Gu Tian kept his excitement to himself, greeting everyone around him politely before heading straight to his family. The principal didn't inquire about Gu Tian's talent, as it was considered impolite and a violation of personal boundaries to ask such questions. Talents were usually only disclosed when applying to universities, jobs, or similar opportunities.
As Gu Tian walked back, many people approached to congratulate him. He smiled at the students who greeted him, but his gaze soon focused on a man walking toward him. The man smirked and said, "Congratulations, Young Master Gu, the lazy genius."
Gu Tian smiled faintly and looked at the man before him. This man was Wu Shuang, Gu Tian's only close friend. Wu Shuang had come from another city, seemingly to escape something, though Gu Tian didn't know much about him beyond that.
[Name: Wu Shuang]
[Talent: SSS???]
[Beast Control Level: -]
[Controlled Beasts: -]
Gu Tian chuckled and replied, "You call me lazy, but you're the one who just got here. Anyway, I'll congratulate you in advance—for being the 512th person in the world to awaken SSS-level talent."
Wu Shuang immediately responded, "Hmph, if I really awaken SSS-level talent, you owe me a meal at the Star Chamber of Commerce's restaurant."
Gu Tian smiled and replied, "Why would I make a bet like that with you?"
Wu Shuang grinned and said, "Oh, look at this. You awaken SS-level talent and suddenly forget about your friends. From now on, when I call you, you'll just ignore me, won't you? How tragic."
Gu Tian laughed and chatted with Wu Shuang for a little while longer before parting ways. As he approached the special waiting room, his father, Gu Long, eagerly walked toward him with an excited expression.
"Well, you little rascal, what's your talent?" Gu Long asked with a grin. Meanwhile, Gu Mo, Gu Tian's usually stoic grandfather, quietly perked his ears to hear the answer. Gu Tian's mother, Guang Yue, embraced him with pride and tenderness.
Gu Tian smiled softly and replied, "I'll let you all know when I choose my beast."
Gu Long nodded, his broad smile and sparkling eyes betraying the excitement he tried to contain. Gu Tian, however, had no intention of using his Eye of Insight to probe into his family's details. There were more pressing matters on his mind.
The awakening ceremony continued as more students stepped up to reveal their talents. The results varied, with some students awakening impressive talents while others fell short of expectations. All eyes remained glued to the stage, the atmosphere tense with anticipation.
Suddenly, murmurs filled the courtyard as a young woman stepped onto the stage. Her flawless face and perfect figure drew the attention of everyone present. This was Shen Ya, the daughter of an Emperor-level beast tamer. In a world where only 351 Emperor-level beast tamers existed, her lineage alone made her extraordinary. Yet no one knew why she had chosen to attend Rain City Academy instead of a higher-tier school in a more prestigious and secure city.
"That's Goddess Shen Ya, the one who ranked second in both the practical and theoretical exams!" a student whispered.
"I'm dying to know what level of talent she'll awaken," another chimed in.
"Goddess Shen Ya!" some male and female students shouted in support.
All eyes were on Shen Ya as she approached the awakening stone. The moment her hand touched it, a powerful aura erupted from her body. The surge of energy shook the entire courtyard, leaving everyone stunned by its sheer intensity. It was even more overwhelming than Gu Tian's awakening.
"This is… SSS-level talent!" the principal shouted in astonishment. "The 512th in history! And it happened at our school! The heavens have blessed us, hahaha!"
The principal quickly composed himself before announcing loudly, "Student Shen Ya has awakened SSS-level talent!"
The moment the director made the announcement, chaos erupted across the courtyard. A wave of murmurs and applause spread in all directions. Shen Ya's extraordinary achievement elevated her already widespread admiration to an entirely new level.
As everyone's eyes focused on Shen Ya, Gu Long, Gu Tian's father, gazed at her with interest. "SSS level…" he murmured before turning his attention back to his own son.
What he saw made Gu Long chuckle despite himself. Gu Tian sat casually, engrossed in his smartphone, entirely unbothered by the grand spectacle unfolding before him, as if the momentous occasion held no significance whatsoever.
"Don't you care about your classmate's achievement? Aren't you two in the same class?" Gu Long asked, puzzled.
Gu Tian smirked faintly before replying, "Not really, Father. We're not that close, and honestly, I've never seen her being particularly close to anyone."
Gu Long, still curious, pressed on, "Still, she's an SSS-level talent. That's remarkable, isn't it?"
Gu Tian glanced at his father with a confident smile. "I congratulate her, truly. But believe me, Father, she's not the only one with an SSS level."
Gu Long raised an eyebrow at his son, clearly intrigued. "Oh? Then who else could there be?"
Gu Tian leaned back, his smirk widening. "Just wait and see. If I told you now, it'd ruin the surprise."
Gu Long, though somewhat perplexed, smiled and sat down. The awakening ceremony continued in the testing arena. While some students awakened talents at level A, the majority fell into levels B, C, or D, which was typical. Level F, on the other hand, was exceedingly rare, even more so than SSS, and no one had seen it at this school.
Next, it was Wu Shuang's turn. A boy notorious for his arrogance and disdainful attitude. Few among his peers liked him. His actions often clashed with others, and his contempt spared no one, not even Shen Ya.
As Wu Shuang approached the awakening stone, whispers began to ripple through the crowd of students.
