Fated to Rule, Destined to Love: The Martial Emperor’s Curse

The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming spirit lotuses from the nearby pond. Ling Tian stood atop a secluded peak, gazing at his hands, which pulsed with an otherworldly fusion of Azure and Gold. It was subtle yet undeniable—his Qi and weapon aura had changed, transcending what he once thought possible.

This was not just power. It was authority.

He clenched his fist, feeling the energies intertwining, neither dominating the other. It was as if two opposing laws of existence had found harmony within him. But how? And why now?

Before he could delve further into his thoughts, a familiar voice, soft yet laced with a knowing tone, drifted from behind him.

"It finally manifests."

Ling Tian turned sharply. Xu Qing'er.

She stood beneath the silver moonlight, her flowing robes swaying in the breeze, eyes locked onto him—not with surprise, but with recognition. It was as if she had expected this moment.

Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Xu Qing'er took a step forward, her fingers grazing the petals of a white lotus nearby. "Azure and Gold... A force beyond fate itself." She looked at him, the flicker of an unreadable emotion flashing across her gaze. "I've seen it before."

His breath hitched. "Where?"

She hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second. But that moment spoke volumes. She knew something.

Instead of answering directly, she smiled—a serene yet distant expression. "It suits you."

A sudden gust of wind swept between them, carrying whispers that neither could decipher. Ling Tian studied her, his instincts screaming that her knowledge went beyond simple speculation. Yet, pressing further now would yield no answers.

Not yet.

Instead, he released a slow breath and let the subject drop. For now.

"Why are you here?" he asked, shifting the conversation.

Xu Qing'er chuckled. "You're not the only one drawn by the ripples of fate." Her eyes shimmered as she added, "Be careful, Ling Tian. Power that defies fate never comes without a price."

Her words left an unease settling in his chest. But before he could respond, she was already walking away, her figure gradually merging with the moonlit mist.

Ling Tian remained rooted in place, fists tightening. There was more to this than mere coincidence.

The Vanquished Throne. The Myriad Worlds. The buried past of the Ling Clan.

And now, his own evolving power.

The pieces were shifting. But toward what end?

As the night deepened, Ling Tian turned his gaze to the distant horizon, his resolve hardening.

If fate demanded a price, then he would be the one to dictate the terms.

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