Transcending the Magic Era: The Supreme Female Archmage

Chapter 6 Awakening Ceremony

Time flies by, and before we know it, it's August 5th.

The first rays of morning sunlight, like a gentle painter, softly gilded the earth with a layer of golden light. Before the magic sanctuary, a winding queue had been quietly waiting for some time.

Countless eyes in the line gleamed with anticipation, fixed on the solemn gate, as if they could glimpse the secrets and miracles hidden within through the cracks.

As the clock ticked, the tension in the air gradually intensified. The children's whispers mingled with the adults' hushed admonitions, forming an invisible net that enveloped the entire square.

Finally, as everyone held their breath in anticipation, the heavy ancient wooden door creaked open, accompanied by an ancient and melodious tune, and slowly opened to both sides.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still. Everyone held their breath. The children's eyes widened, filled with anticipation and curiosity, while the adults quietly tightened their grip on the children's hands, as if hoping to add a touch of confidence and blessing to their children's future through this small gesture.

Beyond the gate lay a tranquil and solemn space. The magic crystals embedded in the walls emitted a warm, soft glow, dispelling the gloom within the sanctuary and imbuing the entire space with a transcendent, sacred aura. A faint fragrance permeated the air, as if an invisible hand gently soothed the tense emotions of those present.

Then, seven or eight mages dressed in black robes and hats filed out of the gate. They carried various staffs, their expressions solemn and austere. They stood silently on either side of the procession, their movements perfectly synchronized.

Following closely behind, an elderly man in a golden magic robe slowly stepped forward. He held a golden eagle-carved staff, his steps steady and powerful. The golden robe shimmered in the sunlight, like flowing golden light, revealing his extraordinary status and profound magical cultivation.

The old man's expression was calm and dignified, his deep gaze seemingly able to see into people's hearts, causing everyone to involuntarily lower their heads. Everyone felt an indescribable sense of awe and oppression.

The children instinctively held their breath, and even the restless little ones were intimidated by the old man's imposing aura, standing obediently in place, not daring to move.

He stood at the entrance of the sanctuary, his voice deep and solemn, like an ancient bell tolling in everyone's hearts: "Today, we will usher in a new chapter in the inheritance of magic. The sanctuary's awakening array is ready, and I will personally preside over the awakening ceremony for the children. Please enter the sanctuary in groups of fifty."

Having said that, he turned and slowly walked into the sanctuary, the golden eagle staff in his hand shimmering slightly, as if in response to his words. The mages on both sides began to consciously maintain order within the group.

……

When Chu Qiuchi and Chu Yichen arrived, the long queue had dwindled to almost nothing. They followed at the end of the line, waiting quietly. Chu Qiuchi idly kicked at the pebbles at her feet while secretly observing the others around her.

Everyone's face carried different emotions—excitement, nervousness, anticipation, trepidation, and even a hint of worry. She suddenly realized that the awakening ceremony was not just an ordinary ritual for everyone, but a crucial crossroads in their future destinies.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind: "Sister Qiuchi! Sister Qiuchi!"

Chu Qiuchi turned around and saw Xu Xiyang, Shen Huan and the others running towards them, with their parents following behind at a leisurely pace.

"Why are you so late?" Chu Qiuchi asked, raising an eyebrow, a hint of doubt in his voice.

"Sis, that's because they knew you wouldn't come early. You were the last one to awaken last year!" Chu Yichen teased from the side, with a smug look on his face that said, "I saw through everything long ago."

Upon hearing this, Shen Huan immediately burst into laughter: "Yi Chen is right, we know Qiu Chi's habits very well. We'll still have to queue if we come early, so we might as well come later. Since we'll have to wait for her anyway, we might as well arrive just in time!"

Xu Xiyang chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, Qiu Chi's rhythm is our rhythm. After all, you're our boss."

Hearing their teasing, Chu Qiuchi couldn't help but smile helplessly. She raised an eyebrow and gently patted Chu Yichen's head: "Well, you dare to undermine your sister! But fine, since you've all made it, let's go in together and make a good impression."

As they approached the entrance to the sanctuary, the atmosphere grew increasingly solemn. Chu Siyuan bent down and gently embraced Chu Qiuchi, his voice tender yet firm: "Xiaochi, don't put too much pressure on yourself, relax. No matter what your awakened talent is like, you will always be your parents' pride and our most precious treasure."

Feeling the warmth of her father's embrace, Chu Qiuchi felt much more at ease. She raised her head, looked earnestly into her father's eyes, and said firmly, "I know, Dad. You will always be my strongest support. However, I will not give up easily! Even if the hope is slim, there is always something to be done."

Hearing his daughter's answer, Chu Siyuan's eyes revealed a smile of relief, and he gently patted her shoulder. Then he turned around and pulled Chu Yichen into his arms, giving him a warm hug in return.

"Yichen, don't be afraid. You and your sister are both your parents' most precious treasures. We will always love you."

Looking into his father's eyes, Chu Yichen felt a little nervous, but still nodded vigorously: "Dad, I understand!"

Qiu Jingya also bent down and gently hugged the two children, "Just like Daddy said, relax and stay calm. Mommy and Daddy will be waiting for you at the exit."

The surrounding parents also bent down, whispering words of advice to their children, giving them their final encouragement and comfort.

"It's your turn, go in!"

As soon as the guard's voice faded, the last group of children, filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, stepped into the solemn and mysterious sanctuary. The stone slabs beneath their feet felt faintly cool, as if reminding them of the turning point in their lives they were about to face.

