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https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-1

Chapter 1

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 1</h1><p>Up in the sky above the deep and boundless oceans of Heaven’s Vault Continent!</p><p>“I, Meng Lei, pronounce upon you… The death sentence!”</p><p>A man bathed in lightning stood proud and arrogant in the sky. With a lightning spear in his hand and wings of lightning on his back, he was like the God of Thunder that had descended from the heavens as he pronounced the mighty and imposing judgment!</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>A pair of strong and muscular lightning dragons descended from the heavens. They struck at the two gigantic creatures in front, carrying with them a terrifying aura that could destroy all in this world!</p><p>On the left was a Golden Colossal Dragon with wings that spanned more than 1,000 meters, and shone a bright and resplendent gold all over its body!</p><p>On the right was a Thunder Titan that was as massive as a mountain range, and holding a pair of golden hammers in its hands!</p><p>“Damn! That lunatic!”</p><p>Upon sensing the destructive aura within the lightning dragons, the Golden Colossal Dragon and Thunder Titan’s pupils constricted sharply and they reacted nearly simultaneously!</p><p>As their powers surged, golden light and a purple thunderbolt rose, forming a power shield around them for protection!</p><p>However, it was to no avail!</p><p>The lightning dragons descended from the sky and easily broke the power shield!</p><p>“Ahhh!”</p><p>Both the Golden Colossal Dragon and Thunder Titan let out sharp and shrill screams at the same time. Clouds of black smoke rose around them—the attack had actually split open their flesh and skin, charring them all over!</p><p>Then, they plummeted straight into the vast ocean as though a couple of meteors shooting down from the sky and emitted a great boom!</p><p>Meng Lei could barely contain his agitation as he watched!</p><p>He was filled with great emotion over today’s events as he went through memories of the past in his mind!</p><p>He had done it!</p><p>He had finally done it!</p><p>To think that in his past life, he had merely been a nobody that wasn’t even worth mentioning. He had gone through jobs spending all his days with a keyboard and leading an ordinary and mediocre life!</p><p>However, his destiny had changed after he came to this world. He had started from humble beginnings and went on to create a series of unbelievable miracles before he finally stood at the pinnacle of this world and trampled beneath his feet Heaven’s Vault Continent’s most ancient and most powerful lifeforms—the Golden Colossal Dragon and the Thunder Titan!</p><p>Meng Lei’s gaze swept around his surroundings. His brows pointed upward sharply, and his eyes sparkled like stars as he gazed down upon the world…</p><p>Bam!</p><p>A dull sound rang out!</p><p>The Golden Colossal Dragon disappeared!</p><p>The Thunder Titan also disappeared!</p><p>Everything had disappeared!</p><p>Meng Lei opened his eyes, a dazed look within them!</p><p><em>Who am I?</em></p><p><em>Where am I?</em></p><p><em>What am I doing?</em></p><p><em>Fine!</em></p><p><em>So it’s just a dream. No wonder it felt so fake!</em></p><p>Meng Lei let out a self-deprecating laugh. He had probably only had such a strange dream because he had just arrived in this world and couldn’t adjust to it yet, right?</p><p>Bang, bang, bang!</p><p>“Little Meng Lei, wake up! It’s the beast tide!”</p><p>Deafening knocks came from the broken and rundown wooden door. Outside, the village head, Old Peter, shouted anxiously, “Little Meng Lei, it’s the beast tide! Hurry, go to the underground shelter and take shelter there! I’ll go and inform the others!”</p><p>“The beast tide is here!!”</p><p>A start went through Meng Lei. He rolled and scrambled to his feet and ran toward the village central!</p><p><em>A beast tide!!</em></p><p><em>Damn! To think I’ve actually encountered a beast tide! I must be too down on my luck!</em></p><p>Meng Lei inwardly cursed as he made a wild dash!</p><p>A few days ago, he had still been a normal office worker on Earth. He had been traveling between home and the office, spending his days exhausted to make ends meet!</p><p>Then, he had woken up one day to find that he, for some absurd reason, had transmigrated to this world and come to the Magical Beast Village, becoming a normal villager here!</p><p>Heaven’s Vault Continent!</p><p>That was what people of this world called this particular world!</p><p>This was a miraculous world that was different from Earth!</p><p>There were no computers, no Internet, and no technologically-advanced products here. Instead, there were huge dragons that could destroy the world, giants of colossal strength, strange and peculiar beast people, fairies that could manipulate nature, and all sorts of wondrous magical beasts… and also mysterious magic and powerful Battle Aura!</p><p>This was an amazing and inconceivable world!</p><p>Everything here terrified and unsettled Meng Lei. However, what distressed him the most was that this world was extremely unfriendly to the normal human race!</p><p>This was because…</p><p>The ones ruling this world weren’t the human race, but… Colossal Dragons with wings, Titans dozens of meters tall, Beast People of various strange and peculiar forms, Fairies in the woods, highly destructive magical beasts, and other races!</p><p>As for the human race?</p><p>They were but mere appendages to the various major intelligent races. They had no civilization, no empires, no culture, no freedom…</p><p>They had absolutely nothing!!</p><p><em>This world is so dangerous! How am I supposed to live on?!</em></p><p>What distressed Meng Lei the most was that he was actually encountering a beast tide when he had only just frickin’ transmigrated here. This was practically a hellish way to open things!</p><p>“Hurry! The adults are to follow me outside the village to stand against the beast tide!”</p><p>“The old, weak, women, and children, go to the shelter!”</p><p>A strong, muscular, and well-built man that was over two meters tall stood on top of a large rock and directed the villagers. His name was Hudders, and he was the captain of the guards in the village. He was also the strongest fighter in the village, so the villagers respected and trusted him very much.</p><p>Under his command, all the adult men congregated in front of him one by one, while the old, weak, women, and children ran toward the shelter at the village center. Although everyone was in a panic, they moved in an orderly manner, nevertheless!</p><p>It was evident that this wasn’t the first or second time such a situation was occurring!</p><p><em>True, Magical Beast Village is situated at the Magical Beast Ridge’s fringes, after all. Therefore, it is the easiest to come under a beast tide’s attack. The villagers must have experienced beast tides more than just once!</em></p><p>Meng Lei sighed inwardly.</p><p>The Magical Beast Ridge passed through the entire continent, nearly dividing Heaven’s Vault Continent into two halves, the east, and the west. Countless wild beasts and magical beasts lived within, and it was known as “The Most Dangerous Place On The Continent”!</p><p>The wild beasts in the forest frequently went berserk and attacked the villages at the forest’s fringes. The villages suffered huge losses every time, and fatalities were commonplace. The parents of this particular body’s original owner had precisely died in a beast tide!</p><p>It could be said that human lives were the most worthless thing in this world!</p><p><em>I wonder how many people are going to die in the beast tide this time?</em></p><p>Before Meng Lei knew it, he had already reached the village center. The old, weak, women, and children filed into a long line. Uncle Leo, who was in charge of guarding the shelter, called out loudly, “Don’t crowd around, go one at a time! The ones at the bottom, hold the ladder steady!”</p><p>The shelter was built dozens of meters underground. It was like a tunnel, or a basement, and was connected to the surface by a ladder. Next to it was a large rock that would be used to block off the shelter’s entrance later!</p><p>The large rock was very big. Two to three meters tall, one could tell with just a glance that it was very sturdy. Meng Lei couldn’t help heaving a sigh of relief. With such a large rock blocking the top, the shelter should be very safe, right?</p><p><em>No, wait. If everyone outside died in battle, would a bunch of old and weak people, women, and children be able to push off the large rock and exit from within?</em></p><p>Uncertainty and nervousness welled up in Meng Lei!</p><p>Howl!</p><p>Growl!</p><p>“Kill them!</p><p>“Kill all of these b*stards!”</p><p>Beast howls and the sounds of fierce battle could be heard coming from afar, conjuring fear in everyone’s hearts. Although Meng Lei wished he could take a look at and learn more about this world’s magical beasts, that was all he could do—wish!</p><p>He was just a youngster that was slightly older than a child now and belonged to the domain of people being protected. What he should be doing right now was to enter the shelter, and not run over to create more trouble!</p><p>“What are you spacing out for? Hurry and go down!”</p><p>At this point, Uncle Leo’s chastising voice rang out beside his ear. Meng Lei gave a start and hurriedly responded. Just as he got ready to enter the shelter, he suddenly noticed a ball of glowing white light dropping off Uncle Leo!</p><p>“Uncle Leo, you’ve dropped something!”</p><p>Just as Meng Lei paused in his tracks and was about to point it out, a cold and emotionless voice suddenly rang out in his ear. “Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned. He subconsciously looked in Uncle Leo’s direction. In just that short amount of time, all the old, weak, women, and children had gone into the shelter. He and Uncle Leo were the only two people left now!</p><p>“What are you looking at? Hurry and go in!”</p><p>Uncle Leo berated him furiously with a fierce expression on his face, “Don’t waste time and stop hemming and hawing. I need to go to the village entrance to fight against the beast tide!”</p><p>Very evidently, the voice from earlier hadn’t come from Uncle Leo!</p><p><em>Am I hearing things?</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-2

Chapter 2

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 2</h1><p>“Ding! The Most Powerful Pickup System at your service!</p><p>“The Most Powerful Pickup System can pick up all dropped items in the world, including but not limited to money, items, skills, vitality, spiritual power…</p><p>“By picking up money and items, the host can become rich!</p><p>“By picking up skills, vitality, and spiritual power… The host can become powerful!</p><p>“Pick up everything!</p><p>“Everything can be picked up!”</p><p>In tandem with the cold and emotionless voice’s explanation, a stats interface appeared before Meng Lei’s eyes!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human</p><p>Wealth: 0</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Normal Human Being (0.5/10)</p><p>Spirit: Normal Human Being (1/10)</p><p>Skill(s): None</p><p>Meng Lei’s mind felt foggy. Was his cheating device finally here a month after he had transmigrated here?</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“P-pick it up!”</p><p>Meng Lei subconsciously responded.</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +1!”</p><p>A warm current appeared out of nowhere in his body and surged into his limbs and bones. Meng Lei’s body felt pleasantly warm, and it felt very comfortable. It seemed like his strength had increased a little, too?</p><p><em>Damn, is this really a cheating device?</em></p><p>Meng Lei found this incredible!</p><p><em>Physical Body Constitution +1?</em></p><p><em>It can also pick up physical body constitution?</em></p><p>“Meng Lei! What exactly are you doing?! Why aren’t you going down?!”</p><p>Uncle Leo shouted at him in great anger, so much so that his eyes could even spit flames.</p><p>However, the amazing thing was that yet another ball of silver light dropped from him.</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t hesitate at all this time!</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Spirit +1!”</p><p>An icy cooling aura flowed into his mind. Meng Lei felt like his mind had become a little clearer. His thoughts and consciousness also became active and dynamic.</p><p><em>It’s true! I can really pick it up!!</em></p><p>Meng Lei pinched himself hard. This wasn’t a dream nor a hallucination—the cheating device was real! Was he going to make it big now?</p><p><em>Should I go to the village entrance and try my luck there? Maybe there’ll be more dropped items there?</em></p><p><em>I’d better not. There’s a beast tide breaking out over there. It’s too dangerous!</em></p><p><em>Or how about… I just look from afar?</em></p><p><em>There shouldn’t be any problem if I’m a little more cowardly!</em></p><p>…</p><p>Magical Beast Village was situated in a canyon. It was surrounded by mountains on three sides, while the last remaining side was also encircled by thick, heavy, and sturdy wooden fences. They formed a thick and heavy wooden enclosing wall to defend against beast tide attacks.</p><p>This place was the village entrance for people to enter and leave the village!</p><p>Currently, a horrifying scene was taking place there. 20–30 strong and well-built men waved and brandished their weapons as they constantly attacked the wild beasts charging toward the village walls!</p><p>There were Sword-Toothed Tigers, which had a blood-red color throughout their bodies, Steel-Furred Wild Boars with teal-colored faces and long fangs, and covered in sharp spikes, as well as gigantic Two-Headed Vultures with wings on their backs.</p><p>…</p><p>Close to a hundred ferocious wild beasts let out furious roars after roars. They pounced toward and charged at the village walls fearlessly while attacking madly!</p><p>Despite some of the wild beasts getting killed, the remaining beasts continued to advance wave upon wave, as though they had been bewitched and gone berserk!</p><p>The team of guards with Captain Hudders in the lead resembled killing machines as they constantly slashed at and cut down the wild beasts charging toward the village walls!</p><p>Blood sprayed everywhere, and broken limbs flew about haphazardly!</p><p>The strong stench of blood assaulted Meng Lei’s senses, causing his guts to churn wildly, and he nearly threw up his meal from the previous night.</p><p>When had a keyboard warrior that wandered the world of the Internet like him ever seen such a bloody and grisly scene like this?</p><p>It was only after quite a long while that Meng Lei finally got a little used to it. His line of sight couldn’t help but fall onto the huge sword in Captain Hudders’ hands!</p><p><em>So that’s… Battle Aura?</em></p><p>A layer of glowing pale yellow suffused the area around the sword in Captain Hudders’ hands. As though a divine weapon so sharp that it could cut through iron like it were mud, it easily rendered the wild beast into two!</p><p>His speed at hunting and killing the wild beasts was much faster than the others. He was practically a killing machine!</p><p>“As expected of the number one expert in the village!” Envy filled Meng Lei’s eyes as he muttered, “If only I’m as strong as he is…”</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>Meng Lei noticed that quite a few light balls had dropped onto the battlefield, and they were exceptionally dazzling!</p><p>Wouldn’t he power up significantly if he picked up those drops?</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +3!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Spirit +1!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +2!”</p><p>Warm currents manifested and flowed through his body one after another, strengthening Meng Lei’s physical body constitution and spirit at high speed.</p><p>An extremely relaxing and comfortable sensation accompanied his continuous powering up. It couldn’t feel better than this!</p><p>His power was constantly increasing!</p><p>His thoughts were increasingly clear!</p><p><em>Yes! That’s the way! Become stronger! I want to become stronger!</em></p><p>“What are you doing here?!”</p><p>Right at that moment, a furious bellow suddenly rang out beside his ear like a clap of thunder. “Is this somewhere that you should be?! Go back at once!”</p><p>Meng Lei lifted his head. Right away, he saw Captain Hudders glaring at him furiously. An invisible wave of pressure surged toward him as if a raging lion was watching him intently!</p><p>Meng Lei’s heart trembled. The pressure was intense!</p><p>“What is Leo doing? He actually let you run out here?”</p><p>With a brandish, Hudders cut a pig-species wild beast into two as he ordered, “Return to the shelter immediately!”</p><p>Meng Lei was just about to explain when a loud, melodious, and sonorous roar resounded!</p><p>A wolf-like beast, whose body was a fiery red all over and as big as an ox, walked out of the beast tide’s back.</p><p>Everywhere it passed through, the initially brutal and ferocious wild beasts docilely stepped aside and made way for it!</p><p>The wolf-like beast sauntered elegantly, two licks of flames flickering in its eyes. All of a sudden, it leaped into the air, opened its mouth, and shot out a fireball the size of a basketball!</p><p>The fireball was alarmingly hot. Meng Lei could feel a burning heat on his face despite being a far distance away!</p><p><em>A wolf?</em></p><p><em>A wolf that can spray fire?</em></p><p><em>Is this what a Magical Beast is?</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-3

Chapter 3

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 3</h1><p>“Damn! It’s actually the Magical Beast, Fire Wolf! We’re in trouble now!”</p><p>Captain Hudders sliced the fireball hurtling toward them in two with his sword. He shouted, “All of you, handle the other wild beasts! Leave this Fire Wolf to me!”</p><p>After he spoke, he lifted his sword and rushed forward!</p><p>Magical Beasts were completely different from normal wild beasts. Not only were their physical body constitution far superior to normal wild beasts, but they could also use magic! They possessed a shockingly high level of destructiveness!</p><p>The moment a Magical Beast appeared in a beast tide usually implied a significant increase in the beast tide’s level of danger!</p><p>Clink, clink, clink!</p><p>This particular Fire Wolf was indeed extraordinary. The sword in Hudders’ hands clashed against the Fire Wolf’s sharp claws. However, apart from producing a series of sparks, it couldn’t deal any real damage to the Fire Wolf at all!</p><p>On the other hand, the Fire Wolf launched sneak attacks and shot out fireballs the size of a human head while it engaged in fierce combat with Hudders.</p><p>Hudders didn’t dare to take the attacks head-on. He wielded the large sword and struck the fireballs into pieces. However, every time he did so, the ocher yellow glow around the sword would dim and turn a notch duller.</p><p>At this rate, it wouldn’t take that many strikes before the ocher yellow glow disappeared!</p><p>“Go, Captain!”</p><p>“Kill that Fire Wolf!”</p><p>The other guards in the team didn’t realize this problem. They encouraged and cheered for their captain while they tried their best to defend against the wild beasts!</p><p>Although the Fire Wolf was a Magical Beast, it was just a first-grade one, the weakest of the lot!</p><p>However, the captain was a Second-Grade Warrior. Against a mere Fire Wolf, wasn’t this a piece of cake for him?</p><p>“Damn! This isn’t a normal Fire Wolf!”</p><p>Hudders was alarmed and furious, however!</p><p>Which part of it was a Fire Wolf? It had clearly already evolved into a Fire Wolf King, a Second-Grade Magical Beast!</p><p>Although it was impossible to tell just by looking at its outer appearance, there was too big of a difference in its actual combat ability.</p><p>A Fire Wolf couldn’t match up to a Fire Wolf King at all, be it in terms of agility, strength, or nimbleness!</p><p>Moreover, Magical Beasts were usually stronger than humans of the same grade. Hudders was just a Second-Grade Warrior. The battle aura technique that he cultivated was also just run-of-the-mill. How could he possibly be a match for the Fire Wolf King?</p><p>Cold sweat broke out on Hudders’ forehead. He could sense that the odds weren’t in his favor today!</p><p>“S-so powerful!”</p><p>Meng Lei was also watching the intense battle between Captain Hudders and the Fire Wolf. Astonishment filled his eyes!</p><p>In his eyes, both parties could be said to be Superman, whether it was the Fire Wolf King or Captain Hudders!</p><p>A leap of theirs reached five to six meters high!</p><p>A strike of the sword created a fissure in the ground!</p><p>A fireball was comparable to a bomb!</p><p>Could he even still be considered a goddamn human?</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>The system’s cold and emotionless voice sounded in his ear. A red light ball had dropped from the Fire Wolf King!</p><p>“It dropped from the Fire Wolf King? Magical Beasts drop items too?”</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned.</p><p><em>That’s a Magical Beast, you know! I wonder what it dropped?</em></p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. You have received the First-Grade Spell, Fireball Technique!”</p><p>The voice notification ringing out in his mind stupefied Meng Lei.</p><p><em>Fireball Technique? The drop this time is actually a spell? You can even pick up spells?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was delirious with joy!</p><p>Humans didn’t possess the Colossal Dragons’ physique, nor the Titans’ strength. They didn’t have the Fairies’ talent for magic, nor the other races’ unique talents!</p><p>It wasn’t an exaggeration in the least to say that the human race was one of the weakest and frailest intelligent races in Heaven’s Vault Continent. Apart from Battle Aura and magic, there was no other way for someone to become strong!</p><p>Yet the saddest thing was that as an appendage race, 90% of humans had no chance of coming into contact with Battle Aura and magic in their whole lives, not to mention cultivating them!</p><p>The Magical Beast Village wasn’t so bad!</p><p>With Hudders, a Second-Grade Warrior, around to provide advice and guidance, the villagers’ overall strength was the strongest among the eight villages within a radius of five kilometers. But even so, Hudders was still the only one who truly managed to cultivate Battle Aura!</p><p>Meng Lei longed to cultivate Battle Aura and magic, of course. He wanted to become an expert so that he had a better chance of living on!</p><p>However, harsh reality told him this—”You’re daydreaming!”</p><p>His physical body constitution was too weak, so he wasn’t suitable to cultivate Battle Aura!</p><p>As for magic, did he have any talent for it? Where was he supposed to go and learn magic?</p><p>He couldn’t cultivate Battle Aura!</p><p>Yet he had nowhere that he could learn magic!</p><p>Meng Lei was close to losing hope!</p><p>However, never did he expect that this crazy system could pick up even spells!</p><p><em>First-Grade Spell, Fireball Technique!</em></p><p>Meng Lei checked out the technique at once. Then, he understood all the information about Fireball Technique, such as its discharge theory, destructive power…</p><p><em>I’ll give it a go?</em></p><p>Meng Lei took a deep breath and raised his right arm… But there was no reaction!</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>Meng Lei was stupefied.</p><p><em>What’s going on? Is the Fireball Technique that I picked up pirated goods?</em></p><p>“Ding! A friendly tip: Discharging magic requires consuming Magic Power and Spiritual Power!”</p><p>Then, the system gave another reminder and said, “Both requirements are necessary!”</p><p>“Magic power? Spiritual power?”</p><p>Meng Lei was speechless. It was only then that he noticed the Magic Power field on the stats interface—it was a big fat zero. In other words, there wasn’t the slightest bit of magic power in him!</p><p><em>No wonder I couldn’t use the Fireball Technique!</em></p><p>However, Meng Lei was relieved.</p><p><em>At least, the Fireball Technique that I picked up isn’t pirated goods! But where am I supposed to get magic power from?</em></p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>Another red light ball had dropped from the Fire Wolf King!</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Magic Power +1!”</p><p><em>M-magic power +1? It’s magic power this time?</em></p><p>He felt a warm sensation where his dantian ¹ was. It was as if he had drunk erguotou ² . Meng Lei knew that this was likely the magic power that he had just assimilated into his body!</p><p>He raised his right arm again!</p><p>True enough, there was a reaction this time!</p><p>A spark of fire appeared out of thin air in the middle of his palm. Then, it swiftly swelled. In just a few short breaths, it had swelled to the size of a pomelo!</p><p>The fireball was small, and it flickered and swayed. However, the astonishingly high heat that it emitted was such that no one would dare to doubt the terrifying energy contained within this fireball at all!</p><p><em>Magic!</em></p><p><em>This is magic!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was so agitated that his blood was boiling. This sensation was indescribable with mere words!</p><p><em>How exciting!</em></p><p><em>How stimulating!</em></p><p><em>This is an entirely different experience!</em></p><p>It was just a shame that the fireball didn’t sustain that long before it turned into a wisp of smoke and dissipated into the air.</p><p>Meng Lei felt a sense of debilitation come over him. It was as though his body had been emptied…</p><p><em>What the hell!? I’ve used up all my magic power!</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-4

Chapter 4

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 4</h1><p>Upon feeling the emptiness inside his body, Meng Lei was rendered speechless—one single fireball had actually exhausted his magic power!</p><p><em>This consumption is overbearing! I need more magic power!</em></p><p>Meng Lei set his sights on the Fire Wolf. Meng Lei had never come into contact with magic before, so he did not know how to acquire magic power. Currently, he could obtain it by picking it up, and when looking around the whole field, only the Fire Wolf may drop the magic-power light balls!</p><p>Although no more magic-power light balls dropped in the next few minutes, some other light balls dropped. Meng Lei’s wild wishes failed to be fulfilled, but his strength was steadily growing, and the Physical Body Constitution column quickly broke through 10!</p><p>The system’s cold cue tone sounded just in time. “Ding! Congratulations, host, for achieving a breakthrough and becoming a Trainee Warrior. Please keep working hard, host, and strive to make another breakthrough!”</p><p>“Trainee Warrior?”</p><p>The stats interface changed as well!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human</p><p>Wealth: 0</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Trainee Warrior (10/100)</p><p>Spirit: Normal Human Being (4/10)</p><p>Magic Power: 0 (0/10)</p><p>Spell(s): Fireball Technique</p><p><em>I’m a Trainee Warrior now?</em> Meng Lei was a bit dumbstruck. <em>This speed of advancement is too fast, right?</em></p><p>A Trainee Warrior!</p><p>Though there was the word “trainee” in it, it actually made him much stronger than ordinary people!</p><p>Magical Beast Village was located on the edge of the Magical Beast Ridge, and people relied on the ridge to make their living. The villagers made a living by hunting and collecting herbs, but great strength was required to traverse the Magical Beast Ridge, and the villagers were all tough and strong!</p><p>Yet among the almost one hundred villagers, there weren’t but a few Warriors. Many villagers were limited in natural talent. Despite being slightly stronger physically, there weren’t many who could become Trainee Warriors!</p><p>For Meng Lei to get promoted from a member of “the old and the weak”, who were to be protected, to a Trainee Warrior, his improvement speed was definitely astonishing!</p><p><em>Trainee Warriors are very strong!</em></p><p><em>I’ve seen them tear apart tigers and leopards with bare hands and beat up wild boars with fists. They are even fiercer than those Ding kings on Earth!</em></p><p><em>I’m also a Trainee Warrior now!</em></p><p><em>Am I just as strong as them?</em></p><p><em>Should I give it a go?</em></p><p>Meng Lei looked at his thin arms and legs, picked up a rake, and moved cautiously!</p><p>His footsteps became lighter!</p><p>And the rake felt lighter!</p><p>Roar…</p><p>A wild boar with a black face and protruding tusks, almost two meters long, just happened to be rushing over. Its hair stood up like steel pins, while its tusks were extremely sharp, shining with cold light.</p><p>If an ordinary person got hit by this thing, they would definitely be ripped apart.</p><p>“Take my rake hit!” Meng Lei yelled, waved the rake, and smashed it at the boar!</p><p>“What are you doing? Retreat immediately!”</p><p>Job, a member of the guards standing beside him, got shocked, and his eyelids twitched. He hurried to raise his big sword and slashed it toward the Hairy Wild Boar!</p><p><em>The Hairy Wild Boar is extremely strong and destructive, and even I have to use all my strength to fight it. Meng Lei is only a little kid, isn’t he looking for his own death, running up to it?</em></p><p>Yet in the next moment, Job was stunned!</p><p>Crack!</p><p>The rake crashed onto the head of the Hairy Wild Boar, and like a rake hitting onto a watermelon, it produced a crisp cracking sound, and the Hairy Wild Boar’s head directly opened up!</p><p>Its brain burst, and blood splashed!</p><p>The Hairy Wild Boar made a wail and then went silent. Then, under inertia, it continued running for a distance before loudly crashing onto the ground, eventually lying motionless and completely dead!</p><p>“It’s… dead?”</p><p>Job’s mouth opened wide. He was feeling that his brain was not working properly. “Meng Lei… actually killed the wild boar? How is this possible?”</p><p>“I killed this wild boar? A Trainee Warrior is actually this strong?”</p><p>Meng Lei was inexplicably excited!</p><p>“Ding! 1 Hairy Wild Boar killed, 10 gold coins gained!” The cue tone of the system sounded!</p><p>“10 gold coins?”</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned!</p><p>“Ding! Friendly reminder: After the host kills the target, the corresponding wealth points can be obtained!”</p><p>The system explained coldly, “Wealth points represent the wealth owned by the host. It has many uses. It can either be used to improve various attributes or for consumption!”</p><p>“I see!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded to show he understood. He was not in a hurry to use these 10 gold coins, so he charged forward to kill the other beasts!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +3!”</p><p><em>Yes! That’s the way!</em></p><p><em>That’s the feeling of becoming stronger!</em></p><p><em>Coming to the village entrance was the right decision indeed!</em></p><p>The pleasure of becoming stronger was intoxicating!</p><p>Meng Lei loved this feeling!</p><p><em>Continue!</em></p><p>Meng Lei advanced and attacked the next beast. This time, it was a python-like beast, about 10 meters long, covered entirely in green scales!</p><p>Its tongue moved in and out, its eyes shone with a cold light. It came attacking in an S-shaped route, its slippery body looked nauseating!</p><p>“Go and die!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved his rake and directly severed the python’s head!</p><p>“Ding! 1 Green-Scaled Python killed, 20 gold coins gained!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-5

Chapter 5

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 5</h1><p>Scarlet blood formed a river, and its pungent smell enshrouded the village entrance!</p><p>Twenty or thirty strong men held the city walls and continued to kill the beasts, but the beasts seemed to be endless—they kept coming, and the men continued to kill. However, the beast tide still showed no sign of dying down!</p><p>The guards gradually got tired, and their combat effectiveness continued to decline. Soon, the situation became unfavorable for the guards!</p><p>“This won’t do. We’ll fail to hold on sooner or later!”</p><p>“Captain, hurry up and find a way to kill that Fire Wolf! Otherwise, the beast tide won’t die down!”</p><p>When Hudders, who was entangled in a fierce battle with the Fire Wolf King, heard his subordinates’ shouts, he became extremely anxious. He knew that the root of the beast tide not dying down was this Fire Wolf King!</p><p>It was very likely the beast tide’s leader!</p><p>If the Fire Wolf King didn’t die, the beast tide wouldn’t die down!</p><p>The problem was he was unable to kill the Fire Wolf King. He had actually been at a disadvantage in the battle with the Fire Wolf King!</p><p>Killing the Fire Wolf King was but a dream, so Hudders could only be anxious inside!</p><p>In comparison, Meng Lei, on the other side, achieved repeated successes!</p><p>“Ding! 1 Green-Scaled Python killed, 20 gold coins gained!”</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Ding! 1 Wind Wolf killed, 18 gold coins gained!”</p><p>In less than 10 minutes, Meng Lei had killed 5 beasts in succession and accumulated hundreds of gold coins. At the same time, he had also picked up 4 light balls, including 4 Physical Body Constitution light balls and 1 Spirit light ball!</p><p>His attributes were quietly changing!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human</p><p>Wealth: 108 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Trainee Warrior (20/100)</p><p>Spirit: Normal Human Being (5/10)</p><p>Magic Power: 0 (0/10)</p><p>Spell(s): Fireball Technique</p><p>Surprisingly, his physical body constitution had received a fortyfold increase from the initial 0.5 to 20!</p><p>His Spirit had received a fivefold increase from the initial 1 to 5!</p><p>As for his Wealth, he now had 108 gold coins!</p><p>This wasn’t a small amount!</p><p>One had to know that the spending of an ordinary villager of Magical Beast Village was just a few gold coins, and 108 gold coins would be enough for them to spend for 2 to 3 years!</p><p><em>All of this happened in only a quarter of an hour!</em></p><p><em>I’m this much stronger!</em></p><p><em>This system is so buggy!</em></p><p>When sensing the strong powers that were about to gush out of his body, Meng Lei had an urge to look up at the sky and laugh.</p><p><em>With such a buggy cheating device, it’d be hard for me to not be awesome!</em></p><p>“Ahhh!”</p><p>At that moment, a scream of pain echoed. Hudders was seen flying out backward, smashing against the village walls, and knocking out a hole in it. His chest was a charcoal black, and his clothes were also on fire. He was clearly hit by a fireball!</p><p>“Captain!!!”</p><p>“Are you alright, captain!”</p><p>“Captain, how are you…”</p><p>This sudden scene frightened all the guards. Their captain was a Second-Grade Warrior, and he was actually injured by the hit of a First-Grade Magical Beast! How was this possible!?</p><p>Roar!</p><p>After one successful hit, the Fire Wolf King walked step by step toward Hudders, elegantly. Fire-elemental magical substances gathered in its mouth, and a fireball was in formation! It was going to launch a fatal blow to kill Hudders completely!</p><p>“Captain!”</p><p>“Protect the captain!”</p><p>“Beast, stay away from the captain!”</p><p>The guards revealed shocked expressions, but they all rushed toward the Fire Wolf King, roaring angrily!</p><p>“Don’t come here!!!” Hudders yelled hoarsely, “Leave me be! Do your own duty! Don’t let the beast tide destroy the walls!”</p><p>“Captain!”</p><p>The guards’ eyes were blood-red!</p><p>“Don’t you even listen to me now?” Captain Hudders struggled and stood up. “Everyone, guard the wall. This beast is mine to take!”</p><p>“Captain!!!”</p><p>The guards’ eyes were red, but they dared not disobey their captain’s order. Captain Hudders had an extremely high reputation in Magical Beast Village, and nobody dared to question his words!</p><p>“Beast, come here if you dare!”</p><p>Captain Hudders’s face was grim. His huge sword pointed toward the Fire Wolf King, and he roared furiously!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>The Fire Wolf King released a low roar, opened its mouth, and spat out the fireball!</p><p>“Beast, come here, I’m not afraid of you!”</p><p>Hudders looked at the high-temperature fireball coming right at his face and held the huge sword in his hand, his eyes full of determination. “Since it’s come to this, I’ll have to fight with my life by burning Battle Aura…”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The fireball was shot over at high speed and was about to hit Captain Hudders when another fireball suddenly shot out from the side! It hit the Fire Wolf King’s fireball accurately!</p><p>The two fireballs collided together and exploded!</p><p>The fire blasted into the sky, while sparks spattered and dust flew around them. The surroundings were in a mess!</p><p>“What’s going on?</p><p>Hudders froze!</p><p>The guards froze!</p><p>The Fire Wolf King also froze!</p><p>A fireball?</p><p>Where did the fireball come from?</p><p>“Captain Hudders, kill it first!” shouted Meng Lei, pointing at the Fire Wolf!</p><p>“Little Meng Lei?” Hudders was stunned, but when he saw the fingers of Meng Lei’s right hand, his whole body felt a shock. “Flames? You actually know how to use magic?”</p><p>A pinch of hot, red flame was swaying on the tips of Meng Lei’s fingers, releasing an astonishing heat. Nobody would dare to doubt the terrible energy contained in this small flame at all!</p><p>“Captain Hudders, let’s talk about everything after finishing off this Fire Wolf!”</p><p>Meng Lei could understand Captain Hudders’s feelings, but this wasn’t the time for an explanation at all. The top priority was to kill the Fire Wolf and stop the beast tide!</p><p>Captain Hudders nodded hard. “You’re right, we’ll kill this beat first! Go to the back and use magic to sneak attack and constrain this beast’s movement. I’ll take it head-on. We’ll kill this beast together!”</p><p>After he finished speaking, Hudders used his final strength and rushed forward!</p><p>This time, Captain Hudders saw hope, and his eyes were full of fighting spirit. He rushed with big strides in front of the Fire Wolf King and swung his huge sword instantly, aiming for the Fire Wolf King’s head!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>The Fire Wolf King let out a low roar, scratched the ground with four claws, and retreated. If this had happened earlier, it could have easily jumped away and spewed out a fireball, attacking while dodging!</p><p>Unfortunately, this time, when the Fire Wolf King just jumped up, a fireball flew over forcefully through the air, striking right at the Fire Wolf King’s abdomen!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The fireball exploded instantly, and like a detonated grenade, it released a fiery flame!</p><p>Howl!</p><p>The Fire Wolf King howled, and its waist arched!</p><p>“A good opportunity!”</p><p>Captain Hudders fixed his gaze, his right foot kicked on the ground, and then he dashed like a flash of lightning. A faint earth-brown halo covered the surface of the huge sword as it stabbed out forcefully!</p><p>Pfft—</p><p>Blood oozed out wildly, and the Fire Wolf howled!</p><p>“Slash again!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-6

