"Today is a brand new day for your lives."
"All the achievements you've attained before will become waste paper. Whether you can become an Extraordinary and complete the leap of life will determine the direction of your life."
"Students, I won't elaborate on the procedures of the Awakening Ceremony, as I believe everyone here has studied them thoroughly."
"But I must emphasize one point."
"For those who have multiple opportunities to awaken, if you've touched upon a path, unless it's so unacceptable, choose without hesitation."
"Do not fantasize that the next path might be better, because if you miss this choice, the next might not even touch a path. This might be the closest you'll ever get to becoming Extraordinary!"
"Even if you awaken the Path of the Chef, you're still ahead of 90% of ordinary people!"
On the Ascension Platform, the teacher responsible for presiding over the awakening sternly warned.
This made many civilian students involuntarily alert.
They naturally understood that the teacher's words were directed at them.
If they missed the All Heavens Reflecting True Crystal worth a hundred million, given their family's resources, they might never gather a second one.
However, some wealthy students had no such worries.
They could leisurely choose a more powerful path, as the strength of the path determined the future limits.
"Next, the first student, Zhang Chao, please come to the stage."
With those words.
A boy whose clothes were slightly faded stood up and glanced in Su Qi's direction.
Su Qi nodded, giving him an approving look.
Zhang Chao tightened his small face and decisively walked up with heavy steps.
"Relax, use your Divine Sense to feel it well."
The teacher presiding over the ceremony consoled, placing a black crystal before the boy.
Zhang Chao nodded, not daring to breathe heavily.
With his hands in a virtual holding posture, the All Heavens Reflecting True Crystal miraculously floated before him.
Then, he closed his eyes.
He activated the Divine Demon Prison Breathing Technique, stimulating his spirituality.
As his breathing rhythm changed, Zhang Chao's expression was solemn, and his bubbling Divine Sense delicately entered the All Heavens Reflecting True Crystal.
As the Divine Sense deepened, the All Heavens Reflecting True Crystal began to slowly shatter.
An ancient aura transcending time emanated, enveloping him.
In his perception, an endless darkness poured out like a tide from the All Heavens Reflecting True Crystal, engulfing all lives, seemingly darkening the heavens in an instant.
Passing his ankles, the darkness quietly invaded, extending to the ends of the world.
At this moment.
He opened his eyes abruptly, surrounded by dimness as if in an unknown space.
Simultaneously.
A brilliant galaxy spanning billions of light-years appeared above him.
"Is this the historical river the teacher mentioned?"
Zhang Chao was amazed by the magnificent and vast scene before him, momentarily dazed.
Then, he quickly snapped back to reality.
His Divine Sense feverishly reached for the galaxy above.
A minute, two minutes...
As time passed, he slowly felt a repulsive force, as if trying to expel him, the intruder.
"No, I haven't felt the path yet, I can't leave!"
"I must awaken!"
"I've worked so hard, I don't want to be ordinary!"
Zhang Chao became anxious.
Desperately maintaining his breathing rhythm, his Divine Sense frantically extended, trying to grasp something in the void.
Just as his Divine Sense was about to fail, an unknown mighty force arrived, stabilizing his crumbling Divine Sense.
Then.
The galaxy shook.
The world turned upside down.
The scenery above transformed, enormous mechanical shadows slowly turning, with a giant warship occupying half the sky.
The beauty of technology and steel fusion was mesmerizing.
Zhang Chao knew he succeeded, tears welled up, and his Divine Sense surged upwards, with torrents of complex knowledge flooding his mind.
Ascension Square.
Everyone held their breath, focusing entirely on the boy on stage.
Su Qi was no exception, his anxious heart fully stirred.
Zhang Chao had a decent relationship with him, coming from a civilian family, frequently seeking his guidance.
Su Qi naturally hoped for this classmate to achieve transcendence.
Oh, no.
Su Qi even hoped all classmates could achieve transcendence, even those who didn't see eye to eye with him.
Only with more Transcendents could this world become more stable.
Soon.
Su Qi noticed the subtle change in Zhang Chao on stage, his seemingly fragile body becoming more upright, an indescribable aura descending.
He exhaled deeply: "Is it about to succeed?"
Jiang Qingwei noticed Su Qi's concern and assured him, "Yes, it seems successful. Achieving transcendence, regardless of any path, even a life-based path, the body will undergo the baptism of historical rivers."
Su Qi smiled genuinely, knowing Zhang Chao well.
He guessed someone might cry directly later.
Indeed.
He wasn't wrong.
As Zhang Chao's Divine Sense returned, he glanced around blankly.
Looking at his Heavenly Dao Panel, feeling his own changes, he slightly moved his mouth.
Then, tears burst forth like a dam break.
In a loud cry, he knelt, pounding the ground.
"Waah, I succeeded! I...I awakened the Mechanical Path! Boo hoo..."
This scene.
Instantly moved everyone present.
Even the presiding teacher allowed him to cry openly, knowing deeply how difficult it was for a young child to achieve transcendence.
On the Ascension Platform, the five great figures also showed emotion.
The City Lord Lin Nan turned to Pei Jing and said, "Big brother, this awakening ceremony opened with a success; it seems it foretells more strong people emerging in the Ninth District."
Pei Jing nodded, his gaze falling on Su Qi below, revealing a gratified smile: "Hopefully so."
The Mecha Group and Interstellar Company observing on the high platforms arranged talent development teams to stand by.
Once Zhang Chao's assessment report was released, they would immediately provide a budget and send someone to make contact.
Three minutes passed.
Zhang Chao controlled his emotions, followed a school teacher to assess his abilities.
Soon, the assessment results came out.
Zhang Chao, Mechanical Path, ability leaning towards Starry Sky Technology, Ability Rating C, Life Index 3.
The Ability Rating is related to the size of the ability first obtained through the All Heavens Reflecting True Crystal.
The Life Index concerns the increase from the Heavenly Dao Baptism, and non-Combat Element Awakened's first baptism generally doesn't exceed 10.
It seems like he will embark on the path of research.
Zhang Chao's successful awakening also brought a ray of confidence to other students waiting to awaken.
After all.
Although Zhang Chao's grades were decent, they were slightly lower than theirs.
However.
The failure of the next three awakenings again cast a shadow over their confidence.
"Why did I fail to awaken? My grades are excellent, I've worked so hard...boo hoo..."
"My parents scrimped and saved, hoping for me to awaken as a superpower user, now how can I face them..."
Faced with students crying and creating a commotion, the teachers present only offered a few symbolic words of comfort.
They had seen such scenes many times before.
The Extraordinary Path...
Is inherently this cruel...