《Star Resonance》


 Volume 1, Chapter 1: Strange Crystal

    A teenager wearing a blue student uniform with fair skin and brown eyes was sitting behind the information desk of the school''s library. He was reading a certain page of a textbook, which illustrated a particular ferocious beast, the Three-eyed Dog.


    After reading the information, Sam Rivers closed the book and looked at the male student with pale skin in front of the information desk.


    "The Three-eyed Dog is a subspecies of the wolf race, first discovered in the Awakened Era, Year 10. They''re rated as a 2-star monster, equivalent to a genetic student with two genetic reconstructions. They''re located north of the wild zone." Sam Rivers narrowed his gaze and asked, "This fellow student, are you planning to hunt it by chance?"


    Sam Rivers wasn''t a nosy type of guy, but this matter concerned a student''s life.


    After all, the wild zone was a dangerous place where countless monsters roamed.


    The pale-looking student noticed Sam''s concern and smiled bitterly. "For outer sector scums like us, do we have a choice?"


    After saying that, the pale-looking student thanked Sam for the information and hurriedly left.


    Sam watched the pale-looking student leave the library with a sigh.


    He turned around and stared outside the window to the south. Beyond the inner walls, tall skyscrapers were densely packed together, as flying aircrafts and flying automobiles constantly moved about. Sam then turned and looked to his other side, noticing the tube-shaped buildings and polluted smokes rising into the sky. Further away, the outer walls stood as tall as the sky, blocking the sun''s exposure.


    "The world''s indeed unfair."


    Sam shook his head and looked at the clock. It was already 12:00 in the afternoon. He stood up and entered the staff room.


    Inside, an obese teenager was playing a video game on his mobile phone. He wore the same clothes as Sam.


    "Mark, I''m logging out." Sam said as he recorded his time out in the attendance log.


    "Sure, buddy. Go ahead."


    The obese teenager responded with eyes still from his game.


    "You should stop messing around and practice martial arts." Looking at his friend''s appearance, Sam couldn''t help but offer some advice.


    Mark put the phone down and looked at Sam helplessly. "Brother, will you spare this little lord? Us outer sector citizens have a predetermined future. We''re destined to be cannon fodder, nothing else. I''d rather enjoy my remaining time having fun."


    "You''re hopeless."


    Sam shook his head and left the library.


    ¡­


    The Awakened Era started a hundred years ago. Before that, a meteor struck Earth, causing a catastrophic disaster.


    Countless countries were erased from the impact, and lands started to shift due to the tectonic waves. Just as humanity began to recover from the calamity, another major event occurred.


    A massive dimension rift appeared where the meteor fell, bringing a new type of energy into the world.


    Everyone was unaware if the energy was a good thing or a bad thing, but before they could research it, unknown creatures emerged from the dimension rift.


    These creatures started slaughtering and occupying lands one after another. Even nuclear weapons barely annihilated the weakest of these unknown creatures.


    Humanity was on the brink of extermination. In the end, it was the Ancient Humans ¡ª ancient martial artists living underworld ¡ª who pulled humanity out of the crisis.


    They spared no effort in teaching modern humans about martial arts to fight for the survival of humanity. Regrettably, modern humans were not compatible with it.


    It was only a hundred years ago that scientists discovered the use of that new energy, which was termed now as spiritual energy. With it, modern humans created a cultivation method suitable for them.


    This discovery allowed humanity to fight back against the monster invasion. Even then, it wasn''t enough.


    A hundred years had passed since the Awakened Era, but humanity was still forced to hide behind walls.


    To this day, humanity faces a constant threat from monsters, fighting for a thread of survival. But as far as Sam could see, humanity was not united.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Hierarchy exists.


    But for Sam, who comes from a poor family, he couldn''t care less about humanity''s inner strife, not until he awakened his memory from his past life four years ago.


    With his past memory, he was unwilling to be ordinary, even wanting to change the current social structure. He entered the martial arts school run by the government solely for this ambition.


    Four years had passed since then, and the harsh reality slapped him rough in the cheeks. With his average talent, how could he possibly influence the world?


    As he walked to the school, Sam was reminded of the pale-looking student in the library.


    Perhaps he was indeed right.


