On the Awakening Platform, Evelyn was like a dazzling pearl, radiating brilliance that was impossible to ignore.
Principal Warren looked at Evelyn with a smile. She was a true treasure, and as the Principal, he naturally had to give her a proper welcoming gift.
He stepped forward, approached Evelyn, and said with a beaming smile,
"Student Evelyn, congratulations on Awakening an S Rank Martial Soul. As the Principal of Silverwood Elite School, I have never been stingy when it comes to exceptionally talented students. So, I’ve decided to give you a reward."
Evelyn looked at the suddenly appearing Principal Warren and instinctively took a small step backward.
The old man’s gaze felt strange, almost as if he were looking at a priceless treasure.
"Principal, what are you going to give me?"
However, Evelyn was still quite curious when she heard about the reward, so she asked with a puzzled expression.
Suddenly, three items appeared in Principal Warren’s hand.
"I’m the Principal, so naturally, everything I give you has to be good stuff! These three items are all genuine treasures!"
A pained expression flashed across Principal Warren’s face.
"The first item is a soft armor made from the hide of a second tier monster beast. It’s incredibly tough and can withstand attacks from Martial Artist-Rank opponents."
"The second item is a bottle of medicinal pills. They’re first-tier medicinal pills called Soul Solidifying Pills, which are especially beneficial for those who have just Awakened their Martial Souls."
"The third item is a sword, a second-tier treasured weapon called the Ice Spirit Sword. It can cut through iron as easily as mud. It’s a genuine treasure sword."
"Do you like them?" Principal Warren asked triumphantly, noticing how everyone below the stage was captivated by the rewards.
At this moment, Erin stared at the three treasures with undisguised envy, practically drooling over them. Even the teachers and students below the stage couldn’t hide their admiration.
"Thank you, Principal. I like them very much."
Evelyn, accepted the rewards calmly.
She looked at the three items in her hands, treasures that others would desperately fight over, with a rather strange expression, almost as if she were looking at ordinary scrap metal.
After all, she was already wearing third-tier protective armor, while a third-tier long whip was wrapped around her waist like a belt. Her family also had an endless supply of second-tier medicinal pills.
Compared to what she already possessed, the Principal’s rewards were things she didn’t really need.
However, even if Evelyn didn’t need these things, she could always give them to Lucian, who had no resources.
Lucian was also genuinely happy for Evelyn at this moment. These treasures would help her grow stronger quickly and keep her safe. That way, he could continue living off her in the future.
Bah, bah, bah! What kind of shameless thought is that? Living off someone else is embarrassing. It’s utterly disgraceful.
After giving Evelyn the rewards, Principal Warren didn’t forget to encourage the other students.
"In our school, anyone who Awakens an A-Rank Talent or above will receive a reward from me. I hope that during the upcoming Awakenings, all of you will continue to work hard. Perhaps you can also earn a little gift from me."
With that, Principal Warren returned to his seat on the main platform.
The teacher on the Awakening Platform also quickly regained his composure and continued hosting the Awakening ceremony.
"Student Evelyn, you may step down now."
The teacher was exceptionally respectful toward Evelyn.
Evelyn had been standing on the stage for quite a while and no longer wanted to remain there as an object of everyone’s attention.
As soon as the teacher finished speaking, Evelyn, accompanied by the phantom of the Azure Phoenix, walked down from the Awakening Platform and headed straight toward Lucian.
"The Awakening ceremony will continue. Next, Student Lucian will come forward for his Awakening."
Lucian also felt that standing on the Awakening Platform was a little like being a monkey on display, with everyone watching his every move. But now that it was his turn, he had no choice but to step onto the stage.
Before going up, he quietly swallowed the medicinal pill Evelyn had given him and smiled at her.
Evelyn raised her delicate fist and cheered him on.
"Go, Lucian! I believe in you. You’ll definitely Awaken!"
Lucian strode onto the stage.
Looking at the Awakening Stone that would determine his fate, he couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
All he could do now was hope that the medicinal pill Evelyn had given him would actually work.
He slowly brought his hands toward the Awakening Stone until both palms were firmly pressed against it.
A warm current flowed from the Awakening Stone through Lucian’s arms and gradually entered his body. It felt as though the stone was scanning him while simultaneously stimulating something deep within him.
The medicinal pill Evelyn had given him seemed to be strengthening that warm current.
Suddenly, an immense energy surged through Lucian’s body, gathering relentlessly within him until it felt as though something deep inside his soul was on the verge of breaking free.
