Chapter 10: Vertex of the Stars

Doctor was right — defeating the Second-Rank Stellar Beast, the Earth Dragon Lizard, wasn’t about brute force.

Or rather, it wasn’t about doing it the way the rules said it should be done.

That was always the plan from the very beginning — Tian Dao Siming had made up his mind.

As for whether this broke the original evaluation rules?

Tian Dao didn’t care.

Rules were chains forged for the weak.

He, Tian Dao Siming, followed only the law of his own heart.

“Tian Dao!”

On the arena, Tian Dao heard Kalolin’s voice behind him — and he smiled.

He knew exactly what it meant.

Kalolin had done what he’d asked.

Now, it was his turn to perform.

Boom!

With a burst of speed, Tian Dao unleashed Flash Step, violently pulling himself away from the Earth Dragon Lizard and retreating to a safe, temporary position.

“Ruli!”

“Y-yes! Understood!”

Reacting to Tian Dao’s signal, Jing Ruli — who had been lingering at the edge of the battlefield — shot forward like a comet, instantly taking over his position.

“M-Meow… Dream Corruption!”

Jing Ruli plummeted from the sky, riding her pillow like a storm rider. Her flowing robe fluttered open, revealing the tiny bear-print pajamas beneath.

In an instant, a swarm of dream moths erupted from her sleeves — a shimmering storm of iridescent wings that briefly blinded the Earth Dragon Lizard.

The sudden loss of sight caused the beast to stagger — not just from confusion, but from something deeper.

The moths carried a strange stellar energy, one that seeped into its senses, triggering an overwhelming wave of drowsiness.

It felt an irresistible urge to lie down… to sleep.

Tian Dao watched the beast’s brief hesitation — then, without a second wasted, he closed his eyes and instantly began receiving critical data from Kalolin.

[Left front knee — old injury. Stellar energy flow has a 0.03-second gap.]

A heartbeat later, Tian Dao snapped his eyes open.

His gaze locked onto the left front knee of the Earth Dragon Lizard — not the obvious, armored surface, but a faint, almost invisible scar beneath the scales.

A flaw only he could see.

Slowly, Tian Dao raised his hand.

A tiny, spinning ball of star energy coalesced between his fingers — a miniature vortex of swirling light, glowing a deep, electric blue.

The orb spun faster and faster, its cold radiance painting his sharp, defiant profile in hues of sapphire.

The Dragon Lizard, sensing the energy, grew agitated.

The drowsiness vanished — replaced by a primal instinct of danger.

Its eyes snapped open, burning with fury.

“Roar!”

With a roar, it swatted aside the dream moths, then slammed through Jing Ruli with a brutal shoulder charge, charging straight at Tian Dao like a living avalanche.

Tian Dao didn’t flinch.

He spoke calmly, coldly.

“Stellar Energy Technique — Azure!”

The moment the words left his lips, the spinning blue orb shot from his fingers — a streak of lightning across the arena.

It carved a dazzling arc through the air, then struck perfectly — at the exact spot where the faint scar marred the beast’s knee.

Crack!

A sharp, brittle sound echoed as the dragon’s armored scales shattered like brittle biscuit.

The orb pierced through, spinning like a drill, tearing through scales, flesh, and bone — burying itself deep into the joint.

“ROOOOAAARRR!”

A scream of agony ripped from the beast’s throat.

Its charge faltered — the sudden, searing pain threw its momentum off balance.

It stumbled, then collapsed face-first onto the arena floor, shaking the entire stage with the impact.

Silence.

Outside the arena, the crowd was frozen.

Every eye wide, jaws slack.

“…No way.”

Chen Kong’s jaw dropped to his chest.

“That’s a Second-Rank Stellar Beast!”

He couldn’t believe it — just a few breaths ago, the Earth Dragon Lizard had seemed untouchable.

Now, it was kneeling before Tian Dao — broken, humiliated.

And he wasn’t alone in his shock.

Chen Xing beside him, the dignitaries in the VIP box — all were stunned into silence.

Clatter!

Lady Gold Finch’s champagne glass shattered on the floor.

The golden liquid soaked into her million-star-coin gown — but she didn’t notice.

Her eyes were fixed on the arena, her lips moving silently.

“Unbelievable… truly unbelievable.”

“Three half-stars… barely even first-rank… and they actually wounded a Second-Rank Stellar Beast?”

“Talent. Courage. Strategy. The calm under pressure… this child — no, Tian Dao — is born to lead.”

“If he hadn’t taken the risk, even the best-laid plan would’ve failed.

One mistake, one misstep, and not only would the mission collapse…

but Tian Dao himself would’ve been finished.”

“Tian Dao Siming… are you so sure you won’t make a mistake?

Do you really not fear failure?”

