CHAPTER 13 THE KEEPER'S WARNING
845 Words
The forest was silent once more.
The colossal body of the corrupted Black Iron Bear lay motionless upon the shattered earth.
Its crimson eyes had lost their light.
Only the lingering scent of blood remained.
Raizen slowly lowered his iron sword.
His hands were still trembling.
Not from fear.
From exhaustion.
Every muscle in his body ached.
Even standing had become difficult.
The elderly man calmly walked toward the bear's corpse.
He knelt beside it.
His fingers lightly touched the black veins spreading beneath its fur.
A deep frown appeared on his face.
"...It's worse than I feared."
Jin Wu cautiously stepped closer.
"E-Elder..."
"What exactly is that black energy?"
The old man remained silent for several moments.
Finally...
He stood.
"It is something that should never have appeared in the Human Realm."
Su Ziling's expression became serious.
"Can it infect humans?"
The elder looked at her.
"If one's will is weak..."
"...yes."
"The corruption devours reason."
"It amplifies hatred."
"It twists desire."
"In the end..."
"It leaves behind nothing but an empty shell driven by instinct."
The three youths exchanged uneasy glances.
Raizen looked at the beast's corpse.
"So..."
"It wasn't born like this."
The elder nodded.
"No."
"It was transformed."
Deep within his mind...
The Origin System spoke.
Information verified.
Designation: Corruption.
Origin: Classified.
Access denied.
Raizen frowned.
"Even now..."
"You won't tell me?"
Host authority insufficient.
The elder suddenly looked toward Raizen.
"Hm?"
For a brief instant...
It almost seemed as though he had heard the conversation.
But he simply smiled.
"You ask many questions."
Raizen bowed slightly.
"I want to understand."
The elder nodded approvingly.
"Good."
"A cultivator who stops asking questions..."
"...stops growing."
He waved his sleeve.
A gentle stream of Spirit Qi flowed toward Raizen.
The warm energy entered his body.
The pain throughout his meridians gradually eased.
His breathing became smoother.
The bruises on his arms faded noticeably.
Raizen's eyes widened.
"What incredible control..."
The elder chuckled.
"This is merely a basic healing art."
"You'll learn techniques far more profound in the future."
Jin Wu stared with sparkling eyes.
"Elder..."
"Are you one of the clan's strongest cultivators?"
The old man laughed.
"Strong?"
"Compared to you..."
"Perhaps."
"But compared to the true experts of this world..."
"I am merely another traveler climbing the mountain."
Those words stunned all three of them.
If someone this powerful considered himself ordinary...
Just how vast was the cultivation world?
The elder looked toward the distant mountains beyond Black Pine Forest.
"The Human Realm..."
"...is only the first step."
"There are countless geniuses beyond these lands."
"Ancient sects."
"Holy dynasties."
"f*******n domains."
"Immortal inheritances."
He smiled faintly.
"If you believe this clan is the entire world..."
"You'll never reach the heavens."
Raizen quietly engraved every word into his heart.
Suddenly...
The elder's expression changed.
He turned sharply toward the depths of the forest.
His eyes narrowed.
"...Leave."
Jin Wu blinked.
"What?"
"Now."
His calm voice had become firm.
"There are presences awakening..."
"...that should remain asleep."
Without another word...
He raised one hand.
A stream of Spirit Qi lifted the three youths into the air.
The surrounding scenery blurred.
The forest rushed past them at astonishing speed.
Within only a few breaths...
They had already crossed several kilometers.
Jin Wu's mouth hung open.
"So..."
"So fast..."
Meanwhile...
Deep beneath Black Pine Forest...
The ancient chains shook violently.
Crack.
A tiny fracture appeared upon one of them.
Then another.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
Dark crimson energy seeped through the broken seals.
The colossal creature slowly opened its massive jaws.
Its voice echoed through the underground world.
"...Keeper..."
"...you cannot stop destiny forever."
Back on the surface...
The elder abruptly stopped.
His face became unusually pale.
A trace of blood trickled from the corner of his lips.
Raizen immediately noticed.
"Elder!"
The old man casually wiped the blood away.
"It is nothing."
But his eyes betrayed the truth.
Whatever had awakened beneath the forest...
Even he was not completely confident against it.
Soon...
The towering walls of the Rizz Clan appeared in the distance.
Clan guards immediately rushed forward.
"Elder!"
"What happened?"
The old man looked at them.
"Seal Black Pine Forest immediately."
"No disciple..."
"...is to enter without my permission."
The guards were shocked.
"Y-Yes, Elder!"
They hurried to carry out the order.
As Raizen looked back toward the forest...
A strange feeling settled in his heart.
Something inside those woods...
Had been watching him.
Not with hatred.
Not with hunger.
But with...
Recognition.
The Origin System suddenly emitted a soft chime.
New Main Quest Unlocked.
MAIN QUEST: THE HIDDEN TRUTH
Objective: Discover the source of the Corruption affecting Black Pine Forest.
Current Progress: 0%
Reward: ???
Failure: Unknown consequences.
Raizen stared at the floating screen.
For the first time...
The System had assigned him a quest that wasn't about becoming stronger.
It was about uncovering a mystery.
He slowly clenched his fists.
His journey was no longer just about proving himself to the Rizz Clan.
Somewhere beyond his understanding...
A much greater storm was gathering.
And unknowingly...
He had already stepped into its path.
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