Time passed quickly, with Zian not cultivating temporarily under the instruction of his father so as to not further alarm people of his potential.
The morning air was brisk, carrying a faint metallic tang that always came before a major event. Ren Zian stood outside the hidden testing center, a facility buried deep beneath New Moon City's fortified administrative sector. From the surface, the building looked like nothing more than an aging storage depot, but beneath it lay an entirely different world, a sanctum for those who needed their awakenings kept secret.
"Follow closely," Zhantian said, leading the way.
Zian adjusted his black training gear and suppressed the growing surge of energy bubbling under his skin. His father's heavy steps echoed down the narrow stairwell as they descended deeper into the underground complex.
Massive steel gates adorned with ancient array carvings opened silently at their approach. They passed through several checkpoints, each guarded by cultivators whose power Zian could now faintly feel. Solid, trained, lethal.
At the bottom, a wide chamber awaited them. Wei Shuren stood at its center, dressed now in formal robes marked with the emblem of Heavenly Dragon Dojo.
"Right on time," Wei said, nodding approvingly. "You're about to enter the Private Certification process. There's no turning back after this."
"Good," Zian replied simply.
Wei motioned toward the massive platform in the center of the room, surrounded by layers of translucent barriers that shimmered with spiritual light.
"Three phases," Wei began, voice loud and clear. "First, Vein Revelation. Second, Astral Energy Control. Third, Combat Readiness. Fail any stage, and the certification is void."
He stared hard at Zian.
"And remember, there are eyes on you even now. Important eyes."
Zian inhaled deeply and stepped onto the platform.
A hum of energy pulsed beneath his feet.
In hidden chambers behind one-way viewing arrays, senior officials from Heavenly Dragon Dojo sat in silence. Some were old, their faces creased with the weight of countless battles. Others were young, sharp-eyed, already gauging whether this unknown youth could shift the balance of power.
The room dimmed.
"Phase One: Vein Revelation," a mechanical voice intoned.
Zian closed his eyes.
He reached inward.
The Regal Dragon Vein stirred, a deep, sovereign presence awakening inside him. Power flooded his limbs, but he kept it contained, focusing instead on drawing it outward.
Above him, a golden light bloomed.
Gasps echoed faintly from the hidden chambers.
The projection formed—a colossal dragon, coiled in the heavens, its scales gleaming like molten gold, its eyes closed in silent majesty. The pressure it exuded was suffocating even through the barriers.
"Fourth Celestial Layer... confirmed," the voice announced after a long moment.
The dragon's image slowly faded, but the awe it had inspired lingered.
Wei Shuren, standing at the platform's edge, nodded with satisfaction, his eyes still containing shock.
"Phase One, complete."
Zian exhaled slowly, steadying his heartbeat.
"Phase Two: Astral Energy Control."
Small floating crystals emerged around him, each marked with different runic patterns. His task was to manipulate the surrounding Astral Energy to form specific structures and infuse them into the crystals.
Zian didn't hesitate.
He reached out with his mind. Astral Energy responded immediately, drawn to him as if by command. A swirling ring formed first, then two, then three, each tighter and more stable than the last.
One by one, he infused the crystals with energy. Each one lit up brilliantly, casting dancing reflections across the chamber.
The final step was to condense his own energy into a perfect orb, a feat typically achieved only by Astral Core cultivators.
He gritted his teeth, sweat forming at his brow, and pushed.
The energy compressed, fighting him every step.
Seconds stretched into minutes.
Finally, with a crack of light, a flawless orb hovered in his palm.
The officials behind the screens whispered among themselves, their voices low but urgent.
"Astral Core-level control... at Foundation Stage..."
"Impossible."
"Miraculous."
The mechanical voice sounded again.
"Phase Two, complete."
Wei's eyes gleamed with approval.
"Good. Very good."
Zian flexed his fingers as the orb dissipated.
"Phase Three: Combat Readiness."
A heavy rumble shook the platform as the walls parted, revealing a spiritual summoning array. Light poured from it, solidifying into a massive beast, a warhound made entirely of condensed Astral Energy. Standing nearly three meters tall, its eyes burning with crimson light.
Normally, the construct would be calibrated to match a Middle Foundation cultivator.
Today, it had been enhanced.
Wei watched silently as the beast snarled and charged.
Zian moved.
He didn't just dodge, he flowed, his body weaving through the beast's snapping jaws and thunderous strikes.
The first counterattack came like a thunderclap. Zian's fist, reinforced with Astral Energy, slammed into the beast's flank, sending it skidding across the arena.
The beast roared and leapt again, faster now.
Zian's eyes narrowed.
He called forth the Regal Domain.
The arena shifted.
An air of sovereignty spread throughout, alarming everyone present.
"Domain?! Even among Fourth Celestial Layer veins, domain abilities are only present at the higher level! How is it possible?" One of the officials yelled.
The beast's movements slowed, its strikes becoming sluggish as Zian's oppressive aura filled the space.
He dashed forward, shimmering with golden light, and unleashed a barrage of strikes. Precise, brutal, overwhelming.
At the climax, he roared, summoning the faint outline of the Regal Dragon Transformation.
Golden scales shimmered across his skin, his muscles thickened, and his fists became wrecking balls of pure force.
His entire body morphed and took on a striking dragon-like appearance.
The beast barely had time to react before Zian's final blow smashed into its core.
With a shriek of rupturing energy, the construct shattered into shards of light.
Silence.
Then the mechanical voice returned, colder, almost disbelieving.
"Phase Three, complete. Candidate passes all certification criteria."
Wei Shuren stepped forward, clapping slowly.
"Congratulations, Ren Zian. You're now officially registered under the Private Awakening Act."
The barriers lowered. Officials in dark robes began sealing away the records, encrypting the data into black-core drives.
Zian stepped down from the platform, breathing heavily but grinning wide.
Wei approached and lowered his voice.
"You impressed them. More than you realize."
Zian tilted his head.
"Good, right?"
Wei smiled tightly.
"Good... and dangerous. Eyes that should've stayed closed are now opening."
Far above, in the highest echelon of Heavenly Dragon Dojo, a report was already making its way across polished tables and golden chambers.
The world wouldn't know him yet.
But the ripples he had created were already turning into waves.
Ren Zian's journey had truly begun.