Wang Qing strutted back, chest high; the rest of the class parted, gazing at him with envy.
"Wang Qing, you're amazing!"
"I always knew you had it in you—my eye for talent is spot-on, haha!"
"Wang Qing, we've always been tight—remember to look out for me from now on."
Praise and friendly smiles came from every direction.
Wang Qing curled a corner of his mouth, saying nothing, yet the excitement and pride in his downcast eyes—and his clenched fists—gave his elation away.
Zhao Mu grinned. "Congratulations, Wang Qing!"
Wang Qing lifted his head, giving Zhao Mu a grateful smile.
"Thanks for the encouragement, Zhao Mu! I believe you'll become a Spirit Power User just like me."
Zhao Mu smiled faintly. "One can hope."
Time trickled by; one after another the students stepped forward for the Spirit Awakening Ceremony.
Most results were bleak: the majority failed to awaken, their faces ashen as they left the school without a word.
They simply couldn't bear to stay and watch victors like Wang Qing bask in glory.
Zhao Mu and Shen Moran were kept till last as seeded candidates.
Shen Moran was nervous; Zhao Mu squeezed her hand, feeling the fine sweat.
"Zhao Mu," she bit her lip, big eyes on him, "if I don't awaken… you won't—won't abandon me, right?"
Looking into those glistening eyes, Zhao Mu hesitated, then his gaze softened.
"Of course not. I'm not that sort of person."
"Then swear it."
Shen Moran stared, terrified after so many failures.
Zhao Mu sighed with a helpless smile and raised his right hand. "I swear: if I ever forsake Young Miss Shen Moran, may I be cursed with bad luck for life."
Only then did she show a small smile.
Just then a cry rang out nearby: "Look, it's Shao Han's turn!"
Zhao Mu and Shen Moran's attention snapped to the front.
Shao Han—son of Lujiang City's deputy envoy of the garrison Shao Tianyi, and Class One's monitor.
Only a handful remained; as the first class to undergo the ceremony, Class One had reached its monitor.
Everyone held their breath, eyes locked on him.
One more fact about Spirit Power: strong users' Spiritual Energy Talent is often hereditary.
Thus, scions of great clans have a far higher chance of high-Rank Awakenings than common children.
Shao Han's father, Shao Tianyi, was himself a mighty B-rank Talent holder and had come personally to watch his son's ceremony.
Teacher Xu Mingjie smiled at the class. "Shao Han's talent Rank won't be low; otherwise Deputy Envoy Shao wouldn't have come himself."
Powerful Spirit Power Users can sense talent on their own.
Though Shao Tianyi didn't perform the rite, his seasoned eye could read the signs.
Such is the privilege of the elite.
Shao Han strode confidently from the Class One line, showing no trace of nerves.
He halted before the military proctor, who greeted him with a smile.
"Shao Han, are you ready?"
Shao Han gave a calm smile and glanced at his father.
On Deputy Envoy Shao Tianyi's stern, square face flickered a faint smile; he nodded.
Shao Han turned back. "I'm ready—please begin."
He stood steady as the Specialist's hands settled on his shoulders, channeling spirit energy into him.
Every gaze converged—including the principal's.
Moments later Zhao Mu felt the air quiver.
A "boom!" followed as a biting current erupted from Shao Han's body.
The surrounding temperature plunged; students nearest him shivered.
The Combat Level gauge's needle whipped wildly, finally stopping at 9.
"Incredible—awakened mere moments and already Combat Level 9!"
Even Xu Mingjie exclaimed.
"That equals the Peak of the Fighting Fang stage. With training he'll master his ability and step into the next Rank—Private—very soon."
"B-rank Talent, definitely B-Rank! At last our school has its first B-Rank holder—this year won't be a total loss."
The principal of Yuwu School wiped sweat, smiling at Shao Tianyi. "Deputy Envoy Shao, congratulations! Shao Han inherits your ice-type Spiritual Energy Talent and your Family's Combat Technique—double joy!"
Combat Techniques are a major taboo in the Xuanfeng Empire.
Only those enlisted may Cultivate them; unauthorized civilians face arrest and harsh punishment.
The Empire prizes internal stability: it fears unregulated Spirit Power Users more than external Dark Race incursions.
One exception exists.
A self-created Exclusive Combat Technique may be passed—without Military Martial Specialization or army approval—to awakened clan juniors.
Shao Tianyi looked at his son; Shao Han gazed back, eyes shining.
Father and son shared a smile. "You didn't disappoint me," Shao Tianyi said.
The Specialist announced: "Shao Han—wind and ice Spirit Power User! Combat Level 9, talent grade: B-Rank!"
Gasps swept the field.
Wang Qing muttered, "B-Rank… a true rarity in Lujiang City. He gains privilege to enter Military Martial Specialization without exams—bound for greatness, one of the elite."
Xu Mingjie turned to Zhao Mu and Shen Moran, hopeful. "You're next! Let's see our Yuwu No. 2 Middle School produce two more B-rank Talents!"
Shao Han calmly returned to Class One, ignoring flattery, and looked toward class three.
Throughout Yuwu No. 2 Middle School, the one he cared about most was Zhao Mu—his greatest rival.
Now a B-rank Talent, he stood where most in the Empire must spend their lives looking up.
He wondered what level Zhao Mu could reach.
"The guy's smart and diligent; even C-Rank would make his future limitless. Better to stay on good terms."
Shao Han mused silently.