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

A cold wind swept through the ruined temple, carrying with it whispers of a time long lost. The air itself seemed to tremble, weighed down by an unseen presence. Ling Tian stood at the heart of the ancient ruins, his gaze sharp as his fingers traced the intricate carvings on the stone altar before him.

Xu Qing'er stood beside him, her ethereal presence somehow harmonizing with the eerie atmosphere. "This place…" she murmured, her golden eyes flickering with unreadable emotions. "It should not exist in this realm."

Ling Tian's brows furrowed. The deeper he delved into the Forsaken Realm, the more he felt something was amiss. The ruins bore a distinct energy, one that resonated with the Vanquished Throne Realm, yet twisted and fragmented—as if part of it had been severed from history itself.

"This altar," Ling Tian said, "it's not just a ruin… it's a seal."

Xu Qing'er's fingers twitched slightly, but she said nothing.

Ling Tian closed his eyes, letting his azure-gold aura surge forth. A faint humming sound filled the air, and in that moment, a series of fragmented memories—not his own—flashed through his mind. He saw visions of an ancient war, shadows clashing against golden light, and a figure clad in celestial robes standing at the precipice of destiny.

His heart pounded. That figure… looked like him.

Before he could process it further, the air around them cracked, and a low, guttural growl echoed through the ruins. From the depths of the crumbling temple, a massive figure emerged—a being cloaked in swirling darkness, its very form shifting like a mirage.

"A Guardian," Xu Qing'er whispered, her voice laced with something close to reverence.

Ling Tian's expression remained calm, but inwardly, he felt the weight of something greater pressing upon him. This Guardian was unlike any he had encountered before. Its presence was not just oppressive—it carried the weight of forgotten eons.

The Guardian's eyes gleamed with flickering silver flames as it spoke in a language long dead. "Bearer of the Fated Path… you should not be here."

The words struck deep, as if resonating with something within Ling Tian's very soul.

"You know me," Ling Tian said, his voice steady.

The Guardian's form wavered, its flames dimming momentarily. "No… I know what you are meant to become."

Ling Tian's azure-gold aura surged involuntarily, and the Guardian took a step back, its once-intimidating presence flickering with uncertainty.

Xu Qing'er turned to Ling Tian, her voice almost too soft to hear. "Do you see now?"

Ling Tian exhaled slowly. He did. The deeper he walked this path, the clearer it became—his existence was never just his own. Something far greater had been set into motion long before he was even aware of it.

He clenched his fists. "Then I'll find out the truth myself."

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, facing the Guardian head-on.

If destiny had already been written… he would carve his own.

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