1: Chapter 1 Awakening? Wasn't I taking a nap?

"Zhang Wen! Still sleeping? Today is Awakening Day!" Liu Zi yanked off his school uniform jacket, stamping his feet in anxiety.

Zhang Wen rubbed his eyes and sat up, his eyelashes still heavy with sleep: "Awakening? Liu Zi, you haven't gone crazy from math class, have you—aren't we on our lunch break? There's an English test this afternoon."

"Who the hell is joking with you!" Liu Zi grabbed his backpack and rushed out, his sneakers making a pitter-patter sound in the hallway, "I'm leaving first! Suit yourself!"

Zhang Wen watched the other's disappearing back and belatedly grabbed his school uniform to chase after him. The sunlight at the end of the hallway made him squint, and questions swirled messily in his mind: How did the world suddenly change after waking up from a nap?

"Wow, it's B-rank Ice-type spiritual power. As expected of our grade's big shot, they're really strong."

"Yeah, I really envy them. Good family background and terrifying talent; I'm afraid we won't even be in the same world in this lifetime."

Seeing this scene, Zhang Wen pinched himself hard. "Ah, it hurts!" Only then did Zhang Wen realize that this wasn't a dream; he had apparently undergone Transmigration •ᴗ•

Instantly, Zhang Wen became excited. Based on his experience reading so many power fantasy novels, there would definitely be a Golden Finger to lead him to become stronger, shed his current loser persona, and reach the Peak of life.

The more Zhang Wen thought about it, the more absorbed he became, as if he could already see the scene of himself dominating the world: leading thousands of troops to sweep across all directions, with everyone bowing to him. Just as he was getting into it, a drop of drool fell "patter" onto the back of his hand. He woke up as if from a dream and awkwardly wiped his mouth.

"Yo, isn't this our school's loser Zhang Wen? What, you also want to come for the Awakening and prepare to soar to the sky?"

Zhang Wen caught sight of Xue Yuan approaching with his hands in his pockets and an arrogant stride. He sneered and said, "Young Master Xue is so busy with a myriad of affairs, why waste time on me? My business is not for you to point fingers at."

It turned out that Zhang Wen and Xue Yuan had a very bad relationship because they liked the same girl.

"Humph, no matter how you awaken, you can't possibly snatch Siyi away. After all, everyone knows your circumstances, hahahaha!"

Zhang Wen silently clenched his fists and sneered, "Then I won't trouble Young Master Xue to worry about it."

It turned out that Zhang Wen was a well-known poor student in this school. The Awakening ceremony seemed like an opportunity to change one's fate, but in reality, it was a cruel mirror reflecting reality—to continue to Cultivate and become stronger after Awakening, the cost of spiritual materials and special training courses alone was an astronomical figure that ordinary families could not afford. For families like Zhang Wen's, the most practical expectation was just to awaken Power-type spiritual power, so that at least after graduation, they could rely on physical strength to enter a factory and make a living; after all, assembly lines always needed cheap labor.

But the current Zhang Wen wouldn't think that way anymore. After all, he would have a Golden Finger, so why worry about whether he could become stronger? Thinking of this, Zhang Wen's mood improved slightly as he continued to watch everyone undergoing Awakening in the field.

At this moment, the air suddenly distorted, and a heatwave hit him like a physical substance. Bursts of exclamations erupted from the crowd, with someone shouting at the top of their lungs: "Hot, it's scorching! Why did the temperature suddenly spike?"

"Look at the center!" Someone screamed, and everyone's eyes focused in unison. The school beauty Ding Siyi was surrounded by floating specks of crimson fire, like dancing agates, shimmering with a mysterious glow under the sunlight. Her hair moved without wind, and the fierce flames twined around her fingertips, making that exquisite face look even more dazzling.

"It's the school beauty! Ding Siyi is undergoing Awakening!" The crowd boiled over, with discussions rising one after another.

"As expected of the pearl of the Ding Group! The pressure of this flame is clearly not ordinary at first glance!"

"Look at the color of that flame, it has a spiritual aura. Could it be the legendary S-rank Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire?" Among the onlookers, a disciple from a prestigious family who knew secret information gasped, "This fire should only exist in heaven; she actually managed to awaken it..."

"Rumor has it that the Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire is crimson, as agile as pearls and jade. It can protect one's own spiritual aura and burn away evil, carrying the purity and resilience of wood spirits."

"That's no lie; Ding Siyi is just that warm-hearted." That person gestured towards the playground, "Most of the underprivileged students in our school have received her help. Do you know that Zhang Wen who always wears a faded school uniform? I heard even his uniform was bought with money Ding Siyi secretly gave him."

Standing in the back, Zhang Wen's mouth twitched slightly upon hearing this. At the same time, he clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms—he had to get stronger quickly, strong enough to stand before her with dignity and shield her from all storms.

Meanwhile, Xue Yuan next to him didn't think so. "Hahaha, as expected of the woman I've set my sights on. Indeed, only like this can she be worthy of me." Having said that, Xue Yuan also walked towards the Awakening platform and slowly placed his hand on it. The moment Xue Yuan's fingertips touched the Awakening platform, the sky suddenly cracked with spiderweb-like patterns, and a piercing gale raged with him as the center. The crowd was blown over, yet Xue Yuan was surrounded by dozens of silver void-splitting blades, shimmering with a cold metallic light under the sun.

"Wind-type A-rank! It's actually the void-splitting blade!" The Dean of Students's exclamation was drowned out by the howling wind. Xue Yuan narrowed his eyes, enjoying the shocked looks of the crowd.

Laughter erupted from the crowd, as several wealthy kids pushed and shoved each other with knowing looks: "Young Master Xue's void-splitting blade paired with Young Miss Ding's Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire is simply a match made in heaven!"

"Isn't it? One should look at their own status." Someone intentionally dragged out the end of their sentence and glanced in the direction he gestured—Zhang Wen stood in the shadows clutching the hem of his clothes, the worn-out cuffs revealed under the hem lifted by the cold wind. That person sneered and lowered their voice: "A toad wanting to eat swan meat should weigh whether they are worthy."

Zhang Wen didn't care about these things. "Ding, your System is late but here; please receive it, host." Zhang Wen's eyes lit up, and he couldn't stop the joy in his heart. Has this day finally come!