# Chapter 2198: Fate Temple
A vast, ethereal hall hung beneath the starry sky, with countless stars cascading down from the heavens, suspended in the night sky. The stars seemed close enough to touch.
At the peak of the temple, atop the Star Gathering Altar, an old man in a white robe bathed in endless starlight, as if he stood at the lower end of the stars, able to pluck them with his hands.
Beneath the white-robed old man's feet, the Wheel of Fate gathered the power of the stars, emitting a dazzling white light. Every star in the sky seemed to cast a beam of light onto the Wheel of Fate. Behind him on the altar, many people stood, yet no one dared to disturb the white-robed old man.
At some unknown time, the Prophet's footsteps had quietly arrived here, standing in line with the crowd. All of them wore robes of a single color, watching the powerful figure in the void perform the Great Fate Technique—the ultimate ability of the Heavenly Fate Art, capable of peering into destiny, piercing through heaven and earth, a truly supreme divine ability.
"Have the top ten emerged?" At this moment, the powerful figure standing on the Wheel of Fate murmured softly. The Prophet stepped forward, and a divine light bloomed. Instantly, projections of divine thoughts struck the white light before the figure on the Wheel of Fate. Ten figures appeared there.
"Once, the Fate Temple triggered a calamity across the continent, plunging the Xiao Continent into suffering. Though countless years have passed, the wheel of fate turns, and it seems another tribulation is about to descend. I must borrow the Fate Technique to observe the Heavenly Mandate." The white-robed old man's voice was solemn as he murmured. Within the Fate Temple, there was a supreme treasure—the Wheel of Fate—capable of peering into the Heavenly Mandate. A thousand years ago, the Wheel of Fate had moved once. Over a thousand years later, when the Fate Temple presided over the Xiao Continent Assembly, the Wheel of Fate moved again. Though there were vague premonitions, the Heavenly Mandate remained elusive. Thus, he sought to use the Wheel of Fate to glimpse destiny.
These ten figures who had entered the top ten of the Xiao Continent Assembly were likely connected to the turning of the Wheel of Fate.
Beneath the white-robed old man's feet, the Wheel of Fate spun rapidly. Terrifying beams of light scattered onto the figures of the ten before him. At the same time, a profound sense of Heavenly Mandate enveloped the world. The entire starry sky blazed, the supreme power awe-inspiring. Then, their gazes turned forward, where scenes appeared on the ten figures: scenes of rage, warmth, pride overlooking heaven and earth, and sorrowful cries to the sky... Seeing these images, the crowd behind narrowed their eyes, their gazes sharp. They hadn't expected that among the top ten of this Xiao Continent Assembly, there were several such extraordinary individuals. No wonder they were so powerful.
"That mountain..." The Prophet stared at a towering peak. Above it appeared an image of a supreme demon lord, holding a woman in his arms, roaring to the sky as heaven and earth trembled. This scene stirred the Prophet's heart. He hadn't expected it—truly, he hadn't.
And that Chu Chunqiu—so that was how it was.
The Wheel of Fate continued to spin. Among the ten, only one figure remained unchanged no matter how the wheel turned—just a person standing there. This caused a sharp glint to flash in the eyes of the Prophet and the others.
"Chi..." The Wheel of Fate seemed to encounter something. Suddenly, a sharp screech rang out. In the void, the endless starlight seemed to explode. All the images shattered, and even the body of the old man standing on the Wheel of Fate trembled violently. He coughed, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.
The people behind him froze, their expressions solidified. They stepped forward, but the figure ahead raised a hand, signaling them to stop. Looking down, the Wheel of Fate had ceased spinning again.
The old man slowly turned, his gaze falling on the Prophet. "You once peered into the Xiao Continent and learned of this person many years ago. Now, the Great Fate Technique cannot grasp his destiny. Could it be as you said?"
"It should be correct." The Prophet nodded slightly and spoke.
The old man pondered for a moment. "Let me try again."
"Hall Master, the Great Fate Technique consumes too much. Now that our Fate Temple may face another tribulation, you must take care of yourself." The Prophet's expression stiffened as he spoke.
"Hall Master, take care." Beside the Prophet, the others bowed their heads simultaneously.
"Very well. Everything depends on the Heavenly Mandate. Even if our Fate Temple can glimpse destiny, we lack those who can defy fate and change it. Since it is fate, human power cannot stop it—only taboos remain." The old man turned, his gaze toward the void. Could it be that this world had truly been too peaceful for too long?
A thousand years had passed, and the Wheel of Fate had turned twice. What omen was this?
