What surprised Jiang Yuan even more was that Lu Xingzhou actually knew a great deal about maritime trade. He would occasionally ask Jiang Duxu questions, and the points he raised clearly indicated an insider’s understanding.

Although it didn’t seem like he was an absolute master, this level of knowledge was already enough to surpass most people in the capital.

As for Huo Qi, who supposedly had experience in related matters…

Lu Chen’s figure moved slowly through the starry sky, the Chess Piece of Destiny flickering slightly in his palm, as if responding to the fluctuations within him. He could feel that destiny’s end was not a final destination, but rather a state – a profound understanding and mastery of destiny itself. He was no longer merely a recipient of fate, but a shaper of it.

He looked up, and the starry sky ahead gradually blurred, transforming into a void. Within that void, a faint gate emerged. The gate bore no inscriptions, yet it exuded a heart-pounding aura. It was the gate to destiny’s end, and also the gate to destiny’s beginning.

“Destiny’s end…” Lu Chen murmured, “I have finally arrived.”

He slowly extended his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the gate. In that instant, a vast power surged into his sea of consciousness, as if the entire universe unfolded within his mind. He witnessed the birth and demise of countless stars, and the intricate intertwining and separation of countless lives’ destinies. He saw his past and envisioned his possible futures.

“Destiny is not unchangeable,” he whispered. “As long as one’s will is firm enough, one can forge their own path.”

He slowly withdrew his hand, took a deep breath, and pushed open the gate.

Beyond the gate lay an endless void, and within that void, an ancient altar stood. A cluster of ethereal blue flames burned upon the altar, and faintly visible within the flames, a figure sat quietly in meditation.

“You have finally come,” the figure slowly opened its eyes, its voice deep and steady. “The watcher from beyond destiny.”

Lu Chen paused slightly. “Who are you?”

“I am the Player of Destiny,” the figure slowly rose, revealing an indistinct face. “And also the end of destiny.”

“The end of destiny?” Lu Chen frowned. “Why are you here?”

“Because destiny’s end has never been a place,” the Player of Destiny said softly. “But a choice.”

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke. “What choice?”

The Player of Destiny raised its hand, and a Chess Piece of Destiny materialized in its palm, identical to the one in Lu Chen’s hand.

“The Chess Piece of Destiny, the key to controlling destiny,” the Player of Destiny lightly tossed the piece towards Lu Chen. “But have you ever wondered why there are two Chess Pieces of Destiny?”

Lu Chen caught the piece, his brows furrowing. “You mean…”

“Destiny’s end is not the true end,” the Player of Destiny slowly explained. “But the beginning of a cycle. The piece in your hand represents the cessation of destiny, while the piece in my hand represents the rebirth of destiny.”

Lu Chen’s pupils contracted. “Are you saying… destiny can be reshaped?”

“Yes,” the Player of Destiny nodded. “But reshaping destiny requires a price. Are you willing to pay that price?”

Lu Chen fell silent.

He thought of his journey, of the companions who had fought alongside him, and of those who had perished due to fate. He had once believed that destiny was unchangeable, but now, he finally understood that destiny was not unshakable; it simply needed someone to change it.

“I am willing,” he slowly spoke, his voice firm.

The Player of Destiny smiled faintly, then waved a hand. Both Chess Pieces of Destiny simultaneously glowed, intertwining into a brilliant light.

In that instant, the entire void began to tremble, as if the long river of destiny was being torn apart. The trajectories of countless stars began to shift, and the causality of destiny began to reshape.

Lu Chen’s consciousness seemed to be drawn into a deeper layer of the universe. He saw countless branching possibilities, and the interweaving of innumerable futures. He saw his past choices and the decisions he had never made.

“Destiny… is not singular,” he murmured softly. “But a collection of countless possibilities.”

He finally understood.

The end of destiny was not an end, but a new beginning.

And he would be the one to reshape destiny.

The light faded, and Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes to find himself still standing on the altar, the Player of Destiny having vanished. He looked down at the Chess Piece of Destiny in his hand, realizing it had merged with the other piece, transforming into a new one that emanated unprecedented power.

“Destiny… has changed,” he whispered.

Just then, a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

“You have finally found the answer.”

Lu Chen turned to see the white-robed woman standing quietly behind him, a smile of contentment in her eyes.

“The world beyond destiny is not true freedom,” she said slowly. “But you have found your own path.”

Lu Chen nodded. “Yes, I have found it.”

The white-robed woman smiled faintly and gently raised her hand. Starlight gathered in her palm, forming a path leading to the unknown.

“Then, go,” she said softly. “The journey of destiny has only just begun.”

Lu Chen took a deep breath, clutched the Chess Piece of Destiny, and stepped onto the path of starlight.

Meanwhile, at the other end of destiny, Lin Yi still stood at the edge of the line of destiny, gazing at the path that vanished into the chaos.

