The Coiled Dragon’s Legacy

The ground trembled beneath them, a slow and ominous rumble that sent loose stones skittering across the forest floor. Li Feng barely had time to process the shift before the ancient pedestal in front of them cracked, releasing a torrent of blue mist into the night air.

Mei Lian took a step back, her daggers poised. "This is bad."

Zheng Wei tightened his grip on his staff. "We triggered something."

The mist coalesced, thickening as an otherworldly energy rippled through the clearing. From the swirling vapor, a hulking figure emerged—a guardian spirit, its body composed of shifting ethereal flames and jagged rock. Eyes of molten gold locked onto them with a silent challenge.

"What is that?" Li Feng muttered, steadying his stance.

"A gatekeeper," Zheng Wei said grimly. "A trial. We can't leave until we prove ourselves worthy."

Without warning, the guardian lunged. Li Feng barely managed to leap aside as a massive fist of stone crashed into the ground where he had stood. Dust and debris flew into the air. Mei Lian dashed forward, her daggers slicing through the mist-like form of the guardian, but her attacks passed through harmlessly.

Zheng Wei planted his staff into the earth, summoning a surge of chi to fortify himself. "It's bound by an ancient contract. Physical attacks won't work. We have to find another way."

The guardian turned its molten gaze on them, raising its arm once more. Li Feng's instincts screamed at him to move, but the Coiled Dragon Ring pulsed on his finger, sending a sudden burst of heat through his veins. The sensation was unlike anything he had felt before—a whisper of something ancient and powerful.

"Li Feng! Move!" Mei Lian shouted.

Snapping out of his daze, he rolled aside just as another strike sent cracks spider-webbing through the earth. His mind raced. The guardian wasn't reacting to their attacks, but it had acknowledged them. It was testing them.

Li Feng took a deep breath. "Zheng Wei, is there a way to bind its energy?"

Zheng Wei's eyes narrowed. "Maybe. But I need time."

"Then Mei Lian and I will buy you some."

Mei Lian shot him a look but nodded, slipping into a defensive stance. "Fine. But don't die."

Li Feng charged forward, feinting left before launching himself at the guardian's core. The guardian reacted sluggishly, its heavy form unable to match their speed. As expected, his blade did nothing—but he wasn't aiming to kill. He needed to learn how it moved.

The creature swiped at him, but this time, Li Feng was ready. He sidestepped, using its own momentum against it. Mei Lian darted in, slashing at the mist surrounding its form, disrupting its energy.

"Now, Zheng Wei!"

Zheng Wei slammed his staff into the ground, chanting under his breath. The energy of the Whispering Forest responded, the ground pulsing with an unseen force. The guardian let out a guttural roar as spectral chains burst from the earth, latching onto its limbs. It thrashed, but the bindings held firm.

Li Feng saw his opening. He lifted his hand, allowing the Coiled Dragon Ring to glow. The artifact pulsed, syncing with the shrine's ancient power. The guardian's struggle weakened as the light from the ring grew stronger, consuming the spectral mist.

With a final, resounding crack, the guardian let out a deep growl before crumbling into nothingness. The clearing fell silent.

Mei Lian let out a slow breath. "Well, that was fun."

Zheng Wei wiped the sweat from his brow. "It recognized Li Feng. That means he passed the test."

Li Feng turned to the pedestal. Where the relic had once rested, something new had appeared—an ancient stone tablet, engraved with markings that shimmered in the dim light.

"The next clue," Li Feng murmured.

Before he could reach for it, a voice echoed from the shadows. "You've proven yourselves… but the real test begins now."

Mei Lian spun, blades ready. Zheng Wei bristled. From the darkness of the forest, a lone figure stepped forward—one they had not seen in years.

Li Feng's breath caught. "You…?"

The figure smirked. "Miss me?"