Chapter 6

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 6</h1><p>Boom!</p><p>Hudders’ sword pierced right through the Fire Wolf’s throat!</p><p>The terrible Second-Grade Magical Beast collapsed on the ground!</p><p>“Ha… Haha… Hahaha…”</p><p>Captain Hudders staggered, almost unable to stand stably, but his expression was high-spirited. He was so excited that he looked up and laughed.</p><p>His laughter was heard by everyone around the village entrance!</p><p>“It died?”</p><p>“The Fire Wolf is dead!”</p><p>“Captain killed the Fire Wolf!”</p><p>“That’s wonderful…”</p><p>Everyone felt ecstatic!</p><p>“Phew! Finally killed it!”</p><p>Meng Lei breathed out a mouthful of dusty air, and he relaxed completely. But, when he saw the empty Wealth column on his personal attributes interface, he couldn’t laugh anymore.</p><p>His 108 gold coins were all gone!</p><p>He only got 5 fireballs…</p><p>“So costly!” Meng Lei smacked. “Fortunately, the Fire Wolf is dead!”</p><p>The Fire Wolf King’s death had a huge impact on the beast tide. The madness and fierceness in the wild beasts’ eyes gradually disappeared. Soon, they lost all their fighting spirit and retreated.</p><p>This was what a beast tide was like. Once the leader died, the remaining beasts would all scatter. There was no way they would stay and continue risking their lives to fight!</p><p>After all, the leader had forced the vast majority of the beasts to come. Once the leader died, they would run away immediately!</p><p>This was indeed the case!</p><p>The initially wild and bloodthirsty beast tide retreated like a tide, and within a few minutes, they retreated completely, leaving only corpses, wreckage, and blood all over the ground!</p><p>“Retreated?”</p><p>“The beast tide retreated?”</p><p>“The beast tide finally retreated!”</p><p>“F*ck, I thought I was going to die…”</p><p>The top of the village wall was suddenly filled with noises!</p><p>Some waved their swords and roared loudly with faces flushed red, while others collapsed on the ground and breathed heavily!</p><p>The beast tide had finally retreated, and they had obtained victory!</p><p>“Captain, are you okay?”</p><p>Several guards jumped off the village wall and helped Captain Hudders up, their eyes full of concern and admiration!</p><p>“I’m fine!” Captain Hudders shook his head, and his gaze actually fell on Meng Lei. “Little Meng Lei, it was thanks to you just now. If not for you, we’d be in danger today! But you hid pretty deep, huh, boy? I didn’t even know that you, boy, are actually a Magician!”</p><p>Meng Lei was actually a Magician!</p><p>Upon hearing that, all the guards looked at Meng Lei with a completely different look in their eyes than before!</p><p>Shock!</p><p>Confusion!</p><p>Disbelief!</p><p>As compared to Battle Aura, which didn’t have much requirement on natural talent, the cultivation of magic was much stricter!</p><p>Battle Aura!</p><p>With Battle Aura cultivation methods, so long as the physical body constitution was not too weak, all ordinary people could cultivate it!</p><p>However, magic was different—it was really strict with its requirement for natural talent. Among 10,000 people, there may not necessarily be one person who possessed talent for magic!</p><p>Thus, Magicians were much rarer than Warriors!</p><p>What was rare was precious. Therefore, Magicians became the “nobility” among the strong, becoming the word that represented prestige, mysteriousness, and strength!</p><p>There were numerous legends about Magicians on the continent, but most people had never seen a Magician in their whole life! And because of this, there was a little bit of… awe in the looks that everyone gave Meng Lei!</p><p>Whatever Meng Lei was in the past, at the moment, he released magic, he was covered with the halo of mysteriousness and prestige, and nobody dared to look down on him anymore!</p><p>“I can only use the Fireball Technique!”</p><p>Meng Lei scratched his head. He knew himself the best—he wasn’t a proper Magician yet, not now!</p><p>“That’s still very awesome!”</p><p>…</p><p>The beast tide ended!</p><p>The old and the weak walked out of the shelters. They started post-disaster clearing up, treating the wounded, dealing with beast corpses, mending village walls…</p><p>Everything was going smoothly and orderly!</p><p>For a village that relied on natural resources like Magical Beast Village, the beast tide was definitely a disaster, but it also often meant a great opportunity. After every beast tide, a lot of carcasses would be left behind!</p><p>The fresh meat could be consumed, the furs and skins could be made into clothes and armor, while the extra things could be used to exchange for daily items, such as salt, sauces, and ironware!</p><p>Also, because there were no deaths during this beast tide, it was pretty much a big harvest. Every household got their share of fresh meat, the villagers were joyful, and their faces were full of happiness!</p><p>All this food would last them for a very long while!</p><p>Meng Lei also returned to his simple home carrying a big wild boar. In the following days, this big wild boar would be his food!</p><p><em>I’ve got to enjoy myself properly today!</em></p><p>He split firewood, made a fire, and roasted the meat!</p><p>After half an hour, oil dropped from the golden roasted meat, releasing an amazing fragrance. Meng Lei swallowed his saliva, and his eyes were full of hunger!</p><p>Food shortage had always been a problem for the village. For someone who had no parents, was weak, and completely unable to fight like him, he could only pass his days by getting food rationed by the village!</p><p>He wouldn’t die from hunger, but he couldn’t eat till full either!</p><p>Today, he was finally having a filling meal!</p><p>After a period of torturous waiting, the roasted meat was finally cooked. Meng Lei could no longer contain the hunger in his belly, so he grabbed a light brown boar leg and started nibbling.</p><p>“Hmm… Nice!”</p><p>When one was hungry, whatever that they ate tasted nice. There were no sauces on this roasted meat, only some rough salt, but Meng Lei ate it like it was a great delicacy!</p><p>“Eating alone?”</p><p>Captain Hudders had walked over when he wasn’t noticing. He held a jar full of good wine in his hand!</p><p>“Captain Hudders, why are you here?”</p><p>Meng Lei put down the boar’s leg in his hand. He looked a bit ungraceful with oil all around his mouth.</p><p>“Haha, I was wandering around alone, and I arrived at your place… Come, let me try it!”</p><p>Captain Hudders handed the wine jar in his hand to Meng Lei, grabbed a piece of roasted meat himself, and started eating. “Eh? It’s good! Your roasted meat is so fragrant…”</p><p>“Wine?”</p><p>When Meng Lei smelled the fragrance of wine coming from inside the wine jar, his throat moved a little. In a resource-scarce small village like Magical Beast Village, wine was a rare item just like books!</p><p>Ordinary people definitely couldn’t get to drink it!</p><p>Gurgle…</p><p>“Sh*t! So hot!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-7

Chapter 7

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 7</h1><p>The alcohol burned and tasted bitter. Not only was it muddy and unbearable, but it also tasted awful. It couldn’t even match up to erguotou!</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t really like it, but he still took a few sips nonetheless. After a month since his transmigration here, he was already close to puking after consuming day after day of cool water and smoked jerky!</p><p>Now that there was finally alcohol, how could he not drink it?</p><p>“Take it easy, you’d better not finish it!”</p><p>Captain Hudders laughed as he derided him. He said, “I had spent 1 gold coin to buy that from a passing trade caravan. That’s the only bottle I have. Once it’s finished, it’s all gone!”</p><p>“Got it!”</p><p>After a few rounds of drinks and flavorful meat, almost half of the large wild boar had entered Captain Hudders’ and Meng Lei’s stomachs. The two of them leaned against the doorframe and made small talk as they chatted away, turning into Master Ge ¹ .</p><p>“Meng Lei, you have a talent for magic. Be sure to seize this opportunity well. This is your chance to change your destiny. You absolutely mustn’t let it slip by you!”</p><p>There was a deep and profound look in Hudders’ eyes as he said, “I was in the army in the past, so I’ve been to quite a few places. You can say that I’m the most experienced and knowledgeable person in our village!”</p><p>“Yes!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded silently!</p><p>“Cultivation techniques are out of reach for most people, so they are unable to learn magic! But at the same time, cultivating magic also requires talent. Without magic talent, even if one had cultivation methods, they can’t become a noble Magician, either!”</p><p>Captain Hudders stared right at Meng Lei and added, “You, on the other hand, have actually unknowingly become a Magician before any of us even realized. It’s highly likely that you possess astounding magic talent…”</p><p>Captain Hudders couldn’t find the appropriate words to describe this anymore!</p><p>Incredible?</p><p>Inconceivable?</p><p>Astonishing?</p><p>However, what he could be sure of was that Meng Lei definitely possessed exceptional magic talent—precious talent that countless people dreamed of and longed for, yet couldn’t have!</p><p><em>Do I have magic talent?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was uncertain and nervous, though!</p><p>“Meng Lei! Remember this! Be sure to seize this opportunity well!”</p><p>Hudders belched, somewhat drunk. He said, “You should know that our village is under the jurisdiction of the Fire Dragon Kingdom, which is also one of the kingdoms under the Dragon God Empire’s command!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded silently!</p><p>In Heaven’s Vault Continent, innumerable races existed!</p><p>The most powerful, and the most ancient, of all were the four great intelligent races—the Dragons, Titans, Fairies, and the Beast People!</p><p>The four great intelligent races dominated Heaven’s Vault Continent and occupied a good half of the continent’s land. Upon which, they built the four great empires that had ruled over Heaven’s Vault Continent for as long as 10,000 years!</p><p>The Dragon God Empire!</p><p>The Titan Empire!</p><p>The Fairy Empire!</p><p>And the Beast People Empire!</p><p>Out of the four, the Dragon God Empire was situated in the east of Heaven’s Vault Continent, overlooking the endless oceans in the east and facing the Magical Beast Ridge in the west. With 15 Kingdoms and 48 Dukedoms under its rule, it was a multi-racial empire governed by the Colossal Dragons!</p><p>“The Colossal Dragons have a strong and powerful physique and are also skilled in Dragon-Language Magic. They are one of the most powerful races in the continent. Unfortunately, the Colossal Dragon bloodline is simply too strong, so their reproduction rate is extremely low!”</p><p>Captain Hudders spoke like someone who had experienced the many vicissitudes of life. He went on and said, “Looking at the entire Dragon God Empire, there is only an extremely low number of pure-blooded Colossal Dragons. For the sake of convenience in governance, the Dragon God Empire has divided the races under their rule into four classes!”</p><p>“Four classes?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s spirits perked up!</p><p>“Yes, four classes, which is also known as the Four-Classes Stratification System!”</p><p>Captain Hudders let out a wry laugh and went on. He said, “The four classes represent four completely different social statuses. Their racial obligations and the way the law treats the four classes are also completely different!</p><p>“Pure-blooded dragons belong to the first class. They are born into nobility and are conferred as the empire’s Marquises the moment they are born. Not only do they own a large amount of land, but they also get to enjoy all sorts of special privileges that we would never have even in our dreams!”</p><p><em>First-class: Pure-blooded dragons!</em></p><p><em>Born into nobility!</em></p><p><em>Conferred as Marquises the moment they were born!</em></p><p>Meng Lei quietly digested these pieces of news. Then, he asked, “What about the second class? Which race is in second class?”</p><p>“In second class are the Drakes!”</p><p>In a low voice, Hudders said, “The dragons are innately lustful beings. In order to make up for their low reproduction rates, the pure-blooded dragons frequently commit lewd and immoral acts!</p><p>“This way, they would naturally give birth to some mixed-breed descendants that possess dragon blood. These descendants are known as the Drakes!</p><p>“The Drakes are also categorized into Dragon People and Dragon Beasts!”</p><p>Meng Lei was rather dumbfounded. He couldn’t help but conjure up some rather eye-stinging images in his mind. A Colossal Dragon riding on top of a wild boar, and then… Giving birth to a dragon-pig?</p><p><em>Or if it’s riding on a horse? Hmm, a dragon-horse?</em></p><p><em>And if it’s riding on a human…</em></p><p>A single sweatdrop appeared on Meng Lei’s forehead.</p><p><em>… A dragon-man?</em></p><p>“The Drakes inherit part of the dragons’ talent. Some of them have powerful physiques, and some of them are skilled in Dragon-Language Magic. Adding to this their terrifying numbers, they are the Dragon God Empire’s main forces. 80% of Dragon God Empire’s nobles are Drakes!”</p><p>Meng Lei asked another question, “What about the third class?”</p><p>“The third class is our human race’s nobility!”</p><p>Hudders sighed before he said, “In Dragon God Empire, the largest population is neither the Drakes nor other intelligent races. Rather, it’s us, humans, that make up 90% of the Dragon God Empire’s population!</p><p>“Most humans’ battle capabilities are weak, and they are of a lowly status. They are also unable to come into contact with magic or Battle Aura even in their whole lives. Thus, they can only be fourth-class commoners for all generations to come!</p><p>“But even so, there are always a few lucky ones born with exceptional talent! Through various ways, they come to possess methods of learning Battle Aura and magic, and end up possessing great power!</p><p>“In Heaven’s Vault Continent where the strong are revered, one’s battle capabilities will always be a status symbol. Thus, the strong among us humans can also receive high positions within the Dragon God Empire and become nobility!</p><p>“Among them, the most famous of all is the Swirling Snow Sword Saint, Master Galen Bonaparte!”</p><p>When he brought up Galen Bonaparte, Captain Hudders’ eyes were full of worship and respect. He said, “The legends of Galen Bonaparte are well-known throughout the continent. He is the idol and pride of the human race, and his existence motivates each generation of men among the human race!”</p><p>“Galen Bonaparte?”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded lightly. This name was the subject of innumerable traveling bards and minstrels. Songs and poems about him were so widely known that even three-year-old toddlers knew about him. He could be said to be the strongest person among the human race in Dragon God Empire, as well as the human with the highest position in Dragon God Empire!</p><p>“The fourth class is naturally normal people like us!”</p><p>Hudders said, “Normal humans have a lowly status and belong to the domain of people to be exploited. Not only are we not protected by the empire’s law, but we also have to shoulder the heavy obligation of military service!</p><p>“The empire’s law dictates that all humans, upon reaching 16 years of age, must head to various areas of the empire to carry out obligatory military service. This could be enlisting in the army, going deep into the mines to mine for minerals, or entering the nobility’s mansions to become slaves or guards…</p><p>“Such is the destiny of fourth-class people, and also the destiny of normal people like us!</p><p>“If I recall correctly… You’re already 15 years old, right?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-8

Chapter 8

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 8</h1><p><em>Upon reaching 16 years of age—obligatory military service!</em></p><p><em>Enlisting in the army, mining, becoming a slave, or a guard…</em></p><p>Such a law sounded very inconceivable and completely exploited normal humans. If any country on Earth dared to pass such a law, they would have been overthrown a long time ago!</p><p>However, very unfortunately, this was Heaven’s Vault Continent, a world where martial ability levels were unevenly distributed, and the strong were in power!</p><p>“16-year-olds must carry out obligatory military service… Is that so…”</p><p>Meng Lei’s brows drew together into a deep frown. As someone with a sane mind, he naturally rejected such a law that was practically ridiculous. Obligatory military service? Don’t even think about it!</p><p>“Captain Hudders, what should I do if I don’t want to perform obligatory military service?”</p><p>“Military service is an obligation that every normal human must fulfill!” Hudders shook his head and went on. “Unless you’re part of the nobility, the nobility’s descendant, a Third-Grade and above Magician, or a Fourth-Grade and above Warrior!”</p><p>“These four types of people don’t need to perform military service?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes lit up.</p><p>“In other words, as long as I become a Third-Grade Magician or a Fourth-Grade Warrior, I won’t need to serve the military anymore?”</p><p>“Yes! But that’s too difficult!”</p><p>Hudders shook his head lightly. He said, “I know nothing about magic cultivation, so I can’t comment on that. However, I know very well myself that it is impossible to become a Fourth-Grade Warrior within a year!”</p><p>Meng Lei frowned lightly and asked, “Is it very difficult?”</p><p>“Difficult doesn’t even cut it. It’s practically impossible! The cultivation of Battle Aura is a process that trains the endurance of one’s body and the accumulation of Battle Aura. Without the support of any external items or power, every grade requires a very long time to level up!”</p><p>Hudders laughed wryly and added, “When I was in the army back then, it was only after six years of hard training that I became a First-Grade Warrior. And it was only after another ten years of arduous cultivation that by a stroke of luck, I had a breakthrough to a Second-Grade Warrior!</p><p>“That adds up to 16 years in total, you know! Do you think that it’s possible for you to cross four grades in a year?”</p><p>Meng Lei was astounded. “You spent 16 years and only became a Second-Grade Warrior?”</p><p>“Yes! A whole 16 years!”</p><p>Hudders nodded lightly and added, “Of course, that’s also because I have very poor talent! Your talent in magic may be very good, so you shouldn’t take that long!</p><p>“I’ve heard of geniuses who are exceptionally talented in magic that managed to become Master Magicians within a few years. Take, for example, the students of our Fire Dragon Kingdom’s magic academies. They must reach a certain grade before they can graduate, and fourth-grade seems to be the lowest requirement!”</p><p><em>Magic? Do I have magic talent?</em></p><p>Meng Lei wasn’t very confident about that. His ability to use the Fireball Technique had no relation to magic talent whatsoever. It was completely thanks to his cheating device!</p><p>“Captain Hudders, where can I learn magic?”</p><p>“At the magic academies, of course!”</p><p>Captain Hudders patted Meng Lei’s shoulder and said, “There’s one right in the kingdom’s capital. It’s the start of August now, so it’ll soon be the magic academy’s enrollment period. If you wish to learn magic, you can go there and give it a try!</p><p>“If you can really enter a magic academy and study there, your life will change completely. Even if you can’t become a lofty aristocrat after you graduate, you can also become a noble Magician, and that’s a thousand times better than your current situation!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded silently. Due to the system’s existence, he had the confidence to change his destiny. However, just having the system wasn’t enough. He needed to go out of the mountains and get to truly know this world!</p><p>Going to the magic academy to study seemed like a pretty good option. Not only would he be able to come into contact with people and things that he couldn’t right now, but he could also learn useful magic knowledge!</p><p>Broaden his horizons!</p><p>Learn and study magic!</p><p>The precondition to this was… Talent in magic!</p><p>“Looks like you’ve made your choice. That’s great!”</p><p>Upon seeing Meng Lei’s expression, Hudders felt very comforted. He said, “I’ll take you to the capital one month later. However, you’ll need 10 gold coins to take the magic assessment. You must get that ready by yourself!”</p><p>“10 gold coins? That’s such a scam!”</p><p>…</p><p>The onslaught of the beast tide had a rather significant influence on Magical Beast Village. Meat supply was just one aspect of it. It had only been the next day when trade caravans rushed over to the village upon receiving the news!</p><p>They collected beast fur and hide in exchange for salt and alcohol.</p><p>The adults bargained and transacted with the trade caravans, while the children laughed and played around the trade caravans’ horse carriages. It had been long since the usually quiet and peaceful Magical Beast Village last welcomed such a bustling and lively atmosphere!</p><p>Meng Lei also sold a few pieces of beast fur and hide in exchange for some salt. He also wished to get a jar of alcohol, but unfortunately, it was too expensive. Just a few pieces of fur and hide weren’t enough for that!</p><p>The good news was that there were a lot of people and the atmosphere was bustling and lively, so they dropped quite a lot of physical body constitution light balls. After Meng Lei collected and assimilated them all, his Physical Body Constitution field increased by 5 points, which was an unexpected bonus!</p><p>The trade caravan finally left after staying for a day. Meng Lei had an early night after having dinner. The next day, he set off alone with some smoked jerky and entered the Magical Beast Forest!</p><p>This was what he had decided to do after a lot of careful consideration!</p><p>The Most Powerful Pickup System was an excellent upgrading tool, but light balls weren’t going to come to him just by cooping himself up at home. He had to take the initiative to strike instead!</p><p>Moreover, he needed 10 gold coins for the magic assessment, but Meng Lei currently didn’t even have a single cent on him!</p><p>No money?</p><p>He could just forget about the assessment, then!</p><p>No matter which aspect he was coming from, he mustn’t just sit and wait for death to befall him!</p><p>Of course, if he had a choice, Meng Lei didn’t want to risk his life and enter the Magical Beast Forest alone, either. However, he didn’t have that choice. With the beast tide’s visit, every household had ample food and clothes, so the guards had no need to go hunting for the time being.</p><p>Thus, Meng Lei could only go by himself!</p><p>As a villager living at the Magical Beast Forest’s fringes, Meng Lei wasn’t entirely ignorant about the Magical Beast Forest. He knew which places were safe and which places he must stay clear of.</p><p><em>There are a lot of Magical Beasts in the Magical Beast Forest, but there are basically only wild beasts in the outer boundary!</em></p><p><em>As long as I stay at and limit my range of activity to the outer boundary, there won’t be any danger!</em></p><p>A forest appeared before his eyes after he exited the village.</p><p>A thick layer of fallen leaves was laid out beneath his feet, while ancient and strange trees, which gave off a damp and decaying stink, surrounded him.</p><p>It was quiet, deathly so!</p><p>Yet every once in a while, the roars of wild beasts, as though wailing coming from hell, would echo. It made one’s scalp tingle, such that no one would dare to become numb to their surroundings and be careless!</p><p>“If you cannot accept being mediocre, then the only thing you can do is to risk your life and fight! The road to becoming strong starts now!”</p><p>Meng Lei took a deep breath. The look in his eyes became strong and determined. Then, without looking back even once, he dived into the Magical Beast Forest. The forest was full of thick and dense foliage, which blocked out most of the sunlight.</p><p>With the help of a few rays of sunlight, he could see long lines of walnut-sized ants; caterpillars with sharp spikes all over their bodies slowly wriggling on trees; earthworms as thick as a person’s arm rolling under dry leaves, revealing their scarlet red bodies…</p><p>Meng Lei found everything in front of him very new and fascinating!</p><p>This was indeed an incredible world!</p><p>Splat!</p><p>Suddenly, a crisp sound came from under his foot. Meng Lei lifted his foot and took a look. It turned out that he had accidentally stepped on and squished a palm-sized… white maggot!</p><p>“Ding! 1 White-Lined Maggot killed. 2 bronze coins gained!”</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>“You can gain money even with this!?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-9

Chapter 9

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 9</h1><p>Towering ancient trees and thick undergrowth!</p><p>The forest was full of dangers, and one needed to be careful. Not to mention the magical beasts deep in the forest, even the wild beasts around the borders were not to be trifled with!</p><p>A tiny poisonous spider or an inconspicuous little snake could take Meng Lei’s life. He had to be extremely careful!</p><p>Rustle—</p><p>The grass in front of him suddenly shook. After pulling the grass away, Meng Lei focused his gaze and saw two pig-like beasts!</p><p>They were about the size of an ordinary wild boar, but their entire bodies were jade green. The tips of their tails hung high in the sky, with a green glimmer. He knew that those were very poisonous with just one look!</p><p>“Huh? It turned out to be Scorpion-Tailed Green-Skinned Pigs. I am so lucky!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help licking his lips. These were Scorpion-Tailed Green-Skinned Pigs and were delicious. They were loved by aristocrats, and a Scorpion-Tailed Green-Skinned Pig could be sold for 3 to 5 gold coins!</p><p>With two of these pigs, he could pay for the magic test!</p><p>Meng Lei raised the borrowed dagger and approached quietly!</p><p>The two pigs did not know that danger was coming. One was riding on top of the other, with its lower body shaking vigorously, performing some shameful thing!</p><p>After that… There was no after!</p><p>They sacrificed their lives in the midst of the great cause of reproducing offspring. They died a glorious and noble death, and their deaths were not in vain!</p><p>“Ding! Killed 2 Scorpion-Tailed Green-Skinned Pigs. 8 gold coins received!”</p><p>The cue tone of the system sounded promptly. Meng Lei opened his palm, and 8 golden gold coins appeared in his palms, obtained from killing the Scorpion-Tailed Green-Skinned Pigs!</p><p>“This cheating device is so useful. The wealth I obtained can actually be withdrawn!”</p><p>Meng Lei stacked up the gold coins. They felt heavy, made of 24K pure gold. After that, Meng Lei placed them into the system!</p><p>Not only could he withdraw gold coins, but he could also store it. This was another use of the Most Powerful Pickup System, which was very convenient!</p><p>This meant that he did not need to carry heavy hunting equipment like other hunters, This saved a lot of energy and enabled him to continue hunting non-stop—killing two birds with one stone!</p><p>“The only regret is that no light balls were dropped!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head and felt a little unsatisfied. Compared to the gold coins, he would rather have the attribute light balls so that he could improve his abilities!</p><p>“Continue moving forward!”</p><p>…</p><p>Splat!</p><p>Splat!</p><p>After moving forward for a few kilometers, a frightening noise suddenly traveled over. After parting the vegetation to take a look, Meng Lei couldn’t help but break into cold sweat.</p><p>The vegetation in the forest was too thick, affecting the line of vision and illumination. However, through the trees’ dense mottled shadows, Meng Lei managed to see a creeping giant beast!</p><p>A giant python as thick as a water bucket and 30 meters long was withdrawing while swallowing a black tiger as big as an ox into its stomach!</p><p>The python’s entire body was dark green, and its mouth was wide opened at almost 180°. The black tiger’s head had already been swallowed by it. If nothing out of the ordinary happened, this black tiger would become a meal for this dark green python!</p><p><em>If such a big python appeared on Earth, it would definitely cause an uproar!</em></p><p>Meng Lei swallowed his saliva as hesitation flashed across his eyes. This giant python was so huge. He would definitely be well-rewarded after killing it!</p><p>The question was—would he be able to kill it?</p><p>Meng Lei thought for a while and let it go. This creature was too big, and he could already feel its cold and sinister aura a long way away. Meng Lei was not confident in killing it!</p><p><em>If that’s the case, it’s better to just leave. My life is more important!</em></p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>At that moment, the cold and emotionless voice of the system sounded. Meng Lei looked carefully and saw a light ball behind the dark green python!</p><p>No, not just one!</p><p>Two white light balls, a silver light ball, and even a green light ball!</p><p>There were a total of four light balls!</p><p>“Pick them up! Immediately pick them up!”</p><p>Meng Lei exclaimed in his heart!</p><p>“They are too far for me to pick them up!”</p><p>“Let me move ahead! This small distance is 10 meters far?”</p><p>Meng Lei complained as he pushed aside the vegetation and quietly reached over. Although his life was important, he decided that this was a risk worth taking after seeing the light balls!</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +3!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Spirit +1!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host received the First-Grade Spell, Thorn Vine!”</p><p>A warm current poured into him, rapidly strengthening his body!</p><p>An icy aura flowed into his mind. His thoughts and consciousness also became more active.</p><p>Meng Lei ignored all this. He was attracted by his newly acquired spell. “First-Grade Spell, Thorn Vine? Wait… Spell?”</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t help but look at the giant python. A hint of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Ordinary beasts would not drop spells, not even the lowest level spell!</p><p>In other words, the dark green giant python in front of him was a… Magical Beast!</p><p>A chill traveled up Meng Lei’s back. At that moment, the dark green giant python also noticed Meng Lei’s presence. A pair of snake eyes looked over, with an icy stare!</p><p>“Run!”</p><p>Without even thinking about it, Meng Lei ran!</p><p>However, he was a step too late. Amidst the soft creeping sounds, dark green vines quickly traveled over!</p><p>The surface of the vines was covered with spikes, gleaming with the cold light of the forest. Meng Lei had no doubts about the power of these thorns. If he were entangled by them, even if he managed to survive, his skin would be ripped off!</p><p>At that moment of crisis, Meng Lei jumped with all his might. He was like a spring, jumping over the thorny vines in an instant and disappearing into the vegetation!</p><p>Hiss~</p><p>The dark green python stared in the direction where Meng Lei had disappeared and was motionless for a long time!</p><p>…</p><p>Puff~</p><p><em>I was scared to death just now!</em></p><p>Meng Lei leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. Luckily, he reacted quickly, and the dark green giant python was in the midst of its meal. Otherwise, he might have perished back there. Presently, he was definitely not a Magical Beast’s match!</p><p><em>Damn! The Magical Beast Forest is too dangerous! I encountered a Magical Beast immediately after I stepped into the forest! How dangerous would it be in the depths of the forest?</em></p><p>Meng Lei wiped the sweat from his forehead and became more vigilant. The Magical Beast Forest was more dangerous than he had imagined. He had to be extremely careful!</p><p>“Let’s attack together!”</p><p>“Kill this beast!”</p><p>Roar!</p><p>At that moment, fierce fighting noises traveled over to his ears. Meng Lei shook himself and pricked his ears to listen carefully!</p><p><em>Battle! People battling over there! It should be a group of people besieging a Magical Beast!</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s spirit was immediately roused. The more people there were, the more likely light balls would be dropped. Also, the stronger the person, the more bountiful the light balls would be!</p><p><em>Let’s take a look?</em></p><p>After hesitating for a moment, Meng Lei went ahead!</p><p>After which, he saw the intense scene!</p><p>A four-meter-tall blood-red giant spider was under siege. Its eight legs were like eight steel spears, waving wildly with an airtight defense!</p><p>It was besieged by four humans—three men and a woman!</p><p>The men were in front, wielding weapons and fighting fiercely with the giant spider. The woman was behind, holding a magic wand, chanting a tongue-twisting magic spell!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-10

Chapter 10

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 10</h1><p>The giant spider was four meters tall, and its entire body was blood-red, as though it was made from a pile of blood Buddha jade. It was covered with needle-like spikes. Its six eyes were as big as grapefruits, cruel and bloodthirsty!</p><p>This was a Second-Grade Magical Beast—Blood Jade Demon Spider!</p><p>As a second-grade monster, the Blood Jade Demon Spider was extremely tyrannical, especially at the border where other Magical Beasts were scarce!</p><p>But today, this spider was in trouble because the four humans that besieged it were not weak. The three men surrounded the Blood Jade Demon Spider and attacked it continuously!</p><p>The woman at the periphery was holding a magic wand. Streaks of lightning bolts gathered on top of the spider’s head, threatening to strike any moment!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>The Blood Jade Demon Spider felt a strong sense of danger from the lightning above its head. It roared at the sky, and its eight long legs leaped as though they were springs, charging toward the woman!</p><p>It wanted to break the magic spell above its head and prevent it from completing!</p><p>“Protect Alison!”</p><p>A brawny man with a giant axe shouted as he slashed at one of the spider’s legs. Sparks spattered among clanking metal. The spider’s leg remained intact, revealing the sturdiness of its legs.</p><p>Even so, the spider paused for a moment. At this time, the lightning above its head finally finished gathering, forming an extremely dazzling and powerful lightning dragon!</p><p>“Dance of the lightning dragon!” yelled the woman, as she struck down with her magic wand!</p><p>Snap!</p><p>With a clear-sounding crackle, the lightning dragon suddenly descended!</p><p>Crackling—</p><p>The Blood Jade Demon Spider was struck, causing its blood-colored body to twitch violently. It appeared like it was on stimulants as it shuffled around!</p><p>“Here’s our chance!”</p><p>The three men would never miss such a good opportunity and took the chance to launch their strongest attack!</p><p>Snap!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Splat!</p><p>Three attacks struck the Blood Jade Demon Spider at the same time. This terrifying second-grade magical beast let out a scream and fell down instantly!</p><p>After that, it was quiet!</p><p><em>S-so powerful!</em></p><p>Meng Lei, who was hiding in the shadows, witnessed everything. He was utterly stunned by the terrifying Blood Jade Demon Spider, the sharp lightning dragon that descended from the sky, and the three men with frightening attacks!</p><p>All these left him shaken as he experienced the power of this world and his own insignificance!</p><p><em>It would be great if I was so strong!</em></p><p>Meng Lei sighed.</p><p>At that moment, the cold and emotionless voice of the system sounded. “Ding! Falling object detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +3!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +3!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Spirit +1!”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful, received Meditation Method!”</p><p>As the series of prompts sounded, the familiar warm current and icy aura reappeared and began to strengthen Meng Lei’s body and spirit. However, Meng Lei was attracted by the Meditation Method that appeared last!</p><p>“Meditation Method? What is this?”</p><p>Meng Lei was curious and quickly checked it out!</p><p>After a look, Meng Lei was instantly ecstatic!</p><p>The cultivation of a Magician mainly compassed two segments:</p><p>First, absorb the magical elements between heaven and earth and refine them into magic power.</p><p>Second, increase your spiritual power!</p><p>Both steps could only be completed through “meditation”!</p><p>It could be said that meditation was the basic foundation of a Magician. Without meditation, one couldn’t get magic power or improve their spiritual power!</p><p>It could be seen that if one wanted to become a Magician, they must at least master meditation. At the moment, Meng Lei did not know anything about meditation!</p><p><em>This came at the right time. With the meditation method, I can gain magic power through meditation!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was inexplicably excited. He could only use the system to pick up the magic-power light balls under certain conditions!</p><p>Too many limitations!</p><p>The probability was too low!</p><p>Full of uncertainty!</p><p>It would be different after he had mastered the Meditation Method.</p><p>Being able to refine magic power was equivalent to having the ability to obtain magic power via his own efforts.</p><p>Meng Lei glanced at the four of them and was about to sneak away. He planned to look for a safe hiding spot to try out the Meditation Method he received.</p><p>“Who is there?”</p><p>Unexpectedly, at that moment, the woman who was closest to him suddenly turned her head and waved her magic wand. It shot out a lightning bolt as thick as a thumb and struck a small tree in front of Meng Lei!</p><p>Snap!</p><p>The small tree was split into two, and the fractured area was almost carbonized!</p><p><em>My god!!!</em></p><p>Meng Lei fell to the ground, his face full of horror!</p><p>“Alison, what’s the matter?”</p><p>“There’s someone over there!”</p><p>“Huh?”</p><p>The four soon discovered Meng Lei!</p><p>“Who are you? What are you sneaking around here?”</p><p>The brawny man with the giant axe yelled as he frowned and stared at Meng Lei. The other three also stared at Meng Lei, with threatening gazes. The Magical Beast Forest may be extremely dangerous but what was more terrifying were other humans!</p><p>When they were in fierce battle with the magical beast just now, had someone snuck up behind for an attack, they would be in danger!</p><p>“I… I’m a villager from nearby!” Meng Lei ‘trembled with fear’. “I… was attracted by your battle. I was simply curious and came over to take a look. I have no bad intentions…”</p><p>“Villager?”</p><p>“I didn’t sense any Battle Aura from him!”</p><p>“Alison, did you sense any Magic Aura?”</p><p>“No!”</p><p>“Looks like he is just an ordinary villager!”</p><p>The four of them immediately heaved a sigh of relief. The brawny man with the giant axe shouted, “You are so daring. A young brat that dares to barge into the Magical Beast Forest alone. Do you want to lose your life?”</p><p>“Go back quickly. This place is not for you!” The female Magician, Alison, reminded him out of kind intentions. She was plain-looking, with freckles on her face. However, she was tall, and he could see her exquisite curves even through the magic robe!</p><p><em>These four shouldn’t be bad people!</em></p><p>Although Meng Lei looked less than 15 years old, he was a middle-aged uncle in his previous life. He had met countless people and had some experience in judging people through their words and mannerism!</p><p>He could see that these four were young and were probably college students. He could tell from the badges on their chests!</p><p><em>Since they are not bad people, perhaps I can follow them? By doing so, I can find and pick up things!</em></p><p><em>Why not… have a try?</em></p><p>Just as he was thinking about this, Meng Lei squeezed out two tears and said with a sad face, “I… I… am lost! I can’t find my way home!”</p><p>“Lost?”</p><p>The four of them looked at each other and frowned at the same time. At last, Alison said, “He looks so piteous alone. Why don’t we bring him along? The Magical Beast Forest is too dangerous!”</p><p>“This… doesn’t seem like a good idea?”</p><p>A skinny young man holding a dagger frowned. “The Magical Beast Forest is so dangerous, and we will be targeting magical beasts for this training. Wouldn’t it be a burden to bring him along?”</p><p>“I’m not a burden, I am very strong!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-11

