天命五劫

Ling Tian's hands were still trembling slightly as he clutched the scroll of the Heavenly Craft Manual. The scene before him felt like a nightmare—inescapable and incomprehensible. The writhing golden silkworms and the four characters "Heaven's Five Calamities" echoed in his mind, stirring a deep fear and curiosity within him. The golden silkworms, spewed from his own mouth, formed those very words in the pool of blood, reminding him that his fate was already intricately tied to this place.

Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head. The secret chamber remained dark and empty, save for the strange glass jars embedded in the stone walls. Inside them floated faces identical to his own. His gaze swept across the jars, their inner walls misted over, while the reflections of himself within stared blankly, as if abandoned in the cracks of time, forever unable to return to their original world.

Ling Tian's heart clenched tightly. He knew—none of this was simple. This place had been prepared for him long ago, a trial of fate he could not avoid.

His eyes finally landed on the corpse lying within a crystal coffin. The man wore the official robes of a past dynasty, his frame thin and frail, yet his facial features were still discernible. Most striking of all was the flawless Blood Bodhi embedded in his chest, radiating a crimson glow. Unable to resist, Ling Tian stepped forward, staring at the Blood Bodhi as if it held the key to unraveling all these mysteries.

"Is this my fate?" Ling Tian muttered, his voice trembling. He had a feeling that the Blood Bodhi concealed a great secret, one he had yet to grasp.

As he leaned in to touch the surface of the crystal coffin, a sudden, overwhelming pressure surged toward him, as though an invisible force was preventing him from approaching. Staggering backward, his heartbeat quickened, and cold sweat seeped from his pores. He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to remain calm.

At that moment, he noticed the corpse's left hand gripping a scroll tightly. Almost instinctively, he reached out and took it. The cover of the scroll shimmered faintly, as if reminding him that its contents were closely intertwined with his fate. Carefully, he unwrapped it, feeling an unprecedented mix of anxiety and excitement.

As the scroll unfolded, the first line of text came into view, making Ling Tian's eyes widen in shock:

"The forty-seventh year of Yongchang, the eldest son of the Ling Clan, Huaiyuan, Seventy-ninth Generation Medicine Man."

The words carried an inexplicable force, drawing his attention with an irresistible pull. His mind raced with questions: Why was this history so unfamiliar? Was "Huaiyuan, Eldest Son of the Ling Clan" his ancestor? And what did the "Seventy-ninth Generation Medicine Man" signify?

His fingers trembled as he continued reading. The next passage was clearly inscribed:

"This Blood Bodhi is a relic passed down through the Ling Clan. For a thousand years, it has been safeguarded by generations of Medicine Men. Only those of Ling bloodline may touch it and unlock the seal of Heaven's Five Calamities."

"Heaven's Five Calamities?" A storm raged within Ling Tian's heart. He had never heard of this inheritance before, and this revelation struck him like a bolt of lightning. He could scarcely believe his own eyes. What did these five calamities entail? Were they trials of death, or the key to breaking free from fate?

As he focused intently on the scroll, the Blood Bodhi in the crystal coffin suddenly emitted a blinding light. A powerful force surged forth, enveloping Ling Tian's body and rendering him motionless. His vision blurred, as if he were piercing through the veil of time itself, transported to an era long past.

"You have finally arrived."

A deep, familiar voice resonated in his mind, carrying an aura of authority and ancient wisdom.

Ling Tian's eyes snapped open. The chamber distorted before him, its walls twisting into surreal, overlapping images. He watched in horror as the corpse within the coffin slowly opened its eyes—eyes no longer lifeless, but brimming with vitality.

"Who are you?" Ling Tian's voice quivered with fear and uncertainty. He stumbled backward as though an unseen force had shoved him, his steps unsteady, panic evident in his wide eyes. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hands flailed in the air, desperately seeking something to grasp onto.

"I was once the guardian of the Ling Clan, the Seventieth Generation Medicine Man." The voice echoed again. "Through the vast river of history, you, the seventy-ninth descendant, now bear a great burden. The blood flowing in your veins carries an ancient, mysterious power—an inheritance passed down through generations."

"However, this power is not easily wielded. It is bound by the chains of destiny, restricting its full release and leaving your path shrouded in uncertainty."

"Now, you stand at a crossroads: Will you rely on your wisdom, courage, and unyielding spirit to break free from these shackles? Or will you remain trapped in fate's prison?"

Ling Tian's heart pounded violently as the words "Heaven's Five Calamities" echoed in his mind. He realized—this was no mere coincidence. It was fate's arrangement.

The voice continued, like a solemn toll of a bell:

"You are destined to endure five great tribulations, each a trial of your will and resolve. Your path will be fraught with thorns, hardships that may drive you to despair, a journey paved with blood and tears. Only by overcoming these trials can you truly break free and claim your own destiny. So tell me—are you ready to walk this road of blood and fire?"

Ling Tian's thoughts surged like a raging tide, countless doubts filling his mind. But he knew—there was no point in running away. Since fate had placed this burden upon him, no matter how perilous the road ahead, he had no choice but to face it.

"I will overcome these calamities! No matter how fate has been written, it cannot dictate my path!" Ling Tian gritted his teeth, his expression resolute. His eyes burned with an unyielding determination, piercing through the veil of uncertainty toward an unseen victory. Every word he uttered carried a force so powerful that it seemed to etch itself into his very soul.

The moment his words fell, the Blood Bodhi radiated an even stronger brilliance, and the surrounding air grew heavy. The chamber quaked violently, the ground beneath him fracturing as the entire space spiraled into an unknown vortex. The boundary between light and darkness blurred.

In this boundless void, Ling Tian felt as though he had plunged into an endless abyss, his consciousness growing hazy, like being swallowed by a thick fog. Yet, the voice continued to resonate:

"Five calamities, five trials—only true warriors will carve their path through blood and fire and reach the end!"

The voice, like a divine decree, struck deep into Ling Tian's soul, hammering away at his doubts and hesitation. Though the swirling chaos around him filled him with dread, the unshakable conviction in that voice flowed through him like a vital force, reigniting his resolve.

Tightening his grip on the glowing Heavenly Craft Manual, his fingers turned pale from exertion. His gaze burned with intensity, as if he could see through the mysteries of existence itself.

At that moment, his heart blazed like an unquenchable fire, fueling an unstoppable momentum within him.

"Fate? Hah! I refuse to believe it is dictated by the heavens! The so-called destiny and predestined fate are nothing more than excuses for the weak. I, Ling Tian, will seize control of my own path with my own hands!"

He took a deep breath, his chest swelling with a scorching energy that surged like an untamed inferno, yearning to break free and soar beyond the heavens.

In that instant, he felt transformed. The once insignificant, powerless self was gone. Now, he was a warrior, his soul imbued with unwavering resolve.

No matter how treacherous the road ahead, he would not waver.

As the chamber returned to silence, Ling Tian stood before the crystal coffin, knowing that his fate had already been irrevocably marked.

The path before him was uncertain, but retreat was no longer an option