Dong!
The final bell tolled, announcing the end of Awakening Day, which happens once a year.
The rainbow-like demon spirits were drawn into the Blue Moon by a mysterious force and sealed once more. They will reappear next year on this day, continuing until the day of refinement.
An exciting event concluded, yet the spectators hesitated to disperse.
"Sob..."
Young boys and girls who did not merge with demon spirits looked dejected, heads lowered, eyes red-rimmed, with sadness and unwillingness as they descended from the altar.
Becoming Demon Spirit Masters is the dream of every student, and equally, every martial artist. It is every parent's greatest hope for their child. They have prepared for many years for this day.
The cruel reality shattered dreams violently, causing some fragile-minded individuals to faint directly on the altar, later assisted and carried away by well-prepared staff.
The fortunate ones who became Demon Spirit Masters lifted their heads with pride, their smiles overflowing with happiness and arrogance, enjoying the attention and envy of the onlookers.
From this moment, having become Demon Spirit Masters, they are already above ordinary martial artists.
It's fair to say their lives have entered a new starting point, a much higher start compared to ordinary people.
Among the many youths, three figures stood out the most, the light curtain continuously replaying the scene where these three refined their demon spirits.
These three are all teenagers, and they refined Ninth Grade demon spirits.
Among them, a youth with yellow-dyed hair was the most striking.
With Lin Feng's understanding of demon spirits, even without the subtitles' tips, he could immediately recognize the yellow-haired youth had fused with a Ninth Grade Six-winged Illusion Python.
On Awakening Day, Lin Feng's dream was to refine a Ninth Grade Cyan Stinging Dragon, but in terms of rarity and power, a Ninth Grade Six-winged Illusion Python slightly surpasses the Cyan Stinging Dragon; it's the dream demon spirit for all speed-type martial artists, Lin Feng included.
However, the Cyan Stinging Dragon appears mighty and handsome when fused with humans, thus enjoyed higher popularity among students, whereas the human-fused Six-winged Illusion Python seemed somewhat bizarre; otherwise, it would better suit Lin Feng.
In Lin Feng's curious gaze, the yellow-haired youth possessed by the demon spirit became extremely slender, looking around 1.9 meters tall, with a purple scale at the center of the forehead and vertical green pupils resembling serpent's eyes, exuding a grim chill that made people shiver. Behind him, three pairs of purple-red wings flapped lightly but at astonishing speed; as a Ninth Grade poison-type demon beast, speed is just one aspect, its venom is the most feared.
The Six-winged Illusion Python's talent ability "Illusion" is formidable too, granting a short period of ignoring certain attacks, adding to its value.
Ninth Grade demon spirits, unless one's martial arts talent is poor, even without attending college entrance exams, are eligible for special admission to the Three Heroic Academies.
Unquestionably, these three are today's protagonists, blessed children of Heaven.
But just when everyone thought the Awakening Day had concluded, a figure abruptly appeared on the light curtain.
"Roar..."
On screen, a youth let out a beastly howl, inhuman in sound.
A black current swirled around the youth, his body swelling, hands expanding, veins bulging into dragon claws, and with a "swoosh," a dragon tail emerged from his tailbone, swaying gently like a steel whip, pitch-black scales spreading across his body, gradually forming a black armor, sharp spikes extending from his tail to his forehead. Perhaps due to extreme pain, as he mutated, the youth frantically beat the ground.
The marble ground cracked under his pounding, a small pit hammered into it with flesh and blood, unmoved despite the blood splattering, unyielding in self-harm.
As he hammered, bloody black wings sprouted from his sides continually, the wingspan over two meters long, like black blades, leaving gashes on the ground with each flap. After a while, the youth slowly ceased struggling, and as he looked up, a pair of fiery golden vertical pupils emerged, reflecting coldness and frenzy.
"Thorny Demon Dragon."
Everyone watched this scene in shock, the Earth Chart ranked 46 Thorny Demon Dragon demon spirit was refined!
