The next morning, Lu Xingzhou still went to work.

Foreign trade matters were not merely a means to seize power and climb higher. First and foremost, through this process, he could cultivate a group of people loyal to him, Lu Xingzhou, just like the current Qi Tuizhi and those frustrated retainers of Jin Wang whom he had brought along. But this required a certain amount of time to mature, and it wasn’t…

Lin Yi’s steps fell upon the threads of fate. With each step, the threads of fate rewove themselves beneath his feet, as if the entire universe responded to his presence. The threads of fate slowly spun in his palm, emitting a profound light, a light that seemed to reflect countless futures that had not yet occurred.

He could feel that the long river of fate was undergoing a subtle change. It was no longer flowing in a single direction but converged like a galaxy, with countless possibilities colliding, merging, and splitting. He finally understood that fate was not a predetermined path but a road that could be shaped by will.

“A world beyond fate… is not true freedom,” the white-robed woman’s voice still echoed in his ears, “but you have found your own path.”

Lin Yi did not look back, merely nodding gently. He knew he had transcended the shackles of fate, but that did not mean true liberation. The reshaping of fate never came without a cost. He could feel his existence being re-examined by fate itself, perhaps even… redefined.

He continued forward, the threads of fate continuously extending beneath his feet, as if leading to an unknown future. Behind him, the gate to the end of fate slowly closed, turning into nothingness, as if it had never existed.

At the end of fate, Ye Fan and Xiao Chen continued their journey.

They could feel that the long river of fate was responding to their existence, and their will was shaping a new future.

“This path…” Xiao Chen said softly, “seems much deeper than we imagined.”

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

They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with determination.

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

“The third path of fate…” Xiao Chen smiled slightly, “It begins here.”

They took a step, their figures disappearing into the end of fate.

And on the other side of fate, the Chessmaster of Fate stood quietly in the void, gazing at the path that had vanished into chaos.

“They… have all found their way,” he murmured, his voice carrying a hint of relief and also a touch of solemnity.

The reshaping of fate never came without a cost.

He slowly raised his hand, and a fragmented Chess Piece of Fate appeared in his palm. The piece had lost its original power, with only a faint glimmer remaining.

“The price… has been paid,” he muttered, “but the journey of fate has only just begun.”

He looked into the distance, into the endless void where countless fragments of fate slowly drifted, each reflecting a future that had not yet occurred.

“The third path of fate…” he said softly, “has been opened.”

He closed his eyes, and his figure slowly dissipated into the void.

Lu Chen stood before the Gate of Fate, the Chess Piece of Fate in his palm trembling slightly, as if responding to an unknown summons. He could feel that the deepest secrets of fate were hidden behind the door, the culmination of his journey and a new beginning he was about to face.

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

Beyond the door was an endless void, within which floated countless shattered fragments of fate, each reflecting a future that had not yet occurred. He could feel the power contained within those fragments, the echoes of fate, the nexus of countless possibilities.

“Fate… is not singular,” he murmured, “but a collection of countless possibilities.”

Just then, a figure slowly appeared in the void. It was a man in a black robe, his face blurred, as if he had merged with fate itself.

“You have finally arrived,” the black-robed man’s voice was low and steady, “Watcher from beyond fate.”

Lu Chen frowned slightly: “Who are you?”

“I am the Chessmaster of Fate,” the black-robed man said slowly, “and also the trial you are about to face.”

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

“The Chess Piece of Fate, the key to controlling fate,” the Chessmaster raised his hand, and a Chess Piece of Fate 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 Fate?”

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

“Yes,” the Chessmaster nodded, “but reshaping fate 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 died because of fate. He had once believed that fate was unchangeable, but now he finally understood that fate was not unshakeable; rather, it needed someone to change it.

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

The Chessmaster smiled slightly, waved his hand, and the two Chess Pieces of Fate simultaneously lit up, weaving a brilliant light.

In that instant, the entire void began to tremble, the long river of fate seemed to be torn apart, the trajectories of countless stars began to shift, and the causality of fate began to reshape itself.

Lu Chen’s consciousness seemed to be pulled into a deeper level of the universe. He saw countless branching possibilities and the intertwining of countless futures. He saw his past choices and the decisions he had not made.

“Fate… is not unchangeable,” he murmured, “as long as one’s will is firm enough, one can walk their own path.”

The light dissipated, and Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes, finding himself still in the void, and the Chessmaster had vanished. He looked down at the Chess Piece of Fate in his hand, seeing that it had merged with the other piece, becoming a brand new piece, emanating unprecedented power.

“Fate… has changed,” he said softly.

Just then, a familiar voice echoed in his ear.

“You have finally found the answer.”

Lu Chen turned around and saw the white-robed woman standing quietly behind him, with a relieved smile in her eyes.

“A world beyond fate 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 slightly and gently raised her hand. A starlight gathered in her palm, forming a path to the unknown.

“Then go,” she said softly, “the journey of fate has only just begun.”

Lu Chen took a deep breath, gripped the Chess Piece of Fate, and stepped onto the starlit path.

And on the other side of fate, Lin Yi still stood at the end of the threads of fate, gazing at the path that had vanished into chaos.

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

He had no answer.

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

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

“This path…” Xiao Chen said softly, “seems much deeper than we imagined.”

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

They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with determination.

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

“The third path of fate…” Xiao Chen smiled slightly, “It begins here.”

They took a step, their figures disappearing into the end of fate.

And on the other side of fate, the Chessmaster of Fate stood quietly in the void, gazing at the path that had vanished into chaos.

“They… have all found their way,” he murmured, his voice carrying a hint of relief and also a touch of solemnity.

The reshaping of fate never came without a cost.

He slowly raised his hand, and a fragmented Chess Piece of Fate appeared in his palm. The piece had lost its original power, with only a faint glimmer remaining.

“The price… has been paid,” he muttered, “but the journey of fate has only just begun.”

He looked into the distance, into the endless void where countless fragments of fate slowly drifted, each reflecting a future that had not yet occurred.

“The third path of fate…” he said softly, “has been opened.”

He closed his eyes, and his figure slowly dissipated into the void.