Chapter 11

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 11</h1><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>A white veil several meters wide cascaded from the top of the cliff with a deafening boom. It crashed against the pool at the bottom, causing countless pearl-like water droplets to splash about. The water in the pool was clear, and one could see right to the bottom. Surrounded by dense and luxuriant woods, it formed a beautiful and picturesque scene!</p><p>A “crocodile” ten meters long sprawled on the sandy ground beside the pool, basking comfortably in the sun. Its eyelids were hooded and its breathing steady as it laid there leisurely and carefreely, very pleased with itself!</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>A loud sound suddenly rang out at this point, however. A bolt of lightning that was as wide as an arm came from the sky all of a sudden and struck the crocodile with great precision. At once, the crocodile’s enormous body started to convulse and spasm violently as though it had consumed Ecstasy pills!</p><p>“Go!”</p><p>The next instant, three well-built men sprang out of the bushes and attacked the convulsing crocodile!</p><p>“Millo, block its way and don’t let it go into the pool! This will become very troublesome the moment we allow it to enter the pool!</p><p>“Yale, Bobby, restrain it from the sides and keep it busy!”</p><p>“Understood!”</p><p>“Understood!”</p><p>Then, Alison, the female Magician, started to chant magic spells!</p><p>Yes, that’s right!</p><p>This group of people was exactly the four-men team out for training that Meng Lei had encountered earlier. However, what was different was that there was now an additional “lost” person… Meng Lei!</p><p><em>Hehe, they’ve started fighting again!</em></p><p>As he hid in the bushes, Meng Lei watched Alison and the other three, who were engaged in fierce battle again. A look of anticipation flashed across his eyes!</p><p>This was the third battle that he was witnessing since he had joined the four-men team!</p><p>The first was an intense battle against eight Iron Fire Ants!</p><p>The Iron Fire Ant was a First-Grade Fire-Elemental Magical Beast. With herculean strength and bodies as tough as iron, Iron Fire Ants could kill even a normal Second-Grade Magical Beast when they teamed up. Their battle capabilities were fairly fearsome!</p><p>The second was a fierce battle against the Poison Swamp Frog!</p><p>The Poison Swamp Frog was a Second-Grade Water-Elemental Magical Beast. Apart from being skilled in water-elemental magic, it could also launch highly toxic attacks, as well as sound wave attacks. With endless tricks up its sleeve, it was a Second-Grade Magical Beast that was extremely hard to deal with!</p><p>The third one was a battle against the Chrysanthemum Sky Pig!</p><p>The Chrysanthemum ¹ Sky Pig was a Second-Grade Earth-Elemental Magical Beast. Skilled in earth-elemental magic, the stench of its fart was terribly foul, so much so that normal wild beasts could pass out just from the smell! It wasn’t a beast that was hard to deal with, but it was extremely disgusting!</p><p>Also, it was proven that Meng Lei had made an extremely correct choice!</p><p>After personally witnessing the three battles, apart from having watched three thrilling blockbusters with visual effects, Meng Lei himself had also received great rewards!</p><p>And wasn’t that so? Because his personal stats had increased!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human</p><p>Wealth: 239 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Trainee Warrior (75/100)</p><p>Spirit: Normal Human Being (9/10)</p><p>Magic Power: Normal Human Being (7/10)</p><p>Spell(s): Fireball Technique, Thorn Vine, Water Bubble</p><p>Be it his Physical Body Constitution, Spirit, or Magic Power, all of them had increased significantly as compared to what they were in the past. At the same time, he had also picked up a new spell—Water Bubble!</p><p>Although it was also just a first-grade spell, Water Bubble was still magic, after all. There was great value in it!</p><p>As for his Wealth that had reached 239 gold coins, Meng Lei had gained them from killing two Iron Fire Ants…</p><p>Cough, Meng Lei wasn’t capable of killing Iron Fire Ants, of course. However, giving the heavily injured ants a fatal blow when they were on their last breath and on the brink of death after being beaten up was something achievable for him!</p><p>And in the eyes of the system, this was no different from Meng Lei killing the Iron Fire Ants with his own hands!</p><p>Thus, Meng Lei had gained 200 gold coins after he killed two Iron Fire Ants. One could consider this as having exploited the system’s loophole, but it could also be counted as a pleasant surprise!</p><p><em>I wonder what I can pick up this time?</em></p><p>With his past experience, Meng Lei was full of anticipation toward the battle taking place this time. According to Alison and the others, the crocodile in front of them… No, to be more accurate, it was a Rampaging Pool Salamander!</p><p>It was said that this beast had a bit of Water-Elemental Colossal Dragon blood in it. Not only was its physique strong and powerful, but it was also skilled in water-elemental magic. Thus, it was a considerably strong Second-Grade Magical Beast!</p><p>This was especially true when it was nearby pools of water. Such an environment was extremely advantageous to the Rampaging Pool Salamander in bringing out its strength. Thus, it wasn’t that easy to kill!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p><em>Hehe, items drop the easiest during fierce battles. What has dropped this time?</em></p><p>“Pick it up! Hurry and pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +8!”</p><p><em>Tsk, tsk, physical body constitution again… With that, my Physical Body Constitution field has reached 83 points. Soon, it’ll break through the 100-point milestone!</em></p><p>The 100-point milestone was indicative of a First-Grade Warrior!</p><p>Although a Trainee Warrior was only a grade short of a First-Grade Warrior, there was a huge difference in their strength. Meng Lei already couldn’t wait to become a First-Grade Warrior!</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>At the other side, the battle was exceptionally intense!</p><p>The Rampaging Pool Salamander might look dumb, but it was extremely agile and nimble. With its thick and muscular limbs moving swiftly and its strong and forceful tail matching their movements, Millo and the other two somehow just couldn’t take much advantage of it.</p><p>“My warrior god! This beast’s armor is too tough. I can’t split it open at all! What should we do? C’mon, think of something!”</p><p>“Neither can I! Looks like we can only attack its weakness!”</p><p>“Alison, use your magic and paralyze the Rampaging Pool Salamander! I’ll attack its eyes!”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>At the end of Alison’s spell-chanting, a lightning dragon struck down from high in the sky and struck the Rampaging Pool Salamander viciously!</p><p>The lightning dragon’s power was obviously a lot stronger. The Rampaging Pool Salamander’s back where it had been struck was charred black, revealing crimson-red bloodied flesh. At the same time, it also began to convulse!</p><p>“Here’s my chance!”</p><p>While taking advantage of the split-second where the Rampaging Pool Salamander was paralyzed, Bobby, the small and skinny young man, seized the opportunity and instantly appeared where the Rampaging Pool Salamander’s head was. His dagger flashed across the air and stabbed right at the beast’s right eye!</p><p>“Die, beast!”</p><p>Bobby’s eyes were icy cold, with victory well within his grasp!</p><p>However, what he never expected at all was a wall of water suddenly appearing in front of the Rampaging Pool Salamander during this moment of life and death, and blocking the sharp dagger!</p><p>The dagger stabbed into the wall of water as though it was stabbing into a ball of cotton, and its speed was abruptly halted. The Rampaging Pool Salamander seized the opportunity, and its head ducked to the side, evading the lethal blow!</p><p>The dagger grazed the edge of the Rampaging Pool Salamander’s eye and stabbed into its neck, causing a series of sparks to fly about. However, it didn’t manage to cause any real damage to the Rampaging Pool Salamander!</p><p>“I missed!”</p><p>Shocked, Bobby retreated with a burst of speed, no longer pressing on with the battle!</p><p>“What a shame that such a good opportunity went to waste!”</p><p>“If Bobby’s attack had been successful, that beast would have died for sure!”</p><p>Upon seeing what had happened, regret filled the eyes of Millo, who was holding a giant axe in his hand, and Yale, the other muscular man with a large sword. After missing such a golden opportunity, it would be difficult for them to find another chance to kill the Rampaging Pool Salamander. Or at least, they would need to wait till Alison’s magic preparation was ready.</p><p>It was hard to say just how the Rampaging Pool Salamander might go berserk during this short period of time!</p><p><em>What a shame!</em> thought Alison, the tall and slender freckled Magician, too.</p><p>However, what all of them didn’t expect at all was the Rampaging Pool Salamander suddenly letting out a sad and shrill cry. Then, its enormous body started to rock and sway forcefully!</p><p>“What’s going on?”</p><p>Alison and the other three received a huge shock. It was then that they noticed someone on the Rampaging Pool Salamander’s back. That person had a dagger in his grip and was stabbing the beast’s back forcefully with it, causing blood to fly everywhere!</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>Millo, Bobby, and the others’ eyes widened dramatically. They had realized that the person was actually Meng Lei, and his dagger was stabbing right into the area where Alison’s lightning dragon had struck and mangled earlier. The area was charred black, revealing crimson bloodied flesh.</p><p>“Die! Die!”</p><p>As though he had gone mad, Meng Lei stabbed the Rampaging Pool Salamander again and again with a vigor that was almost crazed. However, he wasn’t just stabbing randomly without any target. Rather, his strikes were aimed at the Rampaging Pool Salamander’s… spine!</p><p>He had watched quite a few outdoor TV programs in his past life—some guy named Bear Grylls ¹ had cut and broken an alligator’s spine and easily killed it after that!</p><p>Meng Lei wanted to try and see if this would work on a Rampaging Pool Salamander…</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-12

Chapter 12

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 12</h1><p>“That guy’s nuts! Does he take the Rampaging Pool Salamander for an Iron Fire Ant?”</p><p>“The Iron Fire Ant is just a First-Grade Magical Beast, and it was already on the brink of death from our attacks. That’s how he had gotten lucky. But a Rampaging Pool Salamander’s different. That beast is still fine and dandy…”</p><p>Upon seeing Meng Lei riding on top of the Rampaging Pool Salamander and stabbing wildly and mindlessly at it, Alison and the other three men frowned after getting over their momentary shock!</p><p>The Rampaging Pool Salamander was a Second-Grade Magical Beast, and moreover, it was still healthy and intact!</p><p>Under such circumstances, Meng Lei was actually harboring delusions that he could kill the Rampaging Pool Salamander when he was just a little brat that hadn’t even grown up?</p><p>What a joke!</p><p>And in truth, it was just as they had expected!</p><p>Despite Meng Lei giving it all he got, he still couldn’t cut through the Rampaging Pool Salamander’s spine. Not only was the beast’s armor as tough as iron, but its bones were also as solid as diamonds. How could it possibly be cut off that easily!</p><p>On the contrary, the intense pain coming from its back assaulted the Rampaging Pool Salamander’s senses, causing the Second-Grade Magical Beast with a bit of Water-Elemental Colossal Dragon blood in it to go berserk. It let out roar after roar and shook its body madly, as though a wild horse that had escaped its reins, and attempted to fling away Meng Lei, who was clinging onto its back!</p><p>Meng Lei could sense its strength. He knew that he would definitely be flung out if this went on. He was close to his limit now!</p><p><em>I can only go all out now!</em></p><p>Meng Lei gritted his teeth and shouted fervently in his mind, “System, exchange all of my gold coins into Physical Body Constitution Points! Power, I need stronger power!”</p><p>“Ding! Redemption successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +23!”</p><p>“Ding! Congratulations to the host. You’ve leveled up to a First-Grade Warrior. Please continue to work hard and strive to break through again!”</p><p>A powerful warm current that he had never experienced before flowed into his limbs and bones, swiftly strengthening every part of his body. Meng Lei felt his strength starting to rise sharply. Every part of his body was filled with explosive power!</p><p><em>I’ve finally become a First-Grade Warrior!</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes were keen and brilliant. A sharp glint burst forth in his eyes. The dagger in his grip stabbed forward viciously and struck against the Rampaging Pool Salamander’s spine once more!</p><p>Snap!</p><p>The crisp sound of bones breaking rang out, as though melodious celestial music echoing in Meng Lei’s ears. Right on the heels of this, a strong wave of energy swept toward him, and Meng Lei was flung out uncontrollably!</p><p>He landed on the ground with a bam and fell flat on his face. However, Meng Lei was very excited. As he stared at the Rampaging Pool Salamander shaking all over, he let out a sneaky laugh and said, “Die, beast!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>He had only just spoken when the Rampaging Pool Salamander fell onto the ground with a loud boom. It crashed against the ground heavily, and then, its breathing ceased!</p><p>“Ding! 1 Rampaging Pool Salamander, Second-Grade Magical Beast, killed. 270 gold coins gained!”</p><p>The system’s voice notification sounded in good time as the Rampaging Pool Salamander fell onto the ground and died. Meng Lei let out a long pent-up breath and exclaimed, “It’s finally dead! All my desperate efforts weren’t in vain!”</p><p>“The Rampaging Pool Salamander… is dead?”</p><p>Alison’s four-man team was stunned. Stupefied, they stared at the dead Rampaging Pool Salamander, feeling as though their brains had short-circuited and weren’t quite functioning!</p><p>“How did the Rampaging Pool Salamander die?”</p><p>“That’s impossible, right? That’s a Rampaging Pool Salamander, a Second-Grade Magical Beast, you know!”</p><p>“Hey, brat! How did you kill the Rampaging Pool Salamander?”</p><p>Meng Lei struggled to his feet and explained with a smile, “My luck was fantastic, and I accidentally cut through the Rampaging Pool Salamander’s spine. And then, it died!”</p><p>“What? You cut through its spine??”</p><p>“No, that’s impossible! The Rampaging Pool Salamander’s bones are very solid, and its spine is even the toughest part of its body apart from its teeth. How could you have possibly cut through its spine?”</p><p>A frowning Millo with a giant axe in his hand raised his doubts regarding Meng Lei’s explanation.</p><p>Bobby, Yale, and Alison agreed with him. A Second-Grade Magical Beast’s strength was all-rounded—be it physique, speed, bone makeup, or magic, all of its attributes were stronger than a First-Grade Magical Beast’s!</p><p>Although Meng Lei was capable of killing the First-Grade Magical Beast Iron Fire Ant, it was a lot more difficult for him to kill a Rampaging Pool Salamander!</p><p><em>These guys are really not easy to dupe!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was rather resigned as he shrugged. He replied, “You don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself, then!”</p><p>Yale, the muscular man, glanced at Meng Lei and began to check the Rampaging Pool Salamander. True enough, he discovered that its spine had been cut through. Astounded, he asked, “Brat, how exactly did you manage to do it?”</p><p>“I told you, I have a lot of physical strength!”</p><p>…</p><p>The Rampaging Pool Salamander’s death led Alison’s team to see Meng Lei in a completely new light. Their attitudes toward him also improved significantly.</p><p>The strong were respected, no matter where they went. Although Meng Lei was still weaker than any of the four, he ultimately still possessed fairly strong battle capabilities. It was sufficient to give his presence value!</p><p>Of course, this also led the four of them to become even warier of Meng Lei, rather than otherwise. It was alright for them to bring a powerless brat that they didn’t know along with them as they traveled. However, now that the same brat had displayed notable battle capabilities, they mustn’t let down their guard that they ought to put up!</p><p>Meng Lei could sense the subtle changes, but he didn’t mind in the least. He had no intention of becoming friends with the four of them. He only wanted to follow them to pick up light balls and gain gold coins along the way!</p><p>There was nothing else after that!</p><p>After they took care of the Rampaging Pool Salamander, the four of them decided to take a small break, have something to eat, and continue on their way after they had a good meal. After a few battles in succession, even they were rather tired.</p><p>Moreover, the scenery at the water pool was picturesque, and it had an ample water source. It was a fantastic place to take a break at!</p><p>Skinning, cutting, cleaning, and roasting meat…</p><p>All of these were Meng Lei’s specialties. He also readied some salt and condiments. Before long, an alluring fragrance wafted from the roasting stand!</p><p>“That smells great!”</p><p>“Brat, what did you put in the meat? Why does your roasted meat smell so good?”</p><p>Alison’s four-man team had also roasted their own meat, but none of theirs was as fragrant as Meng Lei’s. This greatly puzzled the four of them, and they came over to ask for tips about meat-roasting!</p><p>“That’s because I added all of these!” Meng Lei took out the salt and condiments and said with a chuckle, “I’d prepared all of these before I left the village. You can try it, too. Spread some on the meat when you’re roasting it. It’ll taste fantastic for sure!”</p><p>The four of them were rather doubtful. Although they took the condiments and tried them out, they didn’t completely trust Meng Lei. What if this stuff was poison?</p><p>However, when they saw Meng Lei eating the meat that he had seasoned with the condiments, the four of them finally set their hearts at ease and began to happily spread the condiments on their roasted meat.</p><p><em>Those four fellows are honestly too cautious…</em></p><p>Meng Lei shook his head. He couldn’t even be bothered to diss them anymore!</p><p>“This tastes pretty good!”</p><p>“As expected of a Second-Grade Magical Beast!”</p><p>After a good meal of roasted meat, the group of five continued on their journey.</p><p>In the following few days, the four-man team continued to look for first-grade and second-grade magical beasts to train their skills with, while Meng Lei continued to pick up dropped light balls and mature in a cowardly fashion!</p><p>At the end of the few days, his rewards were bountiful, and his personal stats had increased by leaps and bounds!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human</p><p>Wealth: 916 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: First-Grade Warrior (126/200)</p><p>Spirit: Magic Apprentice (13/100)</p><p>Magic Power: Magic Apprentice (26/100)</p><p>Spell(s): Fireball Technique, Thorn Vine, Water Bubble, Earthquake, Wind Blade, Burning Hand</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-13

Chapter 13

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 13</h1><p>The number of gold coins he possessed had reached 916!</p><p>His Physical Body Constitution had reached 126 points!</p><p>His spiritual power had also improved by varying degrees!</p><p>And his magic spells, too!</p><p>Apart from the Fireball Technique, Thorn Vine, and Water Bubble that he already had, he now also had the Earth-Elemental Spell Earthquake, Wind-Elemental Spell Wind Blade, and Fire-Elemental Spell Burning Hand!</p><p>Although they were all first-grade spells, they greatly enriched Meng Lei’s repertoire of spells!</p><p>The only sad thing was that his magic power reserves were still too little. It was enough to release only about ten fireballs or ten wind blades. Anything more than that was out of the question!</p><p>In order to resolve this, Meng Lei had also secretly tried out the Meditation Method. However, even after several attempts at meditating, all of them had failed!</p><p>Magic elements in the universe?</p><p>They didn’t exist!</p><p>He couldn’t sense anything at all!</p><p>After a few fruitless attempts, Meng Lei became greatly perplexed, so he specially consulted Alison about it when he was chatting with her. The conclusion he drew in the end was—he didn’t have any talent in magic!</p><p>Yes, that’s right!</p><p>He didn’t!</p><p>Only people who had talent in magic would be able to sense magic elements!</p><p>Those who couldn’t naturally meant that they didn’t have any talent in magic!</p><p>This conclusion greatly disappointed Meng Lei. He had also had wild wishes that he could be like those main characters in web-novels, where they had terrifying cultivation talent, knew how to do everything, were gifted with an extraordinarily retentive memory, cultivated with half the effort yet achieved double the results, where one day’s work was equivalent to other people’s ten years of effort…</p><p>From the look of it now, his imagination had been too active!</p><p><em>In that case, I can only increase my magic power through pickups in the future?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was rather disheartened. Even his enthusiasm for snatching kills dwindled significantly.</p><p><em>Pickups?</em></p><p><em>Even with pickups, how much can that amount to?</em></p><p>Boom!</p><p>A gigantic creature crashed onto the ground, its enormous body convulsing violently. Upon seeing that it was about to die any moment now, Bobby, Millo, Yale, and Alison dusted off their hands. There had been great rapport in their teamwork this time, so they had successfully killed the Fiery Flying Pig!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Congratulations to the host. You’ve obtained the First-Grade Spell, Fire Ring!”</p><p><em>A spell again!</em></p><p>Meng Lei sighed.</p><p><em>Without magic power, what’s the use of having so many spells?</em></p><p>“Little Meng Lei, why are you so down in the dumps?” asked a slightly surprised Alison as she walked over to Meng Lei with a magic staff in her hand.</p><p>Her impression was that Meng Lei was usually a very lively person and was very active in snatching kills!</p><p>Why was he all wilted today?</p><p>“Alison, is it impossible for someone to become a Magician if they don’t have magic talent?” asked Meng Lei, who couldn’t reconcile himself with the fact.</p><p>“Without magic talent, of course it’s impossible for anyone to become a Magician!”</p><p>As though this was to be expected as a matter of course, Alison added, “Just like Bobby and the other two, all of them come from fairly impressive family backgrounds. Even so, they still couldn’t become Magicians precisely because they don’t have magic talent!”</p><p>“Magic talent is a hurdle. Just how many people has it obstructed and kept outside the grand hall of magic?” said Millo, the muscular man with the giant axe. Then, he raised his eyebrows and asked, “What, do you wish to become a Magician too, little Meng Lei?”</p><p>“Isn’t that obvious, Millo? Who doesn’t want to become a Magician?” teased Bobby with a laugh.</p><p>Yale nodded slightly, agreeing wholeheartedly with the statement. There were so many people in Heaven’s Vault Continent, and every one of them wished to become a Magician. Unfortunately, it was just that they didn’t have any talent in magic, so it was nothing more than just daydreaming!</p><p>Meng Lei let out a couple of resigned laughs and said no more.</p><p>“Let’s go on ahead!”</p><p>“Little Meng Lei, I’ll leave the next Magical Beast’s head to you. Remember to take the kill!”</p><p>“Meng Lei, my little old brother. Cheer up, you have a lot of physical strength, so you’re born to be someone who cultivates Battle Aura. Be a Warrior like me instead, magic doesn’t suit you!”</p><p>“Hahaha, that’s right…”</p><p>The group continued on their journey as they chatted and laughed. After a few days of interaction, the wariness that the four of them held toward Meng Lei had gradually lessened. Their relationship had also become a lot more harmonious, and they had become mutually familiar, so they could now somewhat joke around with each other.</p><p>Under Bobby and the others’ counseling, Meng Lei’s mood gradually improved. After they continued forward for a few kilometers, an earthshaking roar suddenly came from the sky!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Horrifying sound waves spread outward as though an atomic bomb had exploded! It was so loud that everyone’s ears were humming. Looks of agony appeared on their faces!</p><p>“What’s going on?”</p><p>“Has a high-grade Magical Beast run out to the forest’s outer boundary?”</p><p>Everyone was alarmed and fearful. With such a fearsome roar, it was highly likely that it was a high-grade Magical Beast. With everyone’s current battle capabilities, only death awaited them for sure should they encounter a high-grade Magical Beast!</p><p>“Look at the sky!” shouted Bobby suddenly.</p><p>The others lifted their heads upon hearing him. Then, all of them started trembling all over as if they had seen a ghost!</p><p>In the sky, a long distance away, a terrifying behemoth more than 100 meters long was suspended in the air. It had the same physique as a Colossal Dragon, wings like an eagle’s, and the head of a lion!</p><p>With long narrow ears and sharp claws like a bull’s horns, it shone a brilliant gold all over its body. Covered in armor, it had a horrifying build and looked savage and ferocious!</p><p>However, the key was that unlike other flying Magical Beasts, the gigantic creature wasn’t flapping its wings, and yet it could still suspend itself in mid-air and fly about. Its identity was pretty much on the tips of everyone’s tongues!</p><p>“Could that be the legendary Saint Domain Magical Beast, the Golden Flame Dragonne?”</p><p>Alison’s teeth chattered, and her body shook as she uttered the question!</p><p>Bobby, Millo, and Yale were also shaking like a leaf. Their eyes were full of fear and alarm!</p><p>“A dragon’s body, an eagle’s wings, a lion’s head, and the ability to fly!”</p><p>Bobby swallowed hard repeatedly. He said, “That is definitely the Saint Domain Magical Beast, the Golden Flame Dragonne!”</p><p>“Oh my dragon god, aren’t Saint Domain Magical Beasts supposed to be in the Magical Beast Forest’s central region? Why is it showing up here?” asked Millo, who found this inconceivable!</p><p>“S-saint Domain Magical Beast? Oh my god!”</p><p>Meng Lei stared hard at the gigantic creature in the sky. Even his breathing had become quick and ragged. It had been quite some time since he had come to Heaven’s Vault Continent. In particular, after spending the last few days with Alison and the others, he had heard a lot of behind-the-scenes stories about this world!</p><p>For example, how battle capabilities were categorized!</p><p>Be it Warriors, Magicians, or other races and Magical Beasts, their battle capabilities were categorized, in ascending order, from first-grade to ninth-grade, with first-grade being the weakest and ninth-grade the strongest!</p><p>A First-Grade Warrior had a significant boost in strength and was nimble and agile.</p><p>A Ninth-Grade Warrior moved like lightning and was capable of killing someone from afar!</p><p>And higher than ninth-grade was an existence that belonged in legends—the Saint Domain!</p><p>Illusory and vague, the Saint Domain was a legend within legends. A Saint Domain existence could control the universe and fly freely through the sky. They had an endless lifespan and even possessed destructiveness that could ravage heaven and earth…</p><p>The Saint Domain!</p><p>That was an existence far above everything else and stood at the top of the pyramid of lifeforms in Heaven’s Vault Continent. Like a nuclear warhead, it was an existence of strategic significance!</p><p>Moreover, as a Saint Domain Magical Beast, the Golden Flame Dragonne was a king among Magical Beasts. This particular magical beast—a combination of the Colossal Dragon, a lion, and an eagle—was a creature that was neither here nor there. Given the Colossal Dragon blood running through its veins, it was considered an outstanding existence even among Saint Domain Magical Beasts!</p><p>“Look over there!”</p><p>Yale’s eyes suddenly widened as he pointed at the sky.</p><p>Meng Lei turned and looked over, and was stunned at once. In front of the massive Golden Flame Dragonne were two tiny floating humans—though the “tiny” here was only in relation to the Golden Flame Dragonne!</p><p>They were actually about the same size as ordinary humans!</p><p>It was an elderly man and a teenager!</p><p>The elderly man was wearing a purple magician robe, and he had a rosy complexion and a kindly expression on his face. The teenage girl next to him was about sixteen to seventeen years old. Her shining eyes were bright and alert, while her teeth were pearly white—she looked as if she were a fairy!</p><p>The wind blew strongly in the air. However, there was a purple protective shield around the elderly man and the teenage girl. Lightning snaked about on the outside of the shield. No matter how strongly the wind blew, it actually couldn’t move the pair at all!</p><p>“H-humans?”</p><p>Alison and the other three men’s jaws dropped. They were completely stunned. Human Warriors and Magicians could only fly in the sky like birds after they had reached the Saint Domain level!</p><p>Of course, this was with the exception of Wind-Elemental Magicians.</p><p>However, since the elderly man and young girl were standing so proudly in mid-air and had put up a lightning shield, they were definitely Thunder-Elemental Saint Domain Magicians!</p><p>“Lowly humans, to be so bold as to provoke the great Carlos, what are your intentions?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-14

Chapter 14

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 14</h1><p>The wind howled in the vast and boundless skies!</p><p>The mighty and savage gigantic Golden Flame Dragonne stood proudly in the air. Fury spewed from its lion eyes, which contained endless wrath. As a Saint Domain Magical Beast, it had been a very long time since any living being had antagonized it like this!</p><p>Yet two lowly humans had actually come up right to its doorstep to take advantage of it today. This was practically an utmost form of provocation and humiliation toward the great Saint Domain Magical Beast!</p><p>The Golden Flame Dragonne was very angry, and the consequences were going to be very serious!</p><p>“Golden Flame Dragonne, I don’t have any other intention in coming here!”</p><p>The purple-robed elderly man spoke, his voice kindly and mild as though an amicable and benevolent old man. He said, “This is my granddaughter. It’ll be her sixteenth birthday in a few days, so I’d like to give her a birthday gift!”</p><p>“Lowly human, what exactly are you trying to say?”</p><p>The Golden Flame Dragonne’s wild and violent voice rang out like an explosion in the sky!</p><p>“This granddaughter of mine has very high magic talent. Both her Wind and Fire Elements are superior-grade, and her spiritual power is 38 times that of her peers!”</p><p>The purple-robed elderly man added with a smile, “And you, the Golden Flame Dragonne, just so happen to be a Saint Domain Magical Beast that’s both Wind-Elemental and Fire-Elemental. This old man hopes that you can form a contract with my granddaughter and be her magical pet!”</p><p>Form a contract!</p><p>Become her magical pet!</p><p>These words of his were tantamount to a land mine going off out of nowhere, shocking everyone so badly that their minds were humming as if an explosion had gone off within!</p><p>“Oh my dragon god! Am I h-hearing this correctly?”</p><p>“Getting a great Saint Domain Magical Beast to be a little girl’s magical pet? What the hell, that must be the craziest joke I’ve ever heard in my entire life!”</p><p>“They actually want to subdue a Saint Domain Magical Beast! As expected, the Saint Domain isn’t a realm that mere mortals like us can imagine!”</p><p>“Who exactly is this Saint Domain Magician…”</p><p>Alison, Bobby, Millo, and Yale had received a rather huge shock. Their faces were full of incredulity as they stared at the purple-robed elderly man standing proudly in the sky!</p><p>Just what kind of existence was a Saint Domain Magical Beast?</p><p>That was a terrifying being standing at the pinnacle of innumerable Magical Beasts, you know!</p><p>Subduing a Saint Domain Magical Beast?</p><p>Practically unimaginable!</p><p>Meng Lei was astounded, too. However, what he felt even more keenly was fervency and excitement.</p><p><em>That’s too impressive! And too domineering! Wanting to subdue a Saint Domain Magical Beast the moment he stepped forward, that’s practically cool beyond belief, isn’t it?! If I could also subdue a Saint Domain Magical Beast as my mount, even death would be worth it!</em></p><p>“Foolish humans! You’re too much!”</p><p>The Golden Flame Dragonne was outraged. Flames of fury burst forth from its lion eyes. It roared, “I’m going to torture you to death and burn you into ashes to vent my fury!”</p><p>Booming thunder exploded and rang out in the sky. Fearsome Wind Elements began to gather around the Golden Flame Dragonne. Before long, a gigantic hurricane had manifested!</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>The several meters-tall hurricane was as though a heavenly pillar spanning between heaven and earth. Sand and rocks flew about, and the whole place turned dark and gloomy. Darkness enveloped everything within a radius of a few miles!</p><p>“Oh my dragon god!”</p><p>“Is that the fearsomeness of a Saint Domain Magical Beast?!”</p><p>They gazed at the terrifying hurricane suspended in mid-air. Even with a distance of quite a few kilometers between them, all of them could sense just how fearsome the hurricane was. Should they be engulfed by the hurricane, they would definitely die a terrible death!</p><p>“E-everyone, should we go a little further away?”</p><p>“When celestials fight, it’s the mortals that suffer. A battle of that level isn’t something that we can watch. We’d better go further away. If…”</p><p>All of them exchanged a look and saw fear and alarm in one another’s eyes!</p><p>Then, all of them decided to wuss out!</p><p>“Let’s go!”</p><p>…</p><p>“Lowly humans, die!”</p><p>With a flap of the Golden Flame Dragonne’s wings, the hurricane crashed toward the elderly man and the teenage girl with a boom. The look on the pretty girl’s face changed slightly. She cried out in panic, “Grandfather!”</p><p>“There’s no need to panic!”</p><p>The purple-robed elderly man chuckled and ducked while bringing his granddaughter with him. With a flash, they disappeared into thin air. The ferocious hurricane missed its target and didn’t manage to cause any harm to the grandfather and granddaughter pair at all!</p><p>By the time they reappeared, they were already behind the Golden Flame Dragonne. What also appeared at the same time was an incredibly thick and wide bolt of silver lightning!</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>Lightning flashed across the sky and struck viciously at the Golden Flame Dragonne!</p><p>“You cunning humans!” roared the Golden Flame Dragonne.</p><p>Then, it opened its mouth and sprayed out a flaming dragon!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The fire dragon and silver lightning clashed against each other. The impact was as though an atomic bomb exploding. Amidst the earthshaking explosion, an enormous mushroom cloud rose into the air!</p><p>The ground let out thunderous booms, and trees cracked and broke!</p><p>Electrical currents wreaked havoc, and sparks of fire flew everywhere!</p><p>“Oh my god!”</p><p>When Meng Lei and the other four, who were in the midst of running, saw what had happened behind them, the shock and fear in their hearts reached its peak. They ran madly and desperately, deeply regretting the fact that they had been born with only two legs!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>It was just a shame that they were ultimately still a step too late. With the point of impact as the epicenter, a horrifying shockwave erupted and spread outward in all directions instantly. In just a few short breaths, it had already reached right in front of them!</p><p>“We’re finished!!”</p><p>A powerful wave assaulted them. Meng Lei felt as if someone had knocked against his head viciously. Then, his vision blacked out, and he was lost to the world!</p><p>…</p><p>An unknown amount of time passed!</p><p>Meng Lei slowly regained consciousness.</p><p><em>My head hurts!</em></p><p>Meng Lei touched his head, which felt sticky to the touch.</p><p><em>I’m bleeding?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was on the brink of tears as he stared at his hand that had been dyed red. It was only at this point that he realized that not a single part of him was well and intact. His mind was foggy and dizzy, and his back and waist ached…</p><p><em>But fortunately… I survived?</em></p><p>When he thought back to the terrifying events before he had passed out, Meng Lei felt lingering fear in his heart.</p><p><em>That scene was practically doomsday itself. Little would I have thought that a battle between Saint Domains would actually be this scary!</em></p><p>As the saying went, “Youth knows no fear.” To be honest, he actually hadn’t wanted to flee just now. He had even wanted to widen his knowledge and take a look at close range at this world’s so-called Saint Domain. When thinking back about it now, this was practically laughable!</p><p>Widen his knowledge?</p><p><em>With my current battle capabilities, I don’t even qualify to watch the battle at close range!</em></p><p>Meng Lei shook his head with a bitter smile.</p><p><em>It would be considered good fortune to even just survive. Sigh, I’ve ultimately still thought too lightly of this world!</em></p><p>Meng Lei struggled to his feet.</p><p>The battle seemed to have already ended?</p><p>The Golden Flame Dragonne was gone!</p><p>The elderly man and the teenage girl were also gone!</p><p>However, judging from the surrounding forest that was in a terrible mess, one could tell that the battle earlier must have been extremely horrifying. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration even to call it “Destroying Heaven and Earth”. Fortunately, they were far away enough, so they were lucky enough to have survived!</p><p>“Alison, wake up!</p><p>“Bobby! Wake up!</p><p>“Millo! Yale…”</p><p>“Where am I?”</p><p>“I’m still alive?”</p><p>As Meng Lei patted them, Alison and the other three regained consciousness one by one. Like Meng Lei, all of them had sustained some light injuries, but they were still in passable condition. They would be back in good health after some rest!</p><p>“As expected, a Saint Domain-level battle isn’t something that we can watch!”</p><p>“That was too frightening!”</p><p>All of them rejoiced at their narrow escape from death. However, outside of their joy at their stroke of luck, they were also very curious about the battle’s outcome. After all, this was a battle between Saint Domains. It wasn’t something that they could encounter that many times in their entire lives!</p><p>“So who exactly won?”</p><p>“How about… We go over and take a look?”</p><p>“That’s not really a good idea, is it?”</p><p>“The battle has already ended. There’s no harm in going over to take a look!”</p><p>“Let’s do that, then!”</p><p>Before long, the five arrived at the bottom of the battleground. They were completely stunned by the scene before their eyes!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-15

