Chosen: Beyond Fate

The Taiyi Ring’s extravagance was displayed in every detail. Every corner radiated the unmistakable aura of a wealthy organization with more money than they knew what to do with.

Despite this being nothing more than a temporary forward camp, they had spared no expense in constructing brand-new buildings to house the masters and craftsmen.

Even without seeing the price tag, Ji Jue instinctively calculated the cost using his old experience as a construction laborer. Just the materials and labor came to a staggering sum. And since the entire structure had been created directly by Chosen Ones through shaping techniques to save time, the actual cost was probably even more outrageous than he assumed.

The moment they stepped inside, a wave of cool, fragrant air greeted them. The polished marble floor was so smooth it nearly reflected their figures like a mirror. Crystal chandeliers hung high overhead, scattering brilliant light across the hall.

Waiting in the lobby, a staff member who had clearly been expecting them hurried over at once.

“Master Ye, your quarters, as well as Mr. Ji’s, have already been arranged.”

Ye Xian waved her hand. “No need. Instead of wasting time, take us straight to the meeting room. At least that’s somewhere worth going.”

She pointed at Ji Jue. “Send this guy to the lounge.”

They passed through one hall after another. Following behind, Ji Jue glanced around at the expressions of those they passed and couldn’t help but sigh. “Why does everyone keep looking at us so strangely?”

“That’s normal,” Ye Xian replied. “Competition within the association has always been intense. To avoid being sidelined, people inevitably size each other up and edge one another out. It’s not just the craftsmen. The apprentices have their fair share of rivalry as well. It’s been like this for hundreds, even thousands of years. Nothing has changed. You’d better be prepared for it.”

“What if someone deliberately provokes me?”

Just before leaving, Professor Ye paused to look at him blankly. “Obviously you endure the humiliation, bear with it, and prioritize the greater good. What else would you do?”

“Alright.” Ji Jue nodded in agreement, as though he had already committed those wise words to heart.

The meaning of her words were a little profound, but he gave it his own interpretation. They’re asking to become my research materials.

***

Bang!

The meeting room door was bluntly pushed open.

The lengthy argument inside came to an abrupt halt. The already tense atmosphere froze for a heartbeat when something even more oppressive took its place. It was as though an icy wind had swept through the room.

Meeting the many astonished and conflicted gazes, Ye Xian walked in unhurriedly, hands clasped behind her back, thermos hanging from one hand.

She strolled forward at an easy pace, her gaze sweeping over one familiar face after another, as well as the many unfamiliar ones, before finally stopping at the front seat. As her eyes settled on an elderly face, deeply lined with age and covered in wrinkles, she nodded in understanding.

“So you’re the one in charge this time, Master Duan. At your age, you still don’t get any peace. That must be hard on you.”

There were five masters and over twenty senior craftsmen, all of them at minimum Gold Badge level. It looked like the Taiyi Ring had really gone all out this time. Basically every well-known craftsman in the eastern region of the Federation had been invited.

Master Duan Mu[1], who was presiding over the meeting, had been a master for over a century, with numerous disciples under his wing and a highly respected status. It was no surprise he had been chosen to preside over the meeting.

The beardless, bald old man let out a soft sigh, pretending that Ye Xian had greeted him properly. “Long time no see, Ms. Ye. You’ve arrived at the right time. Please take a seat.”

Ye Xian glanced at the seat beside Duan Mu. The man sitting there lowered his head, pretending not to see anything. He hesitated, but Ye Xian remained expressionless, simply waiting in silence. Eventually, gritting his teeth, the man stood up and gave his seat away, moving elsewhere.

Only then did Ye Xian slowly sit down. She set her thermos on the table, unscrewed it, took a sip, and then looked around the silent room.

“What were you all discussing just now? It sounded lively. Don’t stop on my account. I’d like to hear it too.”

In the awkward silence, a sinister-looking man with a long beard seated on the other side of the conference table gave a strange chuckle. “Master Ye, perfect timing. We were just discussing your area of expertise. Given the sheer size of Spring City, the most suitable approach is to use spirit matter refinement techniques to create a full-domain isolation barrier. In this field, you’re undoubtedly the foremost authority.”

After a brief pause, he added with apparent sincerity, “However, regarding the principle of four-stage qualitative transformation mentioned in your papers, would you perhaps be willing to share it with everyone?”

Upon hearing this, the others looked up, holding their breath. No one had expected him to directly push the biggest problem onto Ye Xian by using the Spring City situation and pressure her into taking on this difficult burden and even to hand over her proprietary research.

On the other side of the table, Master Kong raised her eyebrows slightly but said nothing. The shifting gazes between the two sides carried a faint sense of mockery, though it was unclear who it was directed at.

“Sure,” Ye Xian said with a nod. “Since Master Zhou said so, why don’t we simply put me in charge?”

Master Zhou’s face darkened, movements halting as he stroked his beard.

This was unexpected. He had only meant to dampen this madwoman’s arrogance a little, but she had actually agreed outright.

Ye Xian went on. “As for the specific plan, I’ve thought about it on the way here. Given the schedule and intensity of the job, the best method would naturally include each division inscribing different parts of the spirit circuits separately, and then integrating them through the Supreme Benevolence emblems and runes.”

She paused, tilting her head. “However, the situation in the underground caverns is urgent. Why don’t you make use of your workshop’s best publicly-available technique, the Myriad Source Convergence framework, to help with the emergency, Master Zhou? I assume that, given your grand concern for the greater good, you wouldn't be so petty as to withhold it in a moment like this, right?”

