48: Chapter 48 Star Spring Bay

Three days later.

The pale blue light of the recovery pod slowly faded. Lin Yan opened his eyes, feeling the accumulated fatigue in his body completely dissipate, replaced by a sense of steady, solid strength in his muscles and bones.

The Federation-issued Special Grade Attribute Potion: Constitution Enhancement type had already been prepared. He reached out to take it. The moment the potion hit his throat, a gentle, warm current spread through his limbs and bones; there was no violent impact, but rather a precise consolidation of his physical foundation.

[Constitution + 5]

The numbers on the panel shifted quietly. Lin Yan didn't even spare them a second glance; he straightened his clothes and walked straight out of the recovery area.

Qin Chuan and Shen Xin were already waiting. Qin Chuan had changed into a new sportswear outfit, his hair cut shorter, making him look much more energetic. Shen Xin still wore her hair in a high ponytail and had on a light gray jacket; her complexion was much better than it had been three days ago.

His wristband suddenly vibrated. He glanced down to see a mass notification sent by Instructor Meng Yuan. The wording was very brief:

"Effective immediately, the unified special training is suspended. Each person must complete the following tasks monthly: 100 hours of cumulative Gravity Simulation Pod training, 5 cumulative combat sparring sessions, and 1 Dungeon experience report. Arrange your own time; just ensure completion by the end of the month. Failure to complete will be treated as an absence."

Qin Chuan saw the notification too. He scrolled down through the message and pursed his lips. "So, it means they're done with us, huh? We can train or not as we please."

"It's not that they don't care," Shen Xin interjected. "Everyone's schedule for entering the Dungeon is different now. Some go in every ten days, others once a month; it's impossible to coordinate a unified training time. The instructor means for us to arrange it ourselves and have it checked at the end of the month."

Lin Yan closed the notification without saying anything. To him, it made no difference whether there was unified special training or not. What needed to be trained would not be skipped, and what needed to be completed would not be delayed. Those with good grades received preferential treatment everywhere; even if he didn't complete it, it might be fine, but Lin Yan always completed everything seriously.

The three of them walked out of the recovery center gates and saw Jiang Ruoxue standing by the side of the road. The morning light spilled onto her, outlining her cool and upright silhouette.

She still maintained that clean and capable appearance, her long hair tied back to reveal her smooth forehead. Her features were exquisite but carried a touch of aloofness; her temperament was as sharp as an ice blade, yet she possessed a sense of stability.

Upon seeing Lin Yan, she didn't engage in unnecessary pleasantries or small talk. She spoke directly, her voice cool yet steady: "Lin Yan, do you have time? Come sit at my place for a bit. There are some things I'd like to discuss with you."

If it were anyone else, they might hesitate or probe, but Lin Yan simply gave a slight nod and replied calmly, "Sure."

He could sense that Jiang Ruoxue's invitation was not without reason. From the day he reported to the Core Class, when she watched him eliminate Fang Shen with a single punch, to her silent observations during the special training...

This girl, who hailed from First Awakening Middle School and came from a privileged background, always maintained a sense of reason and openness, completely different from arrogant and ostentatious people like Fang Shen.

Jiang Ruoxue's residence was located in Star Spring Bay, an independent residential area in the upper tier of the Seventh Safe Zone.

There were no dense apartment buildings here; instead, they were replaced by individual small houses surrounded by garden greenery. The environment was quiet and elegant, completely different from the Awakened apartments where Lin Yan lived, everywhere revealing the preferential treatment brought about by class disparity.

The interior furnishings were simple yet stylish, with no ostentatious or luxurious decorations—only elegant furniture, neat bookshelves, and an old photograph displayed in a corner.

The photo showed a young Jiang Ruoxue with a middle-aged man wearing a Federation military uniform. He had an imposing air, and his features bore a slight resemblance to hers.

Jiang Ruoxue personally brewed two cups of clear tea, pushed one toward Lin Yan, and then sat down opposite him, her posture upright and her gaze forthright.

Without beating around the bush or testing the waters, she got straight to the point, directly piercing the veil that everyone tacitly understood.

"Lin Yan, I know you have prejudices against people like us."

Lin Yan raised his eyes to look at her, neither denying nor admitting it.

The privileged class, the skewing of resources, the higher starting point from birth, the chasm between the unified trainees and the children of privilege... these were facts he had seen with his own eyes and experienced personally.

