**Chapter 1 — The Awakening Ceremony**
The sun blazed high above **Tianxuan Academy's Awakening Grounds**, its golden light reflecting off the massive crystal at the center.
Hundreds of students stood in rows, their faces filled with excitement, nervousness, and hope. The air felt heavy — charged with energy and tension. Qi shimmered faintly, rippling like heat above the stone tiles.
Today was the most important day for every student — the **Awakening Ceremony**.
Once a person reached eighteen, they could awaken their power — a manifestation of their soul and destiny.
The ranks ranged from **F**, the lowest, to **SSS**, the mythical peak only two people in history had ever reached.
Among the crowd stood a silver-haired young man with calm violet eyes — **Ye Fang**.
He was quiet, his expression unreadable, but the faint chill in his gaze carried a thousand unspoken memories.
Behind him, laughter began to echo.
---
"Hey, look! Isn't that the trash—Ye Fang?"
"Trash Fang, maybe you'll awaken an F-rank if you're lucky."
"He might not awaken at all."
"Leave him. Bad luck spreads fast."
"Now that his family's gone, he's nothing but a beggar."
"Boy, after the ceremony, don't let me see you again — or I'll crush you."
---
The voices belonged to the heirs of the **Six Great Families** — Han Qingyu, Mo Cheng, Feng Jianyu, Zhao Wenzhou, Xiao Wushuang, and Bai Zhenyu.
Their laughter was sharp, arrogant, and cruel.
Ye Fang didn't reply. His hand clenched at his side, veins faintly bulging as his pulse steadied.
> *Laugh while you can.*
> *Next time, when you look down on me, it'll be from your knees.*
A calm voice spoke in his mind, colder than any blade.
---
"We'll see how he cries when he gets an F-rank."
"If I meet him in the academy trials, I'll end him myself."
"We'll crush him again, just like we crushed his family."
Their words hit like hammers. But Ye Fang's eyes didn't waver.
Those six — the pride of their clans — had united five hundred years ago to destroy the **Ye Family**.
Once, there had been **Seven Great Families**, and the Ye Family had stood above them all.
Until the night of blood.
The other six joined hands, striking like wolves in the dark. His family fell in a single night. Their legacy erased. Their name turned into a curse.
Only Ye Fang and his little sister, **Ye Xue**, survived.
If not for the **Hei Family**, old allies of his father, the two would have died on the streets.
From that night on, Ye Fang swore a single oath—
> *To awaken a power strong enough to destroy the Six Families. To erase their names from history.*
---
A soft, gentle voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Ye Fang."
He turned.
A girl with long black hair and crimson eyes walked toward him. Her steps were light, calm — yet each carried quiet strength.
It was **Hei Yue**, daughter of the Hei Family, and the only person who still stood by him.
"Don't listen to them," she said softly. "I know you'll awaken something amazing."
Ye Fang's lips curved into a faint smile. "...Thanks."
Her presence calmed him. Even in this storm of humiliation, she was the single warmth left in his world.
---
At the front of the stage, an elderly man with white hair and sharp eyes raised his hand for silence.
**Professor Gu Qingheng**, the overseer of the ceremony.
"Students," he said, his voice echoing through the field, "today marks your rebirth. Whether your rank is low or high, remember this — your future is forged by what you *do*, not what you *start with.* Let us begin."
He unrolled a golden scroll.
"The first student — **He Ru**."
---
A trembling boy stepped forward, pressing his hand against the crystal.
A faint red light flickered, then dimmed almost immediately.
"F-rank talent — *Flame Fist*," Gu Qingheng announced.
The boy's shoulders fell as he stepped down, his eyes wet.
Next came **Guo Liang** — F-rank, *Feather Touch.*
**Lan Rou** — E-rank, *Water Thread.*
**Zhang Mei** — E-rank, *Healing Light.*
The murmurs started again.
> "All low ranks today..."
> "Is the crystal broken?"
> "If even they're weak, what hope do I have?"
---
Then came the arrogant laughter of **Mo Cheng**.
"Watch closely, trash," he said to Ye Fang, smirking. "I'll show you what a real awakening looks like."
He pressed his palm onto the crystal.
A deep blue light surged outward like flowing ink, spreading across the platform.
Gu Qingheng's eyes lit up. "A-rank talent — *Abyssal Ink Realm!* Excellent!"
The crowd erupted.
> "An A-rank already?!"
> "As expected of the Mo Family!"
Then came **Feng Jianyu** — A-rank, *Heaven-Piercing Tempest Blade.*
**Zhao Wenzhou** — A-rank, *Word Seal.*
**Xiao Wushuang** — A-rank, *Shadow Step.*
Each name was followed by cheers.
When **Bai Zhenyu** stepped up, a crimson flash illuminated the entire field.
Gu Qingheng's tone grew solemn. "S-rank — *Radiant Purge.*"
The audience roared.
And then **Han Qingyu** followed with another S-rank — *Eternal Frost Domain.*
The heirs of the Six Families stood tall, smirking, basking in admiration.
---
Then it was **Hei Yue's** turn.
She glanced once at Ye Fang, then stepped forward.
The moment her fingers touched the crystal, the sky dimmed. The light vanished for an instant — replaced by a cold, serene darkness.
When the crystal flared again, it glowed black and silver.
Gu Qingheng's voice trembled. "SS-rank talent — *Eclipsed Moon Domain!*"
Gasps filled the air.
> "SS-rank?!"
> "She's a monster!"
> "Hei Yue will become legendary!"
But she ignored the noise. Quietly, she returned to Ye Fang's side.
"Congratulations," he said softly.
"Thanks," she replied. "Now it's your turn. I believe in you."
Ye Fang nodded.
---
Gu Qingheng's eyes scanned the list.
Then his voice rang across the silent field.
"Next... **Ye Fang**."
The crowd went still.
Even the breeze stopped whispering.
All eyes turned toward him — some mocking, some curious, others simply waiting for a spectacle.
Ye Fang stepped forward slowly. His silver hair gleamed under the sun, his violet eyes calm and cold.
He placed his palm on the crystal.
Nothing happened.
A few snickers echoed in the distance.
But then —
*Thud.*
His heart pulsed once. The air trembled faintly.
*Thud.*
Again. Louder.
The crystal flickered, dim... then darkened entirely.
Silence filled the arena.
And then—
> **[Ding.]**