The Feeling of Loss

Shortly after Gao Ming fell into a hypnotic slumber during the spiritual cleansing, a boy around four years old, positioned near the center of the baptismal circle, suddenly emitted a faint cyan halo, which looked quite beautiful. The cyan halo around his body lasted for about a dozen seconds before gradually fading away, returning to calmness. However, a light cyan vortex mark appeared on the boy's forehead, and after a while, it also gradually disappeared.

The first awakened individual with abilities had appeared.

There was a collective gasp from the onlookers. The earlier the awakening, the higher the potential for abilities. All the spectators directed various expressions of envy and jealousy towards the awakened individual.

Following closely, in the outermost circle, a girl around three years old had a light purple halo rising above her head. Within the halo, a mysterious light wandered. When the vision disappeared, a distinctive mark appeared on the girl's forehead—a light purple ring with a black aura inside.

This was the symbol of a light halo ability user. However, every type of light halo ability had its peculiar special power. In this girl's case, her unique ability seemed to come from the black aura within the ring.

If the first awakened individual didn't stir too much excitement among the spectators outside the circle, after all, that boy was already the child of a high-ranking family, with an insurmountable status difference, then the appearance of this light halo ability user for the second time brought unprecedented envy. The outer circle represented the commoner status of the little girl, and now she had awakened such a special ability with tremendous potential. It could be said that she had skyrocketed from being a bottom-tier commoner to a highly esteemed figure. Becoming a focal point for the clan's cultivation, her family's status within the clan would also rise significantly. How could others not envy and be jealous?

Undoubtedly, this little girl would become a key figure for internal cultivation, and her family's position within the clan would also soar. This situation stirred unprecedented envy among most people.

Fate was like this, changing someone's life trajectory inadvertently and indirectly influencing the people in their social circles.

The third individual to awaken abilities was a little boy, aged four or five, not far from Gao Ming. Above his head, a giant shadow of a fierce beast appeared, resembling a lion or tiger. It exuded a domineering presence before dissipating. The little boy's forehead then displayed an animal-shaped mark.

This should be some form of beast-related ability.

Next, one by one, individuals with awakened abilities emerged, each displaying varying degrees of extraordinary phenomena. However, as the awakenings continued, the manifestations became less prominent.

In the crowd, Li Qing tiptoed and stretched her neck, staring at Gao Ming from a distance. Her beautiful eyes were filled with deep anxiety. As more and more individuals with awakened abilities appeared, and Gao Ming still showed no signs of awakening, her heart sank into increasing silence.

Time passed slowly, and there were no more individuals awakening their abilities. The beautiful and anxious expression on Li Qing's face turned into one of disappointment and worry. She had completely lost hope.

As the awakening master in the center of the circle stood up, it signaled the end of this baptism ceremony.

Out of more than 1,800 children, only twenty-six had awakened abilities. This greatly disappointed the higher-ups of the clan gathered at the Observing Platform. The results were far below their expectations.

The newly awakened individuals were promptly led out of the circle by specially designated ability guardians. Upon gaining abilities, their social status and identity had already taken a leap.

Remaining in the circle were those who failed to awaken. Their expressions were downcast, especially those who missed the opportunity completely, crying bitterly. Outside the circle, parents rushed onto the field to find their children. Suddenly, the baptismal site became chaotic, with people calling for their sons and daughters, creating a more tumultuous scene than a marketplace.

No one was maintaining order in the circle, and all the ability users quickly left after the results were announced.

Li Qing, from the outside, also entered the baptismal site with the crowd. Worrying about Gao Ming, she had put away the earlier sense of loss. The failure of this ability baptism had made her, as a mother, very aware of Gao Ming's temperament. It would be difficult for him to bear such a heavy blow.

She finally squeezed through to Gao Ming's position. What worried and amused her at the same time was that Gao Ming was still sitting cross-legged, fast asleep with a light snore. A few children beside him were teasing him with mischievous smiles. Sleeping during the baptism ceremony—it was indeed a spectacle.

Li Qing knew that these children were also offspring of concubines and maids in the clan. Their status might be slightly higher than Gao Ming's because there was still a difference between a maid and a concubine.

Whispering to those children to leave, Li Qing, disregarding the pointing and whispering around her, carefully picked up Gao Ming and hurriedly left the baptismal site.

However, the news of Gao Ming sleeping at the baptismal site seemed to have wings and spread widely, becoming the talk of the town within and outside Gao City.

It wasn't until the next morning that Gao Ming woke up. During this period, Li Qing had been with him, her face weary from staying up all night. Her mental state began to blur, and when she saw Gao Ming wake up, her face lit up with an excited smile. After bringing Gao Ming back yesterday, he had not awakened until evening. Li Qing couldn't wake him up no matter what she tried. Anxious, she took Gao Ming to the clinic, but the doctor's answer was that Gao Ming's body showed no signs of any health issues.

As for the reason Gao Ming couldn't be awakened, no one knew.

In fact, in such a situation, seeking the help of someone with abilities would be a viable option. However, for an ordinary person with a humble status, asking someone with extraordinary abilities for treatment is quite challenging.

Fortunately, Gao Ming eventually woke up, lively and energetic, appearing before Li Qing. The heavy burden hanging in Li Qing's throat finally dropped.

Feeling annoyed about falling asleep during the baptism ceremony, Gao Ming's mental state was exhausted at that time, as if he hadn't closed his eyes for half a month. Now, waking up, he felt physically comfortable and mentally refreshed, with an abundance of energy ready to burst out, a feeling akin to a dragon or a tiger. However, he couldn't find joy in the moment, given that his ability awakening had failed.

Thinking about it, a sense of despair, as if the sky were about to collapse, overwhelmed him. Was he destined to forever be a lower-class individual in this world where strength is revered, like an ant?

If, at the beginning, he had a faint hope that kept him going, that sole hope had been completely shattered.

Li Qing keenly sensed the change in Gao Ming's mental state. If he had been vibrant just a moment ago, now he seemed lifeless, and his eyes showed no trace of color or radiance. A subtle sense of despair was brewing.

Li Qing was shocked. How could she not know the reason behind Gao Ming's sudden change? She hadn't expected this incident to have such a profound impact on him. It seemed like he had reached a point of utter hopelessness.

Actually, this was quite normal. If Gao Ming were a native of the Ability Continent, perhaps he could adapt after a period of disappointment. However, the vast difference between Gao Ming's past life and his present environment was too much for him to handle all at once. Moreover, he now faced such a significant sense of failure.

"Gao Ming, don't scare your mother. The way you are now truly breaks my heart. Be stronger, be more clear-headed. You're a man. Can't you endure even this little setback?"

Li Qing's heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife. Tears streamed down her delicate cheeks as she held Gao Ming and shouted with a heart-wrenching voice.