Library of Heaven’s Path 2: Eternal Destiny

Vol 2 Chapter 123: Peeping into Destiny

After being stabbed by the sword, Luo Ruoxi's face turned deathly pale, and she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Her body, weak to the extreme, swayed involuntarily before collapsing to the ground.

“Die!”

Seeing her in such a state, the black-clad assailants surged forward simultaneously, their blades and swords creating a deadly web of energy. At any moment, his wife, who had accompanied him into the Source World, could be slain right before his eyes!

“Ruoxi!”

With bloodshot eyes, Zhang Xuan flickered into place. Using two fingers as a sword, he lunged at one of the black-clad figures.

As the Heaven’s Fate trembled, a surge of energy flowed through his meridians into his palm. Just as he was about to strike, his body unexpectedly staggered, and he inadvertently stumbled straight into the shadowy figure.

Surprisingly, the enemy’s fierce moves had no effect on him at all, as if they were not even in the same dimension or space-time.

“This…”

Swish!

The small courtyard vanished, Luo Ruoxi disappeared, and the black-clad figures were no more. All that remained was Zhang Xuan, flailing as he continued choking on the water of the River of Destiny.

He quickly held his breath and struggled to surface. As he broke free, he saw the Source Hall Master standing nearby with a puzzled expression, seemingly in disbelief.

“You broke free this quickly?”

The Hall Master’s face showed slight approval. Entering the River of Destiny usually meant being ensnared by fate, unable to extricate oneself. For Zhang Xuan to regain clarity and escape so swiftly, even if his talent wasn’t remarkable, his mental fortitude was unquestionably superior.

Realizing this, the Hall Master’s expression softened, though his gaze remained cold.

“Senior, what exactly is going on?” Zhang Xuan asked, unaware of the Hall Master’s changing thoughts.

“Step out first, and I’ll explain!”

With a light gesture, the Hall Master pulled Zhang Xuan out of the river. As he emerged, Zhang Xuan felt a weight lift from his entire body.

Though the flow in Luo Ruoxi’s River of Destiny wasn’t particularly strong, it still left him with a profound sense of powerlessness.

“This is the art of glimpsing fate,” the Hall Master explained without reservation.

“Glimpsing fate?” Zhang Xuan was filled with doubt.

The Hall Master nodded. “Everyone has their own destiny. By identifying its trajectory, one can observe it. For instance, ordinary people can easily predict the future of someone lazy and idle or someone who works hard and studies diligently. It’s a natural rule.

“For the strong, it goes further. They can project their consciousness into the grand waves of the River of Destiny and glimpse significant events that have yet to occur!”

“So, our position in the river represents the present, the front represents the future, and behind us is the past?” Zhang Xuan asked in shock.

“Precisely!”

The Hall Master nodded. “The River of Destiny, like the River of Time, consists of the past, the present, and the future. But it can only be observed, not altered. What you saw earlier was a scene I deduced by intertwining her fate with yours. It is a future that is certain to occur.”

“Certain to occur?” Zhang Xuan’s face turned grim.

“The River of Destiny, no matter how winding or turbulent, always flows toward a predetermined destination, much like how every river eventually empties into the sea,” the Hall Master explained. “This is its endpoint. But along the way, countless changes can occur. When you entered the river earlier, you disrupted its natural flow, creating a significant obstacle. This led her River of Destiny to deviate from the Source. Even if I wanted to help, there was nothing I could do. However, if she follows my guidance…”

With a wave of his hand, the Hall Master merged Luo Ruoxi’s river back into the grand flow of the main river. Instantly, it was as though a dragon had returned to the sea, free and unrestrained.

“Streams returning to the river, no matter the waves, cannot alter its ultimate course,” the Hall Master elaborated.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

How do you keep a drop of water from drying up? The answer: merge it into the ocean.

Streams are the same. In their isolated weakness, a single rock or bump can leave them parched. But once they join a mighty river, no matter the heat or obstacles, they will eventually reach the sea.

