Chapter 53: A Tormenting Choice

Reputation item exchanges require both money and reputation points, so even if someone reaches Revered status, it’s impossible to claim every reward on offer. This means that usually, the first few who reach Revered will be able to redeem the best goods. It’s worth noting that the exchange price is only the set value within the instance, not the actual market price outside. For example, a level 20 Rare staff might only cost three gold here, but outside, you wouldn’t get it for less than ten. High-level profession transfer certificates are only four gold in here, but outside, at least twenty. That’s why, at first, Chu Cheng only had access to a few intermediate professions—his father didn’t value or want to spend money on this, so he naturally didn’t have access to the higher ones.

“I have 22,200 reputation now, I can exchange for…” Chu Cheng’s eyes fell upon the dozen or so items, considering his options. The first thing he considered wasn’t the mage profession, but rather the Void Source Array Infusion, which required a whopping 10,000 reputation. As he focused on this option, a description appeared in small print.

This device originated from the Mage Tower within the fortress—a special array capable of extracting void source energy and infusing it into the body, increasing attributes. The exact attribute gain depends on the absorption limit; the more absorbed, the greater the increase. Which attributes are enhanced is entirely random, but generally, it’s the main ones. For melee classes, it’s usually constitution, strength, agility, and perception; tank classes mainly get constitution and strength, while agility-strength classes gain agility and strength. For spellcasters, it’s naturally spirit and intelligence. However, this isn’t absolute—there is a small chance for gains in secondary attributes.

There’s no question about this—anything else can be ignored, but a permanent attribute increase is a must. Miss this opportunity, and it won’t come again. This reward is exclusive to the Unified Examination; the school added it specially for this event, and even at Revered status outside the exam, it wouldn’t be available.

After deducting this choice, he’d have 12,200 reputation left. Chu Cheng hesitated—should he pick a new profession? Mage, or another advanced class?

The War Knight is a special combat-related knight profession, its core specialty being aura skills and two knight followers. The Heavy Shield Warrior is a tank class. The Sniper is an archer whose core specialty is extended range—outshooting any other ranged class. All three are advanced professions; the mage is a top-tier class, superior to the other three in both power and future potential.

Chu Cheng’s hesitation lay in the fact that if he chose mage, most of the skills he’d learned would become obsolete; he’d need to reconfigure his skills and spells, greatly weakening his power and affecting the upcoming college entrance exam. If he chose War Knight or Heavy Shield Warrior, he wouldn’t have this problem—his current skills would fit them well, and because advanced professions come with an extra specialty, his strength would only increase.

However, if he chose a melee profession, he’d need to somehow gather a hundred gold quickly to buy River Styx Water and reset his class and attribute points. Whether he could do so in the short term was uncertain; he had little confidence. If he couldn’t manage it, picking a transfer certificate would be meaningless. After getting into a top university, the school would offer plenty of profession options, including top-tier and even hero classes—by then, he’d likely have lost interest in mere advanced professions.

Of course, selling them for money was always an option. Exchanging for four gold here and selling outside for twenty was no problem. Besides the professions, what caught his eye were only the Enchanter specialty, an epic-quality magic gem, and the Giant Fire Elemental Summoning Scroll.

“So…” he murmured, “I’ll wait until after the exams to decide. But I can exchange for the mage certificate now. Even if I don’t use it, I can sell it later for a hundred gold easily.” It’s worth noting that while the mage certificate could be sold for a hundred gold, other top-tier professions could fetch much more, since the mage’s prerequisites were high and adaptability low. Other top-tier professions had even lower adaptability and thus started at two hundred gold.

“Wait…” Deep in calculation, Chu Cheng suddenly realized a problem: if he chose the Void Source Array Infusion, he wouldn’t have enough money left for the mage certificate. He currently had only forty gold, but both together required forty-five.

“Damn…” Chu Cheng froze, stunned. He considered several ways to make money, including exchanging for something highly profitable to sell, but after carefully checking which items could net a good margin, he realized that after such exchanges, he wouldn’t have enough reputation left for both the mage certificate and the Void Source Infusion.

“No choice!” He rubbed his temple, sighing helplessly. He could only settle for the next best thing.

“The Void Source Array Infusion is a must. As for the other… the Enchanter specialty scroll.” That would use up sixteen thousand reputation and thirty gold, leaving him with six thousand reputation—enough for a few more good items.

“Piercing Sharpshooter, two thousand reputation and five gold. Giant Fire Elemental Summoning Scroll, three thousand reputation and five gold.” The summoned giant fire elemental was a supernatural being, extremely powerful in battle. The Piercing Sharpshooter was a longbow that he could equip—though without archer skills and specialties he couldn’t unleash its full power, it was still a rare-grade weapon with strong attributes.

Having made his choices, Chu Cheng approached the quartermaster and said in a low voice, “Sir, I’d like to exchange for the Enchanter specialty scroll, the Void Source Array Infusion, the Piercing Sharpshooter, and the Giant Fire Elemental Summoning Scroll.”

The quartermaster looked up, a trace of astonishment on his face. “You’ve reached Revered reputation? Which class are you in, and what’s your name?”

Chu Cheng shared his reputation panel directly, replying respectfully, “Chu Cheng, Class Five.”

Mo Han adjusted his glasses, surprise flickering across his face, followed by a hint of approval. “It’s been less than a month, hasn’t it? To reach Revered this quickly—impressive! The Void Source Array Infusion and the Enchanter specialty, correct? No problem.”

The teacher stood, beckoned a soldier over, gave him a few instructions to cover his post, then turned to Chu Cheng. “Come with me.”

Chu Cheng immediately followed. The moment they left, among the students redeeming their reputation points, one lifted his head in astonishment. After a moment, he opened his communicator. “Boss Sun, guess what I just saw? Chu Cheng from Class Five hit Revered reputation.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. I heard it myself.”

……

Elsewhere in the Cross Fortress, Sun Yu quickly found Pan Yue and relayed the news gravely. “He got Revered reputation this fast—it’s a big threat.”

Pan Yue nodded. “Definitely a threat. He can compete with us for first place. No, we have to cut off his momentum. First place cannot go to him—only our class deserves that reward.”

“Got any ideas?”

“Not yet, but there’s still time. Let’s gather everyone and talk it over.”

“Alright.”

Outside the barracks, Mo Han led Chu Cheng straight to the center of the Cross Fortress. Surprised, Chu Cheng asked, “Are we going to the Mage Tower?” Mo Han nodded. “Most Revered rewards are in the Mage Tower.”

Fifteen minutes later, they stood before the Mage Tower. Chu Cheng gazed up at the edifice, surrounded by powerful energy halos, filled with awe.

Compared to the so-called sword-and-board professions, spellcasters’ combat power was truly a cut above. Even among top-tier classes, physical types rarely matched the mages.