CSMCDB - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Seriously? You're a system, you just watched without giving me a heads-up? Wen Yuncheng was bewildered, staring at the mechanical armguard on her right arm as she sank into thought. She had assumed the single-armored-gauntlet look was just a unique, show-off pose exclusive to a Long Aotian.
She was helpless.
Wen Yuncheng pressed a button on the mechanical arm, and the entire assembly automatically retracted into her sleeve, pressing coolly against the skin of her forearm. Fortunately, its length was just right and didn't hinder her wrist movement.
The effect of the [Mechanical Affinity] passive was only now becoming apparent. Wen Yuncheng could control the extension of the mechanical armguard with her mind; even making the steel spikes appear required only a single thought.
It was indeed a fine piece of equipment. If the materials were of a higher grade, this blueprint could even be used to forge a divine artifact. Unfortunately, even with thirty thousand Star Stones, Wen Yuncheng couldn't afford the materials to craft divine-grade gear.
She went out and bought another large pile of steel ingots, tossing them into the crafting template to await the production of parts. Then, she spent her days crushing noobs in the dueling room.
The disciples currently remaining in the clan were all ones who hadn't enrolled in an academy yet; after all, those who had were already away at school. Thus, it was no problem at all for Wen Yuncheng to dominate the younger generation.
By the day of the level assessment, her point balance had already reached 39. While not particularly wealthy, she was steadily marching toward triple digits.
"Wen Buyu, Star Apostle, third layer." A young man placed his hand on the special formation stone used for level assessment, and the instrument lit up with the exact rank. The family steward recording the results nodded at the young man, noted down his cultivation level, and then called the next name. "Next, Wen Yuncheng."
He shook his head as he looked at the name. He knew that Wen Yuncheng had been frequenting the dueling room lately. He had also heard that she claimed to have recovered her talent, but so what? A mutated ability? It was far too unstable.
[Mission Triggered: Triumphant Return]
[Mission Requirement: Step onto the testing platform and tell everyone: You, Wen Yuncheng, the prodigy, have returned!]
[Mission Reward: 100 EXP, 1 Point]
Wen Yuncheng was just about to step onto the stage when the mission made her stumble. She hurriedly communicated with the system in her mind: 1947, isn't this mission a bit too cringey? Do I have any shame left?
[As you wish.]
"..."
Well, it would have been better if 1947 had threatened her a little. This way... if she actually did it, wouldn't it look like she was desperate for that hundred EXP?
Alright, she really was desperate.
Wen Yuncheng took a deep breath and walked onto the testing platform. She glanced at the recording steward, then at the clan head and three elders seated below, and finally at the faces in the crowd, some familiar, some strange.
Was she moved? It would be a lie to say no.
Wen Yuncheng felt her eyes grow warm, her heart a mess of complex emotions. She couldn't quite put a name to the feeling, so in the end, she just put on a show of arrogance, smiling as she spread her arms and declared loudly, "I, Wen Yuncheng, the prodigy, have returned!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately pressed her hand onto the testing crystal ball.
Host: Wen Yuncheng
Race: Human
Age: 15
Class: Mechanical Master
Level: 6
Experience: 35/160
Points: 40
"Wen Yuncheng, Star Apostle, second layer," the steward announced her rank calmly. "Keep up the good work. Next, Wen Zimiao."
Wen Yuncheng walked off the platform. Some had sneered at her words, while others found them amusing. The disciples who spent all their time in the dueling room had mixed feelings. But none of this mattered to Wen Yuncheng anymore.
She was leaving the Wen family.
Destination: the Imperial Capital. Star Academy!
After all, our journey is the sea of stars.
Wen Yuncheng didn't have much to pack. The most valuable of all her possessions was her Star Stone card. At most, she could add the jade pendant that had been returned to her.
She sat in her shabby room and waited for a while. The commotion she had caused at the assessment shouldn't have been small. Her parents must have heard that she could cultivate again. If they came to find her, Wen Yuncheng would say her goodbyes. Then she would give them another portion of her Star Stones as repayment for the gift of life.
However, no one came.
Wen Yuncheng watched the sun sink bit by bit as night gradually fell. Finally, she stood up and left the Wen family.
No need for a disguise, no need to dress up. Wen Yuncheng went straight to Holy Star City's flying post station.
Travel was generally done by horse-drawn carriage or demonic beast. The flying post stations used flying demonic beasts for transport. Most of them used tamed Gugu Birds. These demonic beasts had gentle temperaments and large backs, capable of carrying two or three people without a problem.
The fees for the flying post station were slightly more expensive than the ground stations, as air travel was naturally faster.
Holy Star City was quite remote, located in a rather suburban region of the Empire. Wen Yuncheng would have to transfer... ah, no, transfer birds. She couldn't reach the Imperial Capital in one go.
Two days later.
[Mission Complete: Leave the Wen Family. Reward: 50 EXP, 10 Points]
Host: Wen Yuncheng
Race: Human
Age: 15
Class: Mechanical Master
Level: 6
Experience: 85/160
Points: 50
After paying all her fees with Star Stones, Wen Yuncheng stretched her back and loosened her muscles. "1947, your rewards are really stingy. I can't even level up."
