Picking Up Attributes From Today c1-406
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The fresh meat could be consumed, the furs and skins could be made into clothes and armor, while the extra things could be used to exchange for daily items, such as salt, sauces, and ironware!
Also, because there were no deaths during this beast tide, it was pretty much a big harvest. Every household got their share of fresh meat, the villagers were joyful, and their faces were full of happiness!
All this food would last them for a very long while!
Meng Lei also returned to his simple home carrying a big wild boar. In the following days, this big wild boar would be his food!
I’ve got to enjoy myself properly today!
He split firewood, made a fire, and roasted the meat!
After half an hour, oil dropped from the golden roasted meat, releasing an amazing fragrance. Meng Lei swallowed his saliva, and his eyes were full of hunger!
Food shortage had always been a problem for the village. For someone who had no parents, was weak, and completely unable to fight like him, he could only pass his days by getting food rationed by the village!
He wouldn’t die from hunger, but he couldn’t eat till full either!
Today, he was finally having a filling meal!
After a period of torturous waiting, the roasted meat was finally cooked. Meng Lei could no longer contain the hunger in his belly, so he grabbed a light brown boar leg and started nibbling.
“Hmm... Nice!”
When one was hungry, whatever that they ate tasted nice. There were no sauces on this roasted meat, only some rough salt, but Meng Lei ate it like it was a great delicacy!
“Eating alone?”
Captain Hudders had walked over when he wasn’t noticing. He held a jar full of good wine in his hand!
“Captain Hudders, why are you here?”
Meng Lei put down the boar’s leg in his hand. He looked a bit ungraceful with oil all around his mouth.
“Haha, I was wandering around alone, and I arrived at your place... Come, let me try it!”
Captain Hudders handed the wine jar in his hand to Meng Lei, grabbed a piece of roasted meat himself, and started eating. “Eh? It’s good! Your roasted meat is so fragrant...”
“Wine?”
When Meng Lei smelled the fragrance of wine coming from inside the wine jar, his throat moved a little. In a resource-scarce small village like Magical Beast Village, wine was a rare item just like books!
Ordinary people definitely couldn’t get to drink it!
Gurgle...
“Sh*t! So hot!”
Chapter 7: The Four Great Empires & The Four-Classes Stratification System
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The alcohol burned and tasted bitter. Not only was it muddy and unbearable, but it also tasted awful. It couldn’t even match up to erguotou!
Meng Lei didn’t really like it, but he still took a few sips nonetheless. After a month since his transmigration here, he was already close to puking after consuming day after day of cool water and smoked jerky!
Now that there was finally alcohol, how could he not drink it?
“Take it easy, you’d better not finish it!”
Captain Hudders laughed as he derided him. He said, “I had spent 1 gold coin to buy that from a passing trade caravan. That’s the only bottle I have. Once it’s finished, it’s all gone!”
“Got it!”
After a few rounds of drinks and flavorful meat, almost half of the large wild boar had entered Captain Hudders’ and Meng Lei’s stomachs. The two of them leaned against the doorframe and made small talk as they chatted away, turning into Master Ge1.
“Meng Lei, you have a talent for magic. Be sure to seize this opportunity well. This is your chance to change your destiny. You absolutely mustn’t let it slip by you!”
There was a deep and profound look in Hudders’ eyes as he said, “I was in the army in the past, so I’ve been to quite a few places. You can say that I’m the most experienced and knowledgeable person in our village!”
“Yes!”
Meng Lei nodded silently!
“Cultivation techniques are out of reach for most people, so they are unable to learn magic! But at the same time, cultivating magic also requires talent. Without magic talent, even if one had cultivation methods, they can’t become a noble Magician, either!”
Captain Hudders stared right at Meng Lei and added, “You, on the other hand, have actually unknowingly become a Magician before any of us even realized. It’s highly likely that you possess astounding magic talent...”
Captain Hudders couldn’t find the appropriate words to describe this anymore!
Incredible?
Inconceivable?
Astonishing?
However, what he could be sure of was that Meng Lei definitely possessed exceptional magic talent—precious talent that countless people dreamed of and longed for, yet couldn’t have!
Do I have magic talent?
Meng Lei was uncertain and nervous, though!
“Meng Lei! Remember this! Be sure to seize this opportunity well!”
Hudders belched, somewhat drunk. He said, “You should know that our village is under the jurisdiction of the Fire Dragon Kingdom, which is also one of the kingdoms under the Dragon God Empire’s command!”
Meng Lei nodded silently!
In Heaven’s Vault Continent, innumerable races existed!
The most powerful, and the most ancient, of all were the four great intelligent races—the Dragons, Titans, Fairies, and the Beast People!
The four great intelligent races dominated Heaven’s Vault Continent and occupied a good half of the continent’s land. Upon which, they built the four great empires that had ruled over Heaven’s Vault Continent for as long as 10,000 years!
The Dragon God Empire!
The Titan Empire!
The Fairy Empire!
And the Beast People Empire!
