The three figures descended slowly.
Not because they had to.
Because they wanted everyone to watch.
Blackstone City remained silent.
No one dared move.
No one dared speak.
The pressure radiating from the newcomers was unlike anything the city had experienced before.
Even the surviving faction leaders kept their distance.
Lin Feng stared upward.
"…Definitely stronger than the last group."
Su Yao glanced at him.
"Your ability to underestimate danger is impressive."
Lin Feng grinned.
"I noticed they're dangerous."
"That's not enough."
"It usually is."
The crimson-robed man landed first.
His feet touched the ruined ground without making a sound.
The silver-robed woman landed beside him.
Then the black-robed elder.
The moment all three stood together—
The surrounding air became heavier.
Not through force.
Through authority.
These were people accustomed to standing above others.
The crimson-robed man looked directly at Lin Feng.
Not the elder.
Not Su Yao.
Only Lin Feng.
The smile on his face widened.
"Interesting."
Lin Feng immediately disliked him.
The silver-robed woman folded her arms.
"He doesn't look like much."
The crimson-robed man laughed.
"Neither did the First Heir."
The words made everyone freeze.
Even the older man who had protected the city.
His eyes narrowed instantly.
"You know about the First Heir?"
The crimson-robed man glanced toward him briefly.
Then looked away again.
As if the question didn't matter.
"Of course."
A pause.
"We've been searching for centuries."
Lin Feng felt his headache returning.
"Can somebody explain things in complete sentences for once?"
The crimson-robed man chuckled.
"I like him."
The black-robed elder finally spoke.
"Enough."
His voice was calm.
Yet the entire city seemed to quiet further.
He looked at Lin Feng.
Directly.
And unlike the crimson-robed man—
There was no excitement in his eyes.
Only evaluation.
"Show us the seal."
Lin Feng crossed his arms.
"No."
Silence.
Su Yao slowly closed her eyes.
The man from the shadows looked exhausted.
The city elder rubbed his forehead.
Because of course that was Lin Feng's answer.
The crimson-robed man laughed loudly.
"Hahaha!"
"I really do like him."
The black-robed elder remained expressionless.
"You misunderstand."
The temperature around them dropped slightly.
"It was not a request."
Lin Feng's smile disappeared.
For the first time since they arrived—
Pressure rolled toward him directly.
Heavy.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Not enough to injure him.
Enough to establish dominance.
Most people would have lowered their heads instantly.
Lin Feng stepped forward instead.
The rooftop beneath him cracked.
"Then ask better."
The silence that followed was terrifying.
Su Yao stared at him.
The city elder stared at him.
Half the city stared at him.
Because he had just challenged someone who could probably destroy Blackstone City by himself.
The crimson-robed man looked delighted.
The silver-robed woman looked amused.
The black-robed elder looked…
Interested.
Only briefly.
Then his expression returned to normal.
"You are either very brave."
A pause.
"Or very foolish."
Lin Feng shrugged.
"Probably both."
The crimson-robed man laughed again.
The black-robed elder ignored him.
Instead—
He looked toward the city elder.
"You witnessed the gate."
The city elder nodded.
"Yes."
"You witnessed the manifestation."
"Yes."
"The seal?"
Another pause.
Then the city elder answered.
"Exists."
The three newcomers became silent.
Completely silent.
The crimson-robed man's smile faded.
The silver-robed woman's eyes sharpened.
Even the black-robed elder's expression changed slightly.
For the first time—
They looked serious.
Very serious.
The black-robed elder slowly exhaled.
"So the prophecy survived."
Lin Feng immediately regretted hearing that word.
"…There's a prophecy too?"
Nobody answered.
Again.
Which was becoming increasingly irritating.
Then—
The golden mark beneath his shirt pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Everyone felt it.
The pressure spreading from the symbol was faint.
But ancient.
The crimson-robed man took a step forward.
Instinctively.
As if drawn toward it.
Then immediately stopped himself.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…It reacted."
The silver-robed woman frowned.
"To what?"
Nobody knew.
Then—
Something changed.
The mark pulsed again.
Harder.
A wave of energy spread across the city.
Not destructive.
Searching.
Lin Feng felt it move through him.
Beyond him.
Past the ruins.
Past the abyss.
Far beneath Blackstone City.
And suddenly—
The ground shook.
Everyone froze.
Not from fear.
From recognition.
Because this tremor was different.
The gate was sealed.
The creature was gone.
Yet something below had answered.
The abyss cracked.
A faint golden light emerged from the darkness beneath.
Not crimson.
Gold.
Pure gold.
The opposite of everything they had seen before.
The black-robed elder's eyes widened.
"…Impossible."
The city elder whispered something under his breath.
The man from the shadows took a step backward.
Even the crimson-robed man lost his smile.
Because deep beneath Blackstone City—
Something ancient had awakened.
Not the prison.
Not the monster.
Something else.
Something that belonged to the Heir.
Cliffhanger
A beam of golden light erupted from the abyss.
Straight into the sky.
And within that light—
A colossal silhouette slowly appeared.
A throne.
Ancient.
Magnificent.
And empty.
Waiting.
For its owner.