Dual-Aspect Abilities

As soon as the two stepped through the gate, they saw Wang Nan haggling with someone again.

"My good man, I'm really not trying to swindle you," Wang Nan said, holding up a lump of metal-like material with earnest persuasion. "The quality of this item really isn't up to par. I'm afraid nowhere else would even accept it."

The burly middle-aged man standing before him asked with a trembling voice, "Brother, I went through so much hardship to get this back; surely it must be worth at least two hundred?"

"One hundred and fifty, and I can't go any higher. Look at all this rust. We have to pay to get it removed; that cost alone is nearly a hundred!"

Wen Jiu followed Wang Nan's gaze to the lump of metal. It was indeed covered in reddish stains and had several dents.

However, the middle-aged man still refused to yield, pleading bitterly, "Could you do one hundred and eighty? The cold season is coming soon, and my whole family is waiting for me to buy thermal stones."

Wang Nan was about to refuse, but Granny Zhao suddenly quickened her pace and approached, saying, "Then let's make it one hundred and eighty, Xiao Wang."

Only then did Wang Nan notice Granny Zhao approaching, supported by Wen Jiu. Since the boss had spoken, he couldn't very well argue. He could only purse his lips and take the star coins from his waist pouch to hand to the middle-aged man.

The man saw Granny Zhao as well, and after accepting the coins, he thanked her profusely.

"Thank you! Thank you!" the man said, his expression emotional and his eyes reddening. "I am truly so grateful to you!"

Granny Zhao smiled and waved her hand, sending the man on his way.

"Child, have you finished preparing your supplies for the cold season this year?" Speaking of the cold season, Granny Zhao suddenly remembered that Wen Jiu seemed to be all alone. She was only a twelve-year-old girl, and she wondered how she would survive.

"Not yet," Wen Jiu replied honestly. She truly had no supplies prepared for the cold season.

Previously, the original owner would have found ways to scrape together thermal stones, winter clothes, and food, but now she didn't have many star coins to her name. Forget about supplies—it was questionable whether she would even have food to eat next month.

Granny Zhao sighed and turned to walk into the house.

This left Wang Nan feeling inexplicably helpless. Was Granny Zhao really going to be so kind-hearted as to spend her own money to buy supplies for this little brat?

"Little sister, where are your parents?" Taking advantage of the moment Granny Zhao went inside, Wang Nan leaned in close to Wen Jiu and asked in a low voice.

Wen Jiu glanced at him, her expression indifferent. "I don't know. They're probably dead."

She really had no attachment to family; in her previous world, she had been an orphan, raised by her master. The original owner had also been an orphan with no word on her parents' whereabouts.

Hearing this, Wang Nan felt choked for words and scratched his head in embarrassment.

Fortunately, this awkward atmosphere did not last long before Granny Zhao walked out slowly, holding a bag.

Seeing her walk out, Wen Jiu quickly stepped forward to support her.

Granny Zhao patted Wen Jiu's hand comfortingly and handed her the bag. "These are some old winter clothes. If you don't mind, take them and wear them."

Wen Jiu accepted the bag with a smile. When she opened it, she saw it was stuffed with colorful clothing, much like the thick cotton-padded coats she had seen in the north.

Wen Jiu thanked her with a bright smile. Granny Zhao then took out a crumpled piece of paper.

"This is a recruitment flyer for 3047 Academy. You could go and give it a try," Granny Zhao said, coughing twice before continuing, "If you go to school, you won't have to worry about food or shelter."

Wen Jiu took the paper, unfolded it, and read it carefully.

It stated that 3047 Academy was currently recruiting new preparatory cadets. Anyone who passed the physical fitness test could enroll for free. Not only were there scholarships, but food and housing were provided.

This was exactly what she needed just as she was worrying about money. If she could get into school, at least she wouldn't have to sleep in the wilderness anymore.

Wen Jiu read further down, and the last line read: Enrollment ends on October 6, 209 Star Era.

