Chapter 4: The Awakening Ceremony
The grand plaza of the imperial palace was brimming with guests. Flags bearing the Great Yan Dynasty's sigil fluttered in the wind. Today was the long-awaited Aptitude Awakening Ceremony—a day that would decide the future of the empire's young generation.
Dozens of youths lined up before the towering Astral Awakening Crystal, a mysterious artifact said to channel the power of the stars to unveil one's spiritual potential. It glowed with faint starlight, pulsing with anticipation.
First came the noble heirs.
Zhong Li of the Zhong clan stepped forward confidently. He placed his hand on the crystal, and a dazzling B-grade light flared. The crowd murmured with approval.
Next, Zhou Fang of the famed Zhou family awakened a solid B-grade as well. Following him, the arrogant genius of the Zi clan—Zi Bai—stunned the audience with a rare A-grade glow.
A wave of gasps rolled through the spectators.
Then came the princes and princesses. Liu Zu, the empire's eldest prince, activated a mere C-grade. Others fared worse—some barely reached D-grade, the lowest possible aptitude.
Then Bai Si, the elegant fiancée of Liu Bing, approached. Her calm demeanor masked deep pride. When her hand touched the crystal, it shimmered brightly—A-grade talent. A thunderous applause erupted.
Liu Bing himself came next. The favored son. The so-called prodigy.
All eyes turned to him with eager expectation.
He approached the crystal, his steps calm and confident. When his hand touched it, the light trembled... but only a single C-grade brilliance emerged.
A stunned silence blanketed the square.
Even Liu Bing's face turned pale. The officials looked at one another, uncertain. But Liu Guan Yi, standing quietly in the back, narrowed his eyes. Through his system, he saw it clearly—a deep purple halo hovered above Liu Bing's head. "This isn't over," he thought.
Then, finally, Liu Guan Yi stepped forward.
Mocking laughter spread like wildfire.
"Hah! The useless third prince? What's the point?"
"He should just give up before embarrassing himself."
But Liu Guan Yi walked forward with silent determination, ignoring them all.
He placed his hand on the crystal.
BOOM.
A sudden shockwave burst from the artifact. The sky darkened. The clouds swirled. A beam of starlight pierced the heavens and crashed into his body. The Astral Awakening Crystal glowed brighter than ever before.
A symbol appeared: A+ Grade—the legendary grade that hadn't appeared in over a thousand years!
Even the Emperor, who had remained indifferent until now, rose to his feet. His old eyes trembled with shock. "This… this is..."
Gasps turned into reverent silence.
But Liu Guan Yi's expression remained calm. He looked down at his hand, then at the dumbfounded crowd.
> "Talent doesn't make a man great. Mindset does."
Far away, atop a snowy mountain, in the heart of the Heavenly Sword Sect, a sword forged from ancient steel began to tremble violently in its sheath.
The Ancient Longevity Sword had awakened.