4 04

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In the interstellar world, gifted individuals are the absolute mainstream; the stronger the gifted, the less they worry about money. Regarding the profession of gifted individuals... I know too little. Aside from eating, being able to attend school to study is a good thing.

Hearing that the junior academy provides meals, Yuan Hanshuang instantly perked up and began carefully considering the feasibility.

If the school provides meals, then by curbing her famously voracious appetite, wouldn’t that mean legitimately getting free food?

Driven by the need to sustain herself, her mind raced rapidly, even planning out her future schedule.

School during the day, part-time work at night—time management mastered, nothing to fear.

Compared to attending school with a bunch of kids only a few years old... Yuan Hanshuang didn’t really mind.

One must learn to adapt to the rules of different environments. Perhaps she could tower over the entire interstellar realm in martial arts, but in the cultivation of spiritual power, she was nothing more than a novice, not even worthy of the title apprentice.

True masters always maintain the mindset of a learner.

The only problem now was tuition.

No matter, to avoid hunger, Yuan Hanshuang was ready to take a loan. As long as she could scrape by at the junior academy, once she reached the first level as a gifted fighter, how could she not earn money?

She was resolute, but fate had other plans.

“Sorry, our academy finished enrollment for this quarter last week.”

“This... it’s only been a week. No transfers allowed?” Yuan Hanshuang was dumbfounded.

“I’m not sure. Our academy has never admitted mid-term transfers.”

The gatekeeper was puzzled: “The junior academy held enrollment for the entire planet last week. So many people queued here to register for school—didn’t you receive the notice?”

Yuan Hanshuang: “...”

She had received it, but at the time, she didn’t know the school provided meals.

“Well, have your parents bring you next quarter to register.”

But that was a whole quarter’s worth of free meals!

Thinking of food, Yuan Hanshuang frowned miserably. “Can’t you give a hardworking kid a chance?”

Kids who love to study like her were rare these days. Moreover, gifted individuals were scarce and precious. Seeing the child squeeze out a few tears, the gatekeeper relented, unable to bear it.

Two days later, Yuan Hanshuang rose early as scheduled.

Before dawn, she took the medicinal pot off the heating stove.

Today she was going to the junior academy—a top priority.

After seeing her father finish his medicine, Yuan Hanshuang set off toward the academy.

“So early?”

The gatekeeper did not expect the blonde child to arrive before eight o’clock.

He glanced at students returning early: “Wait here a moment. I’ll escort you inside later to verify your qualifications and discuss with the director.”

Yuan Hanshuang nodded obediently and moved a stool to sit aside.

The junior academy for gifted individuals existed on every planet as the most basic institution, aimed at cultivating low-level gifted.

After graduating, gifted students could choose to enter the intermediate academy for further study or skip it and take the entrance exam to attend the senior academy.

1999 Star had no intermediate or senior academies. To attend the intermediate academy, one had to take a starship to a nearby regional main planet; the senior academies numbered only seven throughout the entire interstellar realm, each with extremely stringent admission criteria, mockingly called the Top 7.

In short, even in the interstellar era, the basic laws of exams held firm—there was no escaping the college entrance exam.

When the class bell rang, the gatekeeper pressed a button: “Follow me.”

He led Yuan Hanshuang inside, through towering teaching buildings and neat green paths, past a high-tech floating stadium shimmering with starlight and digital symbols, into a side building.

Inside was a small, exquisitely designed metal helmet.

Yuan Hanshuang followed instructions and placed the helmet on her head.

This process was much simpler than awakening spiritual power. After a “ding,” the test concluded.

The gatekeeper stared at the newly released test report: “Grade C?”

His expression was one of shock, as if witnessing something incredible.

Originally, she had only taken this as a trial, but now it turned out she was a high-level seedling.

To know, among this year’s new students on 1999 Star, most were Grade E, not to mention the slightly better Grade D. Only two Grade C mimetic gifted individuals were admitted this year, which was the limit for a resource-poor remote planet.

Not only the gatekeeper, but Yuan Hanshuang herself was astonished.

A week ago, when she awakened her mimicry ability, she was clearly Grade D!

Alas, with so many secrets on her, Yuan Hanshuang said nothing, keeping this doubt buried quietly in her heart.

“What? Grade C?”

The academy director suddenly stood up from behind the desk, his belly shaking with fat.

He adjusted his glasses, reviewed the report, and was overjoyed: “Let’s go, straight to Class Two!”

At this time, students were in class. Class One and Two were conducting spiritual power training on the stadium. Seeing the director approach and converse with the spiritual power teacher, curiosity stirred among the students, who peeked from their ranks.