Undoubtedly, this was today's most shocking event during Awakening Day.
A rare sight in decades!
After a moment of silence, an ocean of cheers erupted, and the youth had become the focus.
No one could contain their inner excitement, waving their hands, screaming wildly to vent their exhilaration.
The previously focused yellow-haired youth became a mere backdrop in that instant.
At this moment, he drew no attention.
Ninth Grade demon spirits are successfully refined every Awakening Day, but Earth Chart demon spirits are rare sights, sometimes appearing only once in ten years, many never witnessing it in their lifetime.
Not to mention the Earth Chart rank 46, the Thorny Demon Dragon, famed for its fierce attack.
"So strong, is the gap between Second Grade and Earth Chart demon spirits this vast?"
On the altar, Gao Hai watched with extreme envy.
Beside him, Song of Solomon also restrained her pride, her enchanting eyes showing a hint of unclear emotion.
Her Enchanting Butterfly, although of Eighth Grade, rivals Ninth Grade demon spirits, yet Ninth Grade demon spirits and Earth Chart demon spirits seemingly differ by just one grade, but their potential and combat power are worlds apart, incomparable to a pure Dragon Type demon spirit like the Thorny Demon Dragon.
"His Soul Power must be incredibly strong," Lin Feng watched in astonishment from below the altar.
The youth's appearance, obscured by demon spirit possession, made identification hard, but the scattered cloth on the ground indicated he belonged to the First Middle School, amongst them, only such talent belonged likely to Ye Qiu.
This genius youth, after losing the Nightmare, still refined the Earth Chart Thorny Demon Dragon in the final moments. This fierce Dragon Race demon spirit, besides its attack power, added Dark Series damage, its talent ability envied by all martial artists.
Such a flying demon spirit, whether for ranged or melee attacks, its attack or defense, bears almost no weakness, indeed perfect.
This kind of Demon Spirit, Lin Feng can only fantasize about in his dreams, never daring to hope he could refine it.
"Truly a peerless genius." Lin Feng could only sigh inwardly.
Eighth Grade Demon Spirits of the Earth Chart are extremely rare; without soul cultivation talent, it is impossible to refine them. Among those ranked in the top fifty of the Earth Chart, apart from the Guardian Divine Artifacts, they are simply unobtainable by the outside world. Moreover, the refiners of such high-level Demon Spirits face demands that could be considered perverse.
Let alone high school students, even powerful Martial Artists cannot refine them.
This level of Demon Spirit hasn't appeared in Jiang City for decades.
As for Demon Spirits of a higher grade than the Thorny Demon Dragon, naturally they exist, but to refine such a grade, at least a Fifth Grade Martial Artist is needed, along with powerful soul power.
Lin Feng deeply gazed at Ye Qiu.
Comparison between people truly doesn't work.
Some people are born as darlings of heaven, not only possessing Martial Arts talent but also terrifying soul cultivation potential.
While his Martial Arts talent is average, his soul cultivation talent is even more useless, lacking even the strength to refine a First Grade Demon Spirit. If not for carrying the memories of his past life, he would find himself powerless facing such a genius.
Lin Feng also understood that Ye Qiu reaching the Ninth Rank of body cultivation at the age of fifteen was thanks not only to his talent but also to the contributions of the Ye Group he belonged to.
Children of wealthy families like Ye Qiu, from a young age, have used various Pills and Demon Beast flesh to establish a Foundation, supporting their cultivation. Their bodies are far superior to their peers, thick with Qi and Blood, and they advance quickly, a strong physique being one reason he can refine the Thorny Demon Dragon.
Of course, being born into the right family is also a skill; background is a part of strength.
The appearance of the Thorny Demon Dragon caused continued excitement at the scene; such a peerless Demon Spirit, even the figures on the high platform were eager for it.
The Demon Spirits they offered were at most Eighth Grade; Ninth Grade and above are relics of the Dawn Battle.
