Chapter 1: The Fall of the Genius School Beauty
"She's here, she's here! She's the one I told you about, the most watched person in this class-change ceremony!"
"Linhai No. 1 High School's beauty, the strongest of the new generation from the Bai Family—Linhai City's greatest clan—the only one with maxed-out strength potential before the class change, hailed as the number one genius of this session: Bai Mengyan!"
"Hiss... With those looks, I wouldn't even dare to dream of such a beautiful girl!"
"Right? The Bai Family poured a massive amount of resources into her! She ranked first in the class-change potential test too! It's said she has a very high probability of becoming an S-Rank Profession!"
"Holy crap? For real? That's insane!"
"That's not all! No. 1 High School even gave her the only spot for a direct recommendation to a top-tier university! So don't just look at her appearance!"
"From this far away? What else am I supposed to look at if not her appearance? Go on, get lost, don't stop me from looking at my 'waifu'~"
"You're something else, putting girls before friends! If I knew, I wouldn't have introduced her to you; now I've got another love rival..."
Before the class-change array, a tall and elegant figure slowly walked up the steps.
With her peerless beauty and cold, aloof aura, Bai Mengyan looked like a celestial being. The moment she appeared, she immediately became the focus of the entire venue, drawing everyone's gaze.
Looking up above the class-change array, the viewing platform was filled with celebrities from all walks of life in Linhai City, including the high-ranking members of the Bai Family.
Among them was a white-haired old man, his hands folded over a dragon-headed cane, looking majestic. He was the Patriarch of the Bai Family and also Bai Mengyan's grandfather.
As their eyes met, Bai Mengyan felt a jolt in her heart and became even more nervous.
She could only take a deep breath and place her hand on the Class-Change Divine Stone.
In a flash of light, Bai Mengyan's consciousness instantly sank, entering an unknown space.
[Professional attributes meet the requirements. Three profession options have been assigned to you:]
[Random B-Rank Warlock Class]
[Random B-Rank Mage Class]
[Complete Randomization]
Bai Mengyan's delicate brows furrowed slightly as a wave of intense disappointment surged in her heart!
"Only B-Rank Professions?!"
Not only did these magic-based professions have nothing to do with her specialized strength attribute, but a B-Rank Profession was even more of an insult to her maxed-out strength potential!
Simply becoming a B-Rank Profession would not satisfy her ambition!
After just one glance, Bai Mengyan asked, "Query the probabilities for complete randomization!"
A vague, genderless voice echoed from the void and replied.
[Complete randomization probabilities are: E-Rank Profession 0.01%, D-Rank Profession 0.14%, C-Rank Profession 0.75%, B-Rank Profession 5%, A-rank Class 30%, and the probability for S-Rank Profession or above is 63%!]
Seeing these probabilities, a light shone in Bai Mengyan's beautiful eyes, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her heart.
The probability of randomizing an S-Rank Profession was 63%!
This chance was enough for any Professional undergoing a class change to take a gamble!
Bai Mengyan had a decisive personality and acted with great boldness!
She didn't think for long. After a deep breath, she resolutely chose 'Complete Randomization'!
In the class-change space, brilliant colors of green, blue, purple, orange, and red began to flow. Longswords, staffs, daggers, and bows—the representative weapons of every profession—flashed before Bai Mengyan's eyes!
A few seconds later, the light gradually stopped like a revolving lantern, and what finally remained before Bai Mengyan was a whip!
A white whip!
[Randomization complete!]
[Your final profession is: E-Rank Summoner]
[class-change ceremony concluded]
As the cold notification sounded, Bai Mengyan's consciousness was kicked out of the class-change space.
Bai Mengyan's pretty face instantly lost all color. Her vision went dark, and she nearly collapsed!
The news of her changing class to an E-Rank Summoner was broadcast throughout the entire venue!
"E-Rank? And a trash Summoner? That can't be right?"
"The most promising person of this session changed to an E-Rank trash profession! How hilarious!"
"I was just bragging to people about how amazing our school beauty is. Thinking about it now is just embarrassing!"
"What school beauty? She's a joke now!"
"The Bai Family isn't all that, either? Cultivated with the full strength of a great clan, and she's worse than a stray on the street?"
"The genius has fallen!"
The sounds of doubt and shock from below the stage gradually turned into unbearable ridicule!
Facing the crowd's mockery, Bai Mengyan nearly bit her vermilion lips until they bled!
She swept a cold gaze over the masses below and finally landed on the face of the Patriarch of the Bai Family in the VIP seats!
At this moment, there was no trace of grandfatherly kindness on Bai Chen's old face. His gaze was fixed on Bai Mengyan as if he were staring at an enemy, his eyes practically spitting fire!
Bai Mengyan's class-change failure meant the Bai Family was also implicated and humiliated!
As the Patriarch, how could he remain seated?
Bai Chen stood up and left his seat. The people of the Bai Family lineage behind him also followed suit and departed.
