A young man with a delicate appearance, dressed in worn linen clothes, stood in front of a majestic building. To him, someone who had never left the slums, it felt like a castle.
"What are you doing here, boy?" asked a guard, raising an eyebrow as he noticed the young man's astonished expression.
The guard's voice snapped Ryuh out of his thoughts. He stepped back slightly, as if caught in the act, and gave a sheepish smile. "Today I turn sixteen, sir."
"Ah, so you came for the Awakening?" The guard's tone mixed curiosity with disinterest.
"Yes, sir."
"Well, good luck with that," the guard said, waving him through with a dismissive gesture.
Ryuh took a deep breath. His feet hesitated for a moment, but he crossed the grand metal gates. The air inside felt different, denser, filled with an energy that was hard to describe. Few people walked the halls, but each one seemed larger than life—grand figures, distant, almost untouchable.
"Enter room 7." The deep voice echoed directly in his mind, so suddenly that it made Ryuh stop.
"What?!" He looked around, searching for the source, but no one seemed to have noticed him.
"Don't make me repeat myself." The voice returned, cold and impatient, like a muffled thunderclap.
Heart racing, Ryuh nodded at the empty space and continued forward. The halls led him to a set of metal doors, each with a number embossed on it.
In front of room 7, he stopped. The door seemed heavy, imposing. For a moment, he considered turning back, but shook his head. I didn't come this far to quit now.
With one last deep breath, he pushed the door open.
The room was small, almost too simple. The white walls gleamed under the blue light emanating from a crystal ball in the center of a table. The glow pulsed as if it had a life of its own. Behind the table, an old man with white hair rested in a bamboo chair, his eyes closed, as still as a statue.
At the sound of the door opening, the old man slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Ryuh for a moment, assessing him, then asked without ceremony: "Name?"
"Ryuh."
The old man gestured slowly, indicating the crystal ball. "Place your hand here."
Ryuh hesitated. His trembling hand hovered over the crystal, but when he noticed the old man's steady gaze, he gathered his courage. As soon as his fingers touched the cold surface, a wave of gentle warmth spread through his body.
At first, he thought he would feel pain or discomfort, but instead, he was overwhelmed by an inexplicable calm. It was as if the entire world had disappeared, leaving him in a state of absolute peace.
"You may remove your hand now, boy." The old man's voice broke the moment, pulling Ryuh back to reality.
When he removed his hand, something extraordinary happened. The crystal ball, once blue, began to vibrate. Small symbols appeared on its surface, glowing brightly, until they formed words that shimmered like stars: Natural Body of the Martial Dao.
Ryuh stood frozen, his eyes locked on the crystal. "Is this... my physique?" he murmured, more to himself than to the old man.
The elder leaned forward, narrowing his eyes as he read the words. For a moment, a look of surprise crossed his face, something rare in someone of his experience.
"A new physique?" he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "Hmph. Not something you see every day."
"Old man, is my physique good?" Ryuh asked, insecurity clear in his voice. He knew little about cultivation or the world he was about to enter.
The old man stroked his beard and stared at him, then replied, "Your physique is something completely unknown. If you wish to understand its potential, you will need to connect with the Celestial Dao."
---
In the Spiritual World where Ryuh lives, every person, upon turning sixteen, has the opportunity to awaken one of the Five Human Potentials:
Spiritual Veins: Connected to the world's energy, determining the ability to absorb and manipulate power.
Lineage: Bloodline inheritances passed down through generations.
Physiques: Unique bodies capable of manifesting special powers.
Eyes: Portals to perception and manipulation of the invisible, tools for vision beyond the ordinary.
Bones: The foundation of strength and resilience, often associated with extreme durability and adaptability.
What is curious is that only one of these potentials can be awakened by an individual, and the process is completely random in the poorest regions. However, in large clans, like the Great Monsters, descendants of Phoenixes and Dragons, there are secret methods to influence the awakening, ensuring their lineages remain dominant.