[You expect to level up just for changing maps?] 1947 expressed that its host was being fanciful. [Hurry up and figure out how to enroll. You'll get experience once you're in the academy. If you miss this year's enrollment, you'll be complaining about the low EXP again when you complete that mission next year.]
That was true. Wen Yuncheng walked out of the Imperial Capital's flying post station and was immediately enveloped by a sense of bewilderment. Having so suddenly arrived in another city, and a bustling capital at that, Wen Yuncheng had no idea where to even begin.
[Ask for directions. Find an inn to stay at first. Then find out the address of Star Academy.]
...1947, there are so many people in the Imperial Capital. Wen Yuncheng couldn't help but marvel at the streams of people on the streets. There were also many shops and vendors along the roadside, creating a lively atmosphere. She hesitated for a moment before stopping a kind-looking young woman to ask for directions. The woman pointed her toward an inn, briefly gave her the address for Star Academy, and then thoughtfully added, "If you want to go to Star Academy, you can go directly to the post station. They have special carriages that go there."
"Thank you!" Wen Yuncheng gave a deep bow and then followed the directions to the inn to settle in for the time being. Perhaps because prices were high in the Imperial Capital, or maybe because the facilities were better, a room here actually cost one hundred Star Stones a night.
"1947, I've made up my mind. I'm going to work hard to get accepted into Star Academy tomorrow!" Wen Yuncheng said with determination after glancing at the balance on her Star Stone card.
[...] 1947 was silent for a moment. [Well, good luck with that?]
"By the way, are you sure you won't be detected by others? My skills and level are completely different from everyone else on this continent. Will people discover your existence?"
[Not even a Star Saint can discover me,] 1947 said proudly. It was, after all, a higher-dimensional system.
Wen Yuncheng nodded, forming a new plan on how to enter Star Academy.
This was, after all, the largest and most famous academy in the Imperial Capital. Those who could get in were either exceptionally talented, had an immense background, or had enough money to burn. The current Wen Yuncheng fit none of those categories. She would really have to make some preparations if she wanted to get in.
Lying on the soft, large bed in the inn, Wen Yuncheng stretched out comfortably. In that case... it was probably best for her to continue disguising herself as a man.
[No matter what happens, you are not allowed to wear women's clothing!] If the hardware is lacking, a disguise will have to do. This was the Long Aotian Growth System's last shred of stubbornness.
"I know, I know. I'm also worried that if I go looking for someone like this, they'll think I got in through the back door with some under-the-table deal."
1947 glanced at its host's chest, which was as flat as any man's without even needing a binder, and remained silently unresponsive.
Wen Yuncheng had no idea what 1947 was thinking. She rolled over on the bed. The day's journey had been quite tiring-even though she hadn't done anything but sit obediently on the Gugu Bird's back, too scared to move, it was still exhausting.
And so, pulling the covers over herself, Wen Yuncheng had a pleasant dream.
"Oh, right, 1947, what if someone finds out I'm a girl?" Wen Yuncheng was brushing her teeth when a thought suddenly occurred to her. She rinsed her mouth and asked.
[...I'll do my best to prevent anyone from finding out.] 1947 was starting to get a headache. It planned to contact other systems to get a detection jammer. [You be careful, too.]
"You got it." With 1947's promise, Wen Yuncheng stopped worrying about being exposed. A male disguise was more convenient for her at the moment, and generally wouldn't attract unnecessary trouble. Besides, 1947 was a Long Aotian Growth System; the guy wouldn't want to see the host it was bound to not only lack the right hardware but also have an appearance that didn't match expectations.
Getting into Star Academy through the back door... who should she look for?
Wen Yuncheng changed into a dashing set of men's clothes and tied up her hair. She winked at herself in the mirror, feeling that she could probably charm quite a few people who were suckers for a pretty face. Touching the mechanical armguards on her left and right wrists, Wen Yuncheng thought, Maybe I should pretend to be an inventor? That was a good idea; after all, she had the blueprint for the mechanical armguards.
But if she said that, the next time she'd get a blueprint would be at level ten. And she had no idea what kind of blueprint the system would give her.
With such an uncertainty... she couldn't just get into the academy with one blueprint and then find her talent had run dry, could she? Wen Yuncheng rubbed her chin. "Hey, 1947, you should have an information network, right? Can you check which instructor at Star Academy has a thing for pretty boys?"
[As a Long Aotian, please maintain your integrity,] 1947 reminded her dryly.
"Huh? Aren't all Long Aotians about having a harem? You're talking to me about integrity?" Although that wasn't Wen Yuncheng's intention, she couldn't help but retort upon hearing 1947's words. "It's not what you think. Even if I have no integrity, it doesn't mean the instructors don't. Besides, I'm a person of principle."
1947 remained skeptical.
[The script this system is following is a counterattack, face-slapping, growth-type story, not one where you get stronger by conquering a harem. Kid, you have to rely on yourself to become strong, don't be a kept man!] 1947 said earnestly. [As for the instructor information you want, I have it. But you probably won't get to meet them.]
Author's Notes
Wen Yuncheng: Where's my protagonist halo?
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