Far away from the prosperity of Cang Yue City...
Far away from the countless lights illuminating the capital of the Da Cang Empire...
Far away from the eyes of ordinary cultivators...
A place existed where sunlight itself seemed unwilling to linger.
Black Swamp City.
One of the darkest regions within the Southern Territories.
A city built above endless marshlands.
A city where assassins, mercenaries, smugglers, and forgotten cultivators gathered.
A city where secrets were worth more than spirit stones.
And deep within the hidden regions of Black Swamp City—
beyond layers of formations...
beyond poisonous mists...
beyond ancient barriers—
a mysterious medicinal garden silently existed.
The garden stretched for thousands of meters.
Ancient herbs filled every corner.
Blood-colored flowers bloomed beneath black moonlight.
Silver vines crawled across ancient stone pillars.
Several thousand-year-old medicinal plants radiated dense spiritual energy.
Some herbs had already developed weak spiritual intelligence.
Others possessed enough value to start wars between sects.
The air itself shimmered with medicinal essence.
At the center of the garden—
two figures stood quietly.
One wore black robes.
The other seemed almost inhuman.
His entire body was surrounded by a strange black liquid aura.
The black substance flowed around him like living darkness.
At times it resembled water.
At times it resembled smoke.
At times it appeared like countless screaming souls trapped within an endless abyss.
This man was—
Hei Wu.
One of the hidden rulers of the fallen Yue Sha Empire.
The black liquid surrounding him continuously absorbed nearby light.
Making the entire area appear darker than it truly was.
His crimson eyes slowly scanned the garden.
A rare smile appeared.
After years of effort...
After countless sacrifices...
After endless planning...
The garden was finally complete.
Several moments later—
Hei Wu spoke.
His voice echoed through the garden like cold water flowing through a graveyard.
"Sect Leader Long Wei..."
The black-robed man standing nearby slowly raised his head.
Yu Long Wei.
Leader of the Yu Long Sect.
The man responsible for countless hidden schemes throughout the Da Cang Empire.
The man who had spent years weaving conspiracies from the shadows.
His eyes were calm.
Cold.
Patient.
The eyes of a hunter waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Hei Wu slowly gestured toward the countless herbs surrounding them.
"After so much effort..."
"After so many years..."
"We have finally cultivated them."
His eyes reflected the medicinal garden.
A dangerous ambition appeared within them.
"Now..."
"The time has come."
"The Yue Sha Empire shall write its history once again."
The surrounding air became heavier.
Yu Long Wei silently observed the garden.
His gaze lingered upon several ancient herbs.
Then he spoke.
"Hmm..."
His voice remained calm.
Measured.
Yet his next words carried a hidden warning.
"Do not forget our agreement."
The smile on Hei Wu's face widened.
"Of course."
"You need not worry."
The black liquid surrounding his body rippled.
"Yue Sha Empire may be ruthless..."
"But we never abandon our promises."
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"When the new empire rises..."
"The throne you deserve shall belong to you."
For the first time—
a faint smile appeared on Yu Long Wei's face.
A smile hidden beneath years of ambition.
Years of waiting.
Years of patience.
The throne.
The very thing he desired most.
Not merely power.
Not merely wealth.
But absolute authority.
A ruler standing above all.
At that moment—
footsteps echoed through the garden.
Both men's expressions became serious.
A third figure emerged from the shadows.
Black robes.
Black boots.
Black gloves.
And upon his chest—
a black leopard insignia.
The symbol of Yue Sha Empire's hidden assassins.
The newcomer immediately knelt.
"Master Hei Wu."
"Leader Long Wei."
His voice was respectful.
This man was—
Mo Chen.
Hidden Commander of the Yue Sha Empire.
Master of intelligence gathering.
Controller of countless spies.
The eyes and ears hidden throughout multiple empires.
Hei Wu looked toward him.
"What happened?"
His eyes narrowed.
"For you to come personally..."
"It must be important."
Mo Chen lowered his head.
"It concerns the Wanling Empire."
The moment those words appeared—
both Hei Wu and Yu Long Wei became slightly surprised.
"Wanling Empire?"
Hei Wu frowned.
"That empire was consumed by Void Chaos months ago."
"Shouldn't it already be finished?"
Mo Chen nodded.
"It should."
"But..."
His voice became heavier.
"The Princess survived."
Silence.
"The Princess?"
Yu Long Wei's eyes narrowed.
"Han Qing Li?"
"Yes."
Mo Chen nodded.
"She was spotted within the Eastern Ancient Forest."
"Together with a young man."
"A young man carrying a mark on his forehead."
The atmosphere changed.
Instantly.
Both Hei Wu and Yu Long Wei exchanged glances.
A mark.
Forehead mark.
Those words triggered memories.
Dangerous memories.
Hei Wu's fingers unconsciously tightened.
Yet he remained calm.
"So..."
"The younger generation of Wanling Empire still lives."
Mo Chen nodded.
"However..."
"The Princess isn't what concerns me."
His eyes darkened.
"The boy does."
Hei Wu became interested.
"Oh?"
Mo Chen slowly recalled the battle.
Even now—
the memory remained vivid.
Terrifyingly vivid.
"That boy..."
"He was only at Meridian Tracer Rank."
"But he froze every single one of my Rank Seven Talismanic Leopards."
The medicinal garden became silent.
Yu Long Wei's eyes narrowed.
Meridian Tracer?
Freezing Rank Seven talismans?
Mo Chen continued.
"His speed was even more frightening."
