Far above the mortal world, in the silent expanse of the Celestial Veil, where stars were not just light but divine sentinels, the gods stirred.
For eons, they had watched quietly, rarely interfering, allowing the world below to struggle, grow, fall, and rise again. Mortal cycles amused them. Their prophets preached doctrine in exchange for divine favor. But now...
Now, something had changed.
A ripple had torn across the Divine Thread that connected fate, belief, and order.
A mortal had shattered a saint's halo.
A divine beast had submitted not to faith, but to shadow.
And worse…
They loved her for it.
In the Hall of Stars, seated on golden thrones forged from time itself, the Celestial Tribunal convened.
Seven figures cloaked in divine radiance examined the mortal realm through the Eye of Revelation—a massive star-orb suspended in the void, revealing the world below like a mirror of destiny.
"She was supposed to bring balance," said the Goddess of Harmony, her voice trembling with ancient disappointment. "Yue Ling was chosen by the Flame of Order itself."
"She still brings balance," muttered the God of Chaos, amused. "Just not the kind you wanted."
The God of Prophecy narrowed his luminous eyes. "Her thread has tangled with a greater one. A being who wears no fate."
Images swirled in the orb—Priyanshu Yadav's face, always calm, always masked by layers of illusion, even to divine perception.
"He is not in the Book of Destiny," the Oracle Warden whispered. "We did not create him. We cannot predict him."
"He… is outside the game."
"And he is winning."
Back in the mortal realm.
In the Snow Palace, Yue Ling knelt beside her phoenix, now renamed Xuebao the Twilight Flame, as spirit healers patched its wounds. She gently ran her fingers through its feathers, whispering gratitude.
She no longer saw it as a divine beast.
Only as an ally.
"Do you regret it?" Priyanshu asked from behind.
She didn't turn. "No. I regret not seeing the truth sooner."
He stepped closer. "The heavens will come. They must. You're too loud now. Too powerful. Too… free."
She finally looked at him. "Then let them."
DING! Hidden Villain Alert – Celestial Tribunal has Marked Yue Ling as 'Deviation of Light'Divine Judgment: Incoming Trial Within 30 DaysSystem Perk Unlocked: [Heaven Defiance Layer I] – Passive Resistance to Divine Energy: +45%
Priyanshu read the system log calmly. "We'll be tested soon. You're not the first to be marked. But you will be the first to win."
Yue Ling's lips curled into a soft, dangerous smile. "Let them bring heaven. I've already burned purity. I'll burn paradise next."
Meanwhile, in distant lands across the continent, others watched with awe and fear.
In the Golden Sun Empire, a young prodigy saintess fainted during meditation after seeing a vision of Yue Ling surrounded by kneeling angels.
In the Demonic Abyss Sect, elder devils raised a toast. "The heavens weep for losing their favorite."
In the Scholar's Isle, ancient cultivators burned their prophecy scrolls in silence.
And beneath it all, in the deepest dungeon of the Void Temple, a man bound in celestial chains smiled wide.
"She has begun," he whispered. "The one who will shatter the false sky."
Up in the Hall of Stars, the Celestial King, silent for millennia, finally stood.
"Send the First Blade," he commanded. "Let the False Saint taste heavenly wrath."
A single star in the sky fell.
Not as a blessing.
But as a warning.