Meanwhile, deep beneath the palace, the ancient doors yielded with little resistance once Ningyan pressed his beast qi against their surface. A low hum rippled through the formation before they parted, revealing a cavern of cold stone and dim lantern light.

The air was stale, heavy... Rotting with time.

Rows of translucent cells lined the chamber, each sealed by faintly glowing restraints. Within them were remains.

Some were nothing more than skeletons collapsed in silence.

Others still lived.

If it could be called living.

Their bodies were gaunt, their eyes hollow, their presence so faint it was nearly indistinguishable from the dead.

Ningyan slowed.

His gaze fell upon one of the prisoners, a man slumped against the barrier, barely breathing.

He stepped closer, raising a hand to the shimmering surface.

A pulse of qi brushed against it and he froze.

"...His beast core," Ningyan murmured, voice tightening. "It’s shattered."

Behind him, the guard folded his arms, tone indifferent. "That is the punishment for traitors of the Abyss Serpent Clan."

Ningyan turned.

"There is no exile here. No mercy. Not under the Beast King’s rule." The guard shrugged. "Everyone knows it. That’s why most turn to demonic cultivation. Survival is all that matters."

Ningyan said nothing.

He withdrew his hand and moved on.

The guard frowned, trailing after him. "You really are a strange one. Do you even understand where you.."

He stopped abruptly.

The doors behind them stood wide open, and from far above, a violent clash of power shook the depths of the dungeon.

The air trembled.

The guard’s face paled. "What... what is happening up there?"

Ningyan didn’t hesitate. "My husbands."

The words were calm and certain.

The guard blinked, completely thrown off balance. "Your... husbands?" His voice cracked. "You’re telling me those divine beasts fighting above are...."

Ningyan only smiled faintly beneath his mask and continued walking.

They descended further.

The light faded.

Darkness swallowed the path until even the lantern glow could no longer reach.

The guard shivered, unease creeping into his voice. "I told you... I only heard rumors. If this place even exists—"

A thunderous impact cut him off.

The ground trembled.

Ningyan froze. "...Meishan."

"What?" The guard stared at him, unsettled.

Without answering, Ningyan raised his hand.

A small purple flame bloomed in his palm, soft, controlled, yet impossibly pure. Its light spilled outward, illuminating the ground beneath them.

Ningyan’s eyes narrowed.

They were standing atop a massive sigil, carved deep into the stone.

An abyssal serpent, coiled in intricate detail, its form stretching across the entire floor.

"This..." He crouched.

Before his fingers could touch the carving, a blade pierced through the air and embedded itself before him with a sharp metallic cry.

The guard staggered back in shock.

Ningyan didn’t. He recognized it instantly.

Jun Haoxuan’s sword.

Fresh, dripping blood still clung to its edge.

A single drop fell and struck the center of the sigil.

Silence.

Then, a deep crimson glow ignited.

It spread rapidly through every carved line, flooding the serpent’s form with a sinister light. The entire formation awakened at once, humming with ancient, oppressive power.

Ningyan’s expression sharpened. He seized the guard’s arm and dragged him back. "Move."

The ground cracked.

A fracture split through the sigil, spreading like a spider’s web before collapsing inward, reshaping, reforming until it took the outline of a human figure.

A body lying at the center of the formation.

The red glow flickered and died, revealing her.

A woman clad in tattered green robes, her long dark hair spilled across the stone like ink. Her skin was pale, her breath faint, so faint it seemed she might vanish with the next moment.

Ningyan stepped forward slowly. "...Lan Huiwen."

The guard staggered back, his breath catching. "She’s... heavens... the stories were true."

Ningyan did not respond. He was already moving.

He dropped to one knee beside her, gathering her carefully into his arms as though she might shatter at the slightest force. Her body was cold, far too cold, but there was life beneath it.

Her lashes trembled and then her eyes slowly opened. They were clear, gentle hazel serpent eyes.

"Lan Huiwen..." Ningyan’s voice lowered, almost reverent, as though speaking too loudly might break the moment.

Her gaze lingered on him, unfocused at first, as if she were still caught between dreams and waking.

Ningyan exhaled softly.

Then, without hesitation, he removed his illusion mask.

It dissolved into strands of violet essence, the sword vanishing along with it. His true form revealed itself fully.

Lan Huiwen’s pupils contracted. "A... phoenix?"

"You are Lan Meishan’s mother?" Ningyan asked, quieter now.

Recognition struck her like a physical blow. Her expression broke, and tears welled instantly, spilling down her temples as her lips parted.

"Yes... but..." Her voice trembled, fragile and hoarse. "Who... what is happening?"

Before he could answer, a distant tremor shook the space.

The clash of overwhelming forces.

The pressure of divine beasts tearing through the heavens above.

Her body stiffened.

She felt it.

"Ah...no..." Her voice cracked as panic rushed into her eyes. "That aura...!"

She forced herself upright, urgency overriding her weakness but her legs failed her.

Ningyan caught her immediately.

Without another word, he lifted her into his arms.

She startled at the contact, her gaze snapping to him.

Ningyan offered a faint, strained smile.

"I know this is sudden," he said softly, steady despite the storm raging beyond the dungeon walls, "but I came to take you out of here. Lan Yunlai imprisoned you... because only you can bring Meishan back."

Lan Huiwen froze.

"Back...?" she whispered.

Her fingers tightened weakly against his sleeve as realization began to dawn.

"What happened to my son...?" Her voice shook. "And you.. who are you?"

Ningyan hesitated for the briefest moment. Then answered plainly. "I am Lan Meishan’s husband. And the one standing before Lan Yunlai right now... is not entirely him."

Her eyes widened in horror. "No..!"

Her hand clutched at him with surprising strength. "You must stop him!"

Ningyan’s heart lurched. "They’re already fighting—"

"If A’Shan kills Lan Yunlai in that state..." Her voice broke completely now, fear overtaking every word. "He will never come back." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"...What?" Ningyan’s voice came out barely above a whisper.