Chapter 15

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 15</h1><p>Everywhere within a radius of a few kilometers had become an expanse of charred land!</p><p>Sparks of fire were visible everywhere, and black smoke spread throughout the mountains and fields!</p><p>Trees were burned and greenery covered in ashes, while mountains were charred black and rivers dry!</p><p>This looked completely like the scene after a large-scale fire had erupted!</p><p>Ruins!</p><p>Doomsday!</p><p>Meng Lei stared at the scenery in front of him in shock, greatly impacted by how strong and mighty a Saint Domain was. This was true destruction of heaven and earth, and the scene of a real doomsday. This was too frightening!</p><p>“The Golden Flame Dragonne is gone!”</p><p>“The Saint Domain Magicians have also disappeared!”</p><p>“I wonder what the outcome of the battle this time was?”</p><p>Everyone stared at the scene in front of them with complex feelings!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>At that moment, the system’s voice notification sounded out of the blue. A jolt ran through Meng Lei. True enough, he saw quite a few light balls in the charred land in front of him!</p><p>Meng Lei became excited at once. This was the site of a fierce battle between two Saint Domains. What kind of items would drop from them?</p><p>Those were Saint Domains, you know!</p><p>Even if they had only dropped a strand of leg hair, it was still a Saint Domain-level strand of leg hair!</p><p>The moment the thought entered his mind, Meng Lei hurriedly walked into the ruins and picked up all the light balls!</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +250!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Spirit +156!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Magic Power +104!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining Thunder-Elemental magic talent!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Eighth-Grade Spell, Like A Spring Breeze!”</p><p>A succession of voice notifications rang out continuously in his mind. Meng Lei was stunned. He stood where he was in a daze, unwilling to snap back to reality for the longest time!</p><p>“S-so many?!”</p><p>…</p><p>An unexpected windfall!</p><p>Meng Lei felt as if a windfall had fallen out of nowhere into his lap. Otherwise, how could he have possibly gained so much awesome stuff in one sitting?</p><p>Physical Body Constitution +250!</p><p>Spirit +156!</p><p>Magic Power +104!</p><p>The numbers for these three stats rose sharply, causing the numbers for all his other stats to change dramatically!</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Second-Grade Warrior (376/500)</p><p>Spirit: First-Grade Magician (169/200)</p><p>Magic Power: First-Grade Magician (130/200)</p><p>His Physical Body Constitution was comparable to that of a Second-Grade Warrior!</p><p>Both his Spirit and his Magic Power were comparable to that of a First-Grade Magician!</p><p>The upgrade could be said to be significant!</p><p>The improvement could be said to be dramatic!</p><p>However, what excited Meng Lei the most was that he had actually picked up Thunder-Elemental magic talent!</p><p>What a surprise!</p><p>And a very big one at that!</p><p><em>It can pick up even magic talent? This system is practically awesome to the point of being broken!</em></p><p>Meng Lei broke into a silly grin. He found all of this so wonderful that he was even making snot bubbles!</p><p>He knew that the Thunder-Elemental magic talent had likely dropped from that purple-robed elderly man. Since he could level up to Saint Domain, then he definitely had great magic talent!</p><p><em>Since I’ve picked up a Saint Domain Magician’s magic talent, my magic talent should also…</em></p><p><em>Shall I give it a go?</em></p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t wait to find somewhere to try it out. As it just so happened, Alison’s four-man team was also planning to take a slight break to recover from their injuries!</p><p>All of them left the battleground and found a quiet place to rest.</p><p>At night…</p><p>After Alison and the rest had fallen asleep, Meng Lei began to meditate.</p><p>He closed his eyes and cleared his mind of thoughts. Soon, his spirit became ethereal and intangible. Then, he tried carefully to sense the elements!</p><p>In the past, he couldn’t sense any magic elements at all.</p><p>However, Meng Lei felt a difference the moment he entered a meditative state today. He saw a few tiny specks of silver light!</p><p>The silver light specks floated around him like fireflies as they twinkled softly. In the beginning, there were only a few sparse specks, as though stars in winter!</p><p>However, they slowly began to increase…</p><p>Toward the end, it had actually become dense and packed. It was impossible to count just how many there were, even if one tried!</p><p><em>I can sense it!</em></p><p><em>Hahaha! I can sense magic elements!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was overjoyed. He wished he could laugh loudly into the sky to give vent to the excitement in him. Being able to sense magic elements meant that even if he didn’t have the system anymore, he could still cultivate magic and become a powerful Magician now!</p><p><em>These silver light specks are probably thunder magic elements!</em></p><p><em>What I should be doing now is capturing all of these magic elements into my body!</em></p><p>Meng Lei suppressed his excitement and continued to meditate!</p><p>Meditation was separated into two steps:</p><p>Step 1: Sensing magic elements!</p><p>Step 2: Refining magic elements!</p><p>To people without magic talent, this was as difficult as crossing an insurmountable obstacle. After all, without magic talent, it was impossible for someone to sense magic elements. When one couldn’t even sense magic elements, how could they even speak of refining them?</p><p>Meng Lei was precisely in that state previously!</p><p>However, things were different now! He could sense them now!</p><p>Meng Lei started to attempt capturing the silver light specks. The amazing thing was that he managed to “eat” the first silver light speck very easily. Then, he ate the second, third, fourth…</p><p><em>Refining magic elements isn’t that difficult, either, is it!?</em></p><p>After eating almost 100 silver light specks in succession, Meng Lei smacked his lips in content. He was in a rather good mood now. He attributed all of this to his magic talent!</p><p>In Alison’s words, magic talent was categorized into strong and weak levels!</p><p>While the difference wasn’t apparent usually, how strong or weak one’s talent would show fully and thoroughly during the process of sensing and refining magic elements!</p><p>People with strong talent would be able to sense magic elements more clearly, and the refining process would also be easier. The amount of time necessary to refine the same amount of magic power was shorter, so it was naturally more efficient!</p><p>With half the amount of effort needed and double the results achieved, the speed of cultivation was faster and the accomplishment higher!</p><p>In the case of people with poor talent, it was the complete opposite.</p><p>…</p><p>It was a sleepless night!</p><p>At dawn the next day, the morning sun started to rise. Warm and pleasant sunlight shone through overlapping treetops and cast mottled tree shadows onto the ground.</p><p>Meng Lei stood up and stretched. He felt refreshed and in high spirits. There was no sign of fatigue in him at all. This was exactly the benefit of meditation!</p><p>Meditation could replace sleeping. Not only could it refine magic power, but it could also improve his spiritual power. Many Magicians rarely slept after they learned how to meditate!</p><p><em>I wonder how the results of last night’s meditation are?</em></p><p>Meng Lei took a breath of fresh air. Then, he turned on his personal stats interface and checked all the attribute fields!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human</p><p>Wealth: 916 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Second-Grade Warrior (376/500)</p><p>Spirit: First-Grade Magician (173/200)</p><p>Magic Power: First-Grade Magician (140/200)</p><p>Spell(s): Fireball Technique, Thorn Vine, Water Bubble, Earthquake, Wind Blade, Burning Hand, Fire Ring, Like A Spring Breeze</p><p><em>Eh? My spiritual power has increased by 3, and my magic power by 10! That’s pretty quick!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was very surprised. Although the increments of 3 points and 10 points were certainly very slow in comparison to yesterday’s “unexpected windfall”, one mustn’t forget this—a windfall was ultimately just a windfall. It was impossible for something like that to happen every day!</p><p>A steady daily harvest was the way to go instead!</p><p>Just a night’s meditation had already increased his spiritual power by 3 points and his magic power by 10 points. What would happen in a month? Or a year?</p><p>Moreover, Meng Lei felt that as his battle capabilities increased, the meditation effects would also definitely become better and better. The upgrading of his spiritual power and magic power definitely wouldn’t just be this little. His future was bright!</p><p><em>Going back to the previous topic, though, an unexpected windfall really feels great!</em></p><p><em>The rewards from just that short amount of time yesterday could already match up to all my hard work from the last few days!</em></p><p><em>No wonder people say that horses don’t bulk up without feeding at night, and people don’t get rich without unexpected windfalls!</em></p><p><em>Looks like I need to head toward bustling places more often in the future…</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-16

Chapter 16

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 16</h1><p>In the following few days, the group of five continued on their training journey. They swept through the outer boundary region at an average speed of killing three to four Second-Grade Magical Beasts per day!</p><p>Six-Tailed Poison Centipedes, Bloodthirsty Red Ants, Golden-Eyed Demonic Bats, Giant Swamp Crocodiles…</p><p>Meng Lei picked up dropped items and collected kills in the day, while at night, he boosted his spiritual power and magic power—and in turn, all of his other stats—through meditation. His battle capabilities were totally different every day!</p><p>However, all good things must come to an end!</p><p>A week later, Alison and the other three men’s training journey came to an end. The vacation was over, so they were returning to the academy, while Meng Lei also had to return to Magical Beast Village.</p><p>Everyone bade farewell reluctantly and went their separate ways.</p><p>“You’re finally back, kid!”</p><p>Upon Meng Lei’s return, Captain Hudders’ worry finally eased. Meng Lei hadn’t returned for more than 20 days, so he had been really worried that something had happened to him. However, Meng Lei was finally back now!</p><p>“I was only moving about in the Magical Beast Forest’s outer boundaries. What kind of danger could there be?” Meng Lei laughed and changed the topic. He asked, “Captain Hudders, can we make it for the magic assessment if we set off now?</p><p>“There are only a few days till term begins at the magic academy!” Captain Hudders shook his head and replied, “It’s fortunate that our Magical Beast Village isn’t far from the capital city, so it’ll take only five days to get there. Otherwise, you’d be crying right now!”</p><p>“As long as we can make it!”</p><p>Meng Lei heaved a sigh of relief. Fire Dragon Kingdom, as the kingdom nearest to Magical Beast Ridge within the Dragon God Empire, had always existed for the purpose of being the empire’s shield in the west. In order to better defend against Magical Beasts’ attacks and harassment, Fire Dragon Kingdom’s capital city was built right at the fringes of Magical Beast Ridge!</p><p>Thus, Magical Beast Village was not far from the capital city.</p><p>“Have a good rest tonight, Meng Lei. We’ll set off right in the morning tomorrow!”</p><p>“Alright, Captain Hudders!”</p><p>…</p><p>A night of pleasant dreams passed!</p><p>Meng Lei woke up early the next morning. After packing his things carefully, he headed over to Captain Hudders’ home. What surprised him when he reached was that Jonah, Joseph, Andrew, and their parents were actually there, too!</p><p>“Jonah, why are all of you here?” asked Meng Lei in mild puzzlement while looking at the three of them.</p><p>These three little fellows were his companions, the kind where they had grown up together playing with mud and wearing split pants ¹ .</p><p>“Hehe, we’re following Uncle Hudders to the capital city to take part in the magic assessment!”</p><p>Jonah, who was wearing a long gunny dress, revealed a pair of adorable little canine teeth as she replied to his question with a giggle. She was the only girl among the three. Although her clothes were old and tattered, it couldn’t hide her attractive facial features, nonetheless. If she were to change into the kind of lavish long dresses that nobility wore, she wouldn’t pale in comparison to those rich young ladies at all!</p><p>Meng Lei nodded. “Is that so!”</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, I heard from Uncle Hudders that you went into the mountains alone. You didn’t meet with any danger, did you?” asked Jonah somewhat anxiously.</p><p>“I was only moving about in the outer boundaries. What kind of danger could there be?”</p><p>Meng Lei laughed and shook his head. Then, he changed the topic and said, “I’d thought that I’d be the only one going to the capital city. Now that you guys will also be with me, I won’t be lonely on the way there anymore! That’s great!”</p><p>“Yes, yes! Since all of us are going to the capital city together, we can look out for each other!”</p><p>Jonah clapped her little hands, her face red and rosy from excitement. She said, “Speaking of that, I’ve never been to the capital city even at this age! I wonder what it’s like over there?”</p><p>“I’ve heard that the city walls are very high and that there are a lot of Dragon People with dragon heads?”</p><p>“There are also big and tall buildings, and a neat and tidy Elysium Avenue?”</p><p>Joseph and Andrew’s eyes lit up. Their little faces were full of yearning and anticipation!</p><p>“We’ll be able to see them very soon!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled. To villagers living in far and remote places like them, their activity range was solely limited to the villages nearby and Magical Beast Ridge. They might not even be able to go to the capital city even once in their entire lives!</p><p>One could say that it was thanks to the magic assessment that Jonah, Joseph, and Andrew could go to the capital city this time. If not for the fact that this concerned their children’s lifelong destinies, how could their parents possibly be willing to pay such a high price to send them to the capital city?</p><p>10 gold coins!</p><p>That was enough to make up a family of three’s expenses for two to three years!</p><p>Moreover, this was even a gamble where the chances of failure reached as high as 99.99%. It wouldn’t take much at all for their 10 gold coins to go up in smoke and not even get a single cent of their capital back!</p><p>Therefore, this must have been a huge decision for Jonah and the other two children’s parents. After all, there were quite a number of children in Magical Beast Village, but the only ones who really had the courage to send their children to take part in the magic assessment were just these three families!</p><p>“Jonah, listen to your Uncle Hudders’ instructions on the way there!”</p><p>“Andrew, be obedient. Don’t be cheeky and make any trouble!”</p><p>“Joseph, the capital city is not like the village…”</p><p>The doors at the village’s entrance opened. Under Jonah and the other two’s parents, the villagers, and their little companions’ looks of envy, an old ox cart slowly drove out of the village.</p><p>There were many children in the Magical Beast Village!</p><p>However, not many families dared to send their children to take part in the magic assessment.</p><p>…</p><p>Not only was the old and rundown ox cart constantly creaking, but the ride was also very bumpy. It wasn’t comfortable sitting on it at all. Νevertheless, the three young children, Jonah, Joseph, and Andrew, still looked very excited. They constantly chatted without a moment’s pause during the way there, just like three joyous little sparrows!</p><p>Unfortunately, their excitement only lasted for two days before it disappeared. The three children gradually couldn’t take the long, arduous journey anymore. Like plants shriveled from the cold, they became… all wilted!</p><p>Captain Hudders had expected this from the start, and there was no other way around it. The term was beginning soon. Even if they had to grit their teeth, they had to endure it all the way to the capital city, regardless! None of them were allowed to give up halfway at this point!</p><p>After five days of dry and boring traveling, they finally reached the capital city—Fire Dragon City!</p><p>…</p><p>Fire Dragon City, the capital of Fire Dragon Kingdom, was also the Dragon God Empire’s biggest and most prosperous city in the west. The city was situated on flat land and divided into two regions, the east and the west.</p><p>Fire Dragon Kingdom’s royal palaces, as well as the nobility and high-ranking officials’ mansions, were located in East City.</p><p>As for West City, it was mainly an academic city. The majority of magic academies and warrior academies were located there. Thus, West City was comparable to the college towns on Earth!</p><p>Meng Lei and the others entered Fire Dragon City in the afternoon that day.</p><p>“Wow!”</p><p>Fire Dragon City’s level of prosperity wasn’t something that Magical Beast Village could compare to at all. The smooth, level, and sturdy ground of Elysium Avenue, pure white and organized buildings, a dazzling array of products, all manner of people in the crowd…</p><p>The three little fellows’ eyes were bedazzled, and they looked just like country bumpkins!</p><p>“So this is the capital city? It’s so beautiful!”</p><p>Jonah’s eyes were bright and shiny as she looked to the left one moment and to the right the next. She was so excited that she looked just like a happy skylark. However, in contrast to her behavior, the two young boys, Joseph and Andrew, suddenly became awkward and constrained instead. They were clenching the corners of their gunny clothes the whole time.</p><p>“Country bumpkins!”</p><p>The noblewomen and young ladies going to and fro were dressed in trendy clothes, wore lavish jewelry, and also wore fragrant perfumes. None of them bothered giving Meng Lei and the others a proper glance at all!</p><p>Young noble ladies born in the capital city naturally had an innate sense of superiority. This caused Joseph and Andrew, who were entering the city for the first time, to develop a sense of shame and inferiority, and they didn’t dare to meet their eyes.</p><p>Upon seeing the two boys’ reactions, Captain Hudders shook his head and didn’t say much. This was always the case when people like them entered the city for the first time. His reaction had been even more unseemly than Joseph and Andrew’s back then!</p><p>He could only say this—it would be fine once they got used to it.</p><p>The precondition was that they had the chance to, though!</p><p>What surprised Hudders was Meng Lei, however. He sized up the crowd going to and fro, clicking his tongue in wonder and admiration as he looked at them curiously. There was no sense of awkwardness or inferiority coming from him at all!</p><p><em>As expected, this child has extraordinary character!</em></p><p>Hudders nodded secretly to himself. Then, he brought the four children with him and headed to West City.</p><p>That place was the gathering point of all the great academies. Assessments to evaluate one’s magic talent were specially set up over there, and it was also where the children’s destinies would be determined!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-17

Chapter 17

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 17</h1><p>“There are a total of 70-odd academies in our Fire Dragon Capital City!”</p><p>As they walked down the gray crystals-paved Elysium Avenue, Captain Hudders spoke on and on without even a moment’s pause and gave them an introduction of the academies. He continued and said, “Out of which, only three are magic academies. They are respectively the Fire Dragon Magic Academy, Douglas Magic Academy, and Dragon People Magic Academy. All of the rest are warrior academies!”</p><p>“Only three magic academies? There are only so few?”</p><p>Jonah and the other two boys looked surprised.</p><p>“Talent is required to cultivate magic!”</p><p>A smiling Captain Hudders continued his explanation. “And only one in ten thousand possesses magic talent. This has led to the magic academies’ inability to increase in numbers!”</p><p>Jonah and the other two boys turned nervous and uneasy at once when they heard what he said.</p><p>One in ten thousand? Would they be the lucky ones among the ten thousand people?</p><p>“Captain Hudders, is there any difference among the three magic academies?” asked Meng Lei.</p><p>“There are always differences in everything, be it people’s statuses or even a tree’s circumference. Magic academies are naturally also divided into different classes. Take these three magic academies in our Fire Dragon Capital City, for example!”</p><p>Captain Hudders smiled and gave them an introduction of the academies. He believed that Meng Lei possessed magic talent and would definitely be able to enroll in and study in a magic academy. The key here was which magic academy he should choose!</p><p>Thus, there was a need to give him a thorough introduction!</p><p>“Fire Dragon Magic Academy is the best magic academy among the three. Set up in the Fire Dragon Kingdom’s name, it is the kingdom’s official magic academy. In other words, the national magic academy!</p><p>“Due to its background as an official academy, Fire Dragon Magic Academy’s teachers have very strong and solid qualifications. With a complete range of facilities and the best cultivation resources, the Magicians that they groom and nurture are the most outstanding!</p><p>“Thus, Fire Dragon Magic Academy fully deserves the title of the top magic academy in our Fire Dragon Kingdom!”</p><p>Captain Hudders gave Meng Lei a meaningful look at this point, and added, “Thus, Fire Dragon Magic Academy is naturally also the first choice for magic geniuses with exceptionally great talent!</p><p>“Be it Drakes or humans, as long as they have exceptionally good talent and can meet the requirements, everyone is qualified to enroll in Fire Dragon Magic Academy to study. In this aspect, we humans and the Dragon People are equal in status!”</p><p>“I see!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded quietly, a brilliant glint at the bottom of his eyes!</p><p>“In comparison, the remaining two magic academies are slightly inferior!”</p><p>Captain Hudders went on and said, “Dragon People Magic Academy mainly caters to Dragon People with mediocre magic talent. Of course, there are also some human nobility descendants with mediocre magic talent there. As for Douglas Magic Academy, it mainly recruits human commoners with mediocre magic talent, and is considered a commoner academy.”</p><p><em>Fire Dragon Magic Academy!</em></p><p><em>Dragon People Magic Academy!</em></p><p><em>Douglas Magic Academy!</em></p><p><em>I didn’t think that schools would also be divided into the elite and the ordinary in this alternate world!</em></p><p>Meng Lei shook his head lightly and walked on ahead. And as he had put it, weren’t the three magic academies precisely an elite school and ordinary schools?!</p><p>Gradually, more and more pedestrians appeared along the path. Most of them were in combinations such as two adults and a child, or a family with a few members. Additionally, most of them were nervous and uneasy. Evidently, they were also people here to take part in the magic assessment!</p><p>Meng Lei’s group followed the crowd and quickly arrived at the place where the magic assessment was held—Fire Dragon Square!</p><p>Fire Dragon Square was a large public square occupying an area that could fit a few soccer fields. In the center of the square stood a 100-meters tall Golden Colossal Dragon statue!</p><p>Its golden dragon scales were vivid, as though they were alive!</p><p>Its dragon wings spread wide, covering and blocking the sky!</p><p>Its dragon mouth was wide open as it roared into the sky!</p><p>Its dragon horns were ferocious and savage, and pierced through the heavens!</p><p>A domineering and imposing aura assaulted their senses. They could feel it even from a great distance away. It induced a sense of submission in people, such that they couldn’t conceive any thoughts of resistance at all!</p><p>“Praise be to the Dragon God!”</p><p>Upon seeing the Golden Colossal Dragon statue, Captain Hudders pressed his hands against his chest, bent over into a bow, and said a pious prayer, which stunned Meng Lei and the other three children.</p><p>“Uncle Hudders, what are you doing?”</p><p>The bubbly Jonah gave voice to the puzzlement in her mind. Captain Hudders received a shock, and hastily covered her mouth as he looked left and right. When he saw that no one had noticed, he let out a breath of relief, lowered his voice, and said, “This is the great Dragon God statue. You must salute whenever you see it! The four of you, hurry and salute the Dragon God!”</p><p><em>The Dragon God statue?</em></p><p><em>One must salute when they see it?</em></p><p>It was only then that Meng Lei discovered that it wasn’t just Captain Hudders. Without any exception, all the other pedestrians around them had also saluted piously upon seeing the Dragon God statue!</p><p>“Dragon God?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s brows drew together.</p><p>“The Dragon God is the Dragon God Empire’s founding emperor, and is also the one and only religion!” Captain Hudders said in a hushed voice, “All of the empire’s citizens must believe in the great Dragon God. Those who do not believe in it are considered heathens. If you don’t wish to be burned at the stake, then hurry and salute!”</p><p><em>What the hell!</em></p><p>Meng Lei got a shock and hastily made a show of saluting. How could one not bow to their circumstances when they were under someone else’s roof? He was still very weak right now, so he’d better act according to the others’ rules instead!</p><p>“Praise be to the Dragon God!”</p><p>Jonah, Joseph, and Andrew also saluted respectfully.</p><p>“Great!”</p><p>Captain Hudders breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he pointed to the front and said, “That’s where the magic assessment will be held. Let’s hurry over!”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>Fire Dragon Square was very crowded and packed with people. There were many nobles dressed fastidiously, as well as commoners dressed in coarse sackcloth. However, what attracted Meng Lei’s attention the most was still… the Drakes!</p><p>Drakes were categorized into Dragon People and Dragon Beasts.</p><p>Dragon Beasts were the descendants of Colossal Dragons and Magical Beasts and looked almost no different from wild Magical Beasts. There were Dragon-Wolves that looked like giant wolves, Dragon-Rhinos that looked like rhinoceroses, and earthworms that looked like crocodiles…</p><p>There was a rich variety of Dragon Beasts, and they had all manner of appearances!</p><p>If these strange beasts had been in the Magical Beast Forest, they would have been the targets of hunting for sure. But here, these Dragon Beasts wore gold and silver, dressed in magnificent clothing, and appeared openly in public!</p><p>Not only did nobody dare to hunt and kill them, but they even had to obediently make way for them in abject fear that they would enrage the other party!</p><p>This was because everyone knew that each of these ferocious-looking Dragon Beasts came from a notable background, whether it was a Marquis’ son, a Duke’s nephew, or even a member of nobility itself. Who would dare to mess with them?</p><p><em>Even humans are beneath beasts when they are but just monkeys wearing hats!</em></p><p>Meng Lei secretly sighed as he watched the tyrannical Dragon Beasts. In this vast and broad land called the Dragon God Empire, humans were just appendages and slaves, while the dragons… were the true masters!</p><p>As such, every Tom, Dick, and Harry animal related to the Colossal Dragons had become the masters. Not only was killing humans not illegal, but they even got to enjoy various special privileges. Should anyone offend them and be killed as a result, they would only die in vain!</p><p>Of course, although there were quite a few Dragon Beasts, there were even more Dragon People!</p><p>80% of Dragon God Empire’s nobility were Dragon People, and these aristocratic Dragon People’s descendants were also Dragon People. As a result, there was an extremely high number of Dragon People here taking part in the magic assessment!</p><p>Some had a pair of horns on their heads!</p><p>Some had wings on their backs!</p><p>Some had dragon tails at their bottoms!</p><p>Some had scales on their bodies!</p><p>All of them possessed obvious dragon characteristics!</p><p>“Meng Lei, don’t stare at the Dragon People like that. It’s very rude!” Captain Hudders patted Meng Lei on the shoulder and gave him a soft reminder, “If you enrage any with a bad temper and end up being smacked to death with one swipe of their claws, you won’t even be able to reason with them at all!”</p><p>“Uhh?! Okay, okay!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded. Then, he suddenly pointed at some Dragon People who were wearing coarse sackcloth and asked, “Captain Hudders, aren’t Dragon People nobility? Why are those people wearing commoner clothes? Are they down and out nobility?”</p><p>Birds of a feather flocked together, and like-minded people gathered in groups!</p><p>There were a lot of people in the public square, and they gathered in groups of two to three and chatted with one another. However, they largely fell into four groups—magnificently-dressed human nobility, Dragon Beasts that looked like Magical Beasts, Dragon People nobility, and human commoners!</p><p>This was exceptionally obvious, and this could be seen based on their dressing and looks. However, what puzzled Meng Lei was that there was still another special group apart from these four groups!</p><p>They were all Dragon People, but they were dressed in coarse sackcloth and looked about the same as human commoners. Were they the commoners among Dragon People?</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-18

Chapter 18

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 18</h1><p>They were clearly Dragon People, but they were dressed in civilian clothing, one had to feel confused!</p><p>“These Dragon People… Some of them are fallen nobles!”</p><p>Captain Hudders heard this, gave the group of Dragon People a look, and explained in a low voice, “Some of them belong to the civilian class just like us!”</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned. “Civilians? There are civilians among the Dragon People?”</p><p>“Of course! Dragons are wanton in nature, and many Dragon People also inherited this kind of trait. Some Dragon People of poor character refused to recognize what they did after committing bad deeds…”</p><p>Captain Hudders shook his head. “This caused the birth of a lot of Dragon People orphans and bastards. They grow up without any family to rely on, and without titles, so they naturally become civilians!”</p><p>“I see!”</p><p>Meng Lei suddenly understood. Even humans could act irresponsibly, such as abandoning their wives and children, not to mention Dragon People who were wanton in nature. From this aspect, the birth of Dragon People bastards and orphans was then inevitable!</p><p>“Even if we’re both civilians, their lives are not what we can be compared to!” Captain Hudders shook his head. “Even the weakest Dragon Person makes a pretty strong fighter and has plenty of opportunities to make a head start, which is something we humans can’t compare to!”</p><p>“That’s true!” Meng Lei nodded quietly.</p><p>“Come on, that is the place of the assessment, let’s go!” Hudders pointed in the direction with the largest number of people, and the group headed there. Soon, several armored knights stopped them!</p><p>“Accompanying people, please stop!”</p><p>“Magic test, 10 gold coins per person!”</p><p>“Meng Lei, you all can go in!”</p><p>Hudders took out 40 gold coins, which he had prepared beforehand, and handed them over to Meng Lei. His gaze swept across each of the four and encouraged them, “May the Dragon God bless you all. I believe you will surely fulfill your wishes!”</p><p>“Yes!”</p><p>The four nodded hard.</p><p>There were many people taking part in the magic test. People came and went, and they had lined up in 10 long lines. It was quite similar to the scene of people lining up for train tickets back home before the Chinese New Year!</p><p>“So many people, how long will we have to wait?”</p><p>Meng Lei sighed, before he found a relatively shorter queue and joined at its end. When looking at the long queue, he felt a slight headache.</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei, I’m… I’m nervous!”</p><p>Jonah pulled Meng Lei’s sleeves, her little face full of anxiety and nervousness. She was completely devoid of her former liveliness and mischief!</p><p>“Relax. Such things only depend on fate, so being nervous won’t help!”</p><p>Meng Lei, not knowing how to comfort her, could only say so!</p><p>The sun was hot, and the heat unbearable. The Fire Dragon Kingdom was near the Magical Beast Forest, with a climate similar to that of a tropical rainforest. Right now, waiting was simply a torment!</p><p>However, currently, most people were in no mood to pay attention to the hot weather, as their hearts were filled with tension and anxiety. This was the moment when their fate would be determined!</p><p>With talent, one could leap high beyond their current positions, into a bright future!</p><p>Without talent, one could only continue sticking around, being mediocre, and looking for an alternative path!</p><p>“This is much crueler than the College Entrance Examination!” Meng Lei sighed quietly. “It’s actually similar to ancient imperial examinations!”</p><p>While waiting anxiously, they witnessed all kinds of reactions from others!</p><p>Some cried out of joy and left rejoicing!</p><p>Some shook their heads and sighed, not satisfied with the test result!</p><p>Even more were in great agony, as they left sadly!</p><p>The cruelty of reality was shown here completely and vividly!</p><p>The rows moved forward slowly. After hours of waiting, Meng Lei and his three peers approached the testing table!</p><p>Three youths in black magic robes stood in front of the table, responsible for testing this row!</p><p>One was in charge of calling people!</p><p>One was in charge of testing!</p><p>One was in charge of recording!</p><p>They all performed their duties in an orderly manner!</p><p>A middle-aged man, who was dozing off, was seated behind them. He leaned back against the back of the chair, his head drooping, his eyes closed tight. He seemed to be fast asleep, as though he completely ignored his surrounding environment.</p><p>There were two testing instruments. The first one was a crystal ball the size of a basketball, with a transparent interior without a trace of noise, hanging in mid-air like a crystal-clear diamond.</p><p>The other was a gigantic “thermometer” several feet high and one foot wide, standing in front of the crystal ball, with a red line inside and numbers on both sides. It was a proper enlarged thermometer!</p><p>“Next!”</p><p>The youth in charge of calling people called out. A yellow-haired young man dressed in a civilian burlap robe hurriedly responded and walked up quickly!</p><p>Perhaps because he was too nervous, the yellow-haired young man staggered and suddenly fell on the ground, almost bumping onto the crystal ball!</p><p>Everyone laughed out loud. The yellow-haired young man got even more nervous and stood up in a flurry. He jabbered out, “I’m… I’m sorry, my name is Po… Porter…”</p><p>“No need to say your name, just put your hand on the crystal ball!”</p><p>The young man in charge of the assessment said indifferently, showing no intention to listen to the yellow-haired young man’s name. Indeed, the ones in charge of magic testing only registered those who had magical talent!</p><p>As to those without magical talent, there was no need to even register them— reality was that cruel!</p><p>“Yes… Yes!”</p><p>Porter nodded hurriedly, stretched out his trembling hand, and pressed it on the crystal ball. Then, he stared hard at the crystal ball, waiting for the trial of fate!</p><p>He was so nervous that he held his breath, for fear that a minute detail would lead to inaccurate test results and sentence him with the “death penalty”!</p><p>The young man in charge of the assessment had an indifferent look as his gaze fell on the crystal ball. The originally transparent crystal ball glowed with a faint, blurry light as if it was charged with electricity!</p><p>It was an earthly yellow color, mixed with a little bit of cyan, looking like faint-colored light reflected by lenses!</p><p>“Elemental Affinity: Medium-Grade Earth Element, Low-Grade Wind Element!”</p><p>The young man in charge of the assessment said lightly, “The next step is to test your spiritual power! See the red dot under the spiritual tester? Use your spiritual power to press it down as much as possible.”</p><p><em>Spiritual tester?</em></p><p>Meng Lei looked over, following his instructions, and indeed saw a red dot on the bottom of the gigantic “thermometer”. It was about the size of a coin and seemed like a button.</p><p>“S-Sir, how to use… spiritual power?”</p><p>Porter’s face flushed red as he asked with some difficulty.</p><p>“There’s a magical pattern engraved on the red dot. It will guide your spiritual power automatically, so you just need to stare at the red dot.” The young man in charge of the assessment said lightly, “The ones who are getting tested later should also listen. When you test your spiritual power…”</p><p>“Okay!”</p><p>Porter hurriedly nodded, and his eyes looked toward the red dot at the spiritual tester’s bottom!</p><p>Instantly, the red line inside the spiritual tester started to rise, passing by one numbered mark followed by another!</p><p><em>This is the instrument for testing spiritual power?</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes gleamed, staring at the red line in the spirit tester.</p><p><em>This thing is somewhat similar to a thermometer. However, that one tests spiritual power and the other tests temperature!</em></p><p>After a moment, the red line stopped moving.</p><p>The young man in charge of the assessment gave the mark where the red line was a look, and his tone softened a little.</p><p>“Spiritual Power: 23</p><p>“4 times that of same-age peers!</p><p>“Barely meeting the standard!</p><p>“Elemental Affinity: Medium-Grade Earth Element, Low-Grade Wind Element!</p><p>“Overall evaluation: Has magical talent, qualified to become a Magician!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-19

