Chapter 00003: Graduation Assignment
# Graduation Assignment
Chapter 3
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 3: Graduation Assignment
"Ding Xiaotu, your assignment letter, smack!"
It felt like a notebook had been slapped onto his head, and Ding Huan felt a slight pain on his forehead.
He instinctively looked up and found himself sitting at his desk, with a blue sheet of paper lying in front of him.
Assignment letter? Ding Huan felt a bit dizzy.
What was this?
And Ding Xiaotu? How long had it been since he last used this name?
When he was born, he was often sick, so his father hoped that in the eyes of illness, his son would be as insignificant as dust, hence the name Ding Xiaotu (Little Dust Ding).
As he thought about this, he saw someone in front of him distributing thick blue booklets.
It seemed that the blue sheet on his desk had also been handed out by that person.
Why was his so-called assignment letter just a single sheet of paper, while others had at least several pages?
He turned his head to look around.
The mottled sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves outside the window, scattering onto the windowsill, giving him a long-lost sense of familiarity.
The calls of some unknown birds added a touch of tranquility to the scene, making Ding Huan feel as though his memories had been split in two.
This wasn't the vast, empty cosmos that made one's heart race, nor was it the blood-soaked Changyi Continent.
Hadn't he already perished? Could it be...
A thought suddenly surfaced in Ding Huan's mind, one that even he found hard to believe.
He reached down and pinched his thigh hard.
It didn't hurt.
"Ah..."
A sharp cry rang out.
Ding Huan turned his head in confusion, only to see a square-faced classmate in front of him.
"Ding Xiaotu, you were assigned to Yujiang University, but that has nothing to do with me. Why did you pinch me?" The square-faced classmate's eyes were brimming with tears.
Ding Huan, however, was excited.
He hadn't been captured by the Du family, nor had he died...
To be precise, he had returned to the day of his university graduation assignment.
The scene before him finally felt familiar.
He was still a student at Heluo Shangwu University.
Heluo Shangwu University was the only university in Heluo City that guaranteed job assignments for all its graduates, and it ranked within the top 30 nationwide.
Not only that, but Heluo Shangwu University also had one or two students each year who could gain admission to the top ten academies on Blue Star.
The top ten academies on Blue Star only accepted top-tier geniuses.
They were jointly established by nearly 200 countries, martial arts alliances, and gene alliances around the globe, with the aim of nurturing the future backbone of Earth's defenders.
The number of students a school could send to the top ten academies on Blue Star was a measure of its strength.
"Sorry, Jia Youjian..."
Ding Huan finally remembered his deskmate and apologized.
After all, it was just a pinch, and Jia Youjian's pain quickly faded.
He wasn't really angry and whispered, "Xiaotu, you were originally supposed to stay at Heluo Shangwu University with Luo Xinwei, but someone took your spot."
Ding Huan patted Jia Youjian on the shoulder, and his distant memories began to take shape.
This should be the year 2062, when Blue Star had already entered the Gene Era.
The Gene Era began when the oceans were polluted by nuclear-contaminated water, which gradually spread globally.
Subsequently, various viruses were released by some unscrupulous nations.
After that, the population of Blue Star plummeted, and wars spread from a few countries to the entire world.
As the population decreased, various plants and animals also rapidly disappeared.
When viruses and pollution spread on a large scale, the brutal law of the jungle began.
Life became fragile, and only the strongest survived.
The first to change were the genes of the remaining animals, which mutated into ferocious beasts, and even monstrous creatures.
Humans, while facing various forms of pollution, also had to contend with these mutated and strengthened beasts.
Gradually, humans began to live in concentrated areas, building protective nets and walls.
Vast stretches of primitive jungles and mountains emerged, becoming places rarely visited by humans.
This forced humans to practice martial arts and strengthen their bodies.
Heluo Shangwu University began to rise to prominence during this time.
Its predecessor was Heluo Sports Academy, which initially ranked around 200th nationally.
As martial arts flourished, Heluo Sports Academy introduced twelve martial arts courses, propelling it into the global top 30 and into the top 10 in China.
Although many other schools later introduced martial arts courses, none could shake Heluo Sports Academy's position in the martial arts world.
In September 2043, a student with top-tier martial arts talent at Heluo Sports Academy developed internal energy, becoming an internal force martial artist.
This further boosted the academy's reputation.
That same year, Heluo Sports Academy was renamed Heluo Shangwu University, solidifying its position in China's martial arts education.
After that, internal force martial artists emerged one after another across the country, with Heluo Shangwu University remaining at the forefront as a premier martial arts institution.
Martial arts experts became the main force in combating various beasts, sparking a global martial arts craze.
