Months had passed since Li Mei's confrontation with the warlock in the Celestial Temple. The kingdom of Lónghuā seemed to be at peace, the barrier between the mortal and spiritual realms restored, and the Phoenix Relic safely hidden once more. But Li Mei knew better—she could still feel the unsettling presence of something lurking beyond the horizon, a force far more dangerous than anything they had encountered.
She spent her days training in the art of spiritual energy, harnessing the power of the Phoenix within her. Shen remained by her side, guiding her with his knowledge of ancient techniques, though his own power had never fully returned. Zhang Wei, meanwhile, had been called back to the royal court, where whispers of political unrest grew louder by the day.
One evening, while meditating in the sacred forest near her village, Li Mei had a vision. The once serene flow of spiritual energy that connected Heaven and Earth had begun to fray, its threads unraveling. Dark shadows slithered through the sky, and a voice echoed in her mind: The Balance is breaking. A new power rises.
Startled by the intensity of the vision, Li Mei reached out to the earth for guidance, but the response was faint and distant. The Phoenix's flames flickered inside her, but even they felt dimmed. Whatever was happening, it was not of this world—it was beyond the understanding of mortals.