The green aura around the twenty-two participants continued to grow brighter.
Inside the formation, Shen Yanzhou clenched his teeth as another wave of pain swept through his body.
"Damn it... How much longer is this going to last?"
He wanted to complain aloud, but he knew better than to waste his strength.
His entire body felt as though it had been thrown into a boiling pot. The pain in his bones had become unbearable, and the strange sensation of roots pulling at his internal organs made every breath difficult.
Still, he refused to give up.
Just endure it, Shen Yanzhou. You've come this far. Don't let all that suffering go to waste.
He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.
Besides, if I give up now, what will Shiyue think of me?
The moment Chang Shiyue's face appeared in his mind, his determination grew stronger.
That's right! I must become a man worthy of standing beside her!
He clenched his fists.
And once I become powerful, those old fellows from the Chang Clan will have to treat me differently!
His thoughts quickly drifted toward a bright future.
He imagined himself lying on a luxurious bed with Chang Shiyue, with her nestled naked in his arms alongside the three beautiful women from the brothel he had visited before.
One of the women sat astride his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck as she gazed into his eyes with a seductive smile, while the other two snuggled close beside him.
Ah... what a wonderful life!
Shen Yanzhou grinned at the thought.
With Chang Shiyue in my arms and three beauties keeping me company, who would still want to bother with cultivation?
Then another wave of pain struck him.
"Ugh!"
His face twisted.
Forget it! Just let me survive this first!
A short distance away, Shen Tong was also struggling to endure the pain.
His forehead was covered in sweat, and his breathing had become uneven. Nevertheless, the green light around his body remained stable.
He glanced toward Shen Yanzhou.
Seeing that his cousin was still holding on, Shen Tong felt a mixture of surprise and frustration.
He had never considered Shen Yanzhou particularly hardworking. In fact, he had often wondered how someone with such a lazy personality had managed to survive years of cultivation.
Yet here they were.
Both had reached the Wood Seed stage.
Shen Tong gritted his teeth and turned his attention back to the formation.
If that lazy fellow can endure this, then I can too!
Neither of them noticed that several people in the viewing stands had begun paying closer attention to the two members of the Shen Clan.
Several minutes passed.
The number of participants continued to fall.
Twenty-two became twenty-one.
Then twenty.
A young man from a small family finally collapsed, unable to endure the growing pain. The formation immediately responded, and a gentle force carried him out of the circle.
His family rushed toward him as soon as he reached the edge of the platform.
Although disappointed, they were relieved to see that he was still conscious.
Not everyone could endure the Awakening Seed ceremony. Even reaching the Wood Seed stage was an achievement worth celebrating for an ordinary family.
Soon afterward, another participant withdrew.
Then another.
The remaining participants had to face an increasingly difficult challenge.
Their bodies were already exhausted from the previous stages. The energy entering them continued to strengthen their Seeds, but the process also placed greater strain on their bodies.
For some, the pain became too much.
For others, the desire to achieve a higher-grade Seed was stronger than their fear.
Among the remaining participants, Chang Shiyue remained focused.
Her breathing was steady, although sweat had begun running down her cheeks. She kept her back straight and her eyes closed, directing all her attention toward enduring the pain. This chapter was copied from novelping . com without permission.
She had trained for years to reach this moment.
She would not allow herself to fail so easily.
I can do this.
She repeated those words in her mind.
I have to keep going.
For a brief moment, Shen Yanzhou's face appeared in her thoughts.
She immediately pushed the image aside.
Why am I thinking about him again?
Her cheeks grew slightly warm.
This is not the time for that!
She took another breath and focused on the energy flowing through her body.
Whatever feelings she had for Shen Yanzhou, she would not let them distract her from the ceremony.
She wanted to become stronger for her own sake.
And if she could achieve a high-grade Seed, she would have one more reason to hold her head high when standing beside him.
In the viewing stands, the atmosphere had changed.
The earlier excitement had given way to nervous anticipation. Every time a participant withdrew, the crowd fell silent for a moment before attention returned to those who remained.
The elders of the five great clans were particularly focused on their younger members.
