Tianlan Star, Longhua Province, Tianning City.
"Hey, have you heard? Someone at No.3 High School supposedly awakened a top-tier Fate Soul and Path yesterday — that's basically an instant takeoff."
"Yeah, I've heard — the news is spreading all over Tianning. They say it's Space — a rare Path that only a handful of people in the entire world have awakened. So enviable."
"Exactly. And on top of that, it's a top-tier Fate Soul and Path. As long as nothing goes wrong, they'll definitely reach at least Platinum level in the future. Boundless potential."
…
"Principal, can you aim a little better? You're hurting me!"
"Teacher Wang, it's not that I'm not aiming — you have to cooperate with me!"
"Right, right, right — lift it a little higher."
On the playground, the old principal and Teacher Wang fiddled for three minutes before finally assembling a strange-looking crystal ball contraption.
On the playground of Tianning No.1 High School, over a hundred second-year students had gathered.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem. Students, now that you're in your second year, our Fate Soul Awakening is about to begin again — and our class division is also starting!"
They stood there, listening to the old principal's speech.
"Students, a year flies by. I believe you've been looking forward to today with every passing moment. After a year of study, I trust you are ready to become Pathwalkers."
"Today is the day you awaken your Fate Souls. I'm sure you're even more excited than I am. But no matter what kind of Fate Soul or Path you awaken, don't sell yourselves short. In this world, there are no useless Fate Souls or Fate Seats — only useless people."
"Once, someone awakened a powerful Fate Soul and Path, but became complacent and stopped striving — eventually becoming a waste."
"But there was also someone who awakened a Fate Soul and Path with no combat ability at all, yet through unremitting effort, they rose to become a Fate-Seat Star Path that everyone looked up to."
"So, students, your future is in your own hands. Enough rambling — now, let the Awakening Ceremony officially begin!"
…
"Fate Soul not awakened — assigned to Cultural Class. Next."
"Fate Soul: Warrior. Path… [The Hunt]. Not bad — assigned to Combat Class. Next."
"…"
The playground buzzed with activity.
Wooden tables were lined up in a row. Teachers sat beside them, registering results. Long queues formed in front of the tables. Students tested one by one — some left dejected after failing, others rejoiced at successful awakenings.
"Hey, Xiwu!"
In the line, a tall, burly young man with dyed yellow hair slung an arm around the shoulder of the classmate behind him, looking excited. "Let me tell you — if I can awaken successfully and step onto a reliable Aeon Path, I'm going to find a girlfriend online right away!"
His voice was completely unguarded, drawing stares from students in the other queues.
When they saw the classmate behind him, their eyes lit up.
Blue hair, slightly messy bangs, a pair of starry eyes carrying a hint of helplessness, long and slender eyelashes that made more than a few female students sneak an extra glance, a high nose bridge and slightly thin lips — all adding a touch of heroic charm.
He was way too good-looking!
When they glanced at the yellow-haired guy beside him, who was originally fairly handsome, he suddenly became unpleasant to look at.
Damn! Why isn't that yellow-haired guy me?
"Let fate decide."
Lin Xiwu sighed. Then a flood of memories surged into his mind — precisely these memory fragments that made his head throb with pain.
As the memory fragments continued to appear, he arrived at a fact: he had transmigrated, and into a person with the same name as him.
This was a high-martial world.
Pretty much like the novels he had read. There were Fate Souls and Paths. In high school, you entered Combat Class. If you didn't have a Fate Soul or Path, you could study Cultural Class.
The original owner of this body was a student about to be assigned to a class.
I understand Paths, but what the hell is a Fate Soul? The original owner's memories don't even have that.
And what does "the arrival of evil spirits on the 15th of every month" mean? No one mentioned an apocalypse setting!
"Holy crap! Look ahead!"
Lin Xiwu looked up and saw, at the table not far away, a palm-sized, glittering Fate Soul ball, and next to it, an equally glittering student.
"Special Fate Soul?"
Yun Che stood behind him, adjusting his glasses, frowning as he examined the scene.
As everyone knew, Fate Souls were: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Priest — and hidden Fate Souls.
Even though they were hidden, there was still nearly a 10% chance of seeing them in the past. It seemed the notice sent out some time ago wasn't without reason — a new hidden Fate Soul had appeared so quickly.
"Fate Soul — Destined One." The still-glowing Fate Soul ball emitted a cold, AI-like voice. "Detecting Path…"
The white light faded. A bewildered figure appeared — wearing a pilgrim's circlet, cloth garments, and cloth boots. Behind him stood a dim black shadow holding a staff — a monkey that looked very familiar.
Just then,
A golden-red thread, as thick as a wrist, descended from the sky,
And plunged into his body.
Awakening a special Fate Soul and stepping onto a Path would grant the recognition of that Path.
"The Path of [Destruction]."
As the cold prompt sounded, a simple wooden staff materialized behind him.
"Destruction Path! That's really strong!"
"And it's a hidden Fate Soul — probably several more skills than the basic ones."
"I'm not picky. Among the four initial Fate Souls — Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Priest — I'd be fine with any one of them."
"Dude, seriously?! Warrior makes up 60-70% of awakenings, and you're just 'any one of them'?"
"Huh? Black Myth?"
Lin Xiwu's eyes widened.
What's going on? I just finished playing that game in my previous life, and now I'm seeing it here?
"What 'Black Myth'?"
The yellow-haired Chen Mo beside him raised an eyebrow. "What's black about it?"
"Get lost."
