001: The Awakening of Fire

Morning Star Principality, Golden Shark Star Territory, White Tower Floating Continent.

Gangwon City, its suburbs, and the ultra-long-range Xinghai launch platform.

A thousand-meter beam of light shot into the sky, causing the neatly parked hundreds of fireships on the platform to vanish, disappearing into the distant starry sky.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Jiangyuan City, one of Baita Fulu's five largest cities, lay alongside Jiangyuan City.

At Jiangyuan City's No. 1 Xinhuo Academy, in the No. 3 Male Dormitory Building, Song Chi removed his virtual helmet and logged out of the Baita network.

Nervousness etched across his face. He had just watched the real-time star sea broadcast of fresh graduates from Xinhuo Academy in Gangwon City.

Soon, it would be his turn, as Jiangyuan City followed Gangwon City in the rankings. As a recent graduate of Jiangyuan's No. 1 Xinhuo Academy, the scene broadcast on screen would soon become his reality.

The ultra-long-distance star sea launch and exploration awaited him. How could he not be nervous thinking about experiencing them firsthand?

Despite his nerves, a deep sense of anticipation gleamed in his eyes. This was a rare opportunity; if seized, it could lead to incredible heights.

This was the era of the star sea—a time where, millions of years ago, the multiverse fragmented, scattering its remnants across the starry void now known as the Broken Star Sea.

With the end of the multiverse era came a new epoch. The shattered fragments of space and land were christened Star Seas and Floating Lands over eons, holding vast reserves of rare resources.

The remaining civilizations of all races vied for these resources, refusing to yield. Thus, the Broken Star Sea became a battleground spanning millennia, witnessing the rise and fall of countless civilizations.

Human civilization emerged as one such entity.

The Xinhuo Civilization stood as a dominant force. Every citizen could, upon reaching thirty years of age, utilize a Xinhuo spaceship for ultra-long-distance interstellar voyages—a journey into the star sea.

Thanks to genetic technology advancements, Xinhuo citizens now enjoyed an average lifespan of 140 years, rendering today's thirty-year-olds equivalent to adulthood.

Since the kindling of the fire source over 300,000 years ago, this had become a rite shared by all members of the fire-human civilization. Upon turning thirty, legal citizens could attempt to awaken the fire seed and commandeer a Fire Airship, commencing their star field exploration.

Venturing into the alien star sea to gather resources, fortify their Fire Ships, and elevate their lives became crucial in defending Xinhuo civilization's territories against neighboring alien civilizations.

Awakening the Fire Seed and mastering the Fire Airship marked the pinnacle opportunity in every citizen's life. Success ensured immediate status elevation; further, by strengthening their Fire Ship to higher levels and securing vast star fields, citizens could ascend to the ranks of Xinhuo human civilization nobility.

Suppressing his swirling emotions, Song Chi stood up, adopted a horse stance, and raised his palms, open and upward—a standard posture in Daoyin Shu.

According to Xinhuo human civilization's official data, this guidance technique, honed over millennia, not only enhanced physical prowess and life advancement but also boosted the Fire Seed awakening success rate before the age of thirty. The higher the Daoyin Shu mastery level by then, the better the chances of success.

As for why thirty was chosen as the awakening age, the reason was straightforward. With a 140-year lifespan, awakening the Fire Seed at thirty offered ample time for technique practice, increased awakening odds, and ensured essential star sea knowledge acquisition—critical for minimizing post-awakening mortality rates during alien star field exploration.

The remaining hundred years provided ample opportunity to fortify the Xinhuo Airship and further elevate personal life levels, achieving multiple goals at once.

Three hours later, Song Chi concluded his practice.

After more than two decades of continuous effort, his guidance mastery had reached level 4. Further improvement in the short term was improbable.

Darkness had enveloped the outside world. Unwilling to continue practicing, he retired to bed.

Tomorrow was his Fire Seed awakening day, and spiritual preparation trumped all other concerns.

The following day, at Jiangyuan No. 1 Xinhuo Academy's playground, the awakening ceremony began early.

"Zhang Lili, successful fire awakening, quality: 'colorless.' Next, Zhou Pengfei."

As the White Tower Xinhuo Bureau operator's voice echoed, the assembled students reacted variously.

Some sighed softly, but most still envied those succeeding.

Though every Xinhuo Civilization citizen could attempt Fire Seed awakening at thirty, success rates were modest. Historically, Jiangyuan's No. 1 Xinhuo Academy boasted ten successes from forty attempts—a commendable ratio compared to other city academies.

Among them, Song Chi harbored envy, his fists clenched with nervousness.

"Thirty years in the making—all hinges on today."

He thought this, and promptly, the announcement resumed.

"Zhou Pengfei, failed fire awakening. Next..."

"Zhao Yunfeng, successful fire awakening, quality: 'colorless.'"

Proceeding thus, it soon became Class 5 of Ten Years' turn—Song Chi's turn.

Hearing his name, his towering friend Sun Hao, akin to a black bear, trembled.

Seeing this, Song Chi gently patted Sun Hao's shoulder to calm him.

"Haozi, go for it."

Sun Hao nodded and approached the awakening stage.

Moments later,

"Sun Hao, successful fire awakening, quality: 'white.'"

Cheers erupted among the students.

Each Fire Seed awakened differed in quality—ranging from colorless (basic) to white (better), and rarer, blue and purple. White, though second-tier, was a coveted rarity amidst the dozen odd awakenings.

Smiling genuinely, Song Chi shared in his best friend's success.

Soon after, Sun Hao was enveloped in congratulatory embraces, even from acquaintances distant in school life.

Indeed, Sun Hao had become a hot commodity.

External forces—finance groups, trade guilds, and families—eagerly courted white-grade Fire Seeds. Sun Hao, upon nodding approval and signing contracts, could soon receive substantial investments for Fire Ship upgrades, accelerating his ascent.

"Next, Song Chi!"

Four consecutive failures followed Sun Hao's success, leading to Song Chi's long-awaited turn.

Beside him, Sun Hao shot him an encouraging glance.

Song Chi drew a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety, and approached the awakening stage.

Guided by Xinhuo Bureau staff, Song Chi extended his hand towards the dark flame—the 'Fire Source' aiding humanity in Fire Seed awakening.

Warmth enveloped his palm, time stretched and condensed, and as sudden pain pierced his hand, his closed eyes reopened.

Announcement followed swiftly.

"Song Chi, successful fire awakening, quality: 'colorless.'"

Stepping down, Song Chi experienced a whirlwind of emotions—joy at his success, tempered by concern over colorless quality's limitations.

Deliberating, he felt a warmth in his chest—the Xinghai Market Order, oddly ablaze for the first time in thirty years.

Puzzled, he returned to his class group, appearing lost to onlookers.

"Brother Chi, don't overthink it. Grades can improve; colorless isn't a dead end..."

Sun Hao's words comforted Song Chi, who nodded, genuinely unfazed.

Disappointed momentarily, he swiftly resolved to elevate his Fire Seed grade. With time on his side, rare resources could bolster his efforts.

Song Chi knew himself as a time traveler, reincarnated from Blue Star. The Star Sea Market Token—a golden ticket in his possession—drew his curiosity.

Half an hour later, Jiangyuan First Academy's ceremony concluded, under 200 of 600 students celebrating Fire Seed success.

Joy, tears, and wonderment swept the square, diverging futures set for the Fire Awakened.