Dong, dong, dong!
The resonant and sonorous ancient bell echoed throughout Jiang City, heralding the imminent start of the annual Awakening Day.
This is a grand festival, even more lively than the New Year.
At this moment, Jiang City is adorned with festive decorations, with large red lanterns emblazoned with various Demon Spirit patterns hanging throughout the streets and alleys.
The light curtains on all the skyscrapers, without exception, are playing the spectacular footage from previous Awakening Days, and with the thrilling music, it makes one's blood boil.
The streets are crowded with people, all moving in the same direction.
Even though people deliberately rose early, they were still astonished by the surging crowd when they arrived at the city center square.
In the center of the square, an ancient altar of retro style, covering over a hundred acres, is cast with bronze, bearing carvings of various birds and beasts. Surrounding the altar, over a thousand policemen stand straight and stern, maintaining order.
Above the plaza, the Blue Moon Divine Artifact, forged with the efforts of the nation over 37 years, floats in the void. The Blue Moon stands at a height of 138 meters, crescent-shaped, completely radiant in white, exuding a strong sense of high technology.
At its apex, the energy shield it radiates reflects a pale blue light under the sun, suspended above the city center, overlooking the earth.
This extraordinary Blue Moon is the pride of Jiang City's people and the symbol of Jiang City as one of Huaxia's twelve foundational cities.
Beneath the Blue Moon Divine Artifact, the surrounding railings are covered by a dense throng, gathering more than thirty thousand people, who are excitedly discussing.
"A year has passed. I wonder what kind of genius will appear this time?"
"Last year, someone fused the Ninth Grade Purple-eyed Bull and Cyan Stinging Dragon. That scene was truly shocking."
"What's remarkable about that? Seven years ago, Bai Lin, a genius from the Bai Family, fused the Six-winged Celestial Demon ranked 217 on the Earth Chart and was directly specially recruited by Great Wall University, even receiving a full scholarship."
"Great Wall University, one of the three Hero Academies, I heard that graduates from there are directly awarded the title of honor. If they join the military, they start at a minimum rank of major."
"Demon Spirits on the Earth Chart are not something that even the five elite families in Jiang City can necessarily possess."
"Who says they don't have? There are still a few here and there; it's just those vampires are unwilling to bring them out. There are some inside the Blue Moon, remnants from the Dawn Battle, only the chosen ones can refine them, which is rare to come by, even once in five years."
In the lively atmosphere, a middle-aged man steps onto the altar.
Behind him, a group of over a hundred men and women follows. They are dressed splendidly, exuding a remarkable aura, with translucent round bottles hanging on their bodies. Inside these bottles, a fist-sized cloud is vaguely visible.
These clouds seem to possess life, some floating and drifting, more colliding with the round bottle, yet none can escape.
The vast square, now completely silent, as if fearing to disturb them.
To anyone local to Jiang City, the middle-aged man is never unfamiliar; he is Jiang City's Guardian, Martial King Jiang Chu.
Behind him, those qualified to be on the altar are from Jiang City's elite families and major groups, and the cloud within the bottles is Demon Spirits extracted from hunted Demon Beasts.
On Awakening Day, all the youth in Jiang City aged sixteen and with the strength of Fifth Rank Body Cultivator have the chance to come here to refine Demon Spirits into their Soul Sea and become a Demon Spirit Master.
However, the probability is not high, with no more than one in ten managing to refine a Demon Spirit successfully, making each Demon Spirit Master extremely precious.
Directly under the altar, over a hundred thousand youth are seated, their eyes full of desire, with some so excited they are trembling.
Except for one, whose head is bowed, motionless.
If not for the faint snores, no one would have thought that he had actually fallen asleep.
"Who is that? Is he too bold, falling asleep on Awakening Day!"
"This guy is Lin Feng, from Class 7, Senior High. He has the strength of a Seventh Rank Body Cultivator, and his fighting technique is very strong, fierce with each move, so he's always a bit arrogant."
"Even the principal specially instructed today to show the unique style of Jiangxin Middle School. This kind of person without feeling or shame shouldn't be here for Demon Spirit Awakening Day."
"Lower your voice, that guy is not one to mess with."
The youths were discussing, as today is the most important day of their lives. Even though some were sleepless last night, they maintained their excitement nonetheless. How could they possibly be drowsy?
However, while amusing, they also admired him a bit.
On Awakening Day, some were so nervous that they lost composure, even had a heart attack, fainted directly; but never heard of anyone who got so excited they fell asleep. Lin Feng must be the first in history.
"What's that noise?"
The murmurs in his ears made Lin Feng wrinkle his brow slightly. He tried to listen but couldn't hear anything clearly.
Nonetheless, he didn't pay attention; his gaze remained fixed on the strange young man not far away, with a deep-seated hatred in his eyes.
Just three days ago, this strange young man in a white robe led seven King Level Demon Beasts and over ten thousand fierce Demon Beasts to attack Jiang City. The bustling city is now in ruins, everywhere the remains declaring the arrival of hell on earth.
Now, the seven King Level Demon Beasts are dead, and the ten thousand Demon Beasts are mostly wiped out, yet this mysterious young man remains unscathed.
Lin Feng, less than a hundred meters from the young man, surrounded by deafening explosions, saw a barrage of aerial missiles shooting in the same direction.
But regardless of how the bombs exploded, earth collapsed, that pristine white robe remained untarnished, glaringly clean.
Afterward, experts rushed toward the man in white, but no matter what kind of attack, physical and spiritual assaults, including mysterious curse powers, proved useless against this eerie young man, who instead easily hunted them.
With the city's collapse and millions of residents slaughtered, ten out of Jiang City's thirteen Guardians were killed, one self-destructed, and two fled, while the mastermind remained unharmed, not even the nature of his powers known, leaving everyone in despair.
The ground stained by blood, its pungent smell permeated the city, facing the invincible strange youth, those who survived now considered retreat, starting to withdraw. They were afraid of being killed, only Lin Feng still wielded his long sword.
Lin Feng didn't know how many Demon Beasts he had slain; he only knew he was very tired.
Really tired.
He desperately wanted to sleep.
His clothes, stained with blood, clinging uncomfortably to his skin, yet he still forged ahead toward mystery.
Even knowing that with his strength, he couldn't harm even a single strand of the opponent's hair, what did it matter? His family was all dead, friends all killed, what was the point of living stealthily alone?
Lin Feng walked slowly, the strange young man turned his head, watching Lin Feng walk steadily toward him, those deep black pupils akin to an ancient well, calm yet chillingly cold, emanating a hint of threat and murderous intent, yet surprisingly did not strike.
Even as Lin Feng reached before him, trembling, piercing his throat with the long sword, he still maintained his posture, unmoving.
"No strength left?"
Lin Feng, astonished, looked at his long sword; why was there no blood flowing? As the sword withdrew, dazzling light enveloped Lin Feng like a miniature sun.