Kong Zhanghong expertly led the way toward the Central Martial Arena.

There were guards stationed at the entrance.

“Who goes there?”

One of them asked.

A few guards instinctively stepped forward, prepared to block the path—until they caught a glimpse of the sigil on Bai Zihan’s robe and the faint yet unmistakable aura surrounding him.

Their eyes widened.

One of the older guards stumbled back a step before quickly dropping into a deep bow.

“Y-Young Master Bai! We didn’t realize… Please forgive our offense!”

The other guards followed in unison, bowing respectfully, their foreheads nearly touching the stone floor.

Bai Zihan said nothing. He simply gave a faint nod, his hands still folded behind his back.

“May I ask what brings you here today?”

“Young Master Bai Zihan wants to watch the competition,” Kong Zhanghong answered.

The guard’s eyes widened in shock.

It wasn’t just a member of the Bai Clan—it was the heir himself who had come.

The Captain straightened up nervously and gestured with both hands, his voice respectful.

“Esteemed Young Master Bai, most of the VIP rooms are currently occupied… but if you’ll give us just a moment, I can arrange for one right away.”

He was already about to signal a junior guard to discreetly clear out a room—regardless of who was inside.

“That won’t be necessary,” Bai Zihan said calmly, cutting in before the order was given.

The guard froze mid-motion.

“No need for a VIP room. Just take me to the regular audience section.”

For a moment, the guard blinked in surprise—then relief flashed across his face.

If Bai Zihan had insisted, he would’ve gladly offended even the most powerful guest to make room.

After all, who in the capital—no, the entire Desolate Heaven Empire—could afford to offend the Bai Clan’s Young Master?

But if Bai Zihan didn’t want the VIP room, then that was even better.

“Understood! Right this way, Young Master Bai!”

The guard straightened and gave a crisp salute.

“This humble one will personally escort you and ensure you have the best vantage point available!”

As they made their way through the inner corridor, whispers trailed behind them.

“Is that…?”

“Bai Zihan?! The Young Master of the Bai Clan?!”

“No wonder the guards suddenly started bowing…”

Inside the arena, all the attention shifted toward Bai Zihan the moment he entered—especially due to the reverent behavior of the usually arrogant guard captain.

People naturally grew curious and tried to identify who it was.

And when they saw the Bai Clan sigil on his robe, it wasn’t hard to guess he was someone important.

Then, one by one, people began recognizing him.

Bai Zihan!

Even the battle about to begin paused.

But Bai Zihan ignored the noise and quietly took a seat overlooking the arena.

He sat down and stared at the battlefield—doing nothing, as though he were waiting for something.

[Heaven Chosen Detected!]

(As expected!)

Bai Zihan’s eyes narrowed. He was almost certain it was Nie Fengzhuo. With everything he’d observed so far, he was 99% sure—and now, it had become certain.

Just as he expected to receive the full profile on Nie Fengzhuo—

[Heaven Chosen Detected!]

Again?

Another notification appeared.

(Two notifications?)

Bai Zihan frowned in confusion.

Was the system malfunctioning?

He quickly dismissed the thought—his system wasn’t so fragile or was it?

[Scanning…]

[Heaven Chosen Profile Unlocked]

****************************

Name: Nie Fengzhuo

Age: 19

Fate Grade: ★★★★ (Four Stars)

Cultivation Base: Soul Formation (MEarly)

Destiny:

Once hailed as a peerless genius destined to reach the heavens, Nie Fengzhuo’s brilliance dimmed early after a mysterious incident caused his cultivation to stagnate for years.

Mocked by peers, abandoned by allies, and cast aside by his fiancée at the height of his downfall, he became a shadow of his former self—until he emerged again with terrifying strength and unshakable will.

Nie Fengzhuo’s destiny lies in defiance.

Every breakthrough he makes is forged through relentless effort, countless near-death battles, and the burning desire to prove the world wrong.

His cultivation path is not gilded by fortune, but carved through pain, humiliation, and an unyielding refusal to kneel.

What few know is that within his veins flows the blood of a once-mythic ancestor—an ancient sovereign who once shook the heavens with a single command.

Over generations, the bloodline thinned and fell into obscurity, its might nearly forgotten.

But in Nie Fengzhuo, that power has awakened once more.

Though dormant for centuries, it now stirs within him—waiting for the right time to awaken.

Guiding him through this arduous path is Du Changsheng, a legendary sovereign whose soul is bound within a spiritual ring.

This ancient soul lends him wisdom, strength, and timeless experience as he rises toward greatness.

His rise may be slow… but it is inevitable.

****************************

“Ho oh!”

He wasn’t bad at all.

His Fate Grade was even higher than Lin Xuan with 4 stars and he understood that Nie Fengzhuo shouldn’t be underestimated.

And his cultivation base… While the public believed him to be in the Nascent Soul Realm, he had already broken through to the Soul Formation Realm.

He was clearly saving that trump card—probably to shock everyone during his fight with Bai Xueqing.

Textbook protagonist behavior!

That should have been the end of it.

But then—

[Scanning…]

[Heaven Chosen Profile Unlocked]

****************************

Name: Du Changsheng

Age: Unknown

Fate Grade: ★★★★★ (Five Stars)

Cultivation Base: Supreme Immortal

Destiny:

Once a legendary sovereign whose name echoed through the heavens and earth, Du Changsheng’s soul embodies wisdom and power that transcend mortal limits.

Now bound within a spiritual ring, he serves as mentor and guide to his disciple, Nie Fengzhuo.

Though his physical body was lost long ago, his soul endured—sealed within the ring, his knowledge and might now fueling his disciple’s rise.

But legend speaks of a forbidden art: the Ancient Revival Technique. A method capable of restoring even a soul like his to full life.

Should that technique succeed, Du Changsheng will regain a new physical body—not merged, not fused—reborn into the world.

And with that rebirth, his strength will return in full, allowing him to immediately ascend as one of the strongest cultivators alive.

Until then, he remains in spirit form, silently guiding the one who carries his legacy.

****************************

Bai Zihan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“…Two Heaven Chosen in one?”

He muttered.

“What kind of freak combination is this?”

Moreover, the soul was actually a higher-graded Heaven Chosen than Nie Fengzhuo.

What kind of setup was this?

How could the master still surpass the disciple?

Wasn’t it always the case that the protagonist would eventually outshine their teacher?

But judging by the Fate Grade, it was clear that Du Changsheng—the ancient soul—was destined to be even greater than Nie Fengzhuo.

Still, the most shocking part was that there were two Heaven Chosen bound together!

Things became more complicated than he expected.