Tian Court
A heavy, suffocating silence blanketed the Tian Court.
The vast hall felt solemn, as if even the air dared not move without permission. At the highest seat sat Clan Head Tian Wuxian, his posture straight, his presence vast and immovable—like an ancient mountain rooted in time itself. On both sides of the court, elders of the Tian family and allied families sat in orderly rows, their expressions restrained, their gazes sharp.
Standing alone upon the crimson carpet at the center of the court was Elder Chu Baishan.
In his hands were several thin jade parchments, faintly glowing, inscribed with records from the recently concluded Awakening Ceremony. As the elder responsible for clan affairs—and also the sect's administrative head—Baishan carried an authority that few dared to question.
He raised his head and turned his gaze toward the throne.
Straightening his back, Elder Baishan spoke in a firm, authoritative tone that echoed throughout the court.
"Clan Head," he began, his voice calm yet heavy with significance,
"this elder reports the results of the Azure Sword Hall Awakening Ceremony."
A subtle shift passed through the court. Some elders narrowed their eyes; others leaned slightly forward.
Baishan continued without pause.
"A total of one thousand five hundred young clan members participated in the awakening."
He lifted one of the parchments, its surface shimmering faintly.
"Of them, five hundred successfully awakened their Primal Sea."
A low murmur rippled through the elders, quickly suppressed.
Elder Baishan's voice grew sharper.
"Among the awakened—
E-grade: three hundred.
D-grade: one hundred and twenty.
C-grade: sixty.
B-grade: nineteen."
At this point, several elders exchanged glances. Nineteen B-grades—respectable, but not extraordinary.
Then Baishan paused.
The entire court seemed to hold its breath.
"And—" he said slowly, "A-grade: one."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Some elders' pupils shrank. Others stiffened unconsciously in their seats. A few could not completely hide the shock flashing across their faces.
An A-grade.
After years of drought.
All eyes, knowingly or unknowingly, shifted toward the throne.
Tian Wuxian remained motionless, his expression unreadable—but the pressure radiating from him subtly deepened, as though the court itself had sunk a fraction lower.
Elder Chu Baishan did not pause after revealing the overall numbers.
He raised another jade parchment, its surface glowing faintly, and continued in a measured, authoritative voice.
"Next, this elder will report the distribution of awakened youths by family."
The elders straightened slightly. This was the part that truly mattered.
Tian Family and Affiliated Families
"First—the Tian Family, the main bloodline of the Tianjian Clan."
At these words, many elders unconsciously lifted their chins.
"The Tian Family has always produced at least one A-grade aptitude in every awakening ceremony. All previous clan heads have originated from the Tian Family."
Baishan's tone remained calm, but the pride beneath it was unmistakable.
"This time, among the Tian Family and their closely affiliated families—Chu, Mu, Yan Shi, and others—the results are as follows:
B-grade: seven
C-grade: twenty
D-grade: forty
E-grade: ninety"
Soft murmurs spread through the court.
Baishan added evenly,
"However, among these, only five B-grade cultivators are officially of pure Tian Family lineage."
He paused, then announced calmly:
"Among them is Tian Xueya, daughter of the clan head, Tian Wuxian."
Several elders' expressions sharpened at once.
Baishan continued without emotion,
"The remaining B-grade talents include Chu Jingxia of the Chu family.
Mu Chen of the Mu family achieved C-grade.
Additionally, the Yan Shi family produced one female youngster with B-grade aptitude."
He folded the parchment slightly.
"Thus, when counted strictly, only five individuals can be considered true B-grade talents of the Tian Family itself."
The elders nodded—this was strength worthy of the main family.
Fang Family (Branch Family, Including Hunters)
Baishan's voice shifted slightly as he announced the next name.
"Next—the Fang Family, a branch family of the clan. The Hunters family is also affiliated with them."
Several elders' expressions subtly changed.
"The Fang Family has long been in rivalry with the Tian Family."
Baishan paused for a fraction of a second.
"This time… they produced an A-grade aptitude."
The court stirred.
"Fang Lin."
Whispers instantly ignited.
"An outcome no one anticipated," Baishan continued calmly.
