At last, the three of them reached that sacred, forbidden place— a realm where no soul was ever meant to tread.
The Hall of Records stood before them, resembling a colossal tower made of ancient scrolls.Some were withered and torn like dying memories, others glowed faintly with the youth of souls yet unspent.
There were no guards. That alone stirred unease in both Huo Feng and Wu Xin.
"We've arrived," Li announced quietly.
Huo Feng turned toward him, her eyes silently asking, How can I find the one I'm looking for?
Li answered, his tone grave: "When you pull someone's record, the scroll will scream in terror if they are dead—for you would be tearing them from their final rest.It's like dragging a thorned spear from living flesh."
Huo Feng's lips parted in horror. "And if they're still alive?" she asked softly.
Li exhaled, his eyes dim."Then they will die.Because pulling their scroll means pulling their soul."
She fell silent, torn between two impossible choices.Then suddenly—she understood.
Placing her palm against the tower's surface, she closed her eyes and reached out with her inner fire, feeling for the presence of that person. Was it Shushu—the one who knew their path?Or Suo, the one who vanished because of her? Or perhaps little Fu, whom she once mistook for her mother?
A faint smile curved her lips."They're here…" she whispered. "Those three scrolls—all of them bear the same name: Fu."
Shock flashed across Li's face.He remembered his childhood friend—little Fu—and wondered what bound her fate to Huo Feng's.Had he missed something… during the last trial?
But Wu Xin's shock was deeper.It was as if he was hearing that name for the first time, yet his heart stirred with strange familiarity.Why does it sound… known to me?
Before Huo Feng could reach for a scroll, the ground trembled.From beneath the gray sands rose the Guardian of the Records—a being shaped like Death itself, with eyes sharp as blades and a voice like thunder.
"How dare you!" he roared, swinging a weapon that gleamed like a massive scythe.
Wu Xin moved instinctively, stepping before Huo Feng, barely able to breathe under the crushing weight of the Guardian's aura. Li shouted, "Be careful! He shows no mercy!"
A fierce battle erupted—lightning against shadow. Huo Feng's Thunder Blade clashed with the Guardian's scythe, sparks burning through the darkness.
Then suddenly—her rage ignited. The furnace within her blazed, and flames spiraled outward like a storm ready to consume everything—Li, Wu Xin, the Guardian, even the entire Shadow Realm itself.
For a single heartbeat, she nearly ended it all.
But then—the Guardian froze.The stillness stopped her fury.
"Why are you withdrawing?" she demanded.
A voice echoed from behind her. "Because the one you're protecting… is already in the hands of the King."
Huo Feng spun around. Wu Xin was gone.
Her flames died down, her eyes hollow with surrender. Then she turned to the servant standing nearby—a sly man with the gaze of a jackal and a crooked smile, the Shadow Emperor's trusted advisor.
"If you harm him," she said quietly, "then I promise you this—his fate will be yours. And not just yours… but the fate of this entire kingdom—perhaps even the realms beyond."
The imperial palace was not built of stone as one might imagine…but of dread—a dread that flickered with a faint purple glow,as if the entire structure had been torn from the ashes of a sacred fire.
Its walls were pitch–black, windowless, interrupted only by massive uneven openings,gaping like the mouths of another hell inhaling lost souls, exhaling darkness.Even the air was heavy there, carrying a scent of something long forgotten… a scent that exhausted the spirit before it remembered why it feared it.
In the throne hall, a strange fountain rose at the center, circling with a dim red light.But the true horror lay in the frames of gray branches hanging along the walls, decorated with heads—enemies… traitors… perhaps beloved souls who betrayed.The walls themselves seemed to narrate a history of shattered loyalty and blood.
From a ceiling whose end could not be seen, a massive chandelier hung, swaying slowly,its deliberate creaking savoring the tension of every visitor who dared to enter.
This palace belonged only to those who could look death in the eye… without blinking.
And above them all, upon the elevated throne, sat the Emperor— a veiled creature of silent majesty,draped entirely in darkness from head to toe.Only the wild gleam of his eyes and the silver strands of hair flowing down his shouldersbroke through that abyss, like a light refusing death… refusing the dark.
His presence swallowed the room. The only one who dared disturb that gravity was the Advisor, with his cheap, poisonous smile.
Huo Feng stood tall before them—with a confidence that did not resemble humans, as if she were the equal of this palace… its walls, its memories, its king.
She did not speak. She simply let him look at her. A single heartbeat that felt like an age.
