Chen Wuya stood in the void, the fire pearl in his palm still pulsing. That voice came again, low and deep, as though it were rising from the bowels of the earth.
"Child... you have finally come."
He said nothing, only clenched the fire pearl tighter. A surge of heat rushed from his palm into his meridians, burning until even his bones went numb. He gritted his teeth and used misaligned force to run the Canglang Art in reverse within his body. The method defied all reason, yet somehow, it worked.
A system prompt immediately popped up.
[Abnormal energy infusion detected. Judged to be legitimate interference resistance—initiating completion mechanism: Misaligned Force Net!]
The true qi within him jolted violently. The scattered misaligned force began to flow back, winding upward along the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and wrapping around that invading current of heat. Golden light spread from his arm across his entire body, like a thin layer of armor.
The fire pearl stopped struggling and slowly sank into his palm, leaving behind a crimson-red pattern. The pattern flashed once, then vanished into his skin.
[Host has obtained the 'Karmic Fire Control' ability. Rank has risen to Grade Eight!]
Chen Wuya took a breath and looked down at his hand. His body, which had nearly been unable to remain standing moments ago, now felt indescribably light. He could sense that flame resting quietly within him, lying dormant and awaiting his command.
He raised his head toward the stone stele carved with "Reverse Scale." Blue light fell across it, making the inscription starkly clear.
Just then, footsteps sounded behind him.
The guardian walked in. He still wore a gray-white robe, his face expressionless. But when he saw the lingering golden pattern in Chen Wuya's palm, his steps faltered.
Then