60. The Echoes of a Forgotten Past

A heavy silence loomed over the temple ruins as Ling Tian's mind churned with the robed figure's cryptic words.

"The Ling Clan… the Forsaken Realm… all of it was orchestrated long before your birth."

The weight of those words pressed against his chest like an unshakable burden. He clenched his fists.

Xu Qing'er watched him with quiet concern. "You won't find the answers by standing here."

Ling Tian exhaled, forcing himself to focus. He was not one to be shaken easily, but the implications of what he had just learned stirred something deep within him—a sense of unease he had not felt in a long time.

"You're right." His voice was steady. "But I don't like being played like a pawn."

Xu Qing'er's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then prove you're not one."

Ling Tian's gaze sharpened. Without another word, he turned away from the ruins, stepping out into the open air. The night sky stretched infinitely above, its vast darkness a reflection of the mysteries he had yet to uncover.

Yet even as he walked away, he could feel something watching him—an unseen force lingering in the air, as if waiting.

---

Somewhere in the Forsaken Realm

Far from Ling Tian's location, a grand hall stood in eerie silence. Statues of long-forgotten deities lined the walls, their faces obscured by time. A figure draped in dark robes knelt before an altar, speaking in hushed whispers.

"He has stepped upon the path."

A deep, ancient voice echoed through the chamber. "And so, the wheels of fate turn once more."

The kneeling figure lowered their head. "He is beginning to understand."

The voice rumbled like distant thunder. "But understanding is not enough. He must remember."

Silence followed. Then, after a long pause, the kneeling figure spoke again.

"The Vanquished Throne… should it be reclaimed?"

A low chuckle filled the air, carrying an unsettling weight. "That is not for us to decide. Destiny will shape itself around him… but whether he accepts it or not is another matter entirely."

The figure bowed deeper. "Then we shall watch… and wait."

---

Back to Ling Tian

As they journeyed through the Forsaken Realm, Ling Tian and Xu Qing'er moved in silence. The land around them was vast and desolate, its barren landscape marked by remnants of an era long past.

Xu Qing'er suddenly stopped. "We're being followed."

Ling Tian's eyes flickered with cold light. "I know."

The air grew heavy. From the shadows, figures emerged—three men clad in assassin garb, their auras concealed with expert precision.

One of them stepped forward, his voice calm yet laced with danger. "Ling Tian… you should not have come here."

Ling Tian's expression remained impassive. "And yet, here I am."

The assassin's gaze darkened. "Then you leave us no choice."

In an instant, the three assassins lunged.

Clang!

Ling Tian's sword met their blades with blinding speed. Sparks flew as he countered their attacks, his movements precise and deadly.

Xu Qing'er moved as well, her delicate hands weaving through the air as ethereal energy formed around her. A soft glow surrounded her fingertips before she unleashed a wave of force that sent one of the assassins crashing into the ground.

Ling Tian didn't waste time. With a swift motion, he twisted his blade, cutting through the second assassin's defenses. Blood splattered across the cold earth as his opponent fell.

The last assassin hesitated, realizing the odds were against him. He turned to flee—but Ling Tian was faster.

Boom!

A golden aura erupted from his body. In a single step, he closed the distance, his blade slicing cleanly through the air. The assassin barely had time to react before his body went still, a single line appearing across his throat.

He fell.

Silence returned.

Xu Qing'er let out a soft breath, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "They weren't ordinary assassins."

Ling Tian wiped his blade clean. "No. Someone sent them specifically for me."

Xu Qing'er's expression grew serious. "Then whoever's watching… is growing impatient."

Ling Tian gazed at the distant horizon. The Forsaken Realm was proving to be more than just a land of trials—it was a land of buried truths, waiting to be unearthed.

And he was getting closer.

One step at a time.

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