CHAPTER 17 THE FINAL ASSESSMENT
814 Words
Morning arrived with brilliant sunlight shining over the Rizz Clan.
The sound of drums echoed throughout the mountain.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
Every disciple knew what those drums meant.
The final stage of the Clan Assessment had begun.
Disciples streamed toward the central arena.
The atmosphere was far different from before.
There was excitement.
But there was also unease.
The events in Black Pine Forest had cast a shadow over the entire clan.
No one knew whether another tragedy would occur.
Raizen adjusted the simple iron sword hanging at his waist before leaving his courtyard.
He wore the same plain training robes.
No expensive armor.
No rare weapon.
Only calm determination.
As he stepped onto the main path, Jin Wu caught up with him.
"Raizen!"
"You recovered quickly."
Raizen smiled.
"I'm feeling much better."
Jin Wu laughed.
"I swear, you're not human."
Before Raizen could answer, another familiar voice joined them.
"Good morning."
Su Ziling approached with a gentle smile.
"I hope neither of you plans to hold back today."
Jin Wu grinned.
"I'll do my best."
Raizen nodded.
"So will I."
Soon...
The three arrived at the arena.
Thousands of spectators had already filled the surrounding stands.
Clan Elders sat upon the elevated platform.
At the center...
Elder Tian slowly stood.
"The Clan Assessment shall now resume."
His calm voice spread throughout the arena.
"The forest trial has ended."
"Today's assessment..."
"...will determine the rankings of the younger generation."
An attendant carried out a large wooden box.
Inside were dozens of jade nameplates.
"The rules are simple."
"You will draw a number."
"Disciples with matching numbers will face each other."
"The victor advances."
"The defeated are eliminated."
The crowd erupted into excited whispers.
A tournament.
This was the event everyone had been waiting for.
One by one...
The disciples stepped forward to draw their numbers.
Jin Wu smiled as he looked at his token.
"Number Twelve."
Su Ziling glanced at hers.
"Number Seven."
Finally...
Raizen reached into the box.
He withdrew his jade plate.
Number One.
The arena instantly became quiet.
The first match.
Everyone's eyes turned toward him.
Moments later...
Another disciple revealed his token.
It was Kaden.
He slowly looked toward Raizen.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"What a coincidence."
Raizen calmly met his gaze.
"It seems fate enjoys testing us."
Hidden beneath Kaden's sleeve...
Faint black veins pulsed for just a moment.
Then disappeared.
No one noticed.
Except...
Elder Tian.
His expression darkened slightly.
"So..."
"It's you."
"The first match."
Elder Han announced.
"Rizz Raizen."
"Versus..."
"Kaden."
Thunderous cheers erupted throughout the arena.
Some expected Raizen to lose quickly.
Others wanted to see whether the "discarded heir" had truly changed.
The two young men stepped onto the stone platform.
A barrier of Spirit Qi rose around the arena.
The duel had begun.
For a long moment...
Neither moved.
Kaden broke the silence first.
"You've been getting a lot of attention lately."
Raizen remained calm.
"I've simply been cultivating."
Kaden laughed.
"No."
"You've been stealing what should've been mine."
Raizen frowned.
"Strength isn't something that belongs to anyone."
"It has to be earned."
Those words caused Kaden's expression to twist.
"Earned?"
"You know nothing."
Without warning—
Kaden exploded forward.
His speed was far greater than before.
The spectators gasped.
"So fast!"
"He wasn't this strong before!"
Raizen's eyes narrowed.
Kaden... broke through.
Clang!
Their swords collided.
The force pushed Raizen back several steps.
His arms tingled from the impact.
Analysis Activated.
Opponent Realm: Early Spirit Gathering Realm.
Warning: Spiritual fluctuations unstable.
Raizen's heart sank.
Spirit Gathering Realm.
Kaden had advanced far too quickly.
Kaden smiled arrogantly.
"Surprised?"
"This..."
"...is true talent."
He attacked again.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
His strikes became increasingly violent.
Raizen defended each one with precise movements.
Instead of meeting force with force...
He redirected every attack.
Exactly as Elder Tian had taught him.
The spectators slowly fell silent.
"He isn't losing..."
"He's reading every attack."
Even Elder Han nodded in approval.
"What remarkable composure."
Kaden grew increasingly frustrated.
"Fight back!"
He roared.
Raizen calmly answered,
"I already am."
He sidestepped another strike.
Using Kaden's momentum...
He lightly pushed the blade aside.
Kaden stumbled forward.
For the first time...
The crowd saw him lose his balance.
Hidden within the audience...
The hooded stranger frowned.
"He's adapting too quickly."
Back on the platform...
Kaden's breathing became heavier.
The black veins beneath his skin briefly surfaced again.
His Spirit Qi suddenly became darker.
More violent.
Raizen immediately noticed.
"So..."
"That's the source of your sudden strength."
Kaden froze.
"What did you say?"
Raizen lowered his sword slightly.
"Whatever power you accepted..."
"It's changing you."
For a split second...
Uncertainty flashed across Kaden's face.
Then...
It vanished beneath rage.
"Shut up!"
Black Spirit Qi erupted from his body.
The arena shook.
The spectators stood in alarm.
Elder Tian immediately rose to his feet.
His eyes narrowed.
"The corruption..."
"...has awakened."
- Writer
