The Return Of The Conqueror Of The Cosmos

The spiral staircase felt endless.

Shen Hao walked slowly, his hand trailing the wall for balance. The air grew colder with every step, heavy with dust and the faint hum of ancient energy. A soft blue glow illuminated the path — a light orb he summoned using a small Qi technique Mo Han had taught him earlier.

Behind him, the silence was broken by a voice that chirped into his mind.

"This place smells like old shoes!" Lingfeng complained.

"Focus," Shen Hao muttered.

"Seriously, though! How long has it been since anyone cleaned this place? Hundreds of years? Thousands? Ugh, my blade's going to get all rusty!" the dagger whined.

Mo Han's voice joined in, calm and steady. "You don't rust, Lingfeng. Stop being dramatic."

"Master Mo Han!" Lingfeng cried in mock offense. "A weapon has feelings too, you know!"

"Then keep those feelings quiet," Shen Hao grumbled. "I need to concentrate."

Eventually, the stairs ended at a massive stone door, carved with faded symbols and surrounded by vines that had crept through cracks in the ceiling.

Shen Hao stepped forward and placed his palm against the stone.

Nothing happened.

He narrowed his eyes. "I can feel something behind it… like pressure. But it's not moving."

"Try channeling some Qi into the center," Mo Han advised.

Shen Hao focused, letting a small stream of Dragon Qi flow from his palm.

The symbols glowed faintly… then flickered out.

Nothing.

He frowned.

"Hey, hey!" Lingfeng said. "Let me try!"

Shen Hao sighed and drew the dagger. He stabbed it lightly into the center of the door.

A deep humming sound vibrated through the chamber.

Then — with a grinding rumble — the door slowly creaked open, revealing a vast underground ruin, lit by a dim, natural glow from crystals embedded in the stone ceiling.

Shen Hao stepped in, awed by the sight.

Ancient walls stood cracked and overgrown with moss. Statues lined the hallway, each one of armored warriors standing with strange weapons in hand. Some were broken, missing limbs or heads. But a few were still whole — too whole.

Shen Hao slowed his steps. Something didn't feel right.

The moment he crossed the middle of the hall — the temperature shifted.

Click.

The floor beneath his foot gave way slightly.

Then—

Rumble.

The eyes of the intact statues lit up with a faint red glow.

"Oh no…" Shen Hao whispered.

With grinding sounds, two statues stepped off their pedestals and moved toward him. Stone and metal scraped together with each motion. They looked like ancient guards — tall, armored, and silent, powered by ancient spirit arrays.

"Well," Lingfeng said cheerfully, "this looks fun!"

"Prepare yourself," Mo Han said. "These are spirit puppets. Strong and nearly indestructible if you don't strike the right points."

"Thanks for the warning," Shen Hao muttered.

One puppet lunged at him with surprising speed, swinging a heavy blade made of black steel.

Shen Hao dodged left, the sword slamming into the floor with a loud crack.

He struck back, using Lingfeng's curved blade to slash across the puppet's torso.

Sparks flew, but the damage was minimal.

"Seriously?!" he growled.

"You need to hit the energy core!" Mo Han shouted. "It's in the chest, behind the armor plate! Look for a faint green light!"

"Easier said than done!" Shen Hao said, ducking under another swing.

Lingfeng chuckled, "I've got this! Aim me at its chest — I'll do the rest!"

Shen Hao leapt forward, ducking under a swipe and stabbing Lingfeng directly into the puppet's chest.

A sharp pulse of wind burst from the blade's tip.

With a loud crack, the armor shattered — and the green glow inside dimmed instantly. The puppet froze mid-movement, then collapsed in a heap of stone and metal.

"One down!" Shen Hao said, breathing hard.

The second puppet charged from behind.

Shen Hao spun, blocking its sword with his own. The impact rattled his arms, and he was pushed back.

"You're slower than the last guy I fought," Lingfeng said, mid-swing. "And he was a snail!"

"Less talking, more cutting!" Shen Hao snapped.

He ducked, rolled, and came up behind the puppet. With one smooth motion, he drove Lingfeng into its back, aiming for the faint green glow just barely visible beneath the armor.

Another blast of wind — and the second puppet collapsed.

Silence returned to the hall.

Shen Hao stood, breathing heavily.

"Are we done?" he asked, looking around.

"No more spirit pressure," Mo Han said. "You're safe — for now."

Lingfeng laughed. "Told you this would be fun!"

Shen Hao shook his head, smirking a little despite the sweat on his brow. "That's your idea of fun?"

"You'll thank me when we find that artifact."

Shen Hao took a moment to catch his breath, then began walking deeper into the ruins.

They were getting closer.

But the challenges… were just beginning.