"Buzz!"
Lucian felt as though something was brewing deep within his mind, something that was desperately trying to break free.
A strange sense of joy surged from his Soul.
But in the next instant, Lucian’s vision suddenly plunged into another space.
Everything was pitch-black.
There wasn’t a trace of light, nor was there even a sound. Only endless darkness surrounded him.
Lucian was slightly confused.
Is this something every Awakener has to experience?
At that moment, he felt as though he had become blind. He could do nothing but walk aimlessly through the darkness.
He didn’t know how long he walked.
At first, impatience gradually filled his heart. But as time passed, he slowly adapted to the endless darkness.
It felt as though he had aged.
As if he had lived through an unimaginably long period of time, so long that he had completely forgotten why he had come here in the first place.
Gradually, Lucian became accustomed to the darkness.
And then, something even stranger happened.
The darkness seemed to slowly merge into his body.
He no longer needed light.
The darkness seemed to have been completely absorbed and digested by his body.
Then, light suddenly descended upon him.
The endless darkness of that strange world vanished, leaving only a trace of it lingering within his shadow.
...
Lucian slowly opened his eyes again. A hint of profound world-weariness lingered in them, as though he had experienced an incredibly long passage of time.
Then, the familiar noise and commotion of the Awakening Platform gradually returned to his ears.
"Lucian, Awakening successful! Awakened a D-Rank Martial Soul... Shadow Warrior."
The teacher on the Awakening Platform sounded slightly uncertain.
He felt that this student’s Talent was different from that of an ordinary Shadow Warrior, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what made it different.
However, countless voices had already erupted from below the stage.
"What? Lucian, that beggar from the slums, actually Awakened a Talent? And it’s D-Rank? He’s unbelievably lucky!"
"Damn it! If someone like Lucian can Awaken, why can’t I? That’s not fair!"
"..."
Lucian was very familiar with the first voice.
Who else could it be but Erin, that spoiled rich heir?
But hearing everyone’s shocked reactions, Lucian was even more surprised himself. A strange expression appeared on his face.
Because there was a piece of information clearly imprinted in his mind.
Divine-Rank Talent Awakened: Lord of Shadows
Talent One -> Shadow Legion: As long as darkness exists, your Shadow Soldiers can be replenished infinitely. The Rank of your Shadow Soldiers is synchronized with your own.
Talent Two -> Shadow Devour: You and your Shadow Soldiers can devour all forms of shadows.
Talent Three -> Shadow Lord: Wherever darkness and shadows exist, you are immortal.
Looking at the Shadow Soldiers standing beside him, Lucian was puzzled.
So, did the Awakening Stone identify one of my Shadow Soldiers as my Martial Soul?
Or is it because this Divine-Rank Talent has never appeared before, and its Rank is simply too high for the Awakening Stone to detect?
After looking through the information about his Talent, Lucian felt that either possibility was plausible.
This Talent was simply too powerful.
It truly deserved to be called a Divine-Rank Talent.
Since the Awakening Stone couldn’t detect its true Rank, Lucian decided there was no need to explain anything.
Being a hidden powerhouse was exactly what he liked best.
Hehe.
"Student Lucian, congratulations on successfully Awakening your Talent. You may step down now."
The hosting teacher’s reminder brought Lucian back to his senses.
He had been so immersed in the joy of Awakening that he had completely lost track of time.
With a thought, Lucian recalled the Shadow Soldiers. The immense power surging through his body also fascinated him.
After returning to Evelyn’s side, Lucian still couldn’t shake the doubts in his mind, so he finally asked,
"Evelyn, did anything unusual happen when you Awakened?"
"No. I Awakened directly. Nothing unusual happened in between."
Evelyn looked at Lucian’s face suspiciously.
"Did you experience something special?"
"No, no. It’s just that I felt as though a very long time had passed while I was on the stage."
Lucian gave an awkward laugh. He honestly had no idea how he was supposed to explain what had just happened to him.
"But congratulations anyway. You Awakened an S-Rank Martial Soul, so I’ll have to cling to your leg from now on, okay? You have to take care of me, this little D-Rank newbie!"
Perhaps because he had just Awakened a Divine-Rank Talent, Lucian felt unusually relaxed and couldn’t help teasing Evelyn.
Evelyn’s delicate face flushed slightly when she heard this. She lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.
"Okay..."
Her soft, sweet voice was so quiet that it was almost inaudible.