HEIR OF PRIMORDIAL CHOAS

CHAPTER 14 RETURN OF THE DISCARDED HEIR

The towering gates of the Rizz Clan slowly came into view.

Rows of guards stood at attention.

The moment they noticed the elder's arrival, they immediately bowed.

"Greetings, Elder!"

The old man gave a slight nod.

"Open the gates."

The heavy wooden gates rumbled open.

Raizen, Jin Wu, and Su Ziling quietly entered the clan.

None of them looked like they had left only a day ago.

Blood stained their robes.

Dust covered their bodies.

Their eyes...

Had changed.

News spread quickly.

"The assessment team is back!"

"I heard something happened inside Black Pine Forest!"

"Didn't they just leave yesterday?"

Disciples rushed toward the main square.

Within minutes...

Hundreds had gathered.

When they saw Raizen walking beside Elder Tian, countless expressions changed.

"Isn't that..."

"The useless heir?"

"He survived?"

"How?"

Kaden stood near the front of the crowd.

His smile disappeared.

He had expected Raizen to return injured.

Or perhaps...

Not return at all.

Yet here he was.

Alive.

Walking beside one of the clan's most respected elders.

Something about the sight irritated him.

Elder Tian stepped onto the stone platform.

His voice echoed across the square.

"The Clan Assessment..."

"...is suspended."

The crowd erupted into confusion.

"Suspended?"

"Why?"

"What happened?"

The elder raised his hand.

Silence returned.

"A corrupted Spirit Beast appeared within Black Pine Forest."

Gasps spread throughout the square.

"Several disciples have already lost their lives."

The joyful atmosphere instantly vanished.

Every disciple lowered their heads.

Some clenched their fists.

Others simply stood in disbelief.

"The forest has been sealed."

"No disciple is permitted to enter."

"Those who disobey..."

"...will be punished according to clan law."

No one questioned the order.

The seriousness in Elder Tian's voice made it clear.

This was no ordinary warning.

After dismissing the crowd, Elder Tian looked toward Raizen.

"You."

"Come with me."

Raizen nodded.

"Yes, Elder."

The two walked through the quiet inner courtyard.

Neither spoke for several minutes.

Finally...

The elder broke the silence.

"You've surprised me."

Raizen looked slightly confused.

"I only did what I could."

"Exactly."

The elder stopped walking.

"You knew you couldn't defeat that corrupted beast."

"Yet..."

"You still stood between it and your companions."

Raizen lowered his gaze.

"I couldn't abandon them."

Elder Tian smiled.

"Power is important."

"But character..."

"...is even rarer."

For a moment...

Neither of them spoke.

The elder suddenly asked,

"Do you know why cultivators fail?"

Raizen thought carefully before answering.

"They become weaker than their enemies?"

The elder shook his head.

"No."

"They forget why they sought strength in the first place."

Those words struck Raizen deeply.

"If strength exists only to dominate others..."

"It becomes meaningless."

"If strength exists to protect..."

"Then even the heavens acknowledge it."

Raizen silently engraved those words into his heart.

Deep within his mind...

The Origin System suddenly spoke.

Character Evaluation Updated.

Host has fulfilled one requirement for the Supreme Foundation.

Raizen's eyes widened.

One requirement...?

He remained silent.

The elder resumed walking.

"There is one more thing."

He looked directly into Raizen's eyes.

"Your Spirit Qi..."

"...is unusual."

Raizen's heartbeat quickened.

The elder had noticed.

"I don't mean stronger."

"I mean..."

"...purer."

Raizen carefully chose his words.

"I've simply focused on strengthening my foundation."

Elder Tian studied him for several seconds.

Then...

He smiled.

"Good."

"Continue doing so."

"Never sacrifice your foundation for quick advancement."

Raizen blinked.

"You don't want me to break through quickly?"

The elder laughed.

"Only fools race toward higher realms."

"The wise build a mountain capable of reaching them."

The conversation ended there.

As Raizen prepared to leave...

The elder spoke once more.

"Three nights from now..."

"The Clan Assessment will resume."

"The final test..."

"...will be held in the arena."

Raizen bowed.

"I understand."

As he walked back toward his small courtyard...

Countless disciples secretly watched him.

Their whispers followed.

"Did you hear?"

"He actually protected his teammates."

"I thought he was weak."

"So did I..."

"Maybe..."

"...we judged him too quickly."

Not everyone mocked him anymore.

For the first time...

A seed of respect had begun to grow.

Far away...

Kaden stood alone beneath a stone pavilion.

His fists were clenched.

"So..."

"They're starting to notice him."

His eyes narrowed.

"I won't allow it."

A cold voice suddenly echoed from behind him.

"Then prove you're superior."

Kaden spun around.

A man dressed in black stood in the shadows.

His face was hidden beneath a hood.

Only a crimson crescent emblem gleamed faintly on his chest.

"Who are you?"

The stranger smiled.

"Someone..."

"...who can help you obtain the strength you desire."

He extended his hand.

Resting in his palm...

Was a tiny black crystal pulsing with dark energy.

Kaden stared at it.

His breathing unconsciously quickened.

"What..."

"...is that?"

The stranger's smile widened.

"A shortcut."

"And the first step..."

"...toward true power."

The evening wind swept through the silent courtyard.

Far away...

The Origin System suddenly emitted a faint chime inside Raizen's mind.

Warning.

Corruption has entered the Rizz Clan.

Raizen abruptly stopped walking.

His eyes narrowed.

The storm...

Had followed him home.