Chen Wuya stepped into the center of the stone ring. The instant his knees bent, a force rebounded up from the ground, driving him half a step back. He gritted his teeth and steadied himself, about to press forward again, when Bai Zhi's voice reached his ears.
"This trial, I'll take it."
He whirled around. Bracing herself against the edge of the stone platform, Bai Zhi slowly straightened up. Her complexion was worse than before, her forehead drenched in cold sweat, her fingers clamped tightly over her abdomen, yet she still inched toward the stone ring step by step.
The Dragon Maiden tried to stop her, but Bai Zhi raised a hand to block her. She looked at no one, staring only at the sunken altar as she walked into it, one step at a time.
Chen Wuya rushed forward. "You can't—"
The guardian raised a hand, and a screen of light rose up, sealing him outside. He threw himself against it, his palms burning as his voice turned hoarse. "Let her out! She can't hold on in her condition!"
The guardian remained silent, his gaze resting on Bai Zhi.
Bai Zhi stood at the center of the altar, breathing hard. She closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, her gaze had turned sharp. Drawing her flexible sword, she felt its blade tremble faintly as the sapphire tassel glimmered with a dim blue light.
Heaven and earth suddenly darkened.
A blood mist rose. The ground split open, charred wooden beams lay strewn every which way, and in the distance stood the broken remnants of a village. Its fires had long since died, leaving only wisps of smoke. The wind carried the smell of burning, along with faint, indistinct weeping.
Bai Zhi stood amid the ruins, tightening her grip