Qin Yuze’s awakening ceremony was scheduled under strict official rules.

Because talent details were private in this world, the ceremony would reveal only public status: Awakened or Not Awakened. No talent name. No grade. No panel. The Qin family had long reinforced this privacy principle, especially after Qin Yuheng’s own public "Not Awakened" result and later Talent Fruit awakening.

Qin Yuze understood the public rule.

"If I awaken naturally, people only know Awakened?"

"Yes," Qin Yuheng said.

"If not?"

"Not Awakened publicly."

"And then?"

"Then family still has options."

Qin Yuze looked at him.

"Talent Fruit?"

Qin Yuheng did not deny it.

"When the time is right."

Qin Yuze’s eyes brightened.

"What grade?"

Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.

"Safe grade."

Qin Yuze immediately looked suspicious.

"That answer hides something."

"Yes."

"Brother."

"Train."

Qin Yuze groaned.

Behind the scenes, Qin Yuheng had prepared an SSS-grade Talent Fruit candidate for Qin Yuze, evolved from a carefully chosen offensive combat fruit. But he would not use it before the natural ceremony unless necessary. If Qin Yuze awakened naturally, the fruit could become his second talent foundation later. If not, it would ensure awakening.

But even SSS-grade Talent Fruits required caution.

A body too weak could suffer backlash.

A mind unprepared could be overwhelmed.

Qin Yuze’s foundation had to be strengthened first.

Qin Mo designed the awakening protection array.

It included:

False talent detection blocking layer.

Bloodline resonance suppression layer.

External gaze distortion layer.

Soul stability layer.

Emergency sleep formation.

Talent Fruit compatibility observation slot.

Qin Mo looked both proud and terrified.

"This array protects against things normal awakening ceremonies should never need to consider."

Qin Wanshan replied, "Our family is no longer in normal conditions."

The official ceremony would take place at a Heavenly Gate Academy-affiliated awakening hall, not the Qin Estate, to avoid suspicion. But the Qin family arranged hidden protections around it.

Yu Qingmei cooperated quietly.

She knew enough to understand danger.

Lin Xian’er’s network monitored market rumors.

Zhao Lan warned that some Zhao elders were unusually interested in Qin Yuze’s awakening, but she saw no direct Blood Sun trace.

Zhao Tianyu, surprisingly, sent a message:

If anyone from Zhao side moves strangely, I will inform.

Qin Yuheng read it and nodded.

Progress continued.

The night before the ceremony, Qin Yuze could not sleep.

He found Qin Yuheng in the courtyard.

"Were you nervous?" he asked.

"Yes."

"You were Not Awakened publicly."

"Yes."

"Did it hurt?"

Qin Yuheng looked at him.

"Not physically."

Qin Yuze was silent.

Then he said, "If I am Not Awakened, will you be disappointed?"

"No."

The answer was immediate.

Qin Yuze looked relieved despite trying not to show it.

Qin Yuheng continued, "Talent matters. But it is not worth more than you."

Qin Yuze lowered his head.

"Easy for you to say. You are... you."

Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.

"I became me after many things went wrong."

That made Qin Yuze laugh.

The next morning, the awakening hall was full but controlled.

Several young people from different families stood in line. Parents watched from the outer area. Officials activated privacy formations.

Qin Yuze stood straight.

Qin Yuheng watched from behind a calm expression.

Mu Qinglan sat beside Qin Zhengyuan. Qin Wanshan did not appear publicly, but he watched through hidden means. Gu Tianhe’s Silent Heaven layers surrounded the district.

The ceremony began.

One by one, youths stepped onto the awakening platform.

Public panels showed only:

Awakened.

Not Awakened.

Awakened.

Not Awakened.

Then Qin Yuze stepped forward.

The platform lit.

For one breath, nothing happened.

Then a deep crimson-gold spear-shaped light flashed—not visible to all, only those inside the innermost privacy formation.

The public panel appeared:

[Talent Status: Awakened]

Qin Yuze had awakened naturally.

A powerful offensive talent.

Qin Yuheng felt relief.

Then his eyes sharpened.

Outside the hall, one hidden observation formation activated for less than half a breath.

Someone had tried to record the awakening fluctuation.

Gu Tianhe moved.

Silent Heaven shadows closed around the source.

The ceremony continued calmly.

But outside, the first enemy observer died before he could send the full trace.

Qin Yuze stepped down, eyes bright.

"I awakened."

Qin Yuheng placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Yes."

Publicly, that was all anyone knew.

Privately, war had nearly touched the ceremony.