The sun rose gently over the City of Eternal Clouds, tinting the rooftops with golden and crimson hues.
A faint perfume of spiritual mist floated thru the air — today was the Day of Spiritual Awakening, an annual event where all the young people from the five families tested their natural talent for cultivation.
In the main courtyard of the city, hundreds of people gathered.
The five family banners fluttered in the wind, and the sound of the bells announced the beginning of the ceremony.
In the center, on a large circular altar made of blue jade, was the Spiritual Monolith of the Dao Roots — an ancient stone that measured the degree of affinity with Qi and the Natural Laws.
For most, it was just a test.
But for some, that day could define the entire future.
The Unpretentious Young Man
Among the young people waiting for their turn was Jun Tian, wearing a simple white and blue tunic.
His gaze was calm, almost distracted, while other looks full of pride and anxiety crossed around.
— "Jun Tian, you seem quite calm." — said Gu Feng, a cousin of his mother, a bit older and notoriously arrogant. — "But don't worry, not everyone is born for cultivation." At least you can inherit the clan's shops.
Jun Tian just smiled.
— "Who knows, maybe fate will surprise me today?"
The light tone in his voice irritated Gu Feng, but before he could respond, an imposing voice echoed.
— "Silence!"
At the top of the altar stairs, Jun Xiao — the patriarch — appeared.
Behind him, representatives of the Gu, Yun, Wan, and Yan families observed attentively.
Among them, Yun Hao, the governor, wore a golden robe and emanated tremendous spiritual pressure.
— "Today, we will test the talent of the new generations," announced Jun Xiao. "Remember: cultivation is the path of the mind and spirit." Pride and impatience destroy more cultivators than a lack of talent.
The words resonated, but many young people merely exchanged competitive glances.
Jun Tian, however, fixed his gaze on the Monolith.
For some reason, the Lotus in his soul pulsed softly, as if responding to that energy.
The Test Begins
One by one, the young people from the families approached the monolith, placing their palms on it.
The monolith shone with colors that represented the degree of talent:
Gray: untalented (without spiritual affinity)
Green: common talent
Azul: intermediate talent
Roxo: rare talent
Dourado: supreme talent
Most obtained green and blue lights.
Few reached purple.
When a golden light appeared — Yun Qian, the governor's grandson — applause echoed thru the courtyard.
— "As expected from the Yun family!"
— "A golden talent!" The city will have a new genius.
Yun Hao smiled discreetly.
— "The lineage does not lie."
Soon, the name Jun Tian was called.
The Silence Before the Chaos
All eyes turned to him.
Some with curiosity, others with disdain.
Jun Tian climbed the steps calmly, without haste.
The patriarch watched him with soft but worried eyes — he knew that his son always hid something.
Still, he did not interfere.
As he approached the monolith, Jun Tian felt a vibration at the center of his soul.
The Nine-Colored Lotus began to spin gently.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I can't draw attention... just enough to not seem suspicious."
He placed his palm on the monolith.
For a few moments, nothing happened.
The audience began to murmur.
— "Nothing?"
— "I knew he was just a waste."
— "A useless talent, son of a patriarch and a talented cultivator... what a shame."
But then, a silent wave swept thru the courtyard.
The air grew heavy.
The monolith trembled.
Grieta.
A small crack appeared at the base of the jade.
The ancient runes began to glow in chaotic sequences, coloring the entire altar.
Green, blue, purple... golden... and then, black and white.
The Yin-Yang symbol appeared on the surface of the stone.
— "What is this...?"
— "I've never seen the monolith react like this!"
— "This... shouldn't be possible!"
Jun Tian's eyes widened — he didn't expect that.
Inside his mind, the Lotus pulsed violently.
"Your Dao... cannot be measured."
"The balance of the nine colors does not belong to the mortal world."
The monolith began to crack even more.
A burst of energy exploded, making the entire altar tremble.
Spiritual guards rushed in, trying to contain the flow.
Jun Xiao stepped forward and placed his hand on his son's shoulder, interrupting the contact.
Instantly, the light disappeared.
The monolith, however, was marked by the Yin-Yang symbol and nine colored dots — something never seen before.
Silence.
No one dared to speak.
Until Yun Hao stood up.
— "Patriarch Jun..." — his voice sounded grave. — "Your son... what kind of technique did he use to manipulate the monolith?"
Jun Xiao bowed slightly.
— "None, Governor." My son hasn't even started formal cultivation. It must have been an anomalous reaction of the artifact.
The governor narrowed his eyes.
— "Anomalous...?"
He looked at Jun Tian.
The look of that young man, however, was not one of fear. It was... calm. Serene.
Something about him made even experienced cultivators feel a subtle discomfort—as if, for an instant, they were being watched by something beyond the sky.
The Intervention of the Lotus
While the elders discussed what had happened, Jun Tian felt something burning in his mind.
The voice of the Lotus echoed once more.
"Never reveal the chaos." The heavens are watching.
Suddenly, he felt a slight touch on his consciousness — the Lotus released a wave of illusory Qi, altering the residual spiritual flow on the altar.
Instantly, the nine-colored marks began to disappear, replaced by a faint green glow.
— "Look! "It's going back to normal!"
— "So it was just an artifact error!"
Yun Hao narrowed his eyes but remained silent.
Jun Xiao sighed in relief.
The test was concluded, and the results were recorded as "Common Talent — Green Level."
But the patriarch knew the truth.
And while everyone was dispersing, he placed his hand on his son's shoulder and said, in a low voice:
— "Tian'er... what happened there wasn't a coincidence, was it?"
Jun Tian smiled slightly.
— "Father... some things must remain silent." Even before the heavens."
Jun Xiao remained silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
— "So... walk carefully, my son." Even the wind has ears.
Nite of Revelations
Later that same nite, Jun Tian meditated alone.
The Lotus floated over his spiritual sea, slowly spinning.
The nine colors shimmered in harmony, and the Yin-Yang symbol stabilized in the center.
"So... even in the test, she protected me."
"Chaotic Dao... what is the true limit of your power?"
The words echoed in his heart.
And a new sensation took hold of him — a wave of understanding.
Runes formed spontaneously before his eyes.
It was the Law of Spiritual Harmony, one of the higher laws of the soul.
Understanding a law even before starting cultivation...
In the world of cultivation, that was simply impossible.
Jun Tian slowly opened his eyes.
— "My path will be solitary..." — he murmured. — "But no heaven will stop me from ascending."
The moon illuminated the room.
And in the calm water of the lake, the reflection of nine colors flickered gently.