C6 The Second World

Huh?

Luo Ke's eyes bulged, nearly popping out of their sockets.

He rolled over on the bed and squinted, bringing up the transparent interface. There it was—an option for the Basic Body Refining Technique, incessantly prompting him to confirm.

"Confirm."

Without a moment's delay, Luo Ke tapped the confirm button.

Instantly, he placed his hand on the Basic Body Refining Technique, and the virtual interface displayed the technique's title.

Scholar System Version 1.0:

User: Luo Ke

Status: Student

Spiritual Energy Compatibility: 46%

Wealth Points: 0

One-Star Potion + (10% success rate, upgradeable, requires 10,000 points)

Intermediate Alchemy + (Master Basic Alchemy to upgrade, requires 5,000 points)

Basic Body Refining Technique + (Upgradeable, requires 3,000 points)

Basic Alchemy + (Upgradeable, requires 1,000 points)

World History + (Upgradeable, requires 100 points)

Music Theory + (Upgradeable, requires 100 points)

Prehistoric Science + (Upgradeable, requires 100 points)

"Can this be real?"

Luo Ke's eyes rounded in astonishment, quickly followed by a surge of joy.

Having just upgraded his Basic Alchemy, Luo Ke understood the implications.

Money! With enough money, he could exchange it for Wealth Points and level up! Even with just a month left, he might boost his Spiritual Energy Compatibility swiftly with the Basic Body Refining Technique.

Solid plan!

Luo Ke's eyes narrowed, envisioning a bright future beckoning to him.

But then...

"Sure, Wealth Points could fast-track my Basic Body Refining Technique, but the cost is steep. I'm broke; I can't swing that. It's a lot of pressure, you know?"

Luo Ke frowned, a wave of helplessness washing over him.

A thousand Wealth Points equaled ten thousand soft dollars.

It had taken Luo Ke a grueling half-month to scrape that together, and upgrading the Basic Body Refining Technique would take three thousand—that's thirty thousand soft dollars. Even worked to the bone, he couldn't earn that in a month.

And to think, Miao Xiaoduo had put twenty thousand on a credit card for this technique. To master it, he'd need fifty thousand dollars!

"Life's tough when you're broke. Fifty thousand dollars... might as well sell a kidney. Maybe a bolt of lightning would do me a favor and finish me off."

Luo Ke felt a profound despair, and just then, his wristwatch began to beep insistently.

Irritated, Luo Ke had been ignoring it, but the caller ID caught his eye, and he couldn't look away. He realized, amidst his kidney-selling reverie, he'd missed his shift at work.

"Shoot, better not have made the boss mad."

Luo Ke winced at the thought.

He took a deep breath and pressed a button on his watch.

*Beep!*

Name: Luo Ke

Spiritual Energy Compatibility: 46%

Certified for Spiritual Battle World: Shanhai High School Student

Qualification for entry into the Spiritual Battle Virtual World confirmed. Access granted. Would you like to enter?

"Confirm!"

The Spiritual Battle Virtual World booted up. Countdown: 3, 2, 1...

Darkness enveloped Luo Ke, his head spinning slightly. As his senses returned, he opened his eyes to find himself in a world reminiscent of a medieval castle.

Welcome to the Spiritual Battle Virtual World.

A millennium ago, the discovery of spiritual energy revolutionized humanity, upending countless truths in mere years. Ordinary people transcended the mundane by absorbing this energy, which now permeated every corner of the world.

This virtual realm before me is just one of the many wonders born from spiritual energy, known as the Second World. However, entry isn't granted to just anyone.

Initially, only martial artists were admitted into the Spiritual Battle World. Over time, it opened its doors to society's various strata, including elite individuals skilled in pharmacology, alchemy, and other unique talents. By all accounts, Luo Ke shouldn't have been eligible to enter, but his status as a high school student had afforded him this opportunity.

Luo Ke could only access the primary area, though. Rumor had it that intermediate and advanced areas existed for society's elite, but Luo Ke's glimpse into these realms was limited to peering at them through the official forum.

"I really need to strive for the martial sciences," Luo Ke mused, standing before a massive storefront, "After all, martial students are granted access to the intermediate area of the Spiritual Battle Virtual World. Otherwise, even with a spot in a pharmacology program, I'd have to struggle every step of the way. Getting into the intermediate area could take years."

The shop Luo Ke worked at was a pharmacy, and the owner was reputed to be a bona fide one-star pharmacist. Working here, Luo Ke earned 2000 soft sister coins a month, a significant portion of his income.

Today, the usually quiet shop buzzed with activity. The back of the store housed Huang Cheng's concoction room, typically off-limits to others. Yet now, a crowd buzzed around it, their exclamations of awe leaving Luo Ke bewildered.

Luo Ke, on tiptoes, attempted to slip unnoticed into the room.

But he barely took two steps before being hoisted up like a chicken by a pair of large hands.

"What's this? Sneaking around like a thief? Aren't you bold! If I'm not mistaken, this is your third time being late this month," a booming voice echoed in Luo Ke's ear, "According to the rules, a hundred yuan deduction from your salary shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Luo Ke's face tensed, and a large bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. Turning around, he faced a towering, muscular man glaring at him disapprovingly.

"Uncle Huang, I had something to take care of, please don't cut my salary. I rely on it to get by each month. I promise, it won't happen again," Luo Ke pleaded with a sheepish grin.

"Really? Didn't you say the same thing last time?" The muscular man retorted with a cold sneer, showing no leniency.

"Are you really going to deduct it? How about twenty-five, or even fifty?" Luo Ke negotiated nervously, his teeth clenched as he sought any leeway to reduce the penalty.

His mind raced, calculating that a hundred yuan equaled ten points of Wealth Value.

Huang Cheng was left speechless.

"You've got dollar signs in your eyes, kid. Where'd you pick up that nasty habit? Still haven't learned to curb that insatiable greed. Alright, alright, I won't dock your pay; happy now? Quit dragging your feet and get ready. If you screw up my big plans, believe me, I'll dock your entire month's salary."

Huang Cheng gave Luo Ke a fierce glare and a slap that sent him stumbling.

Nothing motivated Luo Ke quite like a threat to his wallet.

He nodded frantically and dashed to the back room to change. When he emerged, a wave of gasps swept through the crowded shop.

"Uncle Huang, has our shop suddenly become the center of the universe? It's usually dead here, but today it's packed!" Luo Ke peeked inside and muttered, pointing at the small, elderly man in the center.

"You think I wouldn't notice? I'm warning you, no funny business. You see that guy in the middle? That's Master Liang from the Pharmacist Association. I've invested a small fortune to have him here concocting a one-star super-grade potion to boost our shop's reputation," Huang Cheng boasted with a hint of pride.

"The Pharmacist Association? A four-star pharmacist? Boss, you've really hit the jackpot this time," Luo Ke exclaimed, his voice tinged with awe.

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