Volume One: Another World Chapter Four: The Five-Star Reward—Bloodline of Thunder

After several hurried journeys to the other world, Li Yu had actually gathered a few important pieces of information.

First, there was the matter of location. The place where he crossed between worlds was always anchored to his own position. If he traveled at a certain spot, the next time he returned, he would reappear in the same place.

Second, there were some clues about the other world itself. For instance, the other world was inhabited by humans. The first time he went over, though it was only a fleeting glimpse, it was clear that the person using the toilet was a woman. The human traits were unmistakable. Moreover, judging by the voices he heard during his last arrival—two girls conversing in an incomprehensible language—and the gaps between the wooden partitions in the room, it was easy to deduce that this place had some sort of social structure. Even public restrooms existed, after all.

Third, the restroom seemed to be newly built, as the smell was minimal...

Li Yu rolled over in bed, suddenly recalling something he’d forgotten that day. “System, can you remind me to check in every day?”

[…]
“System, check in,” Li Yu said, somewhat helpless.

At last, the electronic voice sounded: [Ding. Check-in successful. You have received 5 points of basic proficiency.]

Basic proficiency?

Li Yu’s interest was piqued. “System, what’s the purpose of this proficiency?”

[Proficiency can be allocated to skills.]

With that brief explanation, the electronic voice fell silent.

Fine, it seemed he would have to figure things out on his own again. No matter—he’d pretend the system didn’t exist! Li Yu pursed his lips, but gave the matter some serious thought.

The cleansing pill he’d received from yesterday’s check-in had been terrifyingly effective, transforming him completely. There was no reason to think that today’s proficiency points would be useless.

If he remembered correctly, proficiency in many games was used to accelerate the leveling up of items—like weapon upgrades in shooting games.

Li Yu made a bold guess: if he treated himself as a character within a game, perhaps this proficiency could be directly applied to anything he studied?

With that thought, Li Yu silently commanded, “Use basic proficiency.”

The five cards of basic proficiency vanished in his mind.

The next moment, Li Yu sprang nimbly from his bed, landing in the center of the room. Instantly, a seamless sequence of combat moves emerged in his mind.

Block, punch, sweep, elbow strike, lunge, and chop—

It was the military boxing routine he’d learned three years ago!

After completing the routine with fluid precision, Li Yu’s face remained unflushed, his breathing steady, but his eyes were wide with amazement.

“Damn it, how could I have doubted anything produced by the system?”

After all, he hadn’t practiced those moves in so long that his memory of them had long since been buried under a pile of other things. Yet with just the addition of basic proficiency, not only were the techniques crystal clear, but he could execute them with the ease of moving his own hand—utterly free of awkwardness.

What a terrifying effect!

And this was only basic proficiency—did that mean there were also intermediate and advanced levels?

In that moment, Li Yu no longer thought of the daily check-in rewards as worthless. Instead, he began to look forward to the next check-in.

“If I go to the library and read a book, then use proficiency points, will I never have to grind away at studying again?” Li Yu mused.

[Ding. Check-in location updated: City Library.]

The electronic voice chimed in.

Li Yu became excited. This was his second check-in task—who knew what kind of random reward he’d receive this time?

The first time, when he checked in at the restroom, he’d received the right to enter another world!

Surely this time wouldn’t be any less rewarding.

He glanced at his phone and saw that it was still early. Searching online, he found that taking a taxi would get him there in time.

As he was about to leave, Li Yu hesitated, then returned to the dining table and grabbed his unfinished breakfast. He couldn’t risk being caught—if Huang Xiu found out he hadn’t eaten, she’d nag him for sure.

…

When he reached the entrance of the City Library, Li Yu didn’t rush in. Instead, he stood at the door and silently intoned, “Check in.”

The system didn’t respond.

He edged closer to the wall, so that only a wall separated him from the inside of the library, and tried again: “System, check in.”

Still nothing.

Li Yu wasn’t too disappointed. At least now he understood that there was no cheating the system.

So Li Yu walked toward the main entrance.

“Student, the library is closed right now. Come back this afternoon,” the security guard said at the door.

What the hell? Li Yu was startled. He’d only dawdled outside for a little while and they were already closing?

“I just want to take a quick look! Just one look! I’m not happy at all right now,” Li Yu protested as he strode forward. “Only studying can make me happy!”

“Hey, why are you being so stubborn?” the security guard exclaimed, hastening to block him. “If there’s a book you want to read, come back this afternoon. The leaders are coming for an inspection at noon.”

…

“Fine, I’ll come back,” Li Yu said, seeing that the guard was determined not to let him in. He nodded, looking dejected as he turned to leave.

“This kid sure is eager to learn,” the security guard remarked, feeling a pang of sympathy as he watched Li Yu’s lonely figure. Thinking of his own studious daughter, he called out, “All right, you can come in! Just stay out of the way in a corner.”

At those words, Li Yu took off at a run.

The security guard was dumbfounded.

Didn’t he want to come in and read? Why, now that he was allowed in, did he run off faster than a rabbit?

Once in the taxi, Li Yu gave the driver his address and retreated into his thoughts.

The moment he’d stepped into the City Library—and checked in—he’d succeeded.

The system’s mechanical voice sounded: [Ding. Congratulations, host. Check-in successful. You have received a five-star reward: Thunder Vein. Would you like to claim it?]

Sitting in the taxi, Li Yu frowned, not immediately choosing whether or not to accept.

Instead, he analyzed the system based on what he already knew.

A five-star reward: Thunder Vein. It didn’t sound as precious as the right to enter another world. Did this mean the system rated random rewards on a scale from one to nine stars?

The real question was: should he claim this bloodline?

Would he end up with some melodramatic scenario where, after receiving the bloodline and altering his DNA, his father insisted on a paternity test?

But… Li Yu’s gaze grew uncertain as other thoughts crossed his mind.

“Hey, we’re here,” the taxi driver said.

“Okay, I’ve transferred the fare,” Li Yu replied, heading back into his two-bedroom apartment.

“System, claim Thunder Vein.” Li Yu took a deep breath. If there was to be a test, so be it—he had nothing to fear!

[Ding. Five-star reward: Thunder Vein has been granted!]

As soon as the system’s voice rang out, an overwhelming force surged through Li Yu’s body like a thunderstorm unleashed from within.

Azure lightning arced across his skin, the electric currents crackling and spreading over him.

With his eyes closed, Li Yu felt the thunderous power gradually subside, as if something were restraining it, forcing it to lie dormant under an invisible pressure.

The door, left slightly ajar, was pushed open. A gasp sounded at the threshold, and Huang Xiu’s voice, trembling with tears, called out,

“Do I need to call 119? Someone here looks like they’ve been electrocuted—what should I do?”