Chapter 1: Awakening Day, System Binding

Synopsis:

My name is Ke Lu.

My father, who married into the Ke Family to seize their wealth, forced me to consume the Absolute Origin Pill. On the day of my class change, my innate talent plummeted to F-rank.

I thought I would die full of resentment, but unexpectedly, I bonded with the "I Am the Imperator" System, acquired the Cerydra Template, and my talent surged to an unprecedented SSSS-rank. I even summoned Hysilens, the Dux Gladiorum, to aid me.

By building my own faction and establishing my own rules, I could obtain extraordinary rewards.

Now, I am Cerydra, Caesar, and the Imperator of the Human Imperium.

Under heaven, all lands belong to the Imperator; within the borders of the realm, all subjects owe allegiance to the Imperator.

For I came, I saw, and I conquered!

-

Human Imperium

A City No. 1 High School

Professional Awakening Ceremony - School Auditorium

One hundred days until the College Entrance Examination

"Ke Jie, Melee Class, A-Rank Talent!"

The booming microphone echoed through the auditorium, blending seamlessly with the lively atmosphere.

Below the stage, Ke Lu watched the proceedings, idly fiddling with the pendant around her neck.

She was a transmigrator, having arrived in this High Martial world a year ago, where combat prowess reigned supreme.

Unlike many transmigrators, she felt no particular longing to return home. In her previous life, she had been an orphan who had built a vast business empire through her extraordinary talent, yet remained utterly alone.

In this world, despite having an in-law father, a venomous stepmother, and a troublemaking stepbrother, Ke Jie, who frequently abused her and her younger brother, she found solace in her adorable younger brother, Ke Yang, and her loyal best friend, Su Rou, which fostered a sense of belonging to this world.

Several months ago, immediately after turning eighteen, she had taken her brother and left that suffocating "home." They worked part-time jobs and lived frugally, making ends meet without too much difficulty.

At this moment, the Professional Awakening Ceremony was underway—a pivotal event that would determine the fates of countless students, with only one hundred days remaining until the College Entrance Examination.

Over the past year, Ke Lu had come to a stark realization of the importance of martial prowess in this world. Whether for vengeance or for securing a future, possessing sufficient strength was paramount.

The students watched in awe as an A-Rank Talent emerged:

"A-Rank! That already surpasses 95% of students worldwide, and it's the most coveted Melee Class!"

"Ugh, just anything but Support Class for me..."

In this world, professions were divided into five classes: Defense, Melee, Mage, Support, and Healer. Cultivation realms were categorized into twelve levels: Apprentice, Experienced, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, Martial Grandmaster, King, Emperor, Transcendence, Supreme, Sage, and Great Emperor.

According to popular opinion:

The Melee and Mage Classes were considered the best.

The Defense and Healer Classes were seen as second-tier.

The Support Class was regarded as the worst.

If the Melee and Mage Classes represented offense, and the Defense and Healer Classes represented defense, a balanced team could be formed with one offensive and one defensive class. However, the Support Class:

Offered little utility at lower cultivation levels. While advanced support roles could be powerful, they required exceptional Talent, making them inaccessible to ordinary people.

As a result, the Support Class was universally disdained.

Meanwhile, a sudden commotion erupted on stage.

Ke Jie snatched the microphone, shot Ke Lu a disdainful glance, and smirked arrogantly.

"Principal, I think my 'dear' sister should get the next awakening slot!"

"She'll get her turn eventually anyway, and I'm sure she's already impatient, right?"

Anyone would bristle at such blatant provocation, let alone Ke Lu. Her icy gaze locked onto Ke Jie's arrogant stare like a pair of fire-tempered steel needles clashing head-on, neither yielding an inch.

"No problem at all, Young Master Ke. If that's what you wish, so be it." The Principal agreed readily, his face plastered with a servile smile, showing not the slightest hesitation.

Ke Lu's eyes turned colder. This Principal lacked even the barest pretense of being an educator.

"Ke Jie, do you seriously think you own this school?"

A familiar female voice rang out, as expected. The gawking students turned toward the source of the sound, confirming it was indeed Ke Lu's closest friend—Su Rou.

"Here we go again," one student muttered.

"Exactly! Ke Jie provokes Ke Lu, and Su Rou charges into battle first."

"Can I get a dozen friends like that?"

Ke Lu's gaze met Su Rou's across the crowd. Su Bai winked at her, silently mouthing, "Don't worry."

On the stage,

Ke Jie could mock Ke Lu all he wanted, but he still had to maintain a grudging politeness toward Miss Su of the Su Family.

"Miss Su, why are you associating with this outcast? It's dragging down your status," Ke Jie sneered.

Before Su Rou could retort, Ke Lu interjected, "I allow it."