Lin Xiwu slapped Chen Mo's hand away. "You're almost up."
This world did have game and anime industries, but they were only in their infancy, so they didn't recognize it.
"Wish me luck. Hope it's some awesome Fate Soul! And the most compatible Path!"
Chen Mo turned and walked forward, looking like he was marching to his death, his eyes as determined as if he were joining the Party.
Thoughts burst out of his mind like popping beans.
Please! Single-target damage — The Hunt. Tank-and-spank — Destruction. Healing and saving — The Abundance. Support and buffs — Harmony. AoE attacks — Erudition. Protecting others — Preservation. Any of those six would do!
As for the other, rarer Paths — if they're strong, I'll take them too! As long as it's not that godforsaken Path of Elation, I'm not picky!
In less than three breaths,
Light bloomed again.
Just like before!
"Holy crap, another special Fate Soul! The rate is so high this year! Bro, let me cut in line — I feel it coming, I'm definitely next!"
"Who are you? Do I know you? Hey! Don't steal my special Fate Soul!"
"Silence!"
Yun Che remained seated, brought the chaotic scene under control, and watched as the light gradually subsided.
"Fate Soul — Armored Turtle."
Chen Mo's figure appeared again, clad in fine steel armor, his expression dazed. Behind him floated a shadow — a simple, honest-looking turtle wearing spiked armor.
Its expression was also very human-like.
Just then, threads descended from the sky again.
This time, there were three!
One azure blue, shooting like a sharp arrow. One golden flame, streaking like a meteor wrapped in wind and fire. One earthy yellow, heavy as a mountain, crashing down plainly.
But each thread aimed at the direction beside Chen Mo — not at him.
"The favor of three Paths! Choose one quickly — if you miss them, they'll all be gone!"
Yun Che stood up abruptly. This was a Fate Soul chosen by multiple Paths, each branch corresponding to a different development route. Unfortunately, no one knew how this Fate Soul would develop in the future. If he chose a Path that ran counter to its nature, he might never make progress again.
"Xiwu!"
Chen Mo turned to look at Lin Xiwu, like a drowning man clutching at a lifeline. "You know I have choice paralysis! Help me pick one!"
"How reckless! How can you leave such an important decision to someone else!"
Before Yun Che could finish,
"Choose the Path of Preservation!"
Lin Xiwu's mind raced, and he already spoke.
He recognized the image of this turtle.
And the three Paths — The Hunt, Destruction, and Preservation.
The most compatible was clearly the Path of Preservation.
To put it simply — mage turtle, physical turtle, and armored turtle.
If this were a game for fun, any choice would work. But this choice represented Chen Mo's entire life. He had to point out the safest path to be at peace with himself.
"Ok."
Chen Mo felt reassured. He walked toward the thread of Preservation, and it merged into his body.
The other two threads plunged into the ground and vanished.
"Path of Preservation." The prompt sounded.
"Special Fate Soul — assigned to Combat Class 1. Since you've made your choice, I hope you won't blame others in the future."
Yun Che stared at Chen Mo for a moment, then looked at Lin Xiwu behind him. "Next."
"Haha, don't worry, Teacher. We've grown up together. Even if she chopped me up, I'd just assume her hand slipped."
Chen Mo, having just awakened a hidden Fate Soul, was overjoyed. He waited nearby, planning to leave with Lin Xiwu after his awakening test.
He understood the teacher's concern, but his good brother had been insanely lucky since childhood in everything. This was definitely him riding on her good luck. It was worth it — he'd given up another high school with a higher admission score just to attend the same school as Lin Xiwu.
"Don't worry. Even if you don't awaken, your bro Chen will protect you from now on."
"Tsk. Thanks a lot."
Lin Xiwu placed his right hand on the Fate Soul ball and closed his eyes.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
…
Time passed bit by bit.
Twenty seconds.
The test limit was thirty seconds.
Lin Xiwu's smile grew stiffer. His right hand on the Fate Soul ball trembled slightly. Then he let out a soft sigh.
Chen Mo's expression grew heavier by the second. His hands clenched tighter and tighter, his face turning red from holding back.
"Didn't anyone tell you not to hold your breath during the test?"
Lin Xiwu suddenly spoke, his eyes smiling.
"God damn—" Chen Mo choked, so angry he wanted to curse.
The next moment, Lin Xiwu's figure flickered, and then dazzling white light bloomed.
"Fate Soul — Star Source." The cold prompt sounded.
In an instant.
Countless brilliant rays streaked across the sky. Threads of light filled the heavens like a long rainbow.
The crowd on the playground — and even half the city — witnessed this scene.
"What's going on?"
"Haha! I knew you could do it! Hurry up and pick a reliable Path!"
The threads of Path light interwove and crisscrossed in the sky, like a colorful ink-wash painting.
"So there are this many Paths in the world? At least a dozen colors!"
"Just how strong is this Fate Soul's Path adaptability? In all my years, old man, this is the first time I've seen such a spectacle."
"I hope this kid chooses a safe Path and doesn't get led astray by unexplored Paths, only to fade into obscurity."
In that dreamlike, beautiful aurora moment, a red light accelerated in an instant, transforming into a blood-red river carrying the laughter of countless beings and myriad masks — eerie, strange — diving down from the sky and pouring into Lin Xiwu's body.
He had no choice.
Chen Mo's eyes went blank. The smile on his face hadn't faded yet. He opened his mouth slightly. The rise and fall of life had come too fast.
His good brother turned out to be on the Path of Elation. Wasn't this completely screwed?