Amid the disparaging murmurs, Wu Shuang remained unshaken, exuding unwavering confidence as he strode forward. When his hand touched the awakening stone, an intense, overwhelming aura burst forth from his body. Far more powerful than anyone had anticipated. The display left everyone in stunned silence. The courtyard filled with gasps and shocked exclamations.
The school director, momentarily speechless with his mouth agape, quickly recovered and exclaimed with excitement, "SSS level! This is unbelievable… the 513th one! What madness is this?"
The announcement sent waves of excitement through the gathered students and parents. Everyone was abuzz, marveling at the sudden emergence of another SSS-level talent. The appearance of a second SSS-level individual within such a short period filled the director with joy, his face beaming with an uncontrollable grin. After all, his school had just birthed two emperor-level prodigies in quick succession.
Yet, amidst the uproar, Wu Shuang remained rooted in place, seemingly oblivious to the commotion. His eyes gazed blankly into the air, as if something far more intriguing than his newfound SSS talent had captured his attention.
Ding!
A sound echoed in Wu Shuang's mind. A sound no one else could hear but him.
The director called out Wu Shuang's name multiple times, but it seemed as if Wu Shuang didn't hear him at all. Only when the director raised his voice again did Wu Shuang snap out of his thoughts. He gave a small smile before walking out of the courtyard, completely indifferent to the attention he had garnered.
Wu Shuang headed straight to the private lounge where Gu Tian was, leaving the crowd in awe of the incredible power he had just displayed.
Meanwhile, the next person to awaken their talent was a young woman whose appearance captured everyone's attention. She was Li Juan, Gu Tian's adopted sister. Despite being part of the Gu family, Li Juan's relationship with them was far from harmonious. She had never been close to anyone in the Gu family, including Gu Long. In truth, Li Juan harbored a deep dislike for Gu Tian, her eyes always filled with hatred whenever she looked at him. She frequently spread rumors and negative stories about Gu Tian, tarnishing his reputation among some people, though only a minority believed her.
Li Juan stepped up to the awakening stone without hesitation, placing her hand on it as soon as she arrived. In an instant, a powerful aura radiated from her body.
The director's voice trembled with excitement. "SSS level! Another one! Another one! This year, Rain Academy will undoubtedly gain worldwide fame. Hahaha!"
The students around her immediately turned their attention to Li Juan, shocked that she had truly awakened an SSS-level talent. However, what stood out was that the pressure from her aura was not as overwhelming as that of Wu Shuang or Shen Ya. In fact, it might have been only slightly stronger than Gu Tian's. Whispers filled the air as everyone speculated about the true extent of Li Juan's power.
Gu Tian, however, remained completely indifferent to the situation. He disliked Li Juan, knowing full well her character and the animosity she held toward the Gu family, especially himself. Her constant attempts to damage his reputation were petty, and Gu Tian had no interest in countering her rumors. He couldn't care less about the opinions of people who judged him based on a one-sided narrative. After all, their thoughts had no impact on his life or finances unless the situation escalated significantly.
After the awakening, Li Juan raised her head, glancing toward the private lounge where her adoptive father was seated. A small smile appeared on her face, one filled with a rare sense of satisfaction.
Next, it was the turn of a young man everyone eagerly anticipated—Ye Feng. He had previously insulted Gu Tian and looked down on Wu Shuang. As the top scorer in this year's exam, many had high expectations for him. Ye Feng was well-liked among the students. Despite being an orphan, he was kind-hearted and friendly to everyone. He often helped his peers with their studies and was a source of encouragement, making those around him feel at ease. However, Ye Feng despised those born into privilege who wasted their potential. Thanks to Li Juan's words, he held a negative opinion of Gu Tian.
As Ye Feng stepped onto the stage, cheers erupted from the surrounding students, all brimming with anticipation. Even the director watched Ye Feng with hopeful eyes.
Just as Ye Feng was about to touch the awakening stone, Gu Tian, who seemed to have finished his business, spoke up. "Shall we head back now? I think the items I ordered should have arrived by now." His tone was casual but laced with boredom.
The family members around him nodded in agreement. Gu Tian stood up and left without a second glance, followed closely by his family. Gu Long, ever laid-back, smiled faintly as he followed his son. But before leaving, Gu Long called Li Juan.
"We're heading back. Would you like to come with us?" Gu Long asked politely.
Li Juan's response was immediate, her voice cold. "No."
Gu Long's face turned icy at her tone. Despite his efforts to connect with Li Juan as her adoptive father, she always distanced herself from him and the rest of the Gu family. However, Gu Long said nothing more and hung up.
As the Gu family exited the awakening grounds, they crossed paths with Wu Shuang. Wu Shuang bowed respectfully to Gu Long, Guang Yue, and Gu Mo, a stark contrast to the arrogance he had displayed earlier at the awakening ceremony.
Not long after the Gu family departed, Ye Feng's awakening began. He reached out and touched the awakening stone. The entire courtyard fell silent as everyone waited for the results.
Then, the unexpected happened.
"Level F!" the director announced, his voice filled with disbelief.
The entire courtyard was plunged into silence. The chatter and cheers ceased instantly. The stillness was almost deafening. No one could believe that someone as capable as Ye Feng had only awakened a talent at Level F.