Originally, Ke Lu had no intention of giving Ke Jie the time of day. Who do you think you are, ordering me around?

But just moments before, a mysterious mechanical voice had echoed in Ke Lu's mind:

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for binding with the System.]

A System? My cheat?

Having devoured countless novels, Ke Lu was well-versed in Systems. Binding with one now was perfect timing.

"System," Ke Lu asked, "what are your functions?"

[Ding! This System is named "I Am the Imperator."]

[First, the Host can gain rewards by establishing their own faction.]

[Second, the Host can gain rewards by shattering old rules and creating new ones.]

[Finally, completing other tasks will also grant rewards.]

Intriguing abilities, Ke Lu mused, raising an eyebrow.

This System aligned perfectly with her nature; in her previous life, she had been a leader.

"Is there a beginner's gift package?"

[Beginner's Gift Package:]

- Cerydra Template LV0

- Character: Hysilens

- Cultivation Talent: Exceeds limit, now SSSS-Rank.

[The Host has not fully unlocked the System. Please complete the prerequisite task: Have your Talent annulled on Awakening Day.]

Ah, it's Star Rail, the game I played a bit in my previous life. I especially remember that character Cerydra, she even looked a little like me.

But... have my Talent annulled?

Ke Lu watched Ke Jie on the stage, thinking, He's got some nerve.

Of course, Ke Jie couldn't pull this off alone; his father must be backing him.

The thought of that gold-digging father made Ke Lu's stomach churn. His illegitimate son was nearly the same age as her legitimate children. What a scumbag phoenix man. He was plotting to seize her mother's entire estate, treating Ke Lu and her younger brother Ke Yang terribly.

Though she didn't fully trust the System, she had no other choice for now.

If they were already prepared to annul her Talent, whether it happened sooner or later made no difference.

Better get it over with quickly. I still have subsequent tasks to complete.

With that thought, Ke Lu let out an almost imperceptible scoff and accepted Ke Jie's unreasonable, almost provocative demand.

Then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd,

one step, two steps...

She slowly ascended the stairs and stood before the Awakening Instrument.

On the stage, as Ke Lu placed her hand on the instrument, Ke Jie's lips curled into a mocking smirk.

Although one's Talent becomes fixed after awakening, it wasn't necessarily so beforehand. Research showed that before awakening, Martial Artists could improve their Talent by consuming Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or undergoing specialized training.

The difference lay in the approach: the former was effortless but risked forcing growth and an unstable foundation, while the latter forged a solid foundation but was so grueling that most people couldn't endure it.

Ke Jie had chosen the former path, unwilling to endure the latter's hardships. Leveraging his family's connections, he had consumed numerous Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures solely to enhance his Talent, aiming to shine brilliantly during the College Entrance Examination.

In Ke Jie's mind, his victory over Ke Lu was now a foregone conclusion.

In the stifling atmosphere, even the air in the auditorium seemed to hold its breath.

The first result displayed on the instrument was Ke Lu's chosen career class: Support Class.

As the words appeared on the large screen, the crowd reacted in various ways.

When the Principal saw "Support Class," a flicker of disdain flashed through his eyes. Even though Ke Lu's Talent hadn't been revealed yet, this career path...

In the Principal's eyes, Support Class candidates without at least an A-Rank Talent were hardly worth cultivating.

Meanwhile, Ke Jie burst into a derisive laugh without restraint.

"Hahaha, why don't you come and support me? Maybe I'll take pity on you, since we're siblings, and give you a spot on my team."

This was undoubtedly a blatant humiliation.

Su Rou's face flushed crimson with anger, and she shot to her feet.

"What's wrong with the Support Class? Ke Lu can join any team she wants at my house! Who needs your lousy spot anyway?"

But at that very moment,

the machine whirred to life, and a dazzling light instantly illuminated the entire hall.

The light was far brighter than any previous test, gilding the entire assembly hall with golden edges.

Outside the auditorium, the previously gloomy sky suddenly cleared, transforming into a cloudless expanse as the sun's rays pierced through with unprecedented intensity.

A student glanced out the window and exclaimed, "Look! Why is the sun suddenly out? It's blinding!"

A supervising teacher glanced outside and murmured uncertainly, "The rest of the area doesn't seem affected. It's only our school... could this be some kind of anomaly?"

Such events weren't unheard of at A City No. 1 High School.

Ten years ago, a senior's awakening had caused the sky to change color, ultimately leading to their talent being classified as S-Rank.

The school had promoted this honor for years, and it remained a key recruitment tactic. A massive poster still hung prominently near the school gate.

As soon as the students were reminded, the memory flooded back.

"No way... could it be an S-Rank Talent?" someone in the crowd speculated, and many others quickly agreed.

Everyone craned their necks forward, eagerly anticipating the results.