One week had passed since Arthur and Cora found the Shadow Cat Faction disciples.
Seven days of searching, traveling, and recovering hidden caches scattered throughout the secret realm. The group had moved constantly, following the jade compass from location to location with methodical precision.
Each cache revealed more pieces of the puzzle. Training manuals designed to counter Nether Realm techniques. Weapons forged specifically to harm invaders from other realms. Pills that could protect against soul possession. Formation arrays that detected spatial infiltration.
And most importantly, fragments of the Midnight Sovereign Crown.
Arthur stood in a clearing as the final piece was recovered. Yue Ling held it carefully in both hands, a curved section of black metal that gleamed with inner light. When she brought it close to the other fragments they had collected, the pieces resonated with each other.