“Beyond destiny…” he murmured, “Does it mean true freedom? Or another form of bondage?”

He had no answer.

But he knew that the journey of destiny never truly ended.

At the end of destiny, Ye Fan and Xiao Chen continued their journey. They could feel that the long river of destiny was responding to their existence, and their will was shaping a new future.

“This path…” Xiao Chen said softly, “seems to be more profound than we imagined.”

“Yes,” Ye Fan nodded. “But it is not incomprehensible. As long as we are willing to listen to the voice of destiny and respond to the unfinished causes and effects, we can forge our own path.”

They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with determination.

“This time,” Ye Fan said slowly, “we will use our own will to forge an entirely new path.”

“The third path of destiny…” Xiao Chen smiled faintly. “It begins here.”

They took a step, their figures disappearing at the end of destiny.

Lu Chen stood before the Gate of Destiny, the Chess Piece of Destiny in his palm trembling slightly, as if responding to some unknown summons. He could feel that the deepest secret of destiny lay hidden beyond the gate – the end he had pursued all along, and the brand new beginning he was about to face.

He took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the gate.

Beyond the gate was an endless void, within which countless fragmented pieces of destiny floated. Each fragment reflected a future that had never occurred. He could feel the power contained within these fragments; they were the echoes of destiny, the intersection of countless possibilities.

“Destiny… is not singular,” he whispered. “But a collection of countless possibilities.”

Just then, a figure slowly materialized in the void. It was a man in black robes, his face indistinct, as if he had merged with destiny itself.

“You have finally come,” the black-robed man’s voice was deep and steady. “The watcher from beyond destiny.”

Lu Chen’s brow furrowed slightly. “Who are you?”

“I am the Player of Destiny,” the black-robed man slowly replied, “and also the trial you are about to face.”

“A trial?” Lu Chen’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean?”

“The Chess Piece of Destiny, the key to controlling destiny,” the Player of Destiny raised his hand, and a Chess Piece of Destiny materialized in his palm, identical to the one in Lu Chen’s hand. “But have you ever wondered why there are two Chess Pieces of Destiny?”

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke. “You mean… destiny can be reshaped?”

“Yes,” the Player of Destiny nodded. “But reshaping destiny requires a price. Are you willing to pay that price?”

Lu Chen did not answer immediately. He thought of his journey, of the companions who had fought alongside him, and of those who had perished due to fate. He had once believed that destiny was unchangeable, but now, he finally understood that destiny was not unshakable; it simply needed someone to change it.

“I am willing,” he slowly spoke, his voice firm.

The Player of Destiny smiled faintly, then waved a hand. Both Chess Pieces of Destiny simultaneously glowed, intertwining into a brilliant light.

In that instant, the entire void began to tremble, as if the long river of destiny was being torn apart. The trajectories of countless stars began to shift, and the causality of destiny began to reshape.

Lu Chen’s consciousness seemed to be drawn into a deeper layer of the universe. He saw countless branching possibilities, and the interweaving of innumerable futures. He saw his past choices and the decisions he had never made.

“Destiny… is not unchangeable,” he murmured softly. “As long as one’s will is firm enough, one can forge their own path.”

The light faded, and Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes to find himself still standing in the void, the Player of Destiny having vanished. He looked down at the Chess Piece of Destiny in his hand, realizing it had merged with the other piece, transforming into a new one that emanated unprecedented power.

“Destiny… has changed,” he whispered.

Just then, a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

“You have finally found the answer.”

Lu Chen turned to see the white-robed woman standing quietly behind him, a smile of contentment in her eyes.

“The world beyond destiny is not true freedom,” she said slowly. “But you have found your own path.”

Lu Chen nodded. “Yes, I have found it.”

The white-robed woman smiled faintly and gently raised her hand. Starlight gathered in her palm, forming a path leading to the unknown.

“Then, go,” she said softly. “The journey of destiny has only just begun.”

Lu Chen took a deep breath, clutched the Chess Piece of Destiny, and stepped onto the path of starlight.

Meanwhile, at the other end of destiny, Lin Yi still stood at the edge of the line of destiny, gazing at the path that vanished into the chaos.

“Beyond destiny…” he murmured, “Does it mean true freedom? Or another form of bondage?”

He had no answer.

But he knew that the journey of destiny never truly ended.

At the end of destiny, Ye Fan and Xiao Chen continued their journey. They could feel that the long river of destiny was responding to their existence, and their will was shaping a new future.

“This path…” Xiao Chen said softly, “seems to be more profound than we imagined.”

“Yes,” Ye Fan nodded. “But it is not incomprehensible. As long as we are willing to listen to the voice of destiny and respond to the unfinished causes and effects, we can forge our own path.”

They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with determination.

“This time,” Ye Fan said slowly, “we will use our own will to forge an entirely new path.”

“The third path of destiny…” Xiao Chen smiled faintly. “It begins here.”

They took a step, their figures disappearing at the end of destiny.