The forest returned to silence after the Spirit-Devouring Bamboo Tiger's retreat.
Only drifting motes of qi remained, swirling like leftover thunder.
Li Ming stood among them, still holding the faintly glowing crystal—the Spirit Core.
It pulsed with twin colors: soft azure and deep violet, yin and yang circling like patient predators.
Yin Qing crossed her arms. "You're not seriously going to refine that here, are you?"
He tilted his head. "Why not?"
"Because this entire area is soaked with unstable qi! You could implode your meridians!"
He examined the crystal again. "Then I'll implode quietly."
"Li Ming!"
He sighed. "Fine. I'll do it where imploding is less distracting."
---
A few hours later, they reached a secluded cliffside cave overlooking the misty valley.
The others stood guard outside while Li Ming sat cross-legged within, Spirit Core resting on his palm.
He exhaled once, steadying his breathing.
