The Hideous Me of December

The event held at the sanatorium today was actually a small internal introductory meeting for the Thousand Radiance Society.

Those who came to the introductory meeting were registered members of the Thousand Radiance Society, but not official members.

Before the Thousand Radiance Society officially surfaced, these people were invited to learn about some internal matters of the Thousand Radiance Society so that they could decide whether or not to join.

Zhang Yingluo and Xu Nan were very clear that the decision to join the Thousand Radiance Society or not was quite significant.

Looking at future plans, if one was only a registered member, they might be required to sign agreements restricting the use of abilities beyond ordinary people.

After all, the higher-ups had put in a lot of effort for the security of the entire society.

However, after becoming an official member of the Thousand Radiance Society, one might be subject to more restrictions, as the Thousand Radiance Society would represent the authorities in the future.

Of course, they would also receive more resources.

No one knew where this suddenly absurd world would head in the future.

Many people were actually quite lost about the sudden emergence of superpowers.

Walking along the path in the sanatorium, Xu Nan saw many people deep in thought, holding various flyers in their hands.

The Thousand Radiance Society also had many internal systems, and it seemed that each system hoped to recruit more people before officially appearing before the world.

This made Xu Nan wonder if the Thousand Radiance Society, or the China Dragon Group after its renaming, would make new changes in this regard.

While thinking, he arrived at Building Eight.

Due to its geographical location, Building Eight was quieter and less populated compared to the other buildings.

Besides Xu Nan, there were only three or five other people, peeking around outside, all feeling a bit awkward, unsure of the specific entrance.

Fortunately, after a while, a young man in military uniform walked out: "Are you here to learn about the Guild?"

"Please follow me."

"Since you are registered members, you should also know the origin of the Thousand Radiance Society. Due to its military background, the internal system division also partially follows the style of the military."

"The old gentlemen in our Guild are among the first batch of veterans who entered the Otherworld. It's quite a coincidence, actually. They were originally sent to the Otherworld to explore customs and gather intelligence, but they had other opportunities and became Professionals."

The young man briefly introduced them and led them to an entrance on the second floor that resembled a theater. He pulled open the roller shutter, and Xu Nan and the others walked in one after another.

It was quite quiet along the way.

On the theater stage, the lights were dim. Four old soldiers, meticulously dressed in military uniforms, sat upright on chairs, each holding a musical instrument, with serious and solemn expressions.

Xu Nan and the others were instantly stunned!

"Please wait a moment, the performance will begin when more people arrive," the young soldier explained.

Everyone took their seats one after another. In the dim theater, some people were already waiting quietly.

Xu Nan chose a seat in the front row. He quietly observed. The aura of the few old soldiers was quite restrained. The oldest one looked to be in his sixties or seventies. He wondered what the military's plan was when they sent them into the Otherworld back then.

Looking at the old man's resolute face and graying hair, Xu Nan suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

When these people entered the Otherworld back then, did they think they could come back alive?

They were fortunate enough to become Professionals and successfully returned alive. So, what about their comrades?

When the Otherworld was stirring, citizens like himself were still sweetly dreaming in a time of peace; while they had already stepped into the realm of playing games with the Gods of the Otherworld.

Were the musical instruments in their hands also brought back after fierce battles of life and death?

Wait...

Thinking of this, Xu Nan suddenly snapped out of his emotional state!

Because he suddenly realized that the musical instruments in the hands of the four old soldiers were not traditional instruments of the Pro World at all!

The oldest soldier was holding a suona!

And the others were holding an erhu, a pipa, and clappers respectively!

Okay, I can understand the suona, erhu, and pipa.

But what's with the clappers?!

Xu Nan suddenly had a premonition of something ominous.

After another while.

The soldier responsible for guiding them went back and forth three or four times. The theater gradually became more crowded, with at least twenty or so people.

Some wore masks, some wore sunglasses, and some pulled the brims of their baseball caps very low.

It seems not everyone is as open and honest as I am!

Xu Nan scoffed inwardly.

"Almost everyone is here, let's begin."

A magnetic voice sounded, and everyone's spirits lifted. The four old soldiers on the stage remained motionless, but now someone finally spoke!

It was the old soldier holding the erhu.

"Elders first, let Old Liu give the young people a lesson."

The old soldier with the erhu said to the oldest man.

The old man didn't refuse, nodded, picked up the suona and adjusted it slightly. The next second, a high-pitched and stirring tune suddenly sounded on the stage!

In just a few seconds.

Xu Nan's scalp went numb.

The tune the old man was playing was none other than the traditional ancient melody "General's Order"! It wasn't any bard's tune from the Pro World, as he had guessed!

You have gained the Bard's group buff effect: Strength +1; Constitution +1

You have gained the spell effect: Fearless (For fifteen minutes, you and your companions are fearless and invincible)

You have gained the spell effect: Tireless (For fifteen minutes, you are tireless, and your stamina limit is removed)

You have gained the spell effect: Mighty Blow (For fifteen minutes, your melee critical hit rate is doubled)

Xu Nan was stunned.

On the stage, a simple, low-quality PPT suddenly introduced Old Liu's strength.

Third-tier Bard!