In March 2044, global martial arts experts established the Martial Arts Alliance in Zhongyuan Province, China.
They also created a detailed classification of martial arts realms, with Heluo Shangwu University being one of the institutions involved in this classification.
Ding Huan found it perfectly normal that such a good job at Heluo Shangwu University had been taken from him.
Given his current落魄 status, it would have been strange if such a good job hadn't been snatched away.
The high status of martial arts didn't last long, as people soon realized that martial arts training was too slow.
To fight against those gene-mutated beasts, it was far from enough.
Some proposed enhancing human survival genes.
Thus, people began researching how to integrate powerful genes into the human body to extend lifespan and strengthen the physique.
In February 2046, the Earth Gene Alliance was established.
Subsequently, various genes that could be integrated into the human body were developed, giving humans the means to combat both beasts and Earth's harsh environment.
From then on, the status of martial arts training was gradually replaced by gene integration and gene cultivation.
Heluo Shangwu University, which had risen to prominence through martial arts, saw its status decline somewhat with the advent of the Gene Era, but not drastically.
It remained a globally renowned institution.
Moreover, Heluo Shangwu University would soon develop a groundbreaking gene potion: the Endurance Gene.
The creation of the Endurance Gene once again skyrocketed Heluo Shangwu University's reputation, making it one of the best universities in the world.
Ding Huan recalled that Heluo Shangwu University developed the Endurance Gene around the end of this year.
A man with slicked-back hair walked up to the podium.
His gaze swept across the classroom, and he spoke in an impassioned tone, "Class, starting tomorrow, you will bid farewell to your student days and contribute your strength to our country and our planet. As your homeroom teacher, I wish you all boundless possibilities in the vast cosmos!"
Ding Huan snapped out of his reverie and glanced at the man on the podium.
It was their homeroom teacher, Wang Youlan.
He only remembered that before his father disappeared, this guy would always greet him with a smile wherever they met.
"Teacher Wang, since we'll all be heading to our jobs tomorrow, how about we gather at Qianjiang Gate tonight?" A tall, decent-looking student stood up and suggested eagerly.
Before Wang Youlan could respond, almost the entire class enthusiastically agreed, all in favor of having a gathering that night.
Wang Youlan smiled with satisfaction, "Gu Xuan's suggestion is excellent. In that case, we'll gather at Qianjiang Gate tonight. I hope all of you can attend. If anyone truly cannot make it, please stand up and let us know."
No one stood up, which pleased Wang Youlan even more.
After a few more words, he announced the official graduation of Heluo Shangwu University's Mutant Species Department, Class 62 (3).
Everyone exchanged early congratulations and shared contact information.
Ding Huan grabbed his bag, stuffed the assignment letter inside, and stood up to leave.
He had no intention of staying any longer.
He needed to find a quiet place to sort out his thoughts.
Why had he been reborn on Earth? And what were the details of his departure from Earth back then? If he didn't figure these things out, he might die again without understanding why.
"Ding Xiaotu, thank you for all your help over the years. Although we each have our own paths, I still wish you a bright future. Yujiang University may not be the best, but if you work hard, you'll do well."
Not far from the classroom, a clear voice called out from behind.
Ding Huan turned to see a girl walking towards him.
She was pretty, and though she was thanking him, her tone was somewhat cold.
Soon, Ding Huan remembered.
This was Luo Xinwei, the girl Jia Youjian had mentioned.
How difficult was it to get into Heluo Shangwu University? It wasn't just about having high grades; connections were also necessary.
Luo Xinwei's family had no connections, so all the connections had been arranged by him.
This girl had been his女神 (goddess), no, his舔狗 (simp) target.
From middle school to high school, he had simped for her for four years, and in university, he had simped for another two years.
Until his father disappeared, and his stepbrother Ding Jie kicked him out of the Ding family.
After that, he didn't even have the资格 (qualification) to simp anymore...
Ding Huan flashed a bright smile, "Thank you. You're right, Yujiang University is quite good. Also, I've changed my name. From now on, call me Ding Huan."
Luo Xinwei seemed relieved by Ding Huan's words, "I'm glad you think that way. See you at Qianjiang Gate tonight."
Ding Huan had already turned to leave, but upon hearing this, he merely waved his hand behind him without looking back.
Ah, youth.
Always chasing after what others deem beautiful.
See you tonight? He had no intention of going to Qianjiang Gate.
He had too much on his plate to waste time on some无聊 (boring) gathering.
Ding Huan knew about Yujiang University.
It was, without a doubt, the worst university in Heluo City.
In his previous life, he had heard that Yujiang University was struggling and on the verge of closing down.
From what he remembered, it did eventually shut down.
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(End of Chapter)