The streets of Phoenix City were a sight rarely seen: hundreds of cultivators, young and old, sat cross-legged on cobblestones and dirt paths, their faces etched with focus and desperation. The air itself thrummed with power, thick and electric, as though the city had slipped into another dimension. Judging them seemed pointless; when an opportunity of a lifetime descended, who wouldn't seize it with both hands?
Inside the Spirit Awakening Hall, the scene was no different. The gathering, once an orderly ceremony, had devolved into a frenzy of cultivation. Purple Spirit Essence saturated the air, spiraling through the hall like liquid amethyst, its presence too tempting to resist. Even the proud and arrogant Zhen Ping had abandoned his composure, sitting cross-legged as he greedily pulled the energy toward himself. The boy had lingered at the peak of the Grandmaster Stage for too long, and now, with the Heavenly Phenomenon as his ally, he saw a chance to finally break through.
The allure of the purple clouds was simple and irresistible. Made from the rarest form of Spirit Essence, the Purple Spirit Qi they produced temporarily granted everyone—regardless of their innate talent—the strength of Purple Talent. It was the key to overcoming the unyielding barriers within the dantian, barriers that kept most cultivators trapped at their current stage for life. For a few precious minutes, even the weakest among them could grasp at heights they had only dreamed of.
In Phoenix City, Spirit Kings were rarities—symbols of near-unattainable power. Yet now, within the confines of the hall, the phenomenon promised to create dozens, perhaps hundreds, of new ones. For the Liu Clan, it was a miracle. For everyone else, it was a seismic shift in the balance of power.
Above the hall, the Emperor's Flood Dragon soared through the thick purple clouds, slicing through them with its enormous maw. Each gulp sent ripples through the clouds, which grew thinner with every greedy chomp. The dragon's gluttony shortened the phenomenon's duration, but no one dared to voice their complaints. There wasn't time to waste on grumbling when every second counted.
In just ten minutes, the vortex above Liu Mei's head began to shrink. The once-vivid purple clouds faded, dissipating into nothingness. With a final shimmer, the phenomenon ended, and the hall was awash in a stunned silence that quickly gave way to cries of triumph.
"I broke through!" one cultivator shouted, his voice cracking with joy.
"Yes, me too!" another echoed, his elation contagious.
Around the hall, countless faces lit up with relief and pride, their dantians now brimming with newfound strength. For most, the Purple Spirit Qi would soon degrade, its power fleeting, but the immediate gains were undeniable. Dozens of cultivators, once bound by their limitations, had crossed into the Spirit King stage, a level of power few ever dreamed of reaching.
Not everyone shared in the jubilation. The Spirit Kings present remained seated, their expressions calm, almost resigned. They knew the truth: a mere ten minutes of Purple Spirit Essence was a fleeting windfall, nowhere near enough to push them into the ranks of Lords. For them, the phenomenon was a reminder of how high the next peak loomed.
The Emperor, however, was in high spirits. His gaze fell on Zhen Ping, who now radiated the unmistakable aura of a Spirit King. A deep laugh rumbled from his chest, one of satisfaction rather than surprise. His son had seized the moment, as expected.
His eyes then shifted to his veiled daughter. Though her aura remained at the Spirit Grandmaster level, he nodded approvingly. He knew her true strength lay hidden beneath the artifact she wore, masking her status as a peak Spirit King. She hadn't needed the phenomenon—she was already a step above.
If only I'd awakened her spirit in the capital instead of that mountain pass… the Emperor mused, a flicker of regret crossing his face. Perhaps she would have reached even greater heights by now.
On the stage, Elder Ming trembled with uncontainable emotion. Tears streaked his face as he realized he had finally broken through after thirty years of stagnation. He turned to Liu Xiaobei, embracing the Clan Leader with fervor. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with gratitude.
Liu Xiaobei, for his part, was already calculating. The phenomenon hadn't been a personal boon, but it had strengthened his clan immeasurably. Hundreds of new Spirit Kings now stood under his banner, and the implications sent a thrill down his spine. His Shadow Guards alone had gained a hundred Spirit Kings—enough power to shake the foundations of the Aurora Country.
He moved swiftly, dispatching Shadow Guards to scour the city for cultivators who had broken through. There would be others outside the clan's grounds, lucky individuals swept up in the phenomenon's reach. They would be recruited, their allegiance secured, swelling the Liu Clan's might even further.
