1: One-star summoned beast

Above the Weiyang City First High School's athletic field, the scorching sun beat down like fire.

On the surface of the three-meter-high Awakening God Stone in the center of the field, ancient runes flickered with constant changes as Students touched it, emitting a mysterious glow.

More than ten classes lined up in more than ten queues, moving forward in turn to awaken their professions by touching the Awakening God Stone.

Li Yan, the homeroom teacher of Class 3, conveyed his deep voice through the amplification array to the entire Class 3 queue:

"Class 3, Li Yu has successfully awakened a three-star profession, [Critical Assassin]!"

"Class 3, Zhang Mingyuan has successfully awakened a two-star profession, [Shield Guard]!"

"Class 3, Chen Yuwei has successfully awakened a five-star profession, [Frost Mage]!"

A burst of enthusiastic cheers immediately erupted from the stands; Chen Yuwei's best friends hugged each other excitedly, as a five-star profession meant she would at least qualify for direct admission to a second-tier federal academy.

Even the homeroom teacher was kindly saying something to Chen Yuwei.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng, standing at the end of the queue, unconsciously clenched his fists, his palms already soaked with sweat.

Three years ago, when he found himself transmigrated to this unfamiliar world, he thought he had merely arrived in an ordinary parallel dimension.

It wasn't until that afternoon of torrential rain, when he personally witnessed a Blazing Swordsman from the City Defense Force use a skill to cleave the head of a ten-meter-tall monster, with the scorching sword energy evaporating the rain into white mist, that he truly understood the cruel rules of this world.

This was a world where games had descended and everything was digitized, with dangerous monsters, dungeons, and secret realms spread across the wilderness; humanity could only survive by gaining power through job changes.

From that day on, Lin Feng understood that in this world, profession level determined everything.

"Next, Class 3's Su Wanqing!"

As the homeroom teacher called out, the entire venue suddenly fell silent.

A girl in a white school uniform slowly walked towards the Awakening God Stone, her dark long hair gently swaying in the wind, and her skirt hem subtly rippling with her elegant steps.

"It's the Class Beauty's turn!"

"Damn, I wonder what profession the Class Beauty will awaken?"

"A Mage, Mages are the most noble!"

As the Class Beauty of Class 3, and even a strong contender for the School Beauty, Su Wanqing had always had many admirers and sycophants.

At this moment, as she moved, countless boys stared at her.

The moment her fingertips touched the surface of the God Stone, the entire Awakening God Stone suddenly erupted in an eerie pinkish-purple light.

"Class 3's Su Wanqing, successfully awakened a seven-star profession, [Charming Succubus]!"

The homeroom teacher's voice changed pitch with excitement, "Innate Equipment! Hahaha, Student Su Wanqing, you actually have an Innate Equipment, your luck is truly too good!"

"You are the first high-star profession awakened in our school this year, congratulations!"

Pale pink light particles condensed around Su Wanqing, forming a translucent, gauze-like cloak that draped over her shoulders.

Innate Equipment!

Moon Demon Cloak!

Her originally pure demeanor suddenly became alluring and enchanting, with two crimson lines naturally appearing at the corners of her eyes, and her entire being exuding a captivating aura that made hearts race.

The stands immediately erupted into a frenzy—this was the first seven-star profession to appear today, and it even came with a rare "Innate Equipment," a powerful piece of gear that could automatically upgrade as the professional's strength increased!

Lin Feng heard his best friend Wang Yin behind him gasp, "She gets 7 free attribute points for every level up, plus growth-type equipment; this practically guarantees her admission to the Central Academy, right?"

"Awesome, awesome, truly worthy of being the Class Beauty!"

According to the "Professional Potential White Paper" published by the Federation, a profession's star rating directly determined the job changer's growth potential.

A one-star profession only gained 1 free attribute point per level, while a nine-star profession gained 9 points.

This seemingly small difference would lead to an overwhelming gap in combat power after level fifty.

Not to mention, high-star professions often possessed stronger skills and higher growth ceilings.

