Agois and Crone had arrived at the Inn. Crone told Mina everything that had happened. Although Mina was initially very frightened, she eventually felt a great sense of relief and joy. This was because the General had given them a token, which was a kind of representation of the General himself. This meant they could live safely and well as long as this kingdom existed.
Agois was also relieved. For now, he didn't need to worry about his family's safety or his own. He could now focus on meditation and better understand what had happened to him during that brawl. What was the thing that gave him such abilities and allowed him to reach the Iron Body Realm so early?
Agois entered meditation again, he once more entered that space, but he still couldn't touch the starlight there. The last time he felt he touched it, he had reached the Iron Body Realm, but the starlight was very bright then; it was still bright now, but dimmer compared to that time.
But even so, being here allowed him to gather energy faster.
After about 10 minutes, he exited that space. He now understood that the thing that enabled him to reach the Iron Body Realm originated directly from the pearl and its influence. So, what exactly happened in that brawl? He hadn't figured that out yet.
And now he called this space the "Star Void." This space was his greatest secret, opportunity, and fortune. Advancing on the path of power, he was now much more confident thanks to the Star Void he gained through the pearl.
Yes, he now believed that starlight was a form of enlightenment, a power to break limits. But when would that starlight intensify again? Time would tell. As Agois continued his meditation, days passed, and the day of the Awakening Baptism arrived.
Sabah erkenden Crone and Agois woke up early in the morning. Agois couldn't stay still due to the excitement. Finally, the day everything would be determined, the day his destiny would be decided, had arrived.
Mina prepared some snacks for them, which they quickly ate. The whole family went together this time. Today was very important for Agois's future. They wouldn't normally be so excited, but Agois's demonstrated talent, maturity, and intelligence had given them hope. Therefore, the whole family would be there together.
A little later, they set off. They quickly moved along the brown-tiled paths of Aron and arrived at the Academy. A crowd had already gathered. Pushing their way through the people, they went to the registration desk official and handed over their papers. The official immediately signaled someone else, and they were escorted to the area where the Awakening Baptism would be held.
Agois was fascinated by the environment inside the Academy; it was the first time he had seen such a place. Inside, there were columns adorned with meticulously arranged motifs; this gave the Academy an esoteric atmosphere.
They quickly arrived at an area with a wide platform and tiered seating arranged in a large area below it. Many people were already waiting there. More noble and powerful individuals had taken their places in the front rows. Agois and his family sat in an empty space in the back rows and began to wait. During this time, Agois started to examine his peers who would also participate in the Awakening. He didn't feel any threat or pressure from any of these children; apparently, none of them were in the Iron Body Realm or above—they were ordinary children. But if you saw their looks and expressions, they had contemptuous, condescending looks, as if the whole world was beneath their feet.
Agois stopped examining these people and calmed himself, starting to meditate. His family was a bit more nervous compared to him. Mina, especially, was holding Crone and Fel's hands tightly out of tension.
Crone was slightly calmer, but he too felt strained in such an environment. Fel, on the other hand, didn't care; she watched this interesting place and people with curiosity.
As time passed, the hall filled with people, but there wasn't much noise. Only the noble individuals in the front rows occasionally chatted with their acquaintances. The ordinary people in the back quietly waited, tense.
After a while, a person appeared on the high platform. No one saw where he came from or emerged; it was as if he had instantly teleported there. As everyone looked at the platform with shock and awe, all the noble and powerful people who were speaking instantly fell silent, straightened their backs, and looked at the person on the platform with great respect.
Agois also stared intently at this scene. He, too, couldn't see where this person came from; it was as if he had appeared out of nowhere. This felt strange to him. He was in the Iron Body Realm; even if the person on the platform was in the Copper Body Realm, he should still be able to see his movements, but he couldn't see anything. This meant one thing: Agois suddenly got excited. This person must be a Cultivator, a legendary Cultivator. Crone also realized this; he, too, was excited and respectful.
This was the first Cultivator Agois had seen alive, and he couldn't perceive anything from that person; neither threat nor pressure. This was even more frightening. His longing and desire intensified further.
The person on the platform had sharp facial features, arched eyebrows, deep eyes, and a long, golden beard and hair, giving him an old but impressively charismatic appearance. A presence of prestige and power emanated from this elderly man, even though he exerted no pressure.
And he began to speak: "Welcome to this year's Awakening Baptism," he said with a calm yet loud voice. Although he wasn't shouting, his voice was easily heard by everyone. He continued: "Without further ado, the rules are the same. The one whose name is called will come up to this platform." After saying this, four guards carried something resembling a table with a hole in the middle onto the platform. They placed it right on the edge of the platform. The Cultivator also placed a sphere on the table-like device and some shining stones in a compartment.
And he turned to the hall: "Now, let the person whose name I call come forward," he instructed.
"Roya Grend," he said. A noble, elegantly dressed youth immediately ascended the stage. He approached the table, stepped into the device, and placed his hand on the sphere. Being a noble, he had prior knowledge of this procedure and immediately complied. A minute passed with excitement and eagerness, but no reaction came from the sphere. The Awakening Sphere would only react if there was talent.
The Cultivator said in an emotionless voice, "Untalented." The youth on the stage still stood in place, unable to believe he was untalented. But then the Cultivator's emotionless voice echoed in his mind, snapping him back to reality. With a look of defeat and heaviness, he descended from the stage.
Names began to be called in sequence. "Grey Sagan."