"Go now. The Xiao Continent Assembly awaits you." The Hall Master looked at the Prophet and said calmly. The Prophet nodded slightly, then withdrew from the Star Altar, walking away until his figure vanished.
Watching the Prophet's disappearing form, the old man remained silent for a long time, his white hair fluttering. His gaze was deep, as if trying to pierce through the ages. "The leaping Eye of Fate tells me that the Xiao Continent Assembly will not be so peaceful."
Hearing this, the crowd's pupils contracted, their expressions trembling. Would something happen at the Xiao Continent Assembly?
The Hall Master of the Fate Temple was one of the pinnacle figures of the world. His prophecies rarely erred.
At this moment, the top ten of the Xiao Continent Assembly were still waiting below the platform. Since the Prophet hadn't appeared, they took the opportunity to rest further.
Zhou Rongman was an exception. At this moment, he lay bored on the ground, his legs crossed and constantly shaking. His gaze was fixed on the palaces and towers in the void above. There, more and more people were appearing, including some extremely powerful figures and many youths. Zhou Rongman felt they were all very formidable.
Just then, Zhou Rongman grinned, looking at the many figures in the void and the countless gazes fixed on him. His smile seemed directed at them.
"My name is Zhou Rongman. After the Xiao Continent Assembly, you will all know me. I will step into your world and stir the winds and clouds." Grinning, Zhou Rongman let out a reckless declaration, as if issuing his manifesto to the crowd in the world above. He would set foot in that world and become its strongest, because his name was Zhou Rongman—the inheritor of the most ancient and powerful bloodline.
Zhou Rongman's voice wasn't loud, but his declaration was heard by countless people. Sharp gazes shot down from the sky, piercing and boundless. Even some Martial Emperor peak cultivators gave off a terrifying aura. They were by no means weaker than those participating in the Xiao Continent Assembly. They stood in the world above.
The people of Shen Xiao City seemed to stand in the world below, looking up at the projections in the void. They too heard Zhou Rongman's voice, sighing inwardly. This guy—where did he get such confidence to be so arrogant? But Zhou Rongman's strength was indeed not to be underestimated. He was a formidable figure. Otherwise, the number one of Bi Xiao, Qing Xueyi, wouldn't have been eliminated by him. Those who entered the top ten of the Xiao Continent Assembly were naturally powerful.
Just then, a figure descended from the void. It was the Prophet returning. Seeing the Prophet's figure, countless hearts trembled. Had the final decisive battle of the Xiao Continent Assembly finally begun?
The Prophet halted mid-air, his gaze sweeping over the people below. This time, his look at the crowd seemed different. These ten—the most outstanding Martial Emperor peak figures of the Xiao Continent—in a few years, they might stand at the world's pinnacle, creating a legendary saga. Every century, many of the top ten of the Xiao Continent Assembly went on to forge their own legends.
The Prophet raised his hand and waved. A transparent barrier enveloped the entire platform, blocking the aura of battle from spreading outward. The Prophet looked at the ten and said calmly, "If you fight one by one, there will inevitably be great consumption. For this top ten ranking, we will follow the same rule as before. The first to lose will be ranked last. The one who remains standing on the stage at the end will be the number one of this Xiao Continent Assembly."
The Prophet's words made the crowd's hearts pound. Same as before—ten people in the same place, but without the illusory space. Only the battle platform remained for the ten. They were all inside, engaging in the most direct collisions and confrontations. Whoever remained last would be the strongest of the Xiao Continent Assembly.
The Prophet had only provided them a battlefield. How to fight was their choice.
Hearing the Prophet's words, the ten remained calm, without much fluctuation. They had already come this far. Wasn't this what they had been waiting for—the arrival of the decisive battle? Now, it had finally come.
Yet at this moment, the arrival of the decisive battle brought a deathly silence to the entire void. The ten were all silent.
"Let the top five each fight one of the bottom five. Start with the fifth-ranked person. Regardless of who wins or loses, the next two will fight." At this moment, Hua Qingfeng spoke. With ten people in the same space, it would devolve into chaos. To test true strength, the top five should fight the bottom five. Now that the rankings were being redrawn, he was still number one.
"I agree." The Reincarnation Array Master said calmly. This was the most suitable arrangement—two people, one eliminated.
The Heartless Young Master was currently ranked fifth. According to Hua Qingfeng's words, the first battle should be his. Thus, everyone's gaze fell on the Heartless Young Master.
The Heartless Young Master said nothing, directly standing up. This battle was unavoidable. So, he stepped forward!