"My awakened profession is Dragon Knight (S)," Zhang Qingshan didn't hide anything.

"As for talent, it's a bit lacking, it's the Giant Dragon Heart (A)."

"Dragon Knight, huh?" Chu Xiu stroked his chin.

He wasn't too surprised that Zhang Qingshan awakened an S-Class profession because his energy level was very high; awakening a high-grade profession was only normal.

Among the S-Class professions, the Dragon Knight is also quite outstanding, not because it is extraordinarily strong, but because it is a very well-rounded profession.

In the initial stage, you can have a Dragon Egg; even if it hasn't hatched, the Dragon Egg can still mobilize magic to release spells for remote attacks, and some special Dragon Eggs can even cast healing and various beneficial spells, intrinsically providing powerful support.

The Dragon Knight's physical strength is also tremendous, with a wealth of close combat skills, making them nearly flawless.

Once the dragon hatches, it even enters a powerful phase, with strength rapidly increasing!

The talent of Giant Dragon Heart is also a versatile one, enhancing constitution, power, life force, and even increasing adaptability to [traits], reducing the mutant deviation rate.

The combination of both gives Qingshan enormous potential, at least in the early to mid-stages, likely attracting significant interest from major powers willing to invest in him.

"Congratulations," Chu Xiu genuinely said, "What level are you now?"

"Level 7, almost Level 8."

Chu Xiu nodded; this result was within his expectations.

Qingshan's talent was already strong, and more importantly, for those like him with a high initial energy level, schools and certain powers would invest in them early on, giving him much better starting conditions than Chu Xiu, so it was no surprise he reached Level 7.

"What are your plans next?" Chu Xiu asked with a smile.

"I plan to grind dungeons during this time to max out my level and then advance to the Warrior Tier before entering the Abyss next time," Zhang Qingshan replied.

Hearing this, Chu Xiu was momentarily stunned and then furrowed his brow: "You're planning to advance so soon? Your talent is so good; do you need to rush it?"

After reaching Level 9, you can initiate the advancement trial; clearing dungeons can get you to the Warrior Tier.

According to statistics, the pass rate for the Warrior Tier is 74.4%, much higher than the awakening trial.

But that statistic is very misleading because most people challenging the advancement trial have been developing at the Mortal Tier for years, even more than a decade! They max out all their skill levels and gear up with advanced equipment before attempting it.

Even if Zhang Qingshan had an S-Class profession, hastily challenging the advancement trial would still be dangerous!

Zhang Qingshan smiled lightly: "No choice, we have too many geniuses this year; maybe that's why such a high-level Corpse Demon World was used as the trial ground."

"You might not know, but the investment from those powers is divided into three parts. Initially, they only give a little resource, then after passing the awakening trial, they give a second batch, and by advancing to Warrior Tier before entering the Abyss again, they give the third batch!"

"These three waves of investments keep getting larger, especially the last one, which truly means you're worth investing in! Guilds, conglomerates, and governments will place heavy bets on you!"

"Talents like Ye Junlin are all gearing up for the advancement trial. To put it bluntly, if you're not at the Warrior Tier, you don't even qualify to sit at the table and eat meat!"

Zhang Qingshan's words made Chu Xiu frown; he didn't expect such fierce competition this time.

"Why eat meat? Isn't it good to develop slowly?" Chu Xiu counseled.

He himself was definitely going to eat meat, but it was enough for his good brother to just stay alive.

But in response to Chu Xiu's advice, Zhang Qingshan simply laughed heartily: "Ah Chu, have you forgotten our childhood dreams?"

"How can we achieve those dreams if we don't firmly grasp every opportunity?"

Chu Xiu opened his mouth, and a flood of memories rose to his heart.

That was when they were about seven or eight years old, their mothers took them to play in the park.

The spring flowers were beautiful, and koi swam in the artificial lake.

Then the sky split open with a giant rift, and countless Abyssal creatures poured out from it.

There wasn't as concentrated an air defense system back then, and the security guards had to crack open the weapons locker and retaliate with machine guns and shotguns. Childhood memories are always blurry; Chu Xiu just remembered the rare look of panic on the adults' faces as they shoved each other in a desperate run, the hurried footsteps, and the screams, and vaguely heard his mother's anxious calls.

The two children were swept away by the chaotic crowd, and by the time they regained their senses, their mother was nowhere to be found, so they held each other's hands like two small boats at risk of capsizing in the storm's center.

