Chapter 3 - Third Child (2)

"No matter the method, the spiritual awakening unlocks the power of your soul. If you have an affinity, something only the most ancient and powerful clans possess from birth, it might be lost," Guo Feng said, shocking Guo Yang. He thought of his own *neidan*. Could he lose the three types of elemental energies he absorbed? Ridiculous.

"People like that exist?" Guo Lin asked, sounding disappointed, as he'd always thought he was quite talented.

"Don't worry. I guarantee you'll survive," Guo Jing laughed. "You’ll all sit within a formation barrier and endure the spiritual pressure of the practitioners as they awaken your spiritual energy. If you succeed, a white lotus will bloom, and the petals will show if you have elemental affinities. Go on now."

The fifty-three children nervously gathered in the center of a large square as their guardians and loved ones watched from the stands. Guo Mei and Guo Lin were anxious, while Guo Yang refused to believe he would lose his elemental affinities. Five practitioners in white robes took their places at the square’s corners, activating the octagonal formation barrier beneath the children. They lifted their hands to the heavens, and a golden light descended on each child.

Guo Yang gritted his teeth, feeling the intense pressure. He quickly circulated his spiritual energy as the water element in his body began slipping away. It felt as though his limbs were being pulled apart. Soon, over two dozen children vomited blood and died, a few more suffering gruesome deaths as their chests or heads exploded. The air filled with weeping as Guo Yang closed his eyes, trying desperately to protect what remained of his spirit energy.

"Good, good," said the man in the crimson tuxedo as twenty minutes passed. "If the heavens are granting them elemental affinities, they should be awakening now."

"Please spare them, please spare them," Ji Ting prayed, her eyes on the triplets, who were drenched in sweat, struggling against the pain.

"The foreign energy is... light! No wonder it felt so strange," Guo Yang thought, finally identifying the unknown energy. "Yes, the heavens are giving me an element... the one I lost: water. Heh. The heavens can’t deny me my affinities."

The crowd gasped as white lotuses bloomed above the children. There were seven elements: fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, light, and darkness. Among the survivors, each element was represented, and the families of those children beamed with pride.

Guo Mei had affinities for lightning and darkness, causing a stir due to the rarity of the lightning element. Guo Lin, however, shocked everyone—he had affinities for earth, fire, water, and wind! The four basic elements. Even the more powerful clans were envious, eagerly awaiting the results for the last triplet. Finally, Guo Yang’s white lotus showed affinities for earth, water, and light. Together, the triplets possessed all seven elements! Such an event was unprecedented.

"Hahaha! The heavens have blessed the Guo Clan!" Guo Jing’s laughter shattered the stunned silence.

"Sand, cerulean, and gold spirit energies flow within my *neidan*," Guo Yang thought as the lotus and the formation barrier faded. His body was adapting to the new combination of elements. Strangely, he no longer felt discomfort, even without his brazier nearby. He guessed it was due to the light spiritual energy he had absorbed.

"It seems the Guo Clan will rise in the years to come," the man in the crimson tuxedo announced. "This concludes the ritual. Those with affinities, please come forward and receive a complementary gift. Thank you all for witnessing the future of Tang City."

"Bird," Guo Yang hissed as he spotted a phoenix magical beast near the man, whom he assumed was the city lord.

"Congratulations to the ten of you," the city lord said. "As a token of your future success, each of you will receive a weapon. Please come up and request a weapon aligned with your elemental affinity from the Gold Lotus Armory—the very armory that supplies our city’s guards."

One by one, the children stepped forward, and when it was Guo Yang’s turn, the man asked, "What will you choose?"

"A spear with a light affinity," Guo Yang replied.

"Hmm. Not a common request. Most go for a sword. But it’s fine. Here you go—this is the Moon Lotus Spear. It’s forged from a rare immortal metal with a light affinity, and it emits rays like the moon. Legend says the founder of Tang City, my ancestor, discovered immortal metals in a gold lotus, and this particular metal was found at its base. He named it Moon Metal because of its luminous quality," the man explained, handing him a spear with a black shaft and a fiery, golden spearhead. "Take care of the pointy end, kid. When you grow older, collect materials to forge your own unique weapon. Since you have more than one affinity, you’ll also receive a free interspatial ring. Inside, you’ll find some Moon Metal to start your collection. Congratulations to you and your siblings, though I must say, none of you look alike."

"Thank you," Guo Yang said, bowing before rejoining his family.

"A spear? That’s unexpected," Guo Jing commented. "Why?"

"I prefer more fluid styles of fighting. Spears suit the elements of light and water better. As for earth, the best weapon is the body itself," Guo Yang answered, recalling techniques used by both snake magical beasts and humans. With his *neidan*, his cultivation path would differ from others, and he would need to create his own style by merging past spear techniques with his new human form.

"When do we join a sect or academy?" Guo Lin asked, eager for the future.

"You have three years," Guo Jing replied. "You’ll go to school first, at the Tang Arts School for Practitioners. You’ve spent the last twelve years learning basic martial arts and etiquette. If you want to join a sect, prove yourself in practitioner arts. But for now, we celebrate!"

"Hooray!" the Guo Clan cheered, celebrating the triplets' survival and their extraordinary talents. The entire clan rejoiced, congratulating Guo Feng and Ji Ting for their remarkable children. It seemed their hopes were well-placed.

Unused to the attention, Guo Yang sneaked away to gaze at the two moons in the sky.

"Humans are a noisy bunch," a voice hissed. It was the giant snake magical beast. "Exalted One, why choose human rebirth instead of ascension?"

"I was afraid," Guo Yang whispered. "Snake magical beasts are hunted for their materials and as delicacies for those damn avians. If I ascended, I’d have been a far greater prize. Humans are weak, but safer."

"And now? Do you regret your choice?"

"I don’t know yet. It’s too soon to say," Guo Yang replied. "I’ve lost my snake physiology and cultivation in exchange for a human form and a new affinity. Human life is... different. Magical beast meat must be cooked, and humans have laws that protect the weak. It’s a new experience."

"Indeed," the snake said. "I’ve lived among them for over forty years, and they still baffle me. They change too quickly, reshaping the world to suit their needs."

"Practitioners have tried to kill me too many times to trust or love them. If not for my fear of the Immortal Realm, I would have ascended a thousand years ago. Humans change, but their greed for power only grows stronger," Guo Yang sighed and, for the first time, fell asleep under the moons without feeling cold or discomfort.