The Trial Begins

"Qin Ziyan... The trickster... hmmm, not today." Xiao Lian whispers are she unexpectedly ran pass him, leaving Ji Ren And Liu Cheng. She wasn't ready for anyone to drag her down during these trials and also not trusting anyone most especially Ji Ren is a most.

He has been lingering around her like leech and SIS told her not to trust anyone.

The towering trees loomed over the disciples as they stepped into the Forbidden Forest, their thick branches blocking out most of the sunlight. A dense mist curled around the gnarled roots, and the air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and something far more dangerous...blood.

The trial had officially begun.

Xiao Lian kept her steps light, moving swiftly between the trees. She wasn't the strongest among the competitors, but she didn't need to be. Strength wasn't always about brute force, it was about survival, about knowing when to fight and when to disappear.

She wasn't here to waste energy fighting unnecessary battles. A rustle in the bushes made her freeze.

Her instincts screamed at her to move, and she obeyed. Just as she leaped aside, a jagged spike of earth erupted from the ground where she had been standing.

A trap. She turned sharply, catching sight of a disciple standing a few feet away. He smirked, hands glowing faintly with Qi.

"Didn't expect you to dodge that," he said.

Xiao Lian exhaled slowly. If he had control over earth techniques, that meant close combat would be risky. She would have to outthink him.

She pretended to stumble back, letting her expression flicker with just the right amount of hesitation. His smirk widened, he thought he had her.

He lunged. But the moment his foot touched the ground, Xiao Lian flicked her wrist. A small explosion of Qi pulsed from her palm, disturbing the loose dirt beneath him. His weight shifted unexpectedly, and he stumbled forward.

Xiao Lian didn't hesitate. She twisted around him, delivering a sharp strike to his back. He gasped, collapsing onto the ground. She didn't look back as she disappeared into the forest.

She needed to find a safe place to observe. Survival Through Strategy. The forest wasn't just filled with competitors, it was home to spirit beasts, some more dangerous than others. Xiao Lian knew the sect wouldn't make this trial simple. There would be traps, unpredictable terrain, and creatures lurking in the shadows.

She climbed onto the thick branches of a tree, crouching low as she surveyed the area. A few disciples were already engaged in battle below, their techniques clashing in bursts of light.

She could avoid them. Or…Her eyes glazed toward the unstable ground near the edge of the clearing. The roots of the trees were exposed, creating hidden gaps in the earth. If someone stepped in the wrong spot, A plan formed in her mind.

Xiao Lian reached into her pouch, pulling out a handful of small stones. Infusing them with just a trace of Qi, she turn them into the clearing.

The sounds were subtle, enough to catch the attention of the battling disciples, but not enough to seem unnatural. One of them, a tall boy with a spear, turned his head sharply.

"What was that?"

His opponent took the opportunity to strike, but the tall boy dodged, his movements leading him dangerously close to the weakened ground.

Xiao Lian held her breath. Just one more step. The boy shifted, his foot landing directly on the unstable patch. The moment his massiveness pressed down, the earth gave way underneath him. With a startled shout, he tumbled into the pit below, swallowed by tangled roots and loose soil.

His opponent stepped back, stunned. Xiao Lian allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.

One less competitor. A Watchful Observer. Hidden within the trees, Ji Ren leaned casually against the trunk, arms crossed. He had seen the entire thing.

His sharp eyes followed Xiao Lian's movements as she disappeared into the deeper parts of the forest.

"Interesting," he murmured to himself.

Unlike the others, she wasn't seeking out fights. She was thinking ahead, using the environment to her advantage. Most disciples relied on brute force, but she relied on intelligence.

Ji Ren had known she was capable, but seeing it unfold before him was something else entirely. He pushed off the tree, stretching his arms above his head.

"Well," he muttered, smirking slightly. "Guess I should keep watching."

The First Night, As the sun dipped below the horizon, the trial became even more dangerous. The creatures in the forest stirred, their glowing eyes visible through the darkness.

Xiao Lian had prepared for this. She found a small alcove nestled between two thick tree roots, hidden from sight. It wasn't perfect, but it was safe enough for the night.

She pulled her knees to her chest, listening to the distant sounds of fights and the eerie howls of spirit beasts.

She wasn't afraid.She had been fighting to survive long before this trial. Still, she remained alert. A slight movement to her left made her stiffen.

Before she could react, a voice whispered, "Relax, it's just me."

She turned her head. Ji Ren was standing there, his usual smirk in place.

"What are you doing here?" she asked warily.

"Same as you, you ran away from us," he said easily. "So, I'm just Surviving."

She narrowed her eyes. "And you thought hiding near me was the best option?"

He chuckled. "You're smart. I figured you'd pick a safe spot."

She sighed, turning her gaze back to the forest. Ji Ren lowered himself onto a rock, his expression unreadable. "You don't trust anyone, do you?"

Xiao Lian glanced at him. "Should I?"

His smirk softened slightly. "Probably not."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the pressure of the trial pressing down on them. Then, Ji Ren spoke again, his voice quieter this time.

"But if you ever needed to… you could trust me."

Xiao Lian didn't respond. Because she wasn't sure if she believed him. Yet, for some reason, his words lingered in her mind long after the night had passed.