Chapter 59 Discovery
Everyone fell silent as they gazed at the scene on the stage. The colossal dragon vanished, replaced by a figure of a bearded man enveloped in crackling lightning.
Projected onto the vast screen were the enigmatic words: [Unknown Martial Spirit].
The audience was taken aback; another display on the screen signifying Long Tian's reawakening of his martial spirit, a dual martial spirit!
"This is astonishing! Long Tian not only summoned the dragon god martial spirit but also something else!"
"But what is it? That bearded man appears unfamiliar, yet I'm certain his power resonates with lightning."
"Dual martial spirit... Sheesh."
Hot discussions ignited in the air. Conversations buzzed with talks about Long Tian's second martial spirit.
Joy resonated among many for his achievement, but Ye Chen and Qin Chen's faces grew somber. It wasn't just about summoning an S-Class martial spirit; he'd summoned a second martial spirit that even the ancient inscriptions couldn't recognize.
Anxiety gripped Ye Chen as he contemplated the implications. The stronger Long Tian became, the more he might seize Liu Qian's heart.
And that, in turn, meant Ye Chen would need to elevate his strength to safeguard her.
In the midst of Ye Chen's turmoil, Liu Qian reveled in joy at the sight of Long Tian's dual martial spirit.
Stepping off the stage, Long Tian was met with a chorus of praise and admiration. He responded to this with a self-assured smile.
As he took his seat, Liu Qian greeted him with a radiant smile. "Congratulations, Long Tian! Very few can awaken a dual martial spirit. I'm truly delighted for you," she expressed sincerely.
"Thanks. It's just pure luck," Long Tian responded, a smile gracing his feature.
Elsewhere, uncertainty clouded the emcee's understanding. Nevertheless, he carried on, "Now, after witnessing this remarkable dual martial spirit, let's applaud Long Tian."
The ensuing applause and cheers resonated. Long Tian simply smiled, hardly believing he'd awakened a dual martial spirit, let alone Zeus.
Standing before the divine four, Zeus emerged as the most balanced power. Though Anubis wielded substantial death energy, his indifference to harnessing death's might puzzled observers.
Long Tian's choice of Zeus was influenced by the deity's fame, well-known even in many video games he had played in his previous life.
He remembered Zeus also existed in this world, in the mythology of the Roman Empire, but he was puzzled why the large screen projected [Unknown Martial Spirit]. It remained a mystery to him.
"Alright, let's move on to the next participant: Ye Chen, please step onto the stage."
---
Time swept by, and afternoon light painted the sky. Faces lit up across the crowd, and only a few wore clouds of disappointment.
Among the 120 students in the first cluster, 98 successfully summoned martial spirits, while 22 fell short.
A handful soared beyond the B-Class to summon martial spirits, a count that could be made on a single hand. Nonetheless, the school beamed with pride as two students awakened S-Class martial spirits, with one even with dual martial spirits.
Now, students dispersed, many weaving through the audience to reunite with their parents. Long Tian, too, made his way towards his father.
Long Zhan embraced his son, his joy inescapable. "I'm immensely proud of you, son. Your mother would've been elated to witness your dual martial spirit," he shared.
"It's mostly luck, Dad," Long Tian admitted, his smile humbled.
"The gods have truly graced the Long family. Soon, I'll declare you as the next patriarch," Long Zhan announced.
Long Tian raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that too soon, Dad? I'd like a bit more time to enjoy myself."
"Of course, you won't be leading immediately. Wait until I'm 300 years old. But seriously, our family has birthed several geniuses in this generation. I want to ensure the next patriarch is my own son. Among them, you shine the brightest," Long Zhan asserted.
"Understood. I'll be at ease for the next few hundred years," Long Tian replied, his smile intact.
"Regardless, why did your second martial spirit appear as 'unknown'? Are you aware of something?" Long Zhan's curiosity was piqued.
A quizzical expression flitted across Long Tian's face. "You don't know? It's Zeus, Dad," he answered.
