Yunshan City.
Outside the principal’s office at the school, a long line of people had been summoned for questioning.
They all looked dejected, knowing what being summoned for questioning meant.
“Next.” A dejected Li Xiao walked out of the office.
The director’s voice rang out, and the next student went in.
In a daze, Li Xiao didn’t know how he left the school.
He had been in this world for eighteen years, completed five years of compulsory education in the Federation, and hadn’t awakened his ‘superpower’.
His orphan status, coupled with a painful ‘memory’, and poverty, had also severed his path to ‘martial arts’.
As the saying goes, “The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts.” But in this world, the poor rely on mutations, and the rich rely on technology.
The rich, as long as they’re willing to spend money, with the support of various technologies and ruthless skills, can still excel in martial arts even without awakening superpowers.
The poor, if they’re lucky enough to awaken superpowers, can turn their lives around and sing their own praises.
If not, they should accept their fate as soon as possible, work in a factory, find a suitable person to marry, and start gambling on that one in ten thousand chance of a golden legend.
Li Xiao looked up at the crowds around him, a surge of resentment welling up inside him.
“I’ve disgraced my seniors.
A dignified transmigrator from Earth, expelled from school…” Li Xiao looked up at the sky.
His mother had once said that this way…
the tears wouldn’t fall.
As Li Xiao felt lost and directionless, several pedestrians walked by.
“You all know, right?
The noble manor in ‘Eternal Night City’ next door is hiring.
Anyone over eighteen, in good health, and without a family history of vampire diseases can apply.” “Eternal Night City?
Isn’t that an autonomous city-state of the vampires?
Are you sure working for them won’t lead to trouble?” “What’s there to be afraid of…
It’s a legitimate job posting from the noble manor.
They provide room and board, five social insurances and three housing funds, and eight hours of work a day.
Even if you get anemia from being drained, you’ll get a subsidy, and the insurance will pay out.
The job posting even says that outstanding candidates have the opportunity to be transformed into ‘vampires.'” “Transformed?” Hearing those two words, Li Xiao, forgetting his confusion, rushed forward and grabbed the passerby.
“Brother, what you just said about the opportunity to be transformed, is that true?” The man turned and glanced at Li Xiao: “Young man, judging from your appearance, you’re not a student who was expelled, are you?” Li Xiao didn’t speak, but silently nodded.
Seeing Li Xiao’s tacit agreement, his elder brother didn’t press further, patting Li Xiao’s shoulder reassuringly, “There’s nothing to be discouraged about.
I was also expelled back then, and I’m still living a comfortable life now.” As he spoke, his elder brother scrutinized Li Xiao carefully, “You’re quite handsome, young man…” “It’s said that vampires love handsome men and beautiful women.
Maybe you’ll have a chance to be transformed as soon as you arrive.” “Brother, about the Eternal Night City you mentioned…
I want to go too, can we go together?” Li Xiao’s resolve was firm.
He had finally transmigrated and gained a second chance; if he were to live a mediocre life like an ordinary person, he would rather die…
Although being transformed would turn him into an alien race, for now, this was one of the few options available to embark on the path of transcendence.
Li Xiao hadn’t delved deeply into the history of this world, but the school offered specialized history courses.
Initially, this world was similar to Earth, a purely technological civilization.
Until a strange phenomenon called “Celestial Conjunction” appeared frequently, and bizarre, non-human races descended upon this world.
The natural hostility towards these outsiders inevitably led to war between humans and the other races.
Historical records show…
many mushroom eggs were planted.
This endless struggle was broken only by the appearance of a third force.
An enemy of all life, a passage connecting to the Abyss, appeared.
When the demons of the Abyss appeared in this world, humans and the other races were forced to temporarily make peace for self-preservation.
Thus, three major “factions” emerged: the Lawful Faction, the Chaotic Faction, and the Neutral Faction.
The Human Federation, the Elves, and the Winged People (who called themselves messengers of God, or simply Angels) formed the Lawful Faction.
The Vampires did not belong to the Lawful Faction, but Eternal Night City was different; it was a recognized, rather unique, autonomous city-state of the Vampires under the rule of the Human Federation.
Therefore, as long as one remains a citizen of the Federation, even if converted, they will still be protected by law and will not have to worry about being discriminated against or expelled.
The vampires here do not feed on human blood.
Ordinary human blood is more like a fine wine to them; it can truly intoxicate them, a feeling that no other food can replace.
However, this “fine wine” is limited to humans and “humanoid” races.
“It’s possible,” the elder brother said hesitantly.
“But we have to leave immediately and don’t have much time to wait for you.
You should know that if we miss the deadline, we won’t be able to leave the city today.
If we are delayed, we might miss this recruitment.” Hearing this seemingly insignificant concern, Li Xiao grinned: “It’s alright, elder brother.
I don’t need to go back to pack.
I can leave with you now.” Li Xiao’s straightforward answer left the elder brother momentarily puzzled.
“Young man, don’t you need to inform your parents?” “No need,” Li Xiao shook his head, spreading his hands with a smile and shrugging.
“I’m an orphan…all alone.
I don’t know where my parents are; perhaps they’re long gone.” “Alright then, let’s set off now.” In just a few minutes, Li Xiao became part of the group.
On the way out of the city, after some inquiries, Li Xiao learned his elder brother’s name: ‘Tang Lai’.
Upon arriving at the city gate, the group was easily allowed to pass.
Compared to the ease of leaving the city, entering was much more complicated.
After all, there was the worry of hostile forces infiltrating.
The checks upon entering the city were quite strict, using both technological instruments and magical detection—all to prevent dangerous creatures with the ability to disguise themselves from entering.
Not far from the city gate was a small town, through which all passenger and freight transport to and from Yunshan City passed.
The city gate was open for a limited time each day, and there were many goods and people trying to enter.
Due to limited capacity, many people and goods waiting in line needed to find temporary shelter here.
The sun hadn’t completely set yet, leaving a sliver of its afterglow.
In a hurry to continue their journey, the group didn’t linger, buying tickets for the last bus and boarding it to leave the town.
The bus slowly pulled away from the town.
As they ventured further from the town, the once smooth asphalt road gradually transformed into a dilapidated mix of gravel and concrete.
It was as if there had been no planning; the further they went from the city, the more varied the materials used on the roads became.
Li Xiao sat by the window, next to his good older brother, Tang Lai.
Watching the scenery rush past the window, and the magical beasts that occasionally darted from one side of the road to the other, Li Xiao couldn’t help but ask: “Brother Tang, what if we encounter monsters on the road?
Will we be in danger?” After all, it was his first time leaving the city and venturing into this desolate wasteland devoid of civilization.
Being defenseless, Li Xiao was understandably nervous.
“Don’t worry.
‘Tianming Province’ isn’t within the Abyss’s influence range.
Besides, there are patrol teams on both sides of the road between Yongye City and Yunshan City, conducting regular patrols.” “Ordinary monsters are no match for them.
Even if high-level monsters occasionally appear, the patrol teams have strong members to handle them.” Before Li Xiao could even nod, a voice came from behind him.
“Young man, is this your first time leaving the city?
Don’t worry, this is the heart of the Federation; there won’t be any powerful monsters here.” Tang Lai patted Li Xiao’s shoulder, reassuring him that everything would be fine.
“Take a nap; we’ll be in Eternal Night City in a few hours…”