his heart. But still, he did not reveal his identity.

  It seemed… something very interesting had been happening behind the scenes without his knowledge.

  “How do you know I have the Fate Clock? Is it because… of it?” Ye Tianxie shifted his gaze to the blue wolf.

  If what Guoguo had said was true, then this wolf was the Blue Soul, one of the seven Fate Cores. Perhaps… it could sense the presence of the Fate Clock.

  Was that why the Blood Phoenix had suddenly attacked him? Because it sensed the Fate Clock as well?

  The blue-haired man did not confirm or deny it. After a brief silence, he finally spoke again—words that made Ye Tianxie’s brow furrow.

  “It seems you’ve figured it out. Yes… it is Blue Soul.”

  Ye Tianxie: "…"

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  "The Fate Cores are seven in total. The Crimson Blood Feather is the weakest, while the Violet Sky Heart is the strongest. From weakest to strongest, they are ranked: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Violet," the blue-haired man stated coldly. "Although the Fate Cores originally belonged to the Mark of Destiny, each possesses its own independent power and consciousness. Even the weakest, the Blood Feather, can gather spiritual energy and take form as a living being. You must never expect them to return to the Mark of Destiny on their own when you find them."

  "What are you trying to say?" Ye Tianxie frowned.

  "If you want to obtain the Blue Soul… defeat it."

  The blue-haired man stepped aside, revealing the blue wolf in Ye Tianxie’s line of sight. In that instant, an overwhelming pressure crashed down on him, like a towering mountain descending upon his body. His stance wavered, his balance nearly lost.

  Ye Tianxie clenched his teeth, forcibly steadying himself against the oppressive aura of the blue wolf. He averted his gaze and shook his head. "Right now, I have no chance of defeating it."

  "In that case, you will never obtain the Blue Soul. The Blood Feather… consider it a favor from me." The blue-haired man also shook his head, his expression and gaze still as lifeless and emotionless as before.

  Ye Tianxie stared at him, his brows not furrowing but instead curling into a faint smile. "So… you specifically came to find me."

  The blue-haired man met his gaze but did not deny it.

  "Tell me, who are you?"

  "Defeat me, and you will know… Defeat me…" The blue-haired man spoke in a low voice, his words carrying an unfamiliar tone that Ye Tianxie could not comprehend.

  Ye Tianxie: "…"

  "Defeat me… Defeat me…" The young man repeated the words over and over again, his deathly still face finally showing a trace of emotion—an emotion that should not have belonged to him.

  It was… pleading.

  "Defeat me… I beg you, defeat me…" The young man’s gaze quivered, his eyes shifting as his expression subtly changed… sorrow. A sorrow Ye Tianxie could not understand.

  And yet, at that moment, when he saw that look in the blue-haired man’s eyes, Ye Tianxie’s own vision suddenly blurred.

  It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck his heart.

  That gaze… Why did it feel so familiar?

  And why… why did it cause a deep pain in his chest?

  Had he seen him before? …Impossible. He was an NPC of this world, and Ye Tianxie was a player. There was no way they could have crossed paths before.

  Then why… why did this familiarity pierce so deep into his soul?

  "Tell me the reason. I don't want to do something without a reason."

  Ye Tianxie's breath became erratic, his heart pounding in chaotic turmoil, stirred by an inexplicable emotion.

  "A reason..."

  The blue-haired man closed his eyes slightly, lifting his flawless face to the sky. In an almost ethereal voice, he murmured, "If you can defeat me, if you can even kill me, I will be eternally grateful… with everything I have. And you will obtain the Blue Soul. Otherwise, I can destroy it at any time. Is that reason enough?"

  Ye Tianxie: "!!"

  He shook his head, his voice cold. "That is not a reason."

  "There are things that neither you nor I can escape from in this life, no matter how far we go, no matter if we transcend time and space. It is a fate inescapable, no matter how we try to run. I have no choice… and neither do you."

  The blue-haired man gazed blankly at the sky, speaking words Ye Tianxie could not understand. In that moment, the desolation and sorrow emanating from him reached an unbearable peak, suffocating the atmosphere around them.

  "Heh… if that's the case, I accept."

  After a few seconds of silence, Ye Tianxie suddenly lifted his head and gave his answer, without hesitation, without reluctance.

  The blue-haired man lowered his gaze to look at him.

  "You are strong. Before I entered this world, I never imagined that the beings here could possess such power. But since you dare to say such words, no matter who you are, I will not refuse. Even though I am nothing before you now, be it ten years or decades from now, one day… I will defeat you. Do you know what vow I made when I was ten?"

  The blue-haired man: "??"

  Ye Tianxie's eyes burned like twin flames. "In this world, there will only be those who cannot be defeated by me—there will never be anyone I cannot defeat! This world will be no different!"

  Even though the blue-haired man was shrouded in mystery and immense power, even though he had saved Ye Tianxie from peril, Ye Tianxie never once allowed his presence to overshadow his own spirit. In this world, he had only just taken his first step, his strength among players unmatched, yet insignificant before the true powerhouses of this world. But his pride—his defiance—would bow to no one.

  A normal player would never compare themselves to an NPC whose power was set far beyond their reach. But Ye Tianxie was the exception. The arrogance buried deep in his soul, forged in blood and pain, had made his heart different from others since childhood. His unwillingness to be surpassed was not innate—it was carved into him through a transformation of flesh and spirit.

  The blue-haired man fixed his gaze on him, staring into his eyes. Then, suddenly, he laughed.

