Chapter 1

"Shall we make a deal?"
"I'll help you grow stronger, and in exchange, I want to reside in your spiritual sea for a while."

FM795, the lower star domain, deep within the Blizzard Forest.

A colossal dragon, its body cloaked in glimmering ice dragon scales, slowly circled in the sky. Sunlight struck the scales, refracting a cold, piercing gleam.

Its head was raised high, eyes fathomless, as if able to see through all things. When it spoke in human tongue, chilling air spilled from its maw, exuding an aura of unassailable majesty.

Xu Jintang's eyes widened in shock, staring at the enormous being that had appeared from nowhere before her.

...

Six hours earlier.

Second-year students of Dawn Primary Academy were about to undergo their ability awakening ceremony.

Inside the crowded school auditorium, students stood in orderly rows, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

"One last reminder: students under fifteen are not permitted to awaken their abilities. If anyone falsifies their age, any accidents are their own responsibility," the guide announced sternly.

In the interstellar age, citizens' bodies only fully mature at fifteen, enabling them to withstand the immense forces generated during ability awakening.

"Xu Jintang," called the guide from the higher star domain.

A girl in academy uniform stepped onto the makeshift awakening platform.

All eyes turned curiously toward her.

Xu Jintang was quite the celebrity at their academy.

Dawn Primary Academy's junior classes catered to students who had not yet awakened or mastered their abilities, focusing on combat techniques, identification of beasts, and basic knowledge of abilities.

A year ago, Xu Jintang, who had hardly been noticed, suddenly made a splash during the theoretical exam.

She had handed in a blank sheet, earning a schoolwide, unprecedented zero.

When the results were released, even the usually gentle Jiang Lu's face darkened, and he called Xu Jintang to his office for a stern lecture.

Xu Jintang had been bewildered, too.

Hadn't she just finished her graduate exams? What was she doing here?

Only then did she realize: she had transmigrated into the body of a fifteen-year-old interstellar girl who had died suddenly from malnutrition.

This world had no mechas, no magic, no cyberpunk—only beasts and abilities.

Conflict between humans and beasts was constant, with wars frequently erupting. Everyone aspired to join the military academy, pledging themselves to the defense of humanity's peace.

The prerequisite for entering the military academy was to become a combat-capable ability user.

In this era, everyone had the chance to awaken abilities.

Abilities came in myriad forms and types: familiar animals and plants, ancient relics and cold weaponry, elemental forces beyond physical form, and more.

Only a small number could awaken combat abilities, gaining the right to fight beasts.

Those who awakened top-tier abilities, once cultivated to high levels, could wield power to destroy worlds, tear through the void in an instant, and battle high-level beasts.

Xu Jintang, newly arrived, had no choice but to accept her fate and survive in this world.

Driven by her graduate exam study habits, she dove into interstellar knowledge, training her body relentlessly to grow stronger.

Within a single semester, her theoretical grades soared from zero to first in the class.

Her performance in practical courses was even more impressive; she soon became both class representative and monitor.

These dramatic swings made Xu Jintang famous throughout the academy.

"Place your hand on the energy stone."

Following the guide's instructions, Xu Jintang pressed her hand to the energy stone.

"The energy within the stone will stimulate your latent abilities and awaken your spiritual power. Close your eyes, focus your mind."

---

Xu Jintang closed her eyes and soon felt a warmth in her palm. The heat seeped into her body, spreading through her veins.

Seconds later, the energy stone began to glow with a faint purple light.

"It's glowing!" exclaimed a student experiencing the awakening ceremony for the first time.

Curious gazes fell upon her.

The guide remained calm, explaining, "The depth of color in the energy stone represents the strength of the awakened ability. The darker the color, the stronger the ability. This strength refers to the effect—whether combat or healing. Strong healing is also considered high strength."

After a few seconds, the stone settled on a pale purple, no longer changing.

Above it, a line of text appeared: "Domain-type Ability."

The guide stared in surprise, muttering, "A domain-type ability? How can it be only pale purple?"

Xu Jintang sensed the flow of energy cease and opened her eyes in confusion.

"Is it over?"

The guide collected himself and nodded. "You've awakened a domain-type ability, which is a rare category. But yours seems rather weak."

"What do you mean?" Xu Jintang asked, puzzled.

The guide pressed his lips in thought.

Domain abilities were generally powerful. Even simple domain control or augmentation, or healing, had great impact; the stone shouldn't show only pale purple.

He was curious as well.

Class teacher Jiang Lu approached, asking, "Is there a problem?"

The guide nodded. "This student's ability is a bit unusual."

