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Threads of Eternity

In a world where fate is woven by celestial threads, Lin Xuan is nothing more than an ordinary outer disciple of the Azure Sky Sect, ridiculed and overlooked. His future seems set in stone: a path of mediocrity and failure. But everything changes when he discovers a mysterious artifact — the Eternal Loom System. This system doesn't just grant him knowledge of a single future; it reveals a tapestry of endless possibilities, each thread representing a different destiny. With the power to analyze and weave the threads of fate, Lin Xuan can alter the course of his life and the lives of those around him. Every decision reshapes reality, but every change comes with a cost. As powerful sects, deadly cultivators, and ancient guardians of fate close in, Lin Xuan must tread carefully. The more he manipulates the threads, the more unstable the fabric of reality becomes. To rise above his destiny and forge his own path, Lin Xuan must master the Eternal Loom before the threads of fate unravel completely. In a world where destiny is a prison, can he break free, or will he be bound by the very threads he seeks to control?

Deeeeezznuts1 · Fantasia
Classificações insuficientes
21 Chs

Chapter 20: A Dance of Blades

The clang of steel reverberated through the air as Lin Xuan's practice sword clashed with Han Xu's. The impact sent vibrations up his arms, but he held firm. The exhaustion that had weighed on him moments before faded into the background. Now, there was only the fight.

Han Xu's eyes were calm, his expression serene, but his blade moved with the precision of a master. Each strike was deliberate, measured — a blend of offense and defense that left no openings. Lin Xuan circled him, his breath controlled, his muscles coiled like a spring.

The world seemed to shrink until it was just the two of them, the space between their blades a battlefield all its own.

Han Xu shifted his stance slightly, his blade rising in a high guard. The threads of fate shimmered faintly at the edge of Lin Xuan's mind, showing him flashes of possible outcomes. He pushed them aside. This fight was about more than prediction; it was about trust — in his instincts, in his training, in himself.

Han Xu struck, his blade a blur of silver. Lin Xuan stepped back, the tip of the sword slicing the air inches from his chest. He parried the next strike, steel scraping against steel, sparks dancing in the morning light.

"You're holding back," Han Xu said softly, his voice almost lost in the clash of their blades. "Why?"

Lin Xuan gritted his teeth, the cold energy inside him pulsing. He knew what Han Xu meant. The fragment of power he'd absorbed — the cold, untamed force — lay just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed. But fear held him back. Fear of losing control. Fear of what it might cost him.

"Strength unused is strength wasted," Han Xu continued, his eyes narrowing. "Show me everything you have."

With a sudden burst of speed, Han Xu pressed forward, his strikes faster, sharper. Lin Xuan struggled to keep up, his arms burning with the effort. His defense began to falter, the relentless pressure driving him back.

A sharp pain exploded in his side as Han Xu's blade slipped through his guard, tapping his ribs. He stumbled, frustration boiling inside him.

Why am I holding back? The words echoed in his mind, a bitter truth.

He clenched his jaw, feeling the cold energy flare within him. The woman's warning drifted back to him — "Do not let ambition blind you…" — but he realized now that caution could be just as blinding. This power was his. He had to master it, not fear it.

Lin Xuan took a deep breath, letting the cold energy seep through his veins. A chill spread across his body, sharpening his senses. The ache in his muscles dulled, replaced by a crystalline focus. The world around him grew sharper, the edges clearer.

Han Xu's eyes flickered with surprise. "Finally."

Lin Xuan's grip on his sword steadied. The cold energy thrummed within him, not wild and untamed, but a blade honed to perfection. He met Han Xu's gaze, his voice calm. "Let's finish this."

Han Xu smiled faintly. "As you wish."

He lunged, his blade a silver arc of death. But this time, Lin Xuan moved with him, their motions synchronized like two dancers. He deflected Han Xu's strike with a flick of his wrist, stepping in close, his sword a blur of motion.

Their blades clashed again and again, the rhythm of the fight like a heartbeat. Lin Xuan saw the openings now — subtle shifts in Han Xu's stance, brief hesitations in his movements. He didn't need to rely on the threads of fate. He felt the flow of the battle, his body responding with a clarity he'd never known.

He sidestepped a thrust, his blade snapping out to tap Han Xu's shoulder.

"Point to Lin Xuan!" Li Feng's voice rang out, but Lin Xuan barely registered it. He was lost in the fight, the thrill of pushing his limits, of becoming more than he'd been moments before.

Han Xu stepped back, his breath coming fast. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and nodded. "You've grown, Lin Xuan. That was a fight worth having."

Lin Xuan bowed, respect shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Han Xu."

Li Feng stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the assembled disciples. "That's enough for today. You've all done well." He turned to Lin Xuan, his eyes glinting with approval. "You've proven you can adapt. But the real test is still to come. The Sect Tournament won't be so forgiving."

Lin Xuan nodded, determination hardening in his chest. "I'll be ready."

The other disciples dispersed, murmuring among themselves, but Lin Xuan stood still, the chill of the cold energy still thrumming within him. It was no longer an alien force. It was a part of him now — a tool he would wield, a strength he would master.

Yu Lan approached, her eyes shining with pride. "That was incredible, Lin Xuan! I knew you had it in you."

He smiled, the weight of doubt finally lifting from his shoulders. "I'm just getting started."

As the sun rose higher, bathing the Azure Sky Sect in golden light, Lin Xuan felt a renewed sense of purpose. The path ahead was filled with challenges, but he was no longer afraid.

The threads of fate twisted and turned, but he would walk them all.

He was ready for whatever came next.