Chapter Thirty-Nine: Furious Thunder Strike LV5

Chu Cheng reviewed the skills he had learned so far: Frenzy LV5, Swiftness LV1, Mighty Smash LV5, Ocean Fury LV1, Thunderous Rage LV2, Blade Storm LV2, and the newly acquired Blood God's Body, totaling seven skills. Normally, a first-tier professional between level 10 and 30 could learn a maximum of ten skills and twenty spells, both active and passive. With seven already mastered, only three skill slots remained.

If he intended to switch professions in the future, those three slots would have to be reserved for tank skills. This was inevitable; a mid-tier profession might suffice during high school, but upon entering a top-tier academy, where all students were elite and nearly half possessed awakened talents, most held advanced or even top-tier professions. Some even had rare hero classes. His mid-tier profession would pale in comparison.

To remain competitive at that level, he would have to switch to a profession better suited to his talents.

It was worth noting that life skills, specialties, feats, and weapon skills were not included in this limit; theoretically, one could learn an unlimited number, provided they had the capacity and energy to master them.

He had gained a new skill, but before the ink could dry on his wallet, his money was gone again.

"Damn it, I still need to find a way to earn more."

"Hopefully, next month's joint exam will bring a windfall."

He spent one gold to buy a skill point, bringing his total to fifteen with the fourteen he already had. This was just enough to raise either Blade Storm or Thunderous Rage from LV2 to LV5.

After bidding farewell to his teacher, Chu Cheng returned to his dormitory. He opened his status panel, his gaze settling on Thunderous Rage and Blade Storm. After a moment's contemplation, he chose Thunderous Rage.

He tapped away, spending all fifteen skill points. Thunderous Rage rose from LV2 to LV5, successfully unlocking a choice of three feats.

Thunderous Rage LV5 (Advanced): Charge for one second, transform into a lightning bolt, leap to a maximum distance of fifty meters and strike down, dealing 420% physical damage to all enemies within a six-meter diameter at the impact point, and stunning affected enemies for two seconds. Cooldown: three minutes.

Note: Stun can be dispelled; priority rating: five stars.

"Thunderous Rage upgraded to LV5. Please select one skill feat within sixty seconds; if you exceed the time, one will be chosen at random."

"Feat One: Maximum leap distance +10 meters."

"Feat Two: Physical damage +50%."

"Feat Three: Area of effect +2 meters."

Seeing the skill feats, Chu Cheng smiled.

In a blink, the three feats vanished as expected, replaced by three even stronger skill feats.

"Thunderous Rage upgraded to LV5. Please select one skill feat within sixty seconds; if you exceed the time, one will be chosen at random."

"Feat One: Maximum leap distance +30 meters."

"Feat Two: Physical damage +150%."

"Feat Three: Area of effect +4 meters."

"I choose Feat One."

For Chu Cheng, the core function of this skill was mobility and crowd control. Since the feat to increase stun duration didn't appear, extending leap distance was the best choice—whether escaping or pursuing, it was far more practical.

With his skill points spent, Chu Cheng exhaled.

He sent a message to his homeroom teacher, requesting leave to prepare for a trip home.

Just as he stepped out after securing leave, several messages arrived in quick succession. Opening them, he found they were from Zhang Chunlei and Zhang Qing, both bearing the same news:

"Check the class group chat; Wang Weilong has transferred."

Chu Cheng paused, then immediately opened the group chat for Class Five. The very first thing he saw was the pinned notice from the homeroom teacher, formally announcing Wang Weilong's transfer.

He sat quietly for a while, saying nothing.

He wasn't foolish—he knew Wang Weilong had transferred because of him. The teacher's resources were limited; with Chu Cheng's sudden rise, others' shares would be reduced. Unable to compete and unwilling to accept less, Wang Weilong chose to leave.

