The sun rose over the Eternal Night Mountains like molten gold spilling across stone and sky. A low hum of excitement rippled through the sect grounds — it was the day of the Inner Herbal Forest Trial, the first in decades.

The vast Grand Courtyard of the Eternal Night Mansion teemed with disciples, their robes fluttering in the wind, their faces tense with anticipation. Rows upon rows of cultivators, from young aspirants to elder-rank disciples, stood in formation. The murmurs of speculation filled the air — talk of spirit beasts, treasures, and rivalries.

On the raised platform stood thirteen elders, their robes representing their divisions — medicine, weaponry, spirit formations, and more. Behind them loomed the Patriarch himself — tall, broad-shouldered, with long silver hair bound in a single braid that shimmered faintly with spiritual energy. His presence alone silenced the restless crowd.

When he stepped forward, the mountain winds seemed to hush in reverence.

"Disciples of Eternal Night Mansion," his deep voice carried across the courtyard, steady as thunder yet clear as crystal. "Today, the Inner Herbal Forest opens once again."

The murmuring ceased. Even the faint flutter of robes stilled.

He let the silence linger before continuing. "It has been eighty-three years since the last trial — eighty-three years since our sect tested its spirit in the forest that sustains us. Many of you have heard tales of its dangers and its treasures. But today, you will see it with your own eyes."

He glanced slowly across the crowd, his gaze sharp, piercing, filled with pride. "Remember this — the forest does not test your strength alone. It tests your discipline, your loyalty, and your heart. The beasts you will face are not the only enemies. Pride, fear, and greed will challenge you as fiercely as any claw or fang."

A low murmur rippled through the disciples. Some straightened, others looked away uneasily.

The Patriarch continued, voice growing stronger, resonant with power. "The Golden Crow Syndicate watches us. They would have us bow, they would have us forgotten — but this trial will prove that the Eternal Night Mansion endures!"

The crowd's tension turned to energy, a roar rising as disciples raised their weapons, echoing the patriarch's words.

"We will not break!"

"We will not bow!"

The Patriarch lifted a hand, and silence returned once more. "But remember," he said more softly now, his tone shifting from commanding to fatherly, "you are brothers and sisters of one path. If you see a fellow disciple in peril, lend your hand. If you face death, face it with dignity. No glory comes from leaving your kin behind."

He looked over at Elder Mei, who stood silently beside him. "The forest will open for three days. The disciples who bring back the rarest herbs or the greatest beasts' cores will earn their place in the Elder Rank Tournament. This is your chance — not only to prove your worth to the sect but to yourself."

He raised his arm high, spiritual energy crackling faintly at his fingertips. The formation circle beneath the platform lit up in a blaze of gold and blue.

"Prepare the seal," he commanded.

Elder Mei stepped forward, her delicate fingers holding a talisman made of ancient spirit parchment. Intricate runes glowed along its surface, swirling like living fire. Her eyes shone with calm focus as she pressed her fingers together in a sequence of hand seals.

"By the decree of Eternal Night," she intoned, "and by the blessing of our ancestors, open the gate to the Inner Herbal Forest."

The talisman floated upward, burning brighter and brighter until it blazed like a small sun. A shockwave rippled outward as it burst into golden light.

The mountains trembled.

Far in the distance, beyond the sect walls, the great forest began to shimmer. The mist parted as if pushed away by an invisible hand, revealing towering emerald trees that pulsed faintly with spiritual essence. The air grew heavy, rich with the scent of herbs and ancient beasts.

From the base of the mountain, the earth split open in a glowing fissure — a luminous path stretching toward the forest like a bridge of light.

Gasps erupted from the disciples as they watched the spectacle.

"The pathway to the forest is open!" Elder Mei announced.

Mo Han stood among the front ranks, his expression calm but his eyes steady. His companions — Jia Kai, Chi Kai, and Fatty Lambu — stood nearby, each looking excited.

Only the chosen disciples of 13 elders were entering inside. Each elder chose 3-5 disciples.

Fatty leaned closer, whispering, "Brother, this is the part where people start dying, right?"

Mo Han didn't look at him. "If they're foolish."

Before another word could pass between them, a loud gong resounded — deep and resonant, shaking the ground.

"The trial begins," Elder Mei declared.

The Patriarch raised his hand once more. His aura flared, a towering wave of golden light that washed over the disciples. "May the Eternal Night guide your steps. Bring honor to your name and your sect!"

And with a sweep of his hand, the spiritual formation pulsed — and the luminous pathway expanded, opening into a wide, glowing gate.

"Go!" Elder Yuan shouted.

The disciples surged forward like a river breaking through a dam. Swords gleamed, talismans flashed, and the air filled with the hum of power as cultivators launched themselves toward the glowing fissure.

Some rode flying swords, others leapt with footwork enhanced by aura. The ground shook under the rush of hundreds of feet. Within moments, the first groups vanished through the gate, their figures swallowed by the golden mist beyond.

Mo Han remained still for a moment, watching the chaos with quiet eyes. "They rush to claim what they don't yet understand," he murmured.

Jia Kai adjusted his sword. "Then you should move before all the treasures are gone."

"Patience," Mo Han said. "The forest rewards those who move wisely, not quickly."

But even as he said it, his gaze shifted toward the distance — and for a heartbeat, he felt another presence in the crowd. A familiar pressure, dark and focused, watching him.

Tang Zin.

He didn't turn, but he could feel her aura — sharp, simmering with resentment. It was a flame too carefully hidden to be mistaken for coincidence.

So she's entered too.

Without a word, he stepped forward, the wind catching his black robe as he walked into the glowing pathway.

The Inner Herbal Forest had awakened.

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