Jiang Ruochén entered the designated area. Besides those awaiting awakening, a number of princes, princesses, and nobles' heirs who had already awakened their martial souls were allowed to stand here as well.
It was the best vantage point to observe the ceremony.
He glanced their way but did not join them, choosing instead a common spot to wait for the rite to begin.
Even so, the princes and princesses noticed him at once.
"That trash—still not giving up after nine failures? He's sixteen already. If he could awaken, it would've happened long ago. Coming here just to embarrass us again—does he mean to shame the royal house on purpose?" The Eleventh Prince, Jiang Li, glared at him.
The Ninth Prince snorted in agreement. "He even went to the Qin residence days ago and picked a fight, only to be beaten half to death by Qin Qi and carried back to the palace. Why doesn't a waste like that just die? He does nothing but disgrace Father."
The Sixth Princess cast Jiang Ruochén a look of pure disdain. "Enough. This is his last chance anyway. By the Ancestral Office's rules, any prince who fails to awaken by sixteen is stripped to commoner status and exiled to Mount Yan. After today, this stain on our royal line will be gone."
They made no effort to keep their voices down. Many nearby heard every word.
From the high dais, Consort Wan heard as well, anger and heartache burning in her chest. In a setting like this, a consort could do nothing but silently cheer her son on.
Jiang Ruochén heard them too, but he did not respond.
After today, the hidden dragon would leave the abyss and soar. Every mouth that mocked him—he would make them swallow their words, one by one.
As that thought passed through him, he glanced toward the highest viewing platform.
By the King's throne sat a magnificently dressed noblewoman in a phoenix coronet, around thirty in appearance, gazing at him with ice-cold eyes.
Only the Queen could sit at the King's side wearing a phoenix crown.
Beside her, Xiaocui stood with her face half-covered in tears. Jiang Ruochén understood immediately why the Queen was staring at him like that.
Her pettiness was known throughout the palace. He had struck her favored maid yesterday. Of course she would hold a grudge.
He didn't care. So long as he gave her no handle to seize, even the Queen could not act wantonly against a prince.
"The King is in seclusion," the Queen suddenly announced, rising to address the crowd. "This year's awakening ceremony will be presided over by this palace. The rite begins now."
A low horn sounded, echoing through the royal city. Executioners raised their blades and slew beasts and livestock in sacrifice.
Fresh blood opened the first step of the rite—consecrating the Heavenly Altar.
The altar was a vast square platform. At its center hung an ancient bronze bell, its surface carved with rare beasts, rivers, mountains, sun, moon, and stars.
That bell was the medium through which the common folk awakened their martial souls. All cultivators began at the bell.
As the executioners' blades rose and fell, streams of blood light shot into the bronze bell at the altar's heart.
A deep hum rolled out. The altar awakened as in years past, pressure radiating across the square. The carved figures on the bell seemed to come alive, turning into patterns of crimson light that floated through the air.
At that moment, a little girl of about six or seven seemed drawn by the altar's pull. Eyes unfocused, she walked toward it without noticing anything around her.
Gasps rippled through the onlookers.
"Isn't that the Minister Wang's daughter? She's only six. Is she going to be the first to awaken today?" the crowd murmured.
On the high dais, a middle-aged official in a minister's robe could not hold back his delight. "Ha ha! Fortune smiles on the Wang family!"
"Congratulations, Minister Wang. To be the first chosen by the altar—your daughter's talent is extraordinary."
"My son awakened last year with decent aptitude. Minister Wang, shall we discuss a marriage alliance…?"
Officials all around offered congratulations, some even proposing matches on the spot. No one knew yet what martial soul she would reveal or at what grade, but first to awaken at the age of six spoke volumes.
The girl stepped onto the altar and placed her hand upon the bronze bell.
Dong. Dong. Dong…
Six resonant strikes rang out. A fiery scarlet luan shimmered as a phantom at the center of her brow.
"The Divine Bell tolled six times, and that shadow is a red luan. Could it be a six star Flame Luan martial soul?" Awe rolled through the onlookers again.
Awakenings were graded from one to nine stars.
One to two was common. Three to five was mid tier. Six to eight was high tier. Nine stars stood at the pinnacle—supreme souls. Not just in Zhen'nan—across greater kingdoms and even imperial dynasties, nine star talents were rarer than phoenix feathers.
To awaken a six star soul as the first of the day—and at six years old—was bound to shock the square.
"Congratulations, Minister Wang. A heaven favored daughter indeed."
"How long has it been since our Zhen'nan Kingdom saw a six star awakening?"
"The last high tier appearance was when Her Majesty's legitimate son, the Third Prince, awakened a seven star soul, nearly ten years ago, was it not?"
The square erupted in excited chatter.
Even the Queen's eyes brightened. Clearly intrigued, she said warmly, "Minister Wang, you have a fine daughter. See that she is well cultivated. By my order, you are granted double the resources allotted for a six star awakening."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Minister Wang dropped to his knees, overcome with joy.
Envy flashed across many faces, but nothing more.
After the girl, candidates continued to mount the altar and place their hands on the bell. Most revealed one or two star souls. A handful, gifted, awakened at mid tier.
Ordinarily, mid tier would have drawn praise. After a six star opening act, they felt dull by contrast.
Watching the flow of people, Jiang Ruochén drew a steady breath and stepped forward.
His golden python robe stood out amid the crowd, and his reputation—nine failed awakenings—made him impossible to miss. Eyes turned toward him in droves.
Most were mocking. In their minds he was born useless. No matter how stubbornly he tried, fate would not change.
The princes and princesses' gazes turned uglier still. They wished he would drop dead and spare the royal house further shame.
"After today," someone muttered, "that trash Jiang Ruochén will be finished."
Jiang Ruochén ignored the scorn and the contempt. Calmly, step by step, he reached the bronze bell. He opened his hand and pressed his palm to the ancient, timeworn metal.