Chapter 3082: Inspiring Dread

In mere minutes, the tunnels that once echoed with the grinding steps of mechanical guardians had fallen silent, replaced only by the low hum of qi lingering in the air and the crunch of debris beneath their feet.

Finally, the narrow passages gave way to something far grander—a cavern so vast that its ceiling disappeared into shadow. What sprawled before them was no mere hideout; it was a city.

The underground metropolis stretched out in all directions, built upon tiered platforms of stone and metal, each level connected by bridges and ramps. In the very heart of this subterranean expanse rose a massive structure—a temple, its walls covered in strange aquatic motifs, rippling patterns carved into its stone as if the entire building had been frozen mid-wave.

And before the temple stood a monolith.

Lin Mu froze for a moment, his gaze locking onto the towering slab of black stone. Its smooth surface seemed to drink in the faint light, and a quiet pulse of strange energy radiated from it.

It was almost identical to the one he had once seen at the base of the Hollow Eye Sect—the very same monolith that had shown him the hidden history of the Ephemera Sect. The memory of that vision still lingered vividly in his mind: the corruption, the betrayal, the ancient secrets buried beneath layers of time.

For a brief instant, Lin Mu’s focus drifted, curiosity sparking in the back of his mind. Could this monolith hold more knowledge? Another piece of the puzzle? Or was it merely another relic tied to the same dark lineage?

But there was no time to dwell. Movement rippled across the city as the inhabitants reacted to their arrival.

There had to be nearly ten thousand people down here—all members of the Drowned Crescent Cult.

From the moment they caught sight of the intruders, the place erupted into motion. Disciples, warriors, and elders alike scrambled into formation, some rushing toward weapons racks, others preparing talismans or spells. The air thickened with tension, and the echo of shouts bounced between the cavern walls.

They hadn’t recognized him.

At least, not most of them. Lin Mu realized quickly that, contrary to his earlier suspicion, the cult had not yet grasped who their opponent truly was. If they had, many would likely have already abandoned the city entirely rather than risk a direct confrontation.

But then a sudden break in the chaos caught his attention.

Among the scrambling figures was a small group of robed elders, and in their midst, one man had gone pale as a sheet. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground as if struck by an invisible blow. His breathing quickened, and his eyes darted to Lin Mu like prey spotting a predator.

Lin Mu recognized him faintly having spotted him before—Lame Yu.

He was the same lame man Lin Mu had seen momentarily at the Smoldering Rock Union, the one who had witnessed his sword intent firsthand. That encounter had confirmed the fact that this was the same person who had the ability to utterly destroy the Crimson Root Branch , and it seemed the memory of that day still haunted him like a lingering nightmare.

The other elders turned toward him, confusion flickering in their expressions. One of them stepped forward, frowning. "Lame Yu, what are you doing? Stand up! We have enemies to deal with!"

Lame Yu’s voice trembled, his hand shaking as he pointed toward Lin Mu. "That’s... him."

The others glanced between them, not immediately understanding.

Lame Yu’s next words fell like a stone into still water, sending ripples through those who heard them.

"He’s the one who ended the Crimson Root Branch. He’s the one that made the entire Smoldering Rock Union come to heel."

A hush fell over that section of the crowd. Several elders stiffened, their faces darkening with sudden recognition. Whispers began to spread, carrying a mix of disbelief and fear. The Crimson Root Branch had not just been defeated—it had been eradicated. And the man responsible was now standing at the edge of their sanctuary.

Lin Mu, for his part, didn’t even blink. His gaze was steady, his voice calm when he finally spoke.

"So you do know." Lin Mu said with a chuckle. "That should make this a bit easier."

The underground city had just shifted from chaos to dread. And dread, Lin Mu knew, was the perfect beginning to their downfall.

Lin Mu’s voice cut through the tense air like a blade.

"Lay down your weapons. Surrender, all of you," he commanded, his tone steady yet cold. "Or face the same fate as those before you."

It wasn’t a threat thrown carelessly into the wind—it was an absolute declaration. His words reverberated through the cavernous city, bouncing off the stone walls and resonating with a pressure that made even the most stalwart cultivators falter.

For a heartbeat, the place seemed to grow heavier, as if the world itself was waiting for their answer.

Cattaleya let out a low whistle, leaning her massive greatsword casually against her shoulder. "Now that’s a side I haven’t seen before," she murmured under her breath.

She had seen Lin Mu display his skill—his precision, his overwhelming techniques—but this was something different. This was authority, the kind that didn’t need to be shouted twice. It was an air of command that made you believe he could actually carry out everything he said... and more.

Her eyes gleamed with intrigue. ’So this is the real Lin Mu. Not just the swordsman, not just the cultivator... but someone who could stand at the peak and make others bow.’

Elyon, however, reacted very differently.

At Lin Mu’s words, a cold shiver slid down his spine, unbidden. His memories betrayed him—unwanted flashes of the past surfacing in sharp detail.

He remembered the crushing force of Lin Mu’s Gravity Dao, the way it had pinned them to the ground like helpless prey. Back then, it wasn’t simply that Lin Mu had defeated them—it was that he had dismantled them, body and spirit, with an unyielding weight that felt like the will of the heavens pressing down.

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