The Destiny Hall stood at the heart of Qingluo Sect, older than most of its doctrines and revered with a quiet solemnity that discouraged idle chatter. Its doors were carved from pale stone veined with gold, etched with countless names layered atop one another like sediment—disciples who had come, been measured, and moved on, their futures confirmed or denied beneath Heaven's gaze.
Shen Liwei arrived early.
The hall was empty save for a few attendants preparing the ritual platforms. At the center of the vast circular chamber stood the **Path Array**, a formation of concentric rings carved into the floor, each ring engraved with Dao symbols that pulsed faintly with restrained power. Above it floated seven translucent crystals, slowly revolving, catching the morning light and scattering it into pale halos.
Destiny crystals.
They were said to resonate with Heaven itself, drawing forth the latent direction etched into every cultivator's fate. Some paths were broad and luminous—sword, fire, lightning, alchemy. Others were narrow and obscure, their bearers fated for quiet lives or early ends. No matter the result, the crystals did not lie.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Liwei stood at the edge of the array, hands folded behind his back, observing the symbols carved into the stone. They were precise, elegant, absolute. Each symbol represented a possibility, yet together they formed a closed system—every outcome accounted for, every deviation anticipated.
A complete world.
"Senior Brother Shen."
Liwei turned as a junior attendant approached, bowing deeply. "You may wait there until the evaluation begins."
Liwei inclined his head and moved to the indicated spot along the hall's perimeter. As he settled, more disciples began to arrive, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone. Some were calm, others visibly nervous. Whispers passed between friends, reassurances exchanged, last-minute prayers offered beneath steady breaths.
Xu Yanru entered with a small group from the inner court. She caught sight of Liwei almost immediately and walked over, her expression composed but alert.
"You came early," she said.
"So did you."
She smiled faintly. "I couldn't sleep."
He did not comment. He could feel it too—the subtle pressure in the air, the way the qi in the hall felt heavier, more deliberate. Destiny Hall was closer to Heaven than most places in the sect, its formations designed to amplify resonance, to make the world listen.
"Are you nervous?" Yanru asked.
Liwei considered. "Curious."
She laughed softly. "That's one way to put it."
Disciples continued to gather until the hall was nearly full. Elders took their places on the raised platform overlooking the array, robes pristine, expressions neutral. Elder Qiu stood among them, gaze sweeping the room before settling briefly on Liwei.
The hall doors closed.
An elder stepped forward, voice amplified by the formations. "Today, Heaven's guidance will be revealed. Do not resist the crystals. Do not question the path shown to you. Destiny is not a judgment—it is a gift."
A murmur of assent rippled through the disciples.
One by one, names were called.
Each disciple stepped into the array, placed a hand upon a crystal, and waited. Most reactions were immediate—light flaring, symbols igniting, the crystals chiming softly as paths were revealed. Applause followed the more auspicious outcomes. Consoling murmurs greeted the less impressive ones.
Liwei watched quietly.
He noticed patterns others did not. How certain paths appeared more frequently. How rarely truly unorthodox results emerged. How the elders' expressions barely shifted regardless of outcome, as if they had expected all of it already.
When Xu Yanru's name was called, the hall seemed to lean forward.
She stepped into the array with calm grace, placing her palm against the central crystal. Light surged instantly, brighter than before, the symbols around her rearranging themselves into sharp, elegant lines. The crystals sang, a clear, resonant tone that echoed through the hall.
"Heavenly Sword Path," an elder announced. "Pure. Direct. Favored."
Applause erupted. Yanru bowed, composed, though Liwei could see the faint tightening of her jaw—the weight of expectation settling upon her shoulders.
She returned to her place beside him, eyes bright. "It was… clear," she said softly. "Like the answer was waiting."
Liwei nodded. "I'm glad."
She hesitated, then asked, "And you?"
"We'll see."
Names continued to be called until only a few remained.
"Shen Liwei."
The hall grew quieter.
Liwei stepped into the array.
The stone beneath his feet was cool, the symbols faintly warm, responding to his presence. He placed his hand against the central crystal. It felt smooth, almost inert.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the crystal pulsed—once.
The symbols around the array flickered, their light dimming before brightening again, as if recalibrating. The crystals rotated faster, their chiming uneven, discordant.
Whispers spread through the hall.
Liwei felt a pressure behind his eyes, a subtle pull, like something trying to align him with a direction he could not see. He did not resist. He simply remained still.
The pressure increased.
The crystal beneath his hand warmed, then cooled abruptly. A fine crack appeared along its surface, so thin it was almost invisible.
Someone gasped.
The symbols flared, then went dark.
Silence crashed down upon the hall.
The crystal slipped from its orbit and settled back into place, dull and unresponsive. The crack sealed itself, leaving no visible damage—but the light did not return.
Elders rose to their feet.
"This is impossible," one murmured.
Elder Qiu stepped forward, his expression hard. He placed his hand against a secondary crystal, channeling qi into the array. The symbols reignited, weakly at first, then stronger.
"Again," he commanded.
Liwei kept his hand in place.
The array surged.
This time, the pressure was heavier, more insistent. Images flickered at the edge of Liwei's perception—paths branching, collapsing, overlapping. None of them felt… right.
The crystal vibrated violently, its light flaring erratically before extinguishing once more.
The symbols froze.
A thin line split the stone beneath Liwei's feet, running through the innermost ring of the array.
The hall erupted into chaos.
"Stop!" Elder Qiu shouted.
The array was shut down, the crystals dimming fully. Attendants rushed forward, ushering Liwei out of the formation. He complied without protest, stepping back to the edge of the hall.
Xu Yanru stared at him, concern etched across her features. "Liwei… are you hurt?"
He shook his head. "No."
The elders convened in hushed voices. Some looked shaken. Others looked thoughtful. Elder Qiu turned back toward the hall, raising a hand for silence.
"The evaluation is… inconclusive," he announced. "Shen Liwei's destiny will be reassessed at a later date."
Murmurs filled the hall, confusion and speculation mingling freely now.
Liwei stood quietly, hands at his sides, feeling the last traces of pressure fade. Inside him, his qi remained steady, unmoved by the chaos it had caused.
As the hall emptied, Xu Yanru stayed by his side.
"I've never seen anything like that," she said. "The crystals… they reacted as if—"
"As if I didn't fit," Liwei finished.
She frowned. "Everyone fits somewhere."
Liwei looked back toward the darkened array. "Perhaps. Or perhaps the places are fewer than we're told."
They walked out into the sunlight together. Behind them, elders continued to argue, attendants inspecting the array for damage that could not be explained.
High above, beyond the reach of stone and crystal, something adjusted its calculations.
For the first time in a very long while, Heaven encountered a result it could not comfortably assign.
And it did not like unanswered questions.