At this moment, all eyes turned towards Tian Yi.
Shen Ai also turned her head to look over and couldn't help but be impressed by his calmness. Her adoration and expectations for him obvious for all to see.
It was the most awaited moment, yet also not quite.
It was the most awaited moment because Tian Yi has exhibited such high intelligence that even the current rank six clan leader in his youth couldn't compare. Tian Yi also conducted himself appropriately without any trace of childishness in him when he was young.
When dealing with him, many people didn't feel like talking to a junior. It's more like talking to their peers and elders.
The way he composed himself with confidence reminded people of Shen Jiang, the highly respected deceased clan elder. While on the other hand his calm and steadiness reminded them of elder Shen Jin.
Then they finally remembered that Shen Tian Yi was the only son of that brilliant man,and also an adopted son of elder Shen Jin who was equally strong.
In many people's minds, Tian Yi having first grade aptitude is a matter of course.
But in life, nothing is absolutely certain.
There was always a possibility, a possibility that Tian Yi was just born with high intelligence and matured early but possessed average or even trash aptitude for cultivations.
In this world, it was indeed like this.
There were countless such precedents all over the world. Youths who exhibited unique traits and showed prospects but got low grade aptitude, a genius's life ruined by the word 'aptitude'.
That's why this awakening ceremony tradition has endured for countless years and has not faded into obscurity. For every single clan and forces, be they sects or clans, need a way to test aptitudes.
This awakening ceremony was the classic method. It has high accuracy and the cost is also minimal. The Blue Light Grass also provided many other benefits other than helping in testing aptitude.
Another reason was that this method was how the first cultivator awakened his Life Core in The Chronicles of Shizu, the oldest myth known to mankind.
Under the watchful gazes of many, Tian Yi stepped forward indifferently.
'Hehe, I wonder what their faces will be like when they find out I only have fifth grade talent, the lowest of the low?' Tian Yi thought inwardly to himself mockingly.
He walked leisurely through the sea of blue grasses, feeling the refreshing smell of grasses and the cold weather.
Finally he reached the center of the grass field which was a clear opening with no vegetation.
'The center of the Blue Light Grass Garden, the true heartland of the Shen clan.'
He thought inwardly to himself:
'While other clans and sects might have their own garden of Blue Light Grass and means to cultivate them, none of them could produce Blue Light Grass on such a large scale. Every year, the Shen clan rakes in massive profits just by selling these Blue Light Grass alone , which leave other clans nearby green in envy.'
He paused and looked down slightly.
'The key is the underground Spirit Spring underneath my feet. This Spirit Spring alone produces hundred millions Core Essence stones annually, it's the foundation of the Shen clan's economy. The Shen clan being a clan that cultivated Water Dao, naturally possessed the means to bring out more of the Life Essence from the Spirit Spring and made use of them. Cultivating Blue Light Grass on such a large scale is only one of such things.'
Tian Yi deduced this with pinpoint accuracy with the help of his 'new found' Master level Water path Dao attainment and information he has learned from his previous life in Shen clan.
When thinking to this point, Tian Yi started frowning.
It has been some time that he has been standing here yet he felt barely any pressure at all. Normally, the pressure of the dense natural, foreign Life Essence from the Spirit Spring should be forcing him to his knees by now.
But he felt nothing at all.
Tian Yi turned his head slightly to look at his soon to be classmates and the other clan elders.
'Is something wrong with the ceremony? Just as it was my turn…'
Tian Yi sighed inwardly but stopped himself when he saw the elders' bewildered expression.
The academy elder has a look of 'are my eyes deceiving me?' on his face as his mouth moved, seemingly counting something.
"Four hundred ten, four hundred twenty, four hundred thirty, four hundred forty, four hundred fifty…"
Due to the distance between them, Tian Yi couldn't hear what he was saying but he had already guessed what it was.
His pupils dilated. He turned his head hastily to look at the group of youths, who had the same looks of disbelief on their face as the elders.
'No way…'
"Six hundred fifty, six hundred sixty, six hundred seventy, six hundred eighty, six hundred ninety, seven hundred!" The academy elder counted with fervent excitement.
Only after the seven hundred mark did Tian Yi begin to feel slight pressure increasing in every corner of his body.
'No, it can't be…'
The pressure increased steadily. When it crossed the eighth hundred kilograms mark, Tian Yi faintly felt the colorful point of light in his dantian.
Like other youths, Tian Yi can also 'touch', 'smell', 'taste', 'see' and 'hear' this point of light all at once.
This is what is commonly known as spiritual sense.
When the pressure approached the eight hundred ninety kilograms mark, even Tian Yi himself couldn't help but be excited and harbor expectations. Like a gambler who had always lost, suddenly winning the jackpot.
Now, the pressure has gone past the nine hundred mark without showing any signs of stopping.
The youths went into a huge, deafening commotion, even louder than before when Shen Ai was revealed to have first grade talent.
The clan leader couldn't help but sucks in a sharp breath unknowingly while the other clan elders didn't even dare blink, for they were afraid they would miss any changes. They could only open their eyes wide and hold their breath.
"Nine hundred twenty, nine hundred twenty, nine hundred thirty, nine hundred forty, nine hundred sixty… nine hundred seventy… nine hundred eighty…"
"Nine hundred ninety!"
BOOM!
The point of light in Tian Yi's abdomen finally exploded with earth shattering force.
Tian Yi sucked in a sharp breath, a chill ran down his spine, his heart ran wild, his hairs stood on end.
It felt like an eternity, yet an instant.
The point of light exploded and converged, forming into an ethereal perfect ball with a spherical light membrane about ten times its size containing it.
This spherical membrane was filled by gray black liquid to the brim, barely leaving a gap at the top.
The academy elder counted with gaping mouth and eyes wide open in disbelief.
This academy elder, Shen Tongxi, has been in office for many years and supervised every single awakening ceremony for the past forty years. It could be said that even amongst the past academy elders, he was one of the elites.
He has good eyes for talents, is impartial towards everyone, and follows the clan's rule down to the letter.
Many of the elders today, whether in the Huai faction, the Gui faction, the clan leader's faction, or the Jin faction. At some point in time, these elders have received his teachings and care, one way or another. This made him one of the most influential clan elders with a vast network.
Everyone owes him a favor or two.
His life could be said to be very successful.
Yet at this moment, he lost all composure when looking at this indifferent youth named Shen Tian Yi.
For in all his life, he has never seen or heard of anyone who could endure nine hundred ninety kilograms of pressure in their awakening ceremony before, except one.
Belatedly, he announced with barely suppressed excitement like a crazy man, "Nine hundred ninety! Shen Tian Yi, first grade aptitude, ninety nine percent Core Essence!"
At this moment, everyone present had a single thought in their head:
'First generation founding ancestor!'
In the clan's history, it was clearly stated that the founding ancestor possessed first grade aptitude, with ninety nine percent Core Essence! He was a peak rank six Meng cultivator, an overlord of an area!
In this mortal world, those who could contend with him can be counted on one hand.
And Shen Tian Yi possesses the same quality as him!
At this moment, everyone present engraved the young man's name in their mind, all their doubts disappeared like smoke.
Shen Tian Yi, is a first class talent, an unparalleled first class talent after a thousand years!