Lanyuan Secret Realm

Chu Xuanhua was frustrated when he heard the news. Shen Yi usually seemed so quiet; how could he cause such a mess?

Faced with the Principal's inquiry, Chu Xuanhua didn't dare to be negligent and hurried to the infirmary to check on Shen Yi's condition.

"Hiss~" When Shen Yi woke up, a needle-like pain surged through his body, making him groan involuntarily.

He silently called out his Attribute Panel:

[ Name: Shen Yi ]
[ Talent Level: Grade E ]
[ Spirit: 12 ]
[ Strength: 6 ]
[ Ability Level: Tier 1, 2-Star ]
[ Ability Type: Fire (Hidden Ability, not yet Awakened) ]
[ Ability Skills: None ]
[ Free Attribute Points: 0 ]

"Huh?" Shen Yi looked at his Attribute Panel. His Ability Level had actually increased by one star, and he felt his mind was much clearer now.

"Shen Yi, what exactly happened?" Just as Shen Yi was feeling smug about his cultivation increasing by a star, Chu Xuanhua burst into the room with a loud bang, his face cold as he questioned him.

"Chu Ty... *Cough*, Teacher Chu, if I said this was an accident, would you believe me?" Shen Yi looked at Chu Xuanhua, whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and replied weakly.

"Was the last time an accident too? Why do so many accidents happen to you?" Chu Xuanhua didn't believe a word Shen Yi said.

"Teacher Chu, please believe me, it really was an accident. I'm a good student. When I see a puppy on the side of the road, I help it cross. When I see a pregnant woman on the bus, I help her cross. I even gave an old lady a smoked sausage when I saw her crossing the street."

Chu Xuanhua: "..." This kid definitely has something wrong with his head.

"Did I ask you about that? Are you feeling better? If you are, come with me for a re-test. Principal Kong has already called." Chu Xuanhua glared at Shen Yi angrily.

As he spoke, his fingertip touched a spark of deep red flame. The flame flew toward Shen Yi, dancing before his eyes, each flicker bringing a searing sensation.

"Teacher, I'm fine. Let's go for the test right now."

"I'm coming with you this time to see what kind of tricks you're up to." Chu Xuanhua pulled Shen Yi out of bed and headed toward the Testing Room.

Zhao Xiaoqing had just sat down in her office, hoping for some peace, when the phone rang again, saying a student was coming for a test.

Hearing the words "student for a test," her body trembled. She felt like this student was a jinx; it was the same every time. Today, she hadn't just been scolded by the infirmary doctor, but even the Principal had called to lecture her.

She walked to the Testing Room in a huff, and when she saw Shen Yi again, she nearly bristled.

She was about to snap at him when she saw Chu Xuanhua standing behind him, so she swallowed her words.

About five minutes later, Shen Yi finished the test. Zhao Xiaoqing let out a sigh of relief. Earlier, when Shen Yi walked in and put on the testing helmet, she was terrified he would suddenly say something like "Max it out for me" again.

A document was handed over.

[ Shen Yi, Talent Level: Grade E, Spirit Strength: Level 12, Ability Level: Tier 1, 2-Star. ]

"Go on, get back to class. I'll take this to the Principal." Chu Xuanhua grabbed the results, tossed a sentence back, and left.

"Um... Teacher Zhao... don't mind that, it was..." Shen Yi looked at Zhao Xiaoqing, wanting to explain it was an accident, but the words died in his throat.

"Student, go to class." Zhao Xiaoqing also left a single sentence and hurried out of the Testing Room.

Shen Yi: "..."

***

"Mengxue, this is Shen Yi's information. I'll leave it on the desk for you." Kong Jianzhe pushed open the door to Li Mengxue's office.

"Uncle Kong, you could have just called me and I would have picked it up myself. You didn't need to bring it over," Li Mengxue said politely.

Kong Jianzhe waved his hand. "It's fine. Let me know what the next arrangements are; I will fully cooperate."

"Starting at 10 AM today, all students with Spirit Strength over Level 5 will gather at the Ability Skill Demonstration Room. I'm going to teach them a few things. That way, when they enter Lanyuan, they'll be better equipped to handle emergencies," Li Mengxue said.

"No problem, I'll go announce it now."

After Kong Jianzhe left, Li Mengxue looked at Shen Yi's file and mused curiously, "How can someone with Grade E talent have such high Spirit Strength?"

In the afternoon, the Ability Skill Demonstration Room was packed with students, their faces full of excitement.

When Li Mengxue stepped onto the platform, the noisy hall instantly fell silent.

"Our special training selection begins today. Every student standing here is an elite of the school and has the chance to participate."

"The location for this year's special training is the Lanyuan Secret Realm. I'm sure most of you are unfamiliar with it, or perhaps have never even heard of it. The Lanyuan Secret Realm is the home of the Blue Fox Tribe, one of the alien races that invaded Blue Star three thousand years ago."

"However, do not worry. Since we are sending you to Lanyuan for training, we have ensured your safety. Of course, if any student does not wish to go, you may tell your teacher. The school will not force you."

Hearing Li Mengxue's words, the quiet hall erupted into whispers. It was the first time many had heard of the Lanyuan Secret Realm. They felt an instinctive fear toward a race that had once invaded Blue Star and nearly wiped out humanity.

Many students began to have second thoughts.

"With my Grade E talent, won't I just be monster fodder if I go in? I haven't even broken through to Tier 2, and I don't know a single Ability Skill," one student muttered.

"Instructor Li said there's no danger. What's there to be afraid of? Just do it," another student countered, undeterred.

Fear of the unknown was a natural human reaction.

"I'd rather just get my high school diploma quietly and go to vocational school to be a chef. My Fire Ability control is pretty good for cooking," several students thought, intending to quit.

"Before we head to Lanyuan, I will teach you an Ability Skill so you have some means of self-defense once you enter the Secret Realm," Li Mengxue said, hearing the commotion below.

"An Ability Skill?" The students buzzed again.

The Ability Skills taught in schools were usually for daily use—like small fireballs, water splashing, or basic Spirit interference.

Only after reaching Tier 2 or higher could one learn official Ability Skills for combat or support.

Even at Tier 2, one could only learn skills with relatively low power.

Obtaining Ability Skills was extremely difficult. The sanitation workers splashing water on the streets weren't using Ability Skills, but rather minor ability manipulation techniques.

Most official Ability Skills were taught by the government. Any skills obtained privately were illegal unless one had a top-tier Ability User in the family.

Unregistered Ability Skills were considered "black market" skills. If discovered by the Ability Bureau, the user's abilities could be forcibly neutralized.

In this world, once you lost your abilities, you couldn't even find a basic job.