Still, Liu Xiaobei knew better than to let hubris take root. The Sacred Sword Kingdom loomed large, its Spirit Overlords capable of crushing entire armies of Spirit Kings. A misstep, even one as bold as declaring war on the Royal Family, would bring ruin upon them. The Liu Clan's strength was a treasure, but it was also a leash. For now, discretion would remain their greatest ally.
At the tables, clan leaders exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with regret. Their daughters—brought here in hopes of forging alliances through marriage—might now face futures they hadn't chosen. No matter how Xuefeng performed, the Liu Clan's power alone made him a desirable connection. The murmurs of political maneuvering grew louder.
But not everyone shared the mood. Xuefeng, still waiting for his turn, stood apart from the celebration, a lone figure among the chaos. His jaw tightened as he watched others revel in their breakthroughs. What timing, he thought bitterly. A phenomenon like this, and I can't even cultivate. What a waste.
The sight of others deep in meditation—old men, mothers, children—only heightened his frustration. Ignored again. Left out of the action. His fists clenched at his sides. Just wait. I'll show them. When it's my turn, I'll have the greatest talent they've ever seen.
Though he couldn't feel it, his declaration triggered something deep within. A golden light stirred within his body, descending from his head to his dantian. It moved with purpose, like a predator stalking its prey, and when it found his dormant spirit, it sank into it.
Had Xuefeng been aware, he would have recognized the light immediately: the Fate Spirit. The force that had come into this world with him had begun its awakening.
***
When Liu Mei's blank stare finally cleared, she blinked, disoriented by the weight of countless eyes upon her. The entire hall seemed frozen in a moment of collective gratitude, their expressions a strange mixture of awe and relief. The faint purple hue that had once glowed in her eyes was gone now, replaced by the familiar brown of an ordinary girl. But nothing about her felt ordinary anymore.
Liu Xiaobei approached her with deliberate calm, his presence as steady as a mountain. He smiled faintly, his voice measured and reassuring. "Don't worry, Liu Mei. You've done nothing wrong," he said, as though plucking the thought from her mind. "Not only did you awaken with a Purple Talent, but you also created a phenomenon that strengthened many within the clan. You've done us all a great service."
Her eyes widened, her lips forming a perfect O of surprise. For a moment, her gaze darted through the crowd, as if searching for validation, before landing on a familiar figure. Her face lit up with unrestrained joy.
"Big brother! I did it!" she cried, her small voice breaking through the heavy silence like a burst of sunlight through storm clouds.
Without hesitation, she bolted past the Clan Leader, her arms outstretched as she threw herself at Xuefeng. The impact of her hug made him stagger slightly, caught off guard. For a moment, he froze, but then he remembered their earlier conversation, and a small smile broke through his initial surprise.
"Right, you did great," he said, his voice warm as he patted her head gently. "I was watching the whole time. You created a massive tornado, and the sky was filled with purple clouds. It was incredible."
"Really?!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with wonder. She pulled back slightly, just enough to peer up at him. "But… I don't remember the other kids doing anything special. They just went to that crystal. Did I really help so many people?"
"Yeah," Xuefeng replied without hesitation, his voice light but sincere. "You'll probably be rewarded with a mountain of sweets later."
The promise of sweets sent her into a near frenzy of delight, her laugh ringing through the hall. For a moment, her youthful exuberance seemed to dissolve the tension that still lingered in the room.
Liu Xiaobei stood back, watching the exchange with a faint smile, unbothered by her complete disregard for his authority. Instead, he turned his attention to the gathered guests, his voice taking on a commanding tone.
"Everyone, we will take a brief pause in the ceremony," he announced, his words measured but firm. "As you've all witnessed, an unexpected Heavenly Phenomenon has occurred. It has blessed us all, but it has also left behind a significant aftermath. We will need time to address it before we can proceed."
There were no complaints. Heads nodded in understanding, and the crowd quietly resumed their cultivation, the hall still buzzing with residual energy. The standard Spirit Essence in the air wasn't as potent as the earlier phenomenon, but for those who had tasted power so close to the heavens, it was enough to solidify their newfound strength.
Yet beneath the calm surface of gratitude and celebration, the hall brimmed with a subtle tension, the kind that always follows the miraculous. It was the feeling that something larger—something unspoken—had been set into motion.
And in the quiet moments between the applause and the silence, Liu Mei stood close to Xuefeng, her small hands clutching his sleeve. For her, the day had been a triumph, but for everyone else, it was a reminder that power never comes without consequence.