A goofy clown popped into existence with a loud "bang" beside Zhao Mu's right shoulder, giggling and cackling.
Strictly speaking, only the clown's upper half had appeared. A ridiculous hat sat on his head, his face was painted chalk-white, and his mouth was slathered in bright red like two sausages.
Oddly, between his white-gloved hands he held a translucent blue panel.
Everyone on the scene was left with question marks over their heads at the bizarre reaction.
It was an unprecedented Awakening reaction.
When others awaken, they open the "gate" inside their bodies and let Spirit Energy seep outward, displaying one of the four elemental traits—earth, water, fire, or wind.
But who had ever seen an ability that manifested as a clown?
Only the Specialists from the military and Shao Tianyi's expression changed instantly.
"A Special-Ability Awakener!"
Shen Moran was equally bewildered. She turned to Teacher Xu Mingjie and asked, "Teacher Xu, what is Zhao Mu's ability? It's so weird."
Xu Mingjie was stunned for a moment, then frowned and explained to everyone, "Among Awakeners, a tiny minority awaken abilities that have never existed before. Because they're not recorded in the Empire's ability system and are unique personal manifestations, they're called special abilities."
Wang Qing asked, "Doesn't that make him extremely powerful?"
Xu Mingjie shook his head. "Not necessarily. The ability is merely special; it doesn't have to be strong. We still have to see the exact type and—"
He glanced at the Combat Level meter beside Zhao Mu and suddenly cried, "Oh no! How can it be only one point?"
At Xu Mingjie's shout, everyone's attention shifted from Zhao Mu's clown ability to the device.
The needle had moved only one notch—meaning Zhao Mu's post-Awakening Spirit Energy index was merely 1.
It was the absolute minimum Awakening, only a hair better than an ordinary person.
In the world of Spirit Power Users, he was practically negligible.
"How could this happen!"
Shen Moran exclaimed.
"Xiao Mu… how could he have only one point?"
The Awakening score represents potential.
The gap between 1 and 9 isn't eight points—it's hundreds, even thousands of times!
"The Genius of Yuwu No. 2 Middle School has fallen!"
Some students already wore mocking smiles.
Many who had been respectful to Zhao Mu could no longer hide their glee.
Nothing is more thrilling than watching a Genius who always topped you crash to the ground.
Regret flashed across Xu Mingjie's face, yet he still said, "No—Zhao Mu awakened a special ability. Even if his Combat Level is only 1, if the ability is extraordinary, his talent Rank might not be too low."
For example, Shen Moran's Space Element ability is more valuable than Shao Han's dual wind-and-ice power.
Shao Tianyi and the Principal walked over to check Zhao Mu's Awakening result.
They, too, had never seen such a strange ability and didn't want a long-anticipated Genius to fall like this.
"Zhao Mu, what ability did you awaken?"
The Principal stared at him, asking urgently.
At that moment Zhao Mu stood in a daze; to everyone else he looked shattered and unable to accept reality.
Some whispered with snickers, "So much for a Genius—before Awakening, nothing is certain."
Others compared him to Wang Qing.
"Exactly—look at Wang Qing. His grades and fitness used to be awful, but he awakened a C-Rank ability and instantly became a star!"
Such is the cruelty of the world: effort often can't surpass talent.
Wang Qing curled his lips but still said, "Don't talk like that—let's see what Zhao Mu's ability actually is!"
At this moment, Zhao Mu truly was dumbfounded.
Because he realized his awakened ability was simply too broken!
The instant his talent awakened, he knew exactly what it was.
[demon clown]: It can record the proficiency value of anything Zhao Mu does; as long as he keeps training, the proficiency will keep rising.
And there is no upper limit to his proficiency!
The sheer outrageousness of the ability left even Zhao Mu doubting his own mind, hence the stupefied look.
How terrifying was this power?
No matter what a person does, proficiency is normally just a vague feeling.
For example, someone might cook at the same level their whole life, unable to improve—or even regress if they stop for a while.
But for Zhao Mu, first, proficiency now had visible numbers—like a clear progress bar; second, he could raise it infinitely!
Even if he did nothing but walk every day, over time he could surpass the limits of humanity.
If used to train Combat Techniques, he could grow stronger without end.
When others max out their spear proficiency, he can keep pushing beyond the cap.
He couldn't even imagine how strong he would become!
A-Rank? Or S-Rank?
If it were rated only S, that would simply be because S is the highest Rank there is.
Its true ceiling—there is no ceiling!
As long as Zhao Mu keeps training, he will infinitely level-up and grow in every field!
"Zhao Mu, Zhao Mu!"
The Principal's anxious voice finally pulled him back to reality.
"Zhao Mu, what ability did you awaken?"
The Principal's eyes were filled with tension and hope; losing such a promising student would be a huge loss for Yuwu No. 2 Middle School.
In Zhao Mu's mind surfaced Bu Yanhuan's warning.
The demon clown ability was too powerful; once news of an infinitely growing Spirit Energy User got out, within a day every major faction in the Xuanfeng Empire might scramble to snatch him.
The Xuanfeng Empire revered martial might; facing outside crises while inside, powerful cliques vied for power, so top-tier ability users were vital.
The birth of an ultimate Genius would inevitably trigger a scramble among the great powers.
If Zhao Mu joined the wrong faction, he could end up a Puppet, slaving for others his whole life without freedom.
And factions that couldn't obtain him would rather destroy him than let rivals have him.
Thinking this, Zhao Mu told everyone, "My ability is called [demon clown]; it lets me raise the proficiency of Combat Techniques through constant training."
Hearing this, the Principal asked in disbelief, "That's all?"
Zhao Mu nodded. "That's all."
Disappointment was clear in the Principal's eyes.
Shao Tianyi also lost interest in him.
Shen Moran refused to give up and asked Teacher Xu, "Teacher Xu, how is Zhao Mu's ability?"
Unable to hide his disappointment, Xu Mingjie sighed, "Not great—at best a D-Rank."
"Zhao Mu's ability sounds decent; he can keep boosting proficiency in Combat Techniques. But his base Combat Level is only 1, meaning he'll advance far slower than a B-Rank talent like you."
"Many high-level Combat Techniques can only be practiced after reaching certain Combat Levels."
"Given Zhao Mu's situation, he can learn only the most basic techniques. Even maxing their proficiency won't amount to much."