Chapter 1: The Dawn of Destiny

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."