CHAPTER 19 A NEW PATH
679 Words
Silence lingered over the arena.
No cheers.
No applause.
Only the soft sound of the wind sweeping across the shattered stone platform.
The disciples remained frozen.
None of them had expected the Clan Assessment to end this way.
Elder Tian stood with his hands behind his back.
His gaze slowly swept across the crowd.
"What you witnessed today..."
"...is the consequence of seeking power without restraint."
His calm voice carried to every corner of the arena.
"Cultivation is not merely the pursuit of strength."
"It is the cultivation of one's heart."
"If your heart falls..."
"...your cultivation follows."
Every disciple lowered their head.
No one dared speak.
The clan healers carried Kaden away.
The black veins had disappeared from his body.
But his face remained pale.
No one knew whether he would ever awaken.
Raizen watched in silence.
He felt no satisfaction.
No pride.
Only pity.
Kaden...
You could have become strong without taking that path.
Deep within his mind...
The Origin System chimed.
Mission Updated.
Hidden Truth
Progress: 12%
New Objective: Discover the source of corruption within the Rizz Clan.
Raizen's eyes narrowed slightly.
It's inside the clan...
And someone is spreading it.
"The assessment is officially concluded."
Elder Han announced.
"The final rankings will be revealed tomorrow."
"You are all dismissed."
The crowd slowly dispersed.
Yet almost every disciple glanced toward Raizen before leaving.
The whispers had changed.
"He survived Black Pine Forest..."
"And fought someone in the Spirit Gathering Realm."
"He really isn't the same anymore."
"The former heir..."
"...might become the future of the clan again."
Jin Wu hurried over.
The moment he reached Raizen...
He punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"You idiot."
Raizen blinked.
"What?"
"You scared us."
Jin Wu sighed.
"When Kaden released that black energy..."
"I thought you were finished."
Raizen smiled.
"So did I."
The two laughed.
Su Ziling approached a moment later.
"You've changed."
She said quietly.
Raizen tilted his head.
"In what way?"
"You don't fight to defeat people."
"You fight to understand them."
Raizen remained silent.
After a moment...
He answered,
"I don't think enemies are born."
"They're created."
Su Ziling smiled.
"I hope you never lose that way of thinking."
As the three walked away together...
Several younger disciples secretly watched them.
One small boy clenched his fists.
"So..."
"That's what a true cultivator looks like."
Later that evening...
Raizen sat alone beneath the ancient tree once again.
The setting sun painted the mountains gold.
He closed his eyes.
Instead of cultivating...
He reflected.
On every battle.
Every mistake.
Every lesson.
The Origin System suddenly appeared.
Host Evaluation Complete.
Supreme Foundation Progress: 10%
Congratulations.
Host has fulfilled the requirements to establish the Supreme Foundation.
Raizen slowly opened his eyes.
"So..."
"It's finally complete."
Would Host like to establish the Supreme Foundation?
Warning: Process will cause extreme pain.
Warning: Failure may permanently damage cultivation.
Success Rate: 100%
Raizen couldn't help laughing.
"You call that a warning?"
"If success is guaranteed..."
"I'll do it."
Confirmation accepted.
Beginning Supreme Foundation Establishment...
Boom!
Golden light burst from Raizen's body.
Spirit Qi rushed toward him from every direction.
The ancient tree trembled.
The earth beneath him cracked.
Every meridian inside his body burned as though molten lava flowed through it.
"AAAGH!"
Raizen clenched his teeth.
The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
His bones creaked.
His muscles tore and regenerated.
His meridians expanded again and again.
Impurities poured from every pore.
Far away...
Elder Tian suddenly stopped walking.
His eyes widened.
"This aura..."
He immediately looked toward the ancient tree.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
"So..."
"You've begun."
Deep beneath Black Pine Forest...
The chained primordial creature slowly opened its eyes.
A deep laugh echoed through the endless darkness.
"Hahaha..."
"...Excellent."
"The foundation..."
"...has finally been forged."
One of the ancient chains cracked again.
This time...
The sound echoed across the entire underground world.
The creature slowly lifted one enormous hand.
Its fingertips almost touched the weakening seal.
"The Heir..."
"...is one step closer."
Its crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"And so..."
"...the countdown truly begins."
- Writer