Out of the four, the Dragon God Empire was situated in the east of Heaven’s Vault Continent, overlooking the endless oceans in the east and facing the Magical Beast Ridge in the west. With 15 Kingdoms and 48 Dukedoms under its rule, it was a multi-racial empire governed by the Colossal Dragons!
“The Colossal Dragons have a strong and powerful physique and are also skilled in Dragon-Language Magic. They are one of the most powerful races in the continent. Unfortunately, the Colossal Dragon bloodline is simply too strong, so their reproduction rate is extremely low!”
Captain Hudders spoke like someone who had experienced the many vicissitudes of life. He went on and said, “Looking at the entire Dragon God Empire, there is only an extremely low number of pure-blooded Colossal Dragons. For the sake of convenience in governance, the Dragon God Empire has divided the races under their rule into four classes!”
“Four classes?”
Meng Lei’s spirits perked up!
“Yes, four classes, which is also known as the Four-Classes Stratification System!”
Captain Hudders let out a wry laugh and went on. He said, “The four classes represent four completely different social statuses. Their racial obligations and the way the law treats the four classes are also completely different!
“Pure-blooded dragons belong to the first class. They are born into nobility and are conferred as the empire’s Marquises the moment they are born. Not only do they own a large amount of land, but they also get to enjoy all sorts of special privileges that we would never have even in our dreams!”
First-class: Pure-blooded dragons!
Born into nobility!
Conferred as Marquises the moment they were born!
Meng Lei quietly digested these pieces of news. Then, he asked, “What about the second class? Which race is in second class?”
“In second class are the Drakes!”
In a low voice, Hudders said, “The dragons are innately lustful beings. In order to make up for their low reproduction rates, the pure-blooded dragons frequently commit lewd and immoral acts!
&nb
sp; “This way, they would naturally give birth to some mixed-breed descendants that possess dragon blood. These descendants are known as the Drakes!
“The Drakes are also categorized into Dragon People and Dragon Beasts!”
Meng Lei was rather dumbfounded. He couldn’t help but conjure up some rather eye-stinging images in his mind. A Colossal Dragon riding on top of a wild boar, and then... Giving birth to a dragon-pig?
Or if it’s riding on a horse? Hmm, a dragon-horse?
And if it’s riding on a human...
A single sweatdrop appeared on Meng Lei’s forehead.
... A dragon-man?
“The Drakes inherit part of the dragons’ talent. Some of them have powerful physiques, and some of them are skilled in Dragon-Language Magic. Adding to this their terrifying numbers, they are the Dragon God Empire’s main forces. 80% of Dragon God Empire’s nobles are Drakes!”
Meng Lei asked another question, “What about the third class?”
“The third class is our human race’s nobility!”
Hudders sighed before he said, “In Dragon God Empire, the largest population is neither the Drakes nor other intelligent races. Rather, it’s us, humans, that make up 90% of the Dragon God Empire’s population!
“Most humans’ battle capabilities are weak, and they are of a lowly status. They are also unable to come into contact with magic or Battle Aura even in their whole lives. Thus, they can only be fourth-class commoners for all generations to come!
“But even so, there are always a few lucky ones born with exceptional talent! Through various ways, they come to possess methods of learning Battle Aura and magic, and end up possessing great power!
“In Heaven’s Vault Continent where the strong are revered, one’s battle capabilities will always be a status symbol. Thus, the strong among us humans can also receive high positions within the Dragon God Empire and become nobility!
“Among them, the most famous of all is the Swirling Snow Sword Saint, Master Galen Bonaparte!”
When he brought up Galen Bonaparte, Captain Hudders’ eyes were full of worship and respect. He said, “The legends of Galen Bonaparte are well-known throughout the continent. He is the idol and pride of the human race, and his existence motivates each generation of men among the human race!”
“Galen Bonaparte?”
Meng Lei nodded lightly. This name was the subject of innumerable traveling bards and minstrels. Songs and poems about him were so widely known that even three-year-old toddlers knew about him. He could be said to be the strongest person among the human race in Dragon God Empire, as well as the human with the highest position in Dragon God Empire!
“The fourth class is naturally normal people like us!”
Hudders said, “Normal humans have a lowly status and belong to the domain of people to be exploited. Not only are we not protected by the empire’s law, but we also have to shoulder the heavy obligation of military service!
“The empire’s law dictates that all humans, upon reaching 16 years of age, must head to various areas of the empire to carry out obligatory military service. This could be enlisting in the army, going deep into the mines to mine for minerals, or entering the nobility’s mansions to become slaves or guards...
“Such is the destiny of fourth-class people, and also the destiny of normal people like us!
“If I recall correctly... You’re already 15 years old, right?”
Chapter 8: Obligatory Military Service, Going Into The Mountains Alone
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Upon reaching 16 years of age—obligatory military service!
Enlisting in the army, mining, becoming a slave, or a guard...
Such a law sounded very inconceivable and completely exploited normal humans. If any country on Earth dared to pass such a law, they would have been overthrown a long time ago!
However, very unfortunately, this was Heaven’s Vault Continent, a world where martial ability levels were unevenly distributed, and the strong were in power!