And within her, a shadowed thought passed:This advisor… I despised him from the very first glance.
At last, she lifted her gaze to the Emperor and said:
"What are the conditions for his release?"
The advisor laughed—sharp, loaded with venom.
"Release?And why would you think we intend to release him at all…?"
He paused, savoring her pain.
"Perhaps we killed him…and perhaps you won't even see his corpse."
She didn't look at him. She ignored him deliberately— dragged a chair, sat with full confidence,a gesture that shook the hall.
The advisor's face shifted.But in the Emperor's eyes… a flicker of admiration appeared. He admired her steadiness, her boldness, her ability to walk through psychological traps as though they were nothing but mist.
She met his eyes and asked softly, challengingly:
"What do you want?"
He didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on the hairpin in her hair.
The advisor stepped in:"You've committed unforgivable crimes.You trespassed on sacred ground… stole the Serpent… meddled with our Records.Is that not enough?"
Huo Feng replied with killing calm:
"Then we have a long account to settle—later.For now, bring Wuxin. I need him immediately."
"You arrogant girl!" the advisor snapped."How dare you give—"
He was silenced by the Emperor's voice—a single, deep hum:
"Hmm."
The advisor recoiled instantly, like a frightened serpent. He barked orders at the guards and stepped aside.
Wu Xin entered moments later… pale, fading, staggering as though half his soul had already slipped away.
When Huo Feng saw him, pain flared in her eyes— a pain the Emperor noticed.A weakness. She stepped closer.
"I will treat him now.Do you grant permission?"
The Emperor inclined his head. The advisor leaned toward her, feigning kindness:"Here's a secret…The serpent that devours the parasite may kill him too.You must burn it in the sacred furnace the moment it's done."
She smiled.
"How generous.But I have my own way."
Shock crossed both their faces.
"And another thing," the advisor added smugly."You will never control the serpent.It is stubborn—vast, powerful like our kingdom."
"No matter," she replied."It has already agreed to help me."
Then, coldly:
"Is the interrogation over?"
"I was helping," he hissed.
"Liar. You were probing me for weaknesses."
The Emperor lifted his hand—permission.
Huo Feng raised Wu Xin into the air, as light as a floating feather, and placed her palm against his chest. She closed her eyes… calling to the Queen Serpent inside her.
"I will copy your power…Will you allow it?"
The serpent chuckled darkly:
"And do I have the luxury of refusing, little girl…?"
A cloak of golden scales slipped from the serpent's soul and wrapped around Huo Feng's hand— a replica of the Queen's divine force.
It surged into Wu Xin's throat.He convulsed, choking the ancient war erupting inside him:
The Queen against the Soul-Devouring Parasite.
Huo Feng could no longer pretend strength. She pushed her hand deeper against his chest, shielding his heart from breaking.
And when the Queen finally swallowed the parasite—the serpent tried to escape.
Huo Feng caught it. It twisted, writhed but her fear and fury unified inside her palm, awakening the silent death of her internal furnace.
The furnace flared and the serpent exploded, a burst so violent it nearly tore open Wu Xin's chest.
He collapsed, coughing blood, and slipped into unconsciousness.
Huo Feng exhaled at last a breath of exhausted peace and wiped his mouth with her sleeve.
The Emperor stared. He could not believe it.
The Queen… gone?Just like that?
The advisor demanded, trembling with anger and disbelief:
"Then how will you repair your crimes?"
She smiled.
"That is what I intend to discover.But admit it…I'm not here by accident.And you want to know why."
The advisor's expression sharpened.
"What were you searching for… in the Records?"
She answered slowly:
"I was looking for a girl named…"
She hesitated. If she said Little Fu, they would imprison her like Wu Xin.
So she corrected herself:
"ShuShu."
The Emperor's eyes gleamed.Master Li gasped:
"How do you know her?!"
Then...for the first time the Emperor spoke.
His voice was deep, regal, enchanting…and dangerously calm:
"Why ask me?Ask my son…"
Huo Feng froze.
"How could I ask him when I don't—" She fell silent.
The Emperor roared:
"Answer her, you fool! How dare you disgrace yourself—adorning a girl's hair! Is this what you've become?!"
With a sharp gesture, he cracked his whip snatching the hairpin from Huo Feng's hair. It clattered to the ground… and Master Li returned instantly to his true form.
Huo Feng looked at him ...a gaze heavy with unspoken ache:
"What other secrets…are you hiding from me?"