Chapter 112: Xiao Hei's Discovery

The Summer Palace Ruins were considered a famous attraction in District Seven, yet no admission fee was charged.

The ruins had only one entrance—the South Gate—where identity verification scanning allowed free access.

Although the hotel owner mentioned it was the off-season, quite a number of people still queued at the entrance. Lin Huang waited over half an hour before finally entering the site.

Once through the gate, a young girl dressed in a red uniform approached him. "Sir, would you like a guide?"

"Sorry, I just want to wander around," Lin Huang waved her off.

He wasn’t here for sightseeing this time but to search for traces left by Xia Hao; naturally, he had no need for a guide.

Following the crowd, he descended a hundred meters down the stairs and at last reached the heart of the ruins.

Before him stood a structure resembling an ancient city gate, with three large doors positioned centrally.

Nearby, a tour guide was explaining to visitors, "Although it looks like three main gates at the palace entrance, there are actually two hidden side doors. This arrangement of three large and two small gates was pioneered by the Summer Palace. Experts involved in the excavation once said it might be unique..."

Lin Huang glanced at the building with a hint of disbelief—it was essentially a replica of the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City on Earth, only grander in scale.

Moreover, the plaque above the gate bore the grandiose inscription "Heaven’s Gate," which deepened Lin Huang’s conviction about the connection between this Summer Palace and Xia Hao.

Passing through Heaven’s Gate, he soon came upon a canal spanned by five small bridges.

Ahead stood a massive palace gate, reminiscent of those seen in Qing dynasty dramas where ministers would pass en route to court.

The plaque above this gate read simply "Earth’s Gate."

Lin Huang sighed quietly and hurried through Earth’s Gate, pressing onward.

Deeper within was a resplendent hall, its signboard inscribed with the characters "Summer Hall."

He knew this impressive hall must be the main chamber and quickened his pace toward it.

Inside Summer Hall, Lin Huang was immediately drawn to a series of cracks etched across the floor.

A nearby guide was explaining the cracked floor to visitors.

"These cracks appear as though a powerful being forcibly stomped here. Yet the floor is made of mysterious dark sea stones, reportedly impervious even to full-force attacks by transcendent beings—no mark should be left behind."

"Above us, the roof originally had a hole about a meter in diameter. Archaeologists restored it so meticulously that it’s almost indistinguishable from the original. This palace ruin is remarkably well preserved, with this the only damaged area..."

Lin Huang glanced upward at the roof; indeed, no obvious signs of repair were visible. Activating his enhanced vision, however, he detected a faint, almost imperceptible difference where the restoration had been done—directly above the cracked floor.

"It’s as if something crashed through here, or maybe someone sensed an attack and escaped through this very spot..." Lin Huang mused, looking up from the cracked floor.

At that moment, a soft ding sounded.

【Underground anomalous energy fluctuations detected. Absorbing this energy can unlock new abilities!】

“Are you sure?” Lin Huang was surprised; it was the first time the AI proactively requested something.

【Confirmed! Sensors indicate this anomalous energy is residual from a damaged external power source. Consuming this energy can enhance the power source’s functions.】

“Directly beneath this location?” Lin Huang pressed further.

【Approximately three thousand meters below the host’s current position.】

“Understood. Let’s head back and plan carefully.” Now that he had identified what he was looking for, Lin Huang saw no reason to linger. He needed to consider how best to retrieve it.

By the time he returned to the hotel, it was already past one in the afternoon.

Locking himself inside his room, Lin Huang reconnected with the AI.

“Xiao Hei, aside from the anomalous energy you want underground, what else is down there?”

【Life signal scans reveal a secondary mutated creature on the verge of breaking into the Silver realm.】

“What kind of monster is it?”

【Unable to determine.】

“Secondary mutation, huh? Only Heitan can contend with that right now...” Lin Huang frowned. “What about the underground environment? Is it suitable for Heitan to unleash its full power?”

【Sufficient space—very spacious underground.】

“Then I’ll have to figure out a way to take Heitan down there for a trial.” Lin Huang felt confident in Heitan’s strength; though also a secondary mutation, it was a genuine Dragonblood.

Glancing at his remaining cards, Lin Huang suddenly recalled—he had no transformation cards left.

“Almost forgot, I used all my transformation cards last time. Not a single one remains. No way to transform into a Shadow Phantom to sneak underground…”

He sighed in frustration.

“Xiao Hei, come up with a plan!”

【Host can exchange fragments for designated transformation cards in the fragment shop.】

“Designated transformation cards?” Lin Huang was momentarily taken aback. “Do I have enough fragments?”

【Designated transformation cards require the same number of fragments as exchanging for specified monster fragments. Your Shadow Phantom is a bronze-tier level one card, requiring sixty bronze fragments. The designated transformation cards also require sixty bronze fragments each.】

【Special notice: Each designated transformation card is only valid for one hour.】

“Better exchange five, just in case!” Though two would suffice for coming and going, Lin Huang preferred to be cautious and get a few more at once.

【Consumed 300 bronze fragments; acquired five Shadow Phantom designated transformation cards.】

“Too many visitors at the Summer Palace ruins now; I’ll wait until night when it’s less crowded to act.” Lin Huang didn’t want to be spotted transforming into a Shadow Phantom—getting caught would surely mean being dissected for research.

The ruins closed at ten in the evening; he planned to enter around half past nine and wait for the crowd to thin before making a move.

Back in his hotel room, Lin Huang took a nap, waking at six in the evening. After dinner, he settled in to wait for nightfall.

Around half past eight, creaking sounds came from the neighboring room, followed by a woman’s scream.

Lin Huang frowned—he hadn’t expected the hotel’s soundproofing to be so poor. Shaking his head, he returned to reading the news.

By nine o’clock, the creaking stopped, but the woman suddenly let out an abnormal scream.

Lin Huang was about to get up and check but hesitated, deciding it might be nothing and sat back down.

After that, silence fell over the adjacent room.

Shortly after, footsteps approached down the corridor toward Lin Huang’s door.

His room was 505, the innermost on the left side; normally no one passed by here.

Hearing the footsteps, Lin Huang’s brows knit tightly. He drew out his Black Hawk 33, aiming the muzzle at the door...