3021 AD.
Deep Blue Civilization, the Professional Association of the Eastern District of Nanming City.
A huge crystal stood in the room, and a long queue of young people lined up in front of it.
"It's my turn to wake up with five people left."
Lui Xiang felt a little excited.
The so-called awakening referred to awakening the talents and occupations of professionals.
Thus, they would gain the ability to enter the Zhutian game.
A thousand years ago, the game Zhutian, built by the will of the great world, had arrived, and everyone was given the opportunity to awaken professional abilities.
At the same time, numerous secret realms were born within the Deep Blue World, filled with powerful monsters. Those who killed them would obtain teleportation scrolls corresponding to various worlds.
Through the teleportation scroll, professionals could enter the infinite worlds contained in Zhutian, challenge themselves, and grow stronger.
As for the method of training—
It was simple!
Fight monsters, level up, and complete tasks!
A true gamer's dream!
However, when Lui Xiang had crossed over, he had been just a child.
Due to the regulations of the Deep Blue Alliance, only individuals over the age of 18 were allowed to awaken their professional talents.
Before that, people were required to attend school to learn the basics, combat skills, and more.
Lui Xiang had waited ten long years.
"I wonder what profession I'll awaken—warrior, mage… or assassin?" Lui Xiang had guessed.
"Once I enter Zhutian, I must verify the authenticity of the dreams I've been having!" he decided inwardly.
Since the age of six, he had experienced a recurring dream every three days.
In the dream, from a god's perspective, he observed professional players clearing the worlds of Zhutian.
All of these dreams had one thing in common:
Someone would always complete a hidden main quest and achieve a perfect clearance rating.
Typically, professionals could only enter a world through the corresponding teleportation scroll.
But completing a hidden main quest allowed them to freely enter that world afterward.
They could monopolize its resources.
That kind of opportunity was priceless!
Thinking of this, Lui Xiang looked down at the white jade pendant hanging by a string around his neck.
It was only the size of a fingernail.
Lui Xiang considered it a treasure.
Because it was the only item he had brought with him from Earth!
Lui Xiang had long suspected that his transmigration—and even his recurring dreams—were connected to this jade pendant. But over the past 18 years, the white jade hadn't changed at all.
Eventually, he had stopped trying to uncover its secrets.
"No. 49, it's your turn to awaken!" the staff member called out, holding a list.
"Alright."
The voice interrupted Lui Xiang's thoughts.
He took a deep breath and walked forward with a determined gaze.
"Close your eyes, then place your hands on the crystal's surface, clear your mind, and meditate to awaken," the staff instructed.
"Got it."
Lui Xiang nodded. He was very familiar with the process.
He closed his eyes and placed his hands on the crystal's surface, silently chanting "Awaken" in his heart.
In the darkness, a cold mechanical voice echoed.
[Connecting to the Zhutian system… Connection successful!]
When his vision darkened, Lui Xiang found himself in an ancient temple surrounded by countless statues.
A translucent panel appeared in front of him.
[Awakening request detected. Source: No. 4559 Universe · Eastern Region · Yinzhou Galaxy · Deep Blue Star. Awakening Number: Y4559-EA-8YS-4910...]
Every Awakened had a unique number.
Lui Xiang's number was 36 digits long.
[Detecting suitable profession for the Awakened…]
Light scanned across his body.
Then, a sudden change occurred.
The white jade pendant around Lui Xiang's neck broke free, floated into the air, and turned into two black-and-white rays of light, which then fused into his body.
"What is this…?"
The unexpected phenomenon caught Lui Xiang off guard.
In the next moment, a series of results emerged.
[Archer 100%]
[Warrior 0%]
[Knight 0%]
[Assassin 0%]...
"100% compatibility?!!"
Lui Xiang was shocked.
According to what he'd learned in school, only tens of thousands of people had ever reached 100% compatibility with a profession since the birth of the Deep Blue Civilization's first professional.
Such individuals were exceedingly rare.
Of course, compatibility only indicated how well one's core talent aligned with the profession.
It didn't represent the talent's strength.
"Then I'll choose Archer."
Core talents were crucial for a professional's early development.
Since his compatibility aligned with Archer, Lui Xiang wasn't about to choose another profession out of stubbornness.
That would only waste precious potential.
He made his decision instantly.
Occupation Template: Archer
Grade: Class D
Attributes: +1 to all four base attributes per. level, +1 Agility per level, +1 free attribute point per level
Bonuses: +5% Attack Speed, +5% Movement Speed
Skills: Basic Archery LV3 (1325/3000) — D- Grade quality, +3 Accuracy, +6% Archery Attack Speed, +6% Normal Arrow Damage
Archery, swordsmanship, and other combat disciplines were mandatory school subjects.
Now that he had activated the Archer profession, the archery techniques he had learned were solidified as a skill.
In the Zhutian world, all items, professions, skills, and even talents were graded from D, C, B, A, S, SS, to SSS.
Of course, there were rumored to be even higher ranks beyond SSS, but textbooks and public networks lacked details.
[Profession selection complete. Beginning talent awakening…]
[Talent Quality Range: D ~ SSS]
Lui Xiang's body was engulfed in radiant light.
1 second…
3 seconds…
5 seconds…
After a while, the awakening finished.
[Congratulations! You have awakened your core talents: "Arrow Carry the Path ???" and "Death's Gift: Immortality."]
"Two… Two talents?!"
"And what kind of quality is ??? and… immortality?"
Lui Xiang stood frozen.
In all known records, from the Deep Blue Civilization to the greater Yinzhou Starfield Alliance, no one had ever awakened more than one core talent.
More importantly, a core talent had never reached beyond the SSS rank—until now.
Even without knowing the meaning of "???" in Arrow Carry the Path, the word immortality alone meant that Death's Gift was at least above SSS level.
Before he could recover from his shock, another message popped up.
[Please enter your second name for use in the world of Zhutian...]
Centuries ago, professionals had used their real names in the dungeons of Zhutian, which led to many disputes.
After an update, the system now allowed players to create a second name to conceal their identities.
"Eternal Night."
Lui Xiang input the ID he had always used when playing games in his previous life.
In the world of Zhutian, repeated second names were allowed since each person had a unique identification number.
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