System Awakens

The students in Class Five began whispering among themselves because of Bill's news, excitement and anticipation mingling on their faces. The noble-born, the children of wealthy merchants, and the children of prosperous farmers were clearly divided into separate groups.

Even among the noble-born students, Colin occupied a marginalized position. He and Bill were merely seeking warmth in each other's company.

For one thing, the Russell family had not produced a transcendent for a long time. Colin's bloodline had greatly deteriorated, and his talent was merely passable.

For another, the Russell family was financially strapped and did not even have servants. Colin lacked the funds needed to socialize with his classmates. He had received invitations to banquets, dinners, dances, and the like several times, but had declined them all due to his empty pockets. Over time, he naturally became marginalized.

The whispers in Class Five came to an abrupt stop when Ms. Anna entered. She was a woman who looked nearly thirty, with long brown hair and strikingly sculpted features. She possessed an androgynous beauty, yet her figure was absolutely explosive. Her age gave her a charm somewhere between that of a young girl and a mature woman.

She was extremely powerful, a formidable female knight. She was a specially appointed instructor at the academy and also Class Five's homeroom teacher.

Ms. Anna was exceptionally efficient. After arriving at the podium, she simply said, "Follow me."

Remembering Bill's earlier news, the students immediately grew excited and expectant. They rose one after another and followed Ms. Anna out of the classroom and the school building.

They followed a cobblestone road to a longhouse-like structure. A squad of Formal Knights stood guard outside. Teacher Anna went over and spoke with the knights for a while, then turned to look at the students of Class Five before striding inside on her long legs.

Colin walked shoulder to shoulder with Bill, following the other students inside. Beyond the entrance was only a corridor and two rows of rooms facing each other.

The students lined up neatly while Ms. Anna folded her arms beneath her ample chest and said flatly, "Judging by your expressions, it seems you have already received the news. Then I won't say much more. The Bloodline Potion and Strength Attribute Potion are already inside the rooms. There are nameplates on the doors, so go in yourselves. Remember to read the precautions before taking the potions."

"Yes, Ms. Anna," the students answered in unison. Quite a few hormone-fueled male students secretly glanced at Ms. Anna's chest, then quickly looked away again like startled cats.

Afterward, the students dispersed and searched among the rooms with identical black doors and metal handles. Colin and Bill searched together, and Colin was the first to find the room bearing his name.

"Good luck, Colin."

"Good luck to you too, Bill."

After wishing each other well, Colin twisted the metal handle, opened the door, entered, and shut it behind him.

It was a windowless room with no furniture whatsoever. There was only a lit oil lamp. The walls and floor were all made of piled stone. On the ground sat a long, round glass vessel filled with a blood-colored liquid that possessed an almost magical allure.

Colin's gaze was instantly drawn to it, and his heart skipped a beat.

"This is the Bloodline Potion. If the system cannot function, then this is the potion that will change my fate."

Colin's breathing quickened as well, but having lived two lives, he swiftly adjusted his breathing and calmed himself. His gaze shifted slightly and settled on a yellowed sheet of paper.

Colin first picked up the sheet of paper. Imperial writing was inscribed upon it in ink.

"The lowest-grade Bloodline Potion."

"After consumption, there is a ninety percent chance of improving one's bloodline."

"It tastes very bitter. Make sure to drink it all in one go."

"After consumption, severe pain and convulsions will occur. Intense pain may cause unconsciousness. Remaining conscious will increase the chance of improvement. Fainting will make failure more likely."

"Also, removing your academy uniform will make it easier to breathe."

Colin silently memorized the words several times. I absolutely cannot lose consciousness. Only then did he take a breath and bend down to pick up the glass vessel.

"There is a chance it could fail." Colin hesitated for a moment, but quickly took off his shirt, coat, and leather shoes, leaving only his trousers. His lean, well-defined upper body was exposed, especially his exceptionally developed chest muscles.

After folding his clothes and placing them on the floor, Colin removed the black stopper and prepared to drink it. Just then, a cold voice sounded beside his ear.

"Ding dong. An energy source has been discovered. Two points of energy may be collected. Two points of energy may be converted into one Bloodline Point, two Attribute Points, or two Skill Points."

Colin froze briefly, then his face lit up with joy. Finally, finally, the system had come back to life. He hurriedly opened the status panel and discovered several changes.

Colin Russell

Class: Novice Knight.

Vitality: 2

Intelligence: 5

Strength: 3 (+1)

Agility: 3

Bloodline: Black Bear Bloodline (Faint) Note: Requires 1 Bloodline Point to improve.

Bloodline Effect: Strength +1

Skills: Roer Military Swordsmanship (Poor) Note: Requires 1 Skill Point to improve. Riding (Proficient) Requires 1 Skill Point to improve.

Unallocated Attribute Points: 0 Note: 1 Energy can be converted into 1 Attribute Point.

Unallocated Skill Points: 0 Note: 1 Energy can be converted into 1 Skill Point. Note: Skill Points can also be used to learn skills.

Unallocated Bloodline Points: 0 Note: 2 Energy can be converted into 1 Bloodline Point.

Energy: 0 Note: Energy can be converted into Attribute Points, Skill Points, and Bloodline Points. Unused Attribute Points, Skill Points, and Bloodline Points can also be converted into Energy.

Note: Energy can be collected from any item that possesses magic.

Status: Healthy.

Seeing the changed system interface, Colin suddenly understood. So this was how energy was collected and used.

Then he thought it over again, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. There seemed to be no need to choose, did there? Collecting the energy from the Bloodline Potion could provide one Bloodline Point, and one Bloodline Point could improve his bloodline.

The Bloodline Potion, meanwhile, could fail when used to improve one's bloodline. Not to mention that energy could also become Attribute Points and Skill Points.

"Collect energy," Colin said inwardly. At once, the liquid inside the glass vessel in his hand vanished completely, while the Energy field on the system interface changed to 2.

Colin's heart stirred, and he instinctively said, "Convert the energy into Bloodline Points."

The unallocated Bloodline Points in the system became 1.

Following his original line of thought, Colin intended to use the Bloodline Point to improve his Black Bear Bloodline. Yet as if possessed, he converted the Bloodline Point back into 2 Energy.

Improving his bloodline would certainly raise his strength directly, but energy could become Skill Points and be used to learn skills. What he lacked at present was not merely strength, but money.

Moreover, dangerous incidents rarely occurred in Will City. An immediate increase in strength would not be of much use. But if he learned some skill, he could earn money, then purchase Magical Items and collect energy. By repeating this cycle, he could increase his strength without limit.