Echoes of the Abyssal Blade: Path to Free Will - Chapter 24: Lesson - I

In the third year of the Kaihuang era, as the Great Sui began to unfold between the fall of the Northern Dynasties and the rise of the glorious Tang Dynasty, Emperor Yang Jian created the House of Blades – an intelligence agency for strategies and conspiracies – in preparation to unify the world.

On a snowy night, a convoy of tribute from the Kingdom of Khotan was raided. Not one soul survived the attack. Feng Xiao, Second Commandant of the House of Blades, was ordered by the Emperor to investigate the matter in person.

On the distant border, a storm brewed as major forces gathered from all sides in Liugong Town. The strong rubbed shoulders with the strong; the skilled crossed paths with the skilled.

Here, the ever-successful Second Commandant Feng ran into a wall for the first time – all because of a feeble Taoist priest with ailing health.

Some things would never be known if no fights were ever picked. Only through their skirmishes did Feng Xiao realise that this sick bastard seemed to have way more aliases and personas than he himself ever did.

- Description from Novelupdates

In a world where Heroes are the last line of defence against threats, 17 year-old Zane Skylark, was the most powerful of them all—a symbol of strength and justice. Known as the “Rank-1 Hero, [Hope].”[Hope's] every move was praised by the masses, and his victories were legendary.But during a mission, [Hope] is believed to have died, but only to survive due to an unknown skill—[Immortality].For 60 long days, Zane's lifeless body remains inactive, as the [Hero Association] declares him dead and appoints a new hero who can mimic Zane’s strength under his hero name [Hope].After resurrected.“What's... Happening?”“Didn't I... Die?..”“Immortality?”Zane finds himself in a confused situation.“After everything I did for them...”After finding [Hero Association] betrayal, he decided to distance himself from them.“It's been... almost 3 years. ”“Maybe I should return home.”He decided to return to his hometown, hoping to bury his past and lead a peaceful existence.But... can a hero truly abandon their destiny? Or will new challenges will force Zane to confront his past self and the responsibilities he has left behind?

Ye Zhen, a female Ph.D. in the Department of Mathematics of Huada University, changed her career to enter the entertainment industry in order to investigate the death of her birth father, Film Emperor Ye Yi. During her interview, she accidentally made CEO Rong Cheng Jue lose face in public. Yet Rong Cheng Jue, unlike what was to be expected, didn’t take old grudges into account and let Ye Zhen join his company. When everyone thought Ye Zhen would become Rong Cheng Jue’s personal secretary, she actually joined the entertainment department. After several twists and turns, Ye Zhen became an errand reporter for Rongcheng Entertainment’s “Treasures of Great Tang”.

Her colleagues’ bullying towards her, the pressure of changing career, and the many obstacles in her investigation all left her confused. Under Rong Cheng Jue’s silent guardianship, she didn’t forget her original purpose, overcame every obstacle, and eventually became an ace producer.

Ye Zhen and Rong Cheng Jue shared a common belief : no matter how bleak the hope is, how thorny and dark is the road ahead, they had only one thought in their hearts: to uncover the truth, and therefore bring peace to the soul of the Film Emperor Ye Yi.

- Description from Novelupdates

Zhou Peng accidentally travels through time, finding himself in a weakened and sickly body with a shattered dantian, unable to cultivate qigong. Fortunately, the heavens show mercy by bestowing upon him an upgrade system.A waste? That's all in the past...Leveling up by slaying monsters, effortless and hassle-free, he no longer has to worry about cultivating.Killing monsters grants upgrades, and so does killing people. In the eyes of others, the awe-inspiring and prestigious sect masters are nothing but shining golden bosses in his sight...With the ability to upgrade, who am I afraid of? When so-called geniuses encounter roadblocks and fail to breakthrough, all I need to do is slay a few more beastly demons. Of course, sect heads, sect masters, realm lords... are even better.For the sake of my path to divinity, offer up your lives!