"The Enlightenment Ceremony is about to start. I can't wait any longer! Just get on with it—I don't care if it's good or bad, just put me out of my misery!"
"A clever girl like me will definitely open an aperture of Grade A potential or higher, maybe even awaken a Spirit Body…"
"A Spirit Body… Our Changkong Clan produces at least three Spirit Bodies every year, and even a Sacred Body every twenty years or so. I hope I'll be one of the lucky ones."
"Why is everyone chirping away? So annoying!"
"I have to open an aperture of at least Grade B potential. Otherwise, I'll be sent away and won't be able to enjoy the clan's superior cultivation environment anymore."
"I'm not asking for much. As long as I can successfully achieve Enlightenment, I'll be happy."
"Our Changkong Clan is a Golden Clan. Geniuses are a dime a dozen here, which doesn't suit a lazy person like me. I'm going to lower my status and go to a Silver Tribe. If that doesn't work out, I'd be fine being a little Overlord in a Bronze Tribe."
...
Before Dragon Roar Peak, the Changkong Clan's Enlightenment Ceremony was taking place.
A group of fifteen-year-old boys and girls were gathered, whispering amongst themselves.
The expressions on their faces varied—some hopeful, some anxious, some excited. A full range of emotions was on display.
They were all members of the Changkong Clan, about to open their bodies' apertures and embark on the path of cultivation.
Amidst the crowd, Changkong Fang Yang watched everything with a cold, detached gaze.
In this world, he was from the Changkong Clan's Fang Clan.
In truth, Changkong Fang Yang... or rather, Fang Yang, was a Transmigrator. He had been in this world for fifteen years.
Over the years, Fang Yang had gradually come to understand this world.
It was a world where immortals and demons rose together, where gods and monsters appeared in droves.
Compared to the peaceful society of Fang Yang's previous life, this place was fraught with peril, where the slightest misstep could lead to one's demise, turned to ash.
In this world, for a youth of the Human Race to embark on the path of cultivation, they had to open their body's apertures. Only then could they receive the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth, temper their very essence, and transcend the mundane.
The quality of these apertures, in turn, determined a Cultivator's growth.
The better the aperture's potential, the faster one's cultivation speed. From highest to lowest, the grades were: Perfect, A, B, C, and D.
Furthermore, if an aperture's potential reached the Perfect grade, it was highly likely to give rise to a Spirit Body, a Sacred Body, or even the legendary... Immortal Body!
In short, this was a world of immortals and gods, profound and immensely dangerous.
For the youths of the Human Race stepping onto the path of cultivation, the quality of the aperture they opened was a critically important step!
「At this moment.」
Fang Yang's attention shifted to the sphere of light deep within his mind.
This sphere of light was the manifestation of his [Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune] talent.
[Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune: When an opportunity presents itself, you can use your prophetic luck to make a choice, obtaining fortune and avoiding disaster...]
As Fang Yang focused on it, text once again appeared on the sphere of light:
[The Enlightenment Ceremony, the path to Changsheng begins. On Dragon Roar Peak, mysteries are endless, a choice at the crossroads of fate awaits.]
[Upper-Middle Lot: Ascend the Fire Attribute staircase. Obtain a Tier Three opportunity. An eagle strikes the vast sky, Fierce Flame burns the heavens. Auspicious.]
[Middle Lot: Ascend the Water Attribute staircase. Take no action, make no mistakes, neither strive nor waver. Nothing gained, nothing lost. Neutral.]
[Lowest Lot: Ascend the Wood Attribute staircase. Obtain a Tier Seven opportunity, but it conceals a great hidden danger. A one-in-ten chance of survival. Inauspicious!]
'A Tier Seven opportunity… This must be the greatest opportunity I've seen in my fifteen years here.'
'It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a heaven-defying stroke of luck. It's a pity I'm too weak and insignificant to bear such a massive blessing right now.'
