Crack

"It was finally over. Once the results came out, we'd probably be heading to Prosperous City to study."

He Lei said wistfully as he gnawed on a skewer.

Getting into the Advanced Class in Prosperous City meant they had finally made it. At the very least, there would be a guaranteed baseline waiting for them.

"Instructor Su probably even prepared housing for you already, right?"

He Lei asked curiously. He would definitely have to stay in the dorms, and if he wanted to remain in the city after being eliminated, he could only consider renting a place.

"More or less."

Although he was on good terms with He Lei, Su Shijie had not yet mentioned that they would be leaving. Bai Xinxin and Bai Congcong certainly would not say anything either.

"That's nice..."

"Oh, right, Xinxin and Congcong, you've already broken through to the Awakened Rank on your own, right? Are you planning to sell the potions? I can help you find a buyer. You could sell them for 1.5 million."

He Lei then turned to Bai Congcong and Bai Xinxin.

Without purchasing privileges, people could only find ways to buy such things at a markup. But upon hearing He Lei's words, Su Shijie frowned.

Theoretically, selling an Awakening Potion for 1.5 million was possible, but that was generally the rock-bottom price. Having spent so long in the game, Su Shijie knew potion prices inside out.

If he contacted one of his friends from the game, selling it for two million would not be a problem.

Was this guy thinking too highly of himself?

Su Shijie knew He Lei's family circumstances were average, and that he was about to enter the city, so he needed money.

But if he needed money, he could just tell him directly. Su Shijie could provide some support depending on the situation. But doing this was practically treating his whole family like idiots.

Did he really take him for some foolish rich kid from a landlord's family? Stupid with more money than sense?

Still, they had been friends after all. Considering the other man's pride, Su Shijie did not expose him outright and merely said, "You can still use potions to improve after reaching the Awakened Rank. We're planning to do that with ours."

"But I heard using too many potions makes your foundation unstable."

"That happens when you use them painlessly. With a slight modification, it won't."

Su Shijie's words made Bai Xinxin prick up her ears. An "Agony Potion" was not some conventional method, and she genuinely did not know about it.

"But it's so expensive just to improve a little. There's no qualitative change, so isn't it not worth it?"

"You can also save up ten exchange opportunities for a chance to purchase a Transformation Tier potion."

"Come on, Xinxin and Congcong are smart enough to get into the Advanced Class directly. There's no need to waste money like that."

"And there's me."

Su Shijie's last sentence came out a little harshly, and He Lei fell silent, no longer pressing the matter.

After hurriedly finishing their meal, the group returned to the residential area together.

"What's with that He Lei? Has he gone crazy for money?"

After entering the house, Bai Xinxin complained. The siblings might have been absorbed in their studies, but they were not idiots. They had a good grasp of potion prices.

"Forget it. He probably wants to enter the city and stay there."

"We don't owe him anything. His intentions aren't right. We should have less to do with him."

"Got it, you little housekeeper."

"Heh, when you need something, you call me Xinxin. Now I'm a housekeeper?"

Bai Xinxin bristled.

"Third Brother, do you want to use an Awakening Potion to improve? You can use mine when the time comes. I'm going into clerical work anyway."

Bai Congcong spoke up from the side.

Hearing his little brother's words warmed Su Shijie's heart. He then pinched the boy's smooth, tender cheek and said, "I'm not so desperate that I need to take your things. I've already used several bottles, and their effects are very weak on me now. Your first use will be highly effective, so don't waste them. But it hurts—really hurts."

"Hmph, do you think we're like you?"

Bai Xinxin dismissed it.

"Then we'll see. I'll have diapers ready for you."

Heh heh, as long as everyone had embarrassing dirt on everyone else, then nobody really had any dirt. Su Shijie wore a lewd, twisted grin that startled Bai Xinxin.

"You still have to clean the solar panels the day after tomorrow. Be careful not to fall and turn into a cripple."

Startled, Bai Xinxin clutched her tablet and darted into her room like a little rabbit.

Bai Congcong put on an apron again and began preparing dinner.

Their eldest sister, second brother, and father had not returned yet. They probably had something to deal with.

Since they had decided to leave, they needed to make proper preparations.

Moreover, they had always maintained a good relationship with the shelter, so it would be best to prepare the handover in advance as well.

The final exam results could actually be produced immediately after the test, but they had to be uploaded to the Dawn Goddess, so they were usually announced the following day.

After this was over, they would take turns one last time experiencing ordinary life. And without a doubt, Su Shijie would be assigned to wipe the boards again. After doing it for so many years, he had long since gotten used to it.

As long as one was not afraid of heights, it was nothing much. With his current strength, it did not count as a challenge at all.

The next day, the final exam results were announced. Su Shijie ranked thirtieth, somewhat better than he had expected.

And making it into the top thirty meant he had reached the reward bracket for ranks twenty-one through thirty. Besides gaining the qualification to purchase an Evolution Potion, he also received an additional discount of 500,000. In other words, he only needed to spend 500,000 to buy a bottle of Awakened Rank Evolution Potion.

He was delighted.

"Brother Shijie, your ranking improved quite a lot this time. You used to always barely make the cut."

When Ivan Brin saw the rankings, he was rather amazed as well.

He ranked twenty-third. Although he was ahead of Su Shijie, the benefits were the same. What he really wanted was an opportunity to enter the Floating City—ideally, to catch the eye of the City Lord's Mansion. That way, he could make the most of his father's connections.

As for things like Awakening Potions, he did not care that much. The fact that Anna could get a bottle just by going home and throwing a tearful tantrum showed that Sergei, the shelter commander, still had that much influence.

The students of the Advanced Class began congratulating one another as well.

Su Shijie, who had independently earned an Awakened Rank potion through the game and had also placed in the top thirty on the exam, received quite a few congratulations.

Some were happy, while others were troubled. Many students who had failed to make the top fifty could only leave in a daze, their spirits low.

Without some other stroke of luck, they could only live in the shelter like their parents had, completing the tasks assigned to them each day.

They would not have to worry about food or clothing, but that was all. As ordinary people, even making a single trip to the Floating City was fraught with difficulties.

It was not because they had not worked hard. The Advanced Class never imposed compulsory requirements, and everyone who remained was devoted to studying. This was purely a matter of talent—the survival of the fittest.

The Advanced Class had indeed given them an opportunity, and the Dawn Goddess was absolutely fair. But such fairness inevitably brought cruelty as well. When it came time to eliminate people, there would not be the slightest mercy. No amount of pleading would help.

"Let's go. Dad and the others should be nearly ready too. Your results have been entered into the Dawn Goddess's records. Competition in Coastal City might be fiercer, but I believe the two of you will be fine."

After checking the results, Su Shijie took his younger brother and sister home. He was already Awakened Rank himself, so there was naturally no need for him to travel with the main group.

Not to sound arrogant, but Su Shijie believed that, within the shelter now, his combat strength should rank among the best.

And out of caution, Su Shijie carried all his weapons with him every day. He always had the backpack containing his crossbow on his back, while his gun was tucked into his Protective Suit.

Yet when Su Shijie did this, it did not seem out of place at all. To others, it simply looked like he was showing off the fact that he had become Awakened Rank.

The purchase authorization and discount had already been entered into his Personal Terminal, and they could be used in any Floating City.

Once Second Brother had settled things on his end and Dad had made the necessary arrangements, they would probably leave...

Ahem—apparently, following along with the latest chapters carries the most weight now, and it affects recommendation slots.

I know the word count and update volume are not much, but I still hope everyone can help by scrolling to the latest chapter every day... sob sob~