Chapter 1

I was born with a wicked streak, and I never let a slight slide.

My master's wife played favorites and gave the only Foundation Establishment Pill to my junior.

I snuck into the alchemy chamber and fed every last one of my master's precious Revival Herbs to the wild boars.

My master was so furious that his cultivation nearly went off track, and he sent me to reflect on my actions.

I blew up the Sword Graveyard in the mountain, unleashing a storm of swords that flattened half the peak.

After that, the whole sect couldn't tolerate me anymore. The elders joined forces and sealed me away in the depths of the Demon-Sealing Tower.

Alright, then nobody got to cultivate.

I triggered a forbidden spell that threw the spiritual vein into chaos, and countless cultivators across the realm were driven insane.

So when my Immortal Lord parents arrived, the sect leader and all the elders all lined up to welcome them.

My master gripped my dad's robe, sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.

He said, "Mr. and Mrs. Evernight, please, this girl's got a heart of pure malice. Even our righteous sect is powerless to change her ways."

My mom just brushed it off as him venting.

When we got back to the Celestial Heights, her dear adopted daughter, Luna Evernight, was dressed in a Starlace Gown, looking all sweet and helpless as she clung to my dad's sleeve.

She said, "Serena, I know you just got back, but Dad promised to give me the Netherflame so I can forge my life-bound weapon. You're not gonna fight me for it, right?"

"No," I replied flatly, my tone as cold and unreadable as ever.

Luna timidly stepped forward, trying to hold onto my arm.

I shifted aside, and her hand froze midair, making the moment painfully awkward.

"Serena..." she whimpered, eyes glistening with unshed tears as she took out a crystal lamp from her sleeve. Its surface was swirling with vibrant colors.

"I specially crafted this heartward lamp for you. It's a little gift to welcome you back. Hope you'd like it," she said.

The crystal lamp was truly exquisite, its surface shimmering with a rainbow of light. Anyone could tell it was a top-tier magical treasure.

"You really think something this tacky is worth showing off to me?" I sneered.

I couldn't even be bothered to look at it.

Luna's tears started falling down her face.

"Serena, is it that you don't like me? I... I just wanted us to be close..." Luna whimpered.

"Luna's just trying to be nice. What's with that attitude?" Dad's face fell.

Mom also frowned, her voice stern.

She said, "You've only just come home, and you're already acting so disrespectfully. Apologize to Luna, right now!"

I gave her a cold look, took the crystal lamp, and offered a faint smile. "Sorry," I said.

A trace of mockery flickered in Luna's eyes, but it was quickly masked by hurt and wounded pride.

Luna said, "If you really like it—"

But before she could finish, I gave a careless flick of my wrist, and then the crystal lamp exploded into pieces.

Shards burst out, scattering across the floor.

"How dare you!" Mom roared, her immortal power crackling through the air.

She said, "If I don't teach you a lesson today, who knows what kind of chaos you'll unleash next?"

Luna clung to Mom's sleeve, her voice trembling as she pleaded.

She said, "Please, Mom, don't be mad. It's all my fault. My gift just didn't win Serena's heart. Please, don't punish her."

But when she glanced back at me, there was a glint of smug satisfaction in her eyes.

I watched Luna playing her little games, and honestly, this whole show was getting more entertaining by the minute.

She dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

She said, "Mom, my birthday party is in three days, and I need to offer blood to activate the Netherflame. How about letting Serena handle it for me?"

Everyone knew the activation ritual needed pure immortal power to work. If someone messed it up, the backlash could be nasty.

I'd only just come back to the sect, and my cultivation base was still unstable. Luna was obviously setting me up to embarrass myself in front of everyone.

But Dad just nodded. "Luna's suggestion is a good one. Since you won't accept Luna's goodwill, prove your loyalty to the sect with your actions."

Mom nodded as well. "If you can pull off the activation ritual without a hitch, we'll let today's mess slide."

I glanced at the faint smirk on Luna's lips and couldn't help but smile. "Sure."

My response clearly wasn't what she expected.

A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but she slipped right back into her sweet persona. "I'm so glad you agreed, Serena. But..."

She feigned concern, her voice soft and sweet. "The activation ritual takes a lot of immortal power. Will you really be up to it, Serena?"

"No need to worry about me," I cut her off, turning toward the entrance. "I'll show up right on time in three days."

Luna's birthday party was held in the Radiant Hall.

As I stepped inside, I saw my parents sitting on either side of her.

Mom personally pinned a shimmering Phoenix Pearl Hairpin in Luna's hair, while Dad watched her with a gentle smile. His eyes were filled with a warmth I'd never seen before.

Dad said, "Today is a big day for Luna. She's coming of age."

"Your two brothers even rushed back from their travels just for this," he added with a smile.

I glanced up and, sure enough, there was my eldest brother, Shawn Evernight, sitting at the table with an indifferent expression, while my second brother, Evan Evernight, lounged nearby, lazily fanning himself and cracking jokes with a few Celestials.

Shawn's face dropped the moment he saw me walk in. "So you actually bothered to show up? If Luna hadn't stuck up for you, you'd be outside the hall begging for forgiveness right now."

Evan jumped in to defuse the tension. "Come on, Shawn, no need to blow a fuse. Serena just got back. She's still figuring things out."

He turned to me with a warm smile. "Don't worry, I got you."

I looked at his phony smile and suddenly remembered what I'd overheard him say last night in the corridor.

He said, "Why bother with someone like her, Luna? She's just an outsider. You're the one we've been cherishing since you were a child."

But now, he was still smiling with that same gentle, flawless look, as if those cutting words had never been spoken.