"Almost impossible to follow."
Hei Wu frowned.
"Speed?"
"Frost?"
"A forehead mark?"
The pieces slowly began moving.
But not yet fitting together.
Then Mo Chen delivered another shock.
"I saw him years ago."
"Inside Blackwood Forest."
Both men looked toward him.
"He was merely an Energy Core cultivator at the time."
"But now..."
"He has reached Third-Star Meridian Tracer."
"Only two years have passed."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Two years.
From Energy Core to Meridian Tracer.
Such speed was monstrous.
Even among imperial geniuses.
Yu Long Wei slowly exhaled.
"Nishan..."
"Frost power..."
"Abnormal speed..."
His gaze shifted toward Hei Wu.
Then he asked quietly—
"Are you absolutely certain..."
"That Lin Clan was completely destroyed?"
The moment those words appeared—
Hei Wu froze.
Completely froze.
His breathing stopped.
For a brief moment—
the medicinal garden became deathly silent.
Then—
memories returned.
One memory after another.
The ruins of Lin Clan.
Blood.
Flames.
Corpses.
And amidst those ruins—
a fourteen-year-old boy.
Standing before him.
A mark glowing upon his forehead.
Filled with hatred.
Filled with rage.
Filled with determination.
Hei Wu remembered those words perfectly.
Every single syllable.
"If Yu Long Sect had a hand in destroying my clan..."
"I will destroy all of you."
The memory struck his mind like thunder.
Then another memory appeared.
The Imperial Warriors Tournament.
Hei Luo.
Yan Lie.
Both killed.
A masked swordsman.
A mysterious youth.
A forehead mark.
Then—
Treasure Realm.
The same frost power.
The same terrifying speed.
The same eyes.
Suddenly—
everything connected.
Every piece.
Every clue.
Every mystery.
They all pointed toward a single person.
One name.
One impossible name.
Hei Wu's breathing became irregular.
His face slowly turned pale.
"No..."
His voice trembled.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Yet the answer remained undeniable.
"It was him."
Mo Chen and Yu Long Wei stared.
Hei Wu slowly clenched his fists.
"It was him all along."
"The masked youth."
"The tournament champion."
"Shuan Hao."
His eyes widened.
"He isn't Shuan Hao."
"He is..."
"Lin Shuan."
Boom.
The words exploded like thunder.
Mo Chen's eyes widened.
Yu Long Wei's expression finally changed.
For the first time—
true surprise appeared.
"Lin Shuan?"
"The cursed genius?"
Hei Wu nodded.
Still struggling to believe it himself.
"Yes."
The cursed genius.
The boy unable to cultivate.
The boy destined to remain crippled.
The boy who should have died.
And yet—
he had survived.
Not only survived—
he had grown.
Rapidly.
Terrifyingly.
Yu Long Wei slowly spoke.
"So..."
"The cursed boy..."
"Was actually capable of becoming an Empire Protector?"
Even Hei Wu couldn't answer.
Because everything about Lin Shuan now defied logic.
Defied reason.
Defied common sense.
Then suddenly—
Hei Wu looked toward Mo Chen.
"You said he is with Han Qing Li?"
"Yes."
Hei Wu closed his eyes.
Thinking rapidly.
"If he escaped..."
"If he inherited the treasure garden..."
"If he advanced to Meridian Tracer..."
"And if Han Qing Li survived..."
His eyes slowly opened.
Danger appeared within them.
"Then he is no longer alone."
"He is forming alliances."
"Or preparing to."
Yu Long Wei immediately understood.
And that realization was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
Because talent alone wasn't frightening.
But talent combined with influence...
combined with allies...
combined with revenge...
That could become a disaster.
Finally—
Yu Long Wei stood.
His robes moved without wind.
His eyes became cold.
Terrifyingly cold.
"Find him."
Mo Chen immediately bowed.
"As you command."
"But remember."
Yu Long Wei's voice deepened.
"If you discover Lin Shuan..."
"Do not appear before him."
Mo Chen froze.
Hei Wu also looked surprised.
Yu Long Wei continued.
"Not yet."
"Anyone who approaches him carelessly..."
"...will merely invite death."
The warning carried unusual seriousness.
Both men understood.
This wasn't fear.
This was caution.
The caution reserved for dangerous opponents.
Mo Chen immediately lowered his head.
"Understood."
Hei Wu also nodded.
The two figures disappeared into the shadows.
Leaving Yu Long Wei alone.
Silence returned to the ancient garden.
The medicinal herbs swayed gently.
A cold breeze passed through the darkness.
Yu Long Wei stood quietly.
His eyes gazing toward the distant north.
Toward Cang Yue City.
Toward destiny itself.
Finally—
he spoke.
Softly.
Almost like a sigh.
"Lin Zhen Hai..."
The former Patriarch of Lin Clan.
The man he once tried to recruit.
The man who refused.
The man who chose honor over opportunity.
A faint sadness appeared within Yu Long Wei's eyes.
"If you had accepted my proposal..."
"Your clan would still exist."
His gaze darkened.
"And perhaps..."
"You would have gained an entirely new future."
Far away—
above the clouds—
thunder quietly rumbled.
As though heaven itself had heard those words.
And somewhere within the Da Cang Empire—
a young man named Lin Shuan remained completely unaware.
Unaware that old enemies had finally uncovered his true identity.
Unaware that ancient shadows had begun moving once more.
Unaware that the storm approaching him...
was far greater than anything he had imagined.
The game hidden beneath the darkness—
had finally begun.