Ye Xian, you...!

Zhou Zhong[2] couldn’t help but glare, his expression growing increasingly dark. Anyone would find it unbearable being turned against like this. He had merely tried to pressure her into revealing her spirit matter techniques, but she immediately countered by trying to expose the foundation of his own craft.

From the side, a middle-aged craftsman observing the exchange coughed twice. “Hold on. Master Ye, isn’t that a bit—”

Ye Xian glanced at him coldly. “Do you think you have any right to speak here?”

The man scowled. “I...”

“Who are you?” Ye Xian asked. “I don’t recall ever seeing you before.”

A craftsman to Ye Xian’s right[3] forced a strained smile and tried to interject. “He is—”

“No need to introduce him. Someone who’s this unremarkable is likely just mediocre in every way. Even mediocrity should at least have some defining traits, but clearly that’s asking too much here. No need to waste time.” She waved her hand dismissively, ignoring the man’s darkening expression entirely. “At his age and still only wearing a single Gold Badge for show, I doubt he’s achieved much worth mentioning. Keep your opinions to yourself. There’s no need to listen. Master Zhou, what do you think?”

Zhou Zhong’s face darkened further as he stroked his long beard, the corner of his eye twitching as if he had a toothache.

Within the Taiyi Ring, factions were numerous, and the internal structure was complex. Conflict between craftsmen was constant, with alliances, scheming, and maneuvering all too common. But in the end, everything came down to skill and results. You were either capable or incapable. Incompetence was the root of all fault. If your skills were inferior, even breathing felt wrong.

Even more, Ye Xian was famously known not to praise anyone. She had even once publicly scolded the president to his face, and he still had to suck it up and admit she had a point. So these minor figures, who were just hanging around big workshops and living off scraps, were nobodies to her.

At worst, she was just hard to deal with and rude. So what? In earlier years, if she disagreed with someone, she would dismantle their ancestral workshop. She’d genuinely take apart Zhou Zhong’s workshop if she felt like it.

Master Zhou coughed. “Spring City is a matter of great importance. A full-domain lockdown is something I feel still needs to be carefully discussed and planned.”

Ye Xian nodded as if agreeing, slowly enunciating every word. “Then let’s give it more consideration. Take your time. Be thorough. Think it through properly. Don’t miss even the smallest mistake.”

The atmosphere in the meeting room grew even heavier and more oppressive than before. Unexpectedly, after instantly shutting down a minor nobody and targeting Zhou Zhong, Ye Xian said nothing for the rest of the meeting. She simply listened in silence.

But even her gaze alone was enough to make every craftsman below master level break into a cold sweat whenever they spoke, as if they were walking on thin ice. Whenever they forced an awkward smile or looked away, they couldn’t help but curse inwardly, Damn it, why won’t this woman just die already?

Strangely enough, the only person present with enough seniority to keep her in check, Master Duan, hadn’t said a single word. If anything, he seemed quite pleased with how things were unfolding.

The bigger the issue, the more troublesome it became, and the more people would start arguing and nitpicking. Now that someone else was saying all the unpleasant things for him, Duan Mu naturally welcomed it. If anything, he was probably quietly enjoying it.

However, as the meeting neared its end, the noise outside grew louder and louder. It made the craftsmen frown in displeasure.

Amid hurried footsteps, someone knocked on the door. A staff member from the Taiyi Ring entered, drenched in sweat. He quickly scanned the room and looked toward Master Duan.

Master Duan frowned. “If you have something to say, say it. Don’t waste time.”

“T-They’ve started fighting,” the panicked staff member stammered. “I-In the lounge... a lot of workshop apprentices, and... and... the one from Tidesound Workshop... they’re about to start fighting.”

A moment of silence fell over the room. Everyone frowned as they looked toward Ye Xian.

Ye Xian remained expressionless, her face calm as still water.

“It’s not a big deal. No need to panic.” Master Zhou grinned, clearly amused. “Young people are hot-blooded. That’s normal.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Very normal.”

The craftsmen, who had been holding back frustration for a long time, immediately chimed in agreement. Only Master Kong, who had been quietly observing from the side for a long while, frowned and subconsciously tried to get up.

But then, a deafening explosion shook the entire building. The lights flickered on and off, and a crack split open along the wall.

The sound seemed to be coming from... the lounge downstairs?!

Everyone’s face darkened. Only Ye Xian remained indifferent, her eyes lowered. She calmly lifted her cup and took a sip of tea.

“Nothing’s wrong,” she said.

This is normal.

1. The surname Duan 段 means ‘section, stage’. The surname is ranked #76 of the top 100 most common modern Chinese surnames. The given name “穆” carries meanings such as solemn, respectful, composed, or serene.

To me, the name has a quiet authority to it, suggesting someone steady, experienced, and held in high regard, which fits naturally with an elder master figure or someone occupying a leadership role. ☜

2. The surname Zhou (周) is one of the oldest and most widespread Chinese surnames, tracing its roots back to the illustrious Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). The given name “重” means “heavy,” “important,” or “serious,” and can also imply gravitas or significance depending on context. To me, the name carries a sense of solemnity and weight, and suggests someone experienced, stern, or occupying a position of authority. ☜

3. “下首” is a directional term in Chinese, typically meaning the lower or subordinate side. In traditional seating etiquette, it specifically refers to a seat of lesser status or a secondary position, often the lower-ranking side (commonly the right-hand side depending on context). ☜