Cloud Sea

Sea City No. 1 High School, Class 3 Grade 3.

"Class, creating skills in Cloud Sea requires not only compatibility with the system's data, but also a match with your innate traits. Otherwise, your attempt will fail."

At the lectern, the female teacher in black-rimmed glasses spoke solemnly. "According to national statistics, the failure rate for new players attempting to create their own skills is as high as 88 percent each year. Of the remaining 12 percent, the vast majority only manage to create useless skills with no practical value."

She pushed up her glasses, her voice suddenly turning grave.

"Dying in Cloud Sea means dying in the Real World, too, so remember this! When you first enter Cloud Sea, absolutely do not try to create a skill on your own. Failure could leave you severely behind in your development—or even cost you your life."

"Since the Black Fog invaded, our Dragon Nation's pioneers have made countless sacrifices. At last, they succeeded in creating tens of thousands of skills in Cloud Sea and compiled complete Skill Chains for them."

"Your job is to memorize these Skill Chains thoroughly. Once you enter Cloud Sea, use the trait data the system gives you to choose the Skill Chain that suits you best."

"So the more Skill Chains you know, the more choices you'll have when the time comes."

After she finished, her gaze swept across the class.

"Now, I'll quiz you on your Skill Chain recitations."

The classroom fell silent. Every student instinctively lowered their head.

The teacher's gaze finally settled on a boy in the last row, who was staring out the window.

He had neat short hair and handsome features.

"Xiao Fan, recite the Skill Chain for Vertical and Horizontal Three Blades."

The boy named Xiao Fan didn't seem to hear her. He continued gazing out the window, lost in thought.

"Fanzi, the teacher called on you." Under the desk, his chubby deskmate hurriedly jabbed him with an elbow and whispered anxiously.

"Huh?" Xiao Fan snapped out of it and stood up, his clear eyes filled with confusion. Suppressed laughter rippled through the classroom.

At the lectern, the teacher looked as though she was exasperated by his lack of effort.

"You're about to enter Cloud Sea. Your choice of Skill Chain will determine not only your future, but also the future of our Dragon Nation. If you don't work hard now and can't create any skills after entering Cloud Sea, how will you face the revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed themselves?"

Xiao Fan blushed slightly at her words.

He understood the reasoning. But when it came to studying, understanding the logic wasn't enough—you had to know how to study.

And he didn't just have no idea how to study; he didn't even understand this world!

Three days ago, Xiao Fan had been a wage slave on Earth. On his way home from work, he'd happened to see a child drowning in a river.

Without a second thought, he'd jumped in to save the child. He'd pulled the child out, but the river had swallowed him.

When he woke again, he was on a planet called Blue Star.

Blue Star's level of technology was about the same as Earth's. But ten years ago, mysterious Black Fog had suddenly appeared all over the world.

The Black Fog kept swallowing Blue Star's land and cities. The people caught in it vanished as well.

The Black Fog spread at a terrifying speed. In just two short years, it had consumed half of Blue Star's land, and many small nations had already been swallowed whole.

Every country had tried everything, but nothing could stop the Black Fog from spreading.

Just when everyone was on the brink of despair, the first player emerged from the Black Fog.

According to this player, the moment he'd been engulfed by the Black Fog, he'd entered a game world called Cloud Sea and become a player.

In Cloud Sea, players could create character skills, weapons, equipment, and more based on their own imagination. But these creations would only succeed if they met the system's requirements.

There were also all kinds of Fierce Beasts and mutated plants in the game. Killing these creatures granted Core Power.

Core Power was the most important energy in Cloud Sea. Players needed it to level up and to create skills, weapons, and equipment. Even temporarily leaving the game and returning to the Real World required Core Power.

"All right, sit down and pay attention." The teacher's words interrupted Xiao Fan's thoughts. She looked toward the girl seated in the middle of the first row.

The girl wore her school uniform and had her hair tied in a high ponytail. Her skin was fair, her features stunning, and her bearing cool and aloof.

"Chen Xuewei, answer the question about the Skill Chain for Vertical and Horizontal Three Blades."

The girl stood up, and her gentle voice rang out.

"Vertical and Horizontal Three Blades is the third stage of the Yellow Rank blade art fatal strike. The first stage is Basic Blade Technique, the second is Single Blade Thrust, the third is Vertical and Horizontal Three Blades, the fourth is Bloodthirst, and the fifth is fatal strike. On your first entry into Cloud Sea, a Powerhouse with Strength above 3 and Stamina above 4 can successfully create the first stage. No special traits are required."

"Sit down, Chen Xuewei. That was an excellent answer." The teacher nodded with satisfaction, unable to hide her admiration.

"Class, you'll be entering Cloud Sea in seven days. I want to remind you once again that your choice of Skill Chain directly affects your future..."

"Ding-a-ling!"

When the dismissal bell rang, Xiao Fan was finally freed from his ordeal.

He'd inherited the original owner's memories when he crossed over, but the schoolwork was all so unfamiliar. He hadn't had time to sort through it yet.

"Fanzi, have you decided which Skill Chain you're going to choose?"

His chubby deskmate suddenly leaned over and draped an arm over his shoulder.

Xiao Fan shook his head.

He hadn't even figured out what a Skill Chain was, let alone chosen one.

Seeing the hopeful look on Little Fatty's face, Xiao Fan suddenly understood.

"Have you decided which Skill Chain you're going to choose?"

"Hehe." Little Fatty grinned smugly and lowered his voice, putting on a mysterious air.

"My dad's planning to spend five million on a Mystic Rank Skill Chain for me. He put down the deposit yesterday, and I'll get the complete Skill Chain tomorrow night."

"Oh, that's amazing!" Xiao Fan gave him a thumbs-up.

Skill Chains were divided into four ranks, from highest to lowest: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. The Skill Chains provided by the school were all the lowest, Yellow Rank. Learning more powerful Skill Chains required not only talent, but also money.

After all, the higher the rank of a Skill Chain, the rarer it was, and the stricter its requirements for a player's attributes and traits.

Little Fatty's family was well-off. Spending five million on a Mystic Rank Skill Chain was still a huge investment.

"Haha, no problem. Once your big bro gets strong, I'll look after you in Cloud Sea." Little Fatty thumped his chest as if he were already a high-level player.

"Then I'll be counting on you."

After parting ways with Little Fatty, Xiao Fan continued walking home.

His home was in an old residential complex in Sea City. His parents had died in Cloud Sea when he was eight, and his father's younger brother had taken him in.

His uncle, Xiao Yi, had twins. With his aunt and Xiao Fan, the family of five lived in a house of less than ninety square meters.

Xiao Fan reached the door and was about to open it when he heard his uncle's voice from inside. He immediately stopped.