The fortress was a mess of burnt wreckage, still smoking while Liang Feng stood in front of Master Qian Xu. Qian Xu was tied up and looked like he'd been through a meat grinder. The air reeked of burnt stuff mixing with the salty smell from the sea. For a minute, nobody said anything. Then Qian Xu, his voice rough, but like he really meant what he was saying, broke the quiet.
A deal, he croaked out. There's a Family get-together. It's in a week. At the Mother's main place—the tallest point in the Seven Empires. Hai Zhen can't miss it. If we don't show, they'll know something's off.
Liang squinted at him. So, you want me to pretend to be you, go hang out with these people like I belong there?
Qian Xu coughed, and blood splattered out, but he nodded. Yeah. It's kind of… a party. The Mother moved up—past even the Obsidian level. They're calling it Celestial Crimson… some new level of power. Folks will get promoted. Power will be handed out. They'll give slaves who've got some cultivation built up as gifts to the Mother. It's like… a holy offering.
The only way to get to the Mother without being suspected was to pretend to be one of the Hai Zhens Mermaids while attending the Event.
Liang let out a breath, looking at the ruined fortress. And I kind of already burnt your base, freed your slaves, and wrecked your army. His voice was not friendly. So, tell me, Master, how are you planning on showing up with your gifts now?
The room went quiet until Mei Xuan, the Diamond-ranked fighter who was very attractive, stepped up. Her voice was soft, but she sounded sure of herself. There are… others. In the lower parts down below.
Liang turned to her fast. Flames started dancing around his fingertips. You kept this from me.
She winced, looking down. We were scared you'd get angry.
Liang's energy spiked, and the other fighters stumbled back. No more lies. Tell me everything. Now.
Qian Xu, who was way past being able to argue, spoke up. The Ninth Beast. We feed it… every day. Only mermaids who've reached Level Five—Platinum—get fed to it. The Beast won't eat anything weaker. Two were tossed down there recently.
Liang clenched his fists. Level Five? Platinum rank? So you fatten them up first… then feed them to your monster.
The master nodded weakly. That's how it's always gone. I used to be a slave. I didn't have any cultivation until we found this energy in the slaves. We took it and made it better for ourselves. That's how Hai Zhen climbed up—but even then, we were still at the bottom among the Seven Empires.
Liang's jaw tightened. And you still call yourselves rulers.
Qian Xu's head sank in shame.
Mei Xuan added, softly, The Ninth Beast… It can sense cultivation energy from far away. That's why we chain up the slaves. Two mermaids were thrown down recently. They're probably dead by now.
Liang's heart was full of rage. He looked around at the wreckage, then at the map in his hand. He stood up straight.
I'm going down there, he said, his voice cold. If anyone's alive, I'm saving them. If not… I'm killing the Beast, no matter what.
Qian Xu went pale. You… you can't. Nobody who's gone into that dungeon has ever come back. Even when I was at my best, I wouldn't go near it.
Liang ignored him. Take me there.
The master started to argue, but when he saw the look in Liang's eyes, he stopped. He just nodded.
***
As they got ready, Liang went back into the ruins of the Hai Zhen treasury. His hands moved quickly, gathering what was left of the empire's magic items.
A beat-up jade bowl. Two pieces of Phoenix-feather charms. A fang from a sea snake. He crushed them up, saying old spells, mixing them with drops of his own blood—dark and glowing. Steam rose from the mix as it turned into a hot, red paste.
Qian Xu and the others watched, scared.
What… What are you making? Zhao Shen whispered.
Liang didn't answer right away. He dipped a finger into the paste, drawing symbols on his sword. As the marks sank into the steel, the blade hissed and started to glow, flames growing with each mark he made.
Finally, Liang spoke. This will cut through the Beast's skin. It's got thick scales… but they won't hold up against Phoenix fire.
Mei Xuan stepped up, eyes wide. How… How do you know this magic? Even the Seven Empires have lost arts like this.
Liang glanced at her, and for a second, something flashed between them—curiosity. But it was gone fast.
Take me to the dungeon, he ordered.
***
The way into the dungeon was hidden behind layers of stone that had magic on them. As they went down, the steam got thicker, like ghosts in the air. The walls felt like they were alive, pulsing with dark energy, watching them.
Qian Xu stopped at the entrance, sweating like crazy. Nobody goes any further… not even me.
Liang stepped forward, not scared at all. Then stay here and hope your Beast doesn't eat your whole empire when I'm done with it.
The master looked scared and yelled after him. Be careful!
But Liang had already gone into the chamber.
***
The dungeon was a pit filled with boiling steam, lit by red crystals in the walls. The air smelled like blood and salt. Bones—hundreds of them—covered the floor. Chains hung from the ceiling like metal vines.
Then came the roar.
It shook the ground, a sound so deep and raw that it shook the stones of Hai Zhen above. The fighters on the surface stumbled, grabbing their chests, scared.
Liang stood still.
Out of the shadows came The Ninth Beast.
A huge monster, with black scales and red eyes that glowed like suns. Its mouth was huge and full of rows of sharp teeth. It smelled like death and old power.
Its voice sounded like thunder, not in words, but in raw hunger: POWER... FEED ME...
Liang's sword flared with Phoenix fire as he raised it.
You're not eating anyone else, monster.
The Beast charged.
They clashed, and the dungeon shook. Fire met scales, teeth met steel. Liang moved like a blur. His sword left burning marks across the Beast's hide, each hit sending up flames and black blood.
The creature roared, its tail smashing into the walls, breaking stone. Liang jumped, dodging, and attacking, his every move precise and deadly.
But the Beast was old—and smart.
As they fought, the steam got thicker, blinding. Liang kept going, his heart pounding, sword cutting deep—
And then, with a loud howl, the Beast fell.
It fell hard, its huge body crashing to the ground. Blood formed a pool beneath it. Its eyes dimmed.
Liang, breathing hard, lowered his sword. So this is The Ninth Beast…
But then—
The ground shook. The air turned cold.
The Beast's eyes flashed open—brighter and redder than before.
With a roar that shook the dungeon walls, it opened its jaws to bite!
Liang's eyes went wide.
It was pretending—!