Spirit Herbs Gain Wisdom, Dao Rhyme Establishes the Order of Flora

After the seasonal energies had been harmonized, the ecology of the Hongmeng Great Land grew ever more lush. The abundant spiritual energy not only nourished the existing living beings, but also brought about an anomaly in an ancient forest within the vast mountains of the Southern Territory—the spiritual herbs there had collectively awakened their spiritual wisdom. Nourished by both newly formed spiritual veins and the Heaven and Earth Law, these spiritual herbs shed their ignorance and gained simple awareness and the ability to communicate. Yet, having only just gained wisdom, they knew nothing of order. They fought one another for sunlight, rainwater, and spiritual energy, throwing the forest's flourishing and withering vegetation out of balance and even affecting the small creatures nearby.

When the news reached Secluded Forest Valley, Shen Hao was organizing the Record of Spiritual Wisdom Enlightenment—an introductory tome he had recently written specifically for newly awakened spiritual beings, combining the Law of Life with his insights into Dao Rhyme. Upon learning that the spiritual herbs had gained wisdom only to fall into chaos, he immediately brought the tome and headed for the ancient forest in the Southern Territory with Zi Xuan.

At the entrance to the ancient forest, they could already sense the dense yet chaotic spiritual energy. Towering ancient trees twisted their branches as they tried to block the short spiritual herbs below; spiritual flowers of every color vied in splendor, yet the edges of their petals bore faint wounds; on the ground, several vines were tangled around one another, their leaves already yellowing and withering. A startled little rabbit darted out from the woods, its body covered in torn blades of grass. Clearly, it had been caught up in the spiritual herbs' conflict.

"These spiritual herbs have only just awakened their wisdom. They are like