"A miracle, by all accounts."
He went on reading:
B-grade: four (including Fang Qing who son of the fang family head)
C-grade: fifteen (five from the Hunters family)
D-grade: thirty
E-grade: eighty
The murmurs grew louder, impossible to suppress now.
Even Tian Wuxian's expression subtly changed, his gaze sharpening.
Low voices echoed through the hall:
"Did you hear? Fang Lin awakened an A-grade…"
"Not just that—look at their B and C grades. It's far more than before."
"At this rate… the Fang Family may truly challenge the Tian Family."
Among all those whispers, only one Fang Family elder was present in the court.due to the banquet held this morning, the Fang Family head and their senior elders were unable to attend the court session. Only their appointed affairs elder is present.
He stood silently.
His face showed no emotion at all, as if the praise, doubt, and hostility around him had nothing to do with him.
Yan Family
Elder Baishan continued.
"Next—the Yan Family, also a branch family."
B-grade: three (including the family head's son, Yan Ruochen)
C-grade: nine
D-grade: seventeen
E-grade: forty
The results were respectable. Several elders nodded in approval.
Que Family
"Next—the Que Family."
B-grade: three (including the family head's daughter, Que Lianhua)
C-grade: ten
D-grade: eighteen
E-grade: fifty
More murmurs followed, quieter this time.
Lin Family
Finally, Baishan raised the last parchment.
"And last—the Lin Family."
As soon as their name was spoken, the Lin Family head and elders lowered their gazes, their faces stiff with shame.
Elder Baishan's voice remained impartial.
"B-grade: two
C-grade: six—among them, the family head's son, Lin Yun, who achieved C-grade."
The court fell silent once more.
The contrast was clear.
Too clear.
Elder Baishan lowered the parchments and bowed slightly toward the throne.
"These are the complete results of the awakening ceremony."
In the Tian Court, undercurrents surged unseen.
Old balances trembled.
New threats emerged.
And at the center of all change—
one name echoed again and again in whispered fear and disbelief.
Fang Lin.
Tian Wuxian remained seated in silence, as though every report was nothing more than routine.
Yet when the words "A-grade aptitude… Fang Lin" were spoken, his fingers paused for the briefest moment.
His gaze shifted faintly toward the Fang Family's representative—there was no anger, no surprise, only a calm, measuring look.
A branch family producing an A-grade… interesting.
As the reports continued, his eyes lowered slightly, thoughtful, unreadable.
No emotion surfaced on his face, but one thing was clear—
Some threads were beginning to move beyond expectation.
Within the Tian Court, the murmurs slowly faded, as if swallowed by the invisible pressure radiating from the throne.
Clan Head Tian Wuxian finally moved.
He set the wine cup in his hand down onto the armrest, the soft sound echoing unnaturally loud in the vast hall. Though his face remained calm, his eyes—hidden beneath the court's shadows—grew sharper.
"Since the awakening results are confirmed," Tian Wuxian said slowly, his voice deep and steady,
"it is time to proceed according to clan law."
Several elders straightened at once.
"The Holy Sword Sect has already been informed," he continued.
"As per tradition, all disciples who have successfully awakened their primal sea—regardless of grade—will be sent to the sect for formal cultivation."
A faint ripple ran through the court.
Elder Baishan stepped forward half a pace.
"Clan Head," he said respectfully, "the sect has responded. They will open the outer gates in ten days."
Tian Wuxian nodded.
"Ten days," he repeated.
"Enough time for preparation… and enough time for emotions to settle."
Some elders exchanged meaningful glances.
"During these ten days," Tian Wuxian added,
"all awakened disciples are to remain within their families. No duels, no internal disputes, no private testing of strength."
His tone hardened slightly.
"Anyone who violates this order will be disqualified from entering the Holy Sword Sect."
That single sentence caused several younger family elders to pale.
Elder Baishan spoke again, his voice carrying authority.
"A formal list of names will be sealed and delivered to the sect on the ninth day.
On the tenth morning, the disciples will depart together under clan escort."
He paused, then added,
"This includes branch families and affiliated lineages—without exception."
At that moment, many elders subconsciously thought of a single name.
Fang Lin.