Days passed since the First Trial, and Tian Shen's name spread like wildfire across the Azure Cloud Sect.
A ten-year-old who had shattered the Spirit Formation—it was unheard of. Some praised him as a prodigy; others whispered he was an omen.
Tian Shen, however, remained silent through it all. He knew that whatever power had awakened inside him during the trial wasn't normal. Every time he meditated, he could feel that same golden-black energy stirring beneath his dantian, wild and untamed—refusing to merge with his Qi.
---
The Scripture Hall
On the seventh day, Elder Ru Han summoned him.
"Your foundation has stabilized," the elder said, his eyes calm yet cautious. "It is time you choose your cultivation technique. Follow me to the Scripture Hall."
The Azure Cloud Sect's Scripture Hall was a colossal structure carved into the side of a spirit mountain, guarded by countless ancient formations. Thousands of jade slips floated in the air, each radiating a faint glow—techniques passed down for generations.
When Tian Shen stepped inside, he felt as if the air itself carried a sacred pulse.
Elder Ru Han gestured toward the hall. "Every disciple begins here. You may choose one basic cultivation method from the outer section. Only Inner Elders or those with great contribution can access the inner shelves."
He placed a small token in Tian Shen's palm. "This will allow you to browse freely for three days. Choose wisely—your cultivation path depends on it."
Tian Shen bowed. "Yes, Elder."
As Ru Han departed, the hall fell silent except for the faint hum of ancient energy.
---
The Search Begins
Hours turned into days.
Tian Shen read through hundreds of techniques:
Azure River Flow Technique — focuses on steady Qi refinement.
Crimson Flame Body Tempering — grants explosive power but risks internal burns.
Ironwood Meridian Art — strengthens body and spirit in harmony.
Yet none resonated with him.
Every time he tried to test one, the golden-black energy inside him would flare violently, rejecting it.
By the second day, Tian Shen sat cross-legged before a sealed section of the hall, exhaustion written across his face. "Why won't any of these work? It's as if my Qi refuses to listen."
Just as he was about to leave, the air around him shifted. The candles flickered, and a faint voice echoed in his mind—ancient and distant.
> "You seek harmony where there should be chaos."
Tian Shen's head snapped up. "Who's there?"
The jade slips began to tremble. A gust of unseen wind blew through the hall, pushing open a forgotten door deep in the shadows. Beyond it lay a staircase descending into darkness.
A faint whisper called again.
> "Come… my heir. The path you seek is not among mortals."
Despite the warning bells ringing in his mind, Tian Shen's curiosity burned brighter. Something deep within urged him forward—as if fate itself was guiding his steps.
He descended the staircase.
---
The Forbidden Chamber
The air grew heavier the deeper he went. Strange symbols lined the stone walls—patterns that seemed to twist and shift when he looked directly at them.
At the end of the chamber stood an altar, upon which rested a single jade slip—black, cracked, and pulsing faintly with golden light.
Tian Shen approached slowly. The moment he touched it, his vision exploded in blinding brilliance.
He found himself standing before a vast, chaotic ocean—where storms of fire, lightning, and darkness intertwined. At its center stood a man cloaked in shadow, eyes burning with primordial light.
> "You again…" Tian Shen whispered.
The figure's voice resonated through his soul.
> "You were never meant to follow the path of mortals. Take this art—it is my legacy. The Chaotic Origin Codex."
> "But… the sect forbids—"
> "The heavens fear chaos, child. That is why they sealed me. But if you wish to find the truth of who you are, you must defy the order of fate itself."
The chaotic ocean surged, pouring its power into Tian Shen's body. His veins burned, his meridians screamed—but his will did not falter.
When he awoke, he was back in the dark chamber, the jade slip now dull and lifeless in his hand. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes glowed faintly with alternating streams of gold and black.
> "The Chaotic Origin Codex…" he murmured.
As he stood, the hidden chamber's formations flickered—recognizing a presence not felt for a million years.
---
Back at the Surface
The next morning, Elder Ru Han entered the Scripture Hall only to find the outer formations slightly distorted. He frowned deeply.
"Strange… the ancient seals are reacting again?"
Meanwhile, in his courtyard, Tian Shen sat cross-legged, trying to channel his Qi. For the first time, the wild energy within him responded—gentle yet infinitely vast.
> So this is chaos Qi…
As he meditated, faint ripples of gold and black spread outward, warping the air.
And far above, in the Celestial Realm, countless divine eyes turned toward the mortal plane.
The Primordial of Time opened his eyes, his expression grave.
> "He has chosen the forbidden path…"
From the sealed void, that same ancient laughter echoed once more.
> "Good… very good. The heir of chaos walks again."