93. The Looming Shadow of Fate

The battlefield had long fallen silent, but the words of the mysterious figure echoed in Ling Tian's mind like an unshakable curse.

Heaven's Forsaken Child… Seek the Forgotten Realm… The truth awaits…

Standing amidst the remnants of the Forsaken Path's fallen assassins, Ling Tian clenched his fists. The golden qi around him fluctuated violently before retracting into his body. His expression was unreadable, his mind lost in deep thought.

Xu Qing'er watched him quietly. She had never seen him this contemplative before—not even in the face of life-and-death battles.

"What will you do?" she finally asked.

Ling Tian exhaled, his eyes regaining their usual sharpness. "We're not ready yet."

"The Forgotten Realm?"

He nodded. "Whatever it is, it won't reveal itself easily. But if that man truly wished to kill me, he would have done so already. This was merely a warning… or an invitation."

Xu Qing'er frowned. "And you plan to accept it?"

"Eventually," he admitted. "But first, we have unfinished business."

His gaze shifted towards the northern horizon, where the vast forces of the Nightshade Clan were gathering. They had made a temporary retreat, but their presence had not disappeared. The Forsaken Path's sudden ambush had merely been a prelude—an attempt to weaken him before the real battle began.

And Ling Tian had no intention of allowing them to dictate the course of war.

Xu Qing'er followed his gaze and nodded. "Then let's not waste time."

The two figures disappeared into the night, their destination clear.

---

Nightshade Clan's War Camp

Within the heart of the Nightshade Clan's vast encampment, an oppressive aura lingered. Towering black banners fluttered in the wind, their sigils representing an ancient lineage of assassins, mercenaries, and warlords who had long thrived in the shadows.

Inside the largest tent, a gathering of formidable figures sat in a tense silence.

At the center was a tall, imposing man clad in intricate dark robes. His eyes gleamed like obsidian, filled with unfathomable depth. This was Nightshade Xian, the acting patriarch of the clan and one of the most ruthless tacticians of his time.

Beside him sat a veiled woman, her presence cold and detached. She exuded a mysterious energy—one that felt eerily similar to the Forsaken Path's assassins.

"The Forsaken Path failed," Nightshade Xian stated, his voice calm despite the heavy implications.

The veiled woman chuckled softly. "Did you expect otherwise? Ling Tian is not a man who can be brought down so easily."

Nightshade Xian's expression darkened. "Then our plans must change. The war must begin sooner."

A deep voice rumbled from the shadows. "And if he survives?"

Nightshade Xian's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "Then we will make him wish he hadn't."

---

Ling Tian's Approach

A few hours later, under the cover of darkness, Ling Tian and Xu Qing'er arrived at the outskirts of the Nightshade Clan's encampment. From a distant vantage point, they observed the gathering forces—thousands of warriors, assassins, and cultivators standing ready for war.

Xu Qing'er's eyes narrowed. "They're moving sooner than expected."

Ling Tian smirked. "Good. Saves us the trouble of hunting them down."

She shot him a sideways glance. "You sound like you're enjoying this."

"I am." His golden eyes glowed faintly. "Because this time, we strike first."

Xu Qing'er smiled. "Then let's begin."

And with that, the first step of their counteroffensive was set into motion.

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