Elder Huyan's gaze lingered a moment longer before he turned away, his tone returning to calm instruction.

"For now, your focus remains the same. Continue your practice. The trials will not wait for answers."

He waved his sleeve, and the disciples dispersed. The plaza slowly emptied, leaving only faint echoes of footsteps and murmured speculations.

Tian Lei stayed back for a moment, watching the elder's retreating figure. Something about Huyan's composure felt too measured, too deliberate—like he was hiding more than he was saying.

"'The mountain is alive,' huh…" Tian Lei muttered under his breath. "Seems like he knows exactly what's breathing under it."

When he returned to his chamber, he found a sealed message scroll resting on his table. The wax bore the insignia of the Third Hall—a personal mark of Elder Huyan.

He frowned slightly, breaking the seal. Inside was a short note, written in sharp, precise characters:

"Meet me at dusk, near the Eastern Spirit Bridge. Come alone."

No explanation. No signature. But the handwriting was unmistakably the elder's.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Tian Lei made his way to the Eastern Spirit Bridge—a narrow crossing suspended over a deep ravine, where streams of spiritual mist drifted like flowing clouds. The air here was serene, yet heavy with hidden energy.

Elder Huyan stood at the center of the bridge, hands clasped behind his back, his white robes catching the last light of the setting sun.

"You came," he said without turning.

"You summoned me," Tian Lei replied simply.

The elder's lips twitched faintly. "Direct, as always." He turned slowly, his sharp eyes scanning Tian Lei as though confirming a theory. "Tell me, what did you awaken below the Third Hall?"

Tian Lei didn't bother denying it. "A seal. Old, broken, but still alive."

"I thought so," Huyan murmured, glancing toward the distant peak. "When the mountain trembled, I recognized the pattern in its resonance. It was the same as before—when the first inheritor tried to awaken the Thirteenth Hall."

"The first?" Tian Lei asked.

The elder nodded. "Three hundred years ago. A genius of our sect—brilliant, fearless, and reckless. He reached farther than anyone before him… and vanished beneath the mountain. The Thirteenth Hall hasn't stirred since—until you."

He studied Tian Lei's expression carefully. "You're walking the same path he did. But this time, something's different. The mountain isn't resisting you—it's responding."

Tian Lei's gaze hardened. "So you knew about the seals all along."

Huyan smiled faintly, but there was no humor in it. "Know? Perhaps. Understand? Hardly. The Thirteenth Hall is older than our sect, older than Harmony Heaven Peak itself. It's said to be the original foundation upon which the sect was built—a creation of the first Formation Emperor."

"The one who vanished into the Heavenly Veins…" Tian Lei said slowly.

The elder nodded. "Exactly. Every great power leaves behind echoes. The Thirteenth Hall is one such echo. And now, through you, it's waking up again."

Silence fell between them for a few breaths. The wind carried faint whispers across the bridge, sounding almost like distant chanting.

Finally, Elder Huyan spoke again. "Whatever you're doing—continue, but tread carefully. There are forces within this sect that would rather the Thirteenth Hall stay buried. If they realize what you've uncovered…"

"They'll come for me," Tian Lei finished.

"Precisely."

The elder stepped closer, lowering his voice. "When the time comes, the mountain will test you one last time. The Third Seal lies not below—but above. At the summit of Harmony Heaven Peak. Only the Sect Master and a few elders may enter that area. You'll need strength—and a reason—to stand there."

Tian Lei met his gaze, eyes sharp with resolve. "Then I'll earn it."

Elder Huyan smiled faintly, a glimmer of approval flashing across his features. "Good. The mountain favors those who move with purpose. Remember that."

He turned to leave but paused after a few steps. "One more thing. The pendant you carry—it's not just a key. It's also a bond. When the final seal awakens, the mountain will no longer see you as a visitor. It will see you as part of itself."

"And if I fail?" Tian Lei asked quietly.

The elder's expression darkened. "Then it will consume you."

With that, Elder Huyan walked away, his figure fading into the drifting mist.

Tian Lei remained on the bridge for a long time, staring up at the distant summit glowing faintly under the stars.

"The Third Seal," he murmured. "So it ends where it all began."

The pendant pulsed once against his chest—steady, waiting.

He smiled faintly. "Then I'll climb."

Tian Lei returned to his quarters and packed his few belongings. He knew the path ahead wouldn't be simple. If the Third Seal was really at the top of Harmony Heaven Peak, then he would have to rise through the sect's ranks fast enough to be granted access there.

The next morning, the sect announced a new internal competition — the "Inner Disciple Ascension Trial." It was the perfect chance. Only those who ranked among the top formation disciples would earn the right to study at the summit under direct elder supervision.

Tian Lei signed up without hesitation.

The following days were filled with non-stop preparation. He studied night and day, refining his control over living formations — arrays that reacted to his intent instead of fixed instructions. His room was covered with glowing runes, every wall filled with notes and diagrams. Other disciples whispered that he was pushing himself too far, but Tian Lei ignored them.

When the day of the trial came, the Formation Peak plaza was filled with hundreds of disciples. Floating platforms surrounded the arena, and elders watched from above.

Elder Huyan stood among them, calm as ever, but his gaze flicked toward Tian Lei for a brief moment — a silent warning and a sign of faith at the same time.

The first rounds went quickly. Simple formation tests — speed, control, endurance. Tian Lei passed each without much effort. His focus was on the final round: creation. Each participant had to build a self-sustaining formation that could adapt to changing attacks.

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