Chapter 29: Heavenly Fate, Earthly Pattern and Human Fortune
Three minutes was actually not short at all.
Within those three minutes, An Ji fident he could defeat any instructor except for the two at the Internal Breath Like Tides stage. Even if he faced one of those two, he believed he could still fight them one-on-one.
During this period of building up strength, An Jing not only gained full mastery over his own Internal Energy but also gradually learo wield the awakened 【Death Bde Divine Ability】 that had emerged when he broke through.
He still did not fully uand what it really was.
“This is your Heaven-Ordained Fate Divine Ability.”
Late one night, while An Jing practiced summoning and dismissing his Death Bde at will, he asked the Sword Spirit about it. The Sword Spirit answered, “Though it is only a portion of your ability, it sighat you already possess a Heaven-Ordained Fate—and as you tio train, that Fate will bee ever more pronounced until it fully mas.”
“However, you only just obtained a Fate, and you haven’t even awake pletely, yet you already have your own Fate-based Divine Ability… This proves your Fate is quite unusual, and that you are perfectly attuo it.”
“My Heaven-Ordained Fate… Right, I recall now. These followers of the Heavenly Will Demonic Sect gather children like us because they believe that we so-called ‘Children of Camity’ awaken our Fate more readily than others.”
Recalling the five special children he had seen at the initial gathering—who never showed up afterward and had presumably bee back to the ‘home temple’—An Jing said, “If someone’s Fate isn’t awakened, does that mean it ’t be discovered?”
“And now that I have awakened my Fate, might the Medie Manor Lord notid ge his pn—bring me away ahead of schedule?”
——If so, I wouldn’t be able to protect my friends.
To be ho, if An Jing had possessed a Heaven-Ordained Fate from the start, he would have been taken directly back to the main cult for training, and then put through this Hanging Fate Manor brainwashing process. Without meeting any friends or f any bonds, he would likely have never developed a hatred for the cult.
By the time he had gained real power, the Heavenly Will Demonic Sect would have reshaped his moral pass and worldview, turning him into a genuine member of their ranks. Later, even if he learhe many horrors that had happe Hanging Fate Manor, having ruly ected with those “people,” he might have felt aloof, vinced of his own “speess.”
Those who did not awaken their Fate at the outset simply would not be the same as him; it would seem only natural that they pay fing behind in their lives.
That possibility alone made An Jing feel profoundly disgusted, a searing anger welling up within him to polish the rusty bde in his heart.
“Fate es from Heaven. Unless it is actively triggered by the holder, or revealed in a special ritual array, it is not easily detected by eans. One needs a specialized ‘Heavenly Will’ Divine Ability to see it.”
“Otherwise, if any cultivator could simply gnce over aermine who possessed a Heaven-Ordained Fate, it would be chaos. Don’t worry—the demonior Lord ot see it.”
The Sword Spirit expined iail how hidden a Fate could be. As for An Jing’s earlier question, however, the Sword Spirit shot it down decisively. “You misuood.”
“Although people speak of a ‘Fate awakening,’ strictly speaking, it’s not about ‘awakening or not’—it’s about ‘weak or strong.’”
“All people have Fate, and that Fate es from Heaven. But ‘Heavenly Fate’ is not everything. You also have ‘Earthly Pattern’ and ‘Human Fortune.’”
Seeing An Jing’s fusion, the Sword Spirit patiently eborated: “‘Heavenly Fate’ is set at birth, destined by the heavens. Even if one’s birth date is not particurly special and their Fate Pace holds no auspicious stars, being born into an imperial family already makes it a ‘e.’”
“But having a ‘e’ alone is not enough. The quality of a person’s Fate depends on more than just ‘Heavenly Fate’—it also depends ohly Pattern.’
“‘Earthly Pattern’ is one’s ‘position and rank.’ Heroes are fed by circumstance. When a person’s position rises high enough, their inal Fate naturally bees more readily realized. A snake in the wild transform into a hidden dragon; for example, a peasant from the mountains might, upon being reized by experts like us and admitted into a great sect, have his Heavenly Fate altered to something greater.
“versely, if one cks a high enough position, even a prince’s exalted Fate be buried under dust. Just like how royal ss stripped of their titles bee ordinary nobodies until they find another ‘lucky break.’
“Hence, beyond ‘Heavenly Fate’ ahly Pattern,’ there is also ‘Human Fortune.’
“That refers to one’s own effort, will, and opportunity.”
With that, the Sword Spirit’s tone carried a note of approval. “You, An Jing, are exactly the embodiment of ging your status through Human Fortune.
“Your Heaven-Ordained Fate y dormant. You were just an ordinary mortal. But you witnessed death and evil, and wrath took root in your heart. You swore to annihite every maing fiend and the entire demonic sect. Your resolve became the source by which you ged your status ae your Fate, thus ‘awakening’ your Heavenly Fate.
“So it’s not that the Heavenly Will Demonic Sect failed to discover your Fate. Rather, until you mustered the determination to oppose them, you truly had no such Fate.
“How could a child who would never rebel or burn with killing anger against the demonic sect possibly possess your kind of baleful Fate?
“Even if you did have it, you certainly would not have been able to use its power. Let alone awaken this【Death Bde】 Divine Ability.
“And I, in turn, awoke from my slumber because of your innate wisdom and benevolehen, drawn by your resolve for ‘Subduing Evil’—I chose to aid you.
“That, too, is your ‘Human Fortune’ altering your Fate.”
“I see now.”
Listening to Fuxie’s expnation, An Jing gained some crity.
Softly, he muttered to himself, “Fate is determined by Heaven, but people must act… ‘Heavenly Fate’ is simply Heaven’s impetus grao the living. ‘Earthly Pattern’ and the ever-shifting ‘Human Fortune’ are no less critical.
“Indeed. If I had eeled myself to fight back, swearing to sy every maing demon and fully intending to see it through, I’d just be a terrified child. Even the Heaven-Ordained Fate would make me nothing but fish on the chopping block.
“I ’t stop here.”
He paused, then said quietly, “No matter my Fate, if I do nothing, it won’t e to fruition.”
“Well said. We cultivators, even with Heaven on our side, ought to follow our Dao hearts.”
The Sword Spirit approved of An Jing’s reasoning and guided him in gradually entering stillo tinue cultivating.
Day after day passed in this manner.
Lately, An Jing had not found the ce to revisit that other world. It was not only a matter of time straints; An Jing also felt that pce was far from safe. Whatever force had mao sughter so many otherworldly cultivators armed with firearms was definitely more dangerous than he imagined.
He would not go baless he became siderably stronger—or found himself in mortal danger with no other options.
Everythiuro an outward calm.
But as An Jing quietly improved his strength and waited for the right moment, an unforesee occurred.
That event took the form of a panion who also khe truth about the demonic sect.
A familiar face, in fae whose name An Jing had deliberately he recruit who came from the farthest region among the 108 Children of Camity.
Bai Qinghan of Hannan.
(End of Chapter)
