49: Multiple adaptations

The lengthy speech finally drew to a close. The Dean cleared his throat, his expression turning serious.

“Finally, before the Awakening Ceremony officially begins, I must reiterate the core regulations of the school, and indeed, of the Education Bureau.”

“The most important of these concerns the postponement of the College Entrance Examination.”

All the students perked up their ears.

“According to the latest regulations, any student wishing to apply for a postponement of the College Entrance Examination must simultaneously obtain the signed consent of their parents, homeroom teacher, the Dean, the principal, and the leaders of the Municipal Education Bureau!”

As his words fell, a commotion erupted among the student ranks.

“Furthermore, the school strictly prohibits any student from abandoning participation in the College Entrance Examination for any personal reason!”

“If any student faces financial difficulties and cannot support their subsequent studies and career development, the school can assist in applying for interest-free student loans, and can also recommend excellent enterprises for sponsorship agreements.”

“In short, one sentence: no postponement is allowed, and even less, no taking the exam at all!”

Lin Yao listened, dumbfounded. She subconsciously tugged on Lin Yu’s arm.

“Brother, what kind of tyrannical clause is this? What if I just don’t want to take the exam, can they really tie me up and drag me to the examination hall?”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but the Dean on the rostrum seemed to have super hearing, immediately providing an answer.

“I know, some students will definitely have questions. If I just don’t go, what can the school do to me?”

There was not a trace of a smile on his face.

“I can clearly tell everyone that, out of responsibility for the future prospects of every student, in such situations, the Education Bureau will collaborate with the Public Security Bureau and other relevant units to take necessary coercive measures to ensure that every student embarks on the correct path!”

Coercive measures.

These four words, like a block of ice, struck everyone’s hearts.

Lin Yao’s small face instantly turned pale.

Lin Yu, however, sneered.

He spoke with such grandiosity.

In other words, it was forced buying and selling.

Under the guise of “for your own good,” they forcibly package you up and sell you to the capital that has long been waiting below the stage.

Student loans? Corporate sponsorship?

Those were nothing more than a deed of sale.

Signing a contract with you in this way allows them to control and exploit you for any reason in the future.

What’s the difference between this and a master-servant contract?

No, it’s even crueler than a master-servant contract.

In a master-servant contract, the object of loyalty is at least a living person. As long as it’s a person, there might be humanity, conscience; a slave owner who values his reputation would at least feel some pity for the life and death of his slave, because that is his private property.

But these companies, these forces, will not.

They are cold machines, wrapped up by capital and countless interests.

They will only calculate everything in the most rational way.

Calculating your value, calculating your output, calculating your remaining lifespan.

When your value is squeezed dry, you will be ruthlessly discarded, becoming a scrapped part.

Five years ago, he saw through this, which is why he made that decision... He would never be controlled by others!

Even if he couldn't change everything, he wanted to control his own life... to become his own capital.

To die by his own hand, at least he would be content!

“Class 3-7, Li Mo, please come to the stage to prepare for your Awakening!”

On the rostrum, the Dean’s voice sounded again, interrupting Lin Yu’s thoughts.

The Awakening Ceremony officially began.

As the first name was called, a well-mannered young man wearing glasses walked onto the rostrum.

It was Li Mo, the top student of the grade whom Lin Yao had mentioned earlier.

He walked to the black Awakening Stone and placed his hand on it.

Buzz!

The Awakening Stone lit up with a soft white light, and within the light, a clear rune slowly emerged.

“White Common Profession · Scholar”

A hush fell over the audience.

Although it was only the most common white profession, no one felt surprised or ridiculed.

The Scholar profession, while having almost zero combat power in the early stages, is an important prerequisite for all research-type and support-type professions. As long as resources are invested, its future achievements are not small.

The representative of “Tower of the Firmament” on the rostrum showed a satisfied expression, clearly quite pleased with the result.

Li Mo himself calmly accepted the result, bowed, and stepped down.

“Next, Class 3-2, Wang Hao.”

Another student went up.

It was still white light.

“White Common Profession · Farmer”

A suppressed chuckle rippled through the audience.

The young man named Wang Hao’s face flushed crimson, and he practically ran off the stage.

“Brother, is Farmer a very bad profession?” Lin Yao asked softly.

“Not necessarily.” Lin Yu responded indifferently, “Any profession, taken to its extreme, is very powerful. It’s just that, he most likely won’t have that opportunity.”

Without resources, without background, awakening a purely life-skill profession meant that one’s life was already set in stone.

Next, more than a dozen students went on stage consecutively, and the results were unsurprising: all white common professions.

“Woodcutter”, “Fisherman”, “Weaver”... The atmosphere on the sports field grew increasingly oppressive, and in the parents’ section, mothers were already secretly wiping away tears.

This was reality.

Over ninety percent of people live ordinary lives their entire lives.

Until a girl went on stage, and on the Awakening Stone, a different color finally lit up.

Green light!

“Green Excellent Profession · Wind Whisperer”

“Wow!”

The entire sports field instantly erupted!

“Green! It’s a Green Excellent Profession!”

“Oh my god, it’s from our class! It’s Liu Yue!”

“Wind Whisperer! It’s an elemental profession, so amazing!”

The students discussed excitedly, their faces filled with envy. The parents craned their necks even further, wanting to get a clear look at the lucky one.

The representatives of the major powers on the rostrum finally reacted a little, beginning to whisper among themselves.

Feng Rui, the Vice President of Fengxing Technology, even directly whispered a few words to his assistant, who immediately began to review the information of the girl named Liu Yue.

“Next, Class 3-9, Zhang Wei.”

Another student walked up.

When his hand touched the Awakening Stone, a sudden change occurred!

On the Awakening Stone, three white lights lit up simultaneously!

The three lights intertwined, finally transforming into three different white runes, suspended side by side in the air.

“White Common Profession · Apprentice Knight”

“White Common Profession · Shield Bearer”

“White Common Profession · Weapon Apprentice”

At this, everyone was stunned.

“This is... what’s going on? Is it broken?”

“Three? How can there be three professions?”

The students were full of confusion, and even the school leaders on the rostrum were a bit bewildered.

The Dean reacted the fastest. He quickly walked to the Awakening Stone, observed it carefully, and then explained loudly: “Students, do not panic! This is not a problem with the Awakening Stone!”

“This situation is called ‘Multiple Adaptation’! It means that this student’s talent is simultaneously compatible with multiple professions! He can choose one of these three professions as his initial profession!”