    Outer sectors citizens are nothing but cannon fodders.


    ¡­


    A few minutes later, Sam reached the Azure Base Sanctuary''s outer sector''s military school.


    "Sam! Sam!"


    On his way to his classroom, a voice called out to Sam.


    Sam turned and saw a thin teenager wearing black-rimmed sunglasses waving at him.


    "Rocky, what''s up?" Sam watched the boy run to his side.


    Pushing his glasses up, Rocky asked, "Have you heard the news?"


    "What news?" As they walked, Sam asked with slight confusion.


    "The school has announced the date for the last examination." Rocky''s voice was full of despair. "It will be held next month on the first day."


    "So soon?"


    Sam narrowed his gaze, a look of helplessness in his eyes.


    Sam and Rocky were fourth-year students. In Azure Base Sanctuary, once outer sector citizens graduated from middle school, they were required to finish four years of compulsory education.


    During those four years, they must undergo three genetic reconstructions, unlocking three genetic locks.


    If they failed to do so, they would be sent to the frontier, where they would fight against monsters.


    The mortality rate in the frontier was high, especially for Genetic Fighters at the genetic student realm.


    Moreover, they were required to serve in the frontier for fifteen years before they could return to live a normal life.


    Only a few managed to return from such a hellish battleground.


    Sam and Rocky reached the classroom shortly after.


    Just like Sam and Rocky, everyone inside looked grim.


    They must have heard the news as well.


    Sam Rivers shook his head and found his seat next to the window. After sitting down, he turned toward the window with an absent-minded look.


    ''I''ve only managed to unlock two genetic locks, and my spiritual energy is only about 25% full. If I spend half the day entirely on cultivation, I can only accumulate at most 1.2% of spiritual energy. Even if I don''t skip a day for the following month, the highest I can achieve is 67%. I needed 100% to undergo my third genetic reconstruction. It seems it''s certain I''ll be sent to the frontier.''Sam thought and clenched his fist. "If only I have a better cultivation method."


    The current cultivation method Sam had was calledStar Guiding Technique, a cultivation method provided by the school. It was a relatively decent compared to the subpar methods scattered in the outer sector.


    But compared to the cultivation methods in the inner sector, theStar Guiding Techniquewas quite basic, mediocre even. As for those excellent cultivation methods, they were only available to inner sector citizens.


    For Sam, this disparity was something he despised. In times where humanity had to unite, to think some people chose to kept it for their own benefits.


    Be it his previous life or the current life, no matter the situation, the world was indeed the same.


    As Sam was absent-mindedly looking through the window, an indiscernible ray of light emerged from the clouds. It was falling with unbelievable speed. Soon, it landed in the forest next to the school field, chasing the birds away.


    "What''s that?"


    For some reason, Sam''s heartbeat quickened. He felt that the thing that fell from the sky was quite extraordinary, perhaps a treasure. He suppressed his turbulent emotions and quickly stood up.


    "Sam, where are you going?" Rocky, his deskmate, asked.


    But Sam didn''t answer, quickly leaving the classroom. In the hallway, as Sam was running hurriedly, a giant shadow suddenly blocked him.


    Raising his head, Sam saw a bald man in a military uniform. It was Sam''s combat instructor.


    "Student Sam, class is starting. Go back." He looked at Sam with a strict gaze.


    "Teacher, can I use the bathroom for a minute? I''ll be back in a while." Sam was anxious in his heart, not knowing why, but he remained composed as he asked.


    Looking at Sam''s appearance, who was clearly in a hurry, the instructor frowned and said, "Don''t be late."


    "Thank you, sir."


    Sam bowed in gratitude as he watched the bald instructor entered classroom 4-1. Then, he hurried to his destination.


    The distance between the classroom and the school field was only around fifty meters. It took Sam just two minutes to leave the school building and another minute to reach the school field.


    Following his memory, he quickly found the location where the object had fallen.


    It was near the river, surrounded by trees. Sam didn''t have much time, so he began searching. With how vast the forest was, it was certainly hard to find the object.


    Moreover, he had to hurry back to class. His combat instructor, besides being strict, was a scary person. If he didn''t return in time, he''d definitely be scolded heavily, or worse, have his library staff position revoked.