“Your talent and cultivation are too weak. Entangling her fate will only lead her to lose herself and fall into an irrecoverable situation,” the Hall Master said. “Enough! I’ve said my piece. You’ve seen the disparity between you two. If you continue this entanglement, even if it means Ruoxi despising me, I will personally end your life. The Heaven’s Fate of the Source must remain flawless and safe. You are simply unworthy of being involved with her!”

Had it been anyone else, he wouldn’t have wasted so much time. But Zhang Xuan was the husband of his dear disciple. The fact that he restrained his fury and explained so much was a testament to his tolerance.

“Worthy or not, time will tell…” Zhang Xuan’s gaze revealed no fear.

Before he could say more, the Hall Master waved his hand.

Zhang Xuan felt the world spin. The River of Destiny vanished, and he was back in the courtyard.

As he left, the Sage of Space-Time appeared before the Hall Master. “You allowed him to glimpse the future?”

The Hall Master nodded. “Yes. I quietly observed his fate. He’s entangled in countless tributaries of karma, all reaching deep into the heart of destiny. Such a web of connections ensures that he will be burdened by causality, unable to achieve great success. If Luo Ruoxi and Luo Qiqi remain entangled with him, they may also be dragged into the abyss!”

The Sage of Space-Time nodded solemnly.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Do you think… those tributaries might serve as his strength instead?” he asked thoughtfully.

“Tributaries?” The Hall Master sneered. “For tributaries to become beneficial to Ruoxi or Qiqi, they would need to connect to a Tier-3 or even Tier-2 Fate. Do you really think a small-town nobody like him can have connections to such figures? Dream on!”

“True.”

The Sage of Space-Time chuckled, realizing the absurdity of the notion.

With that, the two tore open a space rift and returned to the main hall of the Wanchang Gate.

When the spatial barrier was lifted, Luo Ruoxi and Luo Qiqi hurried over, their faces full of concern. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Zhang Xuan reassured them with a shake of his head.

“Zhang Shi, we won’t leave you. Forget about powerful fates or formidable talents. As long as we’re with you, nothing else matters!” Luo Qiqi said resolutely.

“Exactly. No matter how strong they are, as long as you’re here, the world is complete. Without you, what’s the point of any cultivation?” Luo Ruoxi agreed firmly.

“Don’t be foolish. Staying with these two seniors to cultivate is a great opportunity for you…”

Cutting them off, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

Though he was constantly belittled, he had to admit there was some truth in their words. If his troubles endangered Luo Ruoxi or Luo Qiqi, he would never forgive himself.

“But—”

“No buts. If you want to help me, then grow stronger. Only when you’re powerful enough will no one be able to stop us!” Zhang Xuan transmitted telepathically.

The two women exchanged a glance before nodding.

Having journeyed from the Master Teacher Continent to now, they understood this truth well.

“Alright, I’ll leave with you. As for Zhang Xuan, unless his cultivation improves, we won’t meet again. This way, he won’t be affected…” Luo Ruoxi said, addressing the Hall Master.

“I feel the same as Luo Shi.” Luo Qiqi nodded.

“Good!”

The Hall Master and Sage of Space-Time exchanged relieved looks.

Their greatest fear was the women insisting on taking Zhang Xuan along. Now that the issue was resolved, it was a relief.

“Today’s events must remain unknown. Forget about it!”

With a wave of his hand, the Hall Master unleashed a ripple of light that spread outward.

To prevent future troubles, he intended to erase the memory of those present.

But just as the ripple reached Xiao Huangji, it dissipated. A calm voice sounded. “Apologies, Hall Master. My disciple’s memories are not yours to erase.”

It was Longevity Supreme.

Moments later, the other experts also intervened, shielding their disciples and dissipating the memory-erasing ripple.

“Wait… all of them are your disciples?” the Hall Master asked, bewildered.

“Yes.”

“And how are they all here?”

Longevity Supreme smiled. “Because they are Zhang Xuan’s students… oh, and his beast companions—one’s his pet, and the other is his steed.”

“???”

Both the Hall Master and Sage

Author's Note