Dantian Awakening (1/2)

Under the guidance of Elder Shang, the group continued to move forward. After a few more minutes of nervousness, they arrived at yet another tunnel.

Over forty 15-year-old youths were already assembled near the Spirit Pressuring tunnel. However, unlike Wei Wushang and the other mortal children, who were dressed in plain robes, these children were adorned in opulent and luxurious attire. They bore a distinct air of refinement and elegance as if they were born of nobility and were destined for greatness.

These children were already members of the sect, born into cultivation families within the Astral Flame sect. Their future prospects were as bright as the sun's radiance.

"Greetings, Elder!" The youths respectfully greeted Shang Fei, their voices full of reverence. In response, Shang Fei smiled gently, acknowledging their gesture with warmth and grace.

Wei Wushang's keen eyes surveyed the opposite party. Like a predator stalking its prey, his experienced gaze moved swiftly through the group, and within a few breaths, he noticed three individuals who stood out from the rest - two boys and one girl.

The first boy, named Xu Peng, was tall in build and looked much sturdier than his peers. His short, spiky red hair and golden eyes hinted at a fiery determination burning within him.

Next to Xu Peng was another boy, Yang Lei, a charming young man with a captivating smile that drew others in, instantly making them feel at ease. His light blue eyes shimmered like the clear night sky, and his silver hair cascaded like a river of stars.

Lastly, there was the girl, Chen Yanmei. Her graceful bearing and delicate features possessed a captivating charm, capable of making any boy's heart beat faster in her presence. Her hair was a stunning cascade of chestnut-brown strands, flowing like a shimmering waterfall down her back. But the young maiden's beautiful hazel eyes concealed a hint of loneliness unknown to the world.

Wei Wushang noticed how the other youths flocked around these three individuals, treating them with much respect and amiability. To Wei Wushang, these behaviors hinted at the trio being the cream of the crop, a cut above the rest of the youngsters present.

'Hmm, these three must either have powerful backing or be considered potential geniuses.' Wei Wushang reckoned, his eyes lingering on them for an instant before shifting towards the spirit-pressuring tunnel.

His heart was not clouded by curiosity or jealousy. As someone who had lived multiple lives and was intimately familiar with the cruel trials of the cultivation world, Wei Wushang understood the significance of superior talent and backing. Undoubtedly, they could pave a much smoother path for a cultivator in their journey. However, Wushang knew deep down that, for an individual, the greatest advantage was their mindset. Conquer the mind, and you can conquer the world.

"As I call your names, step forward and enter the Spirit-pressuring tunnel. Walk as far as you can, for the further you go, the greater your chances. Do you understand?" Elder Shang said in a clear voice.

"Understood!" the youths responded loudly. The distance they could walk through the tunnel was not a test of physical endurance, but a measure of their innate talent and potential as cultivators. The farther they could go, the greater their prospects for a brilliant future in the world of cultivation.

"Kai Feng." the elder called out, holding the name list in his hand.

The tunnel was spacious enough to accommodate six people to walk side by side. Divided into four sections, each part of the cave nurtured flowers of distinct colors. A delicate spiritual mist permeated the air, growing denser as one ventured deeper into the tunnel.

From Wei Wushang's group, a boy stepped out. Kai Feng's face bore a solemn expression as he strode into the tunnel. The moment he entered, he felt the mist in the air attempting to cling to him and force him down, preventing him from taking another step. At that critical moment, the blue-colored flowers at his feet emitted strands of soft azure light. Gently weaving, the strands of light made their way toward Kai Feng.

Mesmerized, he watched as the delicate glow envelop him, entering his abdomen like a whispering stream of energy. A euphoric sensation washed over his entire being — the pressure that had weighed him down began to dissipate. Empowered by this newfound power, Kai Feng gritted his teeth and mustered all his strength to forge ahead forcefully.

Alas, after only two steps, the oppressive force returned, driving him back into the state of misery he had experienced earlier. Thus, he could proceed no further.