They were lucky enough not to encounter any Abyssal creatures, but the feeling of helplessness and fear that enveloped them for nearly an hour was etched in their memory. Chu Xiu feared he would never forget it in his lifetime.

Since then, every year's writing assignment on "My Dream," Qingshan would resolutely write that his dream was to unite all of humanity, permanently banish the Abyss, and ensure that no one would have to live in fear anymore.

After entering middle school, such assignments became rare, and Chu Xiu had always thought of it as nothing more than a childish, naive statement from their youth, but unexpectedly, Qingshan had remembered it all along.

For a moment, Chu Xiu remained silent.

He liked the Holy Mother but didn't want his friend to be one.

Qingshan wasn't a Holy Mother, but he would do what a Holy Mother would do, which was equally problematic, as it meant he would inevitably die in the Abyss someday.

To Chu Xiu, a friend with such exceptional talent and whom he could unconditionally trust was worth no less than an artifact of legendary quality.

After a while, Chu Xiu sighed softly, "With your talent, develop slowly; sooner or later, you can climb into the upper echelons, live in a big house, and enjoy the finest life. Isn't that good? I know you don't care about these things, but shouldn't you at least consider Chu Qin?"

He tried to play the emotional card, using a woman's influence to sway Qingshan.

To his surprise, Zhang Qingshan replied with a proud smile, "Xiao Qin supports me; it's her dream too. We've already promised each other, even if one of us meets an accident in the Abyss, the other will persist with this ideal."

Chu Xiu: "..."

So I'm the only bad guy?

He couldn't help but smack a hand to his forehead and let out a long sigh.

Seeing Chu Xiu's sighing expression, Zhang Qingshan couldn't help but laugh, "Why do you look like I'm destined to die? Can't you hope for the best for me?"

"With me around, you're not so easily doomed," Chu Xiu rolled his eyes, "I'm just annoyed by the fact that there's yet another thing to worry about."

Zhang Qingshan burst into hearty laughter, "Then I'll have to rely on you to look after me from now on."

Changing the topic, he then jokingly asked, "Oh mighty one, want to hit the dungeon with me?"

"No," Chu Xiu refused without a second thought.

"Ah? Refused so bluntly?" Zhang Qingshan looked surprised, "Won't you reconsider?"

"No reconsideration."

Chu Xiu looked helplessly at Zhang Qingshan.

This friend of his was very loyal, sometimes excessively so.

Even before Zhang Qingshan entered the door, Chu Xiu already knew his intentions.

He wanted to take Chu Xiu into the dungeon.

But of course, Chu Xiu couldn't waste his time joining them.

There wasn't much profit to begin with, and then they'd have to split it four ways.

Yet, in Zhang Qingshan's perspective, he would certainly think that Chu Xiu was refusing because he didn't want to hold him back. Looking at his big, thick eyebrows furrowing, one could tell this guy was racking his brains, trying to figure out how to persuade Chu Xiu to join him without hurting his pride.

Sure enough, it didn't take long before he smiled and said, "Ah Chu, didn't we agree to explore the Abyss together? Why change your mind now?"

His words made Chu Xiu smile.

Even the thick-browed big-eyed one would play the emotional card?

But Chu Xiu immediately shook his head, and his face turned serious.

"Qingshan, I think you're quite hypocritical," he said.

"Ah?" Zhang Qingshan was stunned. The next second, his face turned bright red as he hurriedly said, "Ah Chu, I'm not..."

Before he could finish, Chu Xiu raised his hand to stop him.

"I'm not accusing you; I know you're being kind to me."

"But I want to ask you a question: Do you think this so-called ideal of yours is like a teenage manga where everyone can just play, laugh, and say some pretty words to achieve it?"

"Since the Abyss invasion, how many have shared your ideals? But has anyone succeeded?"

"Or do you think your talent surpasses all of theirs?"

Zhang Qingshan was rendered speechless.

Without mercy, Chu Xiu continued, "To be frank, compared to truly powerful figures, you're not even a fart! In such circumstances, instead of striving with all your might and improving yourself in every possible way, you're thinking about helping me? Do you even have that right? Has having an S-Class profession made you arrogant?"

"I..." Zhang Qingshan's throat moved, unsure of what to say.

Looking at him, Chu Xiu sincerely said, "Qingshan, I don't want your so-called ideal to be just a grandiose fantasy but something you've seriously contemplated, with theoretical and substantiated planning. Otherwise, it's irresponsible whether it's to you, or to Sister Qin who steadfastly supports you."

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