Mo Xing, come up to the stage with me, there's something I want to see for myself."
Confusion appeared on Mo Xing's face, with a faint trace of anger. He knew the confrontation was inevitable; he also wanted to step up and find out what the talent of the "Tea Leaf" rune was hiding.
"Even though I'm a weak talent and everyone's eyes are on me… I'll take the risk and go up. If something happens to me, I'll kill them all," he said coldly, hiding his fear.
Despite being a level-zero talent, Mo Xing possessed rare courage. He decided to ascend; it wasn't a logical decision, but his curiosity toward any trace of power was stronger.
"Mo Xing, good luck," Yue said in a sympathetic tone.
He ignored her. He began his steps toward the Tea Leaf rune with extreme caution. Among the crowd, he was always alert — as if walking on the edge of a blade. Step by step, he reached the spot.
"And now... Mo Xing is with us, and we'll begin an experiment you've never seen before," the announcer declared loudly, a fake smile drawn on his lips.
The faces of the audience were filled with jealousy and disdain; whispers full of hate spread around. Some tugged at their sleeves harshly, others muttered spitefully.
Mo Xing didn't care. His focus was entirely on the rune. People's words were like wind to him — they pass and vanish.
"And now, let's begin the ceremony with the talent of level zero."
Zhang Yi stepped forward with apparent confidence; his face showed a faint arrogance. Only a year ago, his rune was first-grade, and with a bit of training, he was now fourth-grade — enough to astonish.
Mo Xing said firmly, "What do you want from me now?" narrowing his eyes as if cutting off unwanted talk.
Zhang Yi's expression stiffened before he smiled; he took a step closer and gestured lightly with his hand. "Give me the rune ring — Moon Rose. I want to test something on it." His tone was confident, as if trying to show control over the situation.
The audience stirred in surprise; some raised their eyebrows, others whispered mockingly. The ring was known only for its shallow abilities — nothing more.
Mo Xing hesitated for a moment, then slowly removed his left glove and took out the ring. He had kept it since he was twelve — a simple piece, yet the most precious thing left from his past.
"Take it… but keep it safe, or else…" he said in a cold voice hiding a threat, gripping the ring tightly as he handed it over.
Zhang Yi held the ring with a mocking smile, twirling it between his fingers like a prized possession. The sunlight touched his face, and the air gently swayed among the crowd.
Then the atmosphere suddenly changed.
Zhang Yi's face turned pale; his eyes widened unnaturally, as if his soul had seen something terrifying. Before he could utter a word, the Tea Leaf rune fell to the ground motionless. His body stretched flat, lifeless, as if death struck in an instant.
A heavy silence spread, then turned into whispers and muffled cries. Some people stepped back; others covered their mouths in shock.
Mo Xing showed only mild surprise. He walked forward calmly, pulled the rune from Zhang Yi's hand without hesitation, and wore his ring again in silence. He glanced coldly at the crowd, then walked away unhurriedly.
On his way, he passed by Yue; her face was pale, her eyes filled with visible fear. She looked at him in astonishment, as if seeing someone else entirely.
Mo Xing didn't speak to her; he walked past quietly, his steps steady, his mind fixed on training — as if the scene had been nothing but a brief interruption in his routine — though a flicker of tension remained from what he'd seen in Yue's eyes.
Behind him, guards rushed to carry the unconscious Zhang Yi, and the village filled with whispers and unease; it was now clear this wasn't a prank — something truly strange had happened.
The ring? It remained the same: a dull gray band with a faint rune engraving that shimmered for a moment before fading — a surface-level ability only. Yet that night, something in people's hearts had shifted.
"Oh my god, it's the village clan… has the matter reached them?"