Kael Draven slowly opened his eyes. Golden irises reflected in the mirror before him—sharp, steady, far too composed for a sixteen-year-old boy. His faint yellow hair fell slightly over his forehead, framing refined features and pale skin that carried a quiet nobility. His posture was straight, his presence calm yet heavy. He raised his hand and stared at it—young, smooth, unscarred. Not the hands of the man he once was. A faint smile curved on his lips as he looked at his reflection. “So… I have truly returned.”
Kael was not originally from this world. In his first life, he had been born on Earth, an orphan with no one to depend on. Life had been harsh, forcing him to mature early. Through relentless study and discipline, he became a respected lawyer. He married, had children, and later watched his grandchildren grow. By society’s standards, he had achieved success. Yet deep within his heart, he always felt unsatisfied, as if ordinary human limits were suffocating him. When he died, he expected nothingness. Instead, he awakened in a different world—hongtian, a land where strength ruled above status and talent determined destiny. In that life, he struggled once more, climbed through schemes and battles, endured betrayals, and reached remarkable heights. He had awakened a B-grade talent—rare and powerful—but not enough to stand at the absolute peak. In the end, he was defeated. At the moment of his death, an incomprehensible force reversed time itself, dragging his consciousness back to the past.
In hongtian, every individual must undergo the Awakening Ceremony at the age of sixteen. It is the moment when one’s innate talent is revealed. Talents are divided into four ranks: D-grade, the most common and weakest; C-grade, above average; B-grade, rare and powerful; and A-grade, the highest, standing at the pinnacle of potential. In his previous life, Kael had only reached B-grade. This time, he would not accept the same fate.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts as an elderly woman entered his room and bowed slightly. “Young Master, the Awakening Ceremony has arrived.” Kael nodded calmly and stepped outside, where a grand carriage bearing the Draven family insignia awaited him. Armored guards stood on either side, their expressions disciplined and cold. The journey to the sacred site lasted nearly twenty days, crossing vast plains, narrow mountain paths, and silent forests. Their destination was an ancient cave where the Awakening Stone rested—a place said to resonate with the origin of power itself. When they finally arrived, Kael stepped down from the carriage and faced the massive stone entrance carved with fading symbols of forgotten eras. He walked inside alone, each step echoing against the cold walls. The deeper he went, the heavier the air felt, and his heartbeat began to pound—not from fear, but from anticipation. He stopped before the Awakening Stone, its surface faintly glowing in the darkness. A subtle smirk appeared on his lips as his golden eyes sharpened. “Now… let us see what destiny has prepared for me.”
Stolen story; please report.
As Kael stepped deeper into the cave, the cold air brushed against his face and the faint glow of torches revealed an elderly man standing beside a circular stone platform engraved with ancient symbols. The old man’s sharp eyes examined him briefly before he spoke in a calm but commanding voice, instructing him to step forward and stand upon the platform. Following his instructions without hesitation, Kael walked toward the center and positioned himself on the cold stone surface.
The elderly man then began arranging several rare materials around the platform—crystal shards, spirit ink, and carved talismans—placing them carefully at precise points of the formation. After completing the preparation, he activated his Rank-3 Celestial Convergence Array. The carved symbols beneath Kael’s feet lit up one by one, forming a radiant circle of energy that slowly rose around him. A heavy pressure descended inside the cave as the array began resonating with his very soul.
Kael remained motionless for nearly forty minutes. Sweat formed along his forehead, yet his golden eyes stayed calm and unwavering. Energy surged through his veins like a raging river, testing the limits of his body and spirit. The cave trembled slightly as the light intensified before finally settling into a brilliant golden glow.
The elderly man’s eyes widened in disbelief. After sensing the result, he exhaled deeply and announced in a loud, trembling voice that Kael had awakened an A-grade talent. A rare smile appeared on his aged face as he congratulated him warmly, unable to hide his excitement.
Kael slowly stepped down from the platform, his expression composed but his eyes shining with hidden triumph. A faint smirk touched his lips as he murmured to himself, “Looks like I have truly managed to bypass Heaven’s Law.”