“What? A Grade C seedling!”

The spiritual power teacher reacted as the director and gatekeeper did, mouth agape: “But this year’s enrollment list has already been submitted. What do we do now?”

Every quarter’s roster had to be archived at the Empire’s central records, and funding was allocated to the junior academy on a one-to-one basis, with uniforms uniformly tailored. Because of this, the academy did not admit transfer students.

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“This child is already nine years old, a late enrollee. Delaying another quarter would truly waste talent.”

The teachers and director deliberated: “I suggest we temporarily place the child in a class to attend with the students, and add their name officially next quarter.”

After some discussion, they agreed this was the best solution currently available, then turned to ask Yuan Hanshuang’s opinion.

She agreed wholeheartedly: “Thank you, teachers. But may I be a commuter student instead of living on campus?”

“Yes,” the director readily consented.

Normally, students were required to stay in dorms, but since Yuan Hanshuang had no official enrollment and the dorms were full, not living on campus actually simplified matters.

Yuan Hanshuang asked to confirm: “Then... is the academy cafeteria free?”

“Of course. The nutrition liquids in our cafeteria are paid for by the Empire and supplied infinitely. Students who arrive early to get meals can even have cooked food.”

Unaware she was about to unleash a storm, the director reassured: “Don’t worry. Although you’re a commuter auditor, your other benefits are the same as regular students. Just that the uniform will be issued after official enrollment. Meanwhile, you can wear your own clothes to school.”

Few Grade C gifted existed in the junior academy, and all were prime cultivation targets with great expectations.

After all, Grade C was the minimum requirement for the seven top senior academies. Producing one meant a significant increase in annual academy funding.

“No problem, no problem.”

Hearing meals were free, Yuan Hanshuang’s heart finally relaxed.

Uniforms or not, she didn’t care.

“By the way, about tuition...”

The director waved his hand: “Since you haven’t been officially enrolled yet, we’ll waive it for now. Official enrollment can be sorted later.”

Tears of gratitude welled up in Yuan Hanshuang’s eyes: “Thank you, director! Thank you!”

Good people! May they live long!

With everything settled, Yuan Hanshuang joined the spiritual power training class.

It was only the first week of school; classmates were still strangers. Seeing her as a transfer student didn’t spark much curiosity. Most attention focused on her Grade C rank and rare golden hair.

No sooner had she sat down on the stadium than a student from another class approached.

“You’re Grade C too?”

Noticing the word “too,” Yuan Hanshuang looked up.

A young master, clearly a head taller and well-nourished compared to her malnourished self, stood before her, looking down with superiority.

During her awakening, staff had already briefed Yuan Hanshuang on this young master’s background.

Apparently, reincarnation was a technical art.

“Hey, I’m talking to you. How dare you ignore me?”

Yuan Hanshuang momentarily daydreamed; the young master immediately grew unhappy.

Gudeze had been a mischievous tyrant since childhood and, with his prestigious lineage, was fawned over wherever he went on 1999 Star. He had never experienced such cold indifference.

“Oh, sorry, I’m hard of hearing.”

Seeing the young master didn’t recognize her, Yuan Hanshuang had no intention of reconnecting and politely replied.

Her quick apology felt like a soft punch to Gudeze, leaving him speechless, neither able to respond nor retreat.

He stood there, scrutinizing the golden-haired girl from head to toe with a critical gaze.

Short and small, a sharp, thin chin, wearing shabby clothes patched with two differently colored pieces, looking gaunt. The only thing acceptable was her bright golden hair.

Gudeze, raised in luxury, never knew what patched clothing was; seeing this, he frowned, assuming it was some new fashion trend.

Considering her hearing problem, the young master activated the light computer on his wrist, displaying text on the screen.

—I’m the leader of Class One.

He crossed his arms, eyes disdainful: “You just enrolled, perhaps unaware that I just defeated the other Grade C in Class Two yesterday. By convention, if you don’t challenge me, Class Two will be under my control. Any objections?”

This statement was too forward even for an adult. Yuan Hanshuang couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you laughing at?!”

Gudeze was stunned, then furious after seeing her smile: “You dare mock me! You’re not hard of hearing!”

“I’m not, I’m not, stop lying,” Yuan Hanshuang hurriedly denied three times.

But no matter how she explained, Gudeze wouldn’t listen: “Just you wait!”

The young master glared fiercely, then angrily returned to his team as the class bell rang.

Class Two students looked at Yuan Hanshuang like a warrior facing a challenger.

