1000 years ago, Blue Star entered the interstellar era, and Mars became the second home for humans.
In the subsequent time, human technology developed rapidly, and every planet within the solar system was filled with traces of human activity.
Just as humanity was using the solar system as a foundation to take the first step toward the infinite universe, the Exotic Battlefield appeared.
Inside every human body emerged a new semi-illusory substance—the Star Core.
From then on, human civilization embarked on a path of exploring and strengthening themselves through the Star Core.
...
Blue Star, Tongyuan.
As usual, Lu Lin got up, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and put on his school uniform.
The household electromagnetic robot prepared a nutritional breakfast for Lu Lin.
The nutritional breakfast, which is a nutritional meal, was specially developed and produced to respond to the Blue Star Federal Education Department's mission of "awakening talents in more Blue Star youth." Every family with children on Blue Star can receive nutritional meals for free on a monthly basis.
Lu Lin squeezed the milky white paste-like nutritional meal from the high-energy phospholipid packaging into his mouth, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
The nutritional meal was great, satisfying all the nutritional, energy, and trace element needs of a young person for 4-8 hours of activity. But the problem is... its taste was really nothing to write home about.
Eating it felt like chewing on sugarcane that someone else had already chewed...like the taste of sugarcane pulp.
From the time Lu Lin started elementary school to now, even after twelve years, he still couldn't get used to this taste.
He really hoped to step onto the Exotic Battlefield soon and properly savor the various delicious foods there.
Only on the Exotic Battlefield was it possible to eat food with its original flavor.
"You have a new communication request. Would you like to answer it?"
A gentle mechanical female voice echoed in Lu Lin's mind, but this was not a system.
It was a Biological Chip.
Powered by the star energy generated by the body's Star Core, every Blue Star person has it injected into their body at birth, alongside a vaccine that protects against 415 diseases.
Fully sensory-connected, connected through the whole star system.
It is a necessity for countless families separated by distance, just like Lu Lin's.
"Dad, Mom!"
Seeing his parents gradually appear before him, Lu Lin swallowed a mouthful of the nutritional meal, wiped his mouth, and started to speak.
"You guys are about to go to work, right? Didn't I tell you that I will definitely awaken successfully today? You don't have to be so anxious; you even called me at this time."
"No, that's not acceptable."
Lu Lin's mother, Meng Yu, said.
Lu Lin's parents both worked on Saturn. Through the communication screen, he could see that they were sitting on a bus, getting ready to go to work.
"This is a big deal in your life. How can we not care? Right, Old Lu?"
Meng Yu said, nudging Lu Ping, who was sitting silently beside her, with her elbow.
"Hmm, your mom is right; we need to care."
Lu Ping quickly nodded.
Meng Yu gave her husband an annoyed look and began lecturing Lu Lin on the precautions he should take when awakening his talent today.
Clear your mind.
Breathe slowly.
Drink plenty of warm water.
Wear red sneakers.
Don't look in the mirror before leaving.
When leaving the Residential Area, don't feed the stray cats...
The earlier instructions were somewhat normal, but the latter ones left one wondering where Meng Yu had heard such "remedies." The key is, she had already repeated them no less than 800 times.
From 300 days before the College Entrance Exam to the day of the exam.
That's right.
The awakening of talent is the College Entrance Exam that every high school student must face in this era.
Successful talent awakening means entering university for further study, later becoming a Star Core Warrior admired by everyone, driving luxury cars, living in luxurious homes, heading to the Exotic Battlefield to fight, and fully enjoying the beauty of life.
On the contrary, those who fail to awaken must enter society, work on planets outside Earth like their parents, meet other unawakened people of the opposite sex, marry, have children, and continue this cycle until someone in the family can awaken their talent.
"Mom, I got it. Don't worry, I've remembered everything."
"Just cheer for me. I'm sure I will awaken successfully."
"And, it will definitely be the Gold System that I want."
Saying this, Lu Lin solemnly picked up the sword-shaped pendant hanging around his neck and waved it at his parents.
"Hmm, son, all the best."
"You can definitely awaken successfully."
There was a hint of hesitation in Meng Yu's words.
All along, her only expectation for Lu Lin was his successful awakening, as for what attributes might awaken, that would depend on whether luck was on his side or not.
"Thanks, Mom. Alright, I have to hang up the phone. The school is rushing me."
"Okay, all the best!"
Meng Yu said, nudging her husband again with her elbow, prompting Lu Ping to finally say, "Son, all the best, if awakening fai..."
Before he could finish, Meng Yu quickly hung up the call.
"If you can't speak properly, don't speak. My son will definitely..."
The images of his parents gradually faded away, and Lu Lin smiled, feeling warmth in his heart.
Eighteen years in this world, though his parents weren't often by his side, Lu Lin could feel the overflowing love they had for him.
His parents were ordinary people who failed to awaken, although thanks to the Star Core in their bodies, their physical condition and mental state were quite good.
But in his heart, Lu Lin wanted to awaken to make them proud, so they could boast to their coworkers that their son had awakened successfully and became a Star Core Warrior, and so they wouldn't have to grow various crops in the harsh and unsafe environment of Saturn.
"Senior Three Class 3, please arrive before 8:10."
Suddenly, Teacher Li's voice echoed in his ears. It was a group voice message.
Lu Lin checked the time, squeezed the last bit of nutritional breakfast into his mouth, and swallowed it without expression.
He put on the red sneakers his mom had bought half a year ago from QingShan Network and, out of habit, glanced at the covered dressing mirror by the door. Lu Lin smiled helplessly and quickly ran downstairs.
In the Residential Area, while running at full speed, Lu Lin saw stray cats trying to approach him several times.
Even if his mom hadn't specifically instructed him, he wouldn't have the time to feed the cats anyway.
And seriously, where did his mom hear these exam eve remedies?
Arriving at the school entrance, Lu Lin had to exert a lot of effort to get on the Electromagnetic Levitation Bus for his class.
"So nervous, so nervous. What if the awakened talent isn't what I want?"
"Nervous your ass! Just awakening is good enough. Does it really matter if it's what you want?"
"Heavens above, Earth spirits, Supreme Elder of the Tao, please show your spirit and bless me to awaken successfully."
"Jesus above, Allah above, Buddha above, Patriarch above, I bow to all of you. Please, please ensure my success..."
Lu Lin watched his classmates pray in various ways and found an unoccupied seat to sit down.
He thought it was better to spend the time working on his physique and familiarizing himself with various combat techniques rather than praying at this moment.
That's exactly what Lu Lin thought and did.
Aiming to become a Gold System Swordsman, he had been consciously training his physique since Junior High School, learning three sword techniques, one leg technique, and footwork for maneuvering in combat during his three years of High School.
Everything was ready, only awakening was left.
Blocking out the surrounding sounds, Lu Lin closed his eyes and began to clear his mind.