paranoianovel Chapter 1 The Leper
Chapter 1 The Leper
"Geneva! Refund!"
"I'm not doing this anymore! What a terrible keyword, what a terrible keyword, what a terrible keyword!!!"
Yunjin No. 3 Middle School.
Today, we have gathered all eligible martial artists from three surrounding cities and counties.
At that moment, a student with a buzz cut stood next to the awakening device, shouting and yelling, completely ignoring the teacher's warnings.
He was eventually dragged away by two security personnel.
"Please, please return my money! That 300,000 yuan was all borrowed by my dad, sob sob~"
His agonizing cries continued, making those behind him afraid to take another step forward.
"Alright, let's continue the awakening ceremony. Class 5 of Senior 3, please continue. Also, students of Class 6 of Senior 3, please get ready."
The school teacher, holding a megaphone, was outlining the next steps.
Although they said they were making preparations, the students of Class 6, Grade 12 had already crowded at the entrance of the building, just waiting to start.
After all, today is "Awakening Day," which only happens once every three years. If you miss it, you'll have to wait until you're in college.
But getting into a martial arts university isn't easy; you might never have the chance in this lifetime.
Xia Ming stood at the very front of Class Six's line, observing the awakening ceremony on the field.
The outburst of the student with the buzz cut is a common occurrence these days.
After all, the awakening fee is 300,000 star coins!
This is an astronomical figure for many families.
However, if a martial arts practitioner doesn't awaken their unique skills, they might as well become a physical education teacher at a liberal arts school.
Some students' parents chose to take out loans in order to persevere on the path of martial arts, hoping to take a gamble and change their fate.
Xia Ming spent more than an hour observing in the hallway and basically figured out some patterns.
"It seems that this affinity awakening is indeed as rumored, more about activating the traits within you than random affinities."
As soon as Xia Ming said this, his homeroom teacher, Pu Wei, who was standing next to him, responded:
"Yes, there are three affixes. Although the profession affix is not exactly the same as the awakened person's profession, the trait affixes can basically give you a clue in advance."
"For example, Gong Chuan from Class 5 has loved being in the water since he was a child. He feels uncomfortable all over when he leaves the water. I guessed that he would awaken water-related attribute entries."
"As expected, Gong Chuan awakened the [Kan Water] attribute, which is actually a level two attribute. Not bad. In this way, he will be much stronger in both combat and cultivation in the future."
Xia Ming nodded and looked at the large screen in front of him. At that moment, another student in the middle of the square completed his awakening.
"Tao Mufeng from Class 5, Grade 12, has successfully completed his awakening."
Occupation: Soldier.
"Characteristics: Fire."
Talent: None.
Meanwhile, several teachers in the middle of the square were whispering and taking notes, occasionally discussing the matter.
They are all admissions officers from several martial arts universities in Baqing Province.
If a promising candidate is found, they can be recruited directly, bypassing the college entrance examination.
But clearly, this student did not meet their recruitment standards.
"Next."
The awakening ceremony continued.
Xia Ming suddenly asked, "Teacher Pu, has none of our students successfully awakened their talent attributes today?"
"kindness."
Pu Wei looked at Xia Ming and said, "These talent attributes are one in ten thousand. Perhaps none of the three thousand students here today have a talent attribute."
"But you're different. As the number one genius in our No. 3 High School, hehe, I still have high hopes for you."
Xia Ming smiled and said, "Teacher Pu flatters me. This talent attribute is different from the other two. It's completely random, and I'm not confident that I can awaken it."
Pu Wei: "That's true. But with your talent, awakening a level 2 affix and the three major profession affixes shouldn't be a problem. Plus, with your current Yellow Rank cultivation, hehe, being admitted ahead of schedule is already a sure thing."
Xia Ming thanked him politely, but to be honest, he wasn't sure himself.
Talent attributes are divided into two types. A single attribute is called a first-level attribute, such as [Fire], [Water], and [Strength].
Attributes like [Kan Water] and [Li Fire] are called second-level entries, which have more characteristics and variations than first-level entries, and are also more powerful.
As for the three major class attributes, they refer to Warrior, Mage, and Priest.
In short, it's Warrior, Mage, and Priest!
There is no inherent nobility or baseness in professions, but there is a hierarchy in terms of terms and categories.
Soldiers gain increased health, workers gain increased strength, and farmers gain increased stamina.
All three of these add fixed attributes, which are barely usable in the early stages, but are basically useless in the later stages.
The Warrior-Mage-Priest combination is entirely different.
They come with two skills, or rather, through awakening, spiritual power awakens your inner strength.
One skill is active, and the other is passive.
For example, [warrior].
Passive skill: [Thick Skin], strengthens your physical body.
Active Skill: [Charge], greatly increases your movement speed.
It's equivalent to having an extra active skill compared to other professions.
While physical enhancement and speed can be achieved by other martial artists through learning martial arts techniques, others can also achieve similar results later on.
