Chapter 13: The Talent Awakening Day

As the first light of dawn illuminated the small room, it revealed a young boy standing near the window. His jet-black hair, reaching just to his neck, framed his face perfectly—not excessively long, yet carrying a natural elegance that suited him. His features were well-defined, not to the point of being otherworldly, but striking enough to draw a glance.

His body, though still young, bore the marks of discipline. His physique, sculpted by years of rigorous martial training, displayed lean muscle and sharp contours that hinted at both strength and agility. Though he had yet to step into the world of cultivation, his foundation had already been set.

Today was no ordinary day. Adrian had just turned eight years old, and it was the day of the Talent Awakening Ceremony.

For years, he had been waiting for this moment. Cultivation was the path to power, and this ceremony would decide his future. If his talent was too low, his path would be difficult. But if he had strong talent, his life would change forever.

As the first rays of sunlight entered his small room, Adrian sat up and took a deep breath. He wasn't nervous, but there was a small excitement in his heart.

"Finally, the day has come," he thought.

Just then, a familiar voice spoke in his mind.

"Are you ready for today, Adrian?"

It was the Cube, the mysterious presence that had been with him for as long as he could remember.

Adrian smiled slightly. "I think so. But I don't know what my talent will be."

The Cube responded calmly, "You don't have to worry. You have the potential to reach the top of the cultivation world. No matter what happens today, your talent will be good enough."

Hearing this, Adrian felt reassured. The Cube had never lied to him before. If it said he had good talent, then he didn't need to be afraid.

"Alright, then. Let's see what fate has in store for me," Adrian murmured to himself before getting ready.

A short time later, Adrian and a group of children from the Eldenwood Clan gathered outside their clan's main hall. An elder stood before them. He was an old man with a kind but serious expression.

"Today is an important day for all of you," the elder said. "The Talent Awakening Ceremony will decide your future. Follow me, and do not cause trouble when we reach the sect."

The children nodded. Some were excited, some were nervous. Adrian remained calm.

Together, they left the clan and traveled toward the Greenwood Sect, the mid-tier sect responsible for selecting young talents from different clans.

The journey was not too long, but it was filled with excitement. The group passed through small villages and open fields. Along the way, they saw many other children traveling with their families. Some were from small clans, while others were from commoner families who had no background in cultivation.

After about an hour, they arrived at the sect's entrance.

The Grand Testing Ground

Adrian looked ahead and saw a massive stone gate. It was covered in ancient carvings and shone faintly under the sunlight. Beyond the gate, there was an enormous open ground filled with hundreds of people.

The Talent Awakening Ceremony was a big event. Not only did small clans send their young children, but even individual families and commoners came, hoping to test their talent. Cultivation was the greatest path to power, and today was a chance for many to change their lives.

Adrian's group was led to a section of the testing ground where several Talent Testing Stones were placed. Each stone was used to measure different aspects of a child's talent.

The process began. Groups of children were sent forward to place their hands on the stones, and their talents were revealed.

As Adrian observed the ceremony, he noticed that the large crowd was slowly being split into smaller groups. Each group had about twenty children, and they were assigned to different Talent Testing Stones.

The elders managed the groups carefully, ensuring that everything remained organized despite the large number of people present. Adrian was placed in a group with other children from his clan, along with a few from nearby villages.

As the tests continued, Adrian quickly noticed a pattern.

Most children received low-grade talent. Their stones barely flickered, and their results were announced in an indifferent tone. A few received mid-grade talent, and only one or two per group displayed high-grade talent.

From everything he had seen so far, low-grade talent was the most common, and high-grade talent was rare—but not unheard of.

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "So high-grade talent is considered rare, but it still appears every now and then," he thought.

Curious, he spoke to the Cube in his mind.

"Is my talent at a high level?" he asked.

The Cube explained. "High-level? Here? You think too small, Adrian."

Adrian blinked. "What do you mean?"

The Cube's voice carried a hint of amusement. "These stones can only measure up to high-grade talent. But the world is much bigger than this little sect. There are levels beyond what they can see. Don't concern yourself with what they call 'high-level talent' here. It means nothing in the grand scheme of things."

Hearing this, Adrian fell silent. He understood what the Cube meant—there was a much bigger world beyond this place.

His curiosity deepened. He no longer cared about whether he was called "high-grade" or not. What mattered was how far he could truly go.

With these thoughts in mind, he continued watching the tests, waiting for his own turn.

Adrian watched closely.

One by one, children stepped forward.

A boy from a noble clan placed his hand on the stone. A faint yellow light appeared. The elder next to him announced, "Mid-grade talent." The boy's family looked satisfied.

Another girl, from a small commoner family, placed her hand on a different stone. The stone glowed bright green. The elder's eyes widened slightly. "High mid-grade talent!"

The girl's parents, who had looked nervous, suddenly gasped in surprise. Their daughter had just gained the chance to enter a powerful sect. Their future would never be the same again.

But not everyone was so lucky.

A young boy from a high-ranking noble family walked up confidently. He placed his hand on the stone. A few seconds passed. No light appeared.

Silence.

The elder shook his head. "No talent."

The boy's face turned pale. His family's expressions darkened instantly. The whispers around them grew louder.

Gasps rose among the nobles. One lady covered her mouth, her eyes wide. Another nobleman whispered, "Is it true? No talent at all?" People leaned closer, hungry for more details. Some exchanged shocked glances; others looked on with pity or scorn and some older nobles looked at all these things calmly because of their age they had already experienced these things for quite a few times and were used to it.

The young boy himself seemed frozen. His gaze flickered between his father and the elder. His cheeks burned with shame, and he pressed his lips together as if trying not to cry.

Then the whispers grew louder.

"A noble son, with no talent?"

"What a disgrace!"

"Such a blow to their name."

Some onlookers shook their heads, remembering how proud the family had been before this moment. A few wore faint smiles—perhaps they enjoyed watching the downfall of someone once so confident.

Meanwhile, the elder lowered his head. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "No talent."

In the silence that followed, the father's shoulders sagged. The mother looked away, her eyes brimming with tears. Their son stood alone at the stone, still in disbelief, while the crowd's murmurs rose like a storm around him.

"A noble family's son… with no talent?"

"This is a disaster for their family."

Meanwhile, a commoner boy from a small village stepped forward next. He had no background, no resources. Yet, when he placed his hand on the stone, it flashed a bright blue light—indicating high-grade talent.

Gasps filled the air. The crowd's attention shifted instantly.

When the stone glowed brightly under the boy's hand, the villagers drew in quick breaths. Someone let out a small cheer, and a neighbor clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder. A young girl in the crowd giggled with excitement. Even the older folk, who usually stayed calm, showed a flicker of pride in their eyes. You could feel the hope rising among them—an unspoken feeling that this was more than just a lucky moment.

"He was just a commoner… and now he will enter the sect!"

Adrian watched all of this silently.

He saw a noble child fall from grace and a poor child rise to power in just a few moments.

"Talent does not care about status," Adrian thought. "Some people are born lucky, and others are born with nothing. But in the end, it is the path they walk that matters the most."

As the testing continued, Adrian noticed the fear and hope in the eyes of many children. Some prayed for even the weakest talent, while others simply hoped not to lose everything.

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