---
The trio—no wait, quartet if you counted Yuu (which Luan definitely didn't want to)—moved north.
The rumors spoke of a Sunken Sanctum.
A city buried beneath the surface. Lost centuries ago during a war between mortals and celestial-touched cultivators. Now, it was just a myth whispered in drunk tavern halls and old scrolls—until a cracked jade talisman landed in Luan's lap after he saved a half-mad merchant from choking on his own soup.
> "Follow the pulse of silence. Beneath still earth, the old ones sleep."
Luan's gut said "bad idea."
Sayra said "we're going."
Yuu said "if there's treasure, I call dibs."
Nia just clenched her teeth. He was mine first, she muttered under her breath.
---
They entered the chasm under moonlight.
The Sanctum was real.
Twisted stairways. Forgotten statues weeping black moss. Lanterns that lit themselves as they walked. The air hummed like it remembered every sin ever committed.
Down here, Qi didn't flow right.
Even Sayra's spiritual sense was dulled.
But Luan? He felt sharper. Quieter. Like his very breath was syncing with something buried far below.
And the shadow inside him… it stirred again.
For the first time, it whispered back.
> "They called it the Forgotten World… before they buried it."
> "What are you?" Luan asked inwardly.
> "…You. But finished."
---
Trouble found them fast.
They crossed paths with a rogue cultivator party—treasure hunters led by Shao Ren, a merciless beast-user with a jaguar spirit and a thirst for chaos.
He took one look at Sayra and smirked.
> "Your husband's Qi-less. Cute pet. Trade you two spirit cores and a night in my arms for him."
Sayra's answer?
She didn't even unsheathe her blade.
Just clenched her fist.
A sliver of black fire cracked through the stone beneath her feet—
instinctive, uncontrollable, his power answering her fury.
> "He is mine. Body, soul, and blood."
Shao Ren's smile faded.
Battle exploded.
Yuu darted through shadows, disarming traps.
Nia cast illusions, luring beast-spirits into their own snares.
Sayra cut down two cultivators with a single, flawless motion.
And Luan—the boy with zero cultivation—
stood unshaken in the chaos.
The black flame flickered around his steps. It didn't burn him. It bent for him.
He didn't fight with power.
He commanded it.
---
When the dust settled, the group found an ancient stone gate.
It hummed when Luan touched it.
Lines of crimson light flared—
Not Qi, but something older.
Not spiritual energy… memory.
> "Only the bearer of chaos may enter," the gate spoke.
Sayra looked at him. "You don't have to do this."
He looked back. "I think I already did. Long ago."
And the gate creaked open.
Behind it?
A throne made of bone, a mirror made of shadows,
…and a name carved in fire.
LUAN.
---
End of Chapter 14
Ready for Chapter 15?