"Children, you have completed the most important rite of passage in your lives; from now on you are independent individuals."
"The road ahead is still long. No matter how different the result is from what you imagined, since it is already set, we must accept it, raise our professional Rank, and give ourselves and our families a better life."
"You are the future hope of the Human Race. Protect yourselves, unleash your potential. We believe that through the efforts of each generation, one day our people will walk freely in the outside world instead of being confined to this small base."
"Finally, may everything go well for you in the future—year after year of peace, year after year of safety, year after year of true tranquility!"
After Officer No. 6 finished speaking, every eighteen-year-old present—whether Combat Professionists or life-profession users—felt a surge of fierce resolve.
Shen Xingyan was no exception; he was already wondering how to use his current circumstances to give his little sister and himself a better life.
Yet before the hundreds of thousands could give vent to that resolve, Officer No. 6's figure suddenly vanished from everyone's sight.
The peripheral Disasters were growing ever more severe; someone of his stature had to guard the border every moment, lest any accident occur.
Past lessons had taught them that what seemed the tiniest oversight often gave the Disasters their best chance to strike—constant vigilance was mandatory.
Had this ceremony not been so important, he might not have returned even once in a year or two.
Once Officer No. 6 left, the people in the square departed in the prescribed order, escorted back to their districts by the responsible officials.
Shen Xingyan returned with Chu Wei to their school's assigned area to await further instructions.
Throughout the school, those who had awakened Combat Professions and those who had taken life professions automatically split into two camps: one deathly silent, the other noisy and excited—the contrast was impossible to miss.
When Shen Xingyan and Chu Wei appeared, everyone looked their way, eager to learn what professions the school's "golden boy and jade girl" had awakened.
Li Teacher, leading the group, stepped forward to ask about their results.
In every school-organized drill, Shen Xingyan and Chu Wei had stood out; their names almost always topped the rankings.
Chu Wei's family was well-off—both parents were veteran Combat Professionists, so money was no issue. Had it not been for merit requirements, they would have moved to the Central District long ago.
Chu Wei also had supplements from home to boost her stats, so her achievements surprised no one.
Shen Xingyan, however, was different. Eight years ago, when the Disasters attacked, his parents had gone missing in the fighting and were almost certainly dead.
Since then he had supported himself and his little sister on the base's relief funds and his parents' meagre estate, yet still managed to achieve results that drew the whole school's attention.
His story had become a favourite inspirational tale the school used to urge students onward.
From the moment he saw Shen Xingyan's expression, Li Teacher had guessed the outcome; the question on his lips was swallowed back, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes.
After all, he had guided many cohorts and could read students' emotions; no matter how hard the young tried to hide, the tiniest expressions betrayed them, and he could tell the result was not good.
The other students also sensed something was off; at this sensitive age their instincts were especially sharp.
"Yo, Shen Xingyan—look at you. Don't tell me you awakened the Blacksmith profession? With all that strength you'd make a fine smith." Song Jie, long crushed beneath Shen Xingyan in the rankings, was first to mock him with a yin-yang tone.
This time Song Jie had lucked into the Warrior profession. Though not the Mage he had dreamed of, it was still a solid profession with great future prospects.
After announcing it he had basked in the envy of the crowd, and it went to his head.
Now, seeing his rival look calm yet defeated, he guessed Shen Xingyan had awakened something poor and was secretly delighted.
"Song Jie, are you itching for a beating?" Before Shen Xingyan could answer, an infuriated Chu Wei snapped back; had Shen Xingyan not stopped her she would have lunged.
Chu Wei was already upset that Shen Xingyan had awakened the Farmer profession, railing at heaven's unfairness, and now Song Jie dared mock him in public—her anger flared.
"Whoa, I'm talking to Shen Xingyan—why so touchy? Are you two actually an item?" Song Jie leered at them, his meaning unmistakable.
Chu Wei flushed with shame and rage, struggling even harder to break free.
"Song Jie, whatever I awakened, I can still flatten you right now. Don't believe me? Try me." Shen Xingyan regarded the increasingly arrogant Song Jie with calm certainty.
Right after Awakening the gap between professions was small; strength depended entirely on prior physical training, and Shen Xingyan had maxed every stat.
Even as a Farmer, if he faced newly awakened Combat Professionists he could likely stand his ground, even if they used their Skills.
At this point Li Teacher, seeing Song Jie's behaviour deteriorate, barked coldly, "Song Jie, one more word that undermines unity and I'll report to the School Leader and cancel your trial qualification next month."
Hearing that, Song Jie deflated like a punctured balloon, glaring at Shen Xingyan but not daring to speak.
Although they were now quasi-graduates beyond school discipline, the graduation trial next month was a genuine graduate benefit he could not afford to miss.
During the trial they would see the real world beyond the border, and with almost zero risk—multiple high-Rank Combat Professionists would escort them on an exploration tour.
With luck they might even obtain rare items that boosted every stat.
So, faced with Li Teacher's warning, even the newly proud Warrior Song Jie had to shut his mouth and behave.