Chapter 19

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 19</h1><p><em>Spiritual Power: 23!</em></p><p><em>4 times that of same-age peers!</em></p><p><em>Barely meeting the standard!</em></p><p><em>Elemental Affinity: Medium-Grade Earth Element, Low-Grade Wind Element</em></p><p><em>Overall evaluation: Has magic talent, qualified to become a Magician!</em></p><p>“YAY!”</p><p>The excited Porter started shouting as though he had heard the most beautiful language in the world. His tears of joy ran down his face like a fountain, wetting his clothes.</p><p>“Oh my dragon god!”</p><p>“A peasant can actually become a Magician? Are there heavenly principles left in this world?”</p><p>“Really…”</p><p>Everyone started discussing with great envy.</p><p>Meng Lei also looked at Porter and felt quite emotional. Although Porter was plainly dressed right now, he had the magical talent that countless people couldn’t even dream of!</p><p>Predictably, so long as he graduated from a magic academy, he would become a prestigious Magician. By then, he would be powerful and have a high position. Beautiful women, money, and so on, would come to his door!</p><p>As of that moment, his fate had completely changed!</p><p>“Next!”</p><p><em>Finally, my turn!</em></p><p>Meng Lei took a deep breath and walked up slowly!</p><p>“Another peasant!”</p><p>“What an offense to the eye!”</p><p>“This guy certainly doesn’t have magical talent!”</p><p>“The possibility of these peasants having magical talent is much lower than we nobles, with barely 1 in 100,000. The bumpkin just now already had dumb luck. It must be tricky for this guy now!</p><p>“I’ll bet a pack of sausages that he has no magical talent!”</p><p>“I’ll bet two…”</p><p>A group of nobility youths discussed in low voices, with much disdain in their tone. In the Dragon God Empire, the chasm of class division was too big!</p><p>Jonah, Joseph, and Andrew looked at Meng Lei, their eyes full of hope, though they also didn’t have much hope in their hearts!</p><p>“Go for it, Brother Meng Lei!”</p><p>“It should be able to detect it, right?”</p><p>Meng Lei took a deep breath and pressed both his hands on the crystal ball!</p><p>At that moment, he actually got nervous. Although he had picked up the Saint Domain Magician’s Thunder-Element magic talent and had succeeded in meditation, Meng Lei still felt a bit uncertain!</p><p>After all, his magic talent was acquired after his birth. What if this thing couldn’t detect it?”</p><p>Buzz…</p><p>Meng Lei was overconcerned!</p><p>At the moment his hands came into contact with the crystal ball, dazzling silver light suddenly burst out of the crystal ball, rendering the crystal ball as bright as the sun!</p><p>Tiny and brilliant silver arcs coursed throughout the crystal ball, as though they were about to break the crystal ball and get out!</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>Behind the three youths in charge of the assessment, the drowsy middle-aged man lying in a chair suddenly opened his eyes and stood up with a swoosh. He stared intently at the crystal ball, his face excited!</p><p>“Elemental Affinity: Thunder-Element… Superior-Grade!” The middle-aged man slowly uttered that sentence, his eyes shining!</p><p>After that statement, the surroundings burst into an uproar! The nobility youths that had been mocking Meng Lei with disdain previously were instantly rendered speechless!</p><p>“Super- Superior-Grade?”</p><p>“Oh my dragon god! Am I hearing this correctly?”</p><p>“How is this possible!? Superior-Grade Elemental Affinity, isn’t that too much?”</p><p>The three youths in charge of the assessment were also astonished. Generally, the vast majority of people with magic talent were of Low-Grade Elemental Affinity, which was the bottom line, and also the minimum standard to sense magic elements!</p><p>Above low-grade was medium-grade!</p><p>When people with Medium-Grade Elemental Affinity meditated, the magic elements they sensed were… 10 times clearer than that of a person with Low-Grade Elemental Affinity!</p><p>Above medium-grade was… upper grade, which is 100 times clearer!</p><p>This meant that while others required 100 hours to refine a certain amount of magic power, a person with Upper-Grade Elemental Affinity only needed 1 hour. It was a total of 100 times difference in efficiency!</p><p>Was there a big difference?</p><p>It was like the distance between two poles!</p><p>Therefore, under the premise of similar mental strength, however hard people with Low-Grade Elemental Affinity practiced, they could only become Low-Level Magicians!</p><p>What was considered low-level?</p><p>First, second, and third grade, that’s all!</p><p>In the meantime, people with High-Level Elemental Affinity could become Low-Level Magicians effortlessly. If they put in a bit more effort, they could become Medium-Level Magicians. If they worked a bit harder, it was not difficult for them to become High-Level Magicians!</p><p>This was the difference between low-grade and high-grade!</p><p>As for superior-grade, that was even more extraordinarily rare. Even among Dragon People who had inherited the dragons’ magic talent and had super-strong Elemental Affinity at birth, Superior-Grade Elemental Affinity was very rare!</p><p>After all, this was 1,000 times the sensing clarity!</p><p>The middle-aged man directly pushed aside the young man in charge of the assessment and personally took charge of the process. “Quickly! Quickly test his spiritual power!” His voice was trembling!</p><p>For people with this kind of talent, even if they didn’t meditate, magic elements would rush to squeeze into his body. They were almost like the bastard sons of the God of Magic!</p><p>Meng Lei walked to the spiritual tester with an unprecedentedly relaxed expression. His spiritual attribute was as high as 215, comparable to Second-Grade Magicians. What did he have to worry about?</p><p>“This guy simply has such dumb luck!”</p><p>The nobility youths looked at Meng Lei, feeling envious. “With such a strong magic talent, his spiritual power must be very poor. After all, it’s impossible for all the good things to happen to him!”</p><p>It was a pity that these people were destined to be disappointed!</p><p>Their eyes were fixed on Meng Lei and the red dot!</p><p>The spiritual tester’s red line rapidly rose like it was tied on a rocket. In the blink of an eye, it had climbed past half of the scale and continued rushing upward!</p><p>“What the hell!?”</p><p>“So fast?”</p><p>All who witnessed this scene were so surprised that their eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets!</p><p>When others tested their spiritual power, the red line would rise slowly, one line by one line. Yet for him…</p><p>“A… A genius! This is a real genius!”</p><p>The middle-aged man stuttered while his body started trembling due to excitement. His group had finally unearthed a genius!</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>Soon, before everyone’s shocked eyes, the line reached the top of the spiritual tester and filled up the entire scale, before stopping!</p><p>However, everyone could see that the “full value” wasn’t the limit of Meng Lei’s spiritual power. If the spiritual tester scale was longer, the red line representing Meng Lei’s spiritual power would definitely… be even higher!</p><p>“Full… Full value! Spiritual power, 100 times that of same-age peers!”</p><p>The middle-aged man announced the results with a shaking voice.</p><p>“Elemental Affinity: Superior-Grade Thunder Element!</p><p>“Spiritual Power: 100 times that of same-age peers!</p><p>“Overall evaluation: magic talent… super-excellent!”</p><p>The entire venue burst into an uproar again!</p><p>“100… 100 times!?”</p><p>“Super-excellent?”</p><p>“Is this still human?”</p><p>“He’s just a monster!”</p><p>“Superior-Grade Elemental Affinity, and his spiritual power is actually also so wild? How is this reasonable?”</p><p>“A peasant who came out of nowhere actually has such mad talent? Has the God of Magic gotten blind?”</p><p>“This guy is not bad even compared to Ordos, right?”</p><p>“Almost!”</p><p>“Psst! Ordos is actually a second-generation Dragon Man with the blood of Golden Colossal Dragon…”</p><p>The looks everyone gave Meng Lei were full of envy and jealousy. Some nobles and Dragon People had especially shiny eyes, full of shock and awe!</p><p>“Sir, I am Fred from the Admissions Office of Douglas Magic Academy!”</p><p>At that moment, an old man in a magic robe squeezed through the crowd and walked over. “I sincerely invite you to join our Douglas Magic Academy. So long as you join…”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-20

Chapter 20

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 20</h1><p>During the start-of-school season every year, the major academies were extremely busy. The magic test before school started alone took an entire week, not to mention others!</p><p>Youths of nobles, civilians, Dragon People, Dragon Beasts, and other intelligent races gathered en masse in the capital city, participating in this great event that changed their own fate!</p><p>Nobody who had ambitions to practice magic wanted to miss it!</p><p>People came and went endlessly.</p><p>On the Dragon God Square, apart from the youths who took part in the test, their family members, and the testing staff, another special group was present—the teachers in charge of admissions in the various academies!</p><p>Not far from the magic testing point, several dozens “stalls” scattered around. Each stall had banners erected in front of them, indicating their identities. There were “Fire Dragon Magic Academy”, “Dragon God Paladin Academy”, “Kellner Great Axe Academy”, and so on!</p><p>These stalls were the admission points of the various academies!</p><p>Currently, at one corner of the admissions point, three old men in purple magic robes were lying on their chairs, chatting idly.</p><p>An old man with messy hair and rosacea on his nose released an alcoholic burp, saying weakly, “It’s the last day of the magic test, and there doesn’t seem to be any more geniuses! Alas, this old man has been handling admissions for so many years, yet this year is my biggest failure! ”</p><p>After that was said, an old man with a horn on top of his head and a black piece of scale between his brows was immediately dissatisfied. “Carls, you still have the face to complain? You got so many quality students again this year. If I were you, I’d wake up in my dream, laughing. This poor old man accompanies you both every year in vain…”</p><p>Upon hearing that, another bald old man snorted coldly. “Nonsense! Old thing, you’ve been accompanying us in vain? What do you say about Ordos then? Don’t you forget that the strongest genius this year was robbed away by your Dragon People Academy!”</p><p>Having said this, the bald old man sighed. “I’m the one who actually accompanies you both in vain every year. I watch one genius after another get taken away by you both, it’s really… heartbreaking!”</p><p>The one-horned old man glared at the bald old man and said lightly, “However good Ordos’s talent is, he’s just one person. How can he compare to all those geniuses taken away by Carls! Sigh…”</p><p>“Old thing, you’ve gotten the better deal, stop complaining!”</p><p>The old man with rosacea snorted. “You know better than anyone else that geniuses are prized for their quality, not numbers. One Ordos can match a few dozens of ordinary geniuses! Tsk, tsk, double superior-grade of Light-Element and Wind-Element, 88 times the spiritual power of same-age peers. It’s so crazy!”</p><p>“Exactly! If it’s possible, I would rather exchange all the students I got this year for Ordos!”</p><p>The bald man agreed deeply. “If a genius like Ordos is properly cultivated, it’s a sure thing for him to become a Ninth-Grade Magician Mentor, or even…”</p><p>He didn’t speak the rest of the sentence, but both the old man with rosacea and the one-horned old man understood his meaning. Talent such as Ordos’ had the prospect of reaching the Saint Domain!</p><p>The Saint Domain!</p><p>What kind of existence was that?</p><p>How many ordinary alumni were one Saint Domain alumni comparable to?</p><p>“It’s a pity that such a genius is pretty much wasted being put into your Dragon People Academy!” The old man with rosacea said angrily, “He should come to our Fire Dragon Academy. Only Fire Dragon Academy can give him the best educational environment!”</p><p>Upon hearing that, the one-horned old man immediately blew his beard and stared. “Old man, stop talking sh*t! Our Dragon People Academy isn’t much worse than your Fire Dragon Academy, if not for—”</p><p>“Teacher! Hurry! Another genius has appeared!”</p><p>While the three old men were arguing heatedly, a young man in a magic robe suddenly appeared and spoke, panting.</p><p>“What?”</p><p>“Another genius appeared?’</p><p>The three old men’s eyes stared at each other before they got up from the chairs in a swoosh and looked at the young man in a magic robe together. “What level of genius, how’s the talent?”</p><p>“Elemental Affinity: Superior-Grade Thunder-Element! Spiritual Power: 100 times that of same-age peers!” The young man in the magic robe continued. “Comprehensive evaluation—”</p><p>Before he finished his words, the three old men directly dashed past him, knocking the young man to the side, and he stumbled onto the ground!</p><p>“What is this, not even letting me finish speaking!”</p><p>The young man in the magic robe got up from the ground and complained, rubbing his buttocks. But he could completely understand the behavior of the three teachers. After all, this super-genius was… crazily amazing!</p><p>“Elemental Affinity: Thunder-Element… Superior-Grade!”</p><p>“Spiritual Power: 100 times that of same-age peers!”</p><p>“Oh my god!”</p><p>“Such talent is not bad even compared to Ordos!”</p><p>“Mine! He belongs to our Fire Dragon Magic Academy!”</p><p>“No! He belongs to our Douglas Magic Academy!”</p><p>“You’re daydreaming! To have such talent, it must be one of our Dragon People. He’ll surely join our Dragon People Magic Academy!”</p><p>“What about Dragon People? This old man is sure to succeed!”</p><p>“Move aside!”</p><p>“Move aside, all!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>Presently, Meng Lei was enjoying people’s envy and jealousy. He didn’t quite mind it. After all, this was what he expected!</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei, you’re amazing!”</p><p>Jonah, Joseph, and Andrew also approached and looked at Meng Lei full of envy, their eyes shining like they were full of little stars. Although they did not quite understand the meaning of Meng Lei’s talent, the shock and amazement that everyone around them expressed could explain a lot!</p><p>Meng Lei was a genius that everyone envied!</p><p>“Move! Move off!”</p><p>“Where is the genius…”</p><p>Right then, the three hasty old men squeezed into the crowd and looked around with their faces full of anxiousness. In the end, all their gazes fell on a young Dragon Man beside the spiritual tester!</p><p>This Dragon Man youth was dressed in a splendid silk robe, had black wings behind his back, and looked handsome and mighty. The appearance alone was pretty good!</p><p>“You are the genius?”</p><p>The old man with rosacea grabbed the shoulder of the young Dragon Man and said extremely anxiously, “Hello, hello! I’m the teacher in charge of admissions at the Fire Dragon Magic Academy this year. I’m called Carls!</p><p>“I sincerely invite you to join our Fire Dragon Magic Academy!</p><p>“So long as you join, your tuition, living expenses, water, material fees, and all other costs would all be spared. At the same time, you will enjoy a scholarship of 1,000… No, 2,000 gold coins per year…”</p><p>The old man with rosacea talked non-stop about various benefits before he was interrupted by the bald old man. He pushed the old man with rosacea aside and said in one breath, “Hello, Genius. I’m the admissions teacher of Douglas Magic Academy! I sincerely invite you to join the Douglas Magic Academy. So long as you join, school fees and scholarships can all easily be discussed!”</p><p>“Stop bullshitt*ng here, you guys! He’s a Dragon Man, he by right belongs to our Dragon People Magic Academy!”</p><p>The one-horned old man forcefully squeezed the bald old man away, smiling as bright as a flower. “Hello, I’m from Dragon People Magic Academy…”</p><p>When looking at the three extremely passionate old men, everyone around looked at each other and didn’t know what to say any more.</p><p><em>Meng Lei is the genius. What are all of you doing, inviting the young Dragon Man?</em></p><p><em>What a blunder!</em></p><p>Meng Lei also felt quite bemused, but he… could understand!</p><p>Since ancient times, Dragon People who inherited the bloodline of Colossal Dragons indeed had better magic talent than the human race. Also, they had a much higher probability of producing geniuses, while the biggest reason the human race produced geniuses was still… its huge population base!</p><p>It was completely reasonable that the three admission officer teachers had gotten the wrong person!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-21

Chapter 21

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 21</h1><p>That young Dragon Man, who had been mistaken to be the genius, was originally behind Meng Lei and the rest. As he had been shocked by Meng Lei’s astonishing talents, he had been unable to resist moving forward to see this amazing genius up close. Surprisingly, he had ended up being surrounded by these three old men!</p><p>The young Dragon Man was stunned. “Teachers, you have made a mistake. I have not been assessed yet!”</p><p>“What?”</p><p>“You are not the super genius?”</p><p>The three old men looked stunned. “Where is he?”</p><p>The middle-aged man in charge of the assessment pointed at Meng Lei and said helplessly, “Teachers, this is the one!”</p><p><em>They must be drunk not to recognize him properly!</em></p><p>Swish—</p><p>Three pairs of eyes landed on Meng Lei at the same time!</p><p>“He’s actually a human?”</p><p>“You are the super genius?”</p><p>Although the three old men had different expressions, they all had looks of wonder on their faces.</p><p>“Unexpectedly, my human race has also produced a super genius! Very good!”</p><p>The old man with rosacea was overjoyed. He did not even blush over the blunder he had just made!</p><p>“Top quality! Human geniuses with extraordinary elemental affinity are rare, and those with spiritual power 100 times that of their peers are literally unheard of!</p><p>The bald old man was very excited. “Hello, young man. I am Augustus, the admissions teacher of Douglas Magic Academy! I sincerely invite you to join our Douglas Magic Academy. I stand by what I said earlier. As long as you are keen, we can discuss any conditions you want! What do you think? Join us?”</p><p>“For a genius like him, only the best teaching environment will do. Going to your Douglas Magic Academy is a waste, a huge waste!”</p><p>The old man with rosacea snorted coldly and sneered at the words of the bald old man. However, when he looked at Meng Lei, he showed an amiable and kind expression. “Young man, our Fire Dragon Magic Academy is the best magic academy in the Fire Dragon Kingdom, with top-notch teachers and resources. Join us…”</p><p>Upon seeing his two competitors’ endless solicitation, the one-horned old man did not want to be left behind. “This human genius, I’m the admissions teacher of the Dragon People Magic Academy—”</p><p>It was a pity that the other two competitors ruthlessly attacked him before he could finish speaking. “Old fogey, are you senile? He is a genius of my human race. Why would he go to your Dragon People Magic Academy? Quit wasting your breath!”</p><p>Seeing the three major magic academies’ admissions teachers arguing over Meng Lei, the other young people present felt envious, jealous, and hateful toward him. They badly wanted to replace Meng Lei and become the super genius!</p><p>It would be great if they were the ones getting fought over!</p><p>Unfortunately, there was no such possibility!</p><p>At this time, the middle-aged man in charge of the assessment coughed and said, “My three teachers, why don’t you discuss at the side? We need to continue with the assessment…”</p><p>“Hmph!”</p><p>The three old men were slightly unhappy after getting interrupted by the middle-aged man, but they didn’t say much. They pulled Meng Lei to the side and activated their eloquent tongues, trying to recruit him!</p><p>“My two teachers, your conditions are very attractive. However, are you able to share the specifics so that I can make a choice?”</p><p>Meng Lei scratched his head and looked at the old man with rosacea and the bald old man. He then said that he would not consider the Dragon People Magic Academy, which was represented by the one-horned old man. He was not interested in associating with Dragon People!</p><p>“Little brother, you are really straightforward!”</p><p>The bald old man quickly followed up. “I think you are of a commoner’s background. It happens that our Douglas Magic Academy recruits commoners. As long as you join us, tuition and fees are exempted, and you will receive a scholarship grant of 3,000 gold coins per year!”</p><p>“Our Fire Dragon Magic Academy also exempts all tuition and fees, and offers a scholarship grant of 3,000 gold coins per year!” The old man with rosacea counter-offered.</p><p>“Old fogey, didn’t you just say 2,000 gold coins?” The bald old man glared at the old man with rosacea and yelled, “Why did you increase it by another 1,000 gold coins in a blink of an eye? Are you shameless?”</p><p>“Hmph! How can a genius like him be measurable by money?” The old man with rosacea snorted coldly. “A scholarship grant of 3,000 gold coins per year, that’s quite appropriate!”</p><p>“Shameless old thief!”</p><p>The bald old man ground his teeth in anger. “4,000 gold coins! As long as you join our Douglas Magic Academy, we are willing to provide a scholarship grant of 4,000 gold coins per year!”</p><p>“Our Fire Dragon Magic Academy is also willing to provide a scholarship grant of 4,000 gold coins!”</p><p>The old man with rosacea chuckled. There was an expression of victory on his face. Fire Dragon Magic Academy had money and power. How could Douglas Magic Academy be compared to them?</p><p>“Old fogey, are you bent on opposing me today?”</p><p>The bald old man was furious. “5,000 gold coins! This is the maximum I can offer. Little brother, be direct. Do you want to join us?”</p><p>The old man with rosacea said casually, “Hehe, I also offer 5,000 gold coins!”</p><p>“You! How ruthless!”</p><p>The bald old man clenched his teeth but did not make any further offers. Although he wanted to recruit Meng Lei, he was only an admissions teacher and had limited authority. The scholarship grant of 5,000 gold coins per year was his limit!</p><p>“Hahaha! I suppose you are not increasing your offer?” The old man with rosacea sneered. “Little brother, which would you choose? I believe you have already made up your mind?”</p><p>Meng Lei glanced at the old bald man with a little regret before turning to the old man with rosacea. He bowed and politely said, “I am honored to be a member of the Fire Dragon Magic Academy!”</p><p>“Hahaha, smart choice, kid!” The old man with rosacea was very pleased with himself. “I’m glad you joined our Fire Dragon Magic Academy. This is the badge of the academy. You need to drop your blood to swear allegiance to it quickly!”</p><p>This was a small badge, similar to the school badge from Meng Lei’s previous life. However, it was a product of alchemy. There was an awe-inspiring ferocious fire dragon at the front, and a magic pattern at the back, containing some kind of strange magic energy!</p><p>Meng Lei took the badge and squeezed a drop of blood on it. Suddenly, he felt a mysterious connection with the badge!</p><p>“Oh, what a shame!”</p><p>The bald old man looked on and sighed helplessly. He knew this would happen. Geniuses like Meng Lei would choose the Fire Dragon Magic Academy even when offered the same conditions!</p><p>He could only watch as geniuses miss their Douglas Magic Academy again and again!</p><p>“The academy badge is not only a form of identification but also a certificate of admission. You can only pass through the academy and freely enter and exit the academy, only if you are wearing the badge!”</p><p>The old man with rosacea patiently introduced, “Of course, the academy badge is also engraved with a spirit-gathering magic pattern, which constantly absorbs magic elements, hence improving your meditation efficiency!”</p><p>“I see!”</p><p>Meng Lei acknowledged with a nod!</p><p>“Today is the last day of the magic assessment!”</p><p>The old man with rosacea exhorted. “Generally, there will be a two-day rest period after the magic assessment, and then the school starts! Hence, you should come to the academy for registration the day after tomorrow. There will be an internal test during the registration. After successfully passing the test, you will officially become a member of the academy!”</p><p>“Understood!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded!</p><p>“Very good!”</p><p>The old man with rosacea nodded in satisfaction. “By the way, I still do not know what your name is?”</p><p>“Meng Lei!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-22

Chapter 22

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 22</h1><p><em>Elemental Affinity: Thunder-Element, Superior-Grade!</em></p><p><em>Spiritual Power: 100 times that of same-age peers!</em></p><p><em>Such talents are truly shocking, surpassing everybody else!</em></p><p>After successfully recruiting such a genius, the old man with rosacea left contentedly. The eyes of countless nobles, commoners, and Dragon People in the audience were fixed on Meng Lei, filled with envy!</p><p>“This country bumpkin… No, this fellow’s fate has completely changed. When he graduates from the academy, he will be at least a Sixth-Grade Magician!”</p><p>“So envious, jealous, and hateful towards him!”</p><p>The magic assessment had yet to end. After Meng Lei, Joseph and Andrew underwent the assessment with hope and anxiety!</p><p>They hoped that they could be like Meng Lei, shocking the audience with their astonishing magic talents.</p><p>Unfortunately, reality was cruel!</p><p>Joseph!</p><p>Elemental Affinity: Fire-Element, Low-Grade!</p><p>Spiritual Power: 1 time that of same-age peers!</p><p>Overall evaluation: Mediocre talent, no potential to become a Magician!</p><p>Andrew!</p><p>Elemental Affinity: Wind-Element, Low-Grade!</p><p>Spiritual Power: 1 time that of same-age peers!</p><p>Overall evaluation: Mediocre talent, no potential to become a Magician!</p><p>This outcome made Joseph and Andrew extremely dejected!</p><p>They couldn’t accept it. Why did Meng Lei, who had grown up with them, have such amazing talents, and they didn’t even have any!?</p><p>Why?</p><p>Why was that so?</p><p>When looking at his downcast, crying friends, Meng Lei didn’t know how to comfort them. He could only pat them on the shoulders and offer his condolences.</p><p>Although Meng Lei hoped that the three of them possessed magic talent, reality was often cruel. It would never change just because one wanted a certain outcome!</p><p>“Elemental Affinity: Wood-Elemental, Medium-Grade. Wind-Element, Low-Grade!”</p><p>At that moment, the young man in charge of the assessment announced Jonah’s results!</p><p>“Huh?”</p><p>Meng Lei turned his head and saw Jonah holding the crystal ball in both hands. The ball was filled with green light, like an emerald agate. Occasionally, streaks of gray would flash through it!</p><p>“Jonah… actually possesses magic talent as well?”</p><p>Meng Lei was a little surprised. Joseph and Andrew, who were downcast and weeping, also looked at Jonah, biting their lips tightly. Their mood instantly got better but was soon replaced by greater grief!</p><p>Jonah was also assessed with magic talent, but for them…</p><p>The young man in charge of the assessment said with a kind expression, “Next, assessing your spiritual power!”</p><p>Due to Jonah’s relationship with Meng Lei, his attitude toward Jonah was also very good. After all, Jonah and Meng Lei had arrived together!</p><p>Spiritual power: 8 times that of same-age peers!</p><p>“Overall evaluation Has the potential to become a Magician!”</p><p>The young man announced the last result with a smile and immediately beamed at Jonah. “Student, congratulations. You have the potential to become a Magician!”</p><p>“I also have magic talent?” Jonah murmured and suddenly cheered loud, “I can become a Magician? I can become a Magician…”</p><p>If someone else had shouted, the young man in charge of the assessment would have reprimanded them. But at this moment, instead of reprimanding, he had a smile on his face with a friendly attitude!</p><p>Not only that, the middle-aged man and the other two young people were also smiling. Their attitudes were abnormally good!</p><p>“Jonah, congratulations!”</p><p>Meng Lei went up to congratulate her with a smile.</p><p>“Jonah, congratulations!”</p><p>Joseph and Andrew forcefully managed a slight smile and congratulated her!</p><p>“Eh, thanks!”</p><p>Jonah burst into tears of excitement as she nodded her little head rapidly. Joseph and Andrew had failed, and she thought she had no magic talent. Little did she expect that her fate would turn around!</p><p>How could she not be happy and excited?</p><p>“Another lucky person!”</p><p>“So jealous!”</p><p>The bystanders were commenting nonstop. Among them, there was no one who was not envious. One’s life would be very different if they had magic talent!</p><p>Even if one possessed an ordinary level of talent, it was enough to cause envy!</p><p>“Let’s go and enroll Jonah in a magic academy!” said Meng Lei. “Then, we’ll head out to find Captain Hudders!”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>…</p><p>Jonah had average talent and was a commoner. She ended up joining Douglas Magic Academy, becoming the second child from Magical Beast Village to be admitted into a magic academy!</p><p>After receiving the news, Captain Hudders exclaimed in excitement. Two of the four children he had brought with him possessed magic talent. This was too lucky and exhilarating!</p><p>In particular, Meng Lei, the one that he favored, possessed extraordinary talents. How could he not be pleasantly surprised?</p><p>“Meng Lei, good job, you are the pride of the village!”</p><p>Hudders slapped Meng Lei on the shoulder, speaking incoherently with excitement. “Jonah, well done as well. I can’t wait to return to the village and inform the village chief and everyone else!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head helplessly and glanced at the increasingly frustrated Joseph and Andrew. He then asked, “Captain Hudders, what should Joseph and Andrew do? Have they made a wasted trip coming along with us?”</p><p>“There’s nothing I can do! If they don’t have talent for magic, they can only return to the village!”</p><p>Captain Hudders’ face dimmed as he sighed. He didn’t say much, but the outcome was fixed. They would return to the village to be commoners, spending the rest of their lives in a small mountain village!</p><p>This was fate. No one could go against it!</p><p>Joseph and Andrew were shocked, and tears unwillingly rolled down their cheeks!</p><p>“Even without magic talent, you can still cultivate your Battle Aura!” Meng Lei frowned as he spoke. “There are so many warrior academies in the capital city, and some of them do recruit human commoners. They can enter a warrior academy and become Warriors!”</p><p>Upon hearing this, Joseph and Andrew were stunned, and a glimmer of hope appeared in their eyes!</p><p>“Yes, although you can’t enter a magic academy, entering a warrior academy is not a bad option!” Jonah added, “Since the four of us are staying in the capital city, we can take care of each other.”</p><p>“Talking is easy!” Captain Hades smiled bitterly. “Do you know how expensive the enrollment fee for a warrior academy is?”</p><p>“I have not considered this!”</p><p>“Even the worst third-rate academies have an annual enrollment fee of dozens of gold coins. Not to mention books, accommodation, food, clothing, expenses for materials, training fees…”</p><p>Captain Hudders shook his head. “Adding all these up, hundreds of gold coins are needed per year. How can the average family afford this?”</p><p>Upon hearing that, Joseph and Andrew’s expressions froze. It was difficult for their families to come up with 10 gold coins in a year, let alone hundreds of gold coins!</p><p>Their parents had gone through great difficulties in coming up with the 10 gold coins for this magic assessment. Where could they get hundreds of gold coins for them to enter a warrior academy for their training?</p><p>“Warrior training is only for the rich. This is not a joke!” Captain Hudders sighed. “The training of Magicians and Warriors is made possible with money, enough to suck dry a small bourgeoisie family. How can commoners like us afford it?”</p><p>After saying that, he glanced at Jonah as his eyes flashed with worry. It was a good thing to have magic talent, but entering the magic academy was the beginning of spending money!</p><p>Jonah was different from Meng Lei, who did not need to pay for any tuition or fees and had an attractive scholarship grant. Where would she find the money for the next few years of expenses?</p><p>Meng Lei was silent.</p><p>Jonah clenched her teeth and was pale with fright!</p><p>“Let’s go. You all must be tired after being in the line for the entire day. Let’s find a place to eat, and go back to the hotel to rest!”</p><p>Hudders waved his hand. “In two days’ time, after Meng Lei and Jonah enter the magic academy, I will take Joseph and Andrew back to the village. The expenses in the capital city are too high…”</p><p>“Return back to the village?”</p><p>Meng Lei fell into deep thought.</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-23

Chapter 23

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 23</h1><p>Was Meng Lei rich?</p><p>No, not really!</p><p>As of now, his total assets came up to only 2,306 gold coins, as well as the 5,000 gold coins per year scholarship grant that hadn’t entered his pocket yet!</p><p>Although this bit of assets naturally couldn’t compare to the nobility and the filthy rich merchants, it was still far better than the commoner class that struggled to feed themselves.</p><p>This wasn’t the point, however!</p><p>The point was that money came to him fairly easily because he could pick it up at any time, anywhere!</p><p>Meng Lei had been picking up dropped items the whole time ever since he had arrived in the capital city. Gold coins, stats light balls, spells… In fact, he had even picked up… A grand total of three battle skills!</p><p>Additionally, the more crowded a place was, the more dropped items there would be!</p><p>As the capital of Fire Dragon Kingdom, what the capital city lacked the least was people, especially when the term was beginning for each of the major academies during this recent period. As such, a large number of people had entered the capital city!</p><p>With people around, things would naturally drop!</p><p>Naturally, this went to Meng Lei’s benefit!</p><p>And wasn’t that so? Because it hadn’t even been a day since he had arrived in the capital city, yet his pockets were already overflowing from the number of items he had picked up, and all of his various stats had undergone a tremendous change!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human</p><p>Wealth: 2,306 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Third-Grade Warrior (502/1,000)</p><p>Spirit: Second-Grade Magician (213/500)</p><p>Magic Power: First-Grade Magician (199/200)</p><p>Others: Some increase</p><p>The number of gold coins he possessed had doubled and a little more!</p><p>His body was comparable to a Third-Grade Warrior’s!</p><p>His spiritual power had entered the ranks of a Second-Grade Magician’s!</p><p>His magic power lacked only 1 point to become comparable to a Second-Grade Magician’s!</p><p>There were even quite a few more spells in his repertoire now, too!</p><p>As for battle skills… He had picked up three of them for some reason!</p><p><em>Tsk, tsk, the capital city certainly lives up to its name as the place where billionaires and experts congregate. It hasn’t even been a day, and I’ve already picked up this much. Can you imagine how it’ll be like in the future?</em></p><p><em>The capital city… I’ve certainly made the right choice in coming here!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was very satisfied with his rewards today, and he believed that there would only be more and more rewards in the future!</p><p>Therefore, could he use some of his gold coins to help two of his companions out financially, so that they could attend school here?</p><p>Meng Lei secretly mused over this. As long as Joseph and Andrew were a little more diligent and became Trainee Warriors within the first year, they would become able to easily earn money at that point.</p><p>After that, they would be able to support themselves and successfully finish their studies. By the time they successfully graduated, no matter how poorly they did, they would also have become Fourth-Grade Warriors.</p><p>How could the riches that Fourth-Grade Warriors could create possibly be just 200 gold coins? There was no need to worry that they couldn’t pay him back!</p><p><em>In other words, as long as I loan out 200 gold coins, I can change two of my companions’ lives. That’s a pretty good deal!</em></p><p>However, when they heard Meng Lei’s thoughts, a huge jolt went through Hudders, Jonah, Joseph, and Andrew. All of them thought that they had misheard!</p><p>“Meng Lei, you’re not joking with us, are you?”</p><p>Hudders looked closely at Meng Lei and said, “I know that you have a scholarship grant of 5,000 gold coins per year, but magic cultivation has much higher expenses than Warriors’. The 5,000 gold coins grant may not even be enough for you to buy magic potions and magic materials!”</p><p>“Captain Hudders, you don’t need to say any more. I know what I’m doing!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved and looked at Joseph and Andrew. He said, “I’m also very poor, so I can only help you out financially for a year. You’ll have to depend on yourselves after the first year!</p><p>“If the two of you can become Trainee Warriors within a year, everything is still open for discussion!”</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei…”</p><p>Terribly touched, Joseph and Andrew burst into loud sobs. They couldn’t take the roller-coaster of events anymore!</p><p>“What are you crying for? Keep Meng Lei’s words in mind well. After you enter the academy, cultivate properly and strive to become Trainee Warriors within a year…”</p><p>…</p><p>With Meng Lei’s help, Joseph and Andrew successfully enrolled in warrior academies.</p><p>Although it was just an ordinary mid-range warrior academy, it was still enough to make Joseph and Andrew beyond touched. They promised right there and then that they would study properly from now on, and repay Meng Lei properly in the future!</p><p>During the next two days, the group of five had fun in the capital city and went sight-seeing. At the same time that Meng Lei picked up a large number of dropped items, he was also bedazzled by the capital city’s prosperity and extravagance!</p><p>He had initially thought that this world was very behind times and primitive because technology hadn’t developed here, but he was wrong!</p><p>Dragon God Empire’s civilization had tens of thousands of years of history. Although the main trend was the passing down of one’s personal battle strength, as well as the development and innovation of Battle Aura and magic, as an endless amount of time passed, a lot of derivatives had also developed.</p><p>Out of which, the most common was… Magic devices!</p><p>Poor commoners at the bottommost tier of social hierarchy naturally wouldn’t be able to come into contact with magic devices. However, these products of magic civilization had reached deeply into many upper society families. For example:</p><p>Storage magic devices such as spatial rings, spatial bangles, spatial belts, and so on!</p><p>Offensive magic devices such as magic cannons, magic guns, magic puppets, and so on!</p><p>Lifestyle magic devices such as magic lamps, magic carriages, magic carpets, and so on!</p><p>There was a dazzling array of products!</p><p>An endless number of products!</p><p>This was totally different from the style of civilization on Earth. While being a huge eye-opener for Meng Lei, it also provided him with a clearer understanding of this world at the same time.</p><p>But of course, what he felt the deepest was still a saying from his past life. “Meat and wine go to waste in the portals of the rich, while the frozen bones of the dead lie out on the road!”</p><p>This world had extremely serious social stratifications. The small group of people standing at the top of society hoarded an overwhelming majority of society’s resources and reveled in indulgence while enjoying life without restraint!</p><p>Conversely, more than 90% of the poor masses could only struggle at the bottom tiers of society, suffering to the fullest extent the upper class’ exploitation and oppression, dragging out their sad existences, and drifting about homeless and miserable.</p><p>After he got an understanding of all of these, Meng Lei, however, didn’t develop the great ambition of destroying the ruling class and liberating the toiling masses. The only thing that came to his mind was to continue to cowardly mature so that he could escape the exploited tier of people in the end and live on in a better and more enjoyable manner!</p><p>Of course, should he really become so strong as to possess the power to overthrow this world in the future, Meng Lei didn’t mind changing the world and cleansing the times, and return a beautiful world to Heaven’s Vault Continent!</p><p>…</p><p>Two days of free time passed in the blink of an eye. The term finally began at Fire Dragon Magic Academy. Meng Lei bade farewell to Hudders and the others and arrived at the Fire Dragon Magic Academy.</p><p>As the best magic academy in Fire Dragon Kingdom, Fire Dragon Magic Academy had a founding history of over 20,000 years. While it was already impossible to determine when exactly the school was founded, there were files that explicitly recorded that the earliest classes had been held 20,000 years ago!</p><p>In the 20,000 years that came after, Fire Dragon Magic Academy had received tremendous support from Fire Dragon Kingdom and Dragon God Empire. It had developed rapidly and become one of Heaven’s Vault Continent’s oldest magic academies.</p><p>Over the course of these long 20,000 years, Fire Dragon Magic Academy had produced innumerable Master Magicians and expert magic craftsmen, and also groomed a large number of Saint Domain experts, royalty, and nobility.</p><p>Out of which, there were 37 Fire Dragon Kingdom kings and 1,169 Saint Domain experts!</p><p>Fire Dragon Magic Academy ranked third among more than 20 magic academies in Dragon God Empire and ranked ninth among more than 100 magic academies in Heaven’s Vault Continent.</p><p>Yet it was exactly such a magic academy with a long history that, as of now, Year 44,781 of the Heaven’s Vault calendar, had only… 600 existing students!</p><p><em>With a total of six levels, there are less than 100 people in each level!</em></p><p><em>In other words, those that could enroll in Fire Dragon Magic Academy… Each and every one of them is a genius!</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-24