    Ten minutes passed, and Sam was still looking for it. By now, class had started.


    "Was it my imagination?" Sam, whose hands were full of dirt from searching, frowned. He sighed and rubbed his head. "Perhaps it was indeed my imagination. I haven''t slept a lot these days."


    Sam''s schedule consists of work, school, and cultivation, with barely any breaks. It was exhausting, and if not for unlocking two genetic locks, he might have died from exhaustion long ago.


    It seemed to make sense that he might have imagined it.


    Sam Rivers looked at the sky with a sigh. Perhaps in this life, he would remained ordinary.


    He lowered his head and was about to walk away when he suddenly noticed a glint in the river for a split second.


    Sam''s eyes shone as he leaped into the river. The water immediately drenched his legs, but Sam couldn''t care less as he reached out for the glint.


    Pulling it out of the river, Sam finally saw what the object was.


    It was a strange crystal, hollow with a faint light. Just by holding it, Sam could feel a refreshing sensation spreading through his body, clearing his mind.


    "What is this?"


    Sam wondered as he looked at the crystal. However, he didn''t investigate further as he quickly put it in his pocket.


    He had been gone for approximately fifteen minutes. His bald instructor would definitely roast him!


    As Sam hurried back to the school building, unbeknownst to him, the crystal in his pockets was slowly merging into his body.

 Volume 1 Chapter 2: Metamorphosis

    As a rational individual, Sam was aware of his actions. For him, being late for fifteen minutes in school wasn''t a big deal, but the same couldn''t be said in this world, at least that''s the case for outer sector students.


    "Sam! I told you not to be late. Are you taking my class for granted?"


    In the faculty office, Sam''s combat instructor was roaring angrily, scolding Sam, who stood with his head lowered, his hands clasped behind his back.


    "I''m sorry, sir." Sam didn''t offer any excuses. Knox Parker, this bald instructor, was a retired sergeant who had unlocked four genetics locks before advancing to the Genetic Warrior realm, a big buy with heavy arms.


    Those arms could exert at least four thousand kilograms of force each, maybe even more, and Sam surely didn''t want any of it on his face.


    "The examination is coming soon and your future is at stake. Do you really want to spend the next fifteen years of your life living on the frontier? Sam, I''m disappointed."


    Sam bowed his head and said, "I assure you this won''t happen again."


    "Forget it." Knox waved his hand dismissively, "As preparation for the final examination, there will be a mock exam in two weeks. Make sure you do your best. You can go."


    Sam simply bowed in understanding and walked away.


    Shortly after Sam left the faculty office, Knox Parker sighed as he thought about the boy.


    "Teacher Knox, as far as I know, Sam is the best student in your advisory. Did he got into trouble?" A female teacher at the next desk, who had a friendly relationship with Knox, asked curiously.


    "How could that be? I just gave the kid a good scolding because he dared to be late in my class," scoffed Knox.


    Seeing his expression, the female teacher giggled and said, "Of course. You even begged the dean to give that kid a staff position at the school''s library. How could you really be mad at him?"


    "Shut your mouth!" Knox Parker bellowed.


    ...


    Fourth-year students at the military school had a relatively light curriculum, consisting of only three courses: combat, bestiary, and genetic theory.


    Outside the safe zone, it was critical to understand what type of monsters one might encounter and how to fight them. Not knowing that was tantamount to throwing one''s life.


    In the path of martial arts, genetic knowledge is equally essential. It enabled genetic students to understand genetic cultivation on a deeper level.


    After his classes ended, Sam quickly began his walk home.


    The military school wasn''t far from his home, only about a thirty-minute walk. As a poor student, Sam had learned to be frugal.


    Being frugal allowed him to save both his allowance and the salary from his job, which he used to support his cultivation.


    Genetic cultivation wasn''t cheap, requiring immense resources.


    The process involved tapping into the essence of the world, absorbing it into the body, and storing it into the dantian. While the concept was simple, the mechanisms behind it were highly complex, needless to say.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Reason? Long time storing of spiritual energy causes one''s body to mutate, turning into a mindless monster. Before the discovery of a vial capable of suppressing this side effect¡ª 70 years ago¡ª countless modern humans died due to this risk.


