As the blue light faded, Chen Wuya stood at the center of a circular altar. Beneath his feet was transparent crystal rock, through which he could see streams of golden energy flowing slowly underground. A fountain stood in the middle of the altar, pale golden breath continuously pouring from its springhead, rising like water, circling once through the air before falling back to where it began.
The guardian's voice reached his ears the moment he steadied himself.
"Third trial: control the dragon breath."
The instant the words fell, the golden breath suddenly grew dense and heavy, an oppressive force crashing straight at him. Chen Wuya's breathing caught, as though a stone had been laid across his chest. This power differed from both true qi and inner force. It was more like some living thing—possessing will and warmth.
He raised a hand, and the instant his fingertips touched the current of breath, a sudden change erupted.
The once-gentle dragon breath exploded violently, its color shifting from gold to black as it instantly condensed into a massive fire dragon. Its head reared high, its eyes scarlet. When it opened its jaws in a roar, a wave of heat swept across the entire altar. The air warped from the scorching heat, and the crystal rock beneath his feet gave off faint cracking sounds.
A system alert immediately sounded.
[Energy imbalance detected. Retreat recommended!]
Chen Wuya did not move. He knew that taking even one step back meant failure, and Bai Zhi was still unconscious outside. He could not stop.
He closed his eyes and began circulating the mental method from the incomplete volume of the Canglang Art. The residual Misaligned Force within his meridians was stirred into motion, rushing in reverse through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. This method of circulation defied