He turned to Xu Jintang. "Try using your ability. I'll see what effect it has."

Xu Jintang quickly summoned her spiritual power, unleashing the energy within her.

This must be the ability she'd just awakened.

She guided the energy outward.

At that moment, within a five-meter radius centered on her, every detail appeared vividly in her mind.

She no longer needed her eyes; she could sense every change in her surroundings with clarity.

She could even see past the auditorium's massive pillars, spotting classmates standing behind them.

The guide waved to interrupt her.

"That's enough. Your ability causes sluggishness. I sensed that anyone entering your domain is forced to slow down—but only those of equal strength. Those stronger than you are unaffected."

"Additionally, since it's a domain ability, you also have area detection. Within your domain, you can ignore all obstacles blocking your sight."

Xu Jintang withdrew her ability, hesitantly asking, "Is this ability strong?"

"Well..." The guide hesitated, then spoke frankly. "Domain abilities are rare, but sluggishness is somewhat mediocre. It's average, really. You might focus on support roles in the future."

"Next," the guide called the following name.

Xu Jintang's anticipation faded, replaced by complex emotions.

She'd thought her ability would be powerful.

Jiang Lu understood and, seeing her silent and downcast, pulled her aside to comfort her:

"This ability is already quite good. Many people awaken abilities with no combat potential. As the guide said, yours can develop in support roles. You’ll have more opportunities, and getting into the military academy shouldn’t be a problem. Don’t overthink it."

Xu Jintang sighed lightly. "Alright."

Having survived an inexplicable transmigration, support was fine.

"That's the Vermilion Bird Token! One of the top hundred abilities on the interstellar abilities ranking!" the guide suddenly exclaimed in shock.

---

Xu Jintang and Jiang Lu looked over in surprise.

There, Song Tianqi—perpetually last in exams—stood with a miniature bronze token floating before him, strange blue light swirling around it. The token bore an intricate Vermilion Bird, radiating an aura from ages past.

Song Tianqi, slightly chubby, scratched his head in confusion. "What is this thing?"

"The Vermilion Bird Token is an ancient relic-type ability infused with the bloodline of a divine beast. Its potential is immense," the guide said, barely containing his excitement.

Despite coming from a higher star domain, he rarely saw such gifted students, and couldn’t help but be thrilled.

Xu Jintang looked away, exchanging a silent glance with Jiang Lu.

Both were surprised.

No one at the academy expected it.

The perennial underachiever had awakened an ability of such caliber.

News spread quickly. Teachers and students crowded around Song Tianqi, showering him with praise and pride.

"Tianqi, you must work hard now. Don’t waste this incredible talent."

"I’m proud to have taught you—your awakened ability is better than mine!"

"Our academy finally has a real talent. You’ll certainly qualify for direct admission to the military academy."

Xu Jintang stood aside, watching Song Tianqi surrounded by the crowd, feeling a bit conflicted.

The worst student had suddenly turned his fate around.

Life was unpredictable.

After the ceremony, Song Tianqi, now the possessor of the Vermilion Bird Token, was taken away by the guide. He would be sent directly to the higher star domain, with a bright future ahead.

Xu Jintang took a deep breath, left the auditorium, and let the matter go.

She remembered that becoming a first-tier ability user meant she could receive the Federation’s subsidy.

Ability users were ranked from tier one to tier nine, each tier bringing a substantial boost in strength—and in the monthly subsidy.

Her family in this world had died years ago in the war.

Since transmigrating, she’d relied on poverty subsidies every month just to survive.

Now, with her ability awakened, she could receive a much higher subsidy as a first-tier ability user.

Half an hour later, Xu Jintang entered the main city administrative bureau.

"First-tier ability users receive a monthly subsidy of one thousand star coins. Plus, your poverty status adds five hundred more, for a total of fifteen hundred. It’s been transferred to your account. From now on, subsidies will be automatically deposited at the start of each month, no need to visit the counter."

"Also, this spatial wristband is an extra reward for becoming an ability user."

Xu Jintang nodded, slipping the wristband onto her wrist. "Thank you."

Leaving with her subsidy, Xu Jintang felt much lighter.

She’d even received a spatial wristband for free, perfect for storage.

Just then, the interstellar communicator on her chest vibrated.

The communicator was a silver badge, button-sized, with a delicate silver constellation design, worn on the chest.

These communicators connected directly to the brain’s nerves.

Xu Jintang sent a command mentally, and a light screen appeared before her eyes, displaying a job notification from "ProfitHub":

"Collection Task: Rush order. Gather ten fresh Snow Spirit Herbs within three hours. Reward: one thousand star coins."

"Would you like to accept this task?"