Chapter 00035: Dusting Off
# Dusting Off
Chapter 35
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 35: Dusting Off
In the realm of excellence, there are twelve phases, similar to the twelve hours on a clock.
The chosen ones, who exist beneath the heavens, are also divided into twelve stages.
Among the chosen, they are categorized into twelve ranks, covering four major fields: summoning, transformation, rebirth, and elevation.
If we were to place these onto the clock, each sector would represent three hours.
Each stage symbolizes one’s progress towards the ultimate excellence, while each field signifies a terrifying transformation, completely different from the last.
From Ji Jue's perspective and speculation, Sister Wen is undoubtedly a master in the elevation field.
The level of her power is unimaginable; even Ji Jue, with his limited experience, cannot grasp it.
Lawrence, his old rival, might belong to the rebirth field, somewhere between the sixth and ninth ranks, having shed all weaknesses of a mundane person.
Even if he were ground to dust, he could instantly regenerate.
Unfortunately, Ji Jue’s determination to break through to the elevation realm through dragon blood led him to encounter the unreasonable Wen Wen, who, in a blink, caused him to be vaporized from body to soul by a dragon's breath.
As for Ji Jue, he remained just a fresh first-level novice, a mere nobody who couldn’t even access the matrix.
He felt like an absolute beginner, someone who just created an account and was still searching online for dominant professions.
For someone like Ji Jue, who suffers from a severe case of competitive anxiety, few things feel worse than watching a progress bar that refuses to move no matter how hard he tries.
One day without leveling up may be excusable as accumulating virtue, but continuous days without progress… that only heightened his anxiety.
But worrying didn’t help.
Within the first realm's summoning field, the third stage entirely revolved around the development and breakthroughs of the chosen ones’ abilities.
Outside of ability-related areas, everything else felt just like ordinary life.
Eating leftover meat could lead to a stomach ache, and a gunshot would still mean death on the spot.
The distance between him and the level of power exemplified by Sister Wen, capable of punching, kicking, and obliterating Lawrence, felt unfathomable.
According to Ye Chun, during this phase, he was supposed to train diligently until he reached a certain point and earn new blessings from the twelve exaltations, then successfully level up.
Yet, he found himself stuck right at the beginning, a situation so unbelievable that no one would believe it even if he told them, and any believers might just laugh at him, possibly even pen him down in some shabby book.
It felt worse than being a pathetic chicken.
Moreover, as a foundational aspect for further advancement as a chosen one, the vital matrix was still nowhere in sight.
Having flipped through the twelve exaltations countless times, and with a total of 221 matrices capable of making a heavenly being, it was clear these were coveted treasures.
Each matrix was like a precious carrot in its own hole.
To acquire one, one would either need to be a direct member of a major organization or sign an even harsher contract that might demand a lifetime of selling blood, kidneys, or youth just to get a chance in line.
Chosen ones were abundant.
Throughout the years, not just the rarely seen chosen summons, but countless were the cases where some mysterious awakenings or encounters with certain things related to their souls led to elevated summoning abilities.
However, matrices, requiring numerous pioneers to painstakingly test and try before getting permanently fixed and paired with exaltation, were scarce.
Basically, all the better ones were monopolized by the large organizations.
The left houses the Federation, the right the Empire, with the Central Land in between, layered with the Glorious Church in the distance and the Taichi Circle nearby.
The least desirable ones huddled together in places like the Dragon Festival or Nirvana.
There were far too many chosen ones seeking progress yet finding themselves at a dead end.
Ji Jue realized he wasn’t alone in this struggle.
So at this moment, even though he was stuck in a bottleneck, he didn’t fret.
After all, wasn’t the craftsman’s progress bar still moving?
What could be done based on what one could manage? Moreover, he was living just fine.
He survived a terrifying incident and became Professor Ye’s apprentice, which could be described as a reversal of fortune.
Clearly, he no longer felt unlucky, nor did he worry about getting hit by a car every time he stepped outside.
How wonderful! Ji Jue lay in bed, limbs sprawled out, feeling an immense sense of ease.
Things had improved since Lawrence's demise; everything was on the upswing.
In the future, when Xiao Er became an accountant and he became an alchemist, while Lu Feng continued to fix cars, they would all look forward to bright futures.
Thus, after drifting through disorganized thoughts, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
A dreamless night passed.
Meanwhile, under the same night sky, there were others who remained wide awake.
“That kid is a huge problem.” In a building next to an overpass, in an office, a freshly developed photo from that afternoon was pushed onto the desk.
The tracker, who had just returned, stated firmly, “There’s definitely something off.”
In the picture on the desk, bathed in sunset glow, a young boy rode a small sheep, revving the engine with joy, laughter spilling out as the girl behind him beamed.
