Myriad Realms Strongest Family

As the ceremony continued, the village children approached the Awakening Stone one by one. The stone sat at the center of the dais, glowing faintly, a quiet judge of their potential. Each step forward was filled with hope, fear, or resignation, depending on the child.

A boy from one of the villages shuffled to the stone. His clothes were patched and worn, a sign of the poverty that marked his life. Dirt smudged his cheeks, and his hands trembled as he reached out to place his palm on the stone. The crystal flickered weakly, and above his head appeared the faint, unimpressive image of a broom.

The grand elder, Zhao Changqing, announced, "Martial spirit: Broom. Innate soul power: zero."

The boy's shoulders slumped as whispers broke out among the gathered children and villagers.

"Another one with no potential."

"He'll probably end up as a servant for the clan," someone muttered.

The boy stepped down, his head hanging low, and joined the others who had awakened spirits deemed useless. He looked at his village elder, who gave him a pitying nod, but no words of comfort were exchanged.

Next was a girl with a pale face and trembling hands. Encouraged by a nod from her village elder, she hesitantly approached the Awakening Stone. When her palm touched its surface, the crystal flared faintly, revealing the image of a wooden ladle floating above her head.

"Martial spirit: Wooden Ladle," Zhao Changqing declared. "Innate soul power: one."

The girl tried to muster a small smile, but her disappointment was clear. She bowed respectfully and returned to her place, clutching her hands tightly to hide their shaking.

One by one, the village children approached the stone. Spirits like a straw hat, a pair of shoes, and a candle materialized, each met with muted reactions from the crowd. Soul power levels ranged from zero to three, all considered unremarkable. The elders exchanged quiet words, discussing how these children might still serve the clan in non-combat roles.

Though the Divine Sword Clan was known for its martial strength, it also relied on workers to maintain its farmlands, repair its buildings, and tend to its needs. For those with weak spirits or no soul power, this was their future—a service life.

Wei Liang, a wiry boy with unassuming features, watched the ceremony unfold with careful attention. To most, he appeared like any other village child, his expression a mix of nervousness and awe. But beneath that mask lay the cold calculations of a trained spy.

'This is my moment,' Wei Liang thought as he stepped forward. 'A single misstep could ruin everything. I must appear ordinary enough to blend in, but strong enough to be noticed.'

He approached the Awakening Stone, feigning nervousness with hesitant steps. Placing his hand on the crystal, he focused his soul power carefully, controlling the output. The stone pulsed with green light before a snake with shimmering emerald scales appeared above him.

Zhao Changqing's voice rang out, "Martial spirit: Emerald Viper. Innate soul power: five."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.

"A snake spirit! That's rare for a village child."

"And level five soul power? Impressive."

Wei Liang bowed deeply, his expression humble, though inside, he was satisfied. 

'Perfect,' he thought. 

'Not too weak to draw scorn, but not strong enough to raise suspicion. This will serve my mission well.'

As Wei Liang returned to his place, another child stepped forward. Mei Hua, a petite girl with delicate features, approached the dais with small, cautious steps. 

'This is just another performance,' Mei Hua reminded herself as she reached the stone. 'No different from the countless roles I've played before.'

She placed her hand on the Awakening Stone, her posture slightly trembling to appear genuine. The crystal flared with a brilliant golden light, and a bird of radiant gold emerged above her. Its feathers shimmered under the sunlight, capturing the attention of everyone present.

"Martial spirit: Golden Feather Chicken," Zhao Changqing announced, his tone betraying a hint of surprise. 

"Innate soul power: six."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"A chicken spirit? That's… unusual, but it's still rare."

"Almost like a phoenix, if you squint," one child muttered, drawing a few chuckles.

"And level six again? These village children are surprising this year."

Mei Hua curtsied politely, her expression modest despite the attention. 

Inside, she analyzed the situation. 'Good. I've made an impression without drawing too much suspicion. This clan's future depends on its children, and I need to ensure they never pose a threat to the Spirit Hall.'

The ceremony continued but whispers about the Emerald Viper and Golden Feather Chicken persisted. For many, the two spirits stood out among the otherwise mundane awakenings. 

Meanwhile, Wei Liang and Mei Hua silently observed, their thoughts already planning their next moves.

The atmosphere in the courtyard grew tense as the children of the Divine Sword Clan's elders took their turns. These children carried the weight of their family legacies, and the crowd eagerly awaited to see if any would awaken a powerful martial spirit.

"Expectations are high for them," a villager whispered to his neighbor.

"If the direct descendants can't awaken something great, what hope is there for the rest of us?" another murmured, worried.

The first to step forward was Zhao Ming, the son of the sixth elder, Zhao Liangyu. Zhao Ming carried himself with confidence, his tall frame and pristine white robes, embroidered with golden patterns, drawing all eyes to him. 

He stood at the dais, clearly enjoying the attention as he glanced at his father, sitting among the elders. Zhao Liangyu gave a slight nod, his expression calm but filled with expectation.

Zhao Ming placed his hand on the Awakening Stone, his movements slow and deliberate. The stone flared to life, but the light was dim and quickly faded. An ordinary sword formed above him, its blade dull and chipped, the hilt cracked and weathered.

The crowd fell silent, disappointment settling over them like a dark cloud.

"Martial spirit: Inferior Blade," Zhao Changqing, the grand elder, announced in a flat tone.

"Innate soul power: level three."

A murmur of disappointment rippled through the audience.

"An Inferior Blade? That's… underwhelming."

