Chapter 38: Faint Fragrance

"Linjiang Prefecture, Prefectural Office, verified and issued."

"Jiang Jian, Earth Citizen ID, hidden."

"Talent: Level 3."

"Commissioning Unit: Linjiang Academy."

"Verified by the Prefectural Office, information accurate and correct."

"Issuing Level 3 Resource Package, to be delivered by the applying unit."

"Please collect."

At the bottom of the message.

The massive "Collect" button radiated brilliant golden light!

Bathed in golden light, Jiang Jian squinted.

"I heard."

"Everyone’s Level 3 Resource Package is different."

Jiang Jian steadied his thoughts.

He did not rush to collect the Level 3 Resource Package.

Instead, he swiped to the top of the communications screen.

Found the two messages above and tapped the buttons.

Collected the "Linjiang Academy New Student Benefit."

And the "First Academy New Student Benefit."

"Ding!"

"Linjiang Academy New Student Benefit, credited!"

"First Academy New Student Benefit, credited!"

"Data benefit has been sent to your identity device."

"Physical benefit will be delivered to your dormitory by staff after housing assignment; please wait patiently."

……

Jiang Jian swiped to the bottom of the screen.

Looked at the Level 3 Resource Package.

A faint sense of anticipation stirred within him.

The Level 3 Resource Package contained something extraordinarily precious.

A Level 3 Talent Orb.

This item was exceedingly expensive.

It had nothing to do with Linjiang Academy at all.

It was issued by the Prefectural Office after rigorous verification, drawn from the prefecture’s treasury.

For any Earth citizen who had received a Level 3 Divine Gift,

the Level 3 Resource Package was a powerful boon.

Jiang Jian calmed his mind and tapped the collect button.

A faint sound echoed.

On the semi-transparent screen, the massive golden button sank inward.

Turned gray.

At the same time,

a cold notification sounded from his identity device.

"Earth Citizen, Jiang Jian."

"Level 3 Resource Package, issued by the Prefectural Office, collected successfully!"

"Please review details!"

This was a new message.

Jiang Jian swiped open the email.

Golden light flashed before his eyes.

The Level 3 Resource Package details were laid bare.

"Alliance Coins: 100,000, directly transferred to citizen account."

"Linjiang Online Shopping Limit: 200,000, equivalent in Alliance Coins, usable to purchase items on Linjiang Online."

"Basic Cultivation Materials: 10 units."

"Basic Array Materials: 10 units."

"Basic Weapon Casting Materials: 10 units."

"Basic Spirit Medicine Quota: 10 units."

Seeing these resources,

Jiang Jian’s expression remained calm.

His gaze moved to the very bottom.

There,

a line of golden script glowed.

"Level 3 Talent Orb."

"Quantity: 1."

"Type: Self-Selected."

Seeing this,

Jiang Jian was slightly startled.

He turned to look at Shi Xuan nearby.

Shi Xuan was also focused, scrolling through his email.

"Shi Xuan."

Jiang Jian asked, "What type of talent is in your Level 3 Resource Package?"

Shi Xuan looked up, smiling: "Level 3, Body, Qi Condensation into Storm!"

"This second talent was an excellent gift."

"I checked online—similar talent orbs cost 2.1 million Alliance Coins!"

"The Prefectural Office staff must have reviewed my innate talent and selected this specifically."

"Qi Condensation into Storm allows you to direct Qi into condensed storm-like energy."

"Perfectly complements my Return-to-Origin Storm Qi."

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian frowned slightly.

The Level 3 Resource Package

was selected and issued by office staff based on the recipient’s innate talent.

But his own Level 3 Resource Package—

the talent orb’s type was "Self-Selected"!

Shi Xuan, seeing Jiang Jian’s silence, asked: "What type of talent orb did the Prefectural Office give you?"

Jiang Jian shook his head, still thinking.

Shi Xuan assumed he didn’t want to say and didn’t press further.

Turned back, continued reviewing his email.

Jiang Jian pondered a moment, then said: "My package’s type is self-selected. I haven’t opened it yet."

Shi Xuan’s fingers froze. He turned, face filled with shock: "You’re serious?!"