Leaving Bai Mengyan alone to face the malice of the world!
"I've cultivated hard for eighteen years, only to lose to luck in the end?"
"Why does fate have to play such tricks on people?"
Bai Mengyan gave a long sigh and closed her eyes as if accepting her fate.
At this moment, a teacher stepped forward and whispered to Bai Mengyan, "The Patriarch of the Bai Family wants you in the lounge."
"I understand."
With a heart like dead ashes, Bai Mengyan walked to the lounge like a living corpse.
Bai Chen sat high in the main seat with the Bai Family Members standing behind him, facing Bai Mengyan as she entered. Their expressions were either mocking, fierce, or gloating.
The principal and the Dean of No. 1 High School also sat on either side, creating a scene like the trial of a criminal.
Seeing Bai Mengyan enter, the Patriarch, Bai Chen, was the first to attack!
"Bastard! Do you know your sins, you rebellious girl?!"
Bai Mengyan had not yet recovered from the blow. Facing the questioning, she simply remained silent.
The Bai Family Members couldn't help but start gossiping.
"Speak up! Are you mute?"
"Our Bai Family has invested a massive amount of effort into you over these years! Is this how you repay us? Do you have no shame before the ancestors of the Bai Family?"
"The Bai Family's lifelong reputation is going to be destroyed in your hands!"
Among the Bai Family Members, a beautiful young woman stepped out and quickly tried to smooth things over, "Patriarch, please calm down. Mengyan has always been steady. Why don't we ask her for the details first?"
The beautiful woman hushed the crowd, walked to Bai Mengyan's side, and said softly, "Mengyan, quickly tell everyone what exactly happened."
Bai Mengyan looked at the beautiful woman and slowly spoke, her throat dry and her voice raspy, "After I started the class change, I was given three options. I didn't want the two B-Rank Professions, so I chose Complete Randomization!"
Bai Mengyan didn't seem to want to explain anything further. Seeing the crowd behind her starting to gossip again, the beautiful woman quickly tried to find a way out, "You're a summon-type profession, right? I remember your spirit potential was also close to max. Why don't we see what kind of life-bound summon you can call forth? Perhaps you can leap over the dragon's gate and turn things around in one go."
The beautiful woman's gaze swept over the Bai Family people intentionally or otherwise, as if reminding them that Bai Mengyan's talent was the strongest in the Bai Family in a hundred years. Even if she changed to an E-Rank Profession, she might not be unable to turn things around!
It should be known that Summoners are called 'trash' mainly because summoned creatures are difficult to cultivate and the costs are high; ordinary people simply can't handle this profession!
Furthermore, if the Summoner's own potential is insufficient, then the summoned creatures will be mediocre as well—low-tier ones are too weak, and high-tier ones can't be contracted. In terms of utility, they are perfectly replaced by other professions. Calling Summoners 'chicken ribs' is almost a compliment!
However, if someone truly has explosive luck and their life-bound summon turns out to be a dragon or a phoenix, soaring to the top on the spot isn't just a dream!
After hearing this, the Bai Family Members indeed shut up, wanting to observe for a while to eliminate this last possibility of a disastrous outcome.
"Second Aunt..." Bai Mengyan looked at the beautiful woman, her eyes filled with gratitude.
She was originally disheartened, but her Second Aunt, Bai Rui, had spoken up for her many times, making it hard for her to refuse.
"Let's just see what kind of life-bound summon I, an E-Rank Summoner, can call forth." Bai Mengyan smiled bitterly in her heart, seemingly accepting her fate.
But sometimes the turns of fate are quite unexpected... A summoning Magic Array lit up in Bai Mengyan's palm. She took a deep breath and, with a final glimmer of hope in her heart, activated [Life-Bound Summoning]!
A flash of white light!
A figure made of light gradually appeared in the center of the room!
"A humanoid? A Dragonman? Or a Demonman?"
The first summoning took a bit longer, and many people seeing the light were already guessing in their hearts!
However, when the light faded and everyone saw clearly, they were all dumbfounded. Some couldn't help themselves and even burst out laughing!
A pale white skeleton appeared in the room. It was barely 1.8 meters tall, which was normal for this era, but its bones were relatively narrow. Its entire body was a dull, grayish white that looked lackluster and filled with a sense of age. Upon appearing, it couldn't even stand steadily, swaying and looking quite frail, as if it might fall apart at any moment!
"Is this... a skeleton?!"
Bai Mengyan's summoned creature was actually a skeleton?!
The lowest level of fodder?!
"And here I was actually looking forward to it. Turns out the life-bound summon is just a broken skeleton?!"
"If I remember correctly, Skeleton Soldiers are the weakest tier among the Myriad Races of the Heavens, right?"
"So this is what an E-Rank Summoner is! Pure trash!"
"And with this, she still didn't choose a B-Rank Profession? Ridiculous!"