"Zeus? Who's that? To my knowledge, no ancient figure or something bears that name," Long Zhan confessed.
"What?" Long Tian furrowed his brows. As far as he remembered, this world's Roman Empire mirrored Greek mythology, featuring Olympus, Kronos, and others.
Perhaps his memory was flawed; he needed to revisit the subject.
"Well, I'll explain later. For now, what about my reward, the Seven Forms Pagoda? Will you bestow it upon me?" Long Tian inquired.
"Fret not, I'll hand it over as soon as possible. The Ning family may be formidable, but they remain beneath our own," Long Zhan declared with confidence.
"Very well, then I'll rest assured," Long Tian responded with a grin.
The two continued chatting like father and son, their bond evidently strong.
In the midst of their conversation, two figures approached. Long Tian quickly turned to see that it was Liu Hai and Liu Qian.
"It's truly a blessing of the gods. Who would've thought you'd summon a dual martial spirit, Long Tian, one of them being S-Class," Liu Hai praised.
"Pure luck, Uncle. Liu Qian's martial spirit was also remarkable," Long Tian acknowledged.
"Indeed, I couldn't be prouder of her," Liu Hai beamed.
Liu Qian smiled radiantly. Today was a joyous day for her. Typically, she gave little thought to her future pursuits, but this experience signaled a shift towards deeper focus on cultivation and soul power.
"Your daughter is exceptionally gifted, Liu Hai. She's destined for fame in the days to come," Long Zhan lauded.
"Haha, Long Tian's talents surpass even hers. With his dual martial spirit, he'll etch his own legacy. And don't you see a fitting match between my daughter and yours? Dragon and Phoenix—a harmonious pairing," Liu Hai remarked, his grin wide.
Liu Qian slapped her forehead; she could only sigh. Every time she met Long Tian, her father always tried to match her with him.
With a serene smile, Long Zhan replied, "The matters of young hearts are best left to them. I've given my son the freedom to choose."
"Well, that makes sense," Liu Hai concurred. "Either way, Long Tian, would you be willing to accompany Liu Qian home, to District Tianji? Is that agreeable?" he inquired.
"Of course, it's no trouble," Long Tian replied.
"In that case, I entrust my daughter to you," he smiled, then cast his gaze at Long Zhan. "Patriarch Long, shall we now address our prior matter?"
As Liu Hai and Long Zhan continued their conversation, Long Tian and Liu Qian walked away together.
"It seems your father had business with mine. Did you know about it?" Long Tian queried.
"Yes, he mentioned wanting to discuss something with your father, particularly regarding business. I overheard the mention of alchemy," Liu Qian responded.
"I see," Long Tian nodded. "By the way, my family is hosting a party tomorrow. Would you like to join?"
"What kind of party?" Liu Qian inquired with curiosity.
"It's an annual event, celebrating the awakening of martial spirits. Attendance is limited to allies of the Long family, but you're one of them, so you're welcome," Long Tian explained.
"Sure, count me in," she agreed.
"Good. Now, would you like to head home or join me somewhere else for a while?" Long Tian asked.
Liu Qian hesitated briefly. Her thoughts momentarily strayed to Ye Chen, but the frustration she felt earlier this morning resurfaced.
"I'll go with you," she decided.
"Perfect. Allow me, milady," Long Tian smiled, courteously opening the car door.
With a soft laugh, Liu Qian remarked, "You're quite the charming prince, aren't you?" before stepping into the car.
Long Tian's smile persisted as he settled into the car as well.
As the engine purred to life, they embarked on a way to a particular destination.
The last remnants of dust drifted and settled, marking their complete departure from the school grounds.
However, not long after, Ye Chen arrived, only to find that the car was already far out of sight.
His countenance darkened. He had just seen his girlfriend step into another man's vehicle, and that man was none other than Long Tian!
"Once again, that bastard! If I don't act now, he'll surely snatch Liu Qian from me! I need to follow them!"
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