A kind girl explained.

The tradition of the “leader” came from the seven top senior academies. Different departments held head competitions, and these heads gathered to select the academy president. The president was the face of each senior academy, overseeing all affairs with power rivaling the principal.

This system had persisted for thousands of years in the interstellar realm, fostering student competitiveness and was widely welcomed.

After the Top 7 spread the tradition, many academies followed suit.

The junior academy evidently tacitly approved this tradition, starting from childhood.

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“Gudeze is probably the leader of our batch.”

The girl was worried: “Yuan, maybe you should apologize?”

Yuan Hanshuang put her hands in her pockets: “What’s the benefit of being leader? Do you get an extra chicken leg at meals?”

“Of course not.”

“Oh, then never mind.” Yuan Hanshuang lost interest immediately.

Though an extra student was added last minute, classes continued as usual.

The spiritual power teacher stood in an open area on the stadium and announced: “In previous lessons, we practiced basic spiritual power application—mimetic combat. This lesson, we’ll experience real combat training. Summon your mimetic and issue it combat commands.”

The teacher paired students for sparring.

Naturally, the three Grade C gifted were assigned to the fighting groups.

Yuan Hanshuang teamed up with another Grade C boy, Ke Junda, facing Gudeze and a Grade D.

“Other students have only been here a week; the curriculum hasn’t progressed far.”

Considering her recent enrollment, the teacher gave Yuan Hanshuang ten minutes of extra coaching: “Mimetic combat is not difficult. Just summon your mimetic and give it combat orders. Don’t worry, this method is simple and almost risk-free.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

Warming up as instructed, Yuan Hanshuang looked up and saw Gudeze taunting her.

She pretended not to see.

“Focus! Treat your opponent as a hostile gifted. This is real combat practice!”

Mimetic combat was the simplest of two attack methods for gifted individuals, innate and requiring no formal training.

With adults watching, the teacher had no concern about accidents: “Though you barely understand your mimetics, experiencing real combat is necessary.”

She glanced at her watch: “Since this is a match, let’s add a prize. The winner can leave early today and rush to the cafeteria for meals.”

The students immediately perked up.

Everyone knew fresh braised chicken legs were available today, limited to ten, first come first served.

“You just enrolled. Do you know mimetic combat?” Ke Junda looked uneasy.

He had been defeated by Gudeze upon enrollment and still feared the young master.

“Not really, but don’t worry.” Yuan Hanshuang’s eyes gleamed as she began flexing her wrists.

Hearing about early meals, after three days of hunger, she bristled with energy.

Especially thinking back, since her transmigration, she hadn’t eaten anything but nutrition liquids for a long time. She suddenly felt a surge of power flowing through her.

“Uh... let’s discuss the battle plan.”

Ke Junda looked doubtful: “What’s your mimetic?”

“Koi carp.”

Visibly, Ke Junda’s spirits sank further upon hearing the answer.

Among gifted individuals, there was clearly a hierarchy for spiritual mimetics.

Mythical types—dragons, angels—stood at the top, hailed as S-rank from awakening, looking down on all.

Next were rare magical beasts, large predators, elemental beings, and mechanical lifeforms, occupying the A to B high ground.

Beyond that, rankings were debated endlessly.

At the bottom of this social ladder were common mimetics.

For example, the ubiquitous ornamental koi or Ke Junda’s giant parrot. These usually hovered around Grade D or lower, the tail end.

Such a mundane pairing had no chance against Gudeze’s blazing striped tiger.

The blazing striped tiger ranked solidly within the interstellar mimetic top 100.

“As for the plan...”

Ke Junda was cut off by Yuan Hanshuang: “Leave it to me. Just stand still.”

When the teacher blew the whistle and gave the command, she surged forward like a cheetah, crossing the midline in a blink.

Gudeze was still standing, having just summoned his blazing striped tiger, when he heard his teammate’s alarmed shout.

Looking up, a dazzling golden figure was right in front.

Gudeze: !!!

The next moment, his arm was grabbed. Before he could react, a powerful force leveraged his arm and waist, pivoting him forcibly.

The small girl seemed a cannonball, swift and unhesitating. Her slender waist arched into a graceful curve, golden hair fluttering.

Between his arm and her grip, Gudeze saw her thin, adorable face smiling at him.

—It was unmistakably a textbook, elegant over-the-shoulder throw.

Onlookers were dumbfounded.

Though the teacher had not specified, no one expected a classmate to break the rules and use physical techniques in a mimetic combat class.

More astonishingly, she won with a single move!