53. The Path of No Return
The wind howled across the wasteland, carrying with it the weight of the revelation Ling Tian had just experienced. His breathing was steady, but within his heart, a storm raged.
Xu Qing'er observed him carefully. She had seen many expressions on his face—determination, ruthlessness, even rare moments of warmth.
But this…
This was something else entirely.
Ling Tian's aura surged, the azure-gold light around him pulsing with an intensity that made even space itself tremble. His mind was clear now—his father had sealed away the Ling Clan to protect them.
But from what?
And where were they now?
The answer lay within the Vanquished Throne.
He clenched his fists.
No matter what stood in his way, he would uncover the truth.
---
A New Journey Begins
"Where do we go next?" Bai Xue asked, breaking the silence.
Ling Tian's gaze was sharp. "To the depths of the Abyssal Ruins. The answers I seek… are there."
Xu Qing'er flinched. "You want to enter the Abyssal Ruins? Do you have any idea what lurks there?"
"I don't care," Ling Tian replied coldly. "If that's where the truth is buried, then that's where I'll go."
Xu Qing'er bit her lip, but in the end, she said nothing.
She had already seen that look in his eyes.
There was no stopping him now.
---
The Abyssal Ruins
Two days later, Ling Tian and his group stood before the Abyssal Ruins—a place where even the bravest cultivators feared to tread.
Dark, swirling mist rose from the entrance, distorting reality itself. Faint whispers could be heard—ghostly voices, remnants of souls that had perished within.
The ruins were rumored to be the resting place of a forgotten civilization, one that had mysteriously vanished overnight.
Much like the Ling Clan.
Ling Tian stepped forward.
The moment he crossed the threshold, a terrifying pressure descended upon him.
It was as if the weight of countless lifetimes was pressing down on his soul.
Yet, he did not stop.
One step.
Then another.
Behind him, Bai Xue and the others struggled to follow, but even their powerful cultivation realms couldn't fully resist the overwhelming force within these ruins.
"This place… is cursed," Bai Xue murmured, her face pale.
Xu Qing'er nodded grimly. "It's not just cursed. It's… watching us."
Ling Tian didn't respond.
He had already sensed it.
There was something here, something ancient and malevolent.
And it was waiting for him.
---
The Guardian of the Ruins
As they ventured deeper, the surroundings shifted. Crumbling stone walls gave way to a vast underground palace, its halls lined with enormous pillars carved with celestial runes.
And at the center of it all…
A throne stood in eerie silence.
It was old, cracked with time, yet a lingering divine presence still radiated from it.
Ling Tian stepped forward, his heart pounding.
But the moment his foot touched the first step leading to the throne, a shadow materialized before him.
A towering figure draped in black armor, its face obscured beneath a dark hood.
"Turn back," the figure intoned, its voice reverberating through the chamber.
Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
"I am the Guardian of the Forgotten, the last will of a world that no longer exists."
A gust of wind howled through the ruins, carrying a chilling whisper.
"Those who seek the truth must be prepared to pay the price."
Ling Tian's expression remained unreadable.
"I have already lost too much to turn back now," he said coldly. "If there is a price to be paid, then I'll pay it."
The Guardian studied him for a long moment before sighing.
"Then prove yourself, Sovereign of Two Fates."
And with those words, it attacked.
---
A Battle of Fate
The Guardian moved faster than the eye could follow. One moment it was standing before the throne, the next it was right in front of Ling Tian, a massive spear of obsidian plunging toward his chest.
BOOM!
Ling Tian barely had time to react, twisting his body to dodge. Even so, the spear grazed his side, leaving a deep gash.
Pain flared, but he ignored it.
With a flick of his wrist, his Azure-Gold Sword Aura burst forth, slashing at the Guardian in a blinding arc.
Yet—
The Guardian did not retreat.
Instead, it caught the sword aura with its bare hands and crushed it.
Ling Tian's eyes darkened.
This was no ordinary opponent.
This was a test.
A test of his fate.
A test of his destiny.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"Very well," he thought. "Let's see if you can stop me."
With a deep breath, he unleashed his full power.
---
Breaking the Chains of the Past
The battle raged across the ruins. The very foundations of the underground palace trembled under the force of their clashes.
Ling Tian moved like a phantom, his attacks precise and ruthless.
Yet the Guardian was relentless, countering every strike with an unshakable resolve.
But Ling Tian wasn't the same man he once was.
He had survived the Forsaken Realm.
He had shattered Heavenly Tribulations.
He had walked the path of death and returned stronger.
And now…
He would not lose.
He could not lose.
As the Guardian lunged forward for one final strike, Ling Tian's entire being erupted in blinding light.
His azure-gold aura condensed into a single, devastating blow.
"Sovereign's Final Judgment!"
BOOM!!!
The attack tore through the Guardian's defenses, sending cracks through its armored body.
It staggered.
Then—
With one last, haunting gaze—
It shattered into dust.
The battle was over.
And in the silence that followed, a single voice echoed through the ruins.
"You have passed the trial… Sovereign of Two Fates… The truth now belongs to you."
Ling Tian exhaled, his body trembling.
And before him—
The Vanquished Throne began to glow.
A new chapter of his journey had begun.
---