“16-year-olds must carry out obligatory military service... Is that so...”
Meng Lei’s brows drew together into a deep frown. As someone with a sane mind, he naturally rejected such a law that was practically ridiculous. Obligatory military service? Don’t even think about it!
“Captain Hudders, what should I do if I don’t want to perform obligatory military service?”
“Military service is an obligation that every normal human must fulfill!” Hudders shook his head and went on. “Unless you’re part of the nobility, the nobility’s descendant, a Third-Grade and above Magician, or a Fourth-Grade and above Warrior!”
“These four types of people don’t need to perform military service?”
Meng Lei’s eyes lit up.
“In other words, as long as I become a Third-Grade Magician or a Fourth-Grade Warrior, I won’t need to serve the military anymore?”
“Yes! But that’s too difficult!”
Hudders shook his head lightly. He said, “I know nothing about magic cultivation, so I can’t comment on that. However, I know very well myself that it is impossible to become a Fourth-Grade Warrior within a year!”
Meng Lei frowned lightly and asked, “Is it very difficult?”
“Difficult doesn’t even cut it. It’s practically impossible! The cultivation of Battle Aura is a process that trains the endurance of one’s body and the accumulation of Battle Aura. Without the support of any external items or power, every grade requires a very long time to level up!”
Hudders laughed wryly and added, “When I was in the army back then, it was only after six years of hard training that I became a First-Grade Warrior. And it was only after another ten years of arduous cultivation that by a stroke of luck, I had a breakthrough to a Second-Grade Warrior!
“That adds up to 16 years in total, you know! Do you think that it’s possible for you to cross four grades in a year?”
Meng Lei was astounded. “You spent 16 years and only became a Second-Grade Warrior?”
“Yes! A whole 16 years!”
Hudders nodded lightly and added, “Of course, that’s also because I have very poor talent! Your talent in magic may be very good, so you shouldn’t take that long!
“I’ve heard of geniuses who are exceptionally talented in magic that managed to become Master Magicians within a few years. Take, for example, the students of our Fire Dragon Kingdom’s magic academies. They must reach a certain grade before they can graduate, and fourth-grade seems to be the lowest requirement!”
Magic? Do I have magic talent?
Meng Lei wasn’t very confident about that. His ability to use the Fireball Technique had no relation to magic talent whatsoever. It was completely thanks to his cheating device!
“Captain Hudders, where can I learn magic?”
“At the magic academies, of course!”
Captain Hudders patted Meng Lei’s shoulder and said, “There’s one right in the kingdom’s capital. It’s the start of August now, so it’ll soon be the magic academy’s enrollment period. If you wish to learn magic, you can go there and give it a try!
“If you can really enter a magic academy and study there, your life will change completely. Even if you can’t become a lofty aristocrat after you graduate, you can also become a noble Magician, and that’s a thousand times better than your current situation!”
Meng Lei nodded silently. Due to the system’s existence, he had the confidence to change his destiny. However, just having the system wasn’t enough. He needed to go out of the mountains and get to truly know this world!
Going to the magic academy to study seemed like a pretty good option. Not only would he be able to come into contact with people and things that he couldn’t right now, but he could also learn useful magic knowledge!
Broaden his horizons!
Learn and study magic!
The precondition to this was... Talent in magic!
“Looks like you
’ve made your choice. That’s great!”
Upon seeing Meng Lei’s expression, Hudders felt very comforted. He said, “I’ll take you to the capital one month later. However, you’ll need 10 gold coins to take the magic assessment. You must get that ready by yourself!”
“10 gold coins? That’s such a scam!”
...
The onslaught of the beast tide had a rather significant influence on Magical Beast Village. Meat supply was just one aspect of it. It had only been the next day when trade caravans rushed over to the village upon receiving the news!
They collected beast fur and hide in exchange for salt and alcohol.
The adults bargained and transacted with the trade caravans, while the children laughed and played around the trade caravans’ horse carriages. It had been long since the usually quiet and peaceful Magical Beast Village last welcomed such a bustling and lively atmosphere!
Meng Lei also sold a few pieces of beast fur and hide in exchange for some salt. He also wished to get a jar of alcohol, but unfortunately, it was too expensive. Just a few pieces of fur and hide weren’t enough for that!
The good news was that there were a lot of people and the atmosphere was bustling and lively, so they dropped quite a lot of physical body constitution light balls. After Meng Lei collected and assimilated them all, his Physical Body Constitution field increased by 5 points, which was an unexpected bonus!
The trade caravan finally left after staying for a day. Meng Lei had an early night after having dinner. The next day, he set off alone with some smoked jerky and entered the Magical Beast Forest!
This was what he had decided to do after a lot of careful consideration!
The Most Powerful Pickup System was an excellent upgrading tool, but light balls weren’t going to come to him just by cooping himself up at home. He had to take the initiative to strike instead!
Moreover, he needed 10 gold coins for the magic assessment, but Meng Lei currently didn’t even have a single cent on him!
No money?
He could just forget about the assessment, then!
No matter which aspect he was coming from, he mustn’t just sit and wait for death to befall him!