A faint smile remained on Kyrian's face for only an instant, a brief twitch at the corners of his lips that reflected the spark of a new idea that had just emerged in his mind.
It was something bold, almost insane by other people's standards, yet exactly what he needed to consolidate his third dantian.
Then... it disappeared.
Like a cloud dispersing beneath the sun, that fleeting expression gave way to absolute seriousness.
His eyes, once gentle, became sharp blades of concentration. The ease that had radiated from his posture was replaced by controlled tension, like the string of a bow on the verge of being released.
He took a deep breath.
A long, measured inhale, followed by an exhale that seemed to carry away every distraction from the outside world. His lungs filled with air, and when the breath left him, something changed within.
At that very moment, the Qi circulating through his body began to diminish.
