Emptying the mind is an important step before awakening one's Talent. Lu Lin knew from the shared experiences of countless successful Awakeners. During talent Awakening, Awakeners would enter the Consciousness Universe. The more thoroughly the mind was emptied, the more likely they were to discover the Awakening Light in the Consciousness Universe. They would use their consciousness to draw the Awakening Light and connect it to their internal Star Core. Forming the unique Star Veins of Star Core Warriors signified a successful Awakening, transforming them into a Quasi-star Core Warrior.
This also involved a bit of common sense. The color of the Awakening Light could help determine the attribute to some extent: red was fire, blue was water, green was wood, gold was metal, and yellow was earth. However, this was limited to determining the basic Five Elements Attribute; for some special attributes, the color of the Awakening Light could not be used for judgment.
The doors of the Electromagnetic Levitation Bus closed. Teacher Li then connected her Biological Chip to the bus's control computer for verification and set the destination. The stationary Electromagnetic Levitation Bus rose steadily. The vehicle's body moved so slightly that it was almost imperceptible they were in motion.
"Students, please be quiet."
Teacher Li clapped her hands, and over a hundred students on the bus turned their heads simultaneously.
"We will arrive at the Ministry of Education's Awakening Base in fifteen minutes. Before then, please attend to your personal hygiene. Students who need to can use the washroom in the middle of the bus."
"Alright, since no one is going, let me say a few words."
Teacher Li looked around, cleared her throat, and said, "For most of you, your wonderful student days are coming to an end. For those who fail to awaken, there's an electronic job fair outside the Awakening Base. It's organized by hundreds of thousands of companies from the Nine Planets, including large cross-planet corporations like Deep Space Bank, QingShan Network, and Federal Mobile. Interested students can look into it.
"The school will also have some school-run enterprises recruiting. I don't need to elaborate on the benefits of joining a school-run enterprise, do I?"
"No need, Teacher Li, we know."
"You can work and live on Blue Star, enjoy the boons Blue Star offers, enhance your life strength, and increase your next generation's Awakening probability," the students chattered excitedly.
"Alright, since you all understand, I won't elaborate further.
"Now, let's get to the main point."
Teacher Li straightened her back, her expression serious. "For those who successfully awaken, don't rush to leave. Report your Awakening results, attributes, and initial Star Vein refinement level to me immediately. Teachers from the School Star Core Specialty will guide you in comprehending your first skill and preliminarily confirm your future development path. Simultaneously, your citizen information will need to be recorded and updated.
"After that, you'll fill in your preferences and choose your desired Star Warrior University.
"As everyone knows, Star Martial Arts University highly values the initial refinement level of the Star Vein. This is a well-worn topic.
"During the Awakening, strive to draw the Awakening Light as quickly as possible. The faster you are, the higher your initial refinement level will be.
"As for the strength, toughness, Star Power capacity, and conversion efficiency of Star Veins, you'll learn about those after you enter university.
"Alright, after all that, let me share some good news."
Seeing the students' serious expressions, Teacher Li smiled, trying to help them relax. "According to data from our Tongyuan Ministry of Education, the Awakening rate for students taking the College Entrance Exam across the Nine Planets reached 9.98% last year. Basically, one person out of every ten can awaken.
"Now, looking at the data from our Blue Star: last year, the number of students participating in the College Entrance Exam on Blue Star reached a new high of 1.24 billion. Among them, the number of successful Awakeners is..."
Teacher Li deliberately paused. Seeing some students growing impatient, she continued unhurriedly, "Last year, the number of successful Awakeners was 24 million."
"WOW— 24 million?"
"Twenty-four million Awakeners! Doesn't that mean the Awakening rate reached 19.35%?!"
"That's almost double the rate for the entire star system! No wonder my mom and dad worked so hard to send me to Blue Star to study."
"No wonder they say Blue Star is the mother planet of all Humans. This Awakening rate is so much higher than on other planets!"
After hearing the data, some students quickly calculated the Awakening rate for Blue Star's College Entrance Exam participants. Murmurs of amazement filled the bus as nearly a hundred students reacted. Their situations were similar to Lu Lin's. Their parents worked on other planets, earning money and saving every penny for years to send their children to Blue Star—all for its boons and the significantly higher Awakening chance compared to other planets.
"Yes, last year's Awakening rate was very close to 20%. This year, the Ministry of Education's goal is for your generation of students to achieve even more, striving for an Awakening rate exceeding 20%.
"Students, time is of the essence. The situation for Humans on the Exotic Battlefield is not as optimistic as reports suggest, and the casualty rate for Star Core Warriors is also quite high.
"Blue Star needs you! Humanity needs you!
"A successful Awakening is not only for your own future but for the future of all humankind.
"Here, as your teacher, I sincerely ask all of you—
"During the Awakening, empty your minds to the fullest and draw the Awakening Light as quickly as possible. If you become Star Core Warriors, your parents, teachers, school, and even the entirety of Tongyuan City will be proud of you."
Teacher Li's words stirred the students' hearts, making them eager to arrive at the Awakening Base immediately, draw the Awakening Light, connect their Star Veins, become Star Core Warriors, and reach the pinnacle of their lives.
As the Electromagnetic Levitation Bus slowly came to a stop, the entrance to the Awakening Base—a 3D beehive-like structure—came into view.
Millions of candidates underwent Awakening in Tongyuan City every year. A single, flat Awakening Base could not accommodate such vast numbers. Consequently, the Tongyuan City Government had invested heavily seventeen years prior to construct this new Awakening Base.
C3-3003 Entrance.
Lu Lin and his classmates entered the Awakening Space together. This Awakening Space was specially prepared for their class. Over a hundred silver, high-tech helmets hung down, and each student could choose one freely. The metallic elastic ropes connected from the helmets to the ceiling were crucial for guiding the candidates into the Consciousness Universe for the first time.
Lu Lin found his station, took a deep breath, and put on the helmet.
"Candidate Lu Lin, Citizen Number LXHX320102202112120305, shall we begin the Awakening?"
"Yes."
"Please wait..."
"Please wait..."
To a melodious tune accompanied by a mechanical voice, Lu Lin slowly closed his eyes, allowing the music to help him empty his mind.
The feeling of weightlessness lasted only for a moment.
When he could sense the outside world again, Lu Lin found himself in a dark, star-filled expanse.
Void.
Weightlessness.
This was his Consciousness Universe.
Lu Lin emptied his mind, striving to make his presence known within this star-filled expanse.
Suddenly, a golden light appeared before Lu Lin's eyes.
The Awakening Light!
The dazzling golden Awakening Light seemed to shoot out from a distance. Alternatively, it might have existed there since ancient times, only revealing itself rapidly upon sensing Lu Lin's consciousness.
Regardless, it had appeared.
Lu Lin immediately extended his consciousness to draw it in. The Awakening Light was drawn to him without any resistance.
However, a thought flashed through Lu Lin's mind.
Something is wrong.
This golden Awakening Light doesn't seem to be the Gold System I've been longing for, but the Earth Element!