Morning sunlight gently spilled into the room.
Inside, Cang Yan was still asleep, his breathing calm and steady. Suddenly, the door opened softly, and a young servant girl entered.
"Young Master Cang Yan, please wake up," she said respectfully. "Today is the Root and Martial Spirit Awakening Ceremony."
Cang Yan's eyes slowly opened. He sat up, a faint smile forming.
"...I know, Ji Qin," he replied calmly.
Ji Qin bowed slightly. "The clan elders and the city officials have already gathered."
Cang Yan nodded, stood from his bed, and began to dress. He wore a clean, majestic robe with silver patterns running along the sleeves—clothing befitting the son of an elder.
After adjusting his collar, he looked into the mirror.
> "Today, my new life truly begins."
Leaving his room, Cang Yan walked down the long corridor toward the ceremony grounds. Servants and clan members bowed respectfully as he passed.
When he stepped outside, the sound of distant drums and chanting filled the air.
Before him rose a massive platform—a grand stadium-like arena, built from shining stone. Banners of the Cang Clan fluttered proudly in the wind.
Crowds filled the surrounding stands, their voices merging into a thunderous buzz of excitement. From every direction, families, elders, and even merchants had come to witness the event.
And high above the arena, on an elevated platform, sat the city's most powerful figures—the Cang Clan elders, the Di Clan representatives, and even City Lord Luo Tian, his aura faintly visible like a shimmering mirage.
Cang Yan looked up, his eyes calm but firm.
> "So… this is the beginning."
He stepped forward toward the ceremony ground as the drums thundered once more.