The elder shook his head as he observed the scene. While recording the events, he stated: "Kai Feng, no talent. Next, Su Ming!"

Kai Feng was devastated as he walked back to the group of youths, clenching his fists in frustration. The realization that he had no cultivation talent was a crushing blow, leaving him feeling utterly defeated. He could only live as a normal human, weak and powerless. Destined to hold the lowest position in the world.

His entire body trembled with emotion; all his hopes had been cut short by the cold blade of reality. Among the mortals present, many cast pitiful gazes in his direction, while the other youths looked at him with contempt and disdain.

However, the attention soon shifted to the second person in line. All eyes were on him as he took six steps forward, only to stop. Like Kai Feng, this youth too lacked the necessary talent for cultivation.

The fog of disappointment seemed to hang heavily in the air as two innocent souls were denied the path to excellence they had yearned for.

In the next instant, the elder's voice resonated with a hint of anticipation as he called out the third name, "Xu Peng."

"Excellent!" Xu Peng smiled carefreely, his demeanor radiating ease and self-assurance. He enthusiastically entered the tunnel and began moving at a rapid pace.

Effortlessly, he crossed the section with blue flowers, then smoothly passed through the green flower area, and confidently emerged from it. Finally, he took three determined steps across the golden sea of flowers before coming to a graceful stop.

The youths outside the tunnel stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide open in shock as they watched Xu Peng's performance. Shang Fei's hearty laughter rang out, "High-grade talent, splendid! Xu Peng, you've lived up to the clan's expectations."

Talent can be measured by four grades—Low grade, Mid-grade, High grade, and Top grade. Those possessing Mid-grade talent enjoy the advantage of recovering their spiritual essence at twice the speed of Low-grade talents. Additionally, their path to advancement requires relatively fewer resources compared to Low-grade talents. The same principle applied to High grade and Top grade talents.

Generally, a youth possessing low-grade talent could ascend to the peak of Rank one Immortal stage, if they were lucky they might even be able to become Rank two immortals. With diligent cultivation, a Mid-grade talent youth would typically advance to become a rank two Immortal, earning a place as a foundational pillar of the sect. High-grade talents demand special attention, as they often become future sect elders, requiring years of nurturing to reach the rank three Immortal level.

However, it is the Top grade talents that hold the true potential to bring unprecedented prosperity to the entire sect. With their extraordinary talent, they can soar to the rank four immortal level and can compete for the patriarch position. The fate of the sect would be profoundly influenced by the rise of such exceptional talents.

Xu Peng strode back to the elder's side, his head held high with pride, like a rising dragon showing its prowess. Shang Fei patted his shoulder warmly, congratulating him on his success. However, Xu Peng's gaze was immediately drawn to Yang Lei, his arch-rival.

Until this point, Yang Lei had worn a confident smile, seemingly untouchable by doubt. But as their eyes met, the smile on Yang Lei's face vanished, only to reappear on Xu Peng's.

Yang Lei snorted coldly before turning towards the elder, his voice resonating with arrogance. "Elder Shang, this disciple is eager to prove his worth. If you don't mind, may I take the test immediately?" His words carried a hint of impatience as if he couldn't wait to showcase his abilities and outshine his peers.

"Hmph," Shang Fei felt a bit of displeasure at the boy's haughty behavior. He was about to discipline him for his impatience, but when he noticed the fiery stare Xu Peng and Yang Lei were exchanging, a subtle understanding dawned upon him and he immediately changed his mind.

Shang Fei opened his mouth and said with an emotionless tone, "Don't be impatient, wait for your turn; the rules are the same for everyone."

"But, Elder—" Yang Lei wanted to protest, but the elder raised his hand, warning him to stay quiet. Sensing the elder's stern gaze, Yang Lei reluctantly held his tongue.

Then, Shang Fei glanced at the name list and called out a name.

"Yang Lei."

"Huh?" Yang Lei was immediately dumbfounded, he stared at Shang Fei without blinking.

