At seven o'clock sharp, the doorbell rang.
Through the peephole, Lu Chen saw two young people in association uniforms—a man and a woman—each wearing a silver badge on their chest. The man's expression was austere, the woman's gaze alert.
"Mr. Lin Xiao, we're from the Association's Special Task Unit. We're here under orders to escort you to headquarters," the man said, his voice muffled slightly by the door.
Early indeed.
Lu Chen opened the door. "It's only seven."
"Chief Chen requires your arrival before nine, but the trip may take time," the woman replied. Her eyes lingered on Lu Chen's face for a brief moment before sweeping across the room. "Please cooperate."
Polite tone, uncompromising posture.
Lu Chen said nothing. He changed shoes, grabbed his phone and keys. As he stepped out, he noticed two more people at the end of the corridor—plainclothes, but with auras around level 20. Perimeter security.
The Association was taking this far more seriously than expected.
Downstairs, two black SUVs idled at the entrance, each bearing a special white license plate. Lu Chen was ushered into the back seat of the second vehicle. The same man and woman sat on either side of him. The doors locked with a sharp click.
The motorcade left the residential compound.
Morning traffic was beginning to swell, but the SUVs slipped through it swiftly, ignoring red lights with the casual ease of those accustomed to special privileges.
Lu Chen watched the city pass by in silence.
The operatives said nothing either. Only the soft hiss of the air-conditioning filled the cabin.
Half an hour later, the convoy pulled into the underground garage of a sleek modern office tower in the city center. Though the building appeared to be a normal commercial complex from the outside, the garage contained restricted Association zones requiring card access.
The elevator ascended directly to the thirty-second floor.
When the doors opened, they stepped into a spacious corridor—white walls, gray tiles, cold LED lighting. Association emblems and abstract paintings hung neatly along the way. The place felt more like a tech firm than a martial organization.
Chen Jing was waiting at the entrance to a conference room.
She had changed into a black tailored suit, her long hair tied into a low ponytail. Her makeup was immaculate, her gaze still razor sharp.
"Mr. Lin, please come in," she said, pushing open the door.
The conference room was large, with a long rectangular table that could seat twenty. Only two people were present.
To the left sat an elderly man in his sixties, his hair graying, glasses perched low on his nose. He wore a gray Zhongshan suit and held a tablet, scrolling through documents. His aura was calm—around level 30—but he felt more like a scholar than a fighter.
On the right sat a burly man in his forties wearing a military-style Association uniform. Gold olive-branch insignia gleamed on his shoulders. His posture was rigid, arms crossed, eyes sharp as an eagle's staring directly at Lu Chen. Level 35 or above.
"Allow me to introduce you," Chen Jing said, taking the main seat. "This is Mr. Lin Xiao. These two are Director Wang and Chief Li of the Jiang City Branch."
Director Wang—the elderly man—looked up and adjusted his glasses. "Mr. Lin, please sit."
Lu Chen took the seat opposite them.
Chen Jing folded her hands atop the table. "Mr. Lin, we invited you today mainly to clarify the details of last night's transaction. Please give a truthful account."
"Last night I met the seller, Old Zhou, at Fisherlight Bar. I purchased a metal fragment for five hundred thousand. Immediately after the transaction, your people arrived, confiscated the item under suspicion of contraband, and promised compensation within three days." Lu Chen's voice was steady. "The entire process lasted no more than fifteen minutes."
"How did you know Old Zhou had the metal?" Chief Li asked, voice low.
"Market information."
"Whose information?"
"A middleman. I prefer not to disclose the name."
Li frowned, clearly displeased.
Director Wang smiled gently. "Mr. Lin, this isn't an interrogation. The metal fragment is tied to sensitive incidents, and we must gather all possible leads. May we ask why you intended to buy it?"
"For my collection. I'm interested in rare materials."
"That's all?"
"That's all."
Silence settled briefly over the room.
Then Chen Jing turned on the projector. The screen descended, and she tapped her tablet.
The first image appeared—crime scene photos of Night Owl and three bodyguards. The gore was censored, but the brutality was unmistakable.
The second image: Chen Feng being rushed to the hospital, a stone slab embedded in his chest, face pale, eyes vacant.
The third: another crime scene at the docks—one corpse hanging from a crane, chest split open, heart missing.
"In the past forty-eight hours, seven violent incidents occurred in Jiang City. Three have been confirmed as connected to the 'Ghost' organization," Chen Jing said, bringing up a fourth image—a close-up of a metal fragment identical to the one Lu Chen had seen last night, only larger.
"This piece was salvaged from the East Sea three months ago before the Ghost organization stole it. Analysis of the fragment recovered last night shows matching composition."
She looked directly at him. "The Ghost organization is seeking more of this metal in Jiang City. They've already begun using lethal force. Had we not intervened, you might have been their next target."
"So you were protecting me?" Lu Chen asked.
