New Century, Year 103, September.
Great Xia, Lincheng First High School, Grade 12 Class Nine.
Within the bustling classroom, the air buzzed with excitement as young boys and girls passionately discussed the upcoming vocational transfer ceremony.
"Phew, it's almost our turn! I heard someone from Class Eight became a Spellblade – that's a hidden class!"
"I'm so jealous! All three vocations that I'm compatible with are support classes. It's ridiculous!"
"Well, you're a girl, and you'll be fine in those roles. Who knows, your awakened innate talent might have a higher grade?"
"That's just a support role. Sigh, it's all about fate!"
"Stop complaining. If this were twenty years ago, most of us wouldn't even have the chance to become professionals."
"What about Fang Qingxue? Why hasn't the class beauty shown up today?"
"Fang Qingxue's parents are both third-tier professionals, second-generation pros. She probably met the transfer requirements ages ago, and she's likely attending advanced classes right now."
In this world, a century ago, games had merged with reality, mystical realms had emerged, and ferocious beasts had wreaked havoc. Humanity had discovered the path to becoming professionals.
To qualify for a job transfer, one had to meet certain conditions, with the primary requirement being reaching level ten. In the past, only a handful of ordinary children met these conditions.
Luckily, twenty years ago, the Great Xia government initiated the Universal Professional Program, providing resources to students, enabling nearly ninety percent of them to reach level ten by the start of their senior year in high school. Afterward, they would be sorted into different vocational classes.
It's worth mentioning that the first job transfer could awaken an innate talent capable of influencing one's entire life, with its grade and characteristics being crucial for a professional.
"Lu Ming, we're about to have our class transfer ceremony. What initial vocation are you choosing?" Curiosity shone in his chubby friend's eyes as he gazed at Lu Ming.
"Paladin," Lu Ming replied with a shrug.
"No way! You really want to be a Paladin? That's a support vocation!" Chubby couldn't hide his astonishment.
Lu Ming waved it off and said, "I don't have much of a choice. The few vocations I'm compatible with are all support classes. I'm stuck with it."
"Ah, Lu, you're so unlucky."
Chubby offered some consolation.
Lu Ming replied nonchalantly, but a hint of melancholy flickered in his eyes.
In the century since the emergence of professionals, a complex vocational system had been established, comprising dozens of career paths with nine transfers each, totaling hundreds of vocations.
Though there were numerous vocations, they could be broadly divided into two categories: support and damage-dealing.
The Great Xia government officially emphasized that there was no distinction between high and low-ranking vocations for professionals. However, Lu Ming knew that there was indeed a difference between support and damage-dealing vocations.
Choosing a damage-dealing vocation granted the ability to earn money quickly by clearing mystical realms, offering freedom and independence without being beholden to anyone.
Support vocations fell far behind in this regard.
Most support vocations lacked significant damage output, so those who chose them had to team up with others to earn money.
Even in the early days of the New Era, some would threaten support professionals' families, compelling them to work for free. Though this practice had disappeared with the establishment of support professional guilds, it demonstrated a point: support professionals needed to rely on others to make money.
Because of this, few willingly chose support vocations.
Lu Ming was not among the unfortunate few.
Three days ago, during the compatibility assessment, Lu Ming had two vocation options: Mechanic as a damage-dealer and Paladin as a support professional.
Mechanic was renowned as the most expensive vocation to develop. Hailing from a humble background with non-professional parents living in the outer city and a sick sister, Lu Ming had to abandon the Mechanic option and choose Paladin.
Perhaps it was a last vestige of youthful dignity, but Lu Ming told others that he was only compatible with support vocations.
"Cough."
A light cough silenced the room. A female teacher in formal attire, wearing black stockings and carrying a cute, fiery-red dragon-like spirit on her shoulder, stood at the front of the classroom.
This was Lu Ming's homeroom teacher, Qin Fei.
In the first year, Qin Fei had introduced herself as a second-tier professional and a level 132 Exorcist. Her current level remained unknown.
"We're almost at our class. Does everyone remember?" Qin Fei asked. "After becoming professionals, you'll have access to a personal interface known as the 'Path of Fate.' There are many functions in it, and your teachers will explain them after you're divided into classes. During the transfer ceremony, maintain discipline, and don't create a commotion. Do you all understand?"
The students replied in unison, "Understood."
"Good, line up in the corridor and proceed to Classroom Two. Class monitor, maintain order."
Qin Fei instructed.
The students immediately started moving. The sounds of desks and chairs being shuffled filled the room, and in less than three minutes, they had assembled in the corridor.
With the transfer ceremony approaching, everyone was excited, including Lu Ming.
"By turning into a Paladin, even though I can't earn a lot of money quickly, maybe I can learn healing skills that can cure my sister."
"If my innate talent is a bit better, that would be even better. I heard there's less bias against support vocations in big cities. It would be great if I could attend a professional university in a big city in the future."
Lost in thought, Lu Ming didn't even notice when he arrived at Classroom Two.
The second building was specially prepared for the third-year students, with classrooms the size of seven or eight regular classrooms. On each floor, there were only five classrooms.
The transfer ceremony would take place in a martial arts room on the fifth floor.
"Principal, Class Nine of the third grade is here to report for the transfer ceremony," Qin Fei said as she entered the martial arts room. After reporting to the principal, she came out to lead the students inside.
"Is this the classroom transformed into a martial arts room?"
"Wow, these martial arts equipment looks so high-tech."
"Could it be the technology from before the New Era?"
"We'll be having classes in this kind of room in the future?"
The students were surprised. Lu Ming also widened his eyes. The room was the size of a football field, with a towering platform at the front resembling a combat arena. Qin Fei and the principal were standing there talking. The platform had two sections, one made of a rubbery surface and the other filled with exercise equipment, giving it a high-tech feel. The classroom's sides had full-length windows, providing a view of the treetops outside.