"Only level three soul power? How can this be the son of an elder?"

Zhao Ming's confident smirk faded into disbelief. He stared at the rusted sword above him, his face turning pale.

"This can't be right," he muttered, his voice shaking. "I'm the son of an elder. I should've awakened something powerful!"

Zhao Liangyu, his father, shifted in his seat, his expression tense. For a brief moment, his eyes betrayed his disappointment, though his lips remained tightly pressed together.

"Ming'er," Zhao Liangyu said, his voice calm but firm. 

"Step down."

Zhao Ming clenched his fists, his shoulders trembling with frustration. With a stiff bow, he retreated from the dais, his head bowed in shame.

"That's a poor start," someone whispered from the crowd.

"Even the direct descendants are failing… What does that mean for the clan?"

Zhao Lei, the grandson of the fifth elder, stepped forward next. He clenched his fists, determined to prove himself. Zhao Lei was aware that the pressure on him was immense, but he was ready to face it head-on.

As he placed his hand on the Awakening Stone, the stone glowed a deep red before forming a jagged sword above his head. It had a fractured edge, rough and uneven.

"Martial spirit: Cracked Saber," Zhao Changqing declared. "Innate soul power: level two."

The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, filled with uncertainty.

"Two descendants and neither shows any promise…"

"The Divine Sword Clan is in trouble if even its bloodline is weakening."

Zhao Lei lowered his gaze, stepping back from the dais with a heavy heart. As he returned to his place, the whispers only grew.

The grand elder, Zhao Changqing, raised his hand, silencing the crowd. His voice echoed in the courtyard, calm but authoritative.

"This is just the beginning," Zhao Changqing said. "The true potential of our descendants will reveal itself in time. Do not rush to judge them."

Though his words were meant to reassure, an uncomfortable silence lingered. Even the elders exchanged uneasy glances, worried about what might come next.

Zhao Xiaoyu stepped forward, the weight of expectation heavy on her shoulders. As the daughter of the second elder, everyone in the crowd watched her with bated breath. This was her moment to prove her worth. 

She placed her hand on the Awakening Stone, and immediately, a surge of power shot through the air. The stone flared to life, glowing with a black light so intense it seemed to swallow everything around it. The crowd collectively gasped.

The light grew brighter, and from within the glow, a sleek, dark sword began to form above her. The sword shimmered with an otherworldly aura, its sharp edges gleaming like obsidian. A deep silence fell over the courtyard.

"Martial Spirit: Dark Burial Sword," Zhao Changqing's voice rang out, filled with awe.

A moment of complete silence followed. No one dared to speak, their minds struggling to comprehend what they had just witnessed. 

Then, in a stunned whisper, one of the elders gasped, "That's... that's a variation of the Heavenly Divine Sword!"

"Level ten!" another elder shouted, his voice trembling. "Level ten soul power! It's unheard of!"

The crowd was in shock. They had never witnessed anything like this before. Some couldn't believe their eyes. 

"Did she really awaken level ten soul power?" someone murmured in disbelief. "Is that even possible?"

"This can't be real," another voice said.

The murmurs grew louder, the astonishment spreading like wildfire.

"She's going to be the strongest among us!" someone shouted, their voice filled with awe.

"How did she awaken something so powerful?" another elder asked, his face pale with disbelief. 

Zhao Xiaoyu stood still, her gaze calm despite the overwhelming energy surrounding her. She had done it. She had awakened the Dark Burial Sword, and with it, a soul power that surpassed anything anyone had ever seen.

Zhao Liang, the second elder, looked at his daughter, his eyes filled with pride. The disbelief on his face was quickly replaced with a deep sense of awe. His voice was soft but filled with emotion as he spoke, "Xiaoyu... you have surpassed us all."

Around him, the elders continued to whisper in shock.

"This is it! This is the hope the clan has been waiting for!" one of them said, shaking his head in amazement.

"No one has ever achieved level ten soul power in the past decade. She's... She's a prodigy!" another exclaimed.

Even Wei Liang and Mei Hua, the spies who had been observing quietly, felt a wave of shock. Mei Hua, who had been trained for subtlety and observation, couldn't hide her amazement. 

"She's too powerful," Wei Liang whispered, his eyes narrowing in surprise. "If she awakens with this kind of power, the Divine Sword Clan could rise again... much quicker than we anticipated."

The atmosphere in the courtyard was electric with excitement and disbelief. Zhao Xiaoyu's awakening was not just an event—it was a historic moment for the entire Divine Sword Clan.

Zhao Changqing, the grand elder, nodded with respect, his eyes filled with admiration. "This is the beginning of a new era," he said, his voice steady. "The future of our clan is in her hands."

Xiaoyu turned her gaze to her father, the second elder, who was watching her with pride. His stern face softened as he nodded approvingly.

Finally, Zhao Yunfeng stepped forward. The crowd fell silent, their anticipation thick in the air. Yunfeng was the son of the third elder, Zhao Tianwei, and his awakening could very well decide the future of the entire clan.

He walked to the Awakening Stone, his steps steady and sure. As he placed his hand on the stone, it hummed with a deep vibration, a resonance that filled the courtyard. The stone flared with a golden light so intense that many had to shield their eyes.

The golden light condensed, taking the shape of a sword that shimmered with countless colors. Its brilliance was blinding, and an overwhelming aura of power radiated from it.

Before anyone could speak, a strange voice echoed in Yunfeng's mind.

[Ding! Family Cultivation System binding… Successful!]