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

A chilling wind swept across the mountain peaks, carrying with it an eerie silence. Ling Tian stood with his arms crossed, his Azure-Gold aura flickering like an ethereal flame. His gaze was fixed upon Xu Qing'er, who had just addressed him as "Master." A flicker of doubt passed through his sharp eyes.

Xu Qing'er lowered her head slightly, her usually calm demeanor replaced by a trace of hesitation. She hadn't meant to say it—no, it was as if something deep within her had compelled her to. The moment Ling Tian's aura flared, a wave of inexplicable familiarity washed over her, and the words had slipped out.

Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. "You called me Master just now… why?"

Xu Qing'er bit her lip, as if struggling against something. Her body trembled slightly before she exhaled a long breath. "I… I don't know. It felt… natural."

Ling Tian's gaze deepened, his mind whirring with thoughts. This was no mere slip of the tongue. Something was guiding her actions, something he had yet to uncover.

Just then, an oppressive force swept across the land. The sky darkened, as if a colossal being had cast its shadow over the entire mountain range. A powerful ripple in space distorted reality itself.

"Someone's here," Ling Tian muttered, his voice cold as steel.

Xu Qing'er instinctively stepped closer to him, her body tensed for battle. Ling Tian extended a hand, motioning for her to stay behind him. His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as a figure emerged from the swirling void.

A man in dark robes materialized before them. His presence alone caused the air to vibrate violently. His eyes gleamed with an unfathomable depth, as though he had peered beyond the fabric of existence itself.

Ling Tian's expression remained indifferent, but inwardly, he assessed the man's cultivation level. Vanquished Throne Realm.

'A foe at this level...' Ling Tian's thoughts sharpened. His body still carried the scars of his last battle, but retreat was never an option.

The robed man studied Ling Tian for a long moment before speaking. "You… should not exist."

Ling Tian's brows twitched slightly. "Oh? And who decided that?"

"The ones who govern fate," the man responded. "The moment your aura changed, the balance was disturbed. The Vanquished Throne will not allow your path to continue."

Xu Qing'er's breath hitched. The Vanquished Throne… That name again. Her fingers curled slightly. Somehow, she knew it was tied to her past—tied to Ling Tian.

Ling Tian let out a cold chuckle. "Fate? Balance? Since when did I need permission to exist?"

The dark-robed man exhaled sharply. "It is not a matter of permission. It is a matter of inevitability. The Ling Clan was erased because they were a loose end… just like you."

Ling Tian's heart clenched. His mind immediately raced through every possibility. The Ling Clan's sudden disappearance had always troubled him, but hearing this man speak of it so casually made his blood boil.

"You know what happened to my clan." His voice was devoid of emotion, yet the space around him trembled with killing intent.

The man smirked. "Perhaps. But I am not here to answer your questions." He raised a hand, and the entire mountain trembled. A vortex of energy coalesced around him, forming an immense pressure that bore down on Ling Tian and Xu Qing'er.

Ling Tian's sword hummed with anticipation, his Azure-Gold aura surging. He stepped forward, ready to face this so-called agent of fate.

Xu Qing'er, however, suddenly grabbed his sleeve. "Wait."

Ling Tian glanced at her. There was something in her eyes—something distant, as though she were recalling a memory not her own. Her fingers tightened. "There is… another way."

The dark-robed man's smirk faded, and for the first time, a trace of uncertainty flickered across his face.

"You remember…" he murmured.

Xu Qing'er's grip on Ling Tian tightened further. She could not explain it, but an ancient voice echoed in the depths of her soul, whispering truths that had been buried for an eternity.

Ling Tian exhaled slowly. "Speak."

Her gaze lifted to meet his. "This is not the first time this has happened."

The robed man frowned. "Do not speak of what you do not understand, girl."

Xu Qing'er ignored him, her focus solely on Ling Tian. "This—this confrontation… you, me, him—it has all happened before. Many times."

Ling Tian's fingers tightened around his sword. Déjà vu. A sense of familiarity he had always ignored, always dismissed, now clawing its way to the surface.

The robed man took a step forward, his aura surging. "Enough. I will sever this cycle."

Ling Tian reacted instantly. His blade slashed forward, cutting through the void itself. The dark-robed man dodged, but Ling Tian was already moving, his Azure-Gold aura expanding like a celestial storm.

Xu Qing'er closed her eyes. That voice inside her—was it a memory? A prophecy? Or something else entirely?

"Ling Tian…" she whispered. "Be careful. This battle… it won't end the way you think."

Ling Tian's gaze flickered toward her for the briefest moment before returning to his opponent. "I never expect easy endings."

With that, the battle erupted, shaking the heavens and the earth.

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