Chapter 3: Super S-Class Talent

"It's your turn, Song! Awaken an S-rank talent and scare the life out of them!" Wang Zihao flashed a broad, white grin as he cheered him on.

"S-rank talent? That shouldn't be a problem," Song Qi replied after a moment’s thought, nodding confidently.

"Haha, that's the spirit! No wonder you're my brother, Song!" Wang Zihao gave him a thumbs-up, his smile growing even brighter.

Song Qi stepped onto the Awakening Altar, and a staff member guided him to the center of the formation.

"Before the ceremony begins, please ensure you are not carrying any other extraordinary items. If the ceremony fails due to this, you'll bear the consequences."

"Also, the awakening process may be a bit painful. Just endure it, and you'll be fine."

"You may begin when you're ready."

Song Qi took a deep breath to steady himself. "I'm ready!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a pillar of white light descended from above, enveloping him completely.

A crude status panel, displaying only his four base attributes and his talent, materialized before him.

Four available professions appeared for selection.

Just then, one of the staff outside the formation exclaimed in surprise. "Kid, your attributes are impressive! You haven't even awakened yet, and your spirit stat is already over ten?"

"According to the results, your best-suited classes are Priest, Mage, Paladin, and, uh, Summoner."

"Please make your selection within one minute."

"I choose Summoner," Song Qi said without hesitation.

"I knew you'd pick Mage, so—wait, what?" The staff member was just about to proceed, then paused and double-checked. "You want to become a Summoner?!"

"Yes!"

The staff member frowned deeply, scrutinizing Song Qi again. "Strange, judging by your clothes, your family doesn't seem well-off."

"Are you sure you didn't misspeak? You want to become a Summoner, not Mage or something else?"

"Absolutely. No mistake," Song Qi replied firmly.

Though the staff was baffled, after some hesitation, he proceeded with the operation. After all, it wasn't his own job change—people were free to choose as they wished.

The white light at the formation's center immediately intensified, swallowing Song Qi whole.

Within his consciousness, the simple status panel began to shift as his class changed from "None" to "Summoner." A profession-exclusive inventory was taking shape.

He was about to examine it more closely when—

Bang!

A system panel suddenly appeared, shattering the newly-formed status panel to dust!

Song Qi: "........."

Fortunately, though the panel was destroyed, the class change had succeeded. The system's status panel already reflected the changes:

Name: Song Qi
Class: Summoner
Level: 1
Experience: 0/10,000
Strength: 7
Constitution: 10
Agility: 9
Spirit: 14
Free Attribute Points: 1
Equipment: None
Talent: Divine Summoning
Skills: Summoning, Summoning Array
Items: None
Quest: Choose any profession and change class (Completed)
Evaluation: An unknown figure, but possesses an extraordinary gift for the art of summoning.

His class was now Summoner, and his level had risen from zero to one. At the same time, his Spirit attribute increased by two, Agility and Constitution by one each, and he gained an additional free attribute point—a total increase of five.

Ding!

A familiar system chime rang out.

[Congratulations, Host, on successfully changing class! You have received two lottery draws.]

[Ding! Detected that Host’s profession is Summoner and you are in the midst of a class change ceremony. Initiating lottery to remove all non-Summoner class items.]

[Would you like to proceed with the draw?]

Song Qi paused, surprised that completing the quest granted him lottery draws. But what could he get from them?

He nodded. "Yes!"

[Preparing rewards for the Host...]

A massive roulette wheel appeared in Song Qi's consciousness, densely inscribed with countless prizes.

"Sky-Cleaving Axe?"

"Divine or Demonic Physique?"

"World-Shaking Art of the Human Emperor?"

"Wow, these are all top-tier treasures!"

Most of the items made Song Qi’s eyes widen in amazement, though many were not particularly suitable for a Summoner.

Swish!

Eighty percent of the options vanished from the wheel.

[Ding! First-time draw detected. Minimum guaranteed quality: all Common and Rare items removed.]

Another half of the remaining options disappeared.

Song Qi glanced over the wheel, and his eyes suddenly lit up. One slot read "Summoning Voucher: Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"

"Great Sage Equal to Heaven?! Is that the one I know?"

The very one renowned as the supreme Celestial Immortal, the "Primordial Unity Supreme Supreme Golden Immortal"?!

Song Qi's eyes reddened with excitement. If he could draw that, he could carry the banner of humanity's rise tomorrow—or even lead humanity to reclaim the Demon Clan's lair beyond the realm.

Looking again, his eyes grew even wider.

"Summoning Voucher: Vermilion Bird, One of the Four Spirits of Heaven."

A voucher to summon the Vermilion Bird, one of the Four Sacred Beasts? By the standards of summoned beasts, the Vermilion Bird’s quality would be at least divine, if not holy! If it could be upgraded three more times…

Another heaven-defying prize!

Song Qi eagerly continued scanning the options. He was not disappointed. All the remaining prizes would make anyone drool.

As expected of a first-time lottery with a guaranteed minimum—how generous!

"Begin the draw," Song Qi said impatiently.

[Drawing rewards for the Host...]

The system's neutral mechanical voice sounded again as the wheel began to spin. Song Qi's heart raced with it.

After a while, the wheel slowed and the pointer gradually came to a stop...

[Congratulations! You have received one Triple Experience Card (Duration: 2 hours).]

[Congratulations! You have received one 'Transcendent Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu' Summoning Voucher.]

[Items have been placed in your inventory. Please check them at your convenience.]

"Lu Bu from the Transcendent Three Kingdoms world? And a Triple Experience Card?!"

"NICE!!!"

Song Qi nodded in satisfaction. While not the grand prizes, these were already more than powerful enough for his current stage.

At that moment, the class change ceremony finally concluded. Though time had seemed to stretch in his consciousness, only an instant had passed in reality.

The white light at the center of the formation faded, and Song Qi's figure reappeared in the square.

The staff outside began broadcasting his information.

"Third High School, Senior Class Four, Song Qi."

"Awakened profession: Summoner."

The entire crowd erupted!

"Summoner?!"

"Did I hear that right? Someone actually chose Summoner?!"

"Once in a lifetime, indeed."

"Must be some rich heir—lousy stats, lazy attitude, so he just picked Summoner to slack off."

"True enough, only the wealthy can afford to play like that."

Those who knew Song Qi doubted their ears. They were well aware that he was no privileged young master; in fact, his family was struggling.

Wang Zihao, standing in place, frowned so hard he could kill a fly.

"Wait, Song, did you really pick Summoner?"

"I was just joking with you earlier! You didn't have to gamble your whole future over a joke!"

But before anyone could recover from their shock, the announcer delivered an even more earth-shattering revelation!

"His talent grade is... hmm?"

"Talent grade: Super S?!"

The staff member double-checked, his voice trembling.

Boom!!!

It was as if a depth charge had detonated in the square.

A commotion like a hurricane or tsunami exploded across the plaza!

Tens of thousands of students couldn't help but utter a chorus of incredulous "What?!"