Among them, Wu Lang continued to show impressive stability.
His green aura was neither too bright nor too weak. It surrounded his body evenly, suggesting that he was handling the Wood Seed stage well.
An elder from the Wu Clan nodded with satisfaction.
"Wu Lang's foundation is solid. He has prepared well for this day."
Another elder stroked his beard.
"If he continues at this pace, reaching the Bronze Seed should be within his grasp."
"Let us wait and see. The next stage will not be easy."
Although the elder spoke cautiously, the satisfaction in his eyes was difficult to hide.
Not far away, the Lu Clan elders were also watching their juniors.
One of their young participants had begun trembling, but he remained inside the formation.
"That boy is stubborn," an elder remarked.
"Stubbornness is not always a bad thing," another replied. "Sometimes, it is what allows a cultivator to go further than others expect."
The older elder nodded.
"True. But he must also know his limits."
Their conversation ended as the green light around their young participant suddenly brightened.
Both elders immediately turned their attention back to him.
On the Shen Clan's side, Shen Hongyuan watched his two family members with growing interest.
"Yanzhou is still holding on," he remarked.
Shen Honglie glanced toward the formation.
"To be honest, I didn't expect him to last this long."
Shen Hongyuan smiled.
"Neither did I."
He paused before adding, "But perhaps we have underestimated him."
Shen Honglie folded his arms.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Reaching the Wood Seed is a good result, but the higher stages are much more difficult."
"I know."
Shen Hongyuan's gaze remained fixed on Shen Yanzhou.
"Still, I would be happy if he could reach the Bronze Seed."
For a young man whose cultivation had progressed slowly, even that result would be worth celebrating.
Shen Tianxiong, who had been listening quietly, stroked his long white beard.
"Do not judge the outcome too early. The ceremony has not ended."
His calm words drew the attention of the two men. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Shen Hongyuan nodded respectfully.
"You're right, Father."
Yet even Shen Tianxiong could not completely hide his curiosity.
Shen Yanzhou had always been difficult to understand. He could be lazy one moment and surprisingly determined the next.
Perhaps there was more to the boy than they had assumed.
Or perhaps the boy was simply too stubborn to admit defeat.
Shen Tianxiong decided to keep watching.
Inside the formation, the green light around the remaining participants began to change.
The energy that had once flowed gently through their bodies became heavier and more concentrated.
Several participants immediately noticed the difference.
Their expressions changed.
The Wood Seed stage was approaching its limit.
Those who could not withstand the pressure would soon be forced to withdraw. Those who endured it might have a chance to advance to the next stage.
Shen Yanzhou felt the change almost immediately.
The pain in his body intensified, and the energy within him seemed to be pressing against an invisible barrier.
He frowned.
Wait a minute. Why does this feel worse than before?
He tried to steady his breathing, but the pressure continued to increase.
Don't tell me this is only the beginning.
His face paled.
For the first time since entering the formation, he began to wonder whether his determination would be enough.
Then he remembered the people watching from the stands.
His family.
The elders who had doubted him.
And Chang Shiyue.
He could already imagine her looking at him with disappointment if he gave up now.
His expression hardened.
No. Absolutely not.
He took a deep breath.
I have already suffered this much. If I quit now, all that pain will have been for nothing!
He clenched his fists until his fingers trembled.
Come on, Shen Yanzhou. You can endure this!
A moment later, he added another thought.
And once I survive this, I'll demand something worthwhile from the family!
Beautiful female servants! At least three of them!
Shen Yanzhou's eyes sparkled despite the unbearable pain.
Actually, I know just the right candidates. Those three beauties from the brothel I visited last time would make perfect servants!
Despite the pain, the corner of his mouth twitched.
His determination had returned.
The green aura around his body flickered once.
Then it grew brighter.
On the viewing platform, Shen Hongyuan leaned forward.
Shen Honglie narrowed his eyes.
The energy surrounding Shen Yanzhou was beginning to change.
And he was not the only one.
Across the formation, several other participants were showing the same signs.
The Wood Seed stage was drawing to a close.
The next stage was about to begin.