However, those who have awakened the [Warrior] attribute can also learn these martial arts skills, and the two can be stacked, giving them an innate advantage in terms of stats and mechanics.
Moreover, the [Warrior, Mage, Priest] class can continue to grow, a process also known as a second awakening.
Those who have awakened the [Warrior] class attribute should focus on speed, stealth, and burst damage in their subsequent skills.
That would result in a second awakening as a [Rogue], and the addition of a new set of class skills.
Or perhaps a second awakening as a [Berserker], [Weapon Master], [Paladin]...
"This is the advantage of the three classes: Warrior, Mage, and Priest."
Xia Ming sighed, and Pu Wei asked after hearing this, "By the way, Xia Ming, what is the career term you most hope for?"
"I?"
"Of course I want to be a mage."
On the field, the awakening ceremony continued.
With less than three students left in Class 5 of Senior Three, Pu Wei signaled to the students in Class 6 to take over.
Due to the high awakening fee of 300,000, only about 20 people participate in each class.
However, due to past experience, there are sometimes unexpected risks during awakening, so there are not many people in the square, and it even seems rather empty.
Each class waited in their own classroom, while students from other schools lined up at the school gate.
The crowd and the awakened individuals in the square maintained a safe distance of ten meters.
When Xia Ming stepped out of the teaching building, he attracted the attention of the students who had not yet left.
"Ah, it's the Three Kings!"
Someone shouted something, and students in the square and those leaning on the railings of other school buildings all looked over.
There was envy, and there was hostility.
Xia Ming turned a blind eye, having grown accustomed to it over the years.
At No. 3 Middle School, he couldn't keep a low profile even if he wanted to.
While most students in the school were still at the beginner level, from first-order to ninth-order martial artists, Xia Ming had already broken through to the late Yellow Rank.
It is even possible to reach the Xuan rank before the college entrance examination.
He is also widely recognized as the greatest genius in the history of No. 3 Middle School.
Although Puwei just said that if he awakens a level 2 entry, he will be admitted to a university in advance.
However, what he didn't know was that an admissions officer from a martial arts university had already contacted him, saying that as long as he reached the Xuan rank, he could be admitted regardless of his affiliation.
Just then, a girl stepped out from the crowd of Class 5 ahead.
She is tall, fair-skinned, and beautiful.
She walked towards Xia Ming with a smile on her face and a paper bag in her hand.
"Brother Xia Ming, I noticed your school uniform was dirty during training yesterday, so I took it home and washed it for you. It's dry now, so you can wear it."
Xia Ming was speechless for a moment, but still accepted the school uniform.
"Cui Yu, thank you. Don't do that again. I can wash it myself."
Xia Ming was speechless for a moment, thinking back to the past few years when he would lose things from time to time.
What clothes, pants, shoes...
It feels like he's being targeted by some kind of pervert, but it shouldn't be Cui Yu.
Because Xia Ming's understanding of Cui Yu was very accurate; she was just a green tea bitch, not a pervert.
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all. Just call me if you need anything in the future."
"Cui Yu is happy to do anything for Brother Xia Ming. Brother, you must be tired after standing for so long. Would you like some water?"
After saying that, she took out a pink water bottle from her backpack, and while sensibly unscrewing the cap, she smiled at Xia Ming with her most perfect profile.
This angle looks like it was carefully rehearsed.
Xia Ming looked at her, patted her shoulder, and gestured that it wasn't necessary.
"Okay, meow~"
Hehe~
Cui Yu made a very anime-like expression and gesture.
Xia Ming: ...
"Although this young lady has her cunning, she's quite good at providing emotional support."
And so, Cui Yu naturally stood next to Xia Ming.
Xia Ming looked up and then noticed the surrounding teaching buildings, where the hostility intensified.
Hey……
Xia Ming was not unpopular. He got along well with his classmates or those who regarded him as a martial arts rival, or even respected him.
On the contrary, those who had little interaction with Xia Ming, or even those who were only at the first or second level and had to take the stairs to go downstairs, were full of hostility towards him.
I don't know if I hate that I'm so far ahead of them, or if I hate that they aren't me.
"Ye Wen, Occupation: Warrior."
"Characteristic: [Lesser Yang]"
Talent: None.
As the announcements were broadcast over the square, everyone's attention was drawn to the awakening ceremony in the very center.
"What? Ye Wen actually awakened the Warrior attribute? And he even has a level two trait attribute?"
"Wow, I'm so envious! Shaoyang, that's the noble Yin-Yang Master!"
"Yeah, look, look, those admissions officers seem to be arguing. Oh my god, Ye Wen is going to be directly admitted to the Martial Arts University."
Discussions about Ye Wen continue, and Ye Wen, as the focus of this attention, is also extremely excited.
He looked at his body, feeling the changes in his flesh and strength.
He knew that his inner potential had been unleashed.
charge!