    Today, various types of vials existed, one being the Star Suppression Vial, a popular product in the outer sector.


    It costed 60 Azure Coins, the currency of Azure Base Sanctuary.


    Sure, it wasn''t cheap, but at least, with it, the side effect could be suppressed for a month.


    For Sam, with a monthly salary of 40 Azure Coins and an allowance of 30 Azure Coins, affording one was a challenge.


    It wasn''t because Sam was frugal, but the circumstances turned him into one.


    This was also one of the primary reason why most outer sector citizens didn''t practice martial arts.


    Only a minority of them, typically from well-off families, sent their children to enter the military school to cultivate.


    Before his work at the school''s library, Sam had taken on three part-time jobs just to afford the vial.


    He was indebted to Instructor Knox, who introduced him to this high-paying, desk job. Without Knox''s help, there''s no telling if his body could have endured with the the intense, physical labor he''d been doing before.


    "In the inner sector, I''ve heard the main school gives its students a free vial every month," Sam sighed.


    The military school in the outer sector was just a branch. Its main campus was in the inner sector.


    The disparity of treatment between the branch school and the main school was glaring, but Sam understood the reason.


    In the end, status and talent mattered.


    In the eyes of Azure Base Sanctuary''s higher-ups, without those qualities, they were expendable.


    ...


    After thirty minutes of walking, Sam arrived home, sweat beading on his forehead.


    The area was filled with tube-shaped apartment buildings, somewhat dirty and worn. Clothes even hung from balconies, making the place unsightly to look at.


    Moreover, polluted smokes lingered in the air.


    Sam stepped into one of these apartments and began climbing the staircase.


    His parents weren''t wealthy. Being a dojo instructor at a martial arts dojo, his father''s salary was modest. His mother, as well, was only an accountant of a small local bank.


    Not to mention, his younger brother was sick since childhood, making life tough for the Rivers family.


    Given their financial struggles, Sam didn''t have the face to bother his parents about his cultivation expenses.


    After climbing the ninth floor, Sam complained a little bit. It was because of the broken elavator, which wasn''t working for a year.


    The tenants had already filed complaints with the owner, including Sam''s parents, but the owner seemed couldn''t bother to fix it.


    Since this apartment was one of the cheapest rental area, the tenants, including the Rivers'' family, could only swallow their bitterment.


    Sam reached the door of his home, unlocking it with a key.


    "Sam, you''re back. How was school today?"


    His mother''s voice greeted him. Dressed in purple, she stood in the hallway as he entered.


    "Just the usual." Sam replied, taking off his shoes and placing them on the rack. "Is Dad home?"


    "He''ll be back soon. We''ll eat together."


    Sam glanced at the clock¡ªit was nearly six in the evening.


    "Just save me some food. I''m exhausted."


    After saying that, Sam headed straight to his room, flopping onto his bed and staring at the ceiling, feeling overwhelmed.


    After a few minutes of rest, he took a deep breath. His eyes shone with anticipation. "Now let''s see what that thing really is."


    Sam reached into his pocket for the strange crystal he found earlier in the river, but when he searched, it was empty.


    "Where did it go?" Sam''s expression changed as he sat up, checking his pockets again.


    It was indeed empty.


    "Did I drop it somewhere?" Sam tried to recall his actions, but he distinctly remembered securing the crystal in his pocket.


    How could it vanish?


    Sam frowned and sighed, "Forget it. Since it''s gone, it''s gone. Worrying won''t change anything. Let''s just cultivate."


    Crossing his legs, Sam closed his eyes and began circulating the Star Guiding Technique.


    But the moment he did, a freezing sensation surged through his body, as though he were being frozen at absolute zero.


    Sam halted the technique immediately, fearing he might freeze to death if he forced it.


    After a moment''s hesitation, he tried again, but the freezing sensation returned.


    "What''s going on? Why do I feel this freezing cold all of a sudden?" Sam was baffled.


    Instead of circulating the technique further, he used his spiritual awareness to examine his body.


    "This..."


    Inside his dantian, Sam discovered a crystal floating and emitting a freezing aura. It resonated with his accumulated spiritual energy, transforming it. Wisps of cold energy had mixed with his spiritual energy, affecting his body.


    Sam''s eyes narrowed.


    "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"