Jiang Jian nodded.

Shi Xuan stared, dazed: "Only Level 4 talents qualify for a Level 3 self-selected orb!"

He stared at Jiang Jian as if seeing him anew.

"This self-selected package contains six types of talent orbs!"

"Any one of them—"

"was carefully selected by office staff based on your innate talent!"

"You can choose any one of the six!"

As he spoke,

Shi Xuan seemed to recall something, gazing at Jiang Jian in awe, murmuring:

"At the Shi Clan, I once heard—"

"Besides Level 4 talents—"

"there are extremely rare Level 3 talents the Prefectural Office values."

"They too receive Level 3 self-selected packages!"

"Jiang Jian,"

"your performance has been so exceptional, the Linjiang Prefectural Office is now paying you close attention!"

Upon hearing these words.

Jiang Jian’s gaze shifted slightly: “So that’s how it is.”

The next instant.

He turned his head and opened the Level 3 Self-Selected Pack.

Instantly.

Golden light spread everywhere.

A set of information appeared before his eyes!

“Art, Martial, Will.”

“Weapon, Heart, Body.”

“Six talents—choose one.”

Jiang Jian continued scrolling down.

“Level 3 Talent Cluster, Art: Nourishing Qi Method.”

“Nourishing Qi Method, passive talent: expands the upper limit of the Shenque acupoint, allowing more Qi to be stored.”

“Includes accompanying cultivation method.”

Jiang Jian’s gaze halted, instantly drawn to “Nourishing Qi Method.”

He pondered for a moment.

He continued reading.

“Level 3 Talent Cluster, Martial: Meridian Unblocking.”

“Meridian Unblocking, passive talent: gradually opens the thirty-six meridians, strengthens physical capacity, raises Qi reserve limit, and enhances cultivation foundation.”

“Includes accompanying cultivation method.”

Jiang Jian swiped his finger.

The semi-transparent screen scrolled, revealing the next entry.

“Level 3 Talent Cluster, Will: Dark Scent.”

“Dark Scent, passive talent: enhances Art techniques, Martial techniques, and weapons, imbuing them with soul attacks that are extremely difficult to resist.”

“While cultivating, it increases Qi reserve and raises the upper limit of Qi capacity.”

“Includes accompanying cultivation method.”

Seeing this,

Jiang Jian’s eyes lit up.

He opened the Linjiang network and searched the talent cluster category.

Talent clusters similar to “Nourishing Qi Method” were worth about 1.9 million Alliance Coins.

Talent clusters similar to “Meridian Unblocking” were worth about 1.7 million Alliance Coins.

But for talent clusters similar to “Dark Scent,”

“There was nothing like it for sale.”

Jiang Jian frowned slightly and searched more carefully.

Only then did he realize:

Talent clusters similar to “Dark Scent” were extraordinarily rare.

In the Level 2 category, dozens were still for sale.

In the Level 3 category, not a single one existed!

Jiang Jian tapped his finger lightly and closed the Linjiang network.

He continued reading the next entries.

“Level 3 Talent Cluster, Weapon: Drifting Willow Sword Art.”

“Drifting Willow Sword Art: greatly enhances the power of sword techniques and strengthens weapon potency.”

“Includes accompanying cultivation method.”

Jiang Jian paused his finger and scrolled the information up.

“Level 3 Talent Cluster, Heart: Guarding the Heart, Concentrating the Spirit.”

“Guarding the Heart, Concentrating the Spirit, passive talent: clears the mind, accelerates Qi flow, sharpens thought, and raises Qi reserve limit.”

“Includes accompanying cultivation method.”

Jiang Jian fell into thought.

“The officials at the government office selected talents perfectly suited to me.”

Meanwhile,

The final entry appeared.

“Level 3 Talent Cluster, Body: Deepening the Spirit Meridians.”

“Deepening the Spirit Meridians, passive talent: increases Qi cultivation speed, recovery speed, physical strength, and expands meridian capacity.”

“Includes accompanying cultivation method.”

Jiang Jian scanned the six talents and fell silent.

“All these talents greatly aid cultivation.”

(End of Chapter)