Chapter 6: Spirit Binding

At that moment.

The blanket on the opposite bed was thrown back, and a startled voice rang out.

“Jiang Jian, you’re back?”

“Mm,” Jiang Jian replied, continuing to organize his desk. “Ji Ming, why aren’t you going home?”

Ji Ming sat up, smiling. “My theoretical scores aren’t as good as yours. I’m planning to spend the holiday in the library, plugging my gaps.”

He took off his headphones and swung his legs off the bed. "I'm just hungry, Jiang Jian, want to eat together?"

Jiang Jian shook his head. “I’ve already eaten.”

“Then I’ll enjoy it alone.”

Ji Ming chuckled, raised his identity device.

“Spicy braised pork knuckle rice, stir-fried mushroom soup—total 3 Alliance coins…”

He bought the meal, tapped the mirror on the desk. “Mirror Spirit, fetch my meal from the cafeteria!”

No response.

Ji Ming blinked, picked up the mirror, and threatened, “Come out now, or I’ll report you to the dorm supervisor!”

This trick always worked before.

But now, the mirror remained utterly still.

“That’s strange.”

Ji Ming set the mirror down, frowning in confusion.

Jiang Jian smiled. “Maybe it’s tired too. Wants a vacation.”

Ji Ming sighed. “If only I had the Spirit Binding Spell—I’d just wave my hand, drag it over, and interrogate it. Now that’d be impressive…”

Jiang Jian raised an eyebrow. “Shu is the rarest of divine gifts.”

Ji Ming walked over and plopped down beside Jiang Jian. “By the gods, even if I don’t get Shu, give me Wu instead—I won’t complain!”

Jiang Jian chuckled. “I think you’re better suited for Yi.”

“Whatever, as long as it’s not useless.”

Here, Ji Ming turned to Jiang Jian. “Jiang Jian, what kind of talent do you want most?”

Jiang Jian shook his head. “As long as it adds divine gift points, I don’t really care about the type.”

Ji Ming opened his backpack, pulled out a detailed chart, and pointed to the six talents listed.

“Jiang Jian, your theoretical scores are insane—perfect in every subject.”

He tapped the paper with his finger.

“Even a Level 1 divine gift—”

“As long as it’s not Ti or Xin, your total score won’t be low.”

The Divine Gift Exam is personally overseen by a main examination team dispatched by the municipal government.

The Divine Gift University of the province also sends proctors.

Upon any talent appearing, the exam team evaluates it holistically and assigns divine gift points as the score.

Among these, Shu grants the highest bonus points.

Jiang Jian put away his books and glanced at the chart in Ji Ming’s hand.

At the very top was Shu.

This divine gift is the rarest.

Shu—spellcraft, all kinds of spellcraft.

Encompassing everything.

Shu often comes with a complete cultivation method, greatly aiding cultivation.

Once a Shu talent appears, major corporations immediately compete to recruit the bearer.

After all, Guangling City has over thirty thousand examinees annually.

The Divine Gift University has only forty slots.

Everyone else, if they don’t want to starve, must find jobs to survive.

If a candidate receives a rare talent within Shu,

They might even be admitted directly to the Divine Gift University, regardless of theoretical scores.

Next is Wu.

Wu—martial arts, combat techniques.

This talent is also highly sought after.

Because cultivation is extremely difficult.

Shu and Wu reduce that difficulty.

The true purpose of the Divine Gift Ceremony is not to grant talents.

It is to enable everyone to cultivate.

The Divine Overview clearly states this.

Divine Gift talents are merely Fushu to opening cultivation.

Some talents are exceptionally suited for cultivation.

They can accelerate cultivation a thousandfold.

Others are utterly useless.

Most people have average talents—struggling for food and clothing, unwilling to endure hardship, uninterested in cultivation, or simply lazy.

They remain trapped in the Divine Gift Realm their entire lives, never escaping.

Wu is so highly valued

Because it rarely produces useless talents.

Divine Gift martial techniques are also extremely complete.

They come as full sets, often with separate cultivation manuals.

Wu grants very high bonus points—second only to Shu.

Next is Yi.

Yi—willpower, thought.

Telekinesis, mental acuity, sensing emotions, mental pressure, reading minds—all fall under Yi.

Occasionally, it yields cultivation talents.

But mostly, it leans toward miscellaneous, non-cultivation directions.

Yi’s divine gift bonus points are moderate.

They fluctuate depending on the specific talent.

Next is Bing.

Bing—weapons, forging.

Weapon usage techniques, weapon forging, spirit-nourishing secrets—all belong here.

This talent is unusual.

There’s a tiny chance of directly receiving a weapon.

Divine Gift weapons are immensely powerful and indestructible.

Only the recipient can use them.

Even the lowest Level 1 weapon is like this.

After the recipient’s death, the weapon turns into worthless scrap, becoming mere decoration.

Normally,

Bing’s divine gift bonus points are low.

But during the exam, if a Divine Gift weapon appears, the bonus spikes instantly!

Under the same talent level, a powerful weapon’s bonus can rival that of Shu or Wu!

Next is Xin.

Xin—intellect, wisdom.

Sharp mind, skilled in research, adept at mathematics, or proficient in any academic field.

This talent is common.

Ninety percent of them are unsuitable for cultivation.

Xin’s divine gift bonus points are low.

Finally, there’s Ti.

Ti—physicality, body.

Robust physique, extended lifespan, disease removal, enhanced specific body parts—all fall under Ti.

Nine out of ten people get Ti.

This talent is everywhere.

Ninety-nine percent of them are useless.

Remove one disease, add a few days to lifespan.

Eliminate one virus, clear one pimple.

Even thickened fingers or enlarged feet.

Countless useless talents, a mess of them.

Zhou Yu’s “Three-Inch Unruly Tongue” is one of the few “Bodies” that can actually be used.

During lectures, he never feels tired all day.

It perfectly matches his profession as a teacher.

As a Level 2 Divine Gift, even if Zhou Yu speaks without thinking,

his “Three-Inch Unruly Tongue” still produces eloquent speech, automatically filling in the gaps.

Such cases are rare, after all.

In reality, the Divine Gift bonus for “Bodies” is alarmingly low.

“My standards are getting lower.”

“As long as it’s not a ‘Body,’ anything else will do.”

Ji Ming held the form, comparing it with Guangling City’s historical data; his earlier confidence had vanished.

Jiang Jian tidied his desk, returned to his bunk, and said: “If it’s a Level 2 ‘Body,’ it might still be useful—like Teacher Zhou.”

Ji Ming sighed: “That’s true, but Level 2 talents are extremely rare.”

“Last year’s major exam had thirty thousand candidates in Guangling.”

“Fewer than a hundred received a Level 2 talent.”

Here, Ji Ming swiped his screen; his expression darkened further.

“Among them, only thirteen were from the Shadow Zone.”

(End of Chapter)