Chapter 2

Mei Ling and her companions—Liang, Xiao Hong, Li Na, and Master Wu—were living in relative peace in a remote village, recovering from their previous ordeal. But the arrival of the message shattered their tranquility. The Consortium had not only survived but had grown stronger, its influence spreading like a poison across the land. The group knew they had to act quickly. The Consortium's next move was unclear, but they had one lead: a mysterious figure known only as "The Serpent," who was said to be the true leader of the Consortium. The Serpent was rumored to be an immortal, like John Oldman from Mei Ling's previous encounters, but far more dangerous. This figure had been manipulating events for centuries, waiting for the right moment to seize the power of the Jade Phoenix. Mei Ling and her companions set out to uncover the truth about the Serpent, knowing that their journey would take them to the farthest corners of the world—and into the darkest corners of history.