The evening was quiet.
Kang Woo sat on the outer steps of the guest house, sharpening his borrowed blade as the Shadowfang Panther snored loudly nearby. Hajin was reading a scroll Elder Hui had gifted him — something about "Foundations of Cloud Qi Literature."
Then, a knock.
A young disciple in ceremonial robes stood at the door, bowing respectfully.
"Instructor Kang Woo. Junior Disciple Hajin. The Sect has advanced the Root Awakening Ceremony to tomorrow morning."
Kang Woo raised an eyebrow. "That soon?"
"Yes, sir. Due to scheduling shifts and the arrival of certain elders… the ceremony must proceed. Please report to the Root Pavilion at dawn. Formal attire will be provided."
Hajin sat up, suddenly nervous. "Tomorrow already…"
The disciple bowed again and left.
Kang Woo leaned back against the pillar. "Big day, huh?"
Hajin nodded, swallowing dryly. "I'm… not ready."
Kang Woo glanced up at the stars. "You'll be fine."
---
Next Morning — Root Pavilion Grounds
Cloudmist Sect buzzed with energy.
The massive Root Pavilion — a circular open-air arena made of spiritual jade and gold-veined marble — was filled with disciples, instructors, and guests. Floating platforms carried each of the Peak Elders, seated like emperors.
And at the center, beneath a hovering spiritual crystal, stood the Sect Leader himself — an old man with silver robes, eyes like clear skies, and a presence that made the air feel thinner.
Elder Hui stood beside him, fan closed, his eyes locked on the ceremony below.
"That's him," he said softly. "The outsider. Kang Woo."
The Sect Leader glanced at the man sitting casually near the back, with a panther beside him like a bodyguard.
"…Interesting," the Sect Leader murmured. "He does not look like someone chosen by fate."
"That's why fate likely chose him."
---
The Ceremony Begins
One by one, outer disciples were called forward.
Each stepped into the circle, palms pressed against the glowing Root Crystal.
Most lit up with one of the standard five: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, or Wood. A few had dual roots. Very few had mid- or high-grade roots.
Then—
"Hajin Wu."
Hajin stepped forward, nervous but calm. He looked at Kang Woo once. Kang Woo nodded.
Hajin placed his hands on the crystal.
A surge of wind burst out. The crystal glowed green and blue, then silver.
The elders murmured. One even stood.
"A middle-grade Wind-Water Root—and stable!" an elder called.
"He has potential for elemental fusion paths!"
The Sect Leader smiled faintly. "This boy… keep an eye on him."
Hajin stumbled back, stunned.
Elder Hui gave him a proud nod.
---
Then…
"Kang Woo."
Whispers spread across the arena.
"Isn't that the beast tamer?"
"He's not even a disciple…"
"Why is he here?"
Kang Woo walked forward without hesitation. Calm. Silent. The panther growled once, protective.
He stood before the Root Crystal.
One elder scoffed. "This is a waste of time."
Another muttered, "Watch him faint from spiritual backlash."
Kang Woo placed his hand on the crystal.
Nothing happened for two seconds.
Then—
BOOM.
Thunder cracked across the sky.
Clouds swirled above the entire sect. The crystal didn't just glow — it screamed with power.
Lightning arced from its center. The ground shook.
The sky turned gold and purple.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Then — two colors flared from the crystal simultaneously:
Crimson black — the bloodline of Beast Sovereigns.
And radiant white-gold — the legendary Heavenly Emperor Root.
The entire arena went silent.
Elder Hui dropped his fan.
One elder stood, voice shaking. "He… he has a dual awakened spiritual root?! That's impossible! You can't—!"
Another whispered, "Beast Master Root… and… is that—?!"
The Sect Leader stood slowly.
"Heavenly Emperor Spiritual Root. The one that hasn't appeared in 800 years."
Kang Woo looked at his hand.
"…So that's what you dragged me into, huh?" he muttered to himself.
The thunder rumbled again — and then, just as suddenly, the clouds vanished.
Silence.
Then chaos.
Elders argued. Instructors whispered. Disciples stared like he was a god in human skin.
And Kang Woo?
He simply turned to walk back to his seat.
The panther followed.