1. WANG XU FOREST - THE FORGOTTEN WOODS
The map in Xuan Xingli's hands trembled slightly as her fingers brushed over the yellowed parchment. Ancient symbols still shimmered faintly under the dim light. There was no mistake—this was Wang Xu Forest, a place buried in the past, a place no one spoke of anymore.
"Wang Xu Forest... I've heard of it before," Luo Chenxi murmured with a soft chuckle, her violet eyes glinting with contemplation. "That place isn't just an abandoned forest. It is where the past and the present intertwine. Those who step inside… not all of them return."
Luo Chenxi's words cast a shadow over the room. But Xuan Xingli didn't waver. She placed the map down, her fingers tracing over the faded markings.
"No matter how dangerous, I have to go."
Luo Chenxi was silent for a moment before she let out a low chuckle. "Then I'll go with you."
2. A JOURNEY INTO DARKNESS
Two figures left the Silent Contemplation Tower at midnight, vanishing into the night. Neon lights reflected off the damp streets, but their destination was set: Wang Xu Forest.
The forest lay on the outskirts of Astrelia, a place long abandoned. Towering trees blocked out the moonlight, creating an eternal night. The air was thick, as if something unseen was watching them.
Xuan Xingli stepped forward, her fingers brushing against the rough bark of a tree. A chilling sensation spread through her palm, making her shudder.
"Do you feel that?" she asked.
Luo Chenxi nodded. "The Mystic Essence here is different. It's unstable… distorted."
They ventured deeper. The further they went, the stranger the surroundings became. The trees seemed to shift, following an invisible pattern. Their footsteps repeated, as if they had been walking in circles.
"We're trapped," Xuan Xingli frowned.
Luo Chenxi closed her eyes, sensing the environment. After a moment, she opened them again, a cold smile curling on her lips. "We're not trapped. We're being watched."
A rustling sound echoed from the darkness.
3. THE GATEKEEPER
From the shadows, a figure emerged. A woman draped in a black cloak, her face concealed behind a silver mask. Her voice was like a whisper carried by the wind.
"The marked one… you have finally arrived."
Xuan Xingli tightened her grip. "Who are you?"
The woman did not answer immediately. Instead, she raised her hand, and instantly, the surroundings changed. The trees trembled, the ground twisted. Before them, an ancient gateway materialized, enshrouded in thick mist.
"If you seek the truth, step inside. But remember, what awaits beyond is not just your past… but also what you have lost."
Xuan Xingli's gaze sharpened. There was no turning back.
She stepped forward, but the moment she touched the gateway's edge, an overwhelming force surged through her. Darkness gushed forth like a violent tide, engulfing her. Reality warped—faces of those she once knew, buried memories, fragmented dreams…
A distant voice echoed, deep and chilling as if it came from the void itself:
"Do you truly wish to know the truth?"
In that instant, Xuan Xingli realized she was no longer in the forest. Instead, she stood in a boundless space where reality and illusion merged. The ground beneath her crumbled, pulling her into a world where time held no meaning…
Outside the gateway, Luo Chenxi remained motionless, her violet eyes gleaming dangerously. "So… this is what you tried to hide from me, Xuan Xingli. Let's see who you really are."
Darkness swallowed everything.