Coupled with Innate Equipment, which was a powerful gear only high-star professions of seven stars or above had a chance to obtain, it further widened the gap between different star-rated professions!

Seven-star professions were few and far between in the entire Weiyang City.

And Innate Equipment was a rare talent, one in ten thousand; such soul-bound equipment would evolve with its owner's strength, making it priceless.

"Brother Feng, you've hit the jackpot."

Wang Yin suddenly nudged Lin Feng with his elbow, lowering his voice, "Didn't School Beauty Su give you homemade cookies last week? Now she's a seven-star genius, you lucky dog."

Lin Feng smiled bitterly and shook his head. As a transmigrator, he had consistently ranked first in academic performance in his grade, thanks to his accumulated knowledge from his previous life.

Coupled with his handsome face, privately dubbed "First High School's Campus Heartthrob" by the girls, he had indeed received many love letters and gifts.

Su Wanqing was one of the most persistent, often finding various excuses to approach him since freshman year.

But more than all that, Lin Feng cared more about today's awakening ceremony.

For three years, he had woken up at five every morning to train his physique and studied late into the night, all for this moment.

In this world, a profession's star rating determined a person's future.

And he, with the memories of an adult from his previous life, deeply understood the rules of this world and knew he had to obtain a sufficiently powerful profession.

"Class 3, Lin Feng!"

When he heard his name, Lin Feng took a deep breath and stepped towards the Awakening God Stone.

As he moved, the whispers on the athletic field spread like a tide.

"It's the Campus Heartthrob! I heard he can single-handedly lift a two-hundred-kilogram barbell in martial arts class!"

"He got first place in the city-wide mock exam for cultural classes, a total academic overachiever!"

"With that kind of talent, he's at least eight-star, maybe even a nine-star profession..."

"Rubbish! Profession awakening depends on fate, what does it have to do with cultural classes?"

"That's not how it works! Lin Feng was also first in martial arts class and meditation class, so he naturally has a high probability of awakening a high-star profession!"

Even the usually serious homeroom teacher rarely patted his shoulder, his voice filled with anticipation: "Don't be nervous, I can see your potential."

Lin Feng nodded and slowly placed his hand on the Awakening God Stone.

The stone surface felt cold, as if an electric current flowed from his fingertips.

He closed his eyes, feeling countless data streams surge into his body through his fingers.

His consciousness felt as if it had been thrown into a vast starry sea. In the darkness, he vaguely saw countless professional insignias flashing: burning greatswords, daggers dripping with venom, staves inlaid with jewels... Time seemed to stand still, or perhaps a long time had passed.

When Lin Feng felt the warmth of the sun again, he heard the homeroom teacher's voice from afar:

"Lin Feng has successfully awakened, profession..."

The homeroom teacher's voice suddenly faltered, and the rustling of papers could be heard through the amplification array.

The entire athletic field was dead silent; everyone held their breath, awaiting the result.

"A one-star profession, [Summoner]."

A deathly silence enveloped the entire athletic field.

Lin Feng's eyes snapped open. Summoner?

He instinctively looked down; sure enough, he was holding a beast egg only the size of a basketball.

Someone in the stands started to laugh, followed by a chorus of discussions:

"Summoner? Isn't a Summoner's star rating determined by the star rating of their bonded familiar? Does that mean..."

"His bonded familiar is only one-star!"

"Hahaha, the Campus Heartthrob and academic overachiever only awakened a one-star Summoner, that's too pathetic!"

"What a waste of such good talent..."

Su Wanqing stood at the front of the queue, her Moon Demon Cloak fluttering without a breeze.

She didn't turn around, nor did she even glance at Lin Feng, as if they had never met.

Lin Feng stood still, feeling all the blood in his body freeze.

Three years of effort, countless days and nights of dedication, had resulted in the weakest profession.

He could feel the pity, ridicule, and even schadenfreude in the eyes of those around him.

"Huh... something's not right?"

Lin Feng looked at the beast egg in his arms, suddenly finding it somewhat familiar.