  It was a soft, gentle laugh.

  With his flawless face, his smile possessed an irresistible charm, a lethal beauty. And yet, despite his smile, Ye Tianxie felt a sudden, inexplicable pain in his heart.

  That smile… why did it feel so hauntingly familiar?

  "I will wait… for the day you can defeat me."

  He smiled as he spoke.

  At this moment, he truly looked human—like a real, living person with emotions, not just an empty shell.

  "I… will help you one last time. After that, you must rely on yourself… Tianxie."

  Ye Tianxie: "…"

  Tianxie… he called him Tianxie!?

  Tianxie—his name in the real world. The name she had given him. Only she ever called him that.

  But in this game, his name was Xietian!

  A coincidence? Or…

  "You—"

  Before Ye Tianxie could speak, the blue-haired man reached out and grabbed his arm. In an instant, the world around them turned blank and void.

  Spatial teleportation.

  The thought barely formed in Ye Tianxie's mind before the white void was replaced by color once more. But the scene that unfolded before him was entirely different from the one just moments before.

  "Tianxie, farewell. When the time is right, we will meet again."

  Before Ye Tianxie could even take in his surroundings, the blue-haired man's emotionless voice reached his ears. He spun around quickly.

  "Wait! You haven't told me where this is… And tell me—have we met before!?"

  An NPC in a game. A player from the real world. Two people who should never have had any connection. The question Ye Tianxie asked was absurd by any logic.

  But the tremors in his heart forced him to ask it.

  He needed an answer.

  "You will soon know where you are… Many answers can only be found through your own strength, through your own eyes, through your own heart. Otherwise, even if you hear them from another, you will neither believe nor be at peace… Farewell."

  Ye Tianxie: "…"

  His voice was as elusive as drifting clouds in the cold wind, impossible to grasp, blurring the line between truth and illusion. The blue-haired man turned and walked away, the blue wolf silently following him.

  Ye Tianxie instinctively stepped forward to call out again but suddenly sensed something. His eyes snapped toward his surroundings.

  Only then did he realize—he stood at the very edge of a bottomless abyss.

  A true abyss, vast beyond sight. Before him stretched an endless expanse of darkness, merging with the blue sky at a distant horizon. And below—nothing but an unfathomable void, swallowing all light.

  Where… is this place?

  Shaking off his shock, Ye Tianxie turned swiftly, staring at the blue-haired man’s departing figure. He had appeared out of nowhere, taken him to this strange place, and then… left, just like that.

  A man of unfathomable mystery and undeniable allure.

  Everything about him—his expression, his gaze—told Ye Tianxie that he was someone half-dead.

  No matter how perfect his appearance, no matter how unparalleled his strength, he could never truly be happy.

  Even deeper, hidden in his eyes, Ye Tianxie saw something else—a desire for death.

  He wanted to die.

  But something—something he had to do—held him back, anchoring him to life.

  It was the only thing keeping him from ending it all.

  This was the only truth Ye Tianxie could decipher from him.

  And yet, even knowing that… why did it weigh so heavily on his heart?

  Who is he? What has he been through?

  And… why… why do his eyes…

  Wait!!

  That back… that silhouette…

  It was fading from his sight, becoming more distant.

  Then, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, Ye Tianxie trembled violently, his entire body shuddering.

  That back…

  "WAIT! STOP RIGHT THERE!!"

  A near-hysterical roar tore from Ye Tianxie's throat. Like a madman, he lunged forward, chasing that distant figure with everything he had.

  Wind howled past his ears. His chest felt like it would explode.

  At that moment, he forgot everything—his thoughts, his breath, the world itself.

  Only that silhouette remained.

  That silhouette… which overlapped with an unerasable memory.

  With every ounce of strength, with all his will, he ran, screaming for him to stop.

  The blue-haired man hesitated. That desperate, anguished cry froze him in place for an instant.

  The blue wolf halted, gazing silently at its master.

  The man lifted his head toward the colorless sky, closing his eyes filled with bittersweet sorrow.

  A hand lifted, waved gently behind him.

  A sudden gust surged forth.

  Ye Tianxie, still screaming, was swept into the air. The force flung him backward, his body tracing an arc through the sky—

  And then, he fell.

  Into the abyss.

  The blue-haired man turned back, staring blankly at where Ye Tianxie had stood.

  His lips moved, barely whispering—

  "Xiao Tian…"

  Closing his eyes, he turned away.

  He had no goal, no direction. He didn’t know where the road ahead would lead him, nor did he know where he was meant to go next.

  The desolate wind whispered through the air, carrying scattered leaves that drifted down from nowhere, twirling in the breeze with an air of quiet sorrow and loneliness.

  A man and a wolf—he was not alone, for a steadfast companion was always by his side. Yet his presence, his expression, his very silhouette radiated an overwhelming solitude. Though he moved forward, he stirred no trace of life; even the fallen leaves at his feet seemed more present than he was.

  His footsteps were steady but silent, as if even the air around him had grown bleak in his wake.

  Without realizing it, he had reached the peak of a withered hill, only noticing when the path before him ceased to exist.

  He stood there, unmoving, his eyes as lifeless as still water, staring blankly ahead. But in that void, he saw no color, no destination, no way forward.

  The cold wind brushed past him, lifting his flowing blue hair, but it could not so much as ripple the emptiness in his heart.

  At that moment, he was nothing more than a man still breathing—yet devoid of a soul.