Chapter 24

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 24</h1><p>Meng Lei was filled with emotion as he stood before the academy’s doors, gazing at the highest grand hall of magic filled with ancient civilization and a long history.</p><p>From history’s perspective, there wasn’t a single school on Earth that could be regarded in the same light as the academy in front of him right now. After all, even the oldest academy’s history on Earth didn’t go beyond 1,000 years, whereas there were already more than 20,000 years of history to the academy in front of him!</p><p>The settling of time could be seen in every corner!</p><p>Every little thing fully exhibited the many vicissitudes of life!</p><p>What a wonderful magic academy!</p><p>There were guards on duty at the school’s entrance. Each of them wore a suit of Fire Dragon armor and held flaming spears in their hands. With faces full of cold sternness, their sharp eagle-like eyes swept over all the passers-by!</p><p>New students reported today, and old students came back to school one after another!</p><p>There were joyous students, as well as agitated, proud parents!</p><p>It was extraordinarily bustling with activity outside the academy’s doors. However, only students wearing the academy’s badge could enter, while accompanying parents and other unrelated people were denied entrance at the doors.</p><p>One could tell from this just how strict Fire Dragon Magic Academy’s administration was!</p><p>Meng Lei took out the academy badge and pinned it at his chest. Then, he followed the crowd and walked toward the academy entrance.</p><p>Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!</p><p>The guards’ sharp eyes shot toward him!</p><p>Then, an emotionless voice rang out. “New students reporting this year, please head to Saint Dragon Square to take part in the assessment for new students! Turn right after you enter, then go straight, and you’ll reach Saint Dragon Square!”</p><p>“Thanks!”</p><p>Meng Lei said his thanks and walked through the academy doors. He followed the tree-lined avenue on the right and made his way to the “Saint Dragon Square” mentioned by the guards.</p><p>Big and tall sycamore trees lined the sides neatly and provided shade from the sun.</p><p>He reached the end of the avenue after a brief moment. Several expanses of gigantic statues entered his sight. These statues had varying appearances and sizes, and they numbered dozens. The big ones were as tall as 100 meters, while the small ones were only two meters tall. With both big and small sizes, there were a lot of statues!</p><p>The workmanship was detailed and elaborate, delicate, and exquisite. The folds of the dragon scales… looked vivid and true to life!</p><p>There were mighty and ferocious Flaming Colossal Dragons!</p><p>There were Thunderbolt Dragon People with wings on their backs!</p><p>There was also no lack of small and short human elites!</p><p>Stone tablets with inscriptions stood at the bottom of every statue. Dense and packed tiny texts were inscribed on them, recording the statue subjects’ deeds and achievements from their whole lives!</p><p>“Isaac Flit, the 16th king of Fire Dragon Kingdom, the first president of Fire Dragon Magic Academy, and a great fire-elemental Colossal Dragon King!</p><p>“In Year 24,762 of the Heaven’s Vault calendar, the Three-Headed Chimera, one of the legendary rulers of Magical Beast Forest, led a beast tide to invade Fire Dragon Kingdom. The great His Majesty Isaac led the troops to fight the beast tide and successfully killed the Three-Headed Chimera, thereby ending the beast tide!</p><p>“In Year 24,792, a great war broke out between Dragon God Empire and the Titan Empire. His Majesty Isaac led the Fire Dragon Kingdom troops and traversed the Magical Beast Ridge to launch an ambush on the Titan Empire’s fortress in the north. They killed the East Tiger King, one of the twelve pillars of the Titan Empire, and made the first decisive strike for Dragon God Empire’s victory!</p><p>“In Year 24,850, the great His Majesty Isaac relegated the throne…</p><p>“Amos Kroc, the second president of Fire Dragon Magic Academy. A strong and powerful Saint Domain Dragon Person and a Saint Domain Magician skilled in both water-elemental and fire-elemental magic. He is the first Dragon Person to master Dragon-language Magic and is skilled in the research of magic. He invented a total of 189 water-elemental and fire-elemental magic spells and made an outstanding contribution to water-elemental and fire-elemental magic research!</p><p>“Adolf Holman…”</p><p>Meng Lei was rather astounded as he looked at each and every statue and browsed the statue owners’ life stories. Everyone that qualified to be erected there was actually Saint Domain experts, and they weren’t just any other Saint Domain, no less!</p><p>All of them were great and noble existences that had accomplished glorious achievements, or the older generation of teachers and seniors that had made outstanding contributions to the academy, or meritorious generals and officials that had accomplished illustrious military achievements in war!</p><p>Even if they were kings of Fire Dragon Kingdom, ordinary Saint Domains didn’t even need to harbor thoughts of having a place here!</p><p>“Every one of them is an outstanding existence among the Saint Domains!</p><p>“Saint Domain…</p><p>“Can I… reach such high heights?”</p><p>People moved about here and there in the public square. Most of them were like Meng Lei and were new students here to report to the academy. However, with no exception whatsoever, every one of them was awed by the statues and looked quietly with reverence at the Saint Domain experts’ glorious deeds!</p><p>After Meng Lei browsed through the statue owners’ life histories one by one, he arrived at the assessment site. As it just so happened, there weren’t that many people waiting to be assessed, either.</p><p>Thinking about it again, this was normal, too. After all, Fire Dragon Magic Academy only recruited a maximum of 100 people per year. It was naturally impossible that long queues like those during the magic assessment, as though it were the spring festival, would appear here!</p><p>“Old bro, are you one of the new students from this year, too?”</p><p>Meng Lei had only just stood still when someone patted him on the back. He turned to see a little fatty with a chubby face and dressed in brocade robes looking at him with a smile.</p><p>The little fatty was shorter than 1.6 meters, but his waist circumference was horrifyingly big. He looked charmingly naive when he smiled as if he were a Laughing Buddha. His eyes, which were small to begin with, were already close to becoming slits!</p><p><em>Duh, can’t you see that I’m queuing right now!</em></p><p>Meng Lei mentally criticized him but kept a smile on his face. Most of the people going to and fro here were Dragon People, including even the teachers in charge of the magic assessment. Seeing a fellow human did make Meng Lei feel rather amiable!</p><p><em>Yep, even though this fellow human’s a fatty!</em></p><p>“Wow! You’re a human?”</p><p>The little fatty looked at Meng Lei in great astonishment. His tiny eyes widened into mung beans at once, as though a tortoise’s eyes. He said, “All the humans that qualify to be admitted into the academy are geniuses among geniuses. Old bro, you’re no exception too, right?”</p><p>“I’m just average, I guess!”</p><p>Meng Lei scratched his head. He wasn’t very sure how his talent fared among the new students this year, either. But thinking about it, it shouldn’t be that bad?</p><p>“Average?”</p><p>The little fatty blinked.</p><p>“Fatty Hart, why are you here too?”</p><p>At this moment, a piercing and unpleasant voice rang out behind them. Meng Lei turned to see a Dragon Person that was green all over, had a horn on his head, and a long tail at his bottom, walking over. With a fake smile on his green face, he looked right at the little fatty.</p><p>The green-skinned Dragon Person stood tall and straight. His muscles bulged, and he gave off a strong and vigorous aura all over. He was much more handsome and imposing than the little fatty.</p><p>The chubby flesh on the little fatty’s face trembled, and he said with a snort, “How is it that I can hear that unpleasant chicken caw-like voice of yours everywhere I go? Are you annoying or what?”</p><p>“You scum of the Dragon Person community, are you looking for a beating?”</p><p>The green-skinned Dragon Person glared at him and balled his hand into a fist, ready to strike. The little fatty was so frightened that he cowered and hid behind Meng Lei. Then, he shouted, “Lance, shouldn’t you take a look at where you are? Are you really thinking of putting on such atrocious behavior here?”</p><p>Lance, the green-skinned Dragon Person, froze, and he turned and looked around. When he saw that no one had their attention on them, he breathed a sigh of relief and immediately shouted, “You’d better watch out, Fatty Hart! The next time we go out of school, I’ll definitely beat you up so bad that you’ll be looking all over the floor for your teeth!”</p><p>“Hohoho! Beat me up now if you have the guts, you trash!”</p><p>Upon seeing that Lance didn’t dare to hit him, the little fatty became proud and arrogant at once.</p><p>“We’ll see!”</p><p>Rather outraged, Lance glared viciously at the little fatty. Then, his eyes fell onto Meng Lei, and a hint of mockery appeared at the corners of his lips. He said, “Fatty Hart, you’re truly a disgrace among us Dragon People. To think you’re actually hanging out with a cheap human! I really grieve for Duke James for having such a useless son like you!”</p><p>Upon hearing what he said, Meng Lei couldn’t help but frown. The little fatty snorted angrily and said, “Lance, he’s a human friend that I just made. You’re not allowed to insult him!”</p><p>Lance sneered and replied with great contempt, “Friend? Ha, only cheap trash with human slaves’ blood flowing through their veins like you would treat a cheap human as a friend. The noble and elegant Dragon People have always found it beneath them to befriend lowly humans!”</p><p>“You—”</p><p>The little fatty was so furious that all the flesh on him was trembling. He said, “Lance, I’ve warned you before not to humiliate my mother. Otherwise…”</p><p>“Otherwise, what?”</p><p>Lance’s expression was full of mockery.</p><p>“Otherwise, I’ll beat you to a pulp!”</p><p>A sharp shadow suddenly flashed past. Right away, Lance saw a fist appear right in front of him. It became bigger and bigger, and then it made intimate contact with his nose!</p><p>Snap!</p><p>Terrifying power erupted instantly. As a crisp snap rang out, Lance’s nose sunk in at once, and his entire self flew backward with a scream!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-25

Chapter 25

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 25</h1><p>The square suddenly fell silent!</p><p>Hart, the little fatty, was in a daze as he watched Lance flying out backward. Then, he looked at Meng Lei, who was standing in front of him. His mung bean-like eyes were full of disbelief as he stammered, “H-how did that happen?”</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>This attracted the attention of everyone else in the square, too. The few teachers in charge of the new students’ assessment frowned one after another, a look of displeasure coming over their faces.</p><p>“What’s going on over there?”</p><p>“Who’s so gutsy?”</p><p>“They actually dare to fight and brawl in Saint Dragon Square!”</p><p>“Do they want to be kicked out of school?”</p><p>“What’s going on? Who’s the one that struck just now?”</p><p>A middle-aged teacher wearing a magician robe walked over. His stern and severe eyes fell on Lance as he questioned him coldly and loudly!</p><p>Lance spat out the blood in his mouth. He glared furiously at Meng Lei, as though flames were bursting forth from his eyes. He shouted, “You lowly cheap trash! How dare you ambush me?! I’m going to kill you!”</p><p>All the green scales on his body stood on end. A terrifying, cold, and sinister aura suddenly erupted from him—he was about to go on a rampage!</p><p>“Oh no! That guy’s become serious!”</p><p>The little fatty’s expression changed, and he said, “Although that bastard isn’t of age yet, his body is already comparable to a Third-Grade Warrior’s. Old bro, discretion is the better part of valor. How about we retreat for now?!”</p><p><em>Third-Grade Warrior?</em></p><p>A hint of surprise flashed across Meng Lei’s eyes. This Dragon Person named Lance should be pretty young, and about the same age as an elementary school student on Earth!</p><p>He was just a mere elementary school student, yet his body was already comparable to a Third-Grade Warrior’s. A Dragon Person’s talent was truly impressive. Compared to him, humans like Captain Hudders that painstakingly cultivated for 20 to 30 years, yet was only a Second-Grade Warrior, should just go and bang their heads against the wall!</p><p><em>No wonder Captain Hudders said that no matter how down and out Dragon People were, they would still live a much better life than a human. After seeing this today, what he said is indeed true!</em></p><p>“Die, you cheap trash!”</p><p>Lance stomped on the ground, causing cracks to form at once. By borrowing the ground’s rebound force, he abruptly turned into a flash of shadow and dived right toward Meng Lei!</p><p>“How impudent!”</p><p>However, it was at this moment that a furious roar reached their ears. The middle-aged teacher wearing the magician robe looked livid as he glared at Lance!</p><p>“How bold of you to actually dare to behave so atrociously here!”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher made a casual grabbing motion, and wisps of green air appeared out of nowhere. They transformed into two big green snakes and wound around Lance’s legs. Hindered all of a sudden, Lance landed onto the floor with a crash and fell flat on his face!</p><p>Bam!</p><p>“Haha, to think that you’d end up like this today! I’m going to die of laughter!”</p><p>Upon seeing what had happened, the little fatty was bent over in stitches at once!</p><p>“You bastard!”</p><p>Lance had a sturdy physique, so this little collision hadn’t actually hurt him at all. He struggled to his feet and glared at the middle-aged teacher. He snapped, “Who are you? Why are you stopping me?!”</p><p>“Hmph! This is an important place in the school. How can you be allowed to behave so atrociously here?” The middle-aged teacher had a somber look on his face as he said, “Where’s the disciplinary team? Throw him out of the academy!”</p><p>Throw him out of the academy?</p><p>Oh no!</p><p>Lance had heard of how those who were thrown out of the academy had turned out in the end. Right away, his expression changed drastically, and he hastily said, “No! Don’t! I’m a new student that has only just arrived here to report. I have the academy badge! You can’t chase me away!”</p><p>“A new student? Hmph!”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher’s gaze swept across the academy badge at his chest, and his expression eased up slightly. He replied, “Fine, on account of you being a new student, I’ll spare you this once for the time being. If you dare to create any more trouble, whether you’re a prince or nobility, you’ll be expelled all the same!”</p><p>“Yes, yes!”</p><p>Perspiration broke out on Lance’s forehead, and he hastily nodded.</p><p>“And you!”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher turned and glared viciously at Meng Lei. He said, “Haven’t you heard of the academy’s rules? Students who get into a fight or brawl in private will be expelled immediately and thrown out of the academy once discovered! Getting into a fight with a classmate the moment you enter the school… Do you want to be expelled?!”</p><p>“Not at all, not at all!”</p><p>Meng Lei lowered his head and wussed out!</p><p>“Hmph! As long as that’s not the case! Remember, this will only happen just this once!”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher let out a loud snort, looking quite as if he were exasperated at the students’ failure to live up to expectations. He said, “Just how many people have made every effort to enter the academy, only to meet with failure? And yet you got into a fight the moment you entered?”</p><p>“Sir, I’ve erred!”</p><p>“Hmph!” The middle-aged teacher gave a cold snort and returned to the assessment site. Then, he shouted, “Next!”</p><p>Meng Lei turned, took a look around, and realized that there was no longer anyone in front of him—it was his turn to be assessed!</p><p>“Let him take the assessment!”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher glared at Meng Lei and then instructed the teacher in charge of the assessment beside him.</p><p>“Yes, Department Head!” replied the assessment teacher.</p><p>Then, he began Meng Lei’s assessment!</p><p>At this point, Hart, the little fatty, also walked over and started to observe enthusiastically. He was extremely curious about Meng Lei right now.</p><p>The fact that Meng Lei had been able to send Lance flying with a punch meant that his body was also rather strong, too!</p><p>However, it was very hard for ordinary humans to have a body like that. In that case, how did Meng Lei…</p><p>The little fatty’s guess was that Meng Lei had probably cultivated Battle Aura before and must be a Warrior.</p><p>Yet he had been recruited by Fire Dragon Magic Academy!</p><p>Now, that was pretty strange!</p><p><em>I bet that cheap trash’s magic talent must be very ordinary!</em></p><p>Lance thought indignantly to himself as he followed at the back.</p><p>However, he was destined to be disappointed!</p><p>“Superior-Grade!</p><p>“Elemental Affinity: Thunder-Element, Superior-Grade!” exclaimed the astounded teacher in charge of the assessment.</p><p>“Superior-Grade!”</p><p>“To think it’s actually Superior-Grade!”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher and the other teachers in charge of the assessment came over one after another. They stared at the dazzling crystal ball, all of them considerably astonished!</p><p>“What the hell! Superior-Grade?!”</p><p>The little fatty inhaled sharply. “He’s that big of a mutant?”</p><p>“Superior-Grade Thunder-Element? Could it be that you’re…”</p><p>Something seemed to occur to the middle-aged teacher. He grabbed the recruitment list on the table and began to scan through it. The first line written on the name list was:</p><p>‘Meng Lei, 15 years old. Superior-Grade Thunder-Element, 100 times that of his peers. Human.’</p><p>“You’re Meng Lei?”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher lifted his head and looked at Meng Lei in great astonishment.</p><p>“Yes, that’s me!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded.</p><p>“Not bad, sonny! So you’re the one!”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher, who was in disbelief, urged, “Hurry! Have your spiritual power assessed, too!”</p><p>Meng Lei did as told and got his spiritual power assessed. Just like before, his spiritual power was 100 times that of his peers. Upon seeing the results, the middle-aged teacher exhaled a long breath of air and finally became certain of his identity. However, when he thought back to the events that had taken place just now, a bout of lingering fear came over him. If he had really thrown Meng Lei out of the academy, he would have been in deep trouble!</p><p>Meng Lei was the top genius that they had recruited this year, after all!</p><p>“Why did you get into a fight the moment you entered the academy when you have such great talent?” asked the middle-aged teacher testily.</p><p>“I…”</p><p>“What’s there to ‘I’ about? Aren’t you afraid of being thrown out of the academy?”</p><p>With his finger pointed right at Meng Lei’s nose, the middle-aged teacher started to berate him fiercely, “What were you going to do if you were really expelled? You’d have a lot to cry over if that really happened!”</p><p>“Cough, it won’t go to that extent. At the worst, I’ll just go to Douglas Magic Academy!” mumbled Meng Lei softly with a sneaky laugh.</p><p>“Uhh…”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher was actually rendered speechless. He didn’t quite know what he should say to that. Indeed, even if there was no place for him here, he would naturally be able to find a place for himself somewhere out there. For someone with such exceptional talent like Meng Lei, even if he should lose his place in Fire Dragon Magic Academy, he could totally still go to other magic academies. He needn’t worry at all that no one would accept him!</p><p>“That’s the reason for you getting into a fight?”</p><p>The middle-aged teacher choked rather badly at his response. He said testily, “You’d better be more well-behaved in the future. The academy isn’t a place where you can act willfully and make trouble. Understand?”</p><p>“Understood!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-26

Chapter 26

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 26</h1><p>The new student assessment!</p><p>Enrollment and registration!</p><p>Dormitory assignment!</p><p>It was already afternoon by the time all the procedures were completed. Meng Lei finally received his dormitory address and, under a volunteer senior’s guidance, made his way to the condominium for new students.</p><p>“Old bro, so you’re that famous human genius. Tsk, tsk, hearing about you truly can’t compare to meeting you in the flesh. You look bright and valiant, indeed!</p><p>“Hehe, little brother here didn’t think that I would be so lucky that the first person I approached right after entering the academy would be you, old bro. Tsk, tsk, fate, this is fate!</p><p>“Say, old bro, aren’t you a human? Why is your body also so strong? Could it be that you’re the same as me, and also possess Dragon People blood in you? But that doesn’t sound right. You don’t have any Dragon People characteristics at all!”</p><p>The little fatty’s mouth was like a breached dam. His saliva flew everywhere as he rambled on and on, and followed Meng Lei around!</p><p>“I’m human!”</p><p>Once in a while, Meng Lei would reply to him. Most of his attention was on the scenery in the academy and on picking up dropped items. This was an academy with over 10,000 years of history, after all. As expected, it was indeed extraordinary!</p><p>The architecture was simple and sophisticated, while the trees were aged and ancient!</p><p>Wall scrolls, statues, light decorations, students…</p><p>Everything was totally different from what it was like on Earth. The charm and appeal of a different culture showed in every corner, and every little thing exhibited the magic civilization’s deep foundation. There was a rather different and distinctive flavor to it!</p><p>Of course, as this was a magic academy, there were quite a lot of dropped items. Going down the avenue to the condominium, Meng Lei had already picked up seven to eight magic power light balls, and two to three spell light balls!</p><p>His harvest could be said to be rather impressive!</p><p>“Tsk, tsk, you’re human, yet you’re more like a Dragon Person than me, an actual Dragon Person!”</p><p>The little fatty grumbled, “I have pure Golden Colossal Dragon blood right in my body, yet it just had to be suppressed by my human bloodline. Not only does my Colossal Dragon blood not show at all, but my human blood even had to show through completely. Sigh, what a tragedy!”</p><p>“Pfft!”</p><p>The female volunteer senior burst into laughter as she looked at the fatty flesh hanging all over the little fatty. Meng Lei couldn’t help but smile, too. Most Dragon People had tall and slender physiques and were muscular. Fat pigs like the little fatty were indeed rather uncommon!</p><p>“To be honest, I’m actually very troubled myself, too!”</p><p>The little fatty said with a wry smile, “Do you think I wish to be this fat? And be mocked by that bastard Lance every day? But I can’t help it. My physical body constitution is such that I’ll fatten up even if I’m just drinking water!”</p><p>“You may be fat, but your magic talent is great!”</p><p>The pretty senior added mirthfully, “High-Grade Water-Element, Earth-Element, and Thunder-Element affinity, and spiritual power that’s 92 times that of your peers. Looking at the entire academy, there aren’t many that are stronger than you!”</p><p>“Indeed, your magic talent is certainly not bad!”</p><p>Meng Lei also agreed with great admiration. High-Grade Water-Element, Earth-Element, and Thunder-Element affinity aside, just his spiritual power, which was 92 times that of his peers, alone was already very rare!</p><p>To borrow the department head teacher’s words, among the 98 new students recruited this year, Meng Lei was the only one whose spiritual power was stronger than the little fatty’s. His talent was evident from this!</p><p>“Hehe, it’s a long way off compared to you, old bro!” The little fatty scratched his head and asked with a sneaky laugh, “Say, which dormitory are you staying at, old bro?”</p><p>“No. 430!” replied Meng Lei calmly.</p><p>“What the hell, you’re actually staying at No. 430!”</p><p>The little fatty’s chubby face turned troubled at once. He said, “I’m at No. 431. Why aren’t I staying at the same dormitory as you? No, that won’t do. I’m going to look for the school authorities and get them to change my dormitory block…”</p><p>“Dummy!”</p><p>…</p><p>“Junior, it’s not that I’m boasting, but!”</p><p>The pretty senior brought Meng Lei to a condominium complex. She pointed at the hundreds of two-story refined and exquisite condominiums of varying heights, and said proudly, “As Fire Dragon Kingdom’s best magic academy, our academy’s facilities are not to be doubted!</p><p>“Even if we put everything else aside, just the student dormitories alone are enough to rank among the top in the whole of Dragon God Empire! A condominium is shared between two people and has its own entrance and courtyard. The interior decoration is even better than a hotel’s!”</p><p>“It certainly looks pretty good just looking from the outside!” praised Meng Lei with a nod.</p><p>There were close to 300 two-story condominiums erected in front of him. Every condominium had its own entrance and courtyard, and blooming flowers and trees with green foliage providing shade filled the gardens. It didn’t lose out one bit even when compared to luxurious villas on Earth!</p><p>“This is nothing. What’s awesome is the interior!”</p><p>The pretty senior glanced at Meng Lei’s clothes and said with a mirthful smile, “Junior, you’d better not become so happy that you’d even forget about going home after you move in! Hehe…”</p><p>Meng Lei rolled his eyes and replied, “Would it go that far?”</p><p>“How can it not? A lot of people have excellent talent, yet quickly fell into depravity after they entered the academy and ended up unable to fulfill their talent. Examples of this exist everywhere…”</p><p>During the brief conversation, they had already arrived at Condominium No. 430.</p><p>“Junior, this is your condominium!”</p><p>“Thank you, senior!”</p><p>“Do you have any other questions?”</p><p>“Senior, where can I purchase daily necessities like toothbrushes, towels, and so on?”</p><p>“You don’t need to buy them. The academy has already prepared these things for all of you, so you can just use them as is. Of course, if there’s anything that you wish to buy, just turn left after you go out. There’s a small store there where you can buy everything you need, such as daily necessities and whatnot!”</p><p>After he sent the pretty senior off, Meng Lei stepped forward and walked into No. 430. Classical interior decoration in the loft, soft, and plush fur carpet, elegant chandeliers and wall scrolls, and shiny golden walls—all of these demonstrated the condominium’s extravagance and level of comfort!</p><p>“No wonder the pretty senior said that a lot of commoner geniuses quickly fell into depravity right after they entered the academy!” remarked Meng Lei as he clicked his tongue in wonder and admiration. He added, “With such a comfortable environment, anyone would wallow in luxury!”</p><p>Losing oneself to luxury and letting their talent go to waste as a result wasn’t anything unheard of. Weren’t a lot of college students in his past life exactly like that? There were practically too many stories of star students that studied diligently and painstakingly during high school, becoming bottom-feeders after they got into college!</p><p>This was the same everywhere, no matter which world it was!</p><p>Tap, tap, tap!</p><p>Right at this moment, a short—one could even call him petite—Dragon Person teenage boy walked down from the upper floor. Dressed in regular nobility wear, the boy had normal dragon horns and looks with no distinguishing feature whatsoever. He was exactly the kind of person that one would lose sight of the moment he was thrown into a crowd.</p><p>“You’re here.”</p><p>Upon seeing Meng Lei, the Dragon Person teenager greeted him indifferently. Then, he concerned himself only with tidying his things and didn’t pay Meng Lei any more attention.</p><p>“Yup!”</p><p>Upon noticing the other party’s lukewarm attitude, Meng Lei had no desire to show excessive friendliness to a clearly disinterested person, either. After giving him a casual response, he started to check out the living room. Just like what the pretty senior had said, the academy had already prepared all the daily necessities for them.</p><p>Toothbrushes, towels, soap, slippers…</p><p>There was just about everything he could possibly need!</p><p><em>The academy sure is considerate. Which floor should I stay on, though?</em></p><p>Meng Lei cast a glance at the upper floor before looking at his housemate. He asked detachedly, “Where are you staying at? Upstairs or downstairs?”</p><p>“Upstairs!”</p><p>“‘kay!”</p><p>What followed was a long period of silence. Both of them packed and tidied up their respective rooms, with neither of them saying anything more. Although this was different from what he had initially expected, Meng Lei was happy to have some peace and quiet, nonetheless.</p><p>He was busy all the way until the evening. When he was more or less done with packing his room, Meng Lei was about to head out to get something to eat when Hart, the little fatty, came over.</p><p>“Haha, old bro, I’ve come to visit your dormitory!”</p><p>The little fatty gave Meng Lei a big hug the moment he entered. Then, he pointed at a human teenager next to him and said, “Old bro, let me do the introductions. This is my housemate, Daniel Kegebo. He’s also a human genius!”</p><p>“Daniel, this is my old bro, Meng Lei. He’s the top genius of our academy this year!”</p><p>“Hello, Meng Lei. I’m Daniel. Nice to meet you!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-27

Chapter 27

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 27</h1><p>“Hello, my name is Daniel Kegebo!”</p><p>Daniel was a well-mannered handsome youth with a delicate appearance and exquisite features, just like a pretty boy!</p><p>Upon seeing Meng Lei, Daniel took the initiative to greet him. He had a sincere and enthusiastic smile on his face, which gave people a warm and positive feeling!</p><p>“Hello, I am Meng Lei!”</p><p>Meng Lei also smiled and extended his hand.</p><p>“When I participated in the magic assessment that day, I heard that our human race had produced a magic genius with extraordinary talents, not inferior to this year’s top genius, Ordos of the Dragon People race!” Daniel said with a kind expression, “I wanted to get to know you immediately so that I could experience the grace of magic geniuses. I didn’t expect to meet you so soon!”</p><p>“Now that you have met me, are you disappointed? With a feeling that your blissful illusion had all but vanished?” Meng Lei blinked and laughed.</p><p>“No! Not disappointed at all. On the contrary, this is what I expected!” Daniel smiled and said, “Never judge a book by its cover. There are plenty of great people who also look ordinary at the start!”</p><p>“That’s right! The handsome ones are called pretty boys. They appear good-looking but are good-for-nothings. They are all kept-men!”</p><p>Little fatty echoed with a smile. After he finished speaking, he realized that something was wrong and waved his hand. “Daniel, I am not referring to you. You are different from the other pretty boys, hehe!”</p><p>Daniel rolled his eyes and said with a smile, “Today is the first time we met. Let’s have a meal together. My treat!”</p><p>“Hehe, how can I expect you to treat me when you are on my turf?”</p><p>The little fatty smiled triumphantly and patted his chest. “Let’s go. I’ll treat you! By the way, brother, where is your housemate? Ask him to come along!”</p><p>“He… could be…”</p><p>Meng Lei scratched his head and didn’t know what to say.</p><p>At that moment, his housemate came downstairs, and the little fatty greeted him warmly. “You are my brother’s housemate. Nice to meet you. My name is Hart. Let’s have a meal together!”</p><p>“Not going!”</p><p>…</p><p>Hart had been ruthlessly rejected, which made him very depressed. Fortunately, as the delicious food was put on the table, his mood instantly improved. He had a great feast with Meng Lei and Daniel.</p><p>The cuisine of Heaven’s Vault Continent was delicious, and Meng Lei enjoyed himself. These dishes were much tastier than the roasted meat and smoked meat jerky in Magical Beast Village. The food looked good and was succulent, making them salivate!</p><p>The three of them ate and chatted a lot, becoming more familiar with each other. Indeed, a big part of the friendship between men was forged during eating!</p><p>After the meal, the three returned to the dormitory. And after a simple shower, Meng Lei began his daily meditation as usual!</p><p>It had become a habit for him to meditate instead of sleeping!</p><p>It was another sleepless night…</p><p>The next day, Meng Lei left the condominium early.</p><p>Today may be the first day of school, but it was also a very busy day!</p><p>There was an opening ceremony in the morning and a freshman meeting in the afternoon!</p><p>It was a tightly packed schedule!</p><p>A total of 98 new students had joined this year and were divided into two classes—Class 1 and Class 2. They each had 49 students, with 1 head teacher, 1 class guide, and 10 class assistants!</p><p>The head teacher was a senior Magician assigned by the academy and was not responsible for the class’s daily affairs. The class guide handled all this!</p><p>The 10 class assistants were Magicians representing the 10 elements of magic. They were senior students and were responsible for answering questions and also helping out with problems outside of class!</p><p>The 10 elements of magic were 10 different types of magic, specifically:</p><p>Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Wood, Metal, Thunder, Light, Darkness, Ice!</p><p>The ten elements of magic included almost all the schools of magic in the Heaven’s Vault Continent, and they were also the schools of magic taught by major academies!</p><p>The boring opening ceremony was finally concluded in the morning!</p><p>After lunch, Meng Lei and others were called to a classroom by the class guide for the afternoon freshman meeting!</p><p>A beautiful blond, blue-eyed, slender senior came to the podium and introduced herself enthusiastically.</p><p>“Hello, everyone. I’m Jenny Lane, a sixth-year student. I’m also the class guide of Class 1’s first-years and a Sixth-Grade Wind Magician!</p><p>“Over the course of the year, I will be responsible for the daily affairs of this class…”</p><p>“Oh my dragon god!”</p><p>“Good stuff!”</p><p>“Our class guide actually turned out to be a beautiful senior sister from the human race!”</p><p>“Senior sister is amazing, a Sixth-Grade Wind Magician!”</p><p>“Tsk, tsk, she’s a pretty human girl. If I could take her back to warm my bed…”</p><p>When looking at the beautiful senior on the podium, the 49 freshmen all had different expressions—worship, excitement, enthusiasm, and of course… lust!</p><p>At least, Meng Lei heard Hart swallowing wildly beside him. The little fatty stared at the beautiful senior, seemingly in a daze. Even his ‘little brother’ stood up!</p><p><em>A bunch of promiscuous people!</em></p><p>Meng Lei had no strength to complain. There were 49 freshmen in the class, close to 30 were Dragon People, out of which half were male. It was unknown whether these men had the colossal dragons’ talents, but they seemed to have inherited the dragons’ lust for women!</p><p>Every one of them was drooling, and they looked at Senior Sister Jenny like lechers. Meng Lei was at a loss for words!</p><p>However, Senior Sister Jenny seemed to be accustomed to the reaction of the students of the Dragon People race. She didn’t care at all and continued to speak enthusiastically. “Next, everyone, introduce yourself and get to know each other. The first row of students shall start first!”</p><p>The dazed males recovered their senses one after another. They sat upright, straightened their chests, and introduced themselves!</p><p>“Hello, everyone. My name is Larry Billy, from Huo Lan Province!”</p><p>“Hi! Nice to meet everyone. My name is Monti Dunbar, and I am from Ode Province!”</p><p>“Everyone, my name is Tanna Airam, from the Frost Kingdom!”</p><p>“Eh? There is someone from the Frost Kingdom?”</p><p>There was a wave of exclamation in the classroom. The Frost Kingdom was located on the northern border of the empire. It was covered with snow throughout the year and was an icy kingdom!</p><p>The Fire Dragon Kingdom was located in the west of the empire, far away from the Frost Kingdom. Even flying beasts would have to fly up to half a year to reach the Frost Kingdom!</p><p>Someone from the Frost Kingdom was here to study?</p><p>Everyone’s eyes fell on the classmate who was introducing herself!</p><p>She wore a white dress and had tiny red horns on the top of her head. Her skin was fair, and her figure exquisite. She was indeed a beautiful youth of the Dragon People race!</p><p>She seemed to have noticed everyone’s gazes as she smiled sweetly and explained, “Our Frost Kingdom is located in the northern border and is rich in Ice Elements, but what I have is fire magic talent, so…”</p><p>This was the reason she was there!</p><p>Everyone suddenly realized that the requirements for a Magician’s cultivation environment were also quite demanding. A person with fire magic talent in a place rich in Ice Elements would need to put a lot of effort to achieve results during meditation!</p><p>Tanna’s choice to leave the Frost Kingdom was entirely reasonable!</p><p>“My name is Jimmy Hudgens. Glad to meet you all!”</p><p>“Hello, everybody. I am Meng Lei!”</p><p>“Who?”</p><p>“Meng Lei?”</p><p>“He is Meng Lei?”</p><p>“The top genius recruited by the academy this year?”</p><p>“The one with the best talent among all freshmen?”</p><p>Swish—</p><p>Everyone’s eyes fell on Meng Lei almost at the same time!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-28

