Chapter 6: Radiance Unleashed

Under the tense gaze of the crowd, the Test Crystal, sparkling like a cluster of stars, erupted with dazzling radiance once again amid countless awestruck gasps.

Meanwhile, a system alert sounded once more:

“Talent test in progress. Current level: S-Class!”

As the alert ended, the spiritual crystal before Yenir suddenly split into several fine cracks, as if crying out in sorrow.

A burst of light, several times stronger than before, flared up in an instant.

On the dais, Liao Tian, the second-stage Awakener and Military Committee representative, shuddered visibly.

Unable to contain his inner shock any longer, his astonishment was written plainly on his face.

With his mouth agape, he murmured in a daze:

“S-Class… It really is S-Class…”

“How is this possible?! How is this possible?!”

It shattered his understanding; even he could no longer maintain his usual arrogance as his gaze fixed on Yenir in sheer disbelief.

“Everyone, be on high alert!”

“Immediately report to Commander Tianfeng! Report to the higher military district!”

“S-Class! At least one S-Class Awakener has emerged in our Tianfeng Security Zone!”

Panting heavily, he then looked at Yenir—someone he had previously ignored—with a complex mix of emotions and bitter resignation.

S-Class… the fabled super genius, yet astonishingly, nothing more than a ‘minnow’ without any Awakener bloodline…

Suppressing a flicker of envy, he sighed and instinctively cast a disappointed glance at the Awakener descendant.

Among a group of mixed-bloods who had received the very best resources from childhood—with both parental lines being Awakeners—none could surpass Yenir!

For a moment, a surge of dread welled up inside him.

If, when Yenir stormed into the Trial Plaza, he had simply ignored him and ordered his elimination, wouldn’t that have meant he personally snuffed out a third-stage seed!?

After subduing his complex emotions, Liao Tian silently activated his spiritual power, and an invisible protective shield sprang up beside the Trial Platform.

Although conflicted, he knew exactly what Yenir’s display of talent entailed.

If anything were to happen to Yenir now, not only would the Tianfeng Security Zone—no, the entire Jiangbei Warzone—hold them accountable! The significance of a third-stage seed is simply enormous!

Elsewhere.

The highest-ranking pureblood officer closest to Yenir, the first to realize the need to protect him, was now overwhelmed with sheer elation.

Just moments ago, upon witnessing the radiant light symbolizing S-Class, he nearly cried out in excitement.

It truly is S-Class!

Struggling to contain his overwhelming joy, he quickly contacted the top military brass, his eyes grave as he said:

“Colonel Huang Lie of the Tianfeng Military! Requesting the highest alert—an S-Class pureblood has appeared here!!”

“Please send reinforcements immediately and prevent any mishaps!!”

After speaking, he regarded Yenir’s retreating figure as if it were a treasure, wishing he could haul him back to headquarters and showcase him like a prized specimen!

With talent like this, all it would take was one word from him and the entire Tianfeng Military District would supply anything he desired!

For some reason, as his eyes caught sight of bloodstains on the testing platform, a suppressed anger and helplessness surged within him.

….

Outside the Testing Plaza, cordoned off by squad-level soldiers, a high-ranking military officer who had rushed over stood frozen in place.

Just seconds ago, he had inexplicably received a Level One alert.

Before he could assume the people inside were overreacting, he noticed a towering pillar of light.

Moments later, like everyone inside, his face registered intense shock.

He raised his arm decisively.

Fully aware of what that pillar of light signified, he immediately bypassed the chain of command and contacted the Tianfeng Command directly, shouting:

“Strategic Alert!”

“Commander Fang Hai of the Tianfeng Second Division, request reinforcements! Launch the spirit-powered fighter jets immediately for aerial patrols to prevent mishaps!”

“Request ground armored units be deployed outside the city to guard against mutant attacks!”

“All non-military vehicles are barred from routes leading to the Plaza! Secure the upper airspace!”

In the utmost caution, Fang Hai dared not relax his vigilance in the slightest.

Though outsiders might think he was terrified by a mere test, he knew that once the results reached the top—even the Central Authority—and the bigwigs across China began to inquire, there would be no room for error.

Such talent—if an accident disrupted the test due to negligence—would represent an utterly unacceptable loss!

….

Inside Tianfeng Command, a staff officer, busy with official business, stared in astonishment at incoming messages that fluttered in like falling snow.

Will it ever end?

“Level One alert?! Deploy the Aerospace Patrol?! Ground armored units out of the city?!”

Glancing at the sender’s rank as if they were a lunatic, his eyes brimmed with impatience.

With mutants outside still overwhelming them, how could Tianfeng possibly muster such a vast force?

In just a moment, after another message arrived, his expression grew even more astonished.

“Block the roads? Clear the sector completely?! The Commander of Tianfeng even personally deploying? Having a top-tier official inspect it firsthand?!”

Enraged, he burst into bitter laughter. Is this madness?!

Do they have any idea what all this means?

How is it that from top to bottom, the entire Tianfeng Military is frantically requesting reinforcements just to safeguard the Testing Plaza?!

The staff officer was filled with doubts, his eyes betraying suspicion.

Could it be that a high-talent student among the Awakener descendants has emerged? Or have purebloods and mixed-bloods gotten into a brawl?

That shouldn’t be the case…

For a moment, he couldn’t help but glance at the final conclusion.

Moments later, seeing that just seconds ago Yenir had scored an A-Class test result, his face—though still shocked—seemed to think everyone was overreacting.

An A-Class is impressive enough, but it’s not extraordinary.

However, just as he was about to decline the deployment of the Aerospace Patrol, an independent message from the Awakener Legion arrived.

“The Awakener Independent Legion has dispatched high-level Awakeners to the Test Plaza.”

“After verification, a pureblood S-Class has been detected in your unit. When heading to the Test Plaza, be sure to open the Air Defense Identification Zone!”

After reading the message, his hands trembled.

A commanding officer from the staff stared dumbfounded at the blunt request from the Awakener Legion before suddenly leaping up and charging toward the command center.

Pureblood… S-Class!?

Damn it… What the hell!?

In that moment, he finally understood why the entire military was so hyped—wishing they could summon every available force to protect the Testing Plaza.

He knew nothing else, only that once the test concluded, the whole of Tianfeng was bound to be thrown into chaos.

…

Tianfeng Security Zone.

After a series of piercing alarms sounded, four supersonic spirit-powered fighter jets took off like a massive iron curtain, soaring around Tianfeng.

Within the Security Zone, countless survivors listened in panic to the tremendous sonic booms, utterly at a loss.

At the same time, group after group of high-level Awakeners—rare sights in ordinary times—marched across the city, led by a second-stage peak cultivator, straight to the Testing Plaza.

Latest reports revealed that that ordinary academy had already detected S-Class talent!!

And the test is still ongoing!