Library of Heaven’s Path 2: Eternal Destiny

Vol 2 Ch 99: The River of Destiny

Not only was he stunned, but the surrounding crowd quickly realized what was happening. After a brief silence, the room erupted into raucous laughter.

"Bringing a chicken and a horse to the assessment? What kind of joke is this?"

"Do they think these two could succeed in Seeking Destiny and become Destiny Masters?"

"Who came up with this brilliant idea? This is a story I’ll be laughing about for three years!"

"I’ve got you beat—I’ll be laughing for ten years!"

The entire room burst into chatter and laughter.

Hearing the ridicule, the elder's expression darkened. He swept his gaze around the room. "Who brought them here?"

"Reporting to the senior, they are my pets…" Zhang Xuan stepped forward.

"Pets? These ordinary animals qualify as pets?" The elder laughed in exasperation.

People keep pets that are either flying Source Beasts for long-distance travel or ferocious ones for combat support. But you— a chicken and a horse? What is this—getting hungry and preparing dinner in advance?

"Senior, are you saying they can’t take the test?" Zhang Xuan frowned. "Doesn’t the Destiny Hall accept anyone who pays the fee?"

"Of course, but letting them take the test is just throwing money away…" The elder shook his head.

The elder, Zhu Xun, was in charge of assessments at the Destiny Hall of the Zouyi Dynasty. He was well aware that some wealthy individuals had strange eccentricities. But paying for these two to take the test? That wasn’t an eccentricity; it was insanity.

Three million Source Coins—a significant sum for any family.

"As long as it’s allowed, that’s fine. I’ll trouble you to let them proceed." Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, uninterested in further explanations.

Regarding the Little Chick, Zhang Xuan had confidence in its success. As for Dao Li, he was less certain. After all, Dao Li was just a horse he picked up randomly from the Source World, unlike the Little Chick, who had accompanied him in countless battles across the universe.

"Alright…"

Seeing Zhang Xuan's insistence, Elder Zhu hesitated but eventually nodded. He couldn’t care less whether it was a human or a horse taking the test—after all, they were still getting paid.

Just as he was about to arrange for everyone to enter, Yan Thirty-Three, who had been silent until now, suddenly frowned. "I object!"

"You?" Elder Zhu looked puzzled, as did Zhang Xuan.

Why does my spending money concern you?

"I am a renowned genius of the Zouyi Dynasty, ranked first on the Star River Potential List. I didn’t mind being tested alongside others, but being grouped with a chicken and a horse is an outright insult!" Yan Thirty-Three clasped his hands behind his back.

His pride was evident, as even experts like Fei Ling and Su Yunzhe had joined forces to deal with him earlier. Now, asking him to take the Destiny Master assessment alongside non-Source Beasts was humiliating.

"You’re overthinking it. These two are not only Teacher's beasts but also his friends. If they’re here for the assessment, it’s to become Destiny Masters, not to insult anyone! Besides…"

Kong Shiyao frowned and explained, "Aren’t I taking the test alongside you too?"

"This…" Yan Thirty-Three hesitated. "Fine, I’ll take the test this time, but consider your earlier favor repaid."

"That’s fine," Kong Shiyao agreed. It wasn’t a significant favor to begin with, so if he felt repaid, so be it.

Though still disgruntled, Yan Thirty-Three waved his hand and turned to Elder Zhu. "I have no further issues now."

Elder Zhu sighed in relief and gestured with his hand. The stone door of the room slowly opened. "Go in. One last thing—if you can’t withstand the pressure, leave immediately. Otherwise, it could cause fatal damage to your soul."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The group nodded and entered one by one. Dao Li and the Little Chick glanced back at Zhang Xuan.

"Take your time to explore and find something suitable for yourselves. If you don’t find anything, don’t worry; I’ll help you later. This is just for the assessment." Zhang Xuan advised.

"Understood!" Kong Shiyao, the Little Chick, and Dao Li all nodded in unison and strode inside.

"As if animals like these can even understand…"

"Testing a chicken and a horse—this guy’s lost it."

"Just wait and see how humiliated he gets!"

"Humiliated? Watch me spit in his face later!"

Watching Zhang Xuan seriously instruct the two animals, the room erupted in laughter again. Even Elder Zhu couldn’t help but shake his head.

He had seen extravagance before, but this was an unparalleled display of wastefulness. That six million Source Coins were as good as flushed away.

