The low hum from the Awakening Monolith intensified, shifting in pitch until it became a deep, resonant thrum that vibrated through the very jade of the plaza. It was a sound that seemed to precede the birth of a world, ancient and profound.
The faint, dormant energy within the black stone surged, no longer passive, but erupting like a slumbering volcano.
BOOM!
A pillar of brilliant, blinding gold light shot up from the monolith, piercing the heavens. It dwarfed the pathetic one-meter white light of the Mortal Root and the two-meter green of the Earth Root.
This golden pillar soared ten, twenty, fifty meters into the sky, painting the clouds in a divine hue. Within the light, phantom images of celestial dragons coiled and majestic phoenixes cried out, their ethereal roars shaking the souls of all present.
The entire Ancestral Plaza was bathed in this sacred, golden radiance. The pressure that descended was not one of cultivation, but of pure, unadulterated nobility, as if a god had descended upon the mortal realm. Everyone, from the Patriarch to the youngest child, felt an instinctual urge to kneel and worship.
Li Tian, who had been savoring a moment of vicious delight, now stared with a face drained of all color. His legs trembled, and he stumbled backward, a choked whisper escaping his lips. "No... this can't be... A Saint Root? Impossible! It's a trick!"
The presiding elder stood frozen, his mouth agape, his eyes wide with a mixture of terror and ecstasy. He pointed a trembling finger at the monolith, his voice cracking as he tried to speak. "By the Heavens... what is this power? This isn't merely a Heaven Root... it surpasses anything I've witnessed in my centuries!"
The golden light began to coalesce above the monolith, forming two ancient, shimmering characters that pulsed with indescribable power.
"Saint Root!" the elder finally shrieked, his voice filled with an awe that bordered on madness. "A true legend made manifest!"
The plaza, which had been deathly silent, erupted into chaos.
"Saint Root? What is a Saint Root? I've never heard of it!" a disciple cried out in confusion. "Beyond Heaven Root? Is that even possible?" another gasped, his eyes wide.
An elder next to the Patriarch, his beard trembling with excitement, stepped forward, his voice booming loud enough for all to hear. "Silence, you ignorant whelps! This is no mere Heaven Root! This is the Saint Root! It is a legendary root that has not appeared in our Grand Xia Empire for ten thousand years! It is a grade that exists beyond the Heaven Root!"
He continued, his voice rising with passion, "A Low-Grade Earth Root gives one a chance at the Foundation Establishment Realm, making them powerful warriors for any clan. A High-Grade Earth Root has a good chance of reaching the Golden Core Realm, the level of our esteemed elders!"
"A Heaven Root can reach the Nascent Soul Realm, the level of a Patriarch! A High-Grade Heaven Root might even touch upon the legendary Spirit Transformation Realm, becoming the supreme ruler of this entire region!"
"But a Saint Root... a Saint Root is destined to go beyond! Its potential is limitless! It is the mark of a future emperor, a true immortal!"
Understanding dawned, and the shock turned into a tidal wave of frenzied elation. The disciples began chanting, their voices united in a deafening roar.
"Young Master Wei! Young Master Wei! The future emperor!" Li Jin and Li Bao were on their knees, their faces pressed to the ground in a show of ultimate reverence.
"The Young Master is a true dragon among men! A celestial deity! We are not worthy!" Li Jin cried, tears of joy streaming down his face. "His glory shines brighter than the sun!" Li Bao added, his voice choked with emotion.
Amidst the pandemonium, Li Wei stood calmly, his hand still resting on the monolith. The divine golden light bathed his handsome features, making him look like a celestial deity. He withdrew his hand and turned to face the crowd, a faint, arrogant smirk playing on his lips. This was exactly as he had expected. It was his destiny.
On the throne, the Li Clan Patriarch, who had remained stoic throughout the entire ceremony, suddenly threw his head back and let out a booming laugh that shook the entire plaza, overpowering the cheers of the crowd.
"Hahaha! Good! Excellent! Our clan's destiny is forged in gold today! My son, Li Wei, possesses the bearing of a celestial emperor! With him, our Li Clan will rule not just the empire! The entire continent!" His gaze, filled with boundless pride, fell upon his son. Li Wei met his father's eyes and gave a slight, confident nod. His dark eyes swept over the adoring, fearful, and envious faces below him.