"In a manner of speaking," Director Wang replied. "We understand you're the Lin family's direct heir, but that alone won't guarantee your safety. Members of the Ghost organization typically rank above level 30 and are utterly unscrupulous. We advise you to keep a low profile and report any relevant leads immediately."
He slid a card across the table.
"A 24-hour hotline."
Lu Chen pocketed it. "What about my compensation?"
"It'll be transferred within three days," Chen Jing said. "Additionally, as appreciation for your cooperation, we can arrange a free risk assessment and protection briefing. If you agree, we can begin now."
"No need. Thank you."
Lu Chen rose.
"Wait," Chief Li said, standing as well. He stepped in front of Lu Chen, looming over him, eyes cold. "Listen, kid. Don't think we don't know what you've been up to. You killed three men at the docks last night and seriously injured another. Yes, they all had criminal records—but that doesn't give you the right to deal justice on your own."
He leaned closer, voice dropping. "You rich young masters with a bit of power always think the rules don't apply to you. But the Association isn't just decoration. Next time you slip, not even the Lin family will save you."
Lu Chen met his eyes.
After a few quiet seconds, he looked away. "May I leave now?"
Chen Jing nodded. "Escort him out."
The same pair of operatives accompanied him downstairs and back to the car.
After they'd driven some distance, Lu Chen suddenly asked, "That Chief Li—what's his full name?"
From the passenger seat, the woman glanced at him through the mirror. "Li Zhenguo. Action Division Chief of Jiang City Branch. Level 38. Specializes in iron-body cultivation. He's known for his… direct personality."
"He related to the Chen family?"
She paused. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
Silence fell once more.
By the time Lu Chen returned to his apartment, it was half past nine.
First thing he did was sweep the entire place. No signs of forced entry—aside from several miniature listening devices hidden discreetly around the room.
He left them. Let them listen.
Entering the study, he powered on his computer and opened his encrypted inbox.
Yellow Hair had sent a new email:
"Master Lin, I found the info on Ghostjump Gorge. That place is seriously creepy. Twenty-plus drownings in five years, and three missing divers. Locals say there's a 'water monkey' dragging people down. Also, I pulled strings at the Water Bureau—they've got old classified records. Turns out, thirty years ago a national survey team conducted underwater investigations there, then abruptly halted the project. Archives sealed, high clearance needed."
Attached were scans of old photos—survey boats, diving equipment—and partial pages of a handwritten report, most of it illegible. Only a few words stood out: "...anomalous energy detected... recommend containment..."
Lu Chen replied: "Good work. Keep digging. Focus on the team roster from thirty years ago and their subsequent fate."
Closing the email, he opened the Association app.
His ordered diving equipment was already marked "In transit," expected arrival at 2 PM.
In the intelligence market, he searched: Ghostjump Gorge, survey team, thirty years.
A few results appeared—all expensive.
The most costly was a classified report from 1989–1992, priced at 5,000 points.
Too expensive.
He settled for a 300-point report detailing recent anomalous energy fluctuations.
It showed seventeen recorded events in the past three months, clustered around the first and fifteenth lunar days. The source was at a depth of 40–60 meters, with intensity equivalent to a level 25–30 fighter's full strike.
"Moon-phase cycle..." Lu Chen murmured.
Ancient formations and seals often corresponded with moon phases. If something lay beneath the gorge, it might be restrained by such a seal—weakening during full moon nights.
Today was the thirteenth.
The fifteenth was in two days.
Time was short.
At 1 PM, the equipment arrived—two large crates containing a full professional diving kit: drysuit, closed-circuit rebreather, propulsion unit, high-power flashlight, dive knife, waterproof pack, and a diving watch.
A detailed hydrological map of Ghostjump Gorge was included.
After inspection, Lu Chen began making plans.
Ghostjump Gorge lay thirty kilometers from the city—forty minutes by car. The best entry point was a derelict dock on the west side where deeper water and gentler currents met.
He needed to pinpoint the location using the fragment before diving.
At 8 PM, he retrieved the Demon-Suppressing Tablet fragment.
The golden light across its surface shone stronger than yesterday. The arrow at its center had solidified fully, pointing northwest.
Above it, two faint points of light appeared—one bright, one dim, like twin stars.
"Two fragments—one strong, one weak," Li Xuan explained. "The strong one is likely intact. The weaker one is damaged or suppressed."
"Distance?"
"Eight kilometers for the strong one. Seven point five for the weak. Both underwater. Depth… around fifty meters."
Fifty meters wasn't deep for professionals—but at night, in a raging river, the danger multiplied.
Lu Chen prepared his pack—gear, first aid, energy bars, backup oxygen, signal flares.
At 10 PM, he drove out.
The road grew narrow. Darkness thickened. Only the headlights carved a path forward.
Five kilometers from the destination, he switched them off and continued on foot.
Twenty minutes later, he reached the abandoned dock.
