A Miracle on a Single Draw

The scene was breathtakingly romantic, but Zhou Sining had no time to admire it.

"Now's not the time to stand around! Move! We'll talk when we're back in the Safe Zone!" he shouted, snapping everyone to attention.

"That's right! The Safe Zone's just ahead! Keep moving!"

After dealing with the Ghost Wolf Beast, which had lost its summoner, Mo Fan ran back to the group.

"Everyone, hurry!" Xue Musheng said.

Only then did they fully come to their senses. Relief and excitement surged through them: they had survived.

What a rush!

First, they had thought the instructor was there to save them. Then he had betrayed them and nearly killed a classmate, only to be killed himself moments later.

There had even been a romantic little scene where a beauty saved the hero.

What a rush!

That had been too much!

"Thanks, Mu Bai, Xu Zhaoting." Zhou Sining looked at them both.

"Of course."

"You were quick on your feet, though, junior. Even Teacher Xue didn't think to make a move," Mo Fan said as he walked over to Zhou Sining.

"I've read too many novels. I was ready for something like that," Zhou Sining said with a smile.

That was as good as admitting he had been wary of everyone all along.

Mo Fan didn't mind.

They crossed the bridge, and the wall-like barrier of light came into view.

At last, faint smiles appeared on the nine exhausted faces. This time, they could clearly see mages wearing the Magic Association's insignia standing guard.

Those three kilometers had felt longer than all the seventeen years before them. But somehow, they had made it.

Military Mages called Mo Fan away. The others went to register at the designated location, then found places to rest within the Safe Zone.

Zhou Sining barely knew them, so he did not stay with them. Saying he needed the bathroom, he left the group and found an inconspicuous corner.

After he killed Bai Yang, blue text had appeared in his mind again.

[Killed a summoner, thereby inflicting fatal damage on his Summoned Beast. Gained 10 Life Points]

That message had caught Zhou Sining off guard, but he was not about to complain about ten free Life Points.

With a thought, he summoned the tablet-sized screen before him.

His information appeared on the left.

[Zhou Sining]

[Life Points: 3 (self) / 54 (Demon Beasts)]

[Fire Element, Beginner Level 2]

The exchange menu appeared on the right.

[Demon-Slaying]

[Level: 1 (2/10)]

[Current Lottery Draws: 1 (requires 50 Life Points)]

[100 RMB, from a disaster-stricken city. No need to worry about spending it. Life Points: 0.1]

[100 tissues, four-ply, scented. Life Points: 0.1]

[Delicious twice-cooked pork over rice. Life Points: 0.1]

...

...

...

[Shadowstep Boots: Grants bursts of movement speed equivalent to Beginner Level 3 Wind Element magic. Life Points: 70]

[Tortoise Shell Shield: Can withstand a fatal blow from a Servant-level Demon. Life Points: 70]

[Wind Blade Slash: Its Wind Blades can kill Servant-level Demons. Life Points: 72] (Available for exchange in three days)

[Common-Level Stardust Magic Tool: Increases cultivation speed by 20%. Life Points: 88.8]

...

His Demon Beast Life Points had reached 54, and both the level and [Wind Blade Slash] had changed.

"The level's experience must come from killing Demon Beasts... And there are restrictions on exchanging Magic Equipment..." Zhou Sining pondered.

After looking over the screen, his gaze settled on the Lottery Draws entry.

Now that he had reached the Safe Zone, he could hardly go back out to kill Demon Beasts. Who knew when he would get more Life Points? Those fifty points would just sit there otherwise, so he might as well use them on a draw.

Besides, he only had one draw.

Zhou Sining had never had the patience to save up draw tickets in games, much less now.

As long as I don't get "Thanks for playing."

[Current Lottery Draws: 1]

[The prize pool contains the entire Demon-Slaying Shop. Drawn prizes can be assigned to anyone. Confirm draw?]

"Yes."

The next instant, the screen vanished and a sphere appeared before him.

It spun rapidly, its colors changing without pause.

Zhou Sining's heart leaped into his throat. After twenty years of rotten luck, surely he deserved a miracle this once!

The sphere stopped. Its color settled on gold.

Joy surged through Zhou Sining.

Gold!

The sphere vanished, leaving a white Flame Seed hovering in the center of his vision.

[Congratulations! You obtained: Devouring Seed • Gangsha]

[Gangsha is a Fire Element Devouring Seed, one of the Innate Spirit Seeds. Any Fire Mage can absorb it.]

[After absorbing it, the Fire Mage gains the Innate Talent • Innate Spirit Seed.]

[Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha, sanctioned by heaven, made for slaughter. Flame power and control over fire are greatly enhanced. Fire Element magic gains a threefold boost. A Small-Scale Flame Domain becomes available at Intermediate Level.]

[It can continue evolving by absorbing the power of Fire Element Spirit Seeds, Soul Seeds, and Heavenly Seeds. It has a chance to gain their effects.]

[Gangsha's flames carry a fierce killing intent. Awakening a new element may fail.]

[A successful awakening means Gangsha has accepted you; there will be no need to worry about cultivation.]

Zhou Sining was stunned by the Flame Seed's description.

After a lifetime of rotten luck, had he really pulled off a miracle with one draw in another world?

This is incredible!

I've hit the jackpot! One draw, and I got the prize of a lifetime!

Could even Mu Ningxue's Innate Talent compare to this Devouring Seed, Gangsha?

Zhou Sining had only read as far as the part where Apas, the snake girl, bickered with Ling Ling. He had no idea what happened later.

It did not matter. Whether or not Gangsha surpassed Mu Ningxue's talent, it was absurdly powerful.

Zhou Sining had been grinning so hard that his face hurt before he remembered to absorb the Spirit Seed.

Two options appeared beneath the white Flame Seed.

[Self]

[Gift]

Only an idiot would gift it away. Zhou Sining chose [Self] without hesitation.

[Absorb it?]

"Yes."

The next instant, the Flame Seed flew into his Spiritual World, and Zhou Sining followed it.

In that world of Chaos, only a cloud of red Star Dust slowly revolved.

The white Flame Seed flew into it like a drop of water falling into the sea. The red Star Dust stilled for an instant, then white flames claimed it from the inside out.

In the blink of an eye, the once-red Star Dust had turned entirely white!

Vast, fierce flame power spread outward. Waves of warmth flowed through Zhou Sining's body, leaving him wonderfully comfortable.

He could clearly feel how much stronger his Fire Element had become. Even his control over flames was no longer as clumsy as before!

The Spirit Seed's power had improved his physical condition, too.

This feels amazing!

Zhou Sining tried to suppress his smile, but he could not.

Really, no Fire Mage could have stayed calm after that.

It was Gangsha!

Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha, sanctioned by heaven, made for slaughter!

Even its description sounded cool as hell!

That's me! One draw, one miracle!

Zhou Sining remained in his Spiritual World, admiring Gangsha for a long, long time.

He only stopped when someone called him to dinner.

It was late by the time he finished eating, and sleep soon overtook him.

When he opened his eyes again, the rain had stopped. The rising sun parted the clouds and mist, spilling clean rays of light over the mountains, rivers, and city.

He heard everyone cheering.