The Ritual of the Young Master
The grand hall of the **Luo Family Manor** was nothing short of magnificent. Intricate golden pillars lined the walls, and a vast ceremonial platform stood at the center, where generations of Luo heirs had proven their worth.
And today, it was my turn.
**"Behold, the 9th Young Master has arrived!"** a steward announced.
I was dressed in ceremonial robes, my baby hands barely visible under the oversized sleeves. Seriously, do they think drowning me in fabric will make me look more dignified?
I glanced around.
On the highest seat sat **Luo Tian**, my so-called father—the patriarch of this mighty family. He was a man of few words, with sharp eyes and an aura of unquestionable authority. Next to him sat his seven wives, including my mother, Lady Mei, who looked at me with quiet anticipation.
My **two brothers and six sisters** stood to the side, all dressed in formal attire, their expressions ranging from indifference to curiosity. They were already trained in martial arts, standing proud as the next generation of Luo warriors.
Then there were the elders and the family's top experts. And the audience? A mix of noble guests and high-ranking members of the household.
*Alright, no pressure.*
---
### **The Rules of the Ritual**
One of the elders stepped forward, holding an ancient scroll.
**"As per the traditions of the Luo Family, every recognized heir must pass the Young Master's Ritual. This test will determine whether the child possesses the qualifications to be a part of the main bloodline and inherit the family's legacy."**
Sounds serious, right? It gets better.
The test had **three stages**:
1. **Bloodline Verification** – Confirming my lineage through the family's ancestral stone.
2. **Elemental Resonance** – Testing my compatibility with the Earth Element.
3. **Endurance Trial** – A survival test to measure physical and mental resilience.
If I passed all three, I'd officially become the **9th Young Master of the Luo Family**.
But if I failed… well, let's not go there.
---
### **Stage 1: Bloodline Verification**
A large **jade stone** was placed at the center of the ritual platform. It was infused with ancestral energy, capable of identifying whether I was truly of Luo blood.
"Place the child's hand on the stone," an elder instructed.
I sighed. *Seriously?* This test was just a formality. If I wasn't Luo Tian's son, I wouldn't be standing here in the first place. But whatever, let's get it over with.
I reached out with my tiny hand and touched the stone.
**BOOM!**
A deep golden glow erupted from the jade, causing murmurs among the elders. The intensity of the glow was stronger than any of my siblings'.
**"Such a strong bloodline resonance…!"** an elder muttered.
My father raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
**[Bloodline Verification: Passed]**
*Well, that was easy.*
---
### **Stage 2: Elemental Resonance**
This was where things got interesting.
A circular formation was drawn on the ground, inscribed with ancient runes. In the center, a **floating crystal** pulsed with energy. My task was simple—place my hand on the crystal and awaken my elemental affinity.
Now, let me tell you something. This was where most kids my age barely produced a flicker of energy. Even my siblings, when they took this test, could only make the crystal glow faintly.
I stepped forward and placed my hand on the crystal.
At first, nothing happened.
Then—
**CRACK!**
The crystal **shattered into pieces**.
Gasps filled the hall.
**"Impossible!"** one of the elders exclaimed.
"The crystal… broke?" my second brother, Luo Feng, muttered in disbelief.
Even my father, who had been expressionless this entire time, narrowed his eyes.
**[Elemental Resonance: Passed]**
The system chimed in.
**"Congratulations, Host! You have awakened an Earth Elemental Affinity of the highest grade!"**
I smirked internally. This was just the beginning.
---
### **Stage 3: The Endurance Trial**
Alright, now this was where things got fun.
They took me to an underground chamber—a **training ground filled with obstacles and wild spirit beasts**. My challenge? Survive for **ten minutes** inside.
For a normal one-year-old, this would be impossible.
*But I am not normal.*
The gates opened, and I was thrown inside.
The moment I landed, a **feral wolf cub** lunged at me.
*Oh? Already?*
**SWOOSH!**
I twisted my body, letting the wolf barely miss me. It skidded across the stone floor, confused that its prey had dodged.
*Let's test how this evil system works.*
I reached out and **tugged its tail—HARD.**
**[You have inflicted minor psychological damage on a beast. +0.02 Evil Points]**
Hah! Even making animals suffer gives me points? This is great.
The wolf cub yelped and ran away. *Yeah, you better run.*
The next few minutes were spent dodging falling rocks, avoiding spike traps, and tormenting a few more spirit beasts.
By the time the test was over, I wasn't even **out of breath**.
The elders watching were speechless.
The butler wiped his forehead. *This kid is terrifying…*
My siblings looked at me like I was some kind of monster.
And my father… simply nodded.
**[Endurance Trial: Passed]**
---
### **Official Recognition**
The patriarch stood up. His deep voice echoed across the hall.
**"From this day forth, Luo Zin is recognized as the 9th Young Master of the Luo Family."**
Cheers erupted. Maids clapped, servants cheered, and my mother wiped a tear from her eye.
Meanwhile, I stood there, arms crossed (or as much as a one-year-old could), thinking—
*Step one: Complete.*
*Now, let's cause some chaos.*
---
### **Ending Hook**
With the ritual behind him, Luo Zin was now officially a recognized heir of the Luo Family. But what happens when his **first act as a young master sparks an internal family conflict?**
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