The snow had begun to melt.
Winter's grip loosened as pale sunlight streamed through the canopy, casting glittering patterns across the forest floor. Long Tian slithered through thawing underbrush with Bai Xue curled gently on his back. Her strength had improved, but she still leaned on his qi for warmth.
The bond between them had grown deeper—unspoken, but undeniable.
And yet, something about the forest had changed.
The spiritual energy in the air felt… twisted. Qi streams that once flowed smoothly now pulsed in erratic, jarring rhythms. Trees whispered without wind, and animals grew restless.
Bai Xue looked up, her golden eyes troubled. "Something ancient stirs beneath the roots. I feel it watching."
Long Tian paused. His instincts, sharpened by Dragon Bone Tempering, agreed. He activated Beast Tongue Comprehension, listening to the rustling voices of the land.
> "The root-sleeper wakes…" "Blood will feed the soil…" "The curse creeps once more…"
A chill ran down his spine.
Suddenly, a tremor shook the ground. A massive tree in the distance shuddered, then split open with a sickening crack. From its hollow trunk poured dozens of Root-Puppets—beasts wrapped in rotting vines and bark, their eyes glowing with ghostly green light.
> [Alert: Corrupted Qi Entity Detected. Class: Rootbound Servant.] [Weakness: Fire and Lightning-based Qi.]
They came in waves, dragging claws and tendrils. Long Tian's body tensed as he placed Bai Xue safely behind a stone.
> [Skill Unlocked: Azure Breath – Beginner Tier] [Passive: Lightning Affinity Strengthened by Dragon Core Progression]
He inhaled, qi swirling in his core.
When he exhaled, a bolt of crackling azure energy erupted from his jaws, arcing like a storm-laced whip. Rootbound beasts shrieked, their vines charring as the energy consumed them.
Bai Xue summoned frost charms to slow their advance, but the tide seemed endless. For every puppet that fell, two more emerged.
Then came the rumble.
A massive figure burst from the tree's base—a towering, corrupted treant, its form fused with metal, bone, and blackened spirit crystals. Its mouth opened in a low, echoing groan.
> [Boss-Class Entity Identified: Corrupted Groveheart. Danger Level: Lethal.]
Long Tian's claws sparked.
This was no longer a battle of survival.
It was a trial.
He met the creature's glowing eyes, and for the first time, spoke—not with words, but a roar born from deep within his soul. It cracked the air like thunder, rippling through the glade.
> [Dragon Soul Resonance: 11%. Azure Roar empowered.] [Skill Activated: Azure Roar – Sonic Shock Variant]
The treant staggered. Long Tian launched forward, claw and lightning tearing through bark and corruption. Bai Xue followed, her frost blending with his storm. Together, they struck the heart of the beast.
With a final, ear-splitting crack, the Corrupted Groveheart collapsed, crumbling into ash and twisted bark.
The glade fell silent.
> [Victory Achieved. Dragon Core Progress: 28%. Azure Breath: Level Up!] [Item Obtained: Spiritwood Core – Rare Catalyst for Weapon or Growth.]
Long Tian panted, blood trickling between scales. Bai Xue limped to his side.
They stood amid ruin—but also rebirth.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "For not letting the darkness win."
Long Tian looked skyward.
The forest had tested him—and he had roared back.