Opposite him knelt Xue Ling, a young female spirit whose body shimmered with green light, half-human and half-vine. Beside her crouched Gu Chen, a quiet youth whose aura flickered faintly with the scent of wild grass after rain. Both were among the younger generation, chosen as seeds of the sect's future.
The grove was silent for a long while, broken only by the creak of shifting branches and the whisper of leaves. Finally, Elder Mu Yuan spoke.
"Our emissaries have gone to the gathering. Their task is simple—watch, listen, and then return. The Verdant Shadow need not contest crowns forged by men."
Xue Ling's eyes brightened, but she hesitated. "Elder… is it not dangerous to ignore the Heaven Will? If others seize it, they could oppress even us."
The old spirit's gaze drifted upward, to the canopy so vast it blotted out the sky. His voice carried a note of timeless patience.
