Great Figures

Six days in a row.

The entire city was releasing the pressure it had accumulated over five years—something even the New Year could not accomplish.

Yun Ye took part in all kinds of activities and experienced all kinds of pleasures. Unfortunately, most people were unable to feel the emotions within them.

They busily arranged the venues, earned their overtime pay, and silently watched everyone else have fun...

That was the norm.

The rules governing human society were to exploit some people to support others. This problem could not be solved until the ultimate stage of the Tomorrow Dao.

Perhaps the Tyrannical Dao Yong Fa spoke of was something even more brutal—a possibility Yun Ye had hidden deep within the foundations of the Tomorrow Dao.

Then, as the seventh day arrived, the list of high-ranking attendees for the 35th Anniversary spread throughout the school, shocking countless people.

"Almost everyone is attending?"

"Even the second-generation Chief is going to appear? Th-this is far too grand!"

It was an astonishing matter.

The Tomorrow Society had countless affairs to deal with. Some were not as simple as reviewing documents; they were people like the Ming Qi Couple, who had to guard certain locations. Even for a grand ceremony held once every five years, many of them were unable to return!

Almost everyone was attending this time. Just how seriously did the 1 Numbers take this ceremony?

"Everyone, line up. No talking. Keep up with the teacher!"

Yang An led the boys and girls toward the ceremony venue in two lines.

They arrived at a spacious open-air plaza. A circular platform had already been built in the center. There were seats all around it, while great swathes of red cloth rippled across the venue like waves. Above everyone's heads, each vertical row of seats had a strip of red cloth extending from the circular platform and spreading toward the various teaching buildings. The whole place looked exceptionally festive.

Under the summer sun, the red cloth also provided some shade, preventing the sunlight from beating directly down.

This was the Tomorrow Society's poverty. If this had been a place like Wen Yun Town, so what if it was outdoors? They could simply open a barrier, and it would naturally be cool.

The Tomorrow Society did not have that much spiritual energy to waste. Unless necessary, they would not use formations or barriers that consumed huge amounts of spiritual energy.

Under Yang An's direction, everyone took their seats, with one neat row of boys and one neat row of girls.

The children had all cultivated. They might not be pleasing to the eye, but at least none of them were particularly ugly.

As children, they had certain privileges and were seated near the front. Those farther back could barely see the venue and even had to stand.

The ceremony drew the residents of the entire city. As long as they were within the range of the Dao Artifact Awakening Ceremony, everyone had a chance—however slim—of awakening a Dao Artifact.

Awakening a Dao Artifact did not necessarily mean possessing outstanding abilities, but at the very least, it meant being trustworthy and worthy of shouldering great responsibilities.

Moreover, every Dao Artifact Wielder represented a Dao Mark. They were actually unrelated to combat power.

As long as they existed, they could form a Dao Domain, allowing the cultivators within its range to obtain the Merit Panel. That alone was of immeasurable value.

In this era, when Dao Artifact Wielders were in short supply, any Dao Artifact Wielder represented a meteoric rise.

After all—

They were individuals willing to sacrifice themselves for the Tomorrow Dao, possessing an unbreakable will.

"Damn... I'm a little... too excited... All the 1 Numbers are going to be here... And countless heroes too... Damn, damn, damn!"

Wu Xianzhang sat to Yun Ye's left. His arms were trembling, and he was completely unable to sit still, constantly looking around to check the situation.

"No, why are you trembling over such a small matter...?"

Tian Jialun sat beside Wu Xianzhang. He paused halfway through speaking, but quickly concealed it with an unchanged expression.

Wu Xianzhang had no time to bother with him. He kept taking deep breaths and adjusting his state, though the results were questionable.

Yong Fa, on the other hand, had far stronger mental fortitude. He was excited, but not pressured in the slightest.

It was truly absurd.