It was worth noting that when Wang Weilong left, any core resources—skill points and attribute points—exchanged from the Class Five homeroom teacher had to be returned. Unused points must be refunded; used points would be deducted from his new class and returned to Class Five.

There was no loophole to exploit—otherwise, one could cycle through all seven classes and easily farm 140 skill points and 140 free attribute points.

Only core resources needed to be returned; other equipment and skills, having been purchased, did not.

At that moment, Zhang Chunlei messaged again:

"You probably know about the joint exam, right? Besides competition among elite students, classes compete as well. The specific rewards haven’t been announced yet, but based on previous years, the school will definitely offer extra rewards, including additional core resources beyond the class—should we form a team and try for it?"

Chu Cheng asked, "How many people?"

"You, me, Cheng Mingyue, and Zhang Qing. We’ll recruit another good player from the class."

"Hmm... Let me think about it. I’ll give you an answer before the joint exam."

"Alright!"

After closing communications, Chu Cheng nodded—this was worth a try.

Extra core resources meant additional free attribute points and skill points, all for the taking. If he didn’t seize them, someone else would—he had to compete.

After a month, he returned to his family. Seeing his father and stepmother again, he offered a polite greeting; his mood was peaceful.

When one desires nothing, one can dwell in tranquility.

Without involving his father, he directly applied for a loan from the family steward, citing a personal student loan.

Perhaps few applied, so the process was swift; within half an hour, he received a reply.

It followed the same procedure as a bank loan—after verifying his level and talent again, Chu Cheng was granted a high-value, interest-free loan of fifty gold, with a five-year term.

This was one of the advantages of family—no interest required.

Even if he couldn’t repay in five years, the loan would simply convert to an interest-bearing one, at rates lower than outside commercial loans.

With fifty gold in hand, Chu Cheng immediately returned to school.

He found his homeroom teacher and spent twenty-nine gold to purchase nine skill points and ten free attribute points.

Fifty gold instantly dropped to twenty-one, plus the previous balance, totaling twenty-three gold and sixty-eight silver.

He didn’t buy more because he couldn’t for now.

The homeroom teacher had said the quota would increase after the joint exam; until then, the normal quota allowed only ten skill points and ten free attribute points. The rest could only be purchased after the exam.

"To buy the remaining points, I’ll need thirty gold—seven short."

"No big deal. Worst case, I’ll sell my enchantment recipes, some gemstones, and earn a few gold through the exam. That should cover it."

Back at the dorm, Chu Cheng pondered for a moment, then distributed the fifteen free attribute points: ten to strength, five to constitution.

Name: Chu Cheng.
Race: Human.
Level: 15. 32%
Talent: Spatial Refraction LV1.
Traits: Extraordinary Constitution (Epic), Extraordinary Agility (Extraordinary).
Primary Attributes: Constitution 10+34+5, Strength 10+26+17, Agility 10+10+15, Perception 10+2+2, Intelligence 10, Spirit 10
Secondary Attributes: Toughness 9+5, Reflex 7+5+2, Will 2, Life Regeneration 15/sec
Health: 490+500 points
Stamina: 990 points
Mana: 100 points
Melee Attack: 53+21 (slash), 53+20 (thrust)
Ranged Attack: None
Physical Defense: 10%+4+5+42 points
Magic Defense: 10%
Skill Resistance: 10%
Movement Speed: 115+50 points
Basic Skills: Dagger Mastery, One-Handed Sword Mastery, One-Handed Axe Novice, Gauntlet Novice, Firearm Mastery, Bow Novice, Throwing Novice, Dual Weapon Mastery.
Professional Skills: Swiftness LV1 (Intermediate), Frenzy LV5 (Intermediate), Mighty Smash LV5 (Intermediate), Blade Storm LV2 (Advanced), Thunderous Rage LV5 (Advanced), Ocean Fury LV1 (Advanced), Blood God's Body LV1 (Top-tier)
Life Skills: Beginner Fishing, Beginner First Aid, Beginner Cooking.