A Gamble with Destiny

Deep within an underground cavern, Long Chen and Yue Xiaoqian, along with their comrades, were taking a much-needed respite. This battle had cost Long Chen everything—every ounce of strength, every hidden trump card.

Bing Yi was too powerful. Her presence alone had sent a deep sense of crisis surging through Long Chen's heart. And from that old man’s words, he had learned a chilling truth—there were still two others in the Tianyu Battlefield as terrifying as Bing Yi, two more Nine Star Heirs of equal caliber.

His victory over Bing Yi had been anything but easy. It wasn’t sheer strength that won the battle—it was precision, calculation, and a deep understanding of her thoughts and tendencies.

Of course, this victory had also required Bing Yi’s arrogance. Her own conceit had played right into Long Chen’s hands.

This was the perfect example of the wolf in sheep’s clothing. If Bing Yi had known Long Chen’s true strength from the start, defeating her would have been a near-impossible task, let alone killing her.

Long Chen sat cross-legged in midair, surrounded by Yue Xiaoqian, Fei Shuang, and a group of core warriors. They, too, were absorbing and refining the blessings of their ancestors.

Beyond them, the warriors of the Primordial Demon Clan stood on high alert. Even with Evilmoon’s barrier in place, they dared not relax their vigilance in the slightest.

Their encounters with Long Chen had shown them what true power really was. Two back-to-back battles had hammered home a brutal reality—on this perilous battlefield, even someone as monstrous as Long Chen could fall at any moment. The looming threat of death sharpened their senses to the extreme.

A Sacred Awakening

Three days later, a radiant glow erupted from Yue Xiaoqian’s forehead. The sacred "Demon" rune had fully formed.

Fei Shuang gasped, her voice trembling with excitement. "Saintess… your True Name Rune has finally been completed!"

Golden divine light flowed within the rune, exuding a boundless, sacred might.

The warriors of the Primordial Demon Clan basked in its radiance, their spirits soaring as if an ancient power within them was awakening. One by one, their own forehead runes flickered to life, shimmering with distinct divine hues—some gentle, some fierce, some profound, and some wild.

This was Yue Xiaoqian’s blessing. She had used the lingering power of her awakening to share her enlightenment with them, a rare and invaluable opportunity.

An hour later, the sacred glow finally faded. But at that moment, six warriors among them found their runes pulsing rhythmically with divine resonance.

"By the heavens… they… they have also formed their True Name Runes!"

A wave of shock and joy rippled through the group. If not for the fear of disturbing Long Chen, they would have erupted in cheers.

Yue Xiaoqian’s gaze softened as she looked upon the six ecstatic warriors. She smiled, yet deep inside, a pang of sorrow struck her heart.

Among them, Fei Shuang was absent.

She turned toward Fei Shuang, who stood silently to the side. Though Fei Shuang wore a smile, a faint shadow of melancholy lingered in her eyes.

Fei Shuang had lost an arm. That single, cruel reality had severed her path forward like a merciless blade.

Long Chen had avenged her by tearing off Bing Yi’s arm, but what did that matter? Fei Shuang’s cultivation path had come to a screeching halt.

Her talent had once been second only to Yue Xiaoqian, and in terms of raw combat strength, she had even surpassed her. Yet despite her overwhelming prowess, Fei Shuang had never let arrogance taint her heart. Her respect for Yue Xiaoqian had always been unwavering—she was Yue Xiaoqian’s strongest pillar of support.

Now, seeing the unspoken sorrow in Fei Shuang’s eyes, Yue Xiaoqian felt her heart clench. Tears threatened to spill.

Fei Shuang noticed and gently squeezed Yue Xiaoqian’s hand, forcing a smile. "Saintess, we should be celebrating. Six of our brothers and sisters have awakened their True Name Runes! Our strength has soared once again."

But as she spoke, her voice quivered with suppressed emotions.

The six newly awakened warriors hesitated, wanting to say something, but words failed them. To them, Fei Shuang had always been the ultimate role model—the one they had strived to catch up to. And now, they had done it.

Yet, there was no joy in it. Only sorrow.

Fei Shuang turned to them, her expression sharp. "Why the long faces? Get out of my sight and start refining your runes. Just because you’ve awakened them doesn’t mean you’ve mastered them. There’s still a long road ahead!"

"Yes, Fei Shuang!"

Without hesitation, the six warriors obeyed. No matter what had changed, in their hearts, Fei Shuang would always be their strongest leader.

A New Path

Yue Xiaoqian suddenly grasped Fei Shuang’s hands tightly. "I want to try something. Our clan has a secret technique—perhaps I can share my True Name Rune with you."

Fei Shuang’s expression stiffened. She knew that doing so would drain Yue Xiaoqian’s very essence, affecting her future cultivation.

Just as Fei Shuang opened her mouth to refuse, a familiar voice rang out.

"Fei Shuang doesn’t need that. She has a better path ahead."

A wave of astonishment swept over Yue Xiaoqian. She whirled around, eyes widening in joy.

Standing not far away, Long Chen watched them with a mischievous grin.

"Long Chen! You’re still weak. Why aren’t you resting?" Yue Xiaoqian frowned, noting his pale complexion and unsteady energy.

Long Chen shrugged. "This time, I pushed too hard. My internal injuries are severe and can’t be healed in one go. I have to take it slow."

Though Dragonbone Evilmoon had helped him control his strength, the violent nature of his dragon blood and star power had nearly shattered his body from the inside. Even with the aid of healing pills and his chaotic space, he had only barely stabilized his injuries. His recovery would be a long and delicate process.

Hearing his explanation, Yue Xiaoqian relaxed slightly. As long as Long Chen wasn’t in immediate danger, she could breathe easier.

Yet, her thoughts quickly returned to his words. "Long Chen, what do you mean Fei Shuang has a better path?"

At that moment, Fei Shuang’s heart pounded violently. Long Chen’s words ignited a spark of hope in her dimming soul.

Long Chen looked into her eyes, his expression solemn. "Fei Shuang, are you willing to take a gamble with me?"

Final Thoughts:

Fate is never set in stone. Even when a path seems cut off, there may be another hidden road waiting to be discovered. Fei Shuang’s future had dimmed, but Long Chen’s words carried a promise—a gamble against destiny itself. Would she take that risk? Could she step onto an even greater path?

In the cruel battlefield of the Tianyu Realm, only those who defied fate could carve out their own legend. And Fei Shuang… was about to take that step.