"Who are you, and where is this place?"

Bai Xia had no intention of discussing her chest further. She took a deep breath, focused on the woman seated upon the throne, and hoped for useful answers. Yet…

[???]: ???

Question marks. Every bit of intel came back as pure question marks!

This meant the other party either wielded an item blocking her scan—or vastly outleveled her, beyond detection range. Bai Xia leaned toward the latter. The woman radiated high-tier NPC energy, even final-boss vibes. Her level couldn’t possibly be low.

As Bai Xia cast her scan skill, the throne-bound woman paused slightly—clearly noticing the move—but merely smiled dismissively. She shifted on the throne, crossing her shapely legs while gazing down at Bai Xia.

Silence stretched. Just as Bai Xia began feeling unnerved under that stare, a voice finally rose: "This is Shenlou Palace. I am its master. You may call me Qingcheng."

Qingcheng? Real name or not, Bai Xia fixated on the place.

"Shenlou Palace?"

"Precisely." The self-named Qingcheng nodded. Her tone turned hollow: "Like a mirage—ethereal, illusory."

Ethereal? Illusory? Bai Xia blinked, utterly lost.

Qingcheng offered no further explanation. Instead, she abruptly asked, "Little one, do you know why I brought you here?"

"…I don’t."

She genuinely didn’t. She wasn’t even clear how *she’d* gotten in—let alone why Tianzheng seemed locked outside. Even for a dungeon, splitting a party like this made zero sense.

Mid-thought, the throne woman flicked her wrist. Bai Xia’s breath hitched. Scorching heat slammed into her. In a blink, the palace vanished—replaced by scorched crimson earth veined with molten fissures.

What…?

Bewildered, Bai Xia glanced up. Qingcheng remained perched on the sole unchanged throne, eyes locked on her. "Because I have something to give you."

"Huh? For *me*?"

Bai Xia froze, completely bewildered.

*Final-boss-looking NPC in a game… suddenly offering a gift?*

A gift of despair? A free trip back to town?

Her mind raced. The scene felt deeply off. Unease coiled tight in her gut.

Thankfully, Qingcheng showed no intent to erase her. A casual gesture—and a purplish-black orb shimmered into her palm. Her expression flickered with complexity.

"The full story begins fifteen hundred years ago. Before my dear friend passed, she entrusted all she owned to me—to return to her clan, for burial or legacy. But when I arrived… her homeland had long been erased by war."

Her gaze snapped back to Bai Xia. "I searched endlessly. Nearly gave up after centuries… until I found *you*."

"Me?"

Bai Xia blinked. No logical link clicked—but she felt that uncanny "chosen-one" weight settle on her shoulders.

"Yes. *You*." Qingcheng nodded. Strange light sparked in her dark eyes. "For over a millennium since the Dark Elves' fall, you are the first—and only—Dark Elf I've met with pure bloodline. That is why I came. That is why I entrust my friend's legacy to you."

*Dark Elf?*

Bai Xia rubbed her temples. Softly, she pieced it out: "So… your friend was a Dark Elf. She asked you to return her remains. But the clan was already gone. You searched a thousand years… and only found me?"

…Felt like destiny slapping her shoulder.

She knew "fifteen hundred years" was just game lore—but her chest ached for them both: the elf who entrusted hope to ashes, and this mysterious, full-figured woman who carried the burden alone.

*And now… she’s handing it to me? Wait—this is real?!*

"Precisely as you said."

Good fortune existed. But pies from the sky could still crush you.

Qingcheng’s tone sharpened: "However… I will place the item before you. Whether you claim it? That is *your* trial."

"What do you mean?" No disappointment—just deeper unease.

"It means I honor your bloodline. So I grant you a chance."

A wave of her hand. Her voice turned glacial.

"I will *not* let my friend’s legacy fall to the unworthy! Even as the sole qualified soul in millennia—you *must* pass my trial. Satisfy me, and take all. Fail… and die."

Warmth vanished. Her gaze turned cold, assessing Bai Xia like an object.

Bai Xia’s delicate brows furrowed. After a beat: "What is the trial?"

She didn’t know the reward’s worth—but this woman reeked of power. The prize wouldn’t be trivial. And with treasure laid bare… even fire and brimstone had to be faced.

Qingcheng answered only with a soft *snap* of her fingers.

"ROAR!!!"

The earth convulsed. Lava geysers erupted. From a nearby pool, a fiery behemoth rose—body of smoldering crimson stone, molten rivers dripping down its nearly five-meter frame. No weapons. Just arms thick as stone pillars. Its stony head turned. Flame-licked eyes locked dead onto Bai Xia.

"Defeat it," Qingcheng’s voice cut through the heat, "and you shall claim my friend’s legacy."