"Author's Note: Sorry if there are any mistakes or unclear words, as my primary language is not English.
Thank you also to those who have given me the Power Stone.
1.What kind of Illusion Vital Gu do you think would be suitable for the MC?"
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That morning, the first rays of sunlight slipped through the small cracks of Xiong Huanxian's room window, waking him up. The cold air of Qingmao Mountain greeted his shivering skin. This was the big day, the day that would determine his future—the aperture awakening ceremony.
After putting on his simple clan attire, he looked at the small mirror in the corner of his room. The face of a fifteen-year-old youth stared back at him, with sharp eyes that seemed filled with determination. He clenched his fists, trying to calm his nerves.
"This is the first step," he murmured.
---
After a quick breakfast with Aunt Mei, the servant who had become like a mother to him, Huanxian made his way to the clan's main hall. Around him, hundreds of children his age had already gathered, their faces reflecting a mix of emotions—hope, tension, and a hint of arrogance.
The elder of the Xiong Clan stood at the front of the hall, wearing a long robe and holding an intricately carved wooden staff. His voice was heavy and resonant, echoing throughout the chamber.
"Today, you will all undergo the aperture awakening ceremony. This ceremony is your first step into the Gu world. You will be brought to the clan's spiritual spring, the source of our strength and the foundation of the Xiong Clan.
The process is simple. When your name is called, you will walk across the river within the spiritual spring. The farther you go, the greater your aperture talent will be. If you are talented, the light of Hope Gu will appear and enter your body. The more talented you are, the more Hope Gu will merge with you.
Remember, your talent determines your future potential. When I call your name, give it your all."
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The children were then led through a long, dark corridor within a cave. The air grew colder, and the sound of flowing water became increasingly clear. After a few minutes, the corridor opened into a massive underground chamber that left everyone in awe.
At its center was the Xiong Clan's spiritual spring, glowing with a soft blue light. The water was crystal clear, revealing the riverbed adorned with sparkling stones, aquatic plants, and small fish darting about. The gentle current carried a spiritual energy that seemed to fill the air.
The elder led the children to the edge of the river, arranging them in a neat line.
"Now," said the elder, "when your name is called, step into the spiritual spring and walk to the other side. Do not stop until you can no longer endure the pressure. Remember, how far you walk will reveal your talent. Are you all ready?"
"Yes!" the children answered in unison, their voices laced with tension and excitement.
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One by one, the children's names were called.
A young girl stepped forward nervously. She walked into the water, and small ripples spread around her. As she ventured deeper, faint lights of Hope Gu began to appear around her but quickly faded. After only a few steps, she stopped, unable to continue.
"Talent: D." The elder announced indifferently.
The next child stepped forward, and a similar scene played out. Some of the children displayed talent levels of C, slightly better, with more Hope Gu lights appearing around them before merging into their bodies.
But among the group, two children stood out—Xiong Fengzhi and Xiong Menglan.
When Xiong Fengzhi stepped forward, the atmosphere shifted. A significant number of Hope Gu lights appeared around him, glowing brightly before merging into his body. He continued walking far into the river, leaving the others in awe.
"Talent: B," the elder declared with a slightly warmer tone.
Shortly after, Xiong Menglan was called. Her results were just as impressive. The large number of Hope Gu lights around her and her ability to walk as far as Xiong Fengzhi confirmed her exceptional talent.
"Talent: B," the elder repeated with a nod of approval.
Whispers of admiration spread among the other children. They all understood that a B-grade talent was rare and promised a bright future.
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Finally, Xiong Huanxian's name was called.
He stepped forward calmly. Though his heart pounded, his expression remained composed.
As his foot touched the water, a sharp cold pierced through his body. His first step felt heavy, as if the water itself was testing his resolve. Lights of Hope Gu began to appear around him, but they were fewer compared to those of Xiong Fengzhi and Xiong Menglan.
Step by step, he ventured deeper into the water. The pressure from the spiritual spring grew stronger with each step, but he didn't stop. The Hope Gu lights continued merging into his body, though in limited numbers.
When his body could no longer withstand the spiritual spring's pressure, Huanxian halted. His breath was labored, and his entire body felt as if it were weighed down by lead. Just as he was about to turn back, suddenly...
BANG!
The deafening sound echoed within him, though no one outside could hear it. The cluster of light in his abdomen seemed to reach its limit before exploding with unexpected force.
Huanxian's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. The explosion didn't harm him but brought forth an indescribably strange sensation. It was as if a new world had been born within him.
He closed his eyes, ignoring the noise around him, and focused inward. In the darkness, he calmed his mind and let his awareness delve deeper.
There, he saw it.
A small hole had appeared out of nowhere, empty yet brimming with potential, situated between his kidneys in his lower abdomen. It felt like a tiny dimension inaccessible to the outside world.
He knew what this was.
"The aperture..."
A wave of excitement coursed through him. Though he had known about this from the memories of this world, experiencing the awakening of his aperture firsthand was an entirely different matter. This was the gateway to the Gu world, the first step to becoming a Gu Master.
The elder approached him as he returned from the spiritual spring. With a calm gaze, the elder announced, "Talent: C."
Huanxian nodded, showing no visible reaction, and stepped aside to make way for the next participant. But inside, his thoughts were in turmoil.
"Talent: C..." He looked at his trembling hands. "Is this Heaven's Will at work?"
He took a deep breath and murmured softly, so only he could hear:
"Because I am a demon from another world, is this its way of punishing me?"
Huanxian clenched his fists, but his blue eyes burned with deep determination.
"If Heaven's Will seeks to crush me, I will defy it. I will not bow. This C-grade talent is only the beginning. With my knowledge and effort, I will prove that even Heaven's Will can be broken."
His words were lost in the clamor of the ceremony, but his resolve was now firmly set. The road ahead would be filled with thorns, but he had sworn to walk it until he reached the summit.