The outer disciple trial ended with unexpected ripples.
Xiao Chen's intervention spread like wildfire through the sect — the new chaos genius had crippled four outer disciples (three self-abolished, Li Wei expelled for scheming with forbidden beast-luring talismans). The recording jade proved everything.
Deacon Li was demoted and confined for a hundred years.
Li Wei, cultivation wasted to early Body Forging, was cast out of the sect in disgrace — a mortal once more.
Qing Lian's group placed in the top twenty, earning extra resources. Zhang Huo'er and Wang Shuo recovered fully, now viewing Qing Lian with awe and Xiao Chen as an untouchable legend.
Back on Outer Peak, Qing Lian became something of a quiet celebrity. Senior sisters invited her to tea, junior brothers offered help with chores — all curious about "the girl who tamed the chaos monster."
She handled it with her usual grace, never boasting, only saying softly, "He's just protecting what matters to him."
Their meetings grew bolder — Xiao Chen now visited openly, inner disciple token allowing free movement.
One evening in a moonlit spirit garden, they walked hand in hand among glowing lotus ponds.
Zhang Huo'er, passing by with friends, spotted them and teased loudly, "Sister Qing! If your man keeps visiting like this, the entire outer peak will be jealous!"
Qing Lian's face flushed red. "Sister Zhang, don't joke…"
Xiao Chen chuckled. "Let them be jealous. I only have eyes for one person."
Qing Lian hid her smile behind her sleeve, heart warm.
Later, alone on a stone bridge over the pond, she leaned into him.
"Chen-ge… the sect feels safer now, because of you."
He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.
"I'd burn the entire Azure Cloud Realm if anyone truly harmed you."
She looked up, eyes shimmering. "Don't say such scary things… but I believe you would."
Their kiss under the moonlight was slow, passionate — lips lingering, hands gentle yet firm, the rich spiritual energy around them seeming to pulse in rhythm with their hearts.
When they parted, breathless, she whispered against his lips, "One day… when we're strong enough, let's find a quiet peak of our own."
He smiled. "We will."
Meanwhile, on Chaos Peak.
Elder Chaos summoned Xiao Chen to the forbidden Chaos Scripture Pavilion — a black tower sealed by ninety-nine chaos chains.
"Enter. Choose one inheritance from the first three floors. Your root resonates with what's inside."
Xiao Chen stepped through the chains, which parted like living shadows.
The first floor held ancient jade slips floating in void.
He scanned them mentally.
Most were chaos-based techniques: body tempering, sword arts, alchemy — all profound but not quite fitting.
On the third floor, deepest in, a blood-red jade slip pulsed violently as he approached.
Title: Dual Avatar Severance Art.
He touched it.
Knowledge flooded in.
The technique allowed cultivation of two separate avatars within the dantian — one Righteous, embodying compassion, creation, indestructible defense.
One Evil — pure destruction, slaughter, devouring all things.
When united in the distant future, the cultivator would transcend good and evil, becoming origin of chaos itself.
But the warning was grave: the Evil Avatar, if uncontrolled, would devour the host's sanity, turning him into a devil that slaughtered worlds.
Previous practitioners either perished in tribulation or became cosmic calamities, erased by heavenly enforcers.
Xiao Chen's heart shook.
Yet the bead in his chest thrummed in excitement — this was its true inheritance.
He memorized every word, then left the tower.
Elder Chaos waited outside.
"You chose the forbidden one."
Xiao Chen nodded.
The elder's shadowy face revealed a rare smile.
"Good. Most fear it. But only by embracing both light and darkness can one stand beyond heaven. Cultivate slowly — the Evil Avatar must never awaken prematurely, or you will lose yourself forever."
Xiao Chen bowed. "This disciple understands."
That night, in seclusion, he began.
A golden seed formed in his dantian — the Righteous Avatar embryo.
Opposite it, a black seed stirred faintly — the Dark one.
But it remained asleep.
For now.
In the sect's highest palace, Sect Master Yun Tianhe listened to a report from Elder Han.
"The boy's intervention was justified… but his strength at Spirit Vein stage already surpasses ordinary Golden Core. And he chose the Dual Avatar art."
Yun Tianhe gazed at the stars beyond the window.
"Chaos roots always bring upheaval. Watch him closely. If he walks the righteous path, he will be our sect's greatest fortune. If he falls to darkness…"
He did not finish.
Far beyond Azure Cloud Realm, in the Nine Heavenly Domains, an ancient clan's divination hall trembled.
A purple-robed elder spat blood, the formation mirror before him cracking.
"Primordial Chaos Bead… reborn? In a lower realm?"
He crushed a transmission jade.
"Inform the ancestors. The fragment from the destroyed era has reappeared."
Hidden currents deepened.
But on Chaos Peak, Xiao Chen opened his eyes from meditation, a faint dual light flashing in his pupils — one gold, one abyss black.
He smiled faintly.
"Qing Lian… I will become strong enough to protect you from everything. Even heaven itself."
The path of defiance had taken its first true step.