He independently invented a method to fuse the ancient melody "General's Order" with Otherworld spells, achieving remarkable results, making him one of the academic leaders in the Bard profession within the Thousand Radiance Society.

"Third-tier, that's above level ten. The Thousand Radiance Society truly has a deep foundation."

Xu Nan sighed in his heart. He was just a first-tier Sorcerer, and in the face of the powerful background of the yamen, he was indeed still very insignificant.

The tune "General's Order" not only made Xu Nan's blood boil, but also stirred up everyone else in the entire theater. Xu Nan saw those wearing sunglasses and masks all remove their coverings.

Everyone became very excited.

Xu Nan suddenly felt that Bards didn't seem so useless after all!

But at this moment, the music from the stage suddenly changed!

Unbeknownst to anyone, Old Liu had already put down the suona in his hand and started resting.

Replacing him was the old soldier holding the erhu!

The erhu strings moved.

"Moon Reflected in the Second Spring".

Xu Nan's body trembled—

You have been affected by the Bard's group negative effect attack: Will -2

For twenty minutes, you cannot cast spells

For twenty minutes, you cannot run or even jog

For twenty minutes...

Xu Nan looked at the negative effects one by one, his heart pounding with fear.

Who the hell told me Bards were useless?

Come out, I won't beat you to death!

By the time Xu Nan stumbled out of the theater in a daze, he had been successively baptized by the four old soldiers' "General's Order", "Moon Reflected in the Second Spring", and "Ambush from Ten Sides". The buff spells and negative effects on his body were stacked in turns, leaving him feeling both ecstatic and miserable.

The others weren't much better off.

Of course, the old soldier who played the clapper finally came with a cheerful song, which helped everyone's mood recover slightly.

These four old soldiers were all uniformly third-tier powerhouses!

Xu Nan felt a little emotional. Did this mean that the other Professionals in the Thousand Radiance Society also had such terrifying levels?

Senior A-Kun mentioned that the second-tier Bard who appeared in North America was just trash in front of people like Old Liu!

Of course, Xu Nan didn't forget the purpose of his visit to the Sanatorium today.

He started asking about the introduction points for the Sorcerer profession.

After all, although he was wearing a Bard's vest, he was essentially still a spellcaster.

Just at this moment, Zhang Yingluo rushed over:

"How was it? Is the Bard introduction finished? Were you shocked?"

Xu Nan nodded: "It was indeed very impressive."

"Then do you want to join our Thousand Radiance Society and become a formal member? Of course, becoming a formal member requires a very strict assessment."

Zhang Yingluo said eagerly.

Xu Nan thought for a moment, and finally nodded: "I'll join. However, not as a Bard."

"Actually, I'm a Sorcerer."

Zhang Yingluo didn't seem very surprised: "That's fine, we'll just modify the form then."

"Let's go register first. Actually, joining the Thousand Radiance Society, no, it's the China Dragon Group now... Actually, joining us is very beneficial for you. Once the new department is officially established, the procedure to join will be at least two or three times more troublesome!"

Zhang Yingluo led Xu Nan deeper into the sanatorium while introducing him to the internal workings of the Thousand Radiance Society.

The more Xu Nan listened, the more he felt his decision was correct.

Leaving aside the Thousand Radiance Society branches in other regions, in the Jiangdong region's Thousand Radiance Society branch, the leading Professionals were basically all Tier 3 and above.

Most of the spontaneously awakened Professionals among the populace were still hovering around Tier 1.

And upon joining the Thousand Radiance Society, Xu Nan received an important piece of news.

"Recently, the Thousand Radiance Society is going to have a big operation. In Five Yang Lake, an Evil Dragon has appeared!"

"If the procedures are processed quickly, Junior Xu Nan, you'll even have a chance to fight alongside us!"

Zhang Yingluo stuck out her tongue playfully, a rare sight.

This senior sister, as expected, was as warlike as ever.

Xu Nan was just about to say something.

Zhang Yingluo suddenly changed the subject: "Oh, do you know what Lele has been up to lately? I haven't seen her around at all. Her mother even asked me yesterday."

Xu Nan was in a dilemma, unsure how to answer.

Meanwhile, the task card, monthly activity suddenly refreshed!

[Monthly Bloodline Awakening Activity Task Activated: Even Alone, I Will Be an Enemy to the World!]

[Task Description: The strong must understand loneliness; wanton insults and malicious harm will only make you stronger; walk the path alone. In December, you must learn to provoke and counterattack! Whenever your words and actions deliver a finishing blow-like effect to others, you will automatically gain activity points; Special Note: When the target is a Professional, the points gained are doubled]

[Task Deadline: December 31, 2018]

Xu Nan: "...System, are you secretly reading something on Qidian behind my back?"

The targets of this frustrating task were much broader than just couples!

This was pushing Xu Nan further and further down the path of provoking people and committing crimes!

Xu Nan felt a little sad thinking that for the entire month of December, he might have to live in a way he didn't want to just to get points.

He casually found an excuse to brush off the matter of Qin Lele.

Then he couldn't help but post on his Moments—

[In December, I might become hideous.]

Soon, a neighbor liked and replied—

[Song Cheng: When did you get the illusion that you weren't already hideous?]

...!