Chapter 28

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 28</h1><p>One after another, pairs of surprised eyes fell on Meng Lei!</p><p>Curiosity, envy, jealousy…</p><p>The expressions were all different, but the most common expression was undoubtedly… unhappiness!</p><p>“A despicable human actually has such good magic talent. I really don’t know how he managed to get such luck.”</p><p>“Absolutely! We, the descendants of Dragon Gods, don’t even have such talents. How did he, such a lowly human, achieve that?”</p><p>“Hmph! So what if he has extraordinary talent? Magic cultivation is not only based on talent, hard work is more important…”</p><p>A sour smell filled the classroom; the pH of the air was almost close to 1!</p><p>“So, this fellow has extraordinary talent!”</p><p>An ordinary-looking Dragon Person’s gaze flickered. He was Meng Lei’s housemate, the distant and cold Dragon Person teenager!</p><p>“Classmate, it’s your turn!”</p><p>At that moment, Senior Sister Jenny’s voice rang beside his ears. He stood up and said indifferently, “Hello, everyone. My name is Abbe. I am from… Imperial City!”</p><p>“Imperial City?”</p><p>“That fellow is from the Imperial City?”</p><p>“What the hell!? He must be from a powerful background.”</p><p>Abbe’s words successfully attracted everyone’s attention from Meng Lei.</p><p>Meng Lei, who was shocked, also turned to look at his housemate.</p><p>Although Fire Dragon Magic Academy was ranked third in the Dragon God Empire, most of the students were from the Fire Dragon Kingdom. There were very few people from other kingdoms, especially from the Imperial City, where there was almost none!</p><p>“Student Abbe, why didn’t you go to the Imperial City Academy, and instead joined our Fire Dragon Magic Academy?”</p><p>Someone asked the question that was on everyone’s minds!</p><p>It was a pity that all he got was Abbe’s indifferent gaze!</p><p><em>This fellow… is really cold!</em></p><p>Meng Lei curled his lips and understood a little more about this housemate. He was not only cold to him but also cold to others. He was an icy lump that a stranger could not get close to!</p><p>“Tsk! What an arrogant fellow!”</p><p>…</p><p>After the self-introduction session, Senior Sister Jenny began to present the relevant information and matters to be noted.</p><p>Each class was equipped with 10 teachers, each teaching a school of magic, a class per day. The choice of classes depended on the student’s own magic talents. The rest of the time was free time, and they could do whatever they wanted!</p><p>“Brother, I envy you. You only have one class per day and can play for the rest of the time. Don’t get too carried away!” As soon as the session was over, the little fatty rushed over to Meng Lei and complained bitterly, “It’s not so good for me. I have three classes per day. I’m going crazy!”</p><p>“Hehe, that’s because you are so talented.” Meng Lei shrugged. “Earlier, didn’t the class guide suggest that you should major in one element and minor in the other two? You have a choice!”</p><p>Daniel nodded slightly and said in agreement, “Yes, studying three elements at the same time takes up too much of your energy. It’s good to focus!”</p><p>“I have thought about it. However, my old man said that if I dare to give up any of the elements, he will break my legs. This is an order. How can I defy it?”</p><p>Hart had a dejected expression, looking very helpless!</p><p>“Then, there is no other way!” Meng Lei smiled helplessly and asked, “What do you want to do next?”</p><p>Daniel looked at his pocket watch and smiled. “It’s still early, and the cafeteria is not open yet. Why don’t we just walk around the academy? You have just arrived. I believe you have not checked out the academy?”</p><p>“No!”</p><p>“Me neither!”</p><p>“Let’s go then!”</p><p>Naturally, Meng Lei would not miss this, because he already had the intention to check out the academy.</p><p>…</p><p>The three of them wandered around, enjoying the academy’s sights while chatting about the local customs and traditions. Meng Lei even secretly picked up attribute light balls to improve his abilities!</p><p>He had a fruitful harvest within the span of one afternoon. His spiritual power, magic power, and spells had greatly improved. The improvement was much more than his meditation during the night!</p><p>Meng Lei was very satisfied with his harvest. He also had a general plan for his upcoming student life:</p><p>Lessons in the morning, wander around in the afternoon, and meditate at night!</p><p>Meng Lei believed this three-pronged approach should produce the highest efficiency!</p><p>“Puff! Finally, back to the dormitory. I’m so tired!”</p><p>Back at Condominium no. 431 apartment, Hart slumped into his couch immediately and hummed comfortably!</p><p>“Can’t even endure such a short walk? Fatty, you should lose weight!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled and joked. He then saw a blue light ball falling from Hart.</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p><em>Dropped from Hart!?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was a little surprised but picked it up nevertheless!</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining Earth-Element magic talent!”</p><p><em>What?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was stunned!</p><p><em>Earth-Element magic talent?</em></p><p><em>I’ve picked up fatty’s Earth-Element magic talent?</em></p><p><em>What the hell!?</em></p><p>Meng Lei didn’t know what to say. Magic talent light balls were rarely seen. From the time he had acquired the system until now, he had only picked up one magic talent light ball!</p><p>This was the second one, meaning this type of item was very rare!</p><p>Picking that up was a good thing. Who would mind that they had too much talent?</p><p>Moreover, the little fatty’s Earth-Element affinity was high-grade, second only to superior-grade. This was top quality talent!</p><p>“Fatty, weren’t you complaining about how many classes you have? I will accompany you to the Earth-Element Class tomorrow!”</p><p>“Ah?”</p><p>…</p><p>Meng Lei arrived in the classroom early in the morning!</p><p>There were not many students in the class who had thunder magic talent. Including Meng Lei, there were only seven. The huge classroom looked empty and felt a little deserted!</p><p>Meng Lei took out his textbook and looked at it carefully. Not long after, the thunder magic teacher walked into the classroom. “Hello, everyone. I am your thunder magic teacher, Horatio. Over the course of the year, I will be teaching you the Thunder Magic Course!”</p><p>Mr. Horatio was straight to the point and talked endlessly. “Our thunder magic is the most powerful and domineering type of magic among the ten elements. There is no one…”</p><p>Meng Lei listened attentively!</p><p>Although he could perform spells with the system’s help, he did not know anything about spells!</p><p>In short, he could perform them, but he did not know the nature of magic. Therefore, the basics, underlying nature, principles, and laws of magic described by the teacher were exactly what Meng Lei urgently needed to know!</p><p>Meng Lei absorbed all of this eagerly, like a thirsty man!</p><p>During class, Meng Lei discovered the benefits of strong spiritual power. He learned things quickly and could remember the content after hearing it once from the teacher!</p><p>“Spells are like troop formations!</p><p>“The magic elements between heaven and earth are like scattered soldiers, and our spiritual power is the general. The process of unleashing spells is like ordering and arranging the soldiers into a formation…”</p><p>Time passed by quickly!</p><p>Busy days always passed quickly!</p><p>Unknowingly, it had been three months since Meng Lei had arrived at the magic academy!</p><p>“Brother, tomorrow is the mid-term examination, are you nervous?”</p><p>After class that day, during which the class guide had announced the upcoming mid-term examination, the little fatty came over to Meng Lei, looking very nervous!</p><p>“What is there to get nervous about?”</p><p>Meng Lei gave him a squint and continued to skim through an ancient spellbook. This book was called <em>The Encyclopedia of Thunder Magic</em> , which he had borrowed from the library three months ago. It recorded all the spells from the first to the ninth grade!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-29

Chapter 29

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 29</h1><p>Though neither long nor short, three months was the longest time that Meng Lei had spent after arriving at Heaven’s Vault Continent!</p><p>Over the last three months, Meng Lei had familiarized himself with everything about the academy—his classmates, teachers, classrooms, and library. He had become extremely familiar with everything!</p><p>During these three months at the Fire Dragon Academy of Magic, he seemed to have returned to his university years, comfortable, peaceful, and carefree!</p><p>There’s no need to worry about making a living!</p><p>No need to endure the antics of his boss!</p><p>No need to work late into the night!</p><p>The only thing he had to do was to study, learn about spells, accumulate magic power, and raise his spiritual power!</p><p>Each day was busy but fulfilling!</p><p>Meng Lei cherished this kind of life and seized every possible opportunity to strengthen himself and his abilities!</p><p>Within these three months, his various attributes had undergone earth-shaking changes, and tomorrow was the time to assess these!</p><p>…</p><p>Meng Lei got up early and went to Training Ground No.11 with Hart and Daniel. When passing through other training grounds, they saw that they were already filled to the brim!</p><p>The mid-term examinations were also taking place for students of other grades!</p><p>The teachers’ rebukes, the students’ excuses, the explosions of magic… all kinds of sounds were mixed together, resonating around the training grounds and making people feel nervous!</p><p>Hart wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, shivering, “I heard that those who fail the mid-term examination would receive severe sanctions. I wonder how they will punish us!”</p><p>“You are still worried over that?” Daniel raised his eyebrows and teased laughingly. “Haven’t you been working hard over the last few months? Wouldn’t it be easy to pass this mid-term examination?”</p><p>“How can it be so simple? The academy seems to be lax on the outside but intense on the inside. On ordinary days, they don’t usually restrict us, letting us allocate our time freely and learn independently!”</p><p>Hart had a pained expression as he continued. “But when it comes to examinations, the standards are extremely strict and high. I heard from a second-year senior that only six people successfully met the standard for their class mid-term examination last year. The rest failed!”</p><p>“What the hell! So strict?” Daniel got a fright too!</p><p>“Six people made it?” Meng Lei was stunned. “In that case, more than 40 people failed?”</p><p>“That’s right, 44 people!” Hart nodded rapidly. “I heard from the senior that our academy attaches great importance to examinations and is very strict in this aspect. If the teacher dares to lower the difficulty, it is not as simple as deducting wages and bonuses. He or she could even get fired!”</p><p>“Oh my dragon god! This is too terrifying!”</p><p>Daniel also became nervous!</p><p>“So, don’t think that you can pass the examination easily even if you work hard!” Hart shook his head. “You should know what will happen if you fail the examination three times in a row!”</p><p>Daniel’s face turned pale. The academy rules stated that those who failed three consecutive examinations would be expelled immediately!</p><p>“Ugh, I hope I can pass!”</p><p>They nervously reached Training Ground No.11. Basically, all the first-year classmates were here. They arrived separately in their own groups, talking in a low voice!</p><p>After waiting for about ten minutes, the teachers arrived at Training Ground No.11!</p><p>“Mr. Horatio!”</p><p>“Mr. Wendy!”</p><p>“Mr. Nader!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>As soon as they saw the teachers, the students’ private discussions gradually stopped, leaving only nervous and awe-inspiring faces. Meng Lei stood in the corner and watched quietly!</p><p>The mid-term examination was conducted together for the entire first-year cohort, which meant apart from their class, Class 2 was there as well. No more, no less, just 98 freshmen!</p><p>As for the examiners, there were the teachers of the 10 elements of magic, with 10 in Class 1 and 10 in Class 2, totaling 20!</p><p>In addition, there were two head teachers!</p><p>The little fatty stood before Meng Lei and muttered in a low voice, “Oh my dragon god! Even our head teacher is here. What the hell? It has been three months since we enrolled in school. This is the first time I have seen the head teacher!”</p><p>Obviously, after seeing the head teacher, he became more nervous!</p><p>“I heard that our head teacher is the department head. I didn’t expect that he would show up for this mid-term examination. This is unexpected!” Daniel also stared at the head teacher!</p><p>“It seems that the academy really attaches great importance to the mid-term examination!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded slightly. During his university days in his previous life, whether it was a mid-term exam or a final exam, they were usually low-key and totally different from what they were currently experiencing.</p><p>“Is everyone here?”</p><p>One after another, the 22 teachers got ready. Class 2’s head teacher, Baldi Tylon, spoke first. He was a typical Dragon Man, with a single horn, wings on his back, burly, and unusually strong. The moment he sat down, he created a tremendous amount of invisible pressure on people!</p><p>In contrast, Class 1’s head teacher was much more ordinary. He was a human skinny old man with a haggard face and trembling body, looking like he could be blown away by a gust of wind!</p><p>The Class 2’s class guide said respectfully, “Mr. Baldi, everyone from Class 2 is here!”</p><p>“What about class 1?”</p><p>Class 1’s head teacher, Dirk Norway, looked at his class guide, Senior Sister Jenny.</p><p>Senior Sister Jenny replied respectfully, “All here, Mr. Dirk!”</p><p>“Since everyone is here, we shall begin. Class 1 shall start first!”</p><p>“Sure!”</p><p>Senior Sister Jenny responded and took out a list that was prepared beforehand. She then said loudly, “The first-year mid-term examination has officially started. The examination is divided into three parts!”</p><p>All students pricked their ears and listened attentively!</p><p>“Part One: Assessment of spiritual power!”</p><p>“Part Two: Assessment of magic power reserve!”</p><p>“Part Three: Release of magic!”</p><p>“Whoever’s name is called, shall go first!”</p><p>“First: Larry Billy!”</p><p>Upon hearing this name, the two head teachers and 20 teachers looked at the list in their hands at the same time. The first name was Larry Billy!</p><p>“Student Larry, let’s assess your spiritual power first. I don’t need to explain the method, right?”</p><p>“I know what to do, senior sister!”</p><p>Larry Billy was Dragon Person youth. Although he was only 14 years old, he was very burly. His height of 1.8 meters and the pair of red dragon horns on his forehead displayed his identity—he was a Dragon Man who possessed the bloodline of the Fire Colossal Dragon!</p><p>It was worth mentioning that the Fire Colossal Dragon was a royal of the Fire Dragon Kingdom!</p><p>Larry Billy walked to the gigantic spiritual tester, and his gaze fell on the red button.</p><p>Swish—</p><p>The red line inside the spiritual tester rose rapidly and finally stopped on at a particular level!</p><p>“Spiritual power: 50 times that of same-age peers! 50 points!”</p><p>Senior Sister Jenny looked at the spiritual tester and read out Larry Billy’s results!</p><p>Upon hearing this score, Class 1’s head teacher, Dirk Norway, frowned. His voice was slightly hoarse as he spoke. “When you first entered school, your spiritual power was 48 times that of your peers or 48 points. Why has it only improved by 2 points over the past three months?”</p><p>After saying this, his gaze fell on Larry Billy. He then said plainly, “Student Larry, can you explain what you have been doing for the past three months?”</p><p>“Teacher, I…”</p><p>Larry Billy flushed and kept quiet for a long time. What had he been doing? Of course, he had been focusing on other things. He had been playing a lot in the past few months after entering the academy!</p><p>“Spiritual power, even if you don’t practice, it will increase with time. Three months is enough to increase your spiritual power by more than 2 points!” Dirk Norway said coldly, “It means that you have basically not practiced in the past three months and have completely indulged yourself. Larry, this type of attitude is not good!”</p><p>“Teacher, I—”</p><p>“You don’t have to participate in the remaining two assessments. You have… failed. Go back and practice hard!”</p><p>“Next!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-30

Chapter 30

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 30</h1><p>Training Ground No.11 was dead silent!</p><p>After listening to the head teacher’s cold scolding and looking at the dejected Larry Billy, all the students felt a heaviness in their hearts, as though a big rock weighed down on them!</p><p>It seemed the mid-term exam did not only test the three attributes, but also the progress over the three months since admission!</p><p>This was tragic!</p><p>Even if one had foundations or good abilities since before admissions, so long as they had made no progress in the past three months, they would still be failed!</p><p><em>That’s really tough!</em></p><p>Meng Lei gasped internally!</p><p>“Next, Monti Dunbar!</p><p>“Spiritual Power: 67 times that of peers!</p><p>“During the admissions test, your spiritual power was 62, and now it’s 67. It only increased by 5 points. It shows that you were completely idle these three months. Fail!”</p><p>“Next: Albert Ackerwright!”</p><p>“Fail!”</p><p>“Gabriel Broad!”</p><p>“Fail!”</p><p>“Annellin Bauswell!”</p><p>“Fail!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>“My god, all of them actually failed!”</p><p>Fatty Hart was already pale from the shock. “All 17 people failed at the component of spiritual power! Gosh, what now?”</p><p>“It’s too strict! It’s really too strict!” Daniel’s face was also white. “Boris’ spiritual power increased by 12 points, and he actually still failed. How much improvement does it take to pass, after all?”</p><p>“No idea!” Meng Lei shook his head. This kind of exam mechanism was too painful!</p><p>“It’s so harsh. I’m afraid, not more than a few would pass!” The fatty’s face was white. “If I fail, my dad will kill me!”</p><p>The test continued!</p><p>But just as the fatty said, under such harsh exam mechanisms, there weren’t many who could pass. In the period of time that followed, 37 people were tested, and all of them… failed!</p><p>This result made the students of Class 1 completely quiet and also made Dirk Norway’s face uglier!</p><p>Finally, he burst out.</p><p>“What good are you all?” Dirk Norway jumped up in rage. “Three months! A full three months, what have you all been doing?</p><p>“Out of all these people, there actually isn’t a single one who passed. Tell me loudly, what have you all been doing since admissions?”</p><p>The training ground was scarily quiet. All the students of Class 1 lowered their heads, not daring to meet the eyes of the head teacher, letting him burst out in rage and reprimands!</p><p>The other teachers just looked quietly and seemed used to it!</p><p>After scolding for nearly ten minutes, perhaps he was tired from scolding, Dirk Norway breathed out a mouthful of foul air, pointed to the students, and growled, “I won’t say much more useless things, but only leave you a piece of advice!</p><p>“Magical cultivation, it all relies on discipline!</p><p>“With your attitude right now, even if you have superior natural talent, even if you have good learning resources, you can’t have big achievements!”</p><p>After finishing, he returned to his seat and said no more. For a time, the surroundings were completely silent!</p><p>Senior Jenny coughed dryly and asked softly, “Mr. Dirk, are we continuing the exam?”</p><p>“Continue!” Dirk Norway snorted. “I’d actually like to see how bad your class actually can be!”</p><p>“Yes!” Senior Jenny replied. “Next: Meng Lei!”</p><p><em>Meng Lei?</em></p><p><em>Why is this name a little familiar?</em></p><p>The teachers looked at the name lists in their hands and suddenly realized why. The head teacher of Class 2, Buddy Tyrone, smiled and teased, “Meng Lei has the best natural talent among this batch of freshmen. I wonder what his progress is like.”</p><p>Dirk Norway snorted. “Hmph! I hope he hasn’t slacked off!”</p><p>“I heard this child is very unique. He goes to classes in the morning and goes around walking in the afternoon, combining work and rest, very thoughtful!” Buddy Tyrone said with hidden meaning!</p><p>“Goes around walking in the afternoon?” Dirk Norway’s face darkened.</p><p>“I also heard about this!” A teacher of Class 2 smiled and said, “There’s a rumor on campus, saying that the chief genius this year is a freak. Every afternoon, he doesn’t go to classes, doesn’t meditate, doesn’t go to the library, but only likes to walk around the campus. He can be seen at the student apartment, the canteen, the training ground, everywhere, every day in the last three months without a stop!”</p><p>“Yeah, I also heard about it. He’s actually pretty attentive during classes, just that in the afternoon… Sigh, it’s such a pity for such good talent…”</p><p>The teachers opened their mouths, and all felt a bit of regret. For someone with such extraordinary talent like Meng Lei, his cultivation efficiency would be much higher than ordinary people. So long as he could calm down and cultivate hard, his future achievement would be beyond imagination!</p><p>But, with Meng Lei’s daily “combining of work and rest”, it was pretty much a waste of his talent. How could one not sigh for him?</p><p>“This bastard!” Dirk Norway’s face was so sulky. It was as if water could drip out of it!</p><p>The teachers’ voices weren’t too soft. The students heard it, and all thought differently.</p><p>Some kept sneering and waited to see Meng Lei’s embarrassment. Some were angry at his idleness, blaming Meng Lei for wasting his talent. Some indifferently looked on, waiting to see Meng Lei’s disgraceful performance.</p><p><em>Walking around everywhere? A waste of talent?</em></p><p>The corners of Meng Lei’s mouth lifted slightly. He walked to the spiritual tester in strides, and then in front of all of them, released his spiritual power!</p><p>The spiritual tester’s red line rose madly, like it was connected to a rocket all the way to the top without stopping!</p><p>It rose!</p><p>It rose!</p><p>It rose!</p><p>“Damn! So fast!”</p><p>Everyone was taken back, shocked by such rising speed.</p><p>Finally, after rising to a certain height, the red line stopped!</p><p>Senior Jenny immediately approached the spiritual tester and read out the examination’s result, “Spiritual Power: 230 times that of peers!”</p><p>That statement left everyone shocked, and all kinds of discussions broke out!</p><p>“How… much!?”</p><p>“2… 230 times!”</p><p>“Oh my dragon god! Am I hearing this correctly?”</p><p>“Psst…”</p><p>Sounds of gasps filled the whole venue. Everyone couldn’t help but look toward Meng Lei with awe and disbelief in their eyes!</p><p>“230 times? How is this possible?”</p><p>“Can it be that the spiritual tester is faulty? How can his spiritual power be so high?”</p><p>“If I remember correctly, during the admissions exam, his spiritual power was only 100 times that of his peers, right? It’s only been three months, and it’s improved by so much?”</p><p>“Madness! Madness!”</p><p>“230 times spiritual power?”</p><p>The teachers by the examiners’ table all looked at each other with some confusion!</p><p>“In only three months, his spiritual power has improved this much?”</p><p>“Is this… possible?”</p><p>“It’s impossible for ordinary people, but ordinary standards cannot judge geniuses!”</p><p>Dirk Norway’s anger turned into joy. He said slowly, “In a mere three months, there’s so much improvement in spiritual power! It’s enough to show that Meng Lei has put in a lot of hard work! Mr. Buddy, it’s not right to set up a student!”</p><p>Upon hearing that, Class 2’s head teacher’s face darkened.</p><p><em>I set him up?</em></p><p>Unfortunately, facts spoke louder than words, and he couldn’t defend himself. Thus, he had to swallow his anger!</p><p>“Part Two: Assessment of Magic power reserve!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-31

Chapter 31

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 31</h1><p>The tool for testing magic power reserve was similar to a spiritual tester, but with not a red button but a magic power crystal ball at the bottom. When one placed both hands on the crystal ball, they could test their magic power reserve!</p><p>The results of Meng Lei’s tests soon created a new commotion!</p><p>“Magic Power Reserve: 35, comparable to a Third-Grade Magician!”</p><p>Everyone reacted very differently!</p><p>“Only 35? Ordinary, ordinary!”</p><p>Some young Dragon People were quite disdainful. Dragon People were born with strong magic power reserves, and even without much cultivation, they far surpassed humans of the same age. They had magic power reserves comparable to Second or Third-Grade Magicians even before admissions!</p><p>“That’s all there is to a so-called genius!”</p><p>“Exactly! Only his spiritual power is okay!”</p><p>“A bunch of ignorant fools, what the f*ck do you know!?”</p><p>Upon hearing the Dragon People’s comments, Dirk Norway was furious. “Meng Lei was born a civilian of the human race! He certainly had not come into contact with magic before admissions, which means that all his magic power was gained by meditation after entering the academy!”</p><p>Dirk Norway sneered. “In a short three months, his magic power reserve is already comparable to that of a Third-Grade Magician, what a wonder of a genius this is? How can you all compare to him!?</p><p>“Yeah, to have such achievement in only three months, he is indeed worthy of being the academy’s chief genius this year!</p><p>“So long as this child can hold on to his true conscience and keep working hard like this, his future achievements are unlimited. I have high hopes for him!”</p><p>“Me too!”</p><p>“This…”</p><p>The Dragon People were rendered speechless!</p><p>“Since all of you have the time to make irresponsible remarks here, you may as well get your asses back and cultivate hard so that you don’t stay here and be an embarrassment, a joke!” Dirk Norway snorted.</p><p>“You bastard!”</p><p>The Dragon People’s faces flushed red from the scolding. Their hearts were full of sadness and indignation. They were all nobles of high birth. When had they ever been humiliated in public like this?</p><p>Unfortunately for them, Dirk Norway was a teacher of the academy. However angry they were, they dared not say a word!</p><p>Thus, the Dragon People youths transferred their anger onto Meng Lei.</p><p>“It’s all because of this lowly being of the human race. if not for him…”</p><p>The anger of Dragon People aside, Meng Lei’s test, was still ongoing. The third section of the test was magic release!</p><p>“To a Magician, spiritual power and magic power are the basics of the basics. Both of them are preparations for magic!”</p><p>Dirk Norway came down to the field himself and looked at Meng Lei with a face full of kindness. “So, magic release is the real standard for testing a Magician’s ability!”</p><p>Having said that, Dirk Norway smiled as kindly as Santa Claus. “Meng Lei, please release any three magic spells at will!”</p><p>“Okay, teacher!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded, walked to the middle of the training ground, and chanted a magic spell!</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>The Thunder Elements rapidly gathered, and amid crackling blasts, spherical lightning composed of countless tiny currents quietly formed. It suspended above Meng Lei’s palm and spun like a basketball, bright and dazzling!</p><p>“Thunder-Elemental Spell, Thunder Ball!”</p><p>Teacher Horatio’s eyes brightened, and he praised, “A great application of Thunder Ball. The whole application took less than 3 seconds, and the Thunder Elements are completely trapped inside the thunder balls, without any leakage at all, demonstrating superb control!</p><p>“I’ll give full marks to this Thunder Ball!”</p><p>The thunder-elemental magic teacher of Class 2 also touched his palm and praised, “What’s more, Meng Lei only consumed a minimal amount of magical power to guide the Thunder Elements to produce this Thunder Ball. His control of magic power is really powerful!”</p><p>When the other teachers heard that, they all nodded and praised. Although Thunder Ball was only a spell of the lowest level, it was often the simpler things that demonstrated a lot!</p><p>The speed of magic use!</p><p>The amount of magic power consumed!</p><p>The precise control of magic power!</p><p>All of these showcased the true standard of a Magician!</p><p>“Magic, it’s an art!” Dirk Norway smiled brightly. “A great Magician is like a master of art; only ingenious artistic techniques can show the charm of this art. Meng Lei’s spell casting process was smooth and natural. It had quite some sense of art!”</p><p>“Department Head Dirk speaks true!”</p><p>The teachers all nodded!</p><p>“Isn’t it just a first-grade spell? What’s so great? I could release first-grade spells at seven years old!” The Dragon People youths sneered, feeling very disdainful inside. The more the teachers praised Meng Lei, the more upset they were!</p><p>Meng Lei waved to discard his Thunder Balls and started chanting the second magic spell. After a few seconds, a spear shining with silvery light appeared in Meng Lei’s hands. The spear was made of thunder and lightning, releasing a domineering aura that seemed all-destructing!</p><p>“Thunder-Elemental Spell, Thunder Spear!”</p><p>“Good, good!”</p><p>“The speed of magic use is fast!”</p><p>“There’s no magic leakage!”</p><p>“The magic power consumed is extremely little!”</p><p>“This Thunder Spear is also pretty much perfect!”</p><p>“The release of this second-grade spell was also well-executed, full marks!”</p><p>Amidst all the praises, Meng Lei withdrew the Thunder Spear and started chanting his third spell. His spiritual power swept out like a tide. The Thunder Elements within a radius of ten meters were pulled and gathered toward Meng Lei!</p><p>“This scale…” Dirk Norway’s eyes brightened. “He’s going to release a third-grade spell?”</p><p>“This is the Third-Grade Spell, Thunder Barrier!” Teacher Horatio said slowly, with astonishment in his eyes. “This child showed no special talent during classes and remained so low-profile one couldn’t even sense his presence. I would never ever have expected that he has already mastered third-grade magic!”</p><p>“If he can release third-grade spells, he is pretty much a Third-Grade Magician!”</p><p>“To change from a complete novice to a Third-Grade Magician within three months of enrollment, such talent is simply unheard of!”</p><p>“Such a genius!!!”</p><p>The teachers were very emotional. The shock and amazement in their words were beyond concealing. What would qualify one as a Third-Grade Magician?</p><p>Third-grade spiritual power, third-grade magic reserve, and the ability to release third-grade magic spells—all three conditions must be fulfilled!</p><p>With sufficient spiritual power and magic power, but without being able to release third-grade spells, one would still not be a Third-Grade Magician. That’s just like how many Dragon People had strong magical reserves from birth, but they weren’t even Magicians!</p><p>Although a Third-Grade Magician was also in the category of Low-Level Magicians, to become a Third-Grade Magician within a mere three months was almost impossible!</p><p>One would have to improve their spiritual power and magic reserve while studying magic at the same time!</p><p>Which of those didn’t take a lot of time?</p><p>Three months?</p><p>What was that timeframe enough for!? Many people couldn’t reach this level in their entire lives!</p><p>“Tsk! What’s so awesome about that?”</p><p>Upon seeing the teachers praise Meng Lei like this, many Dragon People youths felt jealous, but this didn’t stop Meng Lei from continuing his magic release!</p><p>Under Meng Lei’s summoning, a large number of Thunder Elements joined together, gradually forming a silver shield that covered the radius of three meters around them!</p><p>The shield solidified from an illusory state and finally completely stabilized. The whole process was completely smooth and natural, as unimpeded as mercury dropping onto the ground!</p><p>“It took 19 seconds!”</p><p>“The spell casting time can be said to be very short!”</p><p>“No extra magic leakage!”</p><p>“The magic power consumed is extremely little!”</p><p>“The release of this Thunder Shield is very smooth and can be considered perfect!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-32

