Having exited the Consciousness Universe, Lu Lin removed his helmet.
Instantly, he felt a burning gaze upon him. Looking up, he saw Class Teacher Li.
Teacher Li's eyes were filled with excitement and anticipation when he saw Lu Lin take off his helmet first.
Based on his years of teaching experience, the more talented students could leave the Consciousness Universe earlier.
After all, there was no need to waste time if the Awakening was successful.
Those who didn't awaken would be unwilling to give up easily.
Lu Lin nodded affirmatively and approached Teacher Li.
"Lu Lin, congratulations!"
"What attribute is it? Is it the Gold System?"
Worried about affecting other students, Teacher Li asked quietly, suppressing his excitement.
Throughout his three years of high school, everyone, classmates and teachers alike, knew Lu Lin dreamed of awakening the Gold System.
"No, it's the Earth Element."
Lu Lin felt as if his heart was stabbed again.
He felt uncomfortable, like he wanted to cry.
"Ah... it's the Earth Element."
Teacher Li also paused, his smile freezing on his face.
He knew all too well Lu Lin's desire to awaken the Gold System. Awakening the Earth Element now must be a huge blow to such an ambitious young man… right?
"It's okay, Lu Lin. It's great that you could awaken. Talent Awakening is like this, predetermined by heaven. We don't even have the chance to fight hard."
"Right, you've just awakened. Hurry and get the Refinement Degree of your Star Veins measured."
Teacher Li comforted him for a moment before quickly changing the subject.
Lu Lin nodded and headed to the Star Vein Refinement Degree testing point.
Just moments ago, he was thrilled about activating his Second Talent, but now he remembered something: the Three Major Laws of Star Core Warriors.
First, in the Consciousness Universe, Star Core Warriors have 100% control over their self-awareness.
Second, upon the first Awakening, the Star Vein Refinement Degree will not exceed 1%.
Third, Star Core Warriors have no limits.
Lu Lin really didn't want to admit that he had broken two of the fundamental truths revered by Star Core Warriors on the very day of his Awakening.
In the Consciousness Universe, he had been pinned by that eye and unable to exit, breaking the first law. His Second Star Vein Refinement Degree had reached 30%, breaking the second law.
As for when he might break the third law… Lu Lin didn't have time to even consider it.
He was about to undergo a Refinement Degree test, and if he was found to have a Refinement Degree exceeding 30%, he would be in danger.
Everyone in the human race knew what it meant for Lu Lin's Star Vein Refinement Degree to reach 30% on his first Awakening.
Power? Strength? Wealth? Fame? No!
Once Lu Lin's test results were exposed, it would surely shock the entire human world.
But the greater likelihood was that he would enter the sights of the Federal high-levels through secret channels even before the test results were published. Then the Federal high-levels would be shocked, and countless mad scientists would clamor to include him in secret experiments. After that, he'd be taken away by the Federal Secret Star Warrior Team, destined to spend the rest of his life in a laboratory.
Except, he'd be participating as a test subject.
The consequences were too horrible to imagine.
But not getting tested wasn't an option either.
If his Refinement Degree was 30%, he could claim he'd mutated. But if he didn't get tested at all, even a fool would know Lu Lin had a secret he was terrified of exposing.
Stick your neck out, a knife. Shrink your head, still a knife.
The distance from the Awakening Space to the Refinement Degree testing point was no more than 300 meters, but Lu Lin felt like he walked 30,000 meters.
He dragged his feet, delaying, taking it one agonizing step at a time until he finally "crawled" to the entrance of the testing point.
"Student, congratulations on your successful Awakening, please have a seat."
A crisp voice rang out, and Lu Lin saw a big-eyed little nurse with a smile all over her face inviting him to sit down.
After controlling his legs not to run away, Lu Lin sat down, and the Biological Chip in his body was automatically sensed by the instrument. The nurse saw Lu Lin's relevant information on her screen.
[Name: Lu Lin]
[Age: 18]
[Hometown: Saturn North Hill]
[School: Blue Star Huaxia District, Tongyuan City, Jinjian No.3 Middle School]
[Star Core Warrior: No]
[Star Core Attribute: None]
[Star Core Level: None]
The nurse took a look and said to Lu Lin, "Lu Lin, right? Relax, it'll be over soon."