---

As soon as Kong Shiyao, the Little Chick, and the others entered, a rumbling noise echoed, and the stone door closed behind them. They found themselves in a massive room over thirty meters in diameter. Eight stone pillars stood ahead, covered in inscriptions that emanated an overwhelming aura even from a distance.

"Things will get intense soon. Your teacher isn’t here—are you sure you won’t need my help?" Yan Thirty-Three turned to Kong Shiyao, his expression earnest. "Your favor is still valid with me…"

"No need." Kong Shiyao declined once more.

Seeking Destiny was a personal journey. She didn’t want assistance from anyone.

Yan Thirty-Three said no more and stood quietly, waiting. Before long, waves of Heaven's Fate Energy surged down, and everyone felt a momentary daze as if they had plunged into a vast river.

The river was boundless. Upstream, there was no source; downstream, no end. The shores on either side were invisible. It was as though they had left the room and fallen into an endless, rushing torrent.

There was no sound other than the roaring current.

"This is the River of Destiny? No, it must be a simulation created by the Destiny Hall at great expense. The real River of Destiny requires power beyond the Star River Realm to summon…" Kong Shiyao recalled her teacher’s teachings.

The true River of Destiny existed in an unknown space, inaccessible to most cultivators.

Relaxing and letting herself sink, Kong Shiyao noticed she could still breathe underwater and sighed in relief. It wasn’t the real river.

The true River of Destiny left no room for choice. In it, one was entirely at the mercy of fate—"All is predestined; nothing can be forced." Only those with extraordinary talent could swim even slightly, using the opportunity to seek their destined fate.

Taking a deep breath, she surveyed her surroundings.

Within the river, koi fish occasionally swam by like fleeting shooting stars. They came in gold, silver, and gray hues, each distinct in quantity and brightness.

"These must be opportunities. The golden ones are the most valuable, silver the second, and gray the weakest. If I can catch one, I’ll find my destiny!" Kong Shiyao’s eyes lit up.

The River of Destiny often presented opportunities—some monumental, some minor. Grasping a significant one could transform one’s life entirely, while even a small one could ensure temporary success and security.

In other words, catching any of these koi could grant someone their destiny and lead to unparalleled success.

Just as she was about to reach for one, she heard splashing nearby. A figure floundered toward her.

It was none other than Yan Thirty-Three.

Despite being able to swim, he appeared clumsy and awkward, a far cry from the elegance he had displayed earlier when facing two powerful opponents.

"Follow me, and I’ll help you catch an opportunity!" Yan Thirty-Three, sweating profusely and slightly trembling, spoke with determination.

"You’ll help me?" Kong Shiyao was taken aback.

She had only offered him a word of support earlier—was this level of enthusiasm really necessary?

"I can withstand some of the Heaven's Fate Energy. Stay close, and it’ll be easier for you. You might even catch a gray or silver opportunity!" Yan Thirty-Three explained.

Kong Shiyao was unimpressed. "Why can’t I catch a golden one?"

Yan Thirty-Three shook his head. "Opportunities differ in strength. Grasping a golden one triggers an intense Heaven's Fate Energy backlash. Even I couldn’t endure it, let alone you! Forcing it would bring disaster, not fortune."

"That serious?" Kong Shiyao frowned. Her teacher hadn’t mentioned this—perhaps he didn’t know.

But it made sense. Throughout history, not everyone could claim the highest opportunities. Why did Liu Bang rise as an emperor amidst the chaos of the Qin Dynasty while the legendary warrior Xiang Yu fell?

Talent was crucial. Xiang Yu simply wasn’t destined to rule.

"It’s true!" Yan Thirty-Three nodded solemnly. "That’s why opportunities are rare and not everyone can seize them. Take that chicken and horse of your teacher’s, for instance. They aren’t even Source Beasts. Even if opportunities appear before them, how could they possibly grasp them? It’s just a waste of money…"

Cough, cough!

Kong Shiyao awkwardly patted his shoulder. "Uh… Thirty-Three, maybe you should look behind you?"

"Look behind? At what? This is common sense I can…" Yan Thirty-Three sneered

, only to freeze mid-sentence.

The Little Chick, the very creature he had mocked, was swimming leisurely in the River of Destiny. With effortless movements, it darted here and there. Suddenly, it pecked at the water, and a golden koi fish appeared in its beak, promptly devoured with a loud crunch.

"…What?"

Yan Thirty-Three was utterly dumbfounded.

After struggling to swim half a meter, a mere chicken—barely qualifying as a Source Beast—was not only swimming freely but had casually caught a golden opportunity.

Someone, please tell me—what on earth is happening here?

Author's Note