The tram ride back to the residential district was silent. The adrenaline that had fueled Ren Zian through his private test was finally draining away, leaving behind a deep, buzzing exhaustion.
Zhantian led the way, his expression grim but thoughtful.
When they arrived at their modest home, Zian threw himself onto the worn-out couch with a long sigh. He stared at the ceiling for a moment before asking, "Where's Mom?"
Zhantian paused, setting his keys down.
"Out on a business trip."
Zian sat up. "Business trip?"
Zhantian nodded. "You know she works for Starforge Consortium. They're one of the top artifact development companies in New Moon City. They make custom weapons, armor, and cultivation gear. Anything that combines astral resources with beast materials."
Zian whistled. "Right, forgot they were that big."
"Bigger than you think," Zhantian said, pouring himself a drink. "And she's not just any employee. She's a senior developer. Her job takes her out into the wildlands sometimes, scouting rare resources and negotiating supply contracts."
Zian's respect for his mother—already high—rose another notch.
Zhantian sat across from him, his face turning serious.
"Listen carefully, Zian. You passed the private certification, and that's good. Damn good. But it was just the first step."
Zian leaned forward.
"Your real test comes during the public Awakening Ceremony. That's when your name will be recorded into the New Moon Martial Registry, where universities, dojos, families, everyone, can see you."
He tapped the table for emphasis.
"Until then, your job is simple: cultivate. Grow stronger. Polish every inch of your foundation. When that day comes, you can't just be talented. You have to be unignorable. To the point that whatever power you align with is willing to give their all to protect you."
Zian clenched his fists.
"Got it."
"Good," Zhantian said. "You have one week. Every day until then, we'll train. You will absorb Astral Energy until your bones hum with it. You will sharpen your control until you can crush opponents with precision, not just brute force."
Zian grinned.
"Sounds like hell."
Zhantian smirked.
"It will be."
Far from the small house in New Moon City, in the highest towers of Heavenly Dragon Dojo, a private meeting was underway.
A holographic report floated above the polished obsidian table, displaying Ren Zian's profile. Key details were marked in red:
Fourth Celestial Layer Vein. Regal Dragon Bloodline. Early Middle Astral Foundation Stage. Projected Rapid Growth.
The Grand Elder of the dojo, a man known only as Venerable Longxu, leaned forward, his aged eyes gleaming with intensity.
"Unprecedented," he muttered.
Beside him, the current Headmaster, Jian Hong, frowned.
"He has no background. No affiliations. No protections."
"Exactly," Longxu said, smiling thinly. "Which means he is ripe for harvest."
Another elder spoke up.
"Should we send an envoy?"
Longxu tapped his fingers on the table.
"No. Not yet. We observe. If he passes the public ceremony with even half the potential shown here, we move."
Jian Hong nodded slowly.
"If we can secure him early, he could become the pillar of the next generation."
Across the city, inside the grand Scarlet Cloud Temple, another gathering took place.
High Priestess Lian Yue sat on a dais surrounded by crimson-robed cultivators.
A scroll lay open before her, detailing Zian's awakening.
"Fourth Layer," she said softly, voice like a song. "And the Regal Dragon at that."
The inner circle waited breathlessly for her verdict.
She smiled, a dangerous gleam in her eyes.
"Find him. Watch him. If he aligns with our philosophy, we offer him sanctuary. If not..."
Her words trailed off, but the implication hung heavy in the air.
Meanwhile, deep underground in the labyrinthine halls of Titan Gate, brutal warriors clad in iron training gear discussed the same report.
"Monster," one grunted, tossing the file onto the table.
"Could be a threat," another growled.
Their leader, a towering figure named Goro Han, cracked his knuckles.
"Or an opportunity, but if not…"
The statement needed no ending.
Finally, within the hidden domains of the Nine Rivers Clan, a family of ancient bloodlines and secret arts, an old matriarch sat in her garden, listening to whispered reports.
"Regal Dragon Vein," she murmured, sipping tea. "How very... interesting."
She gave a faint smile.
"It seems the younger generation will have entertainment after all."
Back at home, Zian stood in the training courtyard behind their house, eyes closed, feeling the sun on his skin.
Astral Energy swirled around him, a faint corona of light.
He could almost hear the distant rumbling of the world shifting.
For the first time in a century, a Fourth Layer Awakener without backing had appeared.
And whether he was ready or not, every great power on Earth had started to move.
The storm was coming.
And Ren Zian would be at its center.