The school today is over, and Lin Zixuan stood frozen behind his tidy desk in the teacher's office. The room had begun to quiet down, leaving only the gentle hum of the air conditioner and the usually soothing scent of old paper, but this afternoon, the atmosphere felt suffocating. His fingers still trembled slightly as he put down the history textbook he had been using.
In his mind, Wei Yan's words replayed like a broken record that wouldn't stop. "A leader must know when to relinquish his authority and when to submit to a greater power." That wasn't just a student's witty retort; it was a direct attack on Zixuan's core self-esteem. For years, he had prided himself on his ability to control the class, dictate the narrative, and maintain an elegant yet firm distance from everyone. But today, in front of dozens of his students, he felt naked. He felt as if Wei Yan had dissected his soul, seen every corner of his ego, and determined that he was nothing but an amateur performing a charade.
"That student…" Zixuan whispered softly, his eyes fixed intently on the small mirror on his desk. "Who does he think he is? How dare he lecture me about sovereignty in my own class?"
The burning shame in his chest slowly mutated into something more dangerous: Obsession. Zixuan had never lost, and he didn't plan on starting that losing streak with a teenager. There was a wild urge within him to see Wei Yan kneel, to see that sickening calm shattered, and to prove that he was the true tamer. That motivation consumed his mind; he began to formulate a plan to dig deeper into Wei Yan's background, unaware that his desire to "conquer" Wei Yan was actually the first step toward his own conquest.
----
Meanwhile, in the dimly lit corridor outside, Wei Yan walked slowly. His steps were quiet, but his Divine Detection had already extended throughout the school, penetrating the concrete walls of the teachers' office without the slightest obstruction. Within his mental perception, he could see Lin Zixuan's figure with perfect clarity. He saw how she gritted her teeth, how her heartbeat increased erratically, and how her previously orderly mental aura had become chaotic due to a nascent obsession.
Wei Yan paused for a moment, a faint, triumphant smile playing on his lips. "Interesting," he murmured softly. "Shame is the best fertilizer for cultivating devotion. Keep trying to tame me, Teacher Lin. The harder you try, the deeper you'll become entangled in my net."
To him, Lin Zixuan's expressions were top-notch entertainment. Adding a woman as intelligent and arrogant as Zixuan to his "collection" would be a refreshing change from the other 20 women of destiny. He could already imagine how Lin Zixuan's authority would completely crumble under his control, making her his most prized 21st target.
Wei Yan then turned to Ning Shuang, who was walking faithfully beside him. According to their undercover plan, Ning Shuang would remain in the school dormitory to maintain the stability of Wei Yan's "plot" there and monitor the targets in the school in real time.
"Shuang'er," Wei Yan called softly.
Ning Shuang immediately bowed slightly, her voice low and respectful. "Yes, Master?"
Wei Yan patted Ning Shuang's shoulder briefly before turning around, his eyes darting toward the classroom where the four women of destiny who had been stealing glances at him were located. "Your duties in the dormitory aren't just about supervision. I want you to start approaching those four girls."
Ning Shuang followed her master's gaze, realizing who he was referring to. "You mean, motivate them to join us?"
"Yes," Wei Yan replied with a faint, enigmatic smile. "Plant the seed in their minds that their future doesn't lie in this boring school, but under my protection. Make them feel that following in your footsteps is the only way to reach the pinnacle they dream of. I want them to have a strong motivation to 'surrender' before the other pieces start moving."
Ning Shuang bowed deeply, understanding the subtle but crucial instruction. "I understand, Master. I will ensure that in the next few days, their minds will be filled only with the desire to be a part of your world. They will have no way back once I'm done with them."
"Good. Do it gracefully. Let them feel like this was their own free choice," Wei Yan added. "And tell Ruolin to speed up preparations at the Resort. I want everything ready before Ye Fan breathes fresh air in three days."
"I will, Master."
