The chamber was silent except for the faint trembling of a woman kneeling on the cold stone floor.
A figure in a black robe stood before her, face hidden behind a veil of darkness. Only a pair of sharp eyes glinted beneath the hood.
"You failed again."
The voice was low. Calm. But lethal.
The kneeling woman lowered her head further.
"I… I miscalculated. Li Feng and Mo Zhu were prepared—"
"I did not ask for excuses."
The air grew heavy.
The black-robed figure stepped closer.
"I told you clearly. I want Li Feng and Mo Zhu alive. Alive. And yet you continue to make reckless moves."
A faint glow flickered within the darkness of the robe — an eerie, spiritual light.
"If you fail me once more… your father dies."
The woman's body stiffened.
"Please! Don't harm him! He has nothing to do with this!"
"Then obey."
Silence.
"I will do as you say."
"Good. Because if you disappoint me again… I will extinguish him slowly. And you will listen to every scream."
The woman trembled but forced herself to stand.
She bowed deeply.
"I understand."
Without another word, the black-robed figure vanished into shadow.
Moments later, the woman arrived in another hidden palace hall.
This hall was far more luxurious — adorned with demonic runes and dark silk banners.
Seated on a raised throne was the former Demon Empress.
She looked proud, regal… but her eyes betrayed something else.
Fear.
The woman approached slowly.
The Empress immediately stood and bowed slightly.
"My lady."
The woman's expression was cold.
"I told you before. This operation cannot fail again."
The Empress clenched her fists.
"I have already sent my best assassins—"
"And they were captured."
The Empress flinched.
For a moment, the woman lifted her hand.
A faint golden flame appeared above her palm.
Within the flame floated a small crystal lamp.
Inside it… burned a fragile soul-fire.
The Empress gasped.
"My lady… please—"
"You understand what this is, don't you?"
The woman's voice was calm.
The Empress dropped to her knees instantly.
"My soul lamp…"
"Correct."
The flame flickered slightly.
The Empress's face twisted in pain as her own spiritual energy trembled.
"I own your life."
The woman's gaze hardened.
"If I crush this lamp, your soul will shatter forever. No reincarnation. No afterlife. Nothing."
"I understand!"
"Good. Then listen carefully."
The flame disappeared.
"This is your final chance. You will capture Li Feng and Mo Zhu alive. If you fail… I will not hesitate."
The Empress lowered her head to the ground.
"I will not disappoint you."
"You already have."
The woman turned away.
"And do not forget… the chain does not end with you."
The Empress's eyes widened slightly.
But she did not dare ask.
Because even she did not know who stood above the woman before her.
Meanwhile,
Su Yan was chained to the pillar, her aura sealed.
Li Feng stood in front of her.
"You still think you can win?" she asked weakly.
Li Feng didn't answer.
"Speak."
She laughed.
"You're chasing the wrong target."
"The former Empress is finished."
"No," Su Yan whispered. "She was never the one in control."
Li Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Explain."
"There is another woman."
Silence.
"She holds the Empress's soul lamp."
Mo Zhu stiffened slightly.
Li Feng remained still.
"And this woman?" he asked.
Su Yan smiled faintly.
"Hidden."
"Name."
"I don't know."
Li Feng studied her.
"That's a lie."
"No," she said calmly. "Only one person knows her identity."
"Who?"
She hesitated.
"Her father."
That was the first crack.
Mo Zhu frowned.
"Her father?"
"Yes."
"And where is he?"
Su Yan shook her head slowly.
"Even if you find him… he won't speak. Because if he does… she dies."
Li Feng stepped closer.
"Why?"
"Because she isn't free either."
Silence fell.
Mo Zhu spoke this time.
"So the Empress is controlled… and this hidden woman is also controlled?"
Su Yan smiled weakly.
"You're finally starting to understand."
Li Feng's aura turned cold.
"Then the chain goes higher."
Su Yan's eyes shimmered with something between fear and pity.
"You are walking into something far larger than you imagine."
"Good."
She stared at him.
"You think you can break every link?"
Li Feng leaned down slightly.
"I don't break links."
"I burn the chain."
A single strike.
Clean. Precise.
Su Yan's body went limp.
Her soul shattered before she could scream.
Later that night.
Li Feng met Mo Zhu in the strategy hall.
Mo Zhu's expression was serious.
"She talked?"
"Enough."
"And?"
Li Feng exhaled slowly.
"The Empress is controlled by another woman."
Mo Zhu nodded.
"We suspected as much."
"But She is not the top."
Mo Zhu's eyes narrowed.
"So there is someone else."
"Yes."
Silence filled the room.
Mo Zhu spoke first.
"If she holds the soul lamp… we must retrieve it. That's the key."
Li Feng nodded.
"As long as the lamp exists, the Empress will never betray her."
"And as long as someone holds her weakness… this chain continues."
Li Feng clenched his fist.
"Then we destroy it."
Mo Zhu looked at him carefully.
"This won't be easy."
"I never said it would be."
A faint wind blew through the hall, extinguishing several candles.
Darkness swallowed the room briefly.
In that darkness… somewhere far away…
A pair of unseen eyes opened.
A faint voice echoed in the void.
"So… Li Feng has begun to notice the chain."
A soft chuckle followed.
"Good."
"Struggle harder."
"Break a few more links for me."
The voice faded.
And the night grew colder.