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

The Moment of Impact

The black sphere hurtled toward Ling Tian like a miniature black hole, twisting the air, devouring everything in its path.

The world shuddered under its might.

Ling Tian didn't hesitate.

His golden spear blazed, radiating an aura so bright that it seemed to push back the darkness itself.

"Let's see whose power reigns supreme!"

With a roar, he thrust his spear forward.

And then—

BOOM!

Golden brilliance clashed against the abyssal void.

The impact was cataclysmic.

The entire battlefield erupted in a blinding explosion of light and shadow.

The ground tore apart. The skies split open.

A shockwave blasted outward, reducing nearby structures into dust.

The Ling Clan disciples, watching from a distance, were thrown off their feet, their ears ringing.

The night sky itself seemed to crack, as if unable to contain the sheer force of the collision.

And at the center of it all—

Two figures stood their ground.

One bathed in divine golden radiance.

The other wreathed in devouring black flames.

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A Draw... Or Not?

Ling Tian's feet dug into the ground, his hands gripping his spear tightly.

His golden aura flickered—dimmed—but did not die.

His opponent?

The man gritted his teeth, his left arm shaking violently, the abyss flame sphere cracked from the impact.

Then—

CRACK!

The sphere shattered, dispersing into nothingness.

A moment of silence.

Then, the man staggered back, blood trickling from the corner of his lips.

For the first time—

His expression showed shock.

"You… destroyed it?"

Ling Tian exhaled, his body aching, but his stance remained strong.

He flicked his spear, shaking off residual energy.

"Looks like your so-called 'forbidden flame' isn't as invincible as you thought."

The man's gaze darkened.

But then—

He smirked.

"Not bad… but let's see how long you can last."

With a snap of his fingers—

His black flames surged again, stronger than before.

Ling Tian's expression hardened.

"He's still standing?"

Even after taking a direct hit, this guy wasn't finished.

And judging by his aura, he was far from done.

---

An Unexpected Change

Suddenly—

A distant bell tolled.

DONG!

The air rippled, as if the entire world had just acknowledged something.

The man's smirk faded.

Then, a voice echoed across the battlefield.

"Enough."

The sheer pressure of the voice was enough to make even Ling Tian's heart tremble.

From the shadows—

A figure descended from the sky, his robe billowing like a sovereign descending from the heavens.

His presence alone made the flames quiver.

Even the man with the forbidden flames stiffened, his expression finally shifting into something else.

Recognition.

And… was that fear?

Ling Tian narrowed his eyes.

"Who… is this?"

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