Not only them, even on the high platform, Jiang City's Guardian, Martial King Jiang Chu, was quite surprised. Undeniably, even he had a bit of envy for a moment just now.
As a Demon Spirit Master, Jiang Chu understood that refining an advanced Demon Spirit does not mean being stronger than refining a lower-grade Demon Spirit.
Demon Spirits need to be nurtured. If not nurtured well, even a Demon Spirit Master refining high-grade Demon Spirits might be defeated by one refining low-grade spirits.
The rank of a Demon Spirit doesn't completely determine combat power; it mainly signifies potential for growth.
For example, refining a Fifth Grade Demon Spirit and refining a Seventh Grade Spirit, initially, the Demon Spirits are at First Grade, and there's not much difference in combat power. The Fifth Grade Spirit would grow to Fifth Grade, supporting the combat of a Fifth Grade Martial Artist, whereas the Seventh Grade Spirit's limit is Seventh Grade. It supports the combat of a Seventh Grade Martial Artist; this is the significance of Demon Spirit rank.
However, if the rank difference is vast, this standard can't be applied.
Such as Ye Qiu's Thorny Demon Dragon, even at its initial First Grade stage it can crush most Second Grade and some low-combat Third Grade Demon Spirits. This level of Demon Spirit already qualifies for cross-rank challenges.
"It seems today Jiang City is going to be lively."
After one last glance at Ye Qiu, Jiang Chu gradually descended from the high platform.
Geniuses, he had seen many.
No matter how peerless Ye Qiu might be, only by truly growing to become strong would he earn the right to be noticed by Jiang Chu.
"One by one, take your time."
Although Awakening Day had ended, Lin Feng and the others did not leave. Instead, under guidance, they orderly formed ten lines, lining up toward a human-height mirror.
The youths passed through in an orderly fashion, and the mirror was somewhat magical. For ordinary people passing by, it showed no change; in contrast, when a Demon Spirit Master appeared, it would reflect the Demon Spirit within their body.
This mirror bore an interesting name: "Demon-Revealing Mirror".
The initial creation of the Demon-Revealing Mirror aimed to prevent top-level Demon Beasts from transforming into human forms and mingling with humans, like that mysterious, demonic youth.
Today, it serves the purpose of recording the types of Demon Spirits refined by the youths and preventing the theft of Demon Spirits.
The latter being the primary reason.
Even though the annual Awakening Day had the Martial King present, with numerous strong individuals observing and monitoring the entire event, Demon Spirit theft was not impossible, and incidents occurred frequently before the Demon-Revealing Mirror was invented.
Even a First Grade Demon Spirit is worth thousands of New Coins, while a Ninth Grade Spirit demands upwards of tens of billions. Earth Chart Demon Spirits are priceless, never marketed by those who possess such grade.
As for the Thorny Demon Dragon, ranking 46th on the Earth Chart, it is beyond valuation in terms of money, and simply cannot be bought.
Since Demon Spirit refinement is limited to those under eighteen, in the past, many students were manipulated by major powers into committing thefts, employing a variety of techniques and even developing numerous secret skills, making prevention difficult.
Even knowing they faced severe punishment if caught, every year countless individuals still took reckless risks; Demon Spirits, though difficult to refine, lacked substantial defensive abilities. If one's luck was good and they caught a high-grade spirit, they could enjoy a life of prosperity and wealth.
Capturing an Earth Chart Demon Spirit could even allow the establishment of a small family.
However, after the creation of the Demon-Revealing Mirror, such incidents considerably disappeared.
Those secret skills and techniques became utterly exposed before the Demon-Revealing Mirror.
"I wonder if it will be detected?" In queue, Lin Feng felt a bit uneasy.
Inside him, the Nightmare was sealed by the Sealing Evil Seal and hadn't been refined.
If the Demon-Revealing Mirror detects it, it might be forcibly taken away; even if he explains the reason, it would reveal the special nature of this Demon Spirit. Clearly, neither outcome is what Lin Feng desires.