ArcaneChronicles

In a world where cultivation determines one’s fate, Wang Shi, the son of the late empress, lives in the shadow of a tragic past. A novice in the art of cultivation, he struggles to find his place amidst the weight of his lineage and the secrets surrounding his mother’s death. When an assassination attempt nearly claims his life, he is saved by Bai Lu, a powerful yet enigmatic cultivator who seems to know more about him than she lets on.

Bai Lu is not just a savior—she is a guide, one with her own secrets. As she trains Wang Shi, she reveals the hidden forces shaping the world, forces that threaten to consume him if he remains weak. But when she is suddenly called away to face an unknown danger, Wang Shi is left alone to forge his own path.

As the past resurfaces and ancient powers stir, Wang Shi must decide—will he remain in the shadows of his lineage, or will he rise to meet the destiny that awaits him?

In this tale of cultivation, fate, and romance, secrets unravel, bonds are tested, and a forgotten legacy begins to awaken.

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Fated Beneath The Heavens

Bai Lu studied the man before her, searching for any sign of deception. His breathing was uneven, his hands still trembling, but his fear seemed genuine.

"Start from the beginning," she ordered.

The man hesitated, glancing around as if afraid they were being watched. "My master was a scholar, researching ancient seals and formations. He believed there were forces within the empire that wanted to control them." His voice dropped to a whisper. "A few nights ago, he vanished. No sign of struggle, no warning. Just… gone."

Bai Lu's grip tightened on her sword. "And you think the ones who took him came here?"

The young man nodded. "I tracked them. I—I'm not skilled, but I found traces of their movement leading to this place." His eyes darted toward the faded inscriptions on the rocks. "Master always said the old barriers were meant to keep something locked away. If they're failing, then—" He swallowed hard. "They must be trying to harness whatever's inside."

Bai Lu's mind worked quickly, connecting the pieces.

A hidden faction within the court. The tampering with ancient forces. The missing scholar.

She turned back to the ruined markings, running her fingers over the carvings. The energy within them was weak, but it had not been entirely drained. Which meant—

"Whoever did this is still testing their methods," she murmured. "They haven't succeeded yet."

The man looked at her with wide, desperate eyes. "Then my master might still be alive?"

Bai Lu didn't answer immediately. There were too many unknowns. But she had seen what happened to those who delved too deeply into things they did not understand.

She sheathed her sword. "Show me where you last saw them."

Relief flickered across his face, and he nodded quickly, leading her through the underbrush. They moved carefully, following faint disturbances in the dirt—footsteps, broken twigs, subtle signs of passage.

The path led them to a ridge overlooking a valley, where the remains of a collapsed shrine stood. Bai Lu narrowed her eyes.

This was not just a site of interest. This was an excavation.

Shattered stone lay strewn across the ground, and beneath it, she spotted something far more concerning—ritual markings, freshly etched into the earth.

This wasn't just research. This was preparation.

Her pulse quickened. If the seal was truly failing, then whatever they were after was close to breaking free.

Turning to the young man, she said, "Go back. Tell no one you were here."

His eyes widened in alarm. "But—"

"This isn't something you can fight," she cut him off. "If your master is alive, I'll find him."

Before he could protest further, she stepped forward, descending toward the ruins. Every instinct told her that she was walking into something far more dangerous than she had anticipated.

She had to stop this before it was too late.

The sun had begun its descent when Wang Shi finally broke from his training. His connection to spiritual energy had grown steadier, but Bai Lu had yet to return, and unease had begun to settle in his chest.

Then, as if fate itself sought to confirm his worries, he felt it—a shift in the air, subtle but unmistakable.

And he had the feeling that whatever it was, he wouldn't have the luxury of waiting any longer.

The Hidden Hand