Chen Yi's voice was faint, barely audible, as his hands moved swiftly, forming intricate seals with practiced precision.
The dragon's head thrashed wildly, struggling with all its might, yet it seemed ensnared by an invisible web. No matter how fiercely it fought, it could not break free.
Suddenly, everyone felt a wave of dizziness, as though their heads had been struck by a heavy blow. The sensation was unbearable. Among them, Luo Yan and Liu Fangming were the worst affected, collapsing to the ground, unable to stand.
"Fall back! Quickly, retreat!" Liu Dajun shouted, his tone urgent and commanding.
Though he didn't fully understand what was happening, the sheer intensity of the malice was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Without hesitation, he directed everyone to move far away from the scene.
"But what about Chen Yi? What will happen to him?"
As Liu Dajun helped Luo Yan to her feet and tried to lead her away, her eyes remained fixed on Chen Yi's upright figure, refusing to leave. She struggled against him, unwilling to retreat.
With no other choice, Liu Dajun ignored her protests and forcibly dragged her dozens of meters away.
In Chen Yi's gaze, the dragon's head, composed entirely of black malice, began to dissolve like an iceberg under the scorching sun. No matter how it resisted, it melted away at a pace visible to the naked eye.
An entire hour passed. By then, Chen Yi was drenched in sweat, as though caught in a torrential downpour. The Dragon's Malice, however, had ceased its struggles, now appearing almost serene, as if it were basking in some newfound comfort.
Its form had completely transformed. No longer wreathed in dark malice, its entire body now shimmered with a resplendent golden hue. Not only had the dragon's head emerged, but a massive dragon's body was also slowly rising from the deep pit. On its golden scales, traces of black malice lingered but were rapidly dissipating.
The onlookers no longer felt dizzy or oppressed; instead, a gentle sense of comfort washed over them. It was as though the biting chill of winter had suddenly been replaced by the warm caress of spring sunlight, leaving them languid and unwilling to move.
Though they couldn't fully comprehend what had transpired, they all understood that the miraculous transformation was the work of the slender young man standing before them.
At last, the golden dragon was purged of all malice, thanks to Chen Yi's seals and incantations.
Chen Yi, now regaining control of his body, found that his spiritual energy had been utterly depleted. The malice within him, too, no longer surged with its former ferocity. Instead, it now rested quietly in his dantian like a weary serpent, subdued and docile.
A profound sense of weakness overtook him, leaving him swaying unsteadily, barely able to remain on his feet.
Unlike the malevolent dragon's head from before, this golden dragon's features were vividly detailed, every scale and contour brought to life. Slowly, it opened its eyes, gazing at Chen Yi for a long moment before nodding slightly in acknowledgment. Then, with deliberate grace, it retreated back into the depths of the pit.
Chen Yi let out a long sigh of relief, the weight that had been pressing on his heart finally lifting.
Although he was a Feng Shui master, skilled in locating dragon veins and burial sites, he had never before encountered a malice-born dragon or a golden dragon of such magnitude. To stand so close to such a colossal and awe-inspiring being—anyone would feel a mix of tension and fear.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, a sudden, powerful suction force emanated from the pit, pulling him in before he could resist.
"Chen Yi!" Luo Yan cried out in alarm.
Without a second thought, she dashed forward like an arrow, disregarding all danger.
Liu Dajun, knowing that the Dragon's Malice had already been subdued, followed closely behind her.
Chen Yi, meanwhile, found himself enveloped in a crystal-clear spring, as though an invisible hand was gently cradling him. His eyes remained tightly shut, his expression peaceful, as if he were merely asleep.
When the others managed to pull him out of the pit, Chen Yi finally opened his eyes, his gaze dazed and unfocused.
"Chen Yi, what happened just now? Why did you suddenly rush forward? You scared me to death!"
Luo Yan clutched his hand tightly, her voice trembling with lingering fear.
The seven or eight people surrounding them formed a tight circle, their curiosity palpable. All eyes were on Chen Yi, eager for him to provide an explanation.
Chen Yi, however, was just as puzzled as they were. He vividly recalled hearing two voices in his mind—one belonging to the Dragon's Malice, and the other... whose was it? If it was his own, why had he experienced everything as though he were a mere spectator? But if it wasn't his voice, then who could it possibly belong to?
Could there really be another consciousness residing in his mind? Though this seemed like the most logical explanation, Chen Yi would rather die than accept it. The idea was too absurd, too unsettling, like something out of a ghost story.
Scratching his head in feigned confusion, he put on an expression of bafflement. "I'm not sure. I just felt something pulling me in, and before I knew it, I was moving toward it. When I came to, I was already here. Did anything unusual happen?"
Though his curiosity burned within him, Chen Yi was far too cautious to reveal the truth. The idea of single-handedly transforming the Dragon's Malice into a golden dragon—and the fact that his eyes could channel both spiritual energy and malice—was enough to shake the entire metaphysical world to its core.
Who knew what kind of trouble that revelation might bring? Somewhere, hidden in the shadows, there might be dangerous individuals willing to go to any lengths to exploit such power.
"Are you certain you don't remember anything?" Liu Dajun pressed, unwilling to give up.
A lifetime devoted to Yi-ology had not prepared him for the wonders he had witnessed today. The mystery gnawed at him, leaving him restless and unsatisfied.
But Chen Yi had no intention of indulging him. After all, curiosity wouldn't kill him, but revealing the truth just might. If Liu Dajun knew the full extent of what had happened, he might very well try to dissect Chen Yi's brain to uncover its secrets.
"Honestly, I don't remember a thing. Didn't any of you see what happened?"
Chen Yi's acting was flawless, his feigned ignorance convincing enough to deceive even the most skeptical among them.
"Ah, perhaps it's all the will of heaven," Liu Dajun muttered, shaking his head in resignation. "Yes, it must be the will of heaven."
If Chen Yi truly had no memory of the event, then only the heavens could offer an explanation.
"Brother Chen, as much as I hate to admit it, you were absolutely incredible just now. Like one of those Hollywood action heroes, right before they sacrifice themselves in the final scene. So epic! Way cooler than me, Old Geng!" The cheeky troublemaker, Geng Bo, suddenly burst out, flailing his arms in exaggerated excitement.
Chen Yi was left speechless. That was certainly a... unique way to compliment someone.
"How are you feeling? Should we take you to the hospital for a check-up?" Luo Yan asked, her concern evident. For her, the specifics of what had happened mattered far less than Chen Yi's health and safety.
"I'm fine. Really, there's no need."
Chen Yi declined firmly.
"Alright then, I'll take you home."
Luo Yan didn't press further, helping him to his feet.
But just as Chen Yi stood, his expression turned oddly strained, and he sank back down to the ground.
"What's wrong? Should we go to the hospital after all?" Luo Yan gripped his hand, her worry intensifying. Suddenly, she noticed something amiss. "Your hand... it's so hot. Your whole body feels like it's burning up. Are you running a fever?"
"No, no, absolutely not. I'm perfectly fine. There's no need for the hospital," Chen Yi insisted, his tone resolute.