Just as Si Junni had settled her thoughts, the bus came to a stop.
After disembarking, Si Junni saw that the square was filled with students from all the high schools in Yanyang City. Everyone stood solemnly and upright beneath the circular Awakening Platform, their gazes fixed intently on the Awakening Orb.
Behind them sat two rows of leaders and teachers. Although their identities weren’t formally introduced, everyone had their own bits of insider information.
“Ahhh! Is that Captain Long from the Dragon King Squad? An eighth-tier powerhouse—why would he come here?”
“I heard that every year, the Dragon King Squad selects candidates for the Dingbei Pass Training Camp before the college entrance exams. Maybe he’s here to scout talent!”
“That must be it! Those who get in are almost always the heaven’s chosen elites of each graduating class!”
“Is it because of Lu Yu from our school? His entire family are Awakened, and both his parents serve in the military. It goes without saying—Lu Yu is definitely going to Awaken! It’s just a matter of what his Talent Level will be.”
“The row behind them must be the principals of various spirit martial schools, right? Last year, when my brother Awakened, he was recruited by that little old man with red hair.”
“I wonder what kind of special ability I’ll Awaken… I’ve already kept my heart as still as water for 108 days and even quit my habit of admiring handsome guys. Please let me succeed!”
“Silence.”
A voice suddenly echoed across the entire venue, and everyone instantly fell quiet, their eyes converging on the Awakening Platform.
Si Junni immediately became intrigued. Though the words were spoken lightly, the voice had been amplified countless times and even carried a trace of spiritual energy.
This was Si Junni’s first time experiencing a phenomenon that transcended the natural world, and she found it quite fascinating.
For some reason, the person on the platform suddenly met Si Junni’s gaze and studied her with keen interest.
Si Junni didn’t flinch at all; instead, she even waved in greeting.
“Si Junni! Don’t be disrespectful! That’s the city lord of Yanyang City! What do you think you’re doing?”
Si Junni spread her hands. “Nothing at all. Don’t be nervous—I won’t report you.”
“You…”
“The Awakening Ceremony is about to begin. Students whose names are called, please proceed to the platform in an orderly manner for Awakening.”
As the city lord’s words fell, the ten Awakening Orbs on the platform slowly rose into the air.
The first batch of students whose serial numbers were called gradually made their way onto the platform.
They stood directly beneath the Awakening Orbs.
Each person’s Awakening state was different, and the colors and radiance emitted by the Awakening Orbs varied as well.
“Lu Yu! The pride of our No. 1 High School!”
“Look! The color of Lu Yu’s Awakening Orb is so dazzling! As expected from someone from an Awakening family!”
Si Junni also turned to look at Lu Yu.
From the very beginning, his Awakening Orb shone brilliantly, as if brimming with boundless energy. At first, five colors switched chaotically without any pattern.
But gradually… all the colors were overtaken by yellow.
“It’s a Natural Element!”
After a while, the staff in charge of the Awakening Ceremony continuously calculated something based on the Awakening Orb and the instrument’s detection panel. Finally, with a look of delight, they exclaimed, “Natural Element, lightning special ability, Talent Level S!”
The lightning special ability was undoubtedly the most destructive and lethal among all Natural Element abilities, especially with a Talent Level of S!
The Talent of an Awakened is divided into seven levels, from S to F.To elaborate in detail, beyond S Rank, there exist SS and SSS ranks, but this is classified information. Whether you are S, SS, or SSS, all are recorded as S in the archives.
The Awakening Orb and testing instruments will not display any additional information either, as this is done to protect humanity’s geniuses.
Lu Yu’s expression remained calm, as if he was completely unsurprised by this result, and he calmly returned to the line.
Meanwhile, in the two rows of leadership seats at the back, some were already unable to contain themselves.
“Old Zheng, sit down quickly. We agreed beforehand that no one is allowed to approach the students early. After all the tests are done, we’ll gather those with high Talent Levels and go to them together.”
“Can’t I get up to use the restroom?” Old Zheng stubbornly refused to sit down, unable to tear his eyes away from Lu Yu.
“Then I’ll accompany you.”
“Forget it, I don’t need to go anymore. I didn’t bring any toilet paper.”
“Uh… In public, could you be a bit more refined?”
“Hmph! Refined, my foot. I’m constipated.”
No one present had expected a S Rank Awakened to emerge from the very first group. The atmosphere at the scene was instantly ignited.
Everyone couldn’t help but fantasize that they were Lu Yu, standing on the stage under the spotlight… that it was themselves. They were greatly inspired, rubbing their hands together eagerly, ready to step forward and Awaken their own Talents.
They imagined that after Awakening an S-grade Talent, they would be just like Lu Yu—utterly composed, exuding the demeanor of an expert, and putting on the airs of a big shot.
All the students were so excited that they selectively ignored the fact that out of the ten people on stage, only three had Awakened special abilities. Moreover, aside from Lu Yu, the other two had ability levels of only E Rank.
Who doesn’t dream of being the protagonist? They were too eager to become heroes of humanity, leading them to ultimate victory!
The two classmates beside Si Junni couldn’t help but indulge in such fantasies.
“What if we both Awaken S-grade Talents, find a few teammates, and form a team to explore the Yan Yang Secret Realm?”
“Sounds good! We’ll dominate the battlefield together and serve our country! Then we’ll show everyone who the real geniuses are!”
Si Junni couldn’t help but glance back at these two confident classmates.
Unexpectedly, one of them spoke up directly, “What are you looking at?”
Si Junni realized that the entire class harbored great hostility toward her, their eyes filled with aversion and incomprehension.
Yet, from “Si Junni’s” perspective, she had done nothing wrong.
She had merely chosen to remain silent when someone slandered her…
Si Junni smiled and replied, “Looking at idiots.”
Before any further argument could arise, the two were called onto the stage.
“Just you wait. Watch how this Awakened brother here puts you in your place!”
“Alright.”
In less than five minutes, the announcements came again.
“Zhang San: Awakening failed.”
“Li Si: Awakening failed.”
Si Junni shook her head with a sigh. It seemed the dreams of these youngsters… had shattered.
The two of them no longer had their earlier bravado. They stood below the stage, disheartened and on the verge of tears.
As more and more students stepped onto the Awakening Platform, the anticipated S Rank or even A Rank Awakened did not appear. Only a few with B-grade or C-grade Talents emerged, while the rest were mostly E Rank or F Rank.
Only then did everyone gradually accept this reality… instantly deflating like frostbitten eggplants, and the atmosphere at the scene grew somber once again.Just as the atmosphere was about to hit rock bottom, the staff member’s excited voice rang out again.
…….