59. Shattered Veil of Truth

A heavy silence filled the air as Ling Tian stood motionless, his sharp gaze locked onto the ominous temple ruins ahead. The lingering remnants of ancient energy pulsed through the air, whispering secrets long buried beneath time. Xu Qing'er stood beside him, her ethereal beauty accentuated by the dim glow of the temple's inscriptions.

"This place… doesn't feel right." Xu Qing'er's soft voice carried a weight of uncertainty.

Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. His azure-gold aura flickered slightly, reacting to something within the ruins. His instincts screamed at him—this place was far from ordinary. The structure was old, much older than anything that should have existed in the Forsaken Realm.

As he took a step forward, the ground beneath him trembled. A subtle force tried to repel him, yet it was too weak to stop him. He raised his palm, channeling his energy into the barrier surrounding the entrance.

Boom!

A pulse of energy shot out, sending cracks across the invisible force sealing the temple. The resistance faded, allowing Ling Tian to enter.

Inside, the air grew thick with the scent of decay and something else—something ancient. Symbols of forgotten origins covered the walls, their glow pulsating like a beating heart. At the very center of the chamber lay a colossal stone tablet, broken into fragments.

Ling Tian's gaze sharpened. He approached the shattered relic, running his fingers across its surface. Despite the destruction, faint inscriptions remained visible. His mind worked quickly, deciphering the fragmented script.

"…He who vanquishes the Throne… shall bear the weight of fate…"

His pupils contracted. The Vanquished Throne. This wasn't the first time he had encountered its mention, but why here?

Xu Qing'er touched the stone gently, her expression unreadable. "It's connected to you."

He turned to her, eyes dark. "You know something."

Xu Qing'er hesitated, then nodded. "Not everything. But this temple wasn't built by the Forsaken Realm's inhabitants. It was placed here… deliberately."

Ling Tian clenched his fists. Someone had left this place as a clue—no, as a warning. But for whom? His connection to the Vanquished Throne was still shrouded in mystery, and now, the pieces were coming together, albeit too slowly.

A sudden shift in energy made both of them turn.

Boom!

The temple's entrance collapsed. The air grew thick with killing intent. From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in dark robes, their aura sharp and suffocating.

"I was wondering when you'd arrive, Ling Tian."

Ling Tian's eyes turned cold. "Who are you?"

The figure chuckled, his voice carrying an eerie familiarity. "A shadow of the past. A remnant of a forgotten truth."

With a flick of his wrist, the enemy launched an attack. Black energy streaked across the air, aiming straight for Ling Tian's heart.

Clang!

Ling Tian's Azure-Gold sword met the attack head-on, dispersing the dark energy. His gaze remained steady. "You speak in riddles, yet your intent is clear."

The robed figure smirked. "You stand on the precipice of the truth, yet you refuse to see it. The Ling Clan… the Forsaken Realm… all of it was orchestrated long before your birth."

A flash of killing intent surged through Ling Tian. His grip tightened around his sword. "What do you mean?"

The figure only laughed. "You'll understand soon enough. But not today."

Dark energy swirled, consuming the figure before Ling Tian could strike. The enemy had retreated—but not before leaving more unanswered questions.

Ling Tian exhaled sharply. He had expected this journey to be difficult, but the more he uncovered, the more convoluted everything became.

Xu Qing'er stepped closer, her voice gentle yet firm. "You can't fight the truth, Ling Tian. You can only embrace it."

His expression remained unreadable as he turned to face her. "Then I'll carve my own path through it."

As the remnants of the temple trembled around them, Ling Tian knew one thing for certain—the Vanquished Throne was not just a legend. It was real. And his fate was tied to it in ways he could no longer ignore.

The veil of truth had been shattered, but what lay beyond it remained to be seen.

---