Wei Yan walked out of the school grounds with steady steps. Behind him, Ning Shuang stood silently, staring at her master's retreating back. She had already begun strategizing how she would "befriend" the four female students, manipulate their emotions, and slowly lure them into Wei Yan's inescapable circle of power.
Meanwhile, Wei Yan stepped out of the school gates, letting his high school student aura fade. His thoughts were already racing to Qinshan Mansion, imagining the grand formation he would soon set up to lure that arrogant mountain predator into his net.
----
Wei Yan's footsteps didn't stop at Qinshan Mansion. Instead of resting after a rather "tiring" day at school, he took a public taxi to maintain a low profile, while his phone was busy connecting calls to his wives at home. He gave brief but concise instructions regarding the final preparations at Qinshan Peak Resort, an ambitious project that now stood majestically as a buffer zone for his absolute sovereignty.
As soon as the taxi stopped in front of the main gate, his view was still obstructed by a towering temporary barrier along the land's boundary. The giant zinc fence was deliberately installed to conceal the architectural splendor within from public and satellite view, creating a sense of mystery for anyone passing by. Because the main building's access was located quite deep within the hillside, no outsider could see that behind the barrier, a masterpiece blending modern technology and spiritual energy had been completed.
Wei Yan paid the taxi and stepped through the gap in the heavily guarded area. Behind the zinc wall, the empty plot of land that had been undeveloped just a week ago had become a small but extremely luxurious resort, unnoticed. The air inside the perimeter felt much denser and cleaner, a stark contrast to the pollution on the highway. With a faint smile, the Maestro stepped inside, ready to install the heart of the formation on the building that would become the stage for his next great play.
As soon as Wei Yan stepped through the gate, heavily guarded by internal security, Shen Ruolin stood waiting with the precision of a loyal wife. She stood in stark contrast to the lingering construction dust that still swirled around the vast parking lot; she wore a black business suit that perfectly hugged her curves, her hair was neatly pulled back into a bun, and her eyes radiated a sharp intelligence that could intimidate any man.
"Honey, the main structure behind this barrier is 100% complete. We are currently in the final stages of interior finishing and exotic landscaping," Ruolin reported calmly, yet with an unconcealed sense of pride.
Walking side by side with Wei Yan along the long path leading to the heart of the resort, Ruolin continued explaining the operational plan. "Recruitment will open in two days. As per your instructions, we have set up a multi-layered screening system. We're looking not only at their professional competence or track record in the business world, but also at their hidden 'potential'—whether it's their intriguing destiny or their sensitivity to spiritual energy. And lastly, the main seat of the core management will be handed to Shen Ruobing, Xia Chunyu and Luo Mengyi."
Wei Yan listened, his gaze sweeping across the row of buildings still hidden from the outside world by a giant zinc fence. "Very good, Ruolin. This high barrier is indeed useful for maintaining privacy, but its purpose is not limited to that. I want the curiosity of the public and our enemies to build up until the resort's opening will be an explosion of destiny they cannot contain."
"I understand, Sir," Ruolin replied obediently. "All the (main) wives have also prepared as you called except Ning Shuang. They are waiting in the central area to assist with energy synchronization after you install the formation heart."
Wei Yan smiled faintly, nodded, sensing how dense the air in this isolated area had become. It was here that he would dictate a new history for Yonghe City, transforming a luxury resort into a giant web that would ensnare anyone who held value to his sovereignty. With each step toward the resort's center, Wei Yan began to release a little of his imperial aura, ready to transform this inanimate object into a breathing ecosystem.
Then, Wei Yan closed his eyes, scanning the magnificent building, which blended modern minimalist architecture with touches of ancient agarwood. "Very good, Ruolin. But this building is still an inanimate object. A body without a soul will not be able to withstand the coming storm."
They arrived at the resort's centerpiece, a vast open hall with a reflection pool in the center. Wei Yan stood at the edge of the pool, gazing at the darkening clouds. "Summon ten women from the Pagoda who are based on the earth and wood elements. I need their energy to ground this formation."