"It's your turn." Shang Fei clarified, pointing to the name list. However, Yang Lei seemed hesitant and glanced at the elder suspiciously.

Shang Fei frowned, speaking in a low voice. "Your name is next on the list. Stop wasting time, go quickly, or do you want me to have a chat with Elder Yang about your poor conduct."

"Ahh, yes, yes, yes!" Feeling a sudden surge of urgency, Yang Lei snapped out of his stupor and dashed towards the tunnel like a startled chicken evading a butcher's knife. His scholarly temperament had taken a visit to the grave.

As Wei Wushang watched from the crowd, he felt the urge to roll his eyes at the old man's shamelessness.

'Upon entering the spirit-pressuring tunnel and advancing by fifteen steps in the azure flower field, one acquires the minimum potential for cultivation, leading to the formation of the lowest grade dantian. However, if a person can step into the Green flower sea, it indicates Mid-grade talent. The Golden Sea signifies high-grade talent, and the Purple flower region implies Top grade potential. Let's see how far you can go.' Wei Wushang recalled the information stored in his mind as he casually observed Yang Lei.

Yang Lei's face twisted into an unsightly expression as he muttered under his breath, his voice oozing with disdain, "Hmph, that old man just had to ruin my moment. I'll take at least two more steps than Xu Peng, and everyone will see that I'm the true genius here. I'll show them all, especially Xu Peng. That smug grin on his face, I want to purge it with my piss!"

With a sneer of contempt, Yang Lei approached the entrance of the spirit-pressuring tunnel, his words echoing arrogantly in his mind, 'Watch closely, fools. You're witnessing the birth of a genius.'

In Yang Lei's mind, there was no room for doubt. He firmly believed that he would awaken a high-grade talent at the very least; to him, it was simply the natural order of things. Any other outcome would be preposterous, an outright challenge to reality.

With a smug look plastered on his face, Yang Lei confidently took his first step. But much to his bewilderment, his foot faltered, nearly causing him to stumble.

"Ahh, shit!" Yang Lei's expression was hideous as he desperately tried to regain his composure. He glanced around nervously, hoping that no one had witnessed his humiliating performance. With bitterness in his heart, Yang Lei attempted his second step, but his legs felt inexplicably heavy as if an invisible force was preventing him from moving any further.

Yang Lei felt a bad feeling rising in his heart, but as strands of azure-blue light started to enter his body, his heart calmed down, and he experienced a deep sense of comfort.

"The number of destiny threads enveloping him... Why is it so low?" Shang Fei frowned deeply, this was certainly not a promising sight.

Wei Wushang crossed his arms, an amused smile playing on his lips. 'Tsk, it looks like someone's about to get a dose of reality. The higher they fly, the harder they fall.'

The situation was indeed bad for Yang Lei. No, it was terrible!

3rd step.... 4th step.... 5th step..... The 6th step!

As Yang Lei took the sixth step, the spiritual pressure returned with even greater force. His speed immediately dwindled, and the mask of arrogance he wore began to slip away.

"I can do this!" he tried to muster confidence despite the doubts creeping into his mind. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to keep going. He had to prove himself, to show everyone that he was superior to Xu Peng.

With unimaginable difficulty, Yang Lei took the seventh step, his legs shaking from the pressure. He felt like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, each step becoming a struggle. He furiously pushed forward, trying to ignore the burning sensation in his muscles and the doubt that clouded his mind.

Suddenly, he fell on one of his knees, the spiritual pressure pushing him to his limit. Panic washed over him, and he desperately struggled to regain his footing, the frustration was evident on his ugly face.

With his reputation, his future, and his dreams at stake—Yang Lei couldn't afford to fail. He couldn't bear the thought of disappointing his grandfather, the one who had placed such high expectations on him. No, he couldn't fail, the stakes were simply too high!

"Why is this so difficult? I should be better than this!" Yang Lei's face contorted in severe pain as he desperately tried to crawl forward, resembling a struggling dog using all four limbs to make even the slightest progress. "Damn it, why? I was supposed to be a genius!" Despair crept into his heart, and the hope he once held onto was slowly dying.