The ridicule at the Awakening Ceremony, the contempt in the Dungeon, the subtle opposition within the Core Class—these had long since allowed him to see through the rules of this world.

Jiang Ruoxue seemed to have anticipated his reaction. Her tone was calm and waveless, each word piercing the essence: "The resource skewing and class disparity you see are not the result of a monopoly by some family or individual's selfishness, but rules deliberately designed and facilitated by the Federation."

"The Federation deliberately creates opposition between the lower classes and the privileged, making ordinary people loathe privilege while those with privilege hold the heavy resources. None of the people who curse privilege with their mouths don't secretly want to become the privileged themselves."

Her gaze was clear and sharp. "Because only in this way can humanity hold onto the last glimmer of survival in the desperate situation of the rift invasion."

"Top-tier resources are concentrated and fed to those with the most potential and the highest likelihood of survival so that we can rapidly cultivate top-tier combat power to guard the defensive lines and fight against high-level monsters. If everyone were equal and everyone were mediocre, humanity would have been wiped out a hundred years ago."

She did not defend privilege, nor did she beautify injustice; she was simply stating the cruelest and most realistic truth.

Lin Yan set down his teacup and looked at her.

"Are you done?"

Jiang Ruoxue frowned slightly.

"What are you trying to tell me by saying all this? That even though you enjoy privileges, it's not easy for you either?"

Jiang Ruoxue was silent for a moment. "I just wanted you to know—"

"I know." Lin Yan interrupted her, his voice not loud but very clear. "I know you didn't have a choice either."

Jiang Ruoxue was stunned for a moment.

Lin Yan did not look at her; his thoughts were not in this living room, but had returned to the day of the Awakening Ceremony.

On the Awakening Plaza, the principal stood on the high platform, his voice echoing across the entire venue.

"Unified trainees who have reached the age of eighteen may choose for themselves whether or not to awaken their talent."

May choose for themselves—it sounded voluntary.

But everyone knew it wasn't voluntary. Choosing to awaken meant being forcibly teleported into a 1-star Dungeon; one might awaken a good talent and return alive to become a person above others, or one might die inside, forgotten by everyone.

Choosing not to awaken meant being trapped at the bottom of the Safe Zone for life, engaging in the most basic service jobs, receiving a meager minimum living allowance, being trampled underfoot by everyone, being mocked, spurned, and cursed for wasting Federation resources—it was even worse than awakening an F-rank Talent.

No one would choose not to awaken, not because they weren't afraid of death, but because not awakening was more painful than death.

That was the "choice" the Federation provided.

"Let's not talk about that. I'm not here to make excuses for the privileged class." Jiang Ruoxue leaned forward slightly and changed the subject, but her tone was sincere and solemn.

"I am here to offer you tangible benefits, and also to show my sincerity in forming an equal partnership."

"As long as you cooperate with me, I can immediately give you three solid benefits: First, abundant resources. I can directly provide you with customized Purple-grade equipment enhancement sets, skill books, and special-grade potions that are most suitable for you, without waiting in Federation queues or relying on luck in the Dungeon. My family can satisfy all your needs for later equipment upgrades, enhancements, and item replenishment."

"Second, Dungeon intel. My family has complete archives on the hidden resource points, boss weaknesses, and trap-avoidance routes for the vast majority of common 3-star and 4-star Dungeons. This will allow you to avoid 90% of the detours, directly doubling your survival rate and gains."

"Third, internal recommendation qualifications for top universities. I can promise you admission quota recommendations for the Federal Watchman Military Academy and Dawn University right now."

"Beyond that, you will have the endorsement of a military legion background. In the future, within the Safe Zone or the Dungeon, no one will dare to easily attack you, steal your resources, or scheme against you behind your back."

Her gaze was firm, every word enunciated clearly: "You are very talented, but you currently lack resources, intelligence, and a background. What I am giving you is not charity; it is what you need most on the path to becoming stronger. If we join forces, you get resources and protection, and I get a future top-tier combatant. It's a win-win."

"It's not just you; any unified trainee who performs exceptionally well will be recruited by privileged families. It's just that your talent and performance were so special that my family noticed you early and decided to invest in you in advance."

Jiang Ruoxue slowly stood up and extended her slender, fair hand toward Lin Yan.