Chapter 11: The Trial Grounds

The night was silent, with a gentle breeze sweeping across the mountain peak, lifting Ye Huang's silver-white hair.

The White Night Alliance's trial grounds were hidden within a secluded valley, surrounded by towering black rock formations that pierced the sky. A single winding and treacherous path led into its depths, its surface carved with ancient demon script. Each inscription seemed to pulse with an eerie energy, silently whispering stories of the past.

Ye Huang walked steadily along the rugged trail, his steps unwavering. Behind him, Chitong followed closely, his gaze flickering with a mix of excitement and vigilance. They had just reached an agreement with the White Night Alliance, and now they had to prove their strength in the trial grounds.

"Ye Huang, are you sure about this?" Chitong finally spoke, his voice tinged with concern. He knew this trial was no ordinary test—failure could very well mean death.

Ye Huang did not stop. His voice was calm but resolute. "If I want to become stronger, I have to keep moving forward."

Chitong was silent for a moment before breaking into a grin. "Yeah, you're right. Can't let those guys look down on us."

As they ventured deeper into the valley, a lone figure awaited them. A young man stood with arms crossed over his chest, his expression cold and indifferent. His robes bore the insignia of the White Night Alliance.

"Luo Lan of the White Night Alliance," he introduced himself, his deep voice carrying an unmistakable weight of authority.

"From this moment on, you will enter the trial grounds. There are three stages—'Shadow Labyrinth,' 'Demonfire Trial,' and 'Gate of Life and Death.' If you pass them, the White Night Alliance will recognize your strength."

Ye Huang's gaze remained steady. "And the cost of failure?"

A cold smile tugged at Luo Lan's lips. "No one knows."

Chitong swallowed hard, his usual grin faltering slightly, but Ye Huang remained unfazed. He had already steeled himself for whatever dangers lay ahead.

Luo Lan did not elaborate further. With a mere wave of his hand, a streak of black light split through the night sky. At the far end of the valley, an ancient black stone gate slowly emerged from the darkness.

Intricate demon script covered its surface, glowing faintly with an ominous light, as if it connected to an unknown realm.

"Enter," Luo Lan commanded impassively.

Ye Huang took a deep breath and stepped forward.

The moment he passed through the black stone gate, an unfamiliar force surged through his body. His vision blurred, and when he regained focus, his surroundings had completely changed.

Thick fog rolled across the ground, and towering black stone walls surrounded him on all sides. Twisting paths snaked through the mist, appearing and disappearing like illusions.

"Shadow Labyrinth…"

Ye Huang murmured under his breath.

Behind him, Chitong materialized, scanning their surroundings warily. "This place gives me a bad feeling…"

Ye Huang narrowed his eyes, sensing the faint traces of demonic energy lingering in the air.

Deeper into the trial grounds, the very air was heavy with overwhelming demon energy, pressing down on them with each step. The stone walls around them were inscribed with even older demon script, forming a staircase that led to a sealed gate.

"This is the trial grounds, the entrance to the Sealed Gate," a voice echoed.

Luo Lan's expression remained unreadable as he continued, "The nature of the trials changes each time. Those who enter must unlock the rules on their own."

He pushed open the gate. A sudden flash of light created layers of energy barriers, as if assessing their qualifications.

"Are we really going in?" Chitong asked, hesitation creeping into his voice. His gaze flickered toward Ye Huang, awaiting his decision.

"Not just us. There are others watching from the shadows," Ye Huang replied with a knowing smile, seemingly unfazed by the unseen presences lurking around them.

After a brief pause, they stepped into the trial grounds. The sky above constantly shifted, altering the landscape below with each passing second. It was clear that every challenger faced a unique test, tailored to their presence.

Ye Huang arrived at a circular stone platform made of black slabs. Around them, it seemed as though countless dormant demons lay in deep slumber. He noticed a particular black stone protruding slightly, exuding an unusual energy.

"This looks like a group trial," Chitong observed, scanning their surroundings. "Seems like we can't just walk through. We need to solve some kind of hidden puzzle."

"In places like this, the challenge usually requires the participants to complete a specific task," Ye Huang mused. He reached for a nearby black stone tablet, which glowed faintly as a line of demon script appeared:

"To proceed, you must decipher the rule of equilibrium within the pattern of suspended water drops."

Ye Huang and Chitong exchanged glances, their eyes burning with determination. But unlike the life-and-death battles they were accustomed to, this time, the test before them required intelligence and intuition.

Water droplets hovered in midair, drifting in unpredictable patterns. There was a certain rhythm to their movement, yet it was elusive and difficult to grasp. Ye Huang focused, sensing the faint waves of energy coursing through them.

"Equilibrium… The pattern isn't random. It's part of an ancient formation," he murmured.

Chitong furrowed his brows, staring at the drifting droplets as he attempted to discern a pattern. But no matter how he tried, he couldn't find any clear logic.

"If they're just water drops, maybe we can manipulate them with external force?"

Chitong raised a hand, gathering his demonic energy in an attempt to disturb their motion.

However—

"Hiss—!"

He quickly withdrew his hand, his expression shifting.

"What happened?" Ye Huang asked.

"These drops… They're alive," Chitong muttered, shaking his hand. A trace of wariness crept into his voice. "I tried using demon energy to influence them, but the moment I made contact, they repelled me with some kind of force. Nearly knocked me back."

Ye Huang fell into deep thought. He recalled the words from before—"equilibrium."

"Maybe… this isn't about controlling them with force."

Calming his breath, he slowly extended a finger toward one of the floating droplets.

This time, the droplet did not resist. Instead, it gently swayed, as though responding to his touch.

Ye Huang's eyes gleamed with realization.

"These droplets don't react to power… They respond to resonance."

Chitong's eyes widened. "Resonance? You mean we need to synchronize with them?"

Ye Huang nodded, inhaling deeply. He regulated his demon energy, not releasing it outward but instead harmonizing his presence with the frequency of the surrounding water drops.

In that instant, something remarkable happened.

The water droplets began to orbit around him, gradually aligning into a specific formation.

"It worked!" Chitong exclaimed, his excitement evident. He quickly imitated Ye Huang's approach, attempting to synchronize his energy.

But before they could fully grasp the solution—

A voice, soft yet chilling, drifted through the air.

"My, my… I didn't expect someone to decipher the secret of resonance so quickly."

Ye Huang and Chitong snapped their heads toward the voice, their guard instantly raised.

From the mist, a slender figure emerged.

A woman clad in flowing pale blue robes walked toward them, her steps light and graceful, as if she were one with the mist itself. Her deep, ocean-like eyes shimmered with mystery, and around her, the floating water droplets naturally gravitated, swirling in a mesmerizing dance.

Ye Huang narrowed his gaze.

"Who are you?"

The woman smiled faintly, an enigmatic glint in her eyes.

"Liu Li," she answered softly. "The guardian of this place."