Today was October 5th, Wen Jiu realized with a start. She quickly grabbed the bag of winter clothes, bid a hurried farewell to Granny Zhao, and ran out of the recycling station to find the floating bus stop.

It was already past three in the afternoon, and 3047 Academy was in another district. If she walked, it would take her until nightfall at the earliest.

So, Wen Jiu ran to the nearest station, gritted her teeth, pulled out ten star coins, and boarded the floating bus to 3047 Academy.

Although she slept in an abandoned floating bus every night, this was her first time actually riding one since arriving here.

It felt similar to a modern bus, except that the floating buses here had three levels and traveled while suspended in mid-air, with speeds that no ordinary bus could compare to.

After about twenty minutes, Wen Jiu arrived at the gates of 3047 Academy.

Even though it was the final period for enrollment this year, the academy gate was packed with people queuing up to register.

Wen Jiu found a line that looked shorter and waited patiently at the back. Before long, it was finally her turn.

The teacher at the registration desk looked up at her. "Fill out the forms first, then take them to the tent over there. Go inside to test your physique, then turn right to the registration office."

Wen Jiu nodded and began to fill out the forms quickly. Once finished, she followed the teacher's instructions and ducked into a blue tent, where many people were already waiting to be tested.

Wen Jiu looked at the testing equipment with curiosity. Beside a simple metal chair was a control console. There was no monitor, only a projection-like light screen that flickered constantly.

As soon as those taking the test lay down, two tentacle-like devices emerged from the top of the chair and pressed against their foreheads. Immediately, a bar graph appeared on the screen.

"Level 1 Metal-type ability, comprehensive rating C+."

The teacher in charge of recording quickly filled out the form and handed it to the person who had just gotten off the chair.

Wen Jiu was completely bewildered. What were "abilities"? In the memories she had inherited, there was nothing related to abilities. Taking advantage of the wait, she found a teacher who looked relatively kind.

"Excuse me, teacher, could you tell me what an ability is?"

There were many impoverished students trying to avoid the cold season by enrolling, so Yu Ruman didn't look surprised. She smiled and crouched down to explain to Wen Jiu.

"An ability is a kind of energy that every one of us is born with. However, before learning how to use it, most people find it difficult to perceive their own energy. Of course, there are also a small number of people who are born without abilities."

"The abilities currently identified by the Federation are divided into eight categories: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Light, Dark, and Ice. After enrollment, teachers will teach you in detail how to use these energies to pilot mechs."

"Taking a test before enrollment is also to help us teach you better later on."

Yu Ruman's explanation was very detailed, and Wen Jiu quickly understood. She knew a bit about mechs from the original owner's memories; these "abilities" sounded somewhat like the elemental powers she had awakened during her time practicing cultivation.

"Next."

Wen Jiu wanted to ask a few more questions, but it was her turn to sit in the chair. She whispered a "thank you" and ran over to sit down.

After she lay back, she watched as the tentacle-like devices slowly pressed against her forehead. The touch was cold, and there was a sensation as if it were drawing out her energy.

Yu Ruman watched as the thin, small girl went to take the test, and she walked over to the console, curious to see what the girl's scores would be.

However, the image displayed on the screen made her eyes widen in shock. A dual ability?

"Level 1 Wood-type ability, Level 1 Fire-type ability, comprehensive rating A+."

Actually, according to the rarity of dual abilities, it should have been rated S+, but Wen Jiu's other stats were lower, and the Wood-Fire combination was considered relatively mediocre, so it was rated A+ overall.

"It's actually a dual-element ability!"

"You only see one in a hundred thousand, right?"

Hearing the results of Wen Jiu's test, everyone in the tent was stunned and turned to look at her.

Wen Jiu, however, remained unfazed. She had been a Wood-Fire dual-element cultivator in her past life, and her master had even said she was a natural talent for alchemy.

But after she blew up five alchemy furnaces, her master never mentioned her being a "natural talent" again.

Wen Jiu calmly sat up and walked over to the teacher in charge of recording. "Teacher, my form."