Chapter 72: Shen Yuan Professional

Brother Lin, what's the matter?

An Jing Tian heard the voice and rushed to Lin An's side; his originally clean black combat uniform was splattered with bloodstains.

Not far away, several corpses lay collapsed on the ground.

He looked pale, forcing a smile at Lin An.

Lin An pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Jing Tian."

"We're going to the school next; there are many zombies there, and it's also likely that Awakened Ones exist inside."

"As you've seen today, danger doesn't always come only from zombies."

"So...."

"Brother Lin."

"I understand, sorry. It's me who dragged you down."

"I'm too stupid; even though I know it's already the apocalypse, I have no sense of vigilance at all."

An Jing Tian gave a bitter smile, cutting off what Lin An wanted to say; his eyes looked somewhat dim.

He had already witnessed the power of Awakened Ones. Originally he thought that, as a military background, he could somewhat help Lin An.

But after experiencing what just happened, he only felt like he was a useless waste.

"I'll leave on my own later to find a Spiritual Energy Node and become an Awakened One."

"I know our team won't keep useless people."

He recalled the scene of Liu Shiming being rejected by Lin An that day, feeling a bit sour in his heart.

"Zhang Tie already told me where there are still Spiritual Energy Nodes."

"I hope I can come back alive, not be a burden to you, and be able to help you."

The chance for an ordinary player to become an Awakened One is very low, but as long as he can gain power, he's willing to try even a one-in-ten-thousand chance.

He never wants to endure that night's pain and humiliation again.

"If."

"If something happens to me. Brother Lin, I want to ask you."

"Please find AnXia for me? I'm sorry to AnXia, I wasn't able to protect her."

An Jing Tian gathered his courage, his voice trembling slightly.

Lin An:....

"Uh...."

He touched his nose; the Shen Yuan aura he had hidden behind his back suddenly felt a bit awkward.

"Jing Tian, you might have misunderstood my meaning."

"I mean, we'll face even more dangerous situations in the future."

"So, are you willing to become an Awakened One?"

"!!?"

An Jing Tian stood stunned in place; a wisp of black aura floating in the air slowly drifted to his face.

"This is the 'gift' I prepared for you."

Lin An patted his shoulder, his eyes full of expectation and encouragement.

"Take it."

"I originally planned to bring you to find some props that would lower the failure rate, but I didn't expect to come across this here."

"It's even better than the props I had imagined."

He subconsciously reached out his hand, touching the black aura floating before him, and a system prompt appeared instantly.

"Ding, obtained Shen Yuan aura (blue)."

"Shen Yuan aura: power from the Shen Yuan; after consumption, it can allow two players (non-Awakened Ones) to change profession to Shen Yuan series professions."

"Profession change basic requirement: all attributes above 6 points, consume any-level mutant corpse (the profession change effect strengthens according to the corpse's strength)."

"Current usage count: 2/2! (can be replenished!)"

"Shen Yuan profession series: Stalker (Assassin), Black Dragon Guard (Shield Warrior), Shen Yuan Vanguard (Berserker), Cursed Priest (Mage, Support)."

"Profession change effect: upon successful change, obtain the Awakened One template, all attributes raised to human limit (10 points!), and according to specialized type gain an additional 4 attribute points and one exclusive skill."

"This is! For me!?"

An Jing Tian looked at the Shen Yuan aura before him in disbelief, his mind going blank.

Along the way he had already asked Zhang Tie about his attributes; as Zhang Tie's highest attribute is physique, his physique is only 18.2 (base 14 + team boost + player level 1 + Awakened One + 2.)!

As long as he accepts the aura and successfully changes profession, he can immediately gain at least all attributes above 10 points, with a single attribute reaching up to 14 points!

Just by leveling up once more and casually killing two mutants, his attributes will instantly catch up to Zhang Tie's!

In a single step, from mortal to a being that gazes upon the transcendent!

Lin An smiled at Jing Tian, understanding Jing Tian's excited feelings at this moment.

In his transaction with "himself," whether it's attribute increase or gaining special bonuses, in terms of value this inconspicuous aura is the most precious existence.

Shen Yuan aura is a prop that can mass-produce special Awakened Ones!

In his past life, because he trusted others too much, the key was taken away.

And the person who stole the key, after discarding all humanity, obtained this aura.

However, unlike the one in his hand, after that person discarded everything, the aura obtained was the complete version, with an initial usage count as high as 99 times!

