CHAPTER 6 HIDDEN EYES
883 Words
The night was unusually quiet.
A silver moon hung high above the Human Realm, bathing the Rizz Clan in a gentle glow.
Most disciples had already retired to their residences.
Tomorrow...
Training would become even more intense.
The Clan Assessment was now only two days away.
Raizen sat beneath the ancient tree on the lonely hill.
His breathing was slow.
Steady.
Spirit Qi continuously flowed into his body as he cultivated.
Unlike before, every strand of Spirit Qi felt clearer.
More obedient.
More alive.
Yet...
It still wasn't enough to break through.
Reminder.
A stable foundation surpasses a rushed breakthrough.
The Origin System's voice echoed calmly.
Raizen nodded.
"I know."
"I won't force it."
He had already experienced the benefits of strengthening his foundation.
There was no reason to rush.
Several miles away...
A black figure stood atop a towering cliff overlooking Emerald Wind City.
His entire body was hidden beneath a dark cloak.
Only a pair of crimson eyes could be seen beneath the hood.
Around him...
The very air seemed colder.
He slowly raised his hand.
A pitch-black raven landed upon his arm.
"Have you found him?"
The raven let out a strange cry.
Its crimson eyes briefly glowed.
The man smiled.
"So..."
"He really is in the Rizz Clan."
He gently stroked the raven's feathers.
"Keep watching."
"But do not approach."
"We cannot alert the Keepers."
The raven spread its wings.
With one powerful flap...
It disappeared into the night.
Deep underground...
Far beneath the Human Realm...
Inside a forgotten temple untouched for countless years...
Four figures knelt before a massive black throne.
The hall was illuminated only by dark crimson flames.
An overwhelming pressure filled the air.
Upon the throne...
A man slowly opened his eyes.
His face remained hidden behind darkness.
Only his voice echoed throughout the temple.
"The Origin System has awakened."
None of the kneeling figures dared raise their heads.
"After countless ages..."
"It has finally chosen another successor."
One of them cautiously spoke.
"Your Excellency..."
"Shall we eliminate him now?"
Silence.
Then...
The figure upon the throne chuckled.
"No."
"Let him grow."
"If he dies now..."
"Our efforts across millions of years will become meaningless."
Another kneeling figure frowned.
"But what if he becomes too powerful?"
The mysterious man slowly stood.
An invisible pressure instantly forced everyone deeper into the ground.
"He cannot stop destiny."
"He will simply become the final key."
His laughter echoed endlessly.
"The game..."
"...has begun."
Back within the Rizz Clan...
Raizen suddenly opened his eyes.
His instincts screamed.
Someone...
Was watching him.
He immediately stood.
His sharp gaze swept across the forest.
Nothing.
Only gently swaying trees.
"...System."
"Can you detect anyone nearby?"
Several seconds passed.
Then...
Scanning...
No hostile target within one hundred meters.
Raizen frowned.
"So I imagined it?"
Negative.
Host's intuition has improved following Body Purification.
Remain vigilant.
He slowly relaxed.
Even so...
The uneasy feeling remained.
The next morning...
The training grounds were packed.
Every disciple trained with renewed determination.
Weapons clashed.
Spirit Qi surged.
Instructors barked orders without pause.
Raizen quietly entered the grounds.
Almost immediately...
Mocking whispers followed.
"The useless heir is here."
"I heard he's still at Body Tempering."
"What a disgrace."
Raizen ignored them.
Instead...
He found an empty training post.
Bang!
His fist struck the wood.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each strike carried greater force than the previous one.
Nearby...
Several disciples gradually stopped talking.
"...Was he always that strong?"
"I'm not sure..."
"It feels different."
Not stronger by much.
But...
More refined.
Every punch was efficient.
Every movement controlled.
Hidden within the pavilion...
The elderly man watched silently.
His cloudy eyes narrowed.
"He improved..."
"But not through a breakthrough."
He stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"His foundation..."
"...has become denser."
Even he couldn't understand how such a thing was possible.
Just then...
Jin Wu hurried over.
"Raizen!"
Raizen lowered his fists.
"Morning."
Jin Wu grinned.
"I heard the assessment's first test has been announced."
"What is it?"
"Spirit Beast Hunting."
Raizen's expression became serious.
"Spirit Beasts?"
Jin Wu nodded.
"The clan will send us into Black Pine Forest."
"The team that collects the most Beast Cores wins."
Several nearby disciples overheard them.
One immediately laughed.
"Perfect."
"The beasts will save us the trouble of dealing with the useless heir."
Another added,
"If we're lucky..."
"He won't come back."
Laughter spread once more.
Jin Wu clenched his fists.
Raizen gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ignore them."
"They're not worth your anger."
Jin Wu sighed.
"I really don't know how you stay so calm."
Raizen looked toward the distant mountains beyond the clan.
"If I waste my energy proving them wrong..."
"I'll have none left to improve myself."
Jin Wu stared at him for several seconds.
Then smiled.
"You really are impossible."
Far beyond the Rizz Clan...
Deep within Black Pine Forest...
A pair of blood-red eyes slowly opened beneath the earth.
An enormous claw emerged from the darkness.
A low growl echoed through the underground cavern.
It wasn't the growl of an ordinary Spirit Beast.
It carried...
Hatred.
As if it had been waiting for something.
Or someone.
The creature slowly lifted its head.
Its crimson eyes turned toward the distant Rizz Clan.
A deep voice rumbled within the cavern.
"...Successor..."
The ground trembled.
And then...
Everything fell silent once more.
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