Destiny in Cinders

”No, I don’t think I’m that talented,” Huo Qing said as he graciously received the Imperial Earth Art from An Jing. ”Back then, I cruised through life in a blur without any clear aims. I didn’t know what I lived for or what I was working hard for. I was delusionally praying that my parents would one day return. Then, I would be able to let go and follow the path they lay for me.

”The reason Uncle Gunner was able to manipulate and use me like that was because I didn’t want to think for myself or make my own choices. But things are different now. I have clear goals that I want to accomplish.” He looked at the tome in his hand and let out a pure smile. ”I want to study formation theory and martial techniques. I want to achieve something on my own and go on to acquire even more knowledge in an academy to make myself stronger. Only then will I be able to scale greater heights and become someone secure in the path I’ve chosen.”

”It’s great that you can think that way,” An Jing said with a nod.

Though Huo Qing’s motivation was still slightly muddy, extending not far beyond wanting to work harder to grow stronger because he was afraid of dying, not everyone could claim to have the same drive, muddy or not. Once there was initiative, there would always be an outlet for it. Thanks to An Jing, Huo Qing gradually took his life into his own hands, transforming into a better person than he used to be.

”I will come back after some time,” An Jing said.

”By the time you return, I’ll have tuned up my prototype qi-collection formation to match normal efficiency standards,” Huo Qing promised.

After bidding farewell, An Jing headed to the badlands and eventually returned to Void Embrace.

***

A silver-white hoverbike zoomed across the snowscape quickly, barely standing out against the snowy backdrop. Given how strongly the blizzard raged, the falling snow and hail reduced visibility considerably. But thanks to True Spirit Eyes, An Jing was able to see through the veil as he continued making his way to Brokeblade Mountain.

Loud rumbles could be heard far in the distance amidst the snow clouds above. Worlds without spirit qi seldom had thundering snowstorms. However, Void Embrace had many types of lightning, frost-accompanied lightning being one one of the many types. Water-blue-colored bolts could be seen streaking across the firmament in the distance, connecting heaven to earth. The hazy fog made it look as if the eye of a gigantic deity had opened.

The grade-two spirit stones An Jing had with him should be able to last Frostwhite Dart a whole month of nonstop cruising, but even if he had the fuel for it, the hoverbike wouldn’t be able to last that long. As such, he took breaks every two days to check the bike’s condition.

Additionally, he also learned that void artifacts from Skysource also functioned in Void Embrace. The explanation was rather convoluted, however, though he had discussed it with Yvelbane.

Void artifacts relied on the unique materials they were made of, which allowed them to carve out pocket dimensions between the corporeal world and the netherworld. Those little pockets were just like the bubbles on the surface of the ocean, while the sky was a completely different world. In theory, the bubbles on an ocean’s surface should vanish once they left that ocean for a wholly different one.

”Well, that logic is sound. But from what I can remember, it’s a problem that’s been solved, at least for worlds we were familiar with. I can’t remember why, though.” Yvelbane knew that the Dao Court had tackled that issue already, but couldn’t recall the details. It also didn’t know whether Void Embrace and Skysource had changed from their respective fiend calamities.

An Jing would’ve bought a void artifact regardless, whether it worked in both worlds or not. Fortunately, the universal laws hadn’t changed to the point that he required a different one in Void Embrace.

”Hmm, lifearcs work in both worlds, just like void artifacts. Is it a property of Void Embrace and Skysource? Or maybe it’s shared across all worlds that the Dao Court once ruled over...” An Jing filed that thought away in his mind and continued on his way.

After the snow calamity came, there were no longer small village settlements at the northern frontier. Even the northern barbarians were cooped up within the cities they had conquered, surviving with the power of martial cultivation and sorcery. Few people stayed in the periphery of Brokeblade Mountain, which was right on the brink of the areas affected by the snow calamity. Most of the people living at the northern frontier were from South Han to begin with, so those that could already returned to their old homes. Those that couldn’t went farther south.

An Jing didn’t encounter a single person, fey or beast during the five days he traveled. He found that period of time particularly peaceful and relaxing, yet still paradoxically unnerving. He was so used to trouble coming to his doorstep that the sudden change of pace was welcome, only if there wasn’t a catch. Who knew what kinds of machinations his celestial arc was whipping up for him? Would it spawn a fresh group of martialists from Grand Chen or the demonic cult to come after him?

Right as his mind wandered, he suddenly sensed a rumble coming from his celestial arc’s Stablestar. Something happened! It’s Cang!

He immediately stopped and entered meditation, sensing the message that came through his celestial arc.

”Boss, I know I should make this choice on my own, but things have spiraled quite out of hand. I... I think I need your help to assess the situation.”

The Stablestar that was typically dormant glowed slightly red and brown, resonating with the meditating Cang Linzu across the fabric of spacetime. Then, a flood of memories entered An Jing’s sea of consciousness. It was filled with delight, surprise and also a hint of hesitation.

First, there were some garbled voices.

”Brother Cang, have you heard? It’s Senior Disciple! He did something crazy at Xishan!”

”He killed adepts and even defeated the Lord Inspector of the West! I knew escaping with him was the right decision!”

”The divine cult was good to us, but he was the one who really broadened our horizons. However, I heard that he joined the Brightmirror Sect. Does he still remember us?”

”He must. Otherwise, why would he expose himself to the divine cult?”

”Senior Disciple has come to the northern frontier! Since the Crimsonguard brought us here, this must be heavenly will!”

”Brother Cang, when are we going to seek him out?”

Cang Linzu was clearly at a loss when faced with his junior brothers and sisters of Direlife Manor.

”Cang, my grandfather wants me to go to the Grandnight Sect.”

”That’s not a bad idea. They’re the strongest of the five Dustdawn Sects, right? You’ll definitely learn a lot from them. Eventually, you’ll be able to help Senior Disciple.”

”But when I said I wanted to go to the Brightmirror Sect, my grandfather also agreed.”

”Oh? So you want to go there to wait for Senior Disciple? That sounds like a good idea too.”

”This is what I’m really asking, Cang. Where do you want to go?” Gu Yeqi asked, raising her voice with a hint of encouragement. ”You are the only one among us who awakened a lifearc after the ritual. You even bear a starruin-miracle arc. Even though I might eventually awaken my clan’s bloodline, you are most suited to be our leader for now.

”You were able to accomplish so much on the battlefield of the northern frontier, gathering lots of important intelligence for us with your shadow wonder. You can come and go as you please to the most dangerous of your places. That’s why my grandfather has high hopes for you. He told me that while every single disaster child among us is filled with potential, you’re the most promising one. He said that once he returns , he wants you to join his personal vanguard.”

”Old General Gu has taken great care of me and supplied food, lodging and even training that all one hundred of us needed. And it all came out of his old pocket! After all he has done for me, I know that I should be repaying the favor...”

”What are you running from, Cang?” Gu Yeqi asked. ”You are brave and you step onto the battlefield without fear, killing without hesitation. Yet, why are you such a coward when it comes to being honest with me?”

”I...” I want to stay in Grand Chen.