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

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth as Ling Tian traversed the eerie valley, his golden-azure Qi flickering like a beacon in the dim twilight. He had ventured into this forsaken land seeking answers, but instead, an overwhelming sense of unease gripped his soul.

As he reached the heart of the valley, an oppressive silence fell. The usual rustling of leaves, the distant howls of spirit beasts—all vanished. Ling Tian halted, his keen senses flaring. Something—or someone—was here.

A gust of wind stirred the mist before him, revealing a cloaked figure standing atop a jagged rock. Their presence was enigmatic, neither aggressive nor benign.

"You have finally come," the stranger murmured, their voice ancient yet firm. "The last heir of a forgotten name… seeking a truth buried in shadows."

Ling Tian's gaze turned razor-sharp. "Who are you?"

The figure chuckled softly. "Does it matter? What matters is that the Ling Clan… no longer exists."

A chill crawled down Ling Tian's spine. He took a step forward, his Qi surging. "Explain."

The stranger exhaled, their breath swirling like smoke. "They did not fall in battle, nor were they wiped out by an enemy you could name. They were erased—as if they had never been."

Ling Tian's fists clenched. His mind raced. "That's impossible! Even if they were slaughtered, remnants would remain, records—something!"

The stranger tilted their head. "And yet… there is nothing. Not a single inscription. Not a whisper in the annals of history. What does that tell you?"

Ling Tian's heart pounded. This was no ordinary annihilation. This was something greater—something beyond mere mortals.

The figure turned away, their cloak billowing. "Find the Vanquished Throne, and you will understand. But be warned—some truths are meant to remain buried."

Before Ling Tian could react, the figure vanished into the mist, leaving only a lingering presence of overwhelming mystery.

Ling Tian stood motionless, his mind a maelstrom of thoughts. The Vanquished Throne? What did it have to do with his clan's disappearance? And who was that stranger?

One thing was certain—his path was no longer just about power. It was about uncovering a hidden past… and a truth that could shake the very foundations of the Myriad Worlds.

---

Ling Tian remained rooted in place, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of what he had just learned. The Ling Clan had been powerful, deeply entrenched in the affairs of the cultivation world. Yet, this stranger claimed that they had been erased from existence itself. Who could wield such power?

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down. There was only one way to confirm the truth: he had to dig deeper. The Vanquished Throne… it was a name he had heard once before, whispered among ancient texts in a forgotten ruin. But he had never paid it much heed—until now.

If this place holds the answers, then I must find it.

Just as he turned to leave the valley, the ground trembled beneath his feet. A low, ominous growl echoed through the mist, and a massive shadow loomed ahead. Emerging from the thick fog was a colossal beast—its body resembling a dragon, but its eyes burned with an eerie, spectral glow.

"A guardian…" Ling Tian muttered, his grip tightening around his sword. "So, it was waiting for me to finish my conversation."

The beast lunged, its claws shimmering with dark energy. Ling Tian's body blurred as he dodged, his dual-colored Qi flaring like a storm. With a flick of his wrist, his sword slashed through the air, releasing a crescent wave of azure and gold energy.

The attack struck the beast's hide, sending it skidding backward, but it did not falter. Instead, it let out another roar, the sound carrying an unnatural resonance—as if the very world itself trembled in response.

Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. This was no ordinary guardian.

A memory stirred in his mind, something he had read long ago: "When one seeks forbidden knowledge, the world itself will send its trials."

Was this one such trial?

If so, then it was a test he would not fail.

Summoning his full strength, Ling Tian channeled his energy into his blade. The air crackled as the power within him surged, his golden-azure aura expanding like a celestial storm. The beast, sensing the impending danger, roared one final time before launching itself at him.

With a single step forward, Ling Tian vanished—only to reappear above the creature, his blade descending with the weight of a thousand mountains.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the valley, the force of his strike splitting the earth. As the dust settled, the beast lay motionless, its form slowly dissipating into wisps of shadow.

Ling Tian exhaled, lowering his sword. The battle had been swift, but it had served its purpose—it confirmed one thing: He was on the right path.

His journey had only just begun, but now he had a true objective. He would seek out the Vanquished Throne, uncover the fate of his clan, and in doing so, grasp the truth that had been hidden from him for so long.

And if the heavens themselves sought to stand in his way?

Then he would shatter them.