The Awakening Stone pulsed one final time, as if in agreement, and Chen Ergou's journey quietly began. The Grand Plaza of Qingyang Academy buzzed with nervous energy as over three hundred seventeen-year-olds stood in neat rows, their futures about to be decided by a single touch.
Chen Ergou stood near the back of the formation, hands tucked into his sleeves, watching the stone with mild interest—the same kind he reserved for a particularly dull lecture. The crystalline monolith towered three meters tall at the center of the plaza, its surface alive with ancient runes that shifted and glowed like breathing things. Each time a student approached, the light intensified, reacting as though it could sense their fate.
Another year, another batch of future heroes, Ergou thought lazily. And another batch of future nobodies.
He already knew which group he would likely fall into.
"Chen Ergou! Pay attention!" Instructor Wu's gravelly voice cut through the air. The scarred veteran glared at him, arms crossed. "This is the most important day of your life!"
That's what they always say, Ergou mused inwardly. The most important day… until tomorrow replaces it.
Still, he straightened slightly. There was no need to attract unnecessary trouble.
The ceremony had been ongoing for nearly an hour. One by one, students stepped forward, pressed their palms against the Awakening Stone, and revealed their destinies. Some awakenings were spectacular—flames erupting into the sky, lightning crackling across the plaza, or radiant shields forming out of thin air. Others were more subdued, their effects only revealed when the Awakening Master announced them.
Zhang Wei awakened as an Earth Shaper, causing the ground to ripple like water beneath his feet. Polite applause followed.
Li Feng became a Storm Caller, summoning a small thundercloud that sparked above his head. Louder applause.
Then came Zhao Kun, the academy's top combat student. When he touched the stone, golden light erupted so fiercely that several students had to shield their eyes.
"Sword Saint!" the Awakening Master announced, his voice trembling. "A once-in-a-generation class!"
The plaza exploded into cheers.
Ergou clapped along with the rest, though his thoughts remained distant. Sword Saint, huh? Good for him. He'll be unbearable for the next decade.
"Next! Liu Ruyan!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Whispers rippled through the crowd as Liu Ruyan stepped forward with effortless grace. Her presence alone seemed to draw attention—elegant, composed, untouchable. Sunlight caught in her long black hair as she approached the stone, every movement precise and confident.
Ergou watched her with mild curiosity. She looks like someone who's never doubted her place in the world.
Her hand touched the stone.
Light erupted.
Pure white radiance flooded the plaza, washing over everyone like a warm tide. Ergou felt the dull ache in his shoulder from yesterday's training vanish instantly. Around him, students gasped as fatigue faded and minor injuries healed.
"S-Rank Holy Healer!" the Awakening Master shouted. "A Holy Healer has awakened!"
The crowd went wild.
Liu Ruyan smiled faintly, as if this outcome had always been inevitable, and returned to her place as admirers rushed toward her. Praise, envy, awe—it all surrounded her like a halo.
Ergou simply watched. Of course, he thought. The heavens wouldn't dare give her anything less.
Time passed. More awakenings, more applause, more futures decided in moments.
Then—
"Chen Ergou!"
This time, the whispers were different.
"That's him—the top theory student."
"He scored perfect marks three years straight…"
"Genius, they say. Let's see what he gets."
Ergou stepped forward calmly.
His name—Second Dog—had always been a joke, something given by a poor family to ward off misfortune. Yet despite it, he had risen through sheer intellect, earning recognition through relentless study and perfect scores.
But he understood something others didn't.
Respect built on intelligence alone is fragile.
He reached the Awakening Stone and paused briefly, his reflection staring back at him—ordinary, unremarkable. No striking features. No heroic presence.
Just… average.
Let's see if the heavens value intelligence, he thought.
He placed his hand on the stone.
The world shifted.
Images flooded his mind—symbols, ancient and profound, forming a circle of twelve beasts. Power, vast and incomprehensible, flowed through them. He saw crafting, creation, paths unseen by others.
Then—
The light dimmed.
Above his head, shimmering words appeared:
Talisman Crafter
Silence.
Then laughter erupted.
"Talisman Crafter?"
"What kind of useless ability is that?"
"A craftsman? Go open a shop outside the academy!"
"All that talent wasted on trash!"
Even Instructor Wu sighed, shaking his head. "Such a waste…"
The laughter was sharp, merciless. Not just mockery—but disappointment.
Ergou stood still, their voices washing over him.
Talisman Crafter, he repeated silently.
Then— Something changed.
A faint blue screen appeared before his eyes.
As the laughter slowly faded into the background, Chen Ergou stood silently among the crowd, his expression calm and unchanged. To everyone else, it looked like quiet acceptance, as if he had already come to terms with his disappointing fate. However, beneath that composed exterior, his mind was moving with terrifying speed, analyzing everything he had just seen.
The translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes once more, responding instantly to his focus. Lines of information unfolded in an orderly manner, but Ergou did not bother examining every detail. He did not need to. Instead, his attention immediately locked onto the list of the Twelve Zodiac Talismans, scanning through each one with precision until his gaze stopped at a single entry.
The Dog Talisman.
Immortality.
His breathing slowed slightly, not out of shock, but because his thoughts were sharpening. While others would instinctively choose power that was obvious and immediate—strength, speed, destructive force—Ergou understood that those were only short-term advantages. True power did not lie in what looked impressive at the beginning, but in what allowed one to endure until the end.
Without survival, everything else was meaningless. Strength could be lost, techniques could fail, and even the most talented geniuses could fall before reaching their peak. But immortality was different. If he could not die, then he could not truly lose.
His mind rapidly constructed possibilities. With immortality, he could attempt dangerous methods without hesitation, explore forbidden regions others would never dare to enter, and repeat failures endlessly until he succeeded. Every other talisman would become easier to obtain, every risk significantly reduced. It was not simply a powerful ability—it was the perfect foundation upon which all other power could be built.
The conclusion was immediate and absolute. This was the correct choice.
Almost as if responding to his decision, the system interface shifted.
[DOG TALISMAN SELECTED]
A brief pause followed, as though something was being confirmed behind the scenes.
[Checking Materials…]
Then, one by one, confirmations appeared.
[Eternal Heart Crystal ✓][Phoenix Feathers ✓][Soul Fragments ✓][Immortal's Essence ✓]
Ergou's pupils contracted slightly.
All of them were already prepared.
Most cultivators would spend months, sometimes years, searching for even a single one of these materials. Many would risk their lives venturing into dangerous territories, and some would fail entirely, never progressing beyond the beginning of their path. Yet he had been given everything from the very start, with no effort, no danger, and no uncertainty.
The meaning of this was clear.
This was not simply a head start. It was an overwhelming advantage that placed him on an entirely different level from everyone else present.
Around him, the other students continued celebrating their awakenings, discussing their abilities and future training with excitement. None of them paid him any attention now, already dismissing him as someone who had fallen behind. In their eyes, Chen Ergou was no longer worth considering.
But Ergou did not care.
As he quietly dismissed the system interface, his expression returned to its usual calm indifference. To the outside world, nothing had changed. He was still the same Talisman Crafter they had laughed at moments ago.
Only he understood the truth.
While they were still preparing to begin their journeys, he had already taken the most important step.
And by the time they realized the difference, it would already be too late.