The forest trail stretched ahead like a ribbon of shadow and silence, winding through ancient trees whose branches interlocked overhead, blotting out the sun. The air was thick with moss and the faint scent of damp earth, untouched by the noise of the sect or the world beyond.
Jin Mu walked slowly behind Li Yiran, his steps measured, allowing her the space to absorb the subtle tremors coursing through her body. Since he had forcibly awakened her dormant meridians, she had said very little, her eyes reflecting a mix of confusion, pain, and something fragile—hope.
He wasn't worried.
Not yet.
His mind was occupied with a different urgency.
Suddenly, the familiar voice of the system whispered inside his consciousness.
Reward Claimed: – Primordial Chaotic Root (Bound) – Ruthless Immortal Presence (Adjustable)
Notice: Integration with Primordial Chaotic Root will begin upon meditation.Full integration will elevate host to the peak of the Mortal World.
The promise hung heavy between his thoughts as they reached a small clearing—a wide patch of grass cradled by towering, weathered trees. Shafts of fading sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting mottled patterns over the cracked earth.
Jin Mu settled down cross-legged at the center, inhaling deeply the scent of pine and moss.
"Wait here," he told Li Yiran softly, not turning to look. "Keep watch. Guard the perimeter if you can."
The girl's brow furrowed in silent question, but she nodded, settling down not far off with a makeshift spear fashioned from a sturdy branch.
Even now, she didn't grasp the scale of what was unfolding. The man they mocked as useless—the broken heir of a fallen peak—was about to shatter every expectation.
Within the stillness of his soul, chaos roared.
As Jin Mu closed his eyes, the Primordial Chaotic Root pulsed deep inside his chest like a living storm. Wild ki surged through every fiber of his being, thrashing against the fragile cage of flesh and bone. His veins felt like coiling serpents, threatening to burst.
He gritted his teeth and held perfectly still.
Integration in Progress... Bloodline adapting... Soul syncing... Meridians reforging...
Suddenly, agony exploded through him.
Bones cracked and healed in blistering waves. Blood burned fiercely, simultaneously boiling and freezing. Every cell screamed as it twisted, broke, and rebuilt.
And then—the pain gave way to power.
Integration Complete.Cultivation Rank: Peak Mortal WorldPower Concealment: AutomaticNew Physique: Primordial Body of ChaosHidden Abilities: Locked until further evolution.☠ Ruthless Immortal Presence – ActiveEffect: Suppresses all beings below user's level with overwhelming dread.Adjustable Range: 0% to 100%
Jin Mu's chest heaved as he opened his eyes.
The world around him felt altered—heavier, slower, smaller, as if the air itself was bending before his newfound presence.
He rose smoothly, his movements calm despite the storm that had just passed within.
Nothing on the outside had changed. His plain, worn robes hung loosely over a thin frame. His face bore the same tired expression of a forgotten teacher.
But inside?
He was no longer a man to be mocked.
He had vaulted past the limits of the Mortal World with a single, shattering leap.
And no one would ever know.
[System Notice: Concealment Active]– Power Signature: Suppressed– Aura: Muted– Bloodline Pressure: Dormant
A slow smirk curled at the corner of Jin Mu's lips.
Perfect.
He walked back toward Li Yiran, who was poking curiously at a wild mushroom with a stick, her posture relaxed but eyes still wary.
"You're done already?" she blinked up at him.
"Mm." He nodded casually. "It was just a small adjustment."
She studied him for a moment, then shrugged and returned to her exploration of the small clearing.
By the time the sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the sect's outer gates, they arrived with quiet footsteps.
Two disciples, clad in ornate robes of the upper ranks, lounged against the gateposts. Their eyes lit up with mockery the moment they saw Jin Mu.
"Look, it's the dead branch from Fallen Star Peak," one sneered, voice dripping with disdain.
"Bringing some little beggar girl back? What's next, starting a garbage collection?" the other laughed cruelly.
Li Yiran stiffened behind Jin Mu, jaw clenched tight.
Jin Mu scratched the back of his head with exaggerated laziness and smiled—a small, lazy curve that barely concealed the fire burning behind his eyes.
"Don't mind us," he said softly.
The disciples didn't even bother to block their path. Why would they? To them, Jin Mu was still the same joke—a talentless, broken heir clinging to a useless orphan.
Let them believe that.
There was no need to shatter their illusions—yet.
A soft chime echoed inside Jin Mu's mind.
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He hesitated, fingers twitching but finally shook his head.
Not yet.
Too early to attract attention.
For now, he would build quietly.
Let them mock the peak and scorn the student.
When the time came, the dust would part.
And beneath it?
They would find a crown.
A crown forged in chaos.