A tranquil atmosphere permeated the sanctuary. A group of mages clad in black robes had been waiting for some time, their expressions solemn, seemingly one with the sacred scene. The awakening array was dodecagonal, with a powerful archmage guarding each corner.

Inside the magic circle lies an even more complex and intricate structure, with the ground covered in densely packed magical runes. These runes swirl and intertwine, forming a vast net that connects the entire awakening magic circle into an organic whole.

At the very center of the magic circle stood the elderly man clad in a golden magic robe. Holding a golden eagle-carved staff, he stood silently, his head slightly bowed, seemingly sensing some invisible energy within the magic circle. His golden magic robe shone brilliantly under the pale blue light, exuding unparalleled nobility. As an ultimate magic king, he was undoubtedly the most awe-inspiring figure in the entire awakening ceremony.

After the children entered the awakening array one by one, the old man slowly raised his staff, and a dazzling white light burst forth from the tip of the staff, instantly illuminating the entire sanctuary. The light seemed to pierce through layers of time and space, carrying some kind of ancient power, awakening every magical rune.

Immediately afterwards, the archmages guarding each corner of the magic circle raised their staffs, their staffs lighting up one by one, echoing the old man's white light. As the light intertwined, the entire awakening magic circle radiated a dreamlike starlight, with azure light flowing and spreading within the circle like ripples on water.

Driven by magical energy, the awakening circle slowly rotated, emanating profound magical fluctuations. That power was like an invisible wind, brushing across the children's faces, gradually penetrating their bodies, and summoning the dormant power deep within their souls.

The ripples of light gradually expanded, forming visible waves that surrounded the entire sanctuary and even spread outwards to more distant places.

Surrounded by this mysterious and warm power, the children in the magic circle gradually closed their eyes, seemingly entering a wondrous dream.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, and everything around us fell into a mysterious and tranquil state. White and blue light intertwined and flickered, like a gathering of stars, heralding some kind of endless possibility.

After an unknown amount of time, within the awakening array, some children began to emit a faint light. The light, like a newly sprouted bud, slowly blossomed, spread, and gradually brightened, eventually converging in the air to form a dazzling halo that illuminated the entire sanctuary.

Within the halo, a colorful auspicious cloud pattern appears and disappears, dazzling and beautiful, like a celestial scene from mythology, dreamlike and mysterious.

The auspicious cloud pattern gradually evolved in the sky, transforming from colorful clouds into complex magical runes, and then back into a seven-colored glow. Finally, as the halo gradually dissipated, the seven-colored auspicious cloud pattern slowly disappeared.

The radiance within the sanctuary gradually subsided, and as the last ray of light merged into the air, the awakening ceremony was declared complete.

After a moment of silence, a low gasp of surprise suddenly erupted in the sanctuary, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, echoing throughout the towering hall.

"Your Majesty, did you see that? A strange phenomenon just occurred!" A magician exclaimed in shock, his voice filled with unbelievable excitement. "Only those with maxed-out innate spiritual power can trigger such a phenomenon! This is a once-in-a-millennium event!"

“Yes, Your Majesty, is our human race finally about to welcome another ultimate Dharma Emperor? This is a blessing from heaven for our race!” Another mage’s voice was filled with barely concealed excitement.

"This is a sign of the great rise of our human race! Our human race is finally about to rise completely!" More mages whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with shock and anticipation.

A glint flashed in the eyes of the old man in the golden robe standing in the center of the magic circle, and a rare excitement was revealed in his deep gaze.

But he quickly took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and said in a calm but unwavering tone: "This is no small matter. We have not yet determined which child caused this phenomenon. I will personally conduct individual talent tests for these children. But remember, this matter must be kept strictly confidential and must never be revealed outside the sanctuary."

His gaze swept over the surrounding mages, his tone authoritative: "If this news leaks out, I'm afraid this child won't be able to grow up safely. His existence is related to the future of our human race; we must protect him carefully!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding magicians' expressions immediately turned serious, and they responded in unison, "Your Majesty, please rest assured! We will keep this a secret and will never reveal it to anyone!"

The old man in the golden robe nodded, his gaze still cold and stern. He said in a deep voice, "Very good. Now awaken these children. I will personally take them for talent tests. Make sure every step after the ceremony goes perfectly, without any oversights."

As soon as the words were spoken, the mages sprang into action. They waved their staffs once more, channeling magic into the awakening circle. The magic rippled outwards, as if responding to an ancient call.

A moment later, a slight tremor emanated from the magic circle, and the children within it opened their eyes, their gazes filled with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Soft whispers gradually rose from the surroundings, the atmosphere thick with tension and anticipation.

"The awakening ceremony is complete. Please use your spiritual power to sense your own magic orb. Children whose magic orbs have been lit, please follow me into the talent testing area in turn."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yichen's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned to look at Chu Qiuchi, "Sister, your magic bead has been lit up, right?"

Chu Qiuchi smiled slightly and nodded gently: "Yes, it's lit up. I just don't know how well the awakened talent will perform. I hope it won't let me down. What about you? Has yours been lit up?"

Chu Yichen excitedly grabbed Chu Qiuchi's hand, his voice trembling with excitement: "It's lit up! Sister, that's wonderful! We can go to the academy to learn magic together!"

Seeing her younger brother's excited expression, Chu Qiuchi smiled indulgently, her tone becoming more determined: "Yes, that's right, let's work together." Then, she turned her head, her gaze sweeping over several familiar figures not far away, and asked with a smile, "Have you all successfully awakened?"

The other children exchanged glances, then smiled and said, "Yes, they've all successfully awakened!"

"Great! Now we can fight together at the academy again..."