CHAPTER 8 THE FIRST MISSION
799 Words
The arena remained eerily silent.
Every disciple continued staring at the cracked Spirit Pillar.
No one had expected the assessment to unfold this way.
Least of all...
Raizen himself.
Elder Han slowly composed himself.
"The first stage is concluded."
"The second stage..."
"...will begin immediately."
He raised his hand.
Several clan guards stepped into the arena carrying wooden boxes.
Inside each box lay a small jade token.
"The second stage is a team mission."
"Each disciple will receive a team token."
"You will enter Black Pine Forest."
"Your objective is simple."
"Hunt Spirit Beasts."
"Collect Beast Cores."
"The team with the highest score wins."
Excited whispers immediately spread through the crowd.
"Finally!"
"A real challenge!"
"I've been waiting for this."
Some disciples smiled confidently.
Others looked nervous.
Black Pine Forest was dangerous.
Although the strongest Spirit Beasts had already been driven away...
Wild beasts still roamed its depths.
Carelessness could cost a cultivator their life.
An elder continued.
"Remember."
"This assessment is not only about strength."
"It is also about judgment."
"Helping your teammates."
"And surviving."
"No disciple who recklessly abandons their companions deserves to represent the Rizz Clan."
One by one...
The disciples stepped forward to draw their jade tokens.
Each token carried a number.
Disciples with matching numbers formed a team.
Raizen calmly reached into the wooden box.
When he withdrew his token...
The number engraved upon it was...
Seven.
Moments later...
Jin Wu excitedly raised his own token.
"Seven!"
Raizen smiled.
"Looks like we're teammates."
Jin Wu laughed.
"I knew today was going to be lucky."
A gentle voice spoke from behind them.
"I also have seven."
Both boys turned around.
Standing there...
Was Su Ziling.
Jin Wu's mouth immediately fell open.
"No way..."
"The three of us?"
Su Ziling nodded politely.
"It seems fate has arranged it."
Raizen couldn't help smiling.
"Then I look forward to working with both of you."
Not everyone shared their excitement.
Across the arena...
Kaden crushed his own jade token so tightly that small cracks appeared.
His teammates glanced at him.
"Brother Kaden..."
"What happened?"
His eyes remained fixed on Raizen.
"Nothing."
"...He's simply fortunate."
But deep inside...
He felt something unfamiliar.
Unease.
The Clan Head stood.
"The teams will depart immediately."
"You have until sunset tomorrow."
"Return with your Beast Cores."
"Those who fail..."
"...will receive zero points."
The massive clan gates slowly opened.
Beyond them...
A dense forest stretched toward the horizon.
Ancient trees towered into the sky.
A cool mist drifted between them.
The entrance to Black Pine Forest resembled the open mouth of a giant beast.
Waiting.
Watching.
Raizen adjusted the simple sword hanging at his waist.
It wasn't a treasured weapon.
Just an ordinary iron sword.
But it was enough.
Jin Wu stretched his shoulders.
"I've always wanted to explore Black Pine Forest."
Su Ziling looked toward the trees.
"We shouldn't underestimate it."
"I've heard strange rumors."
"What kind?"
Jin Wu asked.
She hesitated.
"They say..."
"Some nights..."
"People hear whispers."
"They follow the voices."
"And never return."
Jin Wu forced a laugh.
"That's probably just a ghost story."
Raizen remained silent.
Something about the forest...
Felt strange.
Warning.
The Origin System suddenly spoke.
Unknown energy detected within Black Pine Forest.
Threat assessment unavailable.
Raizen's eyes narrowed.
Unknown?
It was the first time the System had admitted it couldn't identify something.
Whatever lay inside...
Was no ordinary Spirit Beast.
The three of them crossed the forest's boundary.
The moment they stepped beneath the towering trees...
The temperature dropped noticeably.
The cheerful sounds of birds gradually disappeared.
Only the rustling of leaves remained.
Jin Wu rubbed his arms.
"Why does it suddenly feel so cold?"
Su Ziling quietly looked around.
"We're being watched."
Raizen stopped walking.
"So you feel it too."
She nodded.
Before anyone could speak again...
A loud roar echoed through the forest.
ROOOOAR!
The ground trembled beneath their feet.
Leaves rained from the trees.
Somewhere deep within Black Pine Forest...
Something enormous had awakened.
Miles away...
Hidden atop an ancient tree...
A man dressed in black robes watched the three youths enter the forest.
A crimson crescent symbol gleamed faintly on his sleeve.
He smiled.
"The successor has arrived."
He raised two fingers.
Dark shadows silently emerged around him.
"Do not interfere."
"Simply observe."
"If he survives..."
"Our master will be pleased."
The shadows vanished without a sound.
Deep beneath Black Pine Forest...
Inside a forgotten underground chamber...
A pair of blood-red eyes slowly opened.
Heavy chains wrapped around a colossal figure hidden in the darkness.
Its breathing shook the cavern.
For countless years...
It had slept.
Now...
It sensed a familiar presence.
A presence it had not felt since the Age of Primordial Chaos.
The creature slowly lifted its head.
"...Heir..."
Its ancient voice rumbled through the darkness.
"...You have finally come."
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