Morning sunlight spilled over the distant hills, chasing away the fog that had haunted the valley all night. The golden rays touched the rooftops of Dawn Village, stirring life into the sleepy settlement. Roosters crowed. Children fetched water. Merchants called out half-heartedly to passing travelers.
And walking among them, bruised but alive, was Lian Fei.
His clothes were torn, his hair matted with dried blood, and his once-clear eyes now glimmered with a strange golden hue that hadn't been there before. Every step felt heavier than the last, yet inside him burned something fierce—an energy that refused to rest.
He had fought a spirit beast. He had touched lightning and lived.He had awakened a system.
Now, he was returning to the place that had always branded him as worthless.
The people of the village turned to stare as he passed. Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Is that Lian Fei? I thought he ran off after failing the aptitude test last year.""He looks half-dead. What's he even doing back?""Probably wants to beg the elders for food again."
Lian Fei kept his head down, saying nothing. Their words cut deep, but not as deeply as they once had. He could still remember the day of that test—the day he was declared spirit-rootless. The sneers, the laughter, even the pitying looks from those who pretended to be kind.
That humiliation had carved something permanent into his heart.
He reached the village square, where a crowd was already gathering. Bright banners hung from poles, and young men and women lined up nervously in front of a great stone building at the square's center—the Spirit Hall.
Today was the Examination Day—the annual event when youths aged fifteen to eighteen would test their spiritual roots before the visiting examiner from the Azure Cloud Sect.
It was the one day of the year when peasants could become cultivators.
And the one day Lian Fei swore he would never return to.
Until now.
A booming voice echoed from the front of the Hall.
"Step forward, next candidate!"
An elderly man in azure robes stood before a glowing crystal pillar—the Spirit-Testing Monument. Around him were four assistants in ceremonial garb, holding jade tablets to record the results. The examiner's long beard swayed as he looked over the crowd with calm authority.
Beside him, Elder Shen, the village head, called out names from a wooden slate.
"Chen Ruo—pass. Yellow-grade Spirit Root, inferior quality."The girl bowed deeply, tears of joy streaming down her face. Even the lowest spirit root was enough to earn entry into the sect's servant ranks.
"Next! Zhang Wei—no reaction. No Spirit Root."
The boy's shoulders sagged as laughter spread through the crowd.
"Next—Han Yu! Blue-grade Spirit Root, medium quality!"
Cheers erupted as a bright blue aura flared around the girl's palm. She turned proudly toward her friends.
"Next—" Elder Shen froze, his eyes narrowing as he read the next name."…Lian Fei?"
A hush fell instantly over the square. Dozens of eyes turned toward the figure standing near the back.
He stepped forward slowly, his worn boots scraping against the cobblestone.
The examiner's brow furrowed. "You again? You were tested last year, weren't you? No spirit root detected."
"Yes, Senior," Lian Fei said, bowing respectfully. "But I wish to be tested once more."
Snickers rose from the watching youths.
"Still dreaming?""Doesn't know when to give up.""Maybe he thinks lightning gave him powers!"
Lian Fei ignored them. His gaze was locked on the crystal pillar. The rune on his chest pulsed faintly, hidden beneath his robe.
The examiner sighed. "Very well. But this is your last chance, boy. Place your hand on the monument."
Lian Fei nodded and stepped forward. The pillar loomed taller than him, glowing with a faint internal light. When he touched its surface, the cool crystal sent a shiver up his arm.
For a moment—nothing.
Then, faintly, the rune on his chest warmed.
[System Notice: External spiritual scan detected. Do you wish to synchronize with the Spirit Hall crystal?]
He hesitated, heart pounding."Yes," he whispered inwardly.
A surge of power leapt from his palm.
The monument blazed—first white, then gold, then an intense violet light that swallowed the entire square. Wind howled through the plaza. The spectators stumbled back as spiritual energy exploded outward like a tidal wave.
"What in heaven's name—!" the examiner shouted, shielding his face.
The glow intensified until the air itself vibrated. The golden rune on Lian Fei's chest flared, projecting faint lightning arcs that danced across the pillar.
When the light finally faded, silence reigned. The monument, usually smooth and pristine, now bore a single glowing mark at its center—the imprint of Lian Fei's palm burned into the crystal.
The examiner's eyes went wide. He trembled as he looked at his jade tablet. "T-this reading… impossible!"
The villagers stared in stunned disbelief.
"What does it mean?" someone whispered.
The examiner swallowed hard. "Golden-grade Spirit Root… no—beyond that. Unknown classification. The monument itself cannot measure it."
Gasps filled the air.
Even Elder Shen, who had always despised Lian Fei, looked as though the ground had vanished beneath him.
Lian Fei slowly withdrew his hand, his expression unreadable. "Does this mean I pass?"
The examiner's mouth twitched. "Pass? Boy, the Azure Cloud Sect would fight wars to claim you."
When the chaos subsided, the crowd parted as the examiner led Lian Fei aside.
"Tell me," the old man said, lowering his voice, "what technique did you cultivate? I sense a unique energy within you."
Lian Fei hesitated. "I… don't know its name, Senior. It appeared to me after a lightning strike."
The examiner's eyes widened slightly but he nodded. "Heaven's fate, perhaps. The heavens rarely mark men twice. Remember, child, such blessings draw envy. Do not expose your power lightly."
Lian Fei bowed deeply. "I understand."
"Good." The old man smiled faintly. "Your official recommendation will be sent to the Azure Cloud Sect immediately. In three days, their envoy will arrive to escort the selected youths. Prepare yourself well."
He turned to leave, then paused. "And one more thing—beware those who smile too easily. Power attracts wolves."
With that, the examiner vanished into the Hall, leaving Lian Fei standing alone.
The moment the examiner was gone, the crowd erupted again—but this time, not with laughter.
"Did you see that light?""A divine-grade spirit root! He's blessed by the heavens!""Wasn't he the boy everyone mocked?"
Faces that once sneered now smiled too brightly. Neighbors who had ignored him for years called out his name like old friends. Even Elder Shen forced a strained grin.
"Ah, Lian Fei! You've truly made our village proud. Perhaps I was too harsh on you before. The heavens test those they favor, eh?"
Lian Fei met his gaze and smiled thinly. "Of course, Elder. I've learned that the heavens never forget."
He turned and walked away.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, he stopped by the river that bordered the village. The water shimmered gold under the fading light. He stared at his reflection—the faint rune on his chest glowing softly through his torn robe.
[Main Quest Updated: Enter Azure Cloud Sect in three days.][Warning: Host's awakening has been detected by nearby entities.]
He frowned. "Entities?"
The water rippled. In the reflection behind him, for just a heartbeat, he saw a pair of crimson eyes gleaming from the forest's edge—watching. Then they were gone.
Lian Fei's hand tightened around the small pouch at his belt—the one that held the wolf fang he had taken as a trophy. The mark on his chest pulsed, almost in response to the unseen threat.
He whispered to himself, "So it begins."
The heavens had branded him. The world had seen his light.And somewhere in the mist-covered mountains beyond Dawn Village, something ancient had taken notice.