A dead crystal, while capable of emitting the light of the awakening ritual, could not stimulate a martial artist's bloodline. No one could awaken their bloodline through it, nor could an already awakened martial artist reveal their bloodline aura with it.
Piecing together the situation, Qin Chen realized Gou Xu had been bought by Zhao Feng.
What a vicious heart. Zhao Feng had already expelled him and his mother from the Qin family, yet she still wouldn't let him be. It was too much.
"Hmph, thinking a mere dead crystal can stop me from revealing my bloodline aura? That's underestimating me." As the ritual neared its end, Qin Chen flashed a smile at Gou Xu.
With many eyes on him, noting his lack of bloodline aura as the ceremony drew to a close, the crowd began to sigh and shake their heads. Then they caught Qin Chen's inexplicable smile.
Buzz!
A brilliant blue light erupted from the crystal in his hand. Faint at first, it blazed into a dazzling glow within moments, like a miniature sun, so piercing that many shielded their eyes.
Crackle!
Streaks of lightning danced across the blue crystal, unleashing a formidable aura.
Whoa!
The crowd gasped, stunned into silence.
"My heavens, he actually awakened?"
"At the very last moment of the ritual, no less!"
"What kind of bloodline is that? So blinding!"
"Lightning power—a rare bloodline!"
In that instant, everyone was shocked, plunged into awe.
Nearly all had believed Qin Chen incapable of awakening his bloodline. Yet, at the ritual's final moment, he revealed his aura, stunning the entire assembly.
None were more shocked than Gou Xu and his allies, their eyes bulging as if they'd seen a ghost.
"Impossible! How could he awaken? I tampered with his crystal!" Gou Xu's fish-like eyes stared, his mind reeling.
Qin Fen, who'd been laughing moments before, looked as if he'd swallowed a fly, his face frozen in disbelief.
How is this possible?
Zhao Feng's eyes blazed with fury as she turned to Qin Yong. "What's going on here?"
Qin Yong, drenched in sweat, stammered, "Madam, I don't know! Gou Xu assured me everything was handled, but…"
"But what?" Zhao Feng's teeth clenched, her face dark with menace. "You can't even manage something this simple? What use are you?"
"Mercy, Madam, mercy!" Qin Yong pleaded, trembling.
Qin Yuechi gazed at Qin Chen, wreathed in blue light, tears streaming down her cheeks. Overwhelmed with joy, she murmured, "Potian, do you see? Our son has awakened his bloodline. He did it."
Lord Xiao Zhan smiled at Dean Chu Weichen. "Dean Chu, Tianxing Academy truly lives up to its reputation as Great Qi's premier institution. Your students are as exceptional as ever."
Chu Weichen beamed. "You're too kind, Lord Xiao."
Inwardly, he was relieved. Qin Chen's expulsion would have tarnished his reputation, but the boy had proven himself.
Yet, Qin Chen's bloodline aura felt oddly familiar, as if Chu had encountered it recently. Both Xiao Zhan and Chu Weichen shared this fleeting sensation but couldn't place it, dismissing it as a trick of memory.
Qin Chen retracted his bloodline aura. A bloodline master recorded the results, announcing, "Junior class student Qin Chen, age fifteen, has awakened a first-grade Lightning Bloodline!"
As Qin Chen descended from the stage, Lin Tian and Zhang Ying rushed forward, shouting with excitement. "Haha, Young Master Chen, you did it!"
"I knew with your talent, there was no way you wouldn't awaken!"
"Lightning Bloodline—a rare one! Qin Fen, what do you have to say now?"
Qin Fen snapped out of his shock, scoffing, "Hmph, just a measly first-grade bloodline. What's there to celebrate?"
His words drew icy glares from nearby students, most of whom had awakened first-grade bloodlines themselves.
Qin Chen said calmly, "Qin Fen, don't forget our bet."
Qin Fen's face paled, and he took a step back.
"Haha, Qin Fen, you're not thinking of backing out, are you?" Zhang Ying jeered. "Everyone heard your wager with Young Master Chen, including the dean and the capital's powerhouses. Renege, and you'd better consider the consequences."
Qin Fen felt the weight of the crowd's mocking gazes and the scrutiny of the capital's elites from the platform. His heart sank.
A martial artist's word was their bond. If he broke it, he'd lose all respect in the capital.
Glaring venomously at Gou Xu, Qin Fen had no choice. Under countless eyes, he barked like a dog and shouted, "I'm a fool!" The plaza erupted in laughter.
"Hahaha, Qin Fen, didn't know you had such self-awareness!" Lin Tian and Zhang Ying roared with laughter.
"You'll pay for this," Qin Fen growled, his face crimson, wishing he could vanish into the ground.
To the capital's dignitaries, this was a mere amusing interlude, quickly forgotten.
After the awakening ritual came the martial trials, divided into three rounds:
First Round: Strength Assessment
Second Round: Elimination Battles
Third Round: Arena Duels
With over a thousand students, individual matches would take days. The first two rounds—strength assessment and elimination battles—served to swiftly filter out the strongest for the final arena duels.
Only those who passed the first two rounds could compete in the martial trials.
The martial exam began promptly.
First Round: Strength Assessment
Twenty massive bows, each requiring fifty stone of force, stood on the plaza. Fifty meters away, a row of steel targets awaited.
The task was simple: draw a fifty-stone bow and hit a steel target. Only arrows that struck the target counted.
The first group of twenty students approached, their expressions grave. They lifted the heavy bows, their weight demanding respect.