Rotting wood creaked beneath his boots. The river glimmered under moonlight—cold, silver, endless. The cliffs opposite loomed like black fangs.
Wind whipped across the water, cold and damp.
Lu Chen suited up, checked the rebreather, secured the fragment against his chest.
Then he slipped into the water.
The river was icy. Darkness swallowed everything. His flashlight pierced only a few meters ahead.
He engaged the underwater propulsion unit and moved toward the gorge's center.
Ten meters. Twenty. Thirty.
Pressure mounted. His ears buzzed. He slowed, steadying his breath.
At forty meters, darkness grew absolute.
Fifty.
He stopped.
The fragment glowed faintly underwater, guiding him.
He followed its direction toward a massive underwater cliff.
Then he saw it—a crack in the rock, barely a meter wide, with strong currents surging through it.
Metal gleamed faintly at the edge.
He scraped away the silt.
A rusted iron panel. Human made.
He heaved it open.
A blast of foul water surged out—putrid, ancient, wrong.
Lu Chen slipped inside.
It was a small compartment—like an old ship cabin. Rusted frames. Broken crates. Corpses in rotted dive suits.
Three of them—twisted in death.
One clutched a waterproof notebook.
He opened it.
October 15, 1991.
Third underwater survey. Found an anomalous hollow at the bottom of the gorge. Strong energy readings. Liu thinks it's ancient ruins, but it feels too new… like man-made. Material unknown.
Inside is a chamber with a metal pedestal. A silver box sits atop it—glowing lines across its surface like circuitry, yet not.
Captain Wang wanted to open it; Old Zhang stopped him. I touched the box accidentally… and everything turned to light and screaming.
When I woke up, we were onshore. Zhang vanished. Wang lost his mind and kept muttering: "It's alive…"
We were told to sign confidentiality agreements. But I know it's still down there… sleeping…
If anyone finds this notebook: Do NOT open the box. Do not.
The notes ended abruptly.
Lu Chen looked toward the back of the cabin—another iron door stood ajar.
The fragment pointed straight at it.
Inside was a larger chamber—an underwater lab. Desks, instruments, jars holding unrecognizable organic specimens.
And at the center—
A silver metal pedestal.
On it lay a metal box—etched with glowing runes.
Beside it, three black stone fragments.
And floating above the box…
A white, honeycombed orb pulsing faintly with light.
Fist-sized. Rotating slowly. Breathing.
[Unknown High-Energy Lifeform Detected]
[Energy Rank: Earth-Tier (Upper)]
[State: Dormant (Imminent Awakening)]
[Warning: Extreme hazard. Immediate retreat advised.]
Too late.
The orb vibrated, accelerating.
A shockwave burst forth.
Lu Chen slammed into the metal racks, rebreather sputtering.
The orb drifted toward him.
A psychic whisper invaded his mind—
…fresh… flesh… energy…
Suction seized him—raw energy ripped from his body.
[Warning: Host energy being absorbed]
[Estimated complete drain in: 47 seconds]
He stabbed the orb.
The blade shattered.
Energy drain accelerated.
40 seconds… 35…
Vision blurred.
A fragment lay nearby.
He grabbed the one on his chest and pressed it against the orb.
A brilliant golden eruption.
The orb shrieked—silently—recoiling.
Golden tendrils spread across its surface.
[Suppression Activated]
[Progress: 1%… 7%…]
He forced the other three fragments onto it.
Golden runes linked—forming a complete array.
[Progress: 30%… 80%… 100%]
Light faded.
The orb solidified into a gray stone and fell.
The four fragments fused—forming a larger piece, still incomplete, five pieces missing.
['Energy Devourer' (Larval) Suppressed]
[Fragments Collected: 4/9]
[New Ability Unlocked: Demon-Suppressing Radiance]
Lu Chen panted, half-floating. Level-20 physique let him hold breath long enough.
He examined the box.
Inside was only an inscription—foreign symbols.
The system translated:
Bioweapon Specimen No. 7 — "Energy Devourer." Dormant. Requires high-purity energy to activate. WARNING: Unstable. Hostile behavior likely. — Ark Laboratory, Year 2147.
2147?
A century in the future.
The chamber suddenly trembled.
Engines roared—underwater.
Someone approached.
Fast.
Lu Chen grabbed the fragments and stone, stuffed them into the pack, and swam quickly.
At the exit, lights approached—three underwater propulsion units.
Ghost organization operatives.
He hid in the shadows.
Two entered the cabin with guns drawn.
The third stayed outside.
Lu Chen burst from hiding, struck the guard with Piercing Force—even halved underwater, lethal at close range.
He stole the propulsion unit.
Bullets zipped past as he sped upward.
Ten meters. Five.
He broke the surface with a gasp.
The dock was close.
He drove toward it—
—and climbed onto the wooden planks, soaked and shivering, breathing hard…