The Phoenix of the Slums

The journey to the Gaowei Catacombs was fraught with peril from the start. The team drove under the cover of night, avoiding the main roads that connected Denghai to the mountainous region to the west.

The city was bustling as always, but for Tianming, every shadow felt like it was crawling toward him.

The Lotus Clan’s reach extended everywhere.

“You know the way, right?” Fang asked, her voice calm but laced with concern as they navigated the rough, unpaved road leading into the darkened foothills.

“I’ve been there before. Once,” Xu Liang replied, his gaze never leaving the road ahead. “But it’s been years. Things change. People forget.”

Dr. Jin, who had been mostly silent since their encounter with Xu Liang, spoke up. “The Catacombs are not just a place. They’re a repository of history—an archive of things that should have stayed buried.”

Tianming felt the weight of his words. The Seal they were looking for wasn’t just a key to their pasts—it could rewrite everything. They were not only searching for the truth of Xu Liang’s origin but for something far more dangerous.

Zhao glanced in the rearview mirror. “Any of you ever thought about what happens if we’re too late?”

Tianming didn’t answer immediately. He couldn’t afford to think about failure. The possibility of falling short was too painful to imagine.

They reached a narrow valley that seemed untouched by civilization, the moon barely visible through thick clouds. An ancient stone archway, partially covered by creeping vines, marked the entrance to the catacombs.

“We’re here,” Xu Liang said, parking the vehicle behind a series of boulders.

He led the way into the tunnel entrance, his boots clicking sharply against the stone floor.

The further they descended, the colder it became, the air thick with the scent of decay.

Dr. Jin held a small device in his hand, which illuminated the path ahead.

“According to the records, the Seal was hidden in the central vault. But it won’t be easy to reach. The old security systems are still active, and there are traps everywhere.”

“Traps?” Fang raised an eyebrow, her expression one of practiced readiness. “Great.”

Zhao sighed. “If it’s anything like the last vault we raided, we’re in for a fun time.”

As they pressed forward, the walls of the tunnel seemed to close in, the stone slick with moisture. Every step they took felt like the earth itself was swallowing them whole.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a large chamber. At the center, a massive stone door stood, covered in intricate carvings, the markings of ancient symbols Tianming didn’t recognize.

The markings seemed to shift when he looked directly at them, as though the stone itself was alive.

Xu Liang stepped forward and placed his hand on the door. “This is it. The Seal is inside.”

But before anyone could move, a sharp noise echoed from the darkness—footsteps. Familiar footsteps.

Tianming instinctively turned to the entrance.

A figure emerged from the shadows.

“Song Rui,” Fang growled, her hand instinctively moving toward her sidearm.

Song Rui’s smile was smug, but there was something else in his eyes—something darker. “Did you really think you could just waltz in here without consequences?”

Tianming stepped forward. “We didn’t come for trouble, Rui. We came to stop you from making a grave mistake.”

“Grave mistake?” Song Rui chuckled. “I think you’ll find it’s you who’s made a mistake, Tianming. The Lotus Clan has been watching all of you for quite some time. You’re not the only ones searching for the Seal. The question is, can you reach it before the real power in this region does?”

Tianming tensed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Song Rui said, his grin widening, “that I’m not the only one hunting for ancient relics.

The true powers that control this land—they’re coming for the Seal.

And they won’t hesitate to kill anyone who gets in their way.”

Before Tianming could respond, the ground beneath them rumbled.

The stone door to the central vault began to slowly slide open, revealing an even darker passage beyond.

Song Rui stepped forward. “Shall we?”