By relying on the method of mass-producing special Awakened Ones, he also rose to become one of the Four Emperors, the 【Shen Yuan Lord】!

Who would have thought that in his past life, Lin An appeared to be merely a struggling ordinary player, but in fact he almost became one of the Four Emperors, controlling billions of beings!!

This heaven-defying prop, though it looks good, carries an equally heavy price.

If he truly had no confidence to face the 【Great Cataclysm】, he actually wouldn't want to talk to himself again.

The fear in his heart is not just empty talk.

Another meaning of the key is to open the door to desire and destruction!

Even if Lin An still retains some humanity now, he can actually sense what will happen after the deal is completed.

Becoming "him" is merely a matter of time.

"Brother Lin, is this really meant for me!!"

"This...! It's too precious!"

"I can't...."

Jing Tian spoke incoherently; these days' experiences have made him crave power excessively, but faced with such a precious prop, he is somewhat at a loss.

"You're my brother, no need to be so affected. What's with all the hemming and hawing?"

Lin An deliberately put on a cold face and continued speaking:

"Also, from now on don't tell me about being burdensome or not, or not wanting to drag me down— that's bullshit!"

"You just need to remember one thing: I, Lin An, will never abandon my brothers!"

"Even if you, Jing Tian, are a cripple, a waste! I will protect you for life!"

The words came from the heart.

As soon as his voice fell, Lin An firmly pushed the Shen Yuan aura into Jing Tian's chest with a palm.

"Beep, the Shen Yuan aura has been used; current usage count 1/2."

Like a living thing, the black aura, as it entered, generated mysterious patterns around Jing Tian.

Jing Tian, wrapped in the dense patterns, instantly fainted.

Lin An didn't care; he knew Jing Tian had entered an awakening class-change state, and once he woke he would gain power beyond mortals.

His gaze was expectant.

He didn't know what profession Jing Tian would obtain after a successful class change.

As a talent different from ordinary Awakened Ones, Shen Yuan class-changers may lack strange abilities, but purely in combat strength they are absolutely superior to most Awakened Ones!

Otherwise, the past life's 【Shen Yuan Lord】 would not have qualified to rely on nearly a hundred Shen Yuan warriors under his command to become an existence commanding tens of thousands!

"Captain Lin, what does that mean?"

Zhang Tie wore a bitter expression; his tattered combat uniform hadn't yet been changed when Lin An called him up.

With a flesh-healing skill, the wounds originally inflicted by the Scaled Beast have mostly healed.

"Nothing."

Lin An gave a slight smile, then pointed to Jing Tian nearby who seemed dazed.

"Come on, you two fight."

"I fight him!!"

"Captain Lin, are you crazy!? Jing Tian would be slapped to death by me!!"

Zhang Tie turned pale with shock, looking at Lin An with a doubtful face.

Could it be that Captain Lin has murderous intent, even killing his own people!?

No.

Perhaps Captain Lin wants me to give Jing Tian a lesson, to make him remember?

Is this meant for me, Old Zhang, to play the bad guy?

No way!

If I accidentally hurt this kid when I strike, won't Captain Lin skin me alive?

Should I pretend to be seriously injured and not yet recovered?

Lin An saw through Zhang Tie's little thought, his face full of weirdness.

It's impressive that Zhang Tie could pop up so many thoughts in an instant; he's not too stupid, just misusing them.

"It's fine, just go all out."

"If anything goes wrong, I guarantee I won't cause you trouble."

Zhang Touched his shiny bald head, hesitantly nodding.

As for Lin An's "go all out," he treated it as if he hadn't heard.

"That Jing Tian, then let's just fight here!"

Zhang Tie stood relaxed in place, gesturing for Jing Tian to make the first move.

With his defense, letting Jing Tian slash at him while standing wouldn't kill him.

He had made up his mind; at worst he'd later symbolically kick the kid twice, which is probably what Captain Lin wants—to teach him a lesson.

But he didn't notice the fleeting smile that flashed in Lin An's eyes behind him.

After being awakened by Zhang Tie's loud voice, Jing Tian slowly raised his head, then looked at Lin An and nodded.

"I say, Jing Tian."

Zhang Tie chattered on like a nag, yet failed to notice a wisp of black mist suddenly rising from Jing Tian's feet.

The next second.

"Boom!"

"Shadow Kill!"