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Chapter 2 - S-Level Qingluan
The awakening platform remained bustling with activity.
After Zhao Ritian's awakening, it was as if the students had unlocked their potential all at once. One by one, they successfully awakened their martial spirits.
"Li Xue, awakening successful. Awakened F-level beast spirit, Swift Rabbit."
"Wu Fei, awakening successful. Awakened C-level beast spirit, Strong Pig."
"Wow! A C-level talent! That's impressive!"
"Sun Chuanliu, awakening successful. Awakened D-level weapon spirit, Meteor Hammer."
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"The quality of students this year is quite good. So far, 14 students have successfully awakened, which is catching up to last year's records."
"Principal, it's all thanks to your excellent management. The school has been running smoothly, which is why so many students are awakening."
"There are over 400 students in total. I wonder if anyone will awaken with a B-level or higher talent. If even one student does, the resources our school can receive will increase significantly."
"B-level talents are incredibly rare. In the past ten years, only a handful have appeared in our school. Let's see if the next student surprises us."
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Under the stage, Xu Hong stood eagerly, knowing his turn was next.
He was brimming with confidence. His family had invested an immense amount of resources into his cultivation, ensuring that his talent wouldn't be ordinary. At the very least, he was certain he would awaken a D-level martial spirit.
"Xu Hong! Xu Hong! Please come on stage!"
As his name was called, Xu Hong calmly retrieved a small awakening pill from his pocket and swallowed it before stepping onto the platform.
Yang Xie, watching from the side, noticed his actions.
"So, he also has an awakening pill? It seems his family is quite powerful," Yang Xie thought to himself.
Xu Hong placed his hands on the awakening stone, and before everyone's astonished eyes, a bright yellow light emerged from his body. Slowly, the light condensed into the form of a majestic lion.
"Xu Hong, awakening successful. B-level beast martial spirit: Fire Lion!"
The teacher on stage announced the results with excitement, and the entire audience erupted in an uproar. Even the principal, who had been seated calmly, stood up in surprise.
"Hahaha! Not bad! Not bad at all! Changqing No. 1 Middle School is full of talent this year!"
"As expected of Young Master Xu! The B-level Fire Lion is incredibly powerful!"
Yang Xie was also taken aback. He found it hard to believe that someone like Xu Hong—an arrogant rich kid—had actually awakened such a strong martial spirit.
"As expected, the power of aristocratic families is something ordinary people like me can't even comprehend," Yang Xie mused.
On stage, Xu Hong was filled with pride. He could feel the surging strength within his body, giving him the illusion of standing above everyone else.
His gaze locked onto Yang Xie, filled with arrogance and provocation.
"And what can a lowly slum rat like you do against me?"
Yang Xie noticed Xu Hong's condescending stare but simply ignored him, turning away to chat and laugh with Nangong Ya instead.
Xu Hong's expression twisted with frustration. Not only had Yang Xie brushed him off, but he was also flirting with Nangong Ya in front of everyone. His face turned as red as if he were suffering from severe constipation.
"Tch. You're still too inexperienced to compete with me."
Yang Xie smirked at Xu Hong's reaction but said nothing.
Nangong Ya, on the other hand, paid no attention to Xu Hong. She continued chatting with Yang Xie before reminding him in a gentle voice:
"Yang Xie, make sure to take the awakening pill before you go on stage!"
"B-level talent is nothing. Don't feel pressured."
She had noticed the tension between him and Xu Hong and offered a few words of encouragement.
Yang Xie, however, found her words somewhat amusing.
"Encouragement? I don't even know if I'll awaken anything at all!"
Even though he had an awakening pill, sponsored by Nangong Ya's rich and generous family, he still felt uncertain.
"Awakening is just too difficult..."
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"Next up—Nangong Ya!"
The moment her name was called, Yang Xie turned to her with a smile.
"It's your turn, Ya Ya. Go for it!"
Nangong Ya responded with a dazzling smile, took the awakening pill, and gracefully stepped onto the stage.
As soon as she walked up, every boy's eyes widened, their necks stretching like giraffes to get a better look.
The girls also stared at her with mixed emotions—a blend of admiration, envy, and jealousy.
As the undisputed school beauty of Changqing No. 1 Middle School, Nangong Ya was the dream girl of every boy and the rival of every girl.
But after today, she would become something even more unreachable.
"Nangong Ya, awakening successful. Awakened... S-level divine beast martial spirit: Qingluan!"
An S-level martial spirit?!
The teacher stared at the awakening stone in disbelief before double-checking the result.
"S-level...? Teacher, are you sure?"
"An S-level?! Is she trying to scare us to death?!"
After confirming the reading multiple times, the teacher finally announced with utmost certainty:
"Yes! Nangong Ya has awakened an S-level martial spirit!"
The entire school exploded into chaos.
"Holy shit! This is insane!"
"My goddess! You're a divine being!"
Above Nangong Ya, the massive Qingluan spirit hovered, exuding an ethereal, almost goddess-like presence.
Even Yang Xie was mesmerized.
"This girl... is on another level."
For the first time, he felt a deep appreciation for his situation.
"So this is what it's like to live off a goddess..."
"No, no! This isn't living off her!"
"This is simply receiving the blessings of fate!"
"Oh, divine heavens, shower me with more gifts!"
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The entire school was in an uproar.
An S-level talent had never appeared in the history of Qingshan City. This was the biggest breakthrough in years.
The principal's expression turned serious.
An S-level awakener was ranked among the top 100 talents in the country. If nurtured properly, such a person would become humanity's strongest weapon against alien beasts.
But great talent came with great danger.
There were traitors among humans—assassins who hunted down talented awakeners before they could grow strong.
Throughout history, countless geniuses had been killed before they could reach their full potential.
Realizing this, Principal Wang made a decision on the spot.
He immediately pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Mayor Li, this is Wang Tiezhu, principal of Changqing No. 1 Middle School. We have an urgent situation."
"Principal Wang? What's the matter?" A deep, authoritative voice answered.
"We have an S-level awakener. I request immediate S-level protection. Please dispatch a strong guardian at once."
Silence.
Then, the mayor spoke again, his voice serious.
"Are you certain it's S-level and not A-level?"
"Absolutely. No doubt about it."
"... I'll be there immediately."
Principal Wang hung up and let out a deep breath.
An S-level genius had appeared.
And from now on, the world would never be the same.
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End of Chapter 2