The white lotus flowers were slowly rocking in the small waves of the River of Origin, a jade green color that gave off its whiteness.
Lucien advanced through the torii gate upstream. The Singularities: Lotus Flower of Origin, which was in the river, measured his talent.
The cave was silent; all the curses and insults directed at Lucien and his mother had long since ceased. Everyone was waiting to see what talent the bastard of the Blossom family would have.
There were already more than twenty lotuses lit, which meant that he did not have an E-rank talent... After he had passed the thirty-nine lotuses lit, it meant that he did not have a D-rank talent!
Forty.... forty-one... forty-two... forty-four... forty-eight... fifty-two, lotuses illuminated, after that no more lotuses were illuminated, Lucien took another step, but nothing happened, as did the young Alina Blossom.
Fifty-two lotuses alight, just like in my past life. Lucien showed no surprise on his face; he had the same talent as in his past life.
Although he knew many ways to cheat with his talent, it was of no use to him, and he saw no benefit in it at the moment.
Besides, as the son of a mortal, it was impressive enough that he had a C-rank talent.
As the son of a mortal, his lineage would be diluted, so in many cases, people born to a Spiritual Master with a good lineage and a mortal would normally have a talent ranking of E or D at most. For Lucien to achieve a C ranking was quite impressive. If his mother had not been mortal, his talent could have been B or A.
Leaving the river, Lucien passed by the young people who were watching him with mixed emotions, and the director announced:
"Fifty-two lotuses lit up, C-rank talent."
After the announcement about Lucien's talent, the director was about to end the Ceremony of Spiritual Awakening, as this was the last one.
However, there was a commotion on the stairs, and a young man with snow-white hair and gem-like silver eyes ran down them, chased by a group of iron-armored guards.
"Let me go! I'm also a Blossom," said the young man, struggling after being grabbed by one of the guards.
That's... Lucien recognized that young man immediately. It was his half-brother Klaus, who had been considered even worse trash than him, had no character, and was unable to hold his head up high.
And he was always compared to Lucien, and intimidated, since, as the son of a mortal, he may be more intelligent than the one who is the son of one of the wives of the head of the family, who has the purest blood.
The director of the Academy approached the guards with an angry expression: "What's going on?"
"Master, this young man forcefully interrupted in the sanctuary, saying that he was the son of the head of the family and Mrs. Sylvia," the guard respectfully explained to the headmaster.
The headmaster bowed slightly as he recognized Klaus's silver eyes, identical to those of Lady Sylvia.
How much would she pay to see her son succeed? He thought, adjusting his suit to make it look more impressive.
"Release young teacher Klaus, we don't want to offend Mrs. Sylvia."
The guard immediately released the white-haired youth. Despite being mortal and a slave, he knew the power Mrs. Sylvia held over Kiran Mountain.
Klaus sighed and said nervously, "Thank you very much, may I begin?"
"Of course, young master Klaus." The director was extremely respectful of this young man; he was very clear that with just one word from Klaus's mother, his fate would be worse than that of the slaves in the Blossom territory.
Klaus approached Lucien before entering the River of Origin and stood in front of him.
The two of them looked at each other, one with black hair and eyes as dark as the abyss, and the other with snow-white hair and bright eyes. The two of them perfectly represented yin and yang.
This did not last long. Klaus looked down as he passed Lucien, but not out of submission... but to hide the hatred that burned in his silver eyes. He, the legitimate one, had been living in the shadow of the bastard for years.
Klaus entered the crystal-clear jade-green river, and as he took his first step, a lotus flower lit up, emanating its beautiful, pure white. As he continued advancing, more lotuses continued to light up.
Klaus moved forward as if the river were carrying him in its arms through the torii gates. Each lotus that came to life sang at a frequency that only he could hear, a melody that vibrated in his bones. Even the air smelled of chrysanthemums, his mother's favorite flower.
The illuminated lotuses... he was already over forty and they were still increasing, fifty-five... fifty-seven...
Klaus stopped when the water reached his knees. The last lotus shone with such intensity that his white hair seemed to absorb the light, turning him into a living silver statue.
The director, with a smile that he never directed at Lucien or some of the young people, held out his hands as if he wanted to applaud the universe for his perfect creation.
"Ninety-seven illuminated lotuses, A-grade talent!" he announced with great emotion in his voice.
"He's a genius! Not even the Patriarch reached 97 lotos!" someone shouted excitedly.
"Klaus is the hope of the Blossom Clan!"
"We no longer have to fear the Dravok Clan!"
"Now we have a genius capable of rivaling Mikel of the Dravok Clan."
Cheers rang out in the cave with the appearance of an A-rank talent, especially in the lower city, where, in this batch, the highest rank of talent had been B. But with the appearance of an A-rank talent, it was something almost impossible to happen on Kiran Mountain.
Lucien's lips curved slightly as he heard the number. Ninety-seven... It was not a surprise. In his past life, Klaus had been known as the "Plum Blossom Genie", but he died prematurely.
Besides, he also made my life impossible. Let's see if he does the same this time. Lucien thought with a bit of amusement, looking to the future.
He turned to leave the cave, as the awakening ceremony was over, and he was now a Spiritual Master. He has no time to lose.
As he left the cave, Klaus approached him and whispered in his ear with satisfaction:
"You see, brother? The difference between a pureblood like me and a dirty-blooded one like you."
Lucien looked at him for a moment and smiled slightly:
"The future will be very interesting, dear brother."
Klaus laughed, but it was a fragile sound, like glass about to break: "The future belongs to me, bastard. And when I'm head of the Clan, the first thing I'll do is purge the mountain of scum like you... and like your mother."
Lucien did not reply and simply walked towards the exit.
Klaus gritted his teeth until his gums bled. But what infuriated him most was Lucien's indifference.
He only saw his walk away, blending into the crowd of young people as the shadows covered his body.