The method of using this martial art has already been revealed on television. Once you awaken to its power, you can simply follow the instructions.
Ye Wen immediately used this professional skill.
It was so fast it was like a blur.
There were dedicated testers right next to them.
"100 meters in 3.52 seconds!"
The teacher in charge of the speed measurement announced the data on the spot.
"My God, is he that fast? I can only run 100 meters in under seven seconds. With his speed and thick skin, if we were to fight, I wouldn't be able to outrun him or beat him."
"Yes, yes, this is the noble [Warrior], and he even has the [Shaoyang] attribute. Our No. 3 Middle School is about to produce a prodigy."
Students in the classroom and outside the school gate were all talking about it, and when the name Tianjiao was mentioned, everyone couldn't help but look at Xia Ming, who was about to step forward to awaken!
What new terms will he awaken?
Everyone is looking forward to it.
"Keep it up, Xia Ming! You'll definitely be the best entry."
Xia Ming didn't look at her, but strode forward to the Awakening Device.
After completing the required procedures, he took a special drug to awaken his consciousness.
He then sat cross-legged and began to practice the guiding exercises.
This awakening device is a huge pillar.
It is about 20 meters tall, and there is only one of its kind in the entire Yunjin City.
Not only is it expensive to build, but it also costs a lot to start it up.
It requires a massive amount of psionic crystals and various scarce resources.
Therefore, this awakening ceremony is usually set to be held once every three years; otherwise, the government and schools wouldn't have the money to organize it.
The higher the cost, the higher the barrier to entry. Therefore, eligible individuals who want to awaken their skills must pay 30 Star Coins.
It sounds expensive, but that's after government subsidies.
"Hehe, Xia Ming, relax, I believe you'll be fine."
The speaker was Liu Sui, the principal of Yunjin No. 3 Middle School.
He and his father were old friends.
"Uncle Liu, thank you. I will definitely complete it successfully."
"Alright, then you can focus on practicing the guiding incantation and receiving the sensations. I won't disturb you anymore."
After speaking, Principal Liu picked up the megaphone again and signaled the whole school to be quiet, warning that anyone who disobeyed would be punished. Only then did the whole school stop talking.
However, this also displeased Ye Wen.
"Damn it, connections matter! This is my cheering! Why should everyone else be silenced?"
"Xia Ming, is it? I'd like to see what you can awaken."
Ye Wen felt uncomfortable whenever he saw Xia Ming.
He is now a ninth-level martial artist and will soon enter the Yellow-level.
In any other high school, this would definitely be the number one achievement.
But with Xia Ming around at school, everything I do seems ordinary.
Why should I?!
Even all the girls in the school were swarming around that guy with connections!
That's fucking ridiculous!
Ye Wen looked at Cui Yu, only to realize that Cui Yu was also looking at him.
Unlike his usual indifference, Cui Yu actually winked at him at this moment!
Hey, this looks promising!
"Xiaoyu, you finally realize that I'm the GOAT of No. 3 Middle School!"
Ye Wen was excited, but he didn't dare to open the champagne yet. He would wait until Xia Ming's entry was published before he could show his true feelings.
Half a minute later, everyone's attention was focused on the large screen in Awakening Square.
Appeared!
Xia Ming's entry has been released.
Occupation: Leprosy.
"Characteristic: Toad".
"Talent: Leper".
"A leper?"
"What is this?"
The entire school's teachers, students, and principal were stunned for a second.
I've never seen this term before.
Another new entry?
"A mangy dog? A mangy leper?"
Someone whispered something, and it caused a huge uproar.
"Hahaha, that's right, isn't 'laizi' just a mangy dog, meaning a scoundrel or a rogue?"
Those classmates who were already hostile towards Xia Ming finally found an opportunity to vent their anger.
I'm so frustrated!
The teacher in charge of awakening had obviously never seen this term before.
He probed his mental energy again, trying to decipher the meaning of this term.
Several martial arts university teachers nearby also looked at him, hoping to be the first to hear the answer.
After a moment, the teacher sighed and said, "It is indeed a new entry, but... I couldn't read any attributes."
"It's a blank entry."
The awakened teacher made a judgment, which sparked a heated discussion among all the students in the school.
"No attributes?"
"Isn't that just trash? Hahaha, even worse than those top-level keywords, hahahaha!"
At this moment, Ye Wen was overjoyed!
He had been suppressed by Xia Ming for three years, but now he finally had a chance to turn the tables.
You can catch up even if your cultivation level is low, but the strength of your attributes determines how far you can go.
Meanwhile, Xia Ming finished the guiding incantation and looked at his own entry on the screen.
He wasn't disappointed at all; on the contrary, he was quite excited!
"A leper?"
"Don't they all know about Happy Landlords?"
"Dada dada dada!"
"Oh right, I forgot, people in this world don't play Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game)."
"Does this 'leper' mean... 'use as you see fit!' or 'replace all entries'?"