"Quiet down a bit," Qin Fei said, frowning.
"Hehe." The principal didn't mind and said, "Children, this is the classroom you'll be attending in the future. These martial arts equipment are not pre-New Era technology but are powered by Source Energy, a new technology."
"As for Source Energy, it's the lifeblood of professionals, and you'll learn more about it from your teachers."
The principal explained kindly for a moment before becoming slightly more serious. "The transfer ceremony will now commence."
The job transfer ceremony had officially begun!
Young boys and girls held their breath in anticipation.
The principal took out the class roster for Grade Nine and began calling out names.
"Zhang Xiaowu."
The first one called was the chubby boy standing next to Lu Ming.
"Principal, the vocations I'm compatible with are Cryomancer, Necromancer, and Priest. I choose Cryomancer," said Zhang Xiaowu as he nervously stepped onto the podium.
The principal looked at the information on the class roster and nodded slightly. "Cryomancer is a branch of the Mage class, specializing in ice magic. It might offer even greater strength. Stand within the formation; the transfer begins."
With those words, a hexagram formation appeared at Xiaowu's feet, with various colored crystals at each point of the star.
All the students in the audience stared intently at Xiaowu.
"In the name of the heavens, I shall proceed with the job transfer ceremony and guide Zhang Xiaowu, who meets the transfer requirements, to become a Cryomancer."
The principal chanted mysterious incantations as if seeking approval from some divine entity.
After the incantation ended, Xiaowu's body temperature gradually dropped. Then, a dazzling yellow light emanated from his body, an extraordinary spectacle that lasted for more than ten seconds before returning to normal.
The principal smiled and patted Xiaowu's shoulder. "A yellow D-rank talent, not bad."
The principal didn't inquire about Xiaowu's innate talent specifically; it was considered a professional's private matter. He only needed to record the level of the innate talent.
With that, Xiaowu's job transfer ceremony came to an end.
"Next, Chen Dong."
The principal proceeded to call the next student, and Xiaowu quickly hopped off the podium, returning to the ranks of Class Nine. However, his gaze remained fixed ahead.
Lu Ming remembered that Xiaowu used to look at their beautiful senior with the same enamored expression. But right now, there were no senior beauties in sight.
"Hey, Xiaowu? D-rank talent, congratulations! A bright future awaits you," Lu Ming offered his congratulations.
Xiaowu scratched his head and replied, "I got lost in the panel a moment there. Well, it's just a D-rank, you'll do great, Lu, who knows, you might even get a higher one!"
Xiaowu was modest on purpose, not wanting to discourage Lu Ming. After all, Lu Ming's compatible vocations were all support classes, which was already a stroke of bad luck.
In this world, vocations were categorized into two major types: support and damage-dealing. Damage-dealing vocations were generally more lucrative and offered more independence, while support vocations required teamwork and were less lucrative. Lu Ming had no choice but to select a support vocation due to his family circumstances.
After a while, it was Lu Ming's turn.
"Lu, you'll at least get a D-rank," Xiaowu encouraged him.
"Let's hope so," Lu Ming replied, taking a deep breath as he stepped onto the podium. His heart pounded with anticipation. His innate talent had to be at least D-rank!
"Principal, I choose to become a Paladin," Lu Ming announced.
"A Paladin? An unusual choice for a support class," the principal remarked as he glanced at the class roster, which contained information about each student's compatible vocations, including Lu Ming's.
Upon seeing the options of Mechanic and Paladin, the principal understood the situation. Lu Ming, coming from a modest background with non-professional parents, had no choice but to forgo the Mechanic vocation.
"Let's begin," the principal said, starting to chant an incantation. Lu Ming took a step forward and entered the hexagram formation. His job transfer ceremony as a Paladin had officially begun.
The crystals surrounding the formation quickly depleted, and Lu Ming felt a warm sensation throughout his body. It was so comfortable that he wanted to sigh in contentment.
When all the crystals around the formation were exhausted, a purple light radiated from Lu Ming's body. It was a dazzling and magnificent purple, exuding an air of nobility, and it lasted for over ten seconds before fading.
The principal smiled and patted Lu Ming on the shoulder. "A purple S-rank talent, not bad."
As for Lu Ming's specific innate talent, the principal didn't inquire further. It was considered private for professionals, and he only needed to record the talent's grade.
Lu Ming's job transfer ceremony was now complete.
"Congratulations, Lu Ming. You've obtained an S-rank talent in purple. You have a bright future ahead!" the principal exclaimed.
An S-rank talent? It seemed that the rainbow-colored light during the initial job transfer ceremony wasn't entirely accurate. Or perhaps, S-rank and higher talents were all represented as purple?
"Thank you, Principal," Lu Ming replied, feeling a sense of hope for the future.
"Wow, Lu, you're amazing!" Xiaowu came over, patting Lu Ming on the back. His face was filled with envy. "You've got an S-rank talent! You're destined to become a formidable professional!"
The other students in the class also looked at Lu Ming with envy in their eyes.
"For now, I won't set my sights too high," Lu Ming replied, shaking his head. He quickly made an excuse to go to the restroom and left the martial arts room.
As someone who had always been an ordinary student, neither outstanding nor bottom-tier, and had quietly gone through life, suddenly becoming the center of attention felt strange to Lu Ming.
After washing his face in the restroom, Lu Ming felt more awake. He focused his thoughts, and the celestial interface appeared in his vision again. With another thought, the interface disappeared. Everything seemed to respond to his mental commands. It was truly amazing, and Lu Ming was thoroughly engrossed in exploring it.
No wonder Xiaowu had that mesmerized look on his face after his job transfer. Lu Ming couldn't help but joke to himself.
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