The instant his toes touched the ground, the passage's trembling abruptly intensified. Scraping rang out from within the stone walls, dense as torrential rain beating on drums, and the entire corridor seemed to be split apart from the depths by some colossal creature. Chen Wuya instinctively retreated, his shoulder blades slamming into the icy rock face. The Misaligned Force left in his meridians from forcibly simulating "walking a false pathway" earlier began circulating automatically in shock, actually running in reverse into the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian—precisely the route the Canglang Art expressly forbade.
The true qi within him suddenly stalled, then poured backward into his dantian like a reversing flood. An unfamiliar burning pressure shot up from his spine and rushed straight into his palm. The system vibrated: True qi circulation detected to be contrary to conventional principles, yet consistent with "unconventional stress response mode." Assessment: Error Rationalization activated.
Almost at the same moment, a black shadow burst through the mist!
The strange beast was built like an ox, its entire body covered in blue-gray ice scales. With every step, web-like frost patterns spread across the ground. Its crimson eyes fixed on the three of them, and cold breath streamed from its mouth and nostrils. The moisture in the air instantly condensed into fine ice crystals, turning even each breath bitingly cold.
Mo Feng reacted swiftly. He snapped open his folding fan and gathered water vapor in his palm, intending to use the Water Escape Technique to circle around its flank. But before the water could take shape, the cold froze it solid. It turned into several ice spikes that fell and shattered on the floor. His expression shifted slightly as he hurriedly retreated two steps.
Bai Zhi charged forward with her sword held crosswise. Her flexible blade carved a