The sun rose like a golden blade cutting through mountain fog, casting light across the small town of Tianshui. Today was no ordinary morning.
It was the day of the Awakening Ceremony.
Every child who turned fourteen would have their chance to step onto the cultivation path — to open their Soul Sea, awaken their Spirit Roots, and begin their journey in the Radiant Judgement Sect.
At least… those who could.
---
Kael stood shirtless at the edge of a smooth stone pool carved in the shape of a lotus. Mana rippled in the air like mist on a cold morning.
The pool was spirit-infused, gifted to the town by the sect itself decades ago. It glowed faintly, drawing from a formation beneath the mountain.
Dozens of children gathered, most nervously chatting in small groups.
Kael, however, was silent, watching the water like it might speak.
Beside him, Samuel Wu adjusted his belt with shaky hands. "Why is it so quiet? Normally Jay Jay is mocking someone by now."
"Probably trying to memorize someone else's Spirit Root chant," Mike Ren muttered, brushing dust from his sleeves. "He looked sick this morning."
Kael turned to his best friends. "Don't be nervous. We're not expected to be geniuses. Just stable enough for the outer sect to accept us."
Samuel frowned. "You really think we'll only go to the outer sect?"
Kael nodded. "We're not from noble lines. Our job is to survive. They'll use our bodies as bricks to build a wall for their heaven-tier prodigies."
From the crowd, Ren Shi watched Kael closely. The quiet boy always had a distant look — polite, sharp, and oddly intense.
They had grown up together, but lately Kael had sensed something... off.
Ren's fist clenched behind his robe. Kael always draws people in. Always the leader. The creative one. What will happen when I surpass him? Will they still see him then?
He said nothing.
---
A hush fell over the crowd as the town chief arrived.
Bao Renhai, dressed in ceremonial blue, stepped up beside a man wrapped in a deep red robe lined with protective runes — Protector Yan Shou of the Radiant Judgement Sect.
Yan's aura was suffocating, like standing near a still volcano. Even with his cultivation suppressed, his presence bent the air.
But his eyes wandered only to one person — Kael.
"You've all reached the age," Bao announced. "This is your first step. From here, you may one day walk among dragons, gods, or legends. But today — you begin with a single breath."
Protector Yan raised his hand. "Each of you will step forward, one at a time. Place your palm on the glyph stone. Let your will guide the mana in the pool. If your spirit responds, the Soul Sea will stir, and your roots shall awaken."
The first few went — stammering, nervous. A few succeeded in Body Refinement entry; most failed. Only two opened a flicker of Soul Sea.
Then came Raen, confident and smirking.
He stepped forward, placed his hand down, and the glyphs glowed. Mana surged.
"Spirit Root: Fire," Yan announced. "Clear flame. Potential: Middle-tier."
Raen grinned at Kael. "Try to top that, mud boy."
Kael didn't respond.
Jay Jay, Samuel, and Mike followed.
Jay Jay opened his Soul Sea halfway — a small wind affinity, weak but clean. Mike succeeded at Body Refinement, nothing more.
Samuel, trembling, placed his hand down… and the glyphs shivered. Not bright — but steady.
"Spirit Root: Earth. Very stable," Yan said. "With effort, he'll survive."
Samuel's grin broke across his face. "Told you my stomach was full of rock!"
Then Kael stepped forward.
He touched the stone.
And something rumbled.
The glyphs didn't just glow — they spiraled. A vortex formed in the pool, drawing mana from the formation beneath the ground. The sky dimmed. The clouds pulsed once, unnaturally.
Protector Yan stood straighter. "What is this…"
Kael felt heat surge through him, followed by cold, then static, then silence.
Suddenly, an ancient memory flashed: a man with long white hair, standing in front of an endless sky filled with stars. He stood alone. No sword. No spear. Just his will.
"Anchor the Core…" the voice whispered. "Flow through the bones… breathe through the void…"
Kael's hand pulsed. His veins lit up briefly in a web of silver, then faded.
The pool quieted.
The glyph dimmed.
Then… silence.
Protector Yan's eyes narrowed. "No reading. No element."
Kael frowned. "What does that mean?"
Bao cleared his throat. "It may mean… a hidden or unawakened affinity. Sometimes rare bloodlines behave strangely."
Raen stepped forward. "Heh. Guess that makes you the first trash today."
Yan Shou raised a hand. "Enough."
But Raen ignored him and moved to shove Kael.
Suddenly — Kael ducked. Swept his foot, twisted his body, and delivered a short palm to Raen's ribs.
The crowd gasped.
Raen hit the ground hard. Dust rose.
Kael stood calm, breathing slowly, his eyes distant.
"Where… did you learn that technique?" Yan asked quietly.
Kael blinked. "I don't know. It just felt… natural."
Yan stared for a moment longer, then turned to Bao. "I'll be visiting the next town. Leave them ready when I return. Especially him."
He nodded at Kael.
---
Later, as the group gathered to rest, Meilin approached Kael alone.
"You saw something, didn't you?" she asked.
Kael hesitated. "A man. Stars. Words that felt like… instinct."
Meilin looked away, her expression unreadable.
"Your path won't be easy," she said. "They'll either fear you… or try to use you."
"Then I'll have to be strong enough they can't do either," Kael said quietly.
---
In a dark corner of town, Ren Shi sat alone.
He had seen Kael's strange reaction. Felt the shift.
So it begins, he thought. They'll all see him again. Praise him again.
His grip on the grass tightened. His shadow grew slightly darker, as if echoing his thoughts.
He forced a smile when Jay Jay called him for food — but something inside had already begun to change.