Ruolin immediately carried out the instruction. In an instant, ten beautiful female figures dressed in green and brown appeared out of thin air—a sight that would make any ordinary person faint in shock. They were part of the 105 "Souvenirs" that had been hatched.
"Master, we are ready to receive your command," they said in unison, kneeling gracefully.
"Form a decagon formation around this pool," Wei Yan commanded. "You will be the anchors for the Nine Heavens Guardian Formation. When I activate it, you must channel your essence to merge with the foundation of this building."
Wei Yan then took out a dark purple core crystal from his storage space. The crystal pulsed as if it had its own heart. He threw it into the center of the pool, and it floated, emitting threads of light that began to spread throughout the resort.
"Activate!" Wei Yan growled.
Instantly, the entire resort area shook violently. The construction workers in the distance felt as if the earth were breathing. A pure spiritual light burst from the center of the pool, spreading like a giant spiderweb, enveloping every brick, every piece of wood, and every inch of the resort's soil.
"Feel this, Ruolin," Wei Yan said, closing his eyes. "This formation doesn't just protect. It will filter anyone who enters. Those with evil intentions or destiny that conflicts with mine will feel uncomfortable and oppressed, while those with potential will feel blessed."
Ruolin took a deep breath, feeling the air around her become tenfold fresher and richer in energy. "This... this isn't just a resort anymore. This is holy ground, Master."
"As it should be," Wei Yan replied coldly. "This place will become the stage where the 'golden sons' of destiny will try their luck, only to realize they've walked into the lion's mouth."
----
High above, on a mountain peak shrouded in eternal mist, Chu Feng was sharpening his wooden sword. Suddenly, he stopped. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He sensed a powerful pulse of energy from the foot of the mountain, an energy that felt unfamiliar yet incredibly alluring.
"What aura is this?" Chu Feng muttered, his sharp eyes staring at the thin purple light enveloping the area at the foot of Qinshan Mountain in the distance. "Master always said that the urban world is a filthy and devoid of energy. But this... this far surpasses the purity of the energy on this peak."
Beside him, his Senior Sister, Su Yan, emerged from the hut. Her beautiful face was pale with shock. "Feng'er, do you feel it? That's not just spiritual energy. It's sovereignty. It's as if a ruler has just proclaimed his territory."
Chu Feng clenched his hand on the sword hilt. "I must see for myself, Senior Sister. If this energy is truly as pure as I sense, perhaps this is the answer to why my cultivation has stagnated for the past year."
Su Yan looked at her sister anxiously. "But Master told us not to interfere in worldly affairs prematurely."
"Master didn't know the world had changed so rapidly," Chu Feng replied in the stubborn tone typical of a mountain hero. "Look, Senior Brother. Even from here, I can see the brilliance of that mansion. And... am I hallucinating? I see the silhouettes of extraordinary women passing by. Such existences couldn't possibly belong to ordinary people."
Su Yan sighed in disappointment when her junior spoke of beautiful women. However, she couldn't deny her curiosity. That aura was too alluring for anyone pursuing the path of immortality. "Very well. We'll go tomorrow. But we have to disguise ourselves. We don't want to attract unnecessary attention."
Chu Feng smiled confidently. "Of course. I just want to know who is bold enough to claim this mountain as their own."
----
Unbeknownst to Chu Feng, his move down the mountain was not of his own free will, but rather because he had been "scented" by Wei Yan's radar. The attraction he felt was the result of the manipulation of the formation aura that Wei Yan had intentionally allowed to leak a little into the mountain range.
"Let's go back to the mansion, we will make a bigger one."
Wei Yan smiled faintly. Everything was going according to plan. With Lin Zixuan in turmoil at school, the Resort ready to open, and the mountain protagonist making his move, the chessboard of fate was truly heating up.