'In that case, I'll just choose the Upper-Middle Lot's Tier Three opportunity.'
Fang Yang's thoughts moved like lightning.
In an instant, he withdrew his focus from his mind.
"Silence!"
Not long after, from the high platform in front, an elder from the clan academy suddenly spoke. His voice boomed like a great bell, instantly silencing the whispers throughout the crowd.
"Today is the day you will ascend Dragon Roar Peak, gather Primordial Qi, open your body's apertures, and embark on the path of cultivation."
"This step, Enlightenment, is the beginning of cultivation. I trust that your parents and your academy teachers have already explained to you just how important Enlightenment is."
"What happens next is up to you…"
Listening to the academy elder's words, Fang Yang felt a stir in his heart.
He lowered his gaze, a gray mist seeming to roil in their depths. 'One step to Enlightenment, the beginning of cultivation. To become an Immortal Ancestor, to live forever…'
In all these years, Fang Yang had read through the entire scripture collection, becoming what could be called a small, walking Scripture Pavilion.
He naturally understood that only by succeeding in Enlightenment could he truly step onto the path of cultivation and have a chance at pursuing Changsheng.
This was the seed of Changsheng!
Now, faced with such a destiny-altering opportunity, many memories buried deep in his heart gradually came to life.
In his past life, he had been an ordinary Chinese student on Earth.
For some very particular reasons, after completing his studies, he had searched all over the world for its various Grotto Heavens and Blessed Lands, but found nothing.
Until the very last moment, he had walked the path of seeking the Dao, unyielding and undeterred.
And now, he was finally, truly about to come into contact with the path of cultivation himself!
'In this life, my Fang Clan has already declined from its peak. You could say there are too many wolves and not enough meat.'
'On top of that, I have no close relatives to help me. Forging ahead on the path of cultivation will naturally be that much harder.'
'That being the case, I must open an aperture of at least Grade A potential in this Enlightenment Ceremony. Otherwise, my cultivation path will be incredibly difficult.'
'Putting everything else aside, if I don't have Grade A potential, it will be extremely difficult for me to advance to a Tier Three Cultivator. And if I can't advance to the Tier Three realm, I won't be able to increase my lifespan by two hundred years…'
While Fang Yang's thoughts were racing, the academy elder on the high platform finally finished his explanations.
Afterward, the boys and girls of the various lineages set off one after another, heading toward the foot of Dragon Roar Peak.
Dragon Roar Peak was a colossal mountain shaped like a coiled white dragon.
Here, Primordial Qi filled the air and divine mists rose, creating a dreamlike scene, like a paradise on earth.
The staircase leading straight to the summit was made entirely of white jade, shimmering with brilliant light, a breathtaking sight. Yet, it was also sealed with runic arrays, which made it incredibly daunting and terrifying.
Even though they were prepared, the group of youths couldn't help but exclaim in amazement:
"Dragon Roar Peak! A place to seize one's destiny and astound the world!"
"The clan hasn't produced a single Sacred Body in several years. It looks like it's my time to shine."
"Sigh, every year some unlucky soul fails to open their aperture and is forced to become a cripple. I just hope it's not me. Ancestors, protect me…"
"Ancestors above, please let me climb Dragon Roar Peak smoothly. I'm not asking for a Spirit Body or a Sacred Body, just let me reach the area where one can open a Grade A aperture…"
The youths' whispers inevitably started up again.
Meanwhile, the clan elders at the front of each lineage's group wore varying expressions.
Everyone knew that the higher one's potential, the better, but the matter of Enlightenment was profoundly mysterious.
Even for a Golden Clan like them, there was no guarantee that every member would be a genius.
"Alright, that's enough."
"Now, listen to my instructions. When your lineage's name is called, your group will begin the ascent of Dragon Roar Peak. Remember, climb as high as you can. The higher, the better."
The academy elder announced in a deep voice, "The Sen lineage, the Qing lineage, and the Yue lineage, begin your ascent!"