"Um, it might hurt a bit, just bear with it."
As soon as the nurse had finished speaking, Lu Lin felt a pain in his lower abdomen where the Star Core was located. If the pain hadn't come and gone quickly, he almost couldn't help but scream.
"Alright, it's done."
The nurse smiled and said, "The test results will be available in half an hour. After the Federal Light Brain verifies the results, you will receive the registration information from the Star Martial Arts Association. Your personal citizen information will also be updated, so please check it in time."
"Alright, thank you."
Lu Lin left the test site, his heart feeling even heavier.
「Awakening Space.」
After Lu Lin left, several classmates had successfully awakened and were eagerly discussing their experiences with Teacher Li.
Seeing Lu Lin return, they all smiled at him and congratulated each other. Lu Lin responded awkwardly.
Teacher Li, keenly observing Lu Lin's troubled expression and apparent preoccupation, sent the other students to get their Star Vein Refinement Degrees tested.
"Lu Lin, what's wrong?"
"Are you still upset about not awakening the Gold System?"
"No, Teacher Li."
Lu Lin forced a smile, but the thought of spending the rest of his life in a human experimentation laboratory made it impossible for him to genuinely smile. "Teacher Li, I might not be feeling well. Can I go home first? I... I..."
Lu Lin didn't know how to explain to Teacher Li.
If his test results had been normal, he would return to school with the others by bus, and then learn skills under the guidance of Star Core teachers.
But he wasn't normal.
The test results would be out in thirty minutes.
His abnormal data would surely be reported, layer by layer, until it reached the Federal high-levels.
What would follow would be as Lu Lin had guessed earlier.
Escape? The thought had crossed Lu Lin's mind.
But he also knew that with the current level of technology, it would be useless to run anywhere.
Under the Star Energy Network covering the entire Solar System, it was impossible for a legal citizen with an implanted Biological Chip to escape the powerful Light Brain's tracking, let alone the pursuit of the Federal Secret Star Warrior Team.
"Alright, go ahead."
Teacher Li knew that Lu Lin was not a pretentious person and that there must be more to his troubles.
As Lu Lin thanked him and turned to leave, Teacher Li suddenly remembered something and reminded him, "Lu Lin, don't forget to come to school at 1:30 pm to learn the skills."
"This is important, don't forget."
Lu Lin waved his hand.
He naturally wouldn't forget.
However, Lu Lin estimated that by the afternoon, he'd probably already be on a military transport plane, or perhaps even have arrived at some strange laboratory and made his bunk.
Whether he remembered or forgot, it hardly mattered anymore.
Feeling increasingly anxious, Lu Lin abandoned his usual thriftiness and summoned a Shared Unmanned Electromagnetic Vehicle through his Biological Chip. Setting the destination to his residential area, Lu Lin leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
He saw his anxious mother's face from this morning's phone call, and his dad who didn't like to talk much and only knew how to chain smoke his electronic cigarette when he had something on his mind.
After living in this world for eighteen years, Lu Lin's love for his parents had reached the marrow of his bones.
If he were to disappear just like that, how heartbroken would Mom and Dad be?
"Dear passenger, you have arrived at your destination. Please check your belongings before disembarking. This trip took 17 minutes and 23 seconds and cost 41.97 yuan."
As the electromagnetic vehicle arrived at Lu Lin's residential area, he paid the fare and entered his home, collapsing helplessly on the floor.
Despair filled his heart.
By now, the Federation's military Star Martial Team should have received the message.
No, they might already be on their way.
Makes sense. It took a thousand years to establish the Three Major Laws of Star Core Warriors, and I've just broken them. Those top professors at the Star Core research institutes, upon hearing the news, are probably already howling with excitement, dying to dissect and study me immediately.
The secret Star Core Warrior team assigned to capture me, if they use a Blue Star Low Earth Orbit Quick Response Cruise Starship, could reach my residential area in at most ten minutes.
So, what I should do now is… walk over and open the door?
And then say… "Welcome"?