The crowd watched in silence as Yang Lei struggled like a dog, his once confident and haughty demeanor now replaced by vulnerability and weakness. It was clear that he couldn't even take mere eight steps, let alone surpass Xu Peng. The spectators exchanged glances, some taking pleasure in his suffering.

The cave was soon filled with murmurs and suppressed laughter. Mocking remarks echoed in the air, adding to Yang Lei's humiliation.

"Ah, what a disappointment. Old Man Yang must be quite embarrassed to have such a trash of a grandson." Shang Fei sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. He couldn't hide his impatience as he shouted, "Enough! Boy, come back. You have no talent; there's no point in wasting any more time."

'No, I'm not done yet. I won't give up...' Yang Lei's vision was turning blurry; the threads of destiny had long stopped gathering in his stomach. He was moving on pure will, though commendable, it was extremely stupid. Blood seeped out from his orifices; he was forcefully forging ahead while suffering internal injuries, doing something that had no merit. It was foolish and idiotic, but the young man could simply not see it, he was overcome with emotion. Hot tears streamed down his cheeks as he cried out in frustration, "Damn it!" He continued to crawl forward, disregarding his well-being.

But as the blood loss increased, his strength waned, and the immense pressure became too much to bear. Yang Lei's body crashed to the ground, a mix of blood, dirt, and tears covering his face. In that moment, his pride shattered, replaced by a suffocating feeling of failure.

"Ahh, why me? Why did this have to happen to me? Why not Xu Peng? Damn it! How am I going to face grandfather? I wanted to bear his burdens, not become one.... Damn it." Yang Lei's sobs echoed in the cave before he finally lost consciousness.

A heavy silence engulfed the cave, leaving each person to their own thoughts. The light of a star was extinguished before it could even reach the night sky.

"Sigh.." The silence was suddenly interrupted by a rueful sigh originating from the dark corner of the cave. Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed as an old man with hunched back emerged from the darkness. His hair was thin and white, and his face was deeply lined with wrinkles. The old man's tired gaze, tinged with a hint of sadness, swept over the group of children, leaving them feeling uneasy and apprehensive.

"Elder Yang, you have my condolences. The outcome was truly unexpected. The boy had heart, but it seems heaven had other plans." Shang Fei spoke with a sigh. The old man, Yang Zhong, was Yang Lei's grandfather. He simply nodded with a heavy expression before slowly making his way into the spirit-pressuring tunnel.

Walking into the spirit-pressuring tunnel, Yang Zhong's back seemed to bend even further. However, it wasn't the pressure that affected him, but rather the weight of disappointment in his heart that was too heavy. He gently lifted the boy and carried him out of the cave. No words were spoken, but the pain in the old man's heart was deafening.

'Interesting, this could be quite advantageous for me.' Wei Wushang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, he saw the potential in the pair of grandson and grandfather.

Perhaps Wei Wushang could exploit this opportunity and strike a deal. He could trade the Ghost Blood Infusion method for a substantial amount of resources or even gain powerful support within the sect. Another option was to devise a strength-enhancing method for Yang Lei, making the boy dependent on him. With Wei Wushang's deep understanding of the strength path, it was certainly a possibility.

But it was still too early to be doing any of this. For his own safety, Wei Wushang needed to strengthen himself first before making any deals with them. Otherwise, due to his low status, any premature actions could lead to disastrous consequences.

Time continued to pass as the awakening ceremony proceeded without much disruption. Nearly 600 candidates had tested, but only a measly 57 youths had shown potential. More than half of them were low-grade talents, while the rest were mid-grade. As for high-grade talents, after Xu Peng, there was only one other person who had awakened a high-grade dantian – Chen Yanmei.

"Yu Jiang, not qualified." Shang Fei announced flatly before glancing at the name list in his hand. He then called out a name; "Next, Wei Wushang."