Let the First Trial begin!"
"The task is simple…" he continued, his voice booming across the field.
"Each of you must venture into the Sealed Cave of Spirits. Deep within it, your Soul Beast awaits
The first to awaken and bond with their spiritual beast shall pass to the next stage of the trial."
The crowd erupted in a mix of excitement and concern.
Duie, a cheerful boy with messy hair and a mischievous grin, clapped Yu Sui on the shoulder.
"Yu, my brother_go win this!
And once you become king, make me the chief of a clan or something! I don't care which!"
Yu Sui rolled his eyes but smirked anyway.
"Only if you stop stealing from the sect kitchen."
On the other side, Lan Ziu, dressed in quiet silver robes, placed a firm hand on Mo Yan's arm.
"Mo Yan… you're not just our pride. You're our future. You will win this."
Mo Yan gave a silent nod, his eyes sharp and focused.
Ahead of them, the cave entrance loomedblack, wide, and ominous. The mist coiled at its mouth like silent snakes. Only one rule applied now:
No one may follow them inside.
Only Yu Sui and Mo Yan would enter.
The crowd held its breath as the two rivals stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder, standing at the threshold of darkness.
Their eyes locked one last time before entering.
Mo Yan: "Try not to get lost in the dark."
Yu Sui: "Worry about yourself, dry leaf."
And with that, they stepped into the shadows.
The cave swallowed them whole.
Outside, the forest was silent once again.