After all, they were only five years old. No matter how much knowledge they possessed or how many battles they had experienced, mental fortitude was something that only grew powerful after one had truly understood the world and no longer feared the future. It was not something that could be developed simply by devouring books.

They had always heard stories about the Tomorrow Society's 1 Numbers and 2 Numbers. It was incredibly difficult not to get excited. Tian Jialun was no exception.

Seeing one's relatives in such a setting was completely different from seeing them on an ordinary day.

The grandeur of the occasion placed boundless pressure on him.

This was a ceremony anticipated by the entire Tomorrow Society and every resident of Tomorrow City. It bore the hopes of countless people, so heavy that it was almost impossible to breathe.

Those who were not exceptional enough had no way of stepping onto this high platform and becoming the flag and Dao Mark that led the Tomorrow Society.

Could he stand on this stage in the future?

With his efforts, could he overcome every difficulty, become Chief, and turn into the Dao Mark that everyone trusted?

Tian Jialun was uncertain.

Thus, he felt a crushing pressure, heavier than any problem he had ever faced, making it difficult for him to breathe.

This was not something he could overcome by putting on an act. The emotions would keep piling up until he could no longer control them.

Yun Ye glanced at Tian Jialun. He had innately mastered the Nine Lives Divine Law, and many of his abilities took effect passively. He knew very clearly that the emotions piling up in Tian Jialun's heart far exceeded Wu Xianzhang's.

Tian Jialun rarely spoke of his aspirations, but there was no doubt that he also wanted to become Chief.

As Tian Jing's biological son, he bore far more pressure than the others. He restrained himself, refusing to allow himself even the slightest relaxation.

To him, failure was terrifying...

Yun Ye did not activate the Divine Art to soothe his emotions. This pressure stemmed from something that existed constantly, and even if he soothed it, it would surge back soon afterward.

Therefore, Yun Ye merely chatted normally with everyone, drawing their attention elsewhere. The effect was still minimal, but it was better than doing nothing.

Then, in the middle of their conversation, a commotion suddenly erupted from one side.

Everyone immediately stood up and looked toward the end of the passage.

At some point, a man wearing a pale-blue cloak and formal attire with a yellow base and red flame patterns had appeared at the entrance to the venue.

The Moon Reflection Cloak. It was practically a symbol of the Chief...

The man raised his head as he entered the venue and lifted a hand to greet everyone.

"Chief Tian Jing!!!"

Everyone shouted at the top of their lungs. Deafening cries echoed throughout the center of the ceremony, making the extent of his popularity obvious.

"Whooooah! Chief!"

Tian Jialun shouted along with them, overcome with excitement.

This was his father?

How dazzling!!

Even Yun Ye was infected by the atmosphere and revealed a faint smile... The boy from back then had now grown into a towering figure, becoming the protective umbrella for everyone.

It was truly joyous, moving, and stirring!

Was this Tian Jing's era?

Tian Jing smiled as he responded to everyone. Though the venue was chaotic, he still spotted his child at a glance. He smiled at Tian Jialun, and that single subtle expression caused Tian Jialun's blood to surge. All his pressure evaporated.

"I'm going to—become Chief too!!!"

At that instant.

Tian Jialun possessed the courage to fear nothing. Strength surged continuously from the depths of his heart.

"Vice Chief! Liu Shanwei!"

"Third Seat! Ji Shuliang!"

"Fourth Seat! Yue Xin!!"

The second, third, and even more 1 Numbers entered the venue, and countless cheers rang out.

Every one of them had legendary achievements to their name. Now that they had stepped before the crowd, they naturally stirred the heartstrings of countless people.

However, not everyone knew them. Most people might have heard of their deeds, but it was difficult for them to see the true faces of these 1 Numbers.

If they had not all had corresponding character cards, even Yun Ye would have had difficulty recognizing them all. Perhaps the spiritual power card game had been created for precisely this purpose.

If the various Dao Artifact Wielders were not known, recognition could not be established, and the Dao Artifacts would find it difficult to grow.