"Thank you, sir. I have confirmed your payment. We'll make sure to take good care of her," a young nurse said with a smile to Rain.
Rain nodded with a smile and didn't waste any time in the hospital again. He had been discharged a week ago and had only come back to pay his mom's hospital bills for the next six months.
It was a heinous task. Since he had nothing to his name, he had to use his dad's bank balance. The old man was dead, and their house had been destroyed due to the chaos, so he had to go through different procedures to gain access to Ryan's bank account and pay his mother's bill.
His own bill was paid by the government since he was a casualty during the portal breakout. But since Lila still had a family member, her first month was paid by the government and then passed to Rain to continue paying.
In the past week, he couldn't find his father's dead body since it was shredded to pieces by the Yaoguai. Thus, he only buried a half-burnt picture he found in the remaining ruins of their bungalow.
He had used some of the money to also rent a small apartment in another estate that wasn't far from the hospital.
After paying the bill and performing his father's last rites, only one thing remained for him: going for a normal awakening procedure. That would clear a lot of confusion.
As of now, the system tagged him as a Cultivator but gave him a Martial Soul meant for Jiangs instead of a Divine Soul truly meant for those who are allowed into the Tower of Aperture.
Rain walked out of the hospital and stood in front of its entrance, waiting for transport.
The streets of the city stretched out before him, nothing like the quiet estate he had grown up in.
Tall structures of glass and steel rose into the sky, their surfaces reflecting shifting holographic advertisements that flickered between products, cultivation academies, and portal raid announcements. Digital banners floated midair without support, displaying real-time updates on Gate activities and Cultivator-related news.
Vehicles moved smoothly along layered roads. Some hovered inches above the ground, while others sped across elevated lanes suspended between buildings. The faint hum of energy engines replaced the noise of traditional traffic.
Pedestrians filled the walkways, but even that looked different.
Some wore sleek, modern outfits. Others carried weapons casually at their sides, swords sheathed in metallic casings or compact devices strapped to their arms. A few individuals radiated subtle pressure, their presence alone enough to make nearby people keep their distance.
"Is it Cultivator day? Tch… shitty beings."
Drones hovered overhead, scanning the area as they moved in organized patterns. Occasionally, one would pause midair, projecting a blue interface in front of a civilian before flying off again.
Rain stood still for a moment, taking it all in.
This was the world he had ignored for years.
He exhaled slowly and stepped forward, raising his hand slightly.
A sleek transport cab responded almost instantly.
It glided toward him without a sound, its body smooth and metallic, with faint blue lights running along its edges. The windows were tinted, and the door slid open upward in a clean, seamless motion.
Rain stepped in without hesitation.
The interior adjusted automatically as he sat down, the seat shifting to match his posture.
A soft voice echoed from within.
"Destination?"
Rain leaned back slightly, his eyes calm now.
"The nearest Awakening Center."
****
The vehicle came to a smooth halt, and the door slid open with a soft hiss. Rain stepped out.
The Awakening Center towered high into the sky, its design a blend of advanced technology and ancient authority. The lower half was built from polished black alloy, smooth and seamless, reflecting the movement of the city like a dark mirror. Above that, the structure transitioned into layers of reinforced glass and metallic frames, rising in sharp geometric patterns that seemed to pierce the clouds.
A massive emblem was embedded at the center of the building's front...a glowing circular crest with intricate symbols rotating slowly within it, emitting a soft white and gold light.
Wide steps led up to the entrance, but most people didn't use them.
Instead, individuals were guided through invisible scanning fields that shimmered briefly whenever someone passed through. Transparent barriers would appear and disappear depending on clearance, controlling the flow of people without a single visible guard interfering.
Above the entrance, a large floating display projected information in crisp blue light:
[AWAKENING CENTER - SECTOR 8]
[CURRENT STATUS: OPEN]
[QUEUE NUMBER: 214]
People moved in and out constantly.
Teenagers, young adults, and even a few older individuals stood around in small groups, some looking nervous, others excited. A few wore academy uniforms, while others came dressed casually, but all of them shared one thing: anticipation.
Occasionally, a faint surge of energy would ripple from within the building, barely noticeable but enough to make the air feel different for a second.
Rain's gaze lingered on the entrance. This was where everything changed for people. For most, it was the beginning of their path.
For him… it was the same thing, but it had a different feeling to it.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and walked toward the entrance.
Deciding to be an oddball, he climbed the stairs, but was left with an open mouth when the glass door into the building also scanned him before allowing him in.
It shouldn't have been a surprise, but for someone who had spent months in the basement, it would feel foreign at first.
'Guess it'll take time to adjust.'
The interior was just as imposing as the exterior.
The moment Rain stepped in, a cool wave of air brushed against his skin, carrying a faint sterile scent mixed with something… different. It wasn't exactly Qi, but it felt close enough to make his senses slightly sharper.
The lobby was massive. The ceiling stretched high above, supported by sleek pillars that looked more like sculpted metal than structural supports. Soft white lights were embedded into the surfaces, glowing without any visible source, giving the entire place a clean, futuristic feel. The floor beneath his feet was smooth and reflective, like polished crystal.
At the center of the hall stood a large circular platform, slightly elevated. Above it floated a rotating holographic sphere displaying different symbols, diagrams, and what looked like human body outlines with glowing pathways...meridians.
People gathered around it, some watching intently while others ignored it completely and moved toward different sections of the hall.
To the left, there was a long counter where staff in white and silver uniforms attended to applicants. Transparent screens hovered in front of them, updating constantly as they processed information.
To the right, a waiting area stretched out, filled with rows of seats. Some people sat quietly, others whispered among themselves, while a few stared straight ahead, clearly trying to calm their nerves.
Further ahead were multiple corridors, each marked with glowing signs:
[INITIAL REGISTRATION]
[AWAKENING CHAMBERS]
[SOUL CLASSIFICATION]
[MEDICAL EVALUATION]
Drones floated silently near the ceiling, occasionally descending to scan individuals before moving on.
Rain stood still for a moment, taking everything in.
"…So this is how an awakening center looks," he muttered.
Without wasting more time, he walked toward the registration counter.