A young man with short, red hair, handsome and delicate features, and a face full of arrogance came onto the stage. He was so sure he had talent that he wasn't nervous at all. He slowly approached the sphere. He placed his hand on it. A minute later, the sphere began to light up, steadily intensifying to form one star. Everyone below looked at the scene with shock and amazement. Grey had a smug look on his face, as if this was only expected. The light didn't dim; it shone even brighter, forming another star. And then it slowly began to fade.
The Cultivator on stage was surprised. He hadn't expected someone with 2-star talent to emerge from this kingdom this year.
Excitement and anticipation began to simmer in the hall. A middle-aged man with the same colored hair as Grey smiled arrogantly at the surrounding nobles. Everyone looked at the man with envy. The Awakening Baptism was held every year, but talented people didn't appear every year. Even when they did, the number wouldn't exceed four. This year, someone with 2-star talent had emerged, and he was the son of Duke Sagan. How could they not be envious?
The Cultivator on stage smiled. Everyone was seeing this elderly man with golden hair smile for the first time. The Cultivator looked at Grey and said, "Not bad, young one, you have talent. You wait over here for now," and pointed to a corner behind him. Grey nodded arrogantly and immediately took his place.
The Cultivator was excited. There was good talent this year; they could receive a good reward. He immediately continued the Baptism. Names began to be called in sequence. Slowly, names were read, and people descended from the stage with disappointment. More than half of the youths who had participated in the awakening had passed the baptism so far, and only Grey among them was talented.
The Cultivator continued and, upon seeing the next name, said with a smile: "Samantha Pergron." Slowly, a tall, delicate, and uniquely beautiful young woman with long, blonde hair tied in a bun, and innate noble demeanor, ascended the platform and gently placed her hand on the sphere, smiling at the Cultivator. Yes, the person on stage was the kingdom's princess. The Cultivator, being from the royal family, loved this niece of his.
A little later, the sphere shone again, slowly forming 1 star, then shining a little brighter to become 2 stars.
The Cultivator on stage, who was smiling at his niece, was Agent Pergron, the King's brother and the Princess's uncle. Samantha had turned out to be the only talented person among his nieces and nephews. He was very happy. With this talent, she could join an average sect, providing the kingdom with extra protection and prestige.
It seemed he was lucky this year. Two youths with 2-star talent had emerged from the kingdom, and one of them was his niece. But after a brief pause, he immediately continued the Baptism. The number of people entering the awakening was gradually decreasing, nearing the end.
It was Agois's turn. "Agois Rendelf," said the Cultivator.
He no longer expected anyone else talented this year. He read the name with an indifferent and casual voice.
Agois stood up from his seat with great nervousness. His father patted his back, and his mother squeezed his hand. Agois fully gathered his courage and determination and walked towards the stage, ascending the platform. With excitement and nervousness, his moment of destiny had almost arrived. He slowly placed his hand on the sphere. And immediately calmed down, fully regaining his resolve and courage.
After a while, the sphere began to glow again. The Cultivator was surprised; he hadn't expected such talent from this peasant. Agois's family couldn't stay still out of excitement. Fel was constantly jumping and clapping her hands. Mina had an surreal expression on her face. Crone was calmer, but he too was very happy.
On the stage, the light formed one star. Just as it was about to fade, everything around him suddenly vanished, and Agois found himself in that void once more.Before he could understand what was happening, with a great burst of light, he opened his eyes again, and the sphere in front of him was shining with a brilliant 4 stars. Everyone's jaws dropped in shock. Even the Cultivator wasn't speaking; the expression on his face was frozen. 4 stars! No one with this level of talent had ever existed in the kingdom's history. The most talented had been 3 stars.
Anything beyond 3 stars seemed to be a bottleneck, entering the high-tier talent class, and someone of this level had emerged from this kingdom.
He was very excited but also felt a bit strange. This person with such great talent was an ordinary commoner with no background. But regardless, they could receive a good reward for this. So he was very excited.
Agois was also very surprised and felt it was unreal. He barely remembered reaching one star, but then he had entered that Star Void originating from the Cosmic Pearl, and when he came to, 4 stars were shining in front of him.
He believed he could achieve things in this life even with just 1-star talent, thanks to the Star Void. Now, with 4-star talent, he had much more confidence. Mina and Crone were stunned in shock.
They didn't know what to think; this was unbelievable for them. Fel, meanwhile, was cheering for her older brother, clapping her hands.
And from the closed box high above the hall, a conversation began in a tone of surprise: "Interesting, such talent in this kingdom."
In another voice: "Indeed, the emergence of talent at this level in these barren lands is unexpected."
In yet another voice: "This journey to these barren lands was worthwhile."
Other voices confirmed them.
On the stage, Agois, personally guided by the Cultivator, excitedly moved to stand beside the Princess and Grey.
The Cultivator's cold demeanor seemed to have vanished. He treated him like a warm, family elder. He explained to young Agois: "Wait here. The sects will choose disciples after the Baptism is over."
Grey was grinding his teeth with jealousy. He thought how much of a waste it was for this commoner to have such talent.
The Princess was surprised. She kept her eyes on Agois. Agois had a very handsome face, a well-developed body, and there was a sense of pressure in his young physique.
Agent looked at this Agois and thought, "Geniuses are geniuses in every respect, aren't they?" He had noticed that Agois had reached the Iron Body Realm at this young age.
And the Awakening Baptism quickly continued. When the last person had gone through the baptism, only three people had talent this year. This was an average number compared to other years, but this year, in terms of quality, the best talent in Pergron's history had emerged: Agois Rendelf.