Lin Tian gazed at the woman before him, feeling an invisible thread pulling him closer with the familiar aura she emanated. Even though she was gradually emerging from the darkness, her face remained blurred, as if covered by a thin mist. The sense of déjà vu stirred a strong wave of emotions within him.
"Who are you?" Lin Tian asked again, his voice involuntarily becoming deeper. He knew he should remain calm, but this mixture of the strange and the familiar made it hard to control his emotions.
The woman smiled gently, her eyes warm yet resolute. "I have been waiting for you for a long time, Lin Tian."
Lin Tian was stunned, a flicker of surprise and confusion flashing in his heart. Waiting? She has been waiting for me? Who is waiting for me? Is my future already destined?
"Who exactly are you?" Lin Tian couldn't help but ask, the doubts inside him growing stronger. Everything about this seemed illogical, and he could tell that the woman in front of him was no ordinary person.
She seemed to understand his suspicions, nodding slightly. "I am your future companion, and a key part of your destiny. No matter what, our meeting is inevitable. You cannot walk this path alone."
Lin Tian's heart raced. Her words struck him deeply, and an unprecedented premonition quietly grew inside him.
"Future companion?" Lin Tian murmured, his gaze flickering. "Is my destiny really like that?"
The woman didn't immediately answer. Instead, she spoke softly, "The responsibility you bear is not just your own fate. It's also about the small thousand-world that is on the verge of collapsing. Even the truth within the Crystal Palace is intimately connected to you." Her voice became serious and deep. "You are destined to fight those dark forces, and we two are the only ones who can face it together."
"The dark forces you speak of..." Lin Tian frowned, his sense of doubt and vigilance rising again. "Are you saying I must walk this road with you?"
She nodded. "Yes, and you needn't worry about me. I will always be by your side." She stepped closer, her eyes filled with infinite affection. "Because, a true strong person will always find their own path, and those by your side will become a part of your strength."
Lin Tian took a deep breath and lowered his head in thought. Although her words made sense, the complex emotions within him prevented him from calming down. He had never believed in destiny, but this woman seemed to reveal an aspect of it he had never noticed before.
"If what you say is true, then how should we walk the road ahead?" Lin Tian raised his head, his eyes now filled with resolve. "What is hidden within the Crystal Palace? And can I really shoulder all of this?"
The woman's eyes sparkled with wisdom, as though she had already seen through all the possible twists and turns of the future. "The secret of the Crystal Palace is not as simple as you imagine. It connects countless dimensions, and your real trial is just beginning." Her tone grew deeper. "When you uncover these mysteries, you will understand that the true darkness has already been lurking around you."
Lin Tian gripped the hilt of his sword, a trace of determination appearing on his face. "I am not afraid of darkness, nor of facing the unknown challenges. No matter what, I will uncover them one by one."
The woman smiled slightly, her smile as warm and full of strength as the morning sun. "You are ready now, Lin Tian. You are the only one who can break these chains, and I will always be by your side, until that day comes."
Her voice carried an invisible power, as if it could break through all barriers, making one trust her without hesitation.
Lin Tian's heart stirred. That sense of loneliness, which had once overwhelmed him, seemed to be alleviated at this moment. Though he didn't know where the woman had come from, at this moment, he understood that she and his future were intimately intertwined.
"You're right," Lin Tian murmured. "No matter what the future holds, I can no longer turn back. Since destiny has brought us together, then let us face all the darkness together."
As his words fell, the space around them suddenly shook. The darkness began to recede, replaced by an overwhelming sense of oppression. The power that once terrified him seemed to be quietly descending again.
"Are you ready, Lin Tian?" the woman whispered. Her figure became clearer, as if merging with Lin Tian's soul. "No matter what happens, we will no longer be alone."
Lin Tian felt an unprecedented power gathering inside him. That deep-seated belief seemed to become a part of his body, like a star in the darkness, quietly shining and bringing light.
He knew that this trial, this maze, was just the beginning. The real challenge was drawing closer...
In the next moment, Lin Tian felt the air around him change drastically. The pressure grew heavier, making it difficult to breathe. His heart began to race, and he gripped the sword hilt tighter.
The woman's voice once again whispered in his ear, low and firm. "Are you ready to face the strongest enemy?"
Lin Tian nodded, his eyes now shining with greater determination. "I'm ready at any time."
Just as their figures disappeared into the gap between light and darkness, a distant rumble echoed from the abyss, as if a tremendous force was awakening, waiting for this destined confrontation.
—Lin Tian's fate has already changed.