Lady Gold Finch stared at the figure on the arena — a mix of disbelief and awe in her eyes.

Even now, she couldn’t understand why he’d done it.

It was reckless.

The reward? Minimal.

It made no logical sense.

If he’d just played by the rules — if he’d dragged out the fight, delayed, survived — he and Kalolin would’ve passed with ease.

But he hadn’t.

He’d chosen a path no one expected.

He didn’t want to survive.

He wanted to break the rules.

To shatter every assumption.

To prove that miracles weren’t just theory.

And now…

They were real.

Tian Dao Siming…

Do you not see rules at all?

“ROOOOOOOOAR!”

On the arena, the Earth Dragon Lizard roared back to its feet — its eyes now blazing with fury, no longer playful, no longer amused.

The pain had awakened something darker — a primal, bloodthirsty rage.

It was done playing.

It would crush these three intruders.

But then it looked — and its pupils widened.

Tian Dao stood outside the arena, casually slipping on his mocking, smug little sunglasses.

He gave the beast a slow, taunting wave.

“Hey, big guy,” he said, grinning. “Still stewing over it? The evaluation’s already over!”

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAARRRR!”

The beast bellowed in rage, its voice shaking the energy barrier to its core.

Trapped in fury, powerless to retaliate — it could only vent its humiliation by slamming its claws into the empty arena floor, over and over, as if pounding the ground could erase the shame.

Tian Dao watched, then turned to the crowd, grinning.

“See? It’s panicking. Look at it — can’t even handle a little taunting.”

“Seriously, a Second-Rank Beast… and it gets this flustered?”

Kalolin’s cat ears twitched.

“Tian Dao… you’re going to get someone killed.”

He shrugged, unfazed.

“Not my problem. My part’s done.”

The other Stellar Prodigies paled.

They stared at the snarling, enraged beast — and instinctively backed away.

No one was stupid enough to walk into that storm.

But then —

Chen Xing stepped forward.

Her crimson eyes burned with unrelenting fire.

Chen Kong lunged forward, grabbing her sleeve.

“Wait, Sister — it’s still furious!”

She didn’t turn.

“Let go.”

Chen Kong hesitated.

But seeing the beast’s cold, furious gaze — the smoke rising from its nostrils — he couldn’t let go.

He stepped in front of her, blocking the way.

“Just wait… wait a little longer…”

Clang!

A crimson blade flashed — cold, sharp, and deadly.

It appeared in Chen Xing’s hand, its edge now pressed against Chen Kong’s throat.

The sudden move stunned everyone.

Even Chen Kong froze — his body locked in shock.

Chen Xing’s voice was icy.

“Empty. You know why I’ve always looked down on you?”

Her words were colder than the blade.

Her eyes colder still.

Chen Kong — trembling, weak — slowly lowered his hands.

He couldn’t speak.

Chen Xing stared at him, her expression filled with sorrow.

Then, with a quiet, devastating finality, she said:

“Run. Hide. Just keep hiding your whole life.”

“Your cowardice will one day cost you everything.”

“But I can’t hide. Because if I do… then you — the weak one — have nowhere left to go.”

“So even if the next step is a bottomless pit… I have to walk into it.

Because there’s no one behind me to hold my hand.”

“Move. Or I’ll cut you.”

She didn’t wait.

She stepped past him — straight toward the arena.

But just as she reached the energy barrier…

“Hey, Chen Xing!”

A candy arced through the air.

She caught it instinctively.

She stared at the sweet in her palm.

Her eyes widened.

“You say I’m alone in front of me?”

“Is that really how you see me?”

Tian Dao adjusted his sunglasses, the lenses flashing with that infuriating, smug gleam.

“Remember — you’re second.

And I’m the Vertex of the Stars.”

Chen Xing’s lips parted — she wanted to say something.

But pride held her back.

She gave him a cold, sharp huff — then stepped through the barrier, facing the now-serious Earth Dragon Lizard head-on.

The beast loomed over her, a mountain of fury and power.

She took a deep breath — then cracked the candy between her teeth.

The crunch was sharp.

Fierce.

Like she was biting down on Tian Dao himself.

…Huh.

This candy’s actually sweet.

Back outside, Tian Dao wiped his brow — even though there was no sweat.

Phew… that was close.

Almost let her pull off the whole “I’m alone” act.

If I hadn’t reacted immediately — if I hadn’t “played along” with that dramatic flair —

then she’d have stolen all the spotlight.

And what would’ve been the point of my whole performance?

Good thing I’m me.

Not just a hero — but a showman.

And now, I’ve just proven I’m not just the leader…

I’m the star.

He watched Chen Xing — her red hair flaring in the wind, her stance unshaken.

A smile tugged at his lips.

…Yeah.

That last line?

Very cool.

PS: Daily requests for reads and monthly votes — please!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end