Youthful and radiant.
“What do you mean?” The old man behind the desk blinked, then frowned, “Are you saying he truly has something going on with that woman?”
“Perhaps. It’s possible.” The middle-aged man, his face rugged and unshaven, smoked contemplatively, “More than half a month ago, when the chosen summons happened, the biggest thing in Cliff City was what the Dragon Festival had set up. Yet, among all the survivors, he’s the one who has the strongest connection with that woman named Wen… That woman has kept quiet about the entire operation, not revealing anything. Is it possible she’s trying to hide the presence of a chosen one within the action?”
“... Are you crazy?” Old man Jiang Jin’s face shifted slightly, suspicion creeping in, “Are you serious?”
After decades, the sudden emergence of chosen summons had stirred the entire Haizhou into a frenzy.
Countless bounties have been offered in a frantic search for traces of the chosen.
Even though Wen Wen said nothing about Ji Jue, her several visits hadn’t escaped the watchful eyes of those with ulterior motives.
There were indeed suspicions surrounding Ji Jue as a potential chosen.
Almost everyone that showed signs was thoroughly investigated, with none left unturned, including Ji Jue.
Yet soon after detailed investigations, he was the first to be ruled out.
“Understand this—he’s a cursed one!” Jiang Jin exploded in anger, “You want me to take this to them? Are you insane? Do you think anyone would believe in such nonsense?”
“Given that the chosen summons is such an outrageous matter… a cursed one becoming a chosen isn’t entirely implausible, right?” Qi Qin pondered for a moment, carefully scanning the elder's face as he pressed on, “Besides, even if this Ji Jue isn’t a chosen, there’s definitely something between him and that woman, wouldn’t you agree?”
Jiang Jin paused slightly, uncertain of what he was driving at.
“I saw them riding the same motorcycle at Tianmen University yesterday afternoon. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that woman could smile.” Qi Qin lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag, “Could it be that she’s in love?”
“…” The corner of Jiang Jin’s eyes twitched, seeming even more agitated than before.
Qi Qin continued, “Honestly, that kid looks like a pretty boy. Who knows how many little girls he’s tricked? Besides, even iron trees bloom in spring, right?”
Jiang Jin’s expression shifted slightly.
No matter how absurd it sounded, what if it were true? If it were the case, there were many opportunities to exploit that kid.
After all, even in the security bureau, many would love to see that woman named Wen suffer.
Should they catch hold of this little misfortune, life in the Beishan district would undoubtedly get easier.
More importantly, what could ‘that side’ imply?
“You can leave now.” The old man Jiang Jin said flatly, and Qi Qin promptly got up to exit.
After a long time, a voice came from behind the door: “Come in.”
The elder in the office hung up the phone, his expression shifting as he spoke after a long time, “Follow what you said. Investigate… dig deep and get to the bottom of this.”
He paused, a severe expression crossing his face, “If there is indeed something, deal with it. Understood?”
If it turned out Ji Jue was just a lucky pretty boy who happened to get close to Minerva, then that could be somewhat useful.
Getting Wen Wen to stand her ground in the security bureau would already be something many didn’t want to see.
The more weaknesses she had, the more they’d all feel secure.
However, should she nurture a strong ally through the chosen summons… who knows what massive trouble that could lead to!
“Rest assured, boss.” Qi Qin grinned, revealing his tobacco-stained teeth, “I’m a professional.”
With such boisterous confidence, he guaranteed it.
And then... the days of imprisonment began.
Let’s not even mention what the spy lurking in the shadows was hoping to unearth from Ji Jue.
To simply follow around a competitive student fixated on grades and research to the point of risking their life was, without doubt, unwise.
Especially since this overly competitive student was pulled into research before even graduating…
It would only make things worse.
The false life of a research student: pretending to shake test tubes in a brightly lit, well-equipped lab, gazing absently at the absurd liquids inside, nodding and smiling with colleagues in front of the camera.
The true life of a research student: picking up trash, doing menial labor, and dusting off.
Depending on circumstances, they might even be tasked with babysitting a mentor’s child, participating in the legendary middle school science competition where renowned scholars are everywhere and PhDs don’t fare much better, along with cooking, laundry, and perhaps sacrificing some personal integrity along the way.
Fortunately, Professor Ye never married and has no children, the only niece being his own student.
Aside from pure interest in Ji Jue’s body, spirit, soul, and abilities, he had no other needs that demanded attention.
Thus, the newly minted alchemy apprentice Ji Jue faced tasks that primarily involved fetching milk tea for the supervising senior, delivering lunch, gaming for points, and indulging in gossip, while the rest of his time was all...
Doing the hard labor!
(End of Chapter)