In re minutes, the tunnels that once echoed with the grinding steps of chanical guardians had fallen silent, replaced only by the low hum of qi lingering in the air and the crunch of debris beneath their feet.
Finally, the narrow passages gave way to sothing far grander—a cavern so vast that its ceiling disappeared into shadow. What sprawled before them was no re hideout; it was a city.
The underground tropolis stretched out in all directions, built upon tiered platforms of stone and tal, each level connected by bridges and ramps. In the very heart of this subterranean expanse rose a massive structure—a temple, its walls covered in strange aquatic motifs, rippling patterns carved into its stone as if the entire building had been frozen mid-wave.
And before the temple stood a monolith.
Lin Mu froze for a mont, his gaze locking onto the towering slab of black stone. Its smooth surface seed to drink in the faint light, and a quiet pulse of strange energy radiated from it.
It was almost identical to the one he had once seen at the base of the Hollow Eye Sect—the very sa monolith that had shown him the hidden history of the Ephera Sect. The mory of that vision still lingered vividly in his mind: the corruption, the betrayal, the ancient secrets buried beneath layers of ti.
For a brief instant, Lin Mu’s focus drifted, curiosity sparking in the back of his mind. Could this monolith hold more knowledge? Another piece of the puzzle? Or was it rely another relic tied to the sa dark lineage?
But there was no ti to dwell. Movent rippled across the city as the inhabitants reacted to their arrival.
There had to be nearly ten thousand people down here—all mbers of the Drowned Crescent Cult.
From the mont they caught sight of the intruders, the place erupted into motion. Disciples, warriors, and elders alike scrambled into formation, so rushing toward weapons racks, others preparing talismans or spells. The air thickened with tension, and the echo of shouts bounced between the cavern walls.
They hadn’t recognized him.
At least, not most of them. Lin Mu realized quickly that, contrary to his earlier suspicion, the cult had not yet grasped who their opponent truly was. If they had, many would likely have already abandoned the city entirely rather than risk a direct confrontation.
But then a sudden break in the chaos caught his attention.
Among the scrambling figures was a small group of robed elders, and in their midst, one man had gone pale as a sheet. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground as if struck by an invisible blow. His breathing quickened, and his eyes darted to Lin Mu like prey spotting a predator.
Lin Mu recognized him faintly having spotted him before—La Yu.
He was the sa la man Lin Mu had seen montarily at the Smoldering Rock Union, the one who had witnessed his sword intent firsthand. That encounter had confird the fact that this was the sa person who had the ability to utterly destroy the Crimson Root Branch , and it seed the mory of that day still haunted him like a lingering nightmare.
The other elders turned toward him, confusion flickering in their expressions. One of them stepped forward, frowning. "La Yu, what are you doing? Stand up! We have enemies to deal with!"
La Yu’s voice trembled, his hand shaking as he pointed toward Lin Mu. "That’s... him."
The others glanced between them, not imdiately understanding.
La Yu’s next words fell like a stone into still water, sending ripples through those who heard them.
"He’s the one who ended the Crimson Root Branch. He’s the one that made the entire Smoldering Rock Union co to heel."
A hush fell over that section of the crowd. Several elders stiffened, their faces darkening with sudden recognition. Whispers began to spread, carrying a mix of disbelief and fear. The Crimson Root Branch had not just been defeated—it had been eradicated. And the man responsible was now standing at the edge of their sanctuary.
Lin Mu, for his part, didn’t even blink. His gaze was steady, his voice calm when he finally spoke.
"So you do know." Lin Mu said with a chuckle. "That should make this a bit easier."
The underground city had just shifted from chaos to dread. And dread, Lin Mu knew, was the perfect beginning to their downfall.
Lin Mu’s voice cut through the tense air like a blade.
"Lay down your weapons. Surrender, all of you," he commanded, his tone steady yet cold. "Or face the sa fate as those before you."
It wasn’t a threat thrown carelessly into the wind—it was an absolute declaration. His words reverberated through the cavernous city, bouncing off the stone walls and resonating with a pressure that made even the most stalwart cultivators falter.
For a heartbeat, the place seed to grow heavier, as if the world itself was waiting for their answer.
Cattaleya let out a low whistle, leaning her massive greatsword casually against her shoulder. "Now that’s a side I haven’t seen before," she murmured under her breath.
She had seen Lin Mu display his skill—his precision, his overwhelming techniques—but this was sothing different. This was authority, the kind that didn’t need to be shouted twice. It was an air of command that made you believe he could actually carry out everything he said... and more.
Her eyes glead with intrigue. ’So this is the real Lin Mu. Not just the swordsman, not just the cultivator... but soone who could stand at the peak and make others bow.’
Elyon, however, reacted very differently.
At Lin Mu’s words, a cold shiver slid down his spine, unbidden. His mories betrayed him—unwanted flashes of the past surfacing in sharp detail.
He rembered the crushing force of Lin Mu’s Gravity Dao, the way it had pinned them to the ground like helpless prey. Back then, it wasn’t simply that Lin Mu had defeated them—it was that he had dismantled them, body and spirit, with an unyielding weight that felt like the will of the heavens pressing down.
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