Seeing Bai Mengyan's last hope of a comeback extinguished, everyone no longer had any scruples and became increasingly unrestrained in their speech!
Even Bai Rui was stunned and couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
Bai Mengyan silently recalled her Skeleton Soldier; leaving it here would only add to the mockery.
She closed her eyes in resignation, but the constant ridicule from these so-called family members continued to ring in her ears!
A sudden surge of anger rose in Bai Mengyan's heart!
"I said! I didn't want a B-Rank Profession!" Bai Mengyan almost said this through gritted teeth.
But the discussions didn't stop; they only intensified!
"Excuse me? What do you mean you didn't want it? You made a mistake yourself, and you have the nerve to complain? What are you shouting for?"
"Heh?! That's strange. You didn't want a B-Rank Profession, but you insisted on randomizing an E-Rank Profession?"
"Where are we supposed to put the Bai Family's face?"
"This girl has just been spoiled rotten!"
Bai Mengyan took a deep breath and swept a cold gaze over those making sarcastic remarks. In her clenched fists, her nails dug deep into her palms!
Seeing Bai Mengyan's defiance, Bai Chen was even more infuriated. He smashed a corner of the solid wood table with one palm, sending wood chips flying everywhere!
Even the Bai Family Members behind him were frightened and didn't dare to say more.
"Bastard! You didn't choose the B-Rank Profession and insisted on randomization?!"
"No respect for the law, acting willfully and recklessly!"
"How many resources did my Bai Family pour into you? Is this how you repay the clan?"
A surge of blood boiled in Bai Mengyan's heart. She gave a cold laugh and retorted unyieldingly, "When my parents were revitalizing the clan, they repeatedly defeated invading enemies and entered high-level forbidden zones numerous times, only to end up with incomplete remains. Just because our family is a side branch, you brushed us off with a single medal? And what about you all? Besides constantly belittling me for not being from the main lineage and ostracizing the young orphan of a hero, what else have you done?! You're just a bunch of scum and parasites!"
"I, Bai Mengyan, am ashamed to be associated with you!"
With these words, Bai Mengyan had effectively burned her bridges with the Bai Family!
"Mengyan, calm down!" Bai Rui wanted to stop her but it was too late; she could only stomp her feet in anxiety!
"Presumptuous! You've really revolted!"
"As the dignified head of the clan, can I not handle you?!"
Bai Chen's eyes widened in anger as he suddenly stood up, erupting with an overwhelming aura!
"I'm not afraid if you want to fight!"
Bai Mengyan held her head high and took a step forward. In her steady eyes, there wasn't a trace of fear as she confronted the Patriarch of the Bai Family!
The Bai Family Members behind them were so terrified they fell silent; under Bai Chen's pressure, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly!
"Wait, Patriarch Bai, hear me out!"
Seeing that things were about to spiral out of control, the Principal of No. 1 High School, who had been watching quietly for a long time, finally spoke!
He stood between the two and advised, "Patriarch Bai, Bai Mengyan's action was to seek a higher-level profession. Her intention was good; you can't blame her for that!"
"You are the esteemed head of a clan; fighting with a junior would also be beneath your status. Please calm your anger!"
"Since things have reached this point, further blame is useless. Better to let Bai Mengyan level up early to earn some money and compensate the Bai Family for its losses!"
Bai Chen gave a cold snort, still giving face to the principal as a neutral mediator.
"Bai Mengyan! We had an agreement. Now that you've ruined the Bai Family's grand plans and breached the contract first, you must compensate the clan for the resources spent on you over the years, totaling over 98 million!"
"I don't care what method you use; you must settle this debt within three months. If you're short even a cent, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Once that's done, get the hell out of my Bai Family!"
"The Bai Family does not support trash!"
Bai Mengyan took a step forward; Bai Rui couldn't hold her back at all!
"Fine! That suits me perfectly!"
"Within three months! I will clear the debt!"
"At that time! There will be no more ties between the Bai Family and me!"
Bai Chen's face turned ashen with rage. He let out a cold snort and left with a flick of his sleeves!
The Bai Family Members scrambled to follow him. Bai Rui wanted to say something, but after receiving a glare from Bai Chen, she shrank back, sighed, and followed Bai Chen out.
"Sigh... Student Bai, why go to such lengths?"
The principal sighed. He couldn't interfere too much in someone else's family matters. Since the class-change ceremony was still ongoing outside, he and the Dean also left.
In an instant, only Bai Mengyan was left in the huge lounge.
Bai Mengyan's face was pale, her lip bitten through and bleeding. Her palms were also a bloody mess, and beads of blood slid down her jade-like fingers, a piercingly bright red!
She stood there for a long time, but she didn't notice that the Skeleton Soldier in the Summoning Space had awakened and was desperately doing Push-ups!
The summoned creature's status panel attributes were also constantly ticking up with every rise and fall of the Push-ups!
[Strength +1]
[Strength +1]
[Strength +1]