Chapter 32

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 32</h1><p>“Three types of spells!</p><p>“First-Grade Spell, Thunder Ball!</p><p>“Second-Grade Spell, Thunderbolt Spear!</p><p>“Third-Grade Spell, Thunder Barrier!”</p><p>Dirk Norway stood within Training Ground No. 11 and gazed at Meng Lei with an expression full of approval. He said, “Not only do these three spells show off your excellent spiritual power, but it also exhibits your precise manipulation of magic power, which was discharged in a considerably perfect manner. I give you full marks!”</p><p>“Thank you, sir!”</p><p>Meng Lei bowed slightly.</p><p>“Keep up the good work. I look forward very much to how you’ll mature in the future!”</p><p>After Dirk Norway patted Meng Lei on the shoulder and gave him a few words of encouragement, his gaze swept across all the Class 1 students. His expression became stern as he said, “All of you have also seen it for yourselves. Do you understand the gap between him and all of you now?”</p><p>Various different expressions adorned the Class 1 students’ faces!</p><p>The human teenagers hung their heads, looking ashamed of themselves!</p><p>Most of the Dragon People teenagers had their chins raised, very unwilling to admit defeat!</p><p>“Not willing to admit defeat?”</p><p>Dirk Norway gave them a cold smile and said, “Magic cultivation places a lot of emphasis on talent in the beginning, but how far you’ll go in the future is entirely decided by your subsequent diligence!</p><p>“Your classmate, Meng Lei!</p><p>“His talent is better than all of yours!</p><p>“And he’s also more diligent than all of you!</p><p>“In just a short three months, he has already had several breakthroughs and become a Third-Grade Magician. How do you even find the cheek to not admit defeat? It isn’t wrong to be proud and arrogant, but blind arrogance is no different from foolishness!”</p><p>“Sir, I don’t accept this!”</p><p>A Dragon Person teenager stepped forward, and he looked straight at Dirk Norway without any hint of fear in his eyes at all!</p><p>“What the hell!”</p><p>“He’s talking back to the teacher!”</p><p>“Is Aardman out of his mind?”</p><p>An uproar went through the crowd when they saw the Dragon Person teenager’s actions. The students were greatly astounded as they gazed at Aardman’s back. He was actually talking back to the teacher! Was this guy a fool?</p><p>All the teachers frowned one after another, and they looked at Aardman rather hostilely. Fire Dragon Magic Academy had a complex student body makeup, where most students came from very influential backgrounds.</p><p>Managing a group of students like that… wasn’t an easy task!</p><p>As such, the kingdom, and even the academy, gave teachers absolute authority. Be it any student, as long as they dared to affront the teachers, they would definitely have a terrible end!</p><p>Aardman’s act of talking back to the teacher on the spot could already potentially be considered offensive!</p><p>“What are you unable to accept?” asked Dirk Norway in a cold and loud voice.</p><p>“Mr. Dirk, I don’t have any intention of offending you!”</p><p>Aardman went on in a deep voice, and said, “I just feel that as a Magician, knowing how to perform spells doesn’t count as much. What’s important is… Practical combat! If it’s only good for show, but of no use at all, then it can only be considered fancy fighting techniques at best!”</p><p>After saying that, he glanced at Meng Lei and said with some disdain in his eyes, “Meng Lei’s spells certainly look good, but how his practical combat ability is is something we don’t know yet!”</p><p>“What do you want to do?” asked Dirk Norway with a cold snort.</p><p>“Battle with him!”</p><p>Aardman looked straight at Meng Lei and asked, “Meng Lei, do you dare to battle with me in front of all the teachers?!”</p><p>“Preposterous! Don’t you know that the academy prohibits fighting in private?!” berated Dirk Norway furiously as he slammed his palm against the table and got to his feet.</p><p>Aardman replied loudly, “The academy indeed prohibits fighting in private. However, public showdowns with a teacher acting as a witness are permitted. With so many teachers present today, this shouldn’t be considered a private fight, right?!”</p><p>“You—”</p><p>Dirk Norway was so furious that he was glaring at him. He was about to reprimand him again when Baldi Tylon, Class 2’s head teacher, spoke up. He said, “Department Head Dirk, although this student is rather impolite, he does make some sense. Practical combat ability is ultimately still what matters in the end for magicians!”</p><p>After he said that, he looked at Meng Lei and said cheerfully, “I believe that if Meng Lei doesn’t display his practical combat ability, even if he takes top place in the examination this time, the rest of the students won’t admit defeat wholeheartedly, either, right?”</p><p>“Yes!”</p><p>“We don’t accept this!”</p><p>“We’ll know if he’s the real deal after we take him out for a spin!”</p><p>“What’s the big deal about knowing how to perform spells? You’re only truly strong if your practical combat ability is strong!”</p><p>“Magic is used for battle, not to perform fancy tricks!”</p><p>All the Dragon People teenagers spoke one after another. Their eyes were full of provocation as they looked at Meng Lei. They had found Meng Lei an eyesore since a long time ago. All of them wanted to teach Meng Lei a good lesson right now, and show all the teachers one thing—”So what even if he has good talent? Isn’t he being pummeled to a pulp by us all the same now?!”</p><p>“Mr. Baldi, this isn’t part of the mid-term examination!” Dirk Norway’s expression darkened and turned rather awful-looking.</p><p>“Isn’t the purpose of the examination exactly to assess the students’ improvement and results of their studies during this period of time? As long as it achieves that purpose, the process isn’t that important!”</p><p>Baldi Tylon chuckled and looked at Meng Lei. He asked, “Meng Lei, are you willing to accept his challenge, and show all of us your practical combat ability?”</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>For a moment, everyone’s eyes fell onto Meng Lei. Aardman even said provocatively, “You don’t need to worry at all. I’ll only use magic, and won’t make use of my physique, lest everyone says that I’m bullying you! You… Do you dare to?”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled lightly and replied, “What’s there to fear? However, since we’re going to battle, shouldn’t we have some prizes?”</p><p>“Hahaha! I just like how bold and forthright you are!”</p><p>Aardman was overjoyed upon hearing Meng Lei’s agreement to the battle. With a flick of his wrist, he took out a purple magic crystal card. Then, he grinned and said, “There are 10,000 gold coins in here. You can consider it the prize for this battle. What say you?”</p><p>“That’s too much! I don’t have that much money!” Meng Lei shook his head and added, “I only have the scholarship grant of 5,000 gold coins!”</p><p>“That’s more than enough!”</p><p>Aardman waved dismissively. He didn’t take Meng Lei’s 5,000 gold coins to heart at all. His objective wasn’t the money, but to teach Meng Lei a lesson and embarrass him!</p><p>“Since that’s the case, then let’s battle!” replied Meng Lei calmly.</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>All the other students scattered and left the training ground to the two of them.</p><p>“Sigh! How muddleheaded of him!”</p><p>Dirk Norway sighed as he watched the two boys that were about to get into a battle. Although he had high hopes for Meng Lei, he didn’t think that the current Meng Lei could defeat Aardman.</p><p>Given his experience, he naturally had a good picture of the situation. Aardman’s body was comparable to a Fourth-Grade Warrior’s, and his magic power reserves were also incredibly abundant, making him a solid Third-Grade Magician!</p><p>Adding to this a Dragon Person’s naturally strong battle instincts, how could Meng Lei possibly win?</p><p><em>Nevermind, it’s good for him to experience the gap between humans and Dragon People! That way, he will definitely be even more hardworking in the future!</em></p><p>…</p><p>Aardman and Meng Lei stood in the center of the training ground.</p><p>One of them was 1.6 meters tall, thin, and frail!</p><p>The other was muscular, tall, and strong!</p><p>Just by looking at their body types alone, they were in two completely different leagues!</p><p>“Go for it, old bro!”</p><p>The fatty and Daniel were nervous and anxious. They secretly broke out in cold sweat over Meng Lei. To be honest, they didn’t think that Meng Lei could win, either. Aardman wasn’t just any ordinary person!</p><p>He had pure Black Dragon blood in him and was naturally gifted with a strong and mighty body. His magic talent was also very high. He was ranked in the top few even among the new students this year!</p><p>With him as an opponent, how could Meng Lei possibly win?</p><p>“Meng Lei, you’re a human, so I’ll let you have the first move!”</p><p>Aardman crossed his arms in front of his chest and was all smiles as he looked at Meng Lei with his chin raised. He had the expression of someone confident that he could handle everything with his wit and intelligence on his face. He didn’t think much of Meng Lei at all!</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>The corners of Meng Lei’s mouth quirked upward, and he snapped his fingers lightly.</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>A thunder ball, the size of a basketball, suddenly appeared!</p><p>Then, he snapped his fingers again!</p><p>A second thunder ball also manifested!</p><p>Then, followed by the third, fourth, fifth…</p><p>In the blink of an eye, nine thunder balls had appeared in front of Meng Lei!</p><p>Electric currents surged and flowed, emitting loud crackling noises!</p><p>Brilliant silver light dazzled everyone’s eyes!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-33

Chapter 33

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 33</h1><p>Nine basketball-sized thunder balls floated around Meng Lei and gave off dazzling and resplendent silver light, making Meng Lei look like a Thunder God from the heavens!</p><p>“Instant release!!”</p><p>The teachers jumped to their feet all at once as they looked at Meng Lei and the nine thunder balls floating around him in great astonishment!</p><p>“Instant release of a First-Grade Spell!”</p><p>“How did he manage to do that?”</p><p>“He’s just a Third-Grade Magician, isn’t he?!”</p><p>Disbelief filled all the teachers’ eyes!</p><p>A high-level Magician was able to instantly release low-grade spells because their powerful spiritual power could totally complete the setup and arrangement of magic elements in an instant, thereby completing the discharge of low-grade spells.</p><p>To put it simply, this was using a high level of skill to do low-level tasks, or the strong bullying the weak!</p><p>Just like first-grade math!</p><p>To a first-grader, addition and subtraction of two-digit numbers were very difficult, so it was necessary for them to take their time to calculate. However, to a student in a higher grade, this couldn’t get any easier!</p><p>Release of magic was naturally a lot tougher than addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. However, the logic was more or less the same. High-level Magicians could instantly release low-grade spells of a certain level. In fact, Saint Domain Magicians could instantly complete even high-grade spells!</p><p>However, Meng Lei was just a Third-Grade Magician!</p><p>Yet he could already instantly release First-Grade Spells?</p><p>“Normally, Magicians can instantly release four low-grade spells!”</p><p>There was a deep dark look in Dirk Norway’s eyes as he said, “One needs to be at least a Fifth-Grade Magician if they want to instantly release First-Grade Spells. Meng Lei has evidently already broken this established law!”</p><p>All the teachers nodded one after another.</p><p>At the other side…</p><p>“Go!”</p><p>Meng Lei let out a low shout and pointed in the distance!</p><p>Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!</p><p>Three thunder balls sliced through the air and instantly shot toward Aardman!</p><p>“Thinking of injuring me with just a mere First-Grade Spell?”</p><p>Aardman sneered and said, “I don’t even need to dodge them!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The three thunder balls collided against Aardman and exploded with a boom!</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>Countless electric currents ran helter-skelter and wreaked havoc on Aardman’s body. He let out a cold snort and said, “Oh great genius, is that all you’ve got?”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled in response. Then, his fingers tapped the air a few times in succession. Thunder balls crashed toward Aardman one after another and exploded like bombs, completely burying Aardman in them!</p><p>“I’ve told you, First-Grade Spells can’t deal me any damage!”</p><p>Aardman stood where he was and allowed the electric currents to wreak havoc on his body at will. With a mocking expression, he said, “You’d better use high-grade spells instead. Otherwise, you won’t have a chance at beating me at all!”</p><p>Meng Lei let out a laugh. An abnormal glint flashed across the bottom of his eyes, and he replied, “Since you’re looking forward to that so much, how can I disappoint you, right?”</p><p>He had only just spoken when he started to chant a spell incantation at high speed. Upon being summoned, the electric currents snaking all over Aardman swiftly converged and grouped together!</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>Aardman’s expression changed upon sensing the abnormalities taking place on his body. The electric currents surging around him swiftly came together to form several chains. As though ropes, the chains bound and confined him completely!</p><p>“Unravel!” Aardman roared furiously and struggled fiercely.</p><p>However, little did he expect that not only was he unable to struggle free of the electric chains, but the shocks from the electric chains even numbed his limbs and made him weak and powerless!</p><p>“Third-Grade Spell, Thunderbolt Chain!”</p><p>Horatio, the teacher in charge of the Thunder-Element Course, sprung to his feet. He said, “You can release Thunderbolt Chain like that, too? Genius! He’s truly a genius!”</p><p>“Using a bunch of thunder balls to bomb Aardman and numb his senses. Then, at the same time as he becomes numb and lets down his guard, making use of the Thunder Elements on his body to form a higher-grade Thunderbolt Chain to trap Aardman!”</p><p>Dirk Norway took a breath and said, “What a shrewd scheme! I’d thought that that child’s Thunder Balls were meaningless in the beginning. Little did I expect that there would be great use to them!</p><p>“They total exactly 18 thunder balls, which just so happens to be the amount of Thunder Elements that releasing a round of Thunderbolt Chain requires!”</p><p>Class 2’s Thunder-Element teacher was full of marvel as he said, “That little guy had already calculated all of this from the beginning. The whole battle is within his plans!”</p><p>“Does having great magic talent add to one’s intelligence, too?”</p><p>All the other teachers didn’t know what to say anymore. This was just a simple showdown, yet Meng Lei had shown them what an “overwhelming crush of other people’s IQ” was!</p><p>Now, that was infuriating!</p><p>Not only did he have great magic talent, but he was even so intelligent. How were other people supposed to live with themselves now?</p><p>“He has great talent, and he’s also very smart!”</p><p>“That child has a very promising future!”</p><p>“IQ… Sigh, in this aspect, Dragon People are certainly slightly inferior to humans!”</p><p>The battle had already ended by this point. After he was bound by the Thunderbolt Chain, Aardman couldn’t free himself for the time being at all!</p><p>Meng Lei took advantage of this period of time to quickly chant an incantation. The Thunder Elements in the surroundings, upon being beckoned, quickly formed a long spear—it was the Third-Grade Spell, Thunderbolt Javelin!</p><p>“Bastard! C’mon, unravel!”</p><p>Aardman tried desperately to struggle free, but it was to no avail!</p><p>In the end, the Thunderbolt Javelin took form and pressed against his throat!</p><p>“You’ve lost!” said Meng Lei calmly.</p><p>“I…”</p><p>Aardman’s face flushed red, yet he couldn’t say a single word in response. He certainly did have a body that was comparable to a Fourth-Grade Warrior’s, but should he suffer a blow from the Thunderbolt Javelin, even if he didn’t die, he would no doubt still be maimed!</p><p>This battle… He had indeed lost!</p><p>With a wave, Meng Lei withdrew the Thunderbolt Javelin, and the Thunderbolt Chains shackled around Aardman. Then, he held out his right palm, the meaning behind his action self-evident!</p><p>“Since I had dared to make a bet, then I will concede defeat!”</p><p>Aardman looked livid as he chucked the magic crystal card at Meng Lei. He said, “Don’t get too ahead of yourself, though. My loss this time was because I had taken the enemy lightly and let down my guard. I’ll defeat you for sure the next time!”</p><p>“As long as you have the money, I’m willing to take you up on it anytime!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled lightly and returned to the corner.</p><p>“What the! Old bro, you’re too amazing!”</p><p>The fatty and Daniel’s eyes were full of little stars, and the way they looked at Meng Lei was full of awe and idolization. Not only had he become a Third-Grade Magician, but he had even defeated Aardman!</p><p>There was only one word to describe this—impressive!!</p><p>“This is nothing,” replied Meng Lei with a smile.</p><p>He didn’t take all of this to heart at all. With both his lifetimes put together, he was already in his 30s. What was there to boast about defeating a 15 to 16-year-old junior high school student?!</p><p>“Old bro, aren’t you too calm about this?”</p><p>The fatty and Daniel were rather speechless. After successfully showing off such a great deal in front of so many people, anyone would be abnormally worked up. Yet Meng Lei was so absurdly calm!</p><p>“Am I?”</p><p>Meng Lei rolled his eyes.</p><p>“Yes!”</p><p>The two of them nodded simultaneously.</p><p>“Fine! Actually, I’m not calm at all deep down. In fact, I even kind of want to laugh!” replied Meng Lei in resignation.</p><p>“Oh, so you’re pretending to be calm!”</p><p>“I knew it!”</p><p>Meng Lei indeed wanted to laugh, but it wasn’t because he had managed to show off a lot. Rather, it was because he had won 10,000 gold coins. If he were to use them to redeem Stat Attribute Points, it would be enough for him to do a significant upgrade!</p><p>One must know that after these three months of cowardly maturing, two of his attributes had already reached their breakthrough points. He only needed to make a small redemption, and they would be able to cross over into a new stage!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human</p><p>Wealth: 25,187 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Third-Grade Warrior (619/1,000)</p><p>Spirit: Third-Grade Magician (966/1,000)</p><p>Magic Power: Third-Grade Magician (927/1,000)</p><p>Spell(s): Some increase</p><p>Battle Skills: Battle Peak Chant, Rock-Crushing Palm, Earth-Rending Cleave</p><p>His spirit was 966 points!</p><p>His magic power was 927 points!</p><p>He needed only 35+74=109 Attribute Points, and he would be able to cross over into the ranks of Fourth-Grade Magicians! And 109 Attribute Points needed only 1,090 gold coins!</p><p>“System, redeem 35 Spirit Points, and 74 Magic Power Points!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-34

Chapter 34

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 34</h1><p>“Ding! Redemption successful. Congratulations to the host for becoming a Fourth-Grade Magician!”</p><p>Wisps of magic power formed out of thin air and flooded Meng Lei’s body, making him feel extremely relaxed and comfortable. His mind became unprecedentedly clear and bright, his state of mind was full of vigor, and he was full of spirit!</p><p>It felt fantastic!</p><p>“Old bro, why is your face suddenly so rosy?”</p><p>Upon sensing Meng Lei’s transformation, Hart couldn’t help but look bewildered.</p><p>“Hehe, I thought of something happy!”</p><p>Meng Lei chuckled and checked his personal stats!</p><p>Wealth: 24,097 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Third-Grade Warrior (619/1,000)</p><p>Spirit: Fourth-Grade Magician (1,001/2,000)</p><p>Magic Power: Fourth-Grade Magician (1,001/2,000)</p><p><em>Both my spiritual power and magic power reserves have reached the Fourth-Grade Magician level. I need only to master fourth-grade spells, and I’ll become a real Fourth-Grade Magician!</em></p><p><em>It hasn’t even been five months since I came to this world, and I’ve already broken through to the Fourth-Grade Magician level! A cultivation speed like mine can probably be considered unprecedented, right?</em></p><p>Rather pleased with himself, Meng Lei was full of anticipation for the future!</p><p><em>However! My physical body constitution is lagging behind somewhat!</em></p><p>Physical body constitution!</p><p>This had always been Meng Lei’s strong suit and was also the attribute that was the easiest to pick up. However, Meng Lei had been staying inside the academy the whole time during the last three months. Thus, he rarely got to pick up physical body constitution light balls.</p><p>His physical body constitution had fallen behind just like that!</p><p><em>Looks like I have to head to places like the warrior academies, beast colosseums, and battle arenas more often when I have the time so that I can improve my physical body constitution as quickly as possible!</em></p><p>In Meng Lei’s considerations, the body had always been a human Magician’s weakness and was something that opponents easily took advantage of. In comparison, Dragon People Magicians that inherited the dragon race’s bloodline were much stronger!</p><p>As such, Dragon People Magicians held an overwhelming advantage among Magicians of the same grade. Meng Lei didn’t want to lose to those Dragon People of the same grade as him!</p><p>Thus, he needed to improve his physical body constitution as soon as possible!</p><p>“Damn! It’s my turn!”</p><p>Just as Meng Lei was quietly making his own plans, the little fatty suddenly let out a low howl and interrupted Meng Lei’s contemplation. It was now Hart’s turn to be assessed!</p><p>“Go, Fatty, you can do it!”</p><p>Meng Lei patted him on the shoulder and added with a smile, “If both of you can successfully pass the exam, it’ll be my treat tonight! Let’s go out of the school to have a good meal!”</p><p>“Okay!”</p><p>Hart nodded heavily and strode toward the teachers.</p><p>“Fatty, go for it!”</p><p>Daniel held his fists up and cheered for the little fatty.</p><p>The results of Hart’s assessment came out in no time.</p><p>His spiritual power had increased by 28 points, and he successfully passed the test!</p><p>His magic power reserves were comparable to a Third-Grade Magician’s, and he successfully passed the test!</p><p>During the spell release segment, Hart used three types of spells—Water Mirror, a water-elemental spell, Wind Guardian, a wind-elemental spell, and Giant Rock, an earth-elemental spell. These also successfully passed the test!</p><p>“Haha, I passed!”</p><p>Hart scurried over to Meng Lei, so excited that he was almost jumping up and down. He was simply too overwhelmed! One must know that as of now, he and Meng Lei were the only ones that had made the mark! How could he not be worked up?</p><p>“Impressive, kid!” praised Meng Lei, who was also very astonished. Then, he said, “You’ve actually reached Third-Grade Magician level for all your elements when you’re cultivating three types of elements at the same time? Aren’t you too good at pretending?”</p><p>The look in Meng Lei’s eyes was rather hostile. He felt like the little fatty had duped him!</p><p>“Hehe, how can I compare to you?”</p><p>Hart scratched his head and said, “I was initiated into magic at the age of 5, and it has already been close to two years since I had started to officially learn and study magic. I can’t compare to you at all, old bro!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>Meng Lei was rendered speechless. As expected, with comparison came frustration. Children from Magical Beast Village had to spend all the savings their families had just to take part in the magic assessment, yet Hart had already been initiated into magic at the age of 5. This was truly…</p><p>The mid-term examination was still ongoing!</p><p>In the next hour and a little more, the remaining students completed their assessment one after the other. However, the results were unpromising—including Meng Lei and Hart, only a measly seven people met the mark!</p><p>These seven people included Meng Lei, Hart, Daniel, Meng Lei’s housemate Abbe, Tanna Airam from the Frost Kingdom, a human commoner, and a Dragon Person commoner!</p><p>All of the other 42 people… were completely wiped out!</p><p>This outcome infuriated their head teacher, Dirk Norway, and he gave the whole class a terrible scolding. Even their senior and class guide, Jenny, wasn’t spared!</p><p>After the examination was over, Meng Lei, Hart, and Daniel went out of school together. They headed to the best restaurant nearby, intending to have a good celebration!</p><p>After the three of them got a private dining room, Meng Lei tossed the menu over to Hart and Daniel, and said with a smile, “Feel free to order whatever you’d like to eat. It’s my treat today!”</p><p>“Hehe, I know you’ve earned a big sum of money today, old bro, so we won’t stand on ceremony with you!</p><p>“We’ll start with a serving of Stir-Fried Golden-Armored Lizard Meat!”</p><p>“And a Poached Blood Mantis next!”</p><p>“Magical Whale Liver With Preserved Vegetables sounds pretty good too!”</p><p>“And this! Stir-Fried Ice Toad!”</p><p>“Spicy Jade-Heart Bird is my favorite!”</p><p>The corners of Meng Lei’s mouth spasmed non-stop upon hearing Hart’s and Daniel’s continuous food orders.</p><p><em>Damn you, a dish alone costs almost 100 gold coins. Are the two of you trying to bankrupt me?</em></p><p>However, what he had said, and the posturing that he had done, must be completed, even if he had to swallow his tears while doing it!</p><p>“Big Brother Colin, us brothers congratulate you for your 20 consecutive victories in the arena and successfully leveling up to a Silver-Medal Fighter!”</p><p>“Not at all, not at all. It’s all just luck! Luck, haha!”</p><p>“Say, Big Brother Colin, you’re already a Silver-Medal Fighter now, so your appearance fee must be very high, right?”</p><p>“It’s just ordinary! Just 10,000 gold coins per session!”</p><p>“10,000 gold coins per session?”</p><p>“Damn! Big Brother Colin, you’re seriously too impressive!”</p><p>“At this rate, with dozens of sessions more, the riches you accumulate will be enough for you to buy a plot of land and become an overlord yourself!”</p><p>“Hahaha, it’s all just luck…”</p><p>Sounds of conversation suddenly drifted over from the neighboring private room and attracted Meng Lei’s attention. He asked, “Silver-Medal Fighter?”</p><p>He had heard of the battle arena. Together with the beast colosseum, they were two of the capital city’s biggest entertainment spots. They were highly popular and received great support from the nobility and the wealthy. It was an activity similar to illegal underground fighting!</p><p>Fighters battled ferociously in the arena for customers’ viewing pleasure and betting. It was a kind of entertainment filled with blood and violence, and was passionate and feral!</p><p>Although the arena enjoyed extreme popularity in the Fire Dragon Kingdom and even the whole empire, as a decent and proper person, Meng Lei instinctively rejected something like that.</p><p>As such, he didn’t bother to understand how it worked.</p><p>However, what Meng Lei didn’t expect was that fighters could actually earn that much. A Silver-Medal Fighter’s appearance fee actually went as high as 10,000 gold coins!</p><p>10,000 gold coins!</p><p>If he were to use that to redeem Stat Attribute Points, he could get a whole 1,000 points!</p><p>That was 1,000 Attribute Points into his account with just one session!</p><p>It was tons faster than picking up light balls and meditation!</p><p>“Even the amount of 10,000 gold coins is considered low!”</p><p>After Hart was done ordering, he said cheerfully, “What’s high is the Gold-Medal Fighters’ appearance fee! Which one of their appearance fees doesn’t start from tens of thousands of gold coins?”</p><p>“Is it that exaggerated?!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes were already widened big and round!</p><p>“Every Gold-Medal Fighter is the arena’s goose that lays golden eggs. Their appearance fee isn’t something that a Silver-Medal Fighter’s can compare with!”</p><p>Daniel also added with a smile, “Each and every one of those fellows enjoy considerably high popularity and have an enormous fan base. Earning money is just like committing robbery for them!”</p><p>“So, there are groupies here too!”</p><p>“Groupies?”</p><p>“Nah, it’s nothing! Since it’s so easy for fighters to earn money, how does one become one?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-35

Chapter 35

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 35</h1><p>Having lived two lifetimes, Meng Lei knew very well the importance of being diligent!</p><p>Meng Lei had indeed been very hardworking ever since he had come to Fire Dragon Magic Academy. He listened seriously in class, studied spells intensively after class, and meditated non-stop at night!</p><p>Of course, Meng Lei didn’t forget to use the system, either. Simply just picking up items… couldn’t satisfy him anymore. Meng Lei wanted the system to work at maximum efficiency!</p><p><em>Gold coins can be used to redeem Stat Attribute Points!</em></p><p><em>I can start from this aspect. It’s just that buying “credit”… requires gold coins after all!</em></p><p>And here came the problem—where was he going to get the gold coins from?</p><p>Now, this was where earning money came into play!</p><p>Meng Lei had also thought of earning money—loads and loads of them—in the past.</p><p>Be a plagiarist and publish entertainment works? Become a real estate developer? Set up the Internet? Sell weapon munitions?</p><p>Ha! Just take a bath and go to bed!</p><p>These highly lucrative professions on Earth didn’t work at all in Heaven’s Vault Continent. Over the long course of time, Heaven’s Vault Continent had already formed its own unique trade model. Earth’s ways didn’t work here!</p><p>In that case, what kind of professions were there in Heaven’s Vault Continent?</p><p>The steadiest, and most popular, was to buy plots of land to make it one’s territory!</p><p>As long as one had sufficient funds, anyone could buy a plot of unowned land and become an area’s overlord. The commoners, Magical Beasts, mines, forests, and rivers within the territory… All of these were the overlord’s property!</p><p>To sum it up into one sentence, the overlord was the local emperor of the territory!</p><p>Next were the magic device manufacturing industry, magic core industry, gold-mining industry, slave trading industry, battle arenas, beast colosseums, and so on!</p><p>These industries were extremely lucrative and had created a great number of giant chambers of commerce and tycoons. Take the magic device manufacturing industry, for example. Magic devices were just like Earth’s cell phones, computers, televisions, electrical lightings, cars… Their penetration rate reached deep into tens of thousands of households, and the industry could be said to produce extravagant profits!</p><p>The magic core industry was also very lucrative!</p><p>This was because an overwhelming majority of magic devices’ energy source was… exactly magic cores. Magic cores were like the fossil oils of Earth. Just think of those tycoons in Dubai, and one would know whether dealing in magic cores was lucrative or not!</p><p>The other professions didn’t need much elaboration. Each and every one of them was an industry that brought in huge profits. Meng Lei often daydreamed about how awesome it would be if he also had a chamber of commerce and could monopolize an industry.</p><p>It probably wouldn’t take even a few days for him to become a Saint Domain?</p><p>It was just a shame that his daydreams might be beautiful, but reality was just too brutal!</p><p>The current him was purely just a plebeian. He didn’t even have anything to his name, much less a chamber of commerce. Wishing of vast wealth and marrying a beautiful and rich woman? Dream on, stinky plebeian!</p><p>What was he to do?</p><p>Doing business and whatnot was too distant a concept for him. Choosing a proper job seemed more reliable. For example, becoming a fighter?</p><p>“Becoming a fighter isn’t hard. As long as you have the battle capabilities of a Fifth-Grade Warrior or a Fourth-Grade Magician, you’ll be able to join the arena and become a fighter!”</p><p>Hart chuckled and added, “However, it’s very dangerous to be a fighter. In order to ensure the realness and viewing quality of the battle, the battles between fighters are real, actual battles to the death. No one shows any mercy at all!”</p><p>“Indeed, although being a fighter can earn you a lot of money, it is a high-risk job!” Daniel shook his head and said, “Because they frequently hover over the boundary between life and death, the mortality rate of fighters is extremely high. It is very rare for anyone to survive till the end! Thus, it really isn’t easy to earn this money!”</p><p>“Old bro, it can’t be that you’re thinking of becoming a fighter, right?” asked the little fatty with a merry laugh, as he raised his eyebrows and looked at Meng Lei.</p><p>“It sounds very dangerous, but it really does earn you a lot!” replied Meng Lei ambiguously with a smile.</p><p>He neither admitted to it nor denied it. However, he was weighing the pros and cons inwardly.</p><p>“Old bro, you’re a noble Magician, you know. How can you lower your own status to become a fighter or whatever?”</p><p>Hart rolled his eyes and added, “Although one can qualify to be a fighter after they become a Fourth-Grade Magician, go and ask around—in the huge arena, how many magician fighters are there?”</p><p>“Aren’t there any?”</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned!</p><p>“Only very, very few!”</p><p>A smiling Daniel shook his head and said, “The Magician is a noble and honorable job class, and also one where money comes very quickly. I don’t know if you’ve heard this saying or not, but it goes like this, ‘The richest people in Heaven’s Vault Continent are not the kings, but the Magicians’!</p><p>“Although this is just said in jest, it also indirectly shows that it is indeed very easy for a Magician to earn money if they want to. At least, it is much easier for them than fighters of the same grade!”</p><p>“Money… comes to Magicians very quickly?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes widened dramatically, his expression one of bewilderment!</p><p>“Of course!”</p><p>As though this was natural and right, Hart went on and said, “As Magicians are rare, they receive a lot of support from all parties. Manufacturing magic devices, drawing magic circles, mining magic cores, manufacturing magic scrolls—which of these doesn’t require Magicians? And which of these isn’t lucrative?</p><p>“Putting the others aside and just taking the mining of magic cores, for example, do you know how much the acquisition value of a single magic core is?”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head.</p><p>“All the magic cores on the market now are sold at clearly marked prices!”</p><p>Hart continued the introduction of the magic cores and said, “Low-grade magic cores aren’t worth much, and range from dozens to a few hundred gold coins. Mid-grade magic cores go slightly higher and range from a few thousand to ten thousand gold coins!</p><p>“But the ones that are truly valuable are the high-grade magic cores!</p><p>“The price of a single seventh-grade magic core starts at 100,000 gold coins!</p><p>“The value of an eighth-grade magic core is ten times that of a seventh-grade one, and starts at 1,000,000 gold coins!</p><p>“As for ninth-grade magic cores?</p><p>“Hurhur, sorry, but they are priceless despite having a market for them!</p><p>“I remember that the Lawson Auction House auctioned off a ninth-grade magic core—a Great Earth Bear’s magic core—half a year ago. Do you know how much it ended at?”</p><p>“Ten million gold coins?” asked Meng Lei tentatively.</p><p>“Wrong! It ended at the whopping price of 37.8 million gold coins!”</p><p>A smiling Hart continued and said, “A great Ninth-Grade Earth Magician won this particular magic core in the end! Tsk, tsk, Ninth-Grade Magicians are truly wealthy. That’s nearly 40 million gold coins, and yet he doesn’t even bat a single eyelid!”</p><p>“Damn, he’s too rich!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes practically bore right into Hart upon hearing what he had said, and his features became distorted from his envy. If only he was that rich!</p><p>“Hurhur, that’s nothing!”</p><p>With a shake of his head, Hart smiled and added, “During the annual magic conference, Magicians would buy and sell among themselves. Transactions easily go up to millions, even ten million, gold coins. Now, that’s what you call rich!”</p><p>“Rich! Really too rich!” Meng Lei licked his chapped lips and said, “What a pity that I’m just a pauper! I’m probably the poorest Magician in this world?”</p><p>“Hehe, don’t say that, old bro!”</p><p>Hart chuckled and said, “You may not have any money now, but you have great magic talent. When you become a high-level Magician, you can go to the Magical Beast Forest and casually hunt a Magical Beast or two. Isn’t that the same as picking up money?”</p><p>“High-level Magician?” Meng Lei sighed and added, “I’d need to become at least a Seventh-Grade Magician before that would work!”</p><p>“I believe that with your talent, it won’t take you more than a few years!”</p><p>“Yes, you’ve already become a Third-Grade Magician within a short three months. Is becoming a Seventh-Grade Magician that far off?”</p><p>“Good day, sirs. May I know if we can serve the food now?”</p><p>“Serve it, serve it! I’m already hungry!”</p><p>Delicious food was then laid out on the table. Meng Lei was chewing on his food, but his mind was on how he could earn money. Classes were still in progress now, so going to the Magical Beast Forest to hunt Magical Beasts was evidently not a practical option. He couldn’t possibly leave the academy to go to the Magical Beast Forest!</p><p>Since that was the case, then being a fighter seemed like a pretty good option!</p><p>Firstly, there were a lot of people in the arena, and battles also took place often. The chances of picking up dropped items would definitely be high, so Meng Lei could totally pick up dropped items to his heart’s content and upgrade himself!</p><p>Secondly, he could earn money!</p><p>Fighters’ appearance fees were seriously too high. Should he exchange all of the appearance fees into Attribute Points, it would speed up Meng Lei’s upgrade tremendously!</p><p>This could be said to be killing two birds with one stone!</p><p><em>It is certainly a bit riskier! But compared to the rewards received, this bit of risk is worth taking!</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-36

Chapter 36

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 36</h1><p>The mid-term examination brought about a huge influence!</p><p>Or at least, that was Meng Lei’s opinion.</p><p>This was because the atmosphere in the academy had completely changed!</p><p>The usually laughing and bantering Dragon People nobility had disappeared, the indolent and romantic young masters and playboys were gone, and the couples hiding in the corners were also missing in action.</p><p>The number of loafers in the school had decreased, the number of people listening in class had increased, and the training grounds were packed with people!</p><p>A mid-term examination had miraculously turned around the atmosphere in the academy. The first-year students’ transformation, in particular, was especially dramatic. It was a complete change from their previous indolence, as though they had suddenly woken up to reality!</p><p>After morning classes ended, Meng Lei left the academy and headed to the capital city’s biggest battle arena—Flame Arena.</p><p>Flame Arena was located in the east of the city and situated in a prosperous area where the rich and the noble congregated. It was a considerable distance from Fire Dragon Magic Academy. Meng Lei flagged down a magic cab and headed there in the carriage.</p><p>The magic cab driver observed Meng Lei’s countenance and asked carefully, “Lord Magician, are you heading to Flame Arena to watch tonight’s battle for the title of King of Fighters?”</p><p>Meng Lei was wearing a magician robe and was evidently a noble magician. He wasn’t someone whom a driver like him could casually strike up a conversation with, but if he could get acquainted with Meng Lei, it would definitely be a positive thing!</p><p>“Battle for the title of King of Fighters?”</p><p>Meng Lei was mildly stunned.</p><p>“You don’t know about it?”</p><p>The driver found this rather strange. He said, “The annual King of Fighters battle is a grand and spectacular competition famous throughout the capital city. Everyone, from peddlers and servants all the way to high-ranking officials and the nobility, knows about it!”</p><p>“I’ve been staying in the academy all this time, so I haven’t heard about it!” Meng Lei said with a smile, “Why don’t you tell me about the King of Fighters battle?”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>As the driver explained, Meng Lei finally understood what it was all about.</p><p>The King of Fighters!</p><p>That was the strongest Gold-Medal Fighter in the battle arena!</p><p>After an intense year-long tussle, a king among all the fighters would emerge from the Flame Arena, and he was known as… The King of Fighters!</p><p>In the King of Fighters battle, this year’s King of Fighters would challenge the King of Fighters that had won the previous year’s King of Fighters battle. This was a battle between kings and was also Flame Arena’s most exciting battle of the year. Somewhat similar to the NBA finals and the World Cup finals, its influence reached far and wide, and was highly popular and received great support from the nobles!</p><p>In the magic cab driver’s words, all the noblemen or tycoons that loved battle tournaments would watch the King of Fighters battle taking place tonight. Tickets had even gone as high as several tens of thousands of gold coins per ticket!</p><p><em>I didn’t think that I would actually run into a competition like this!</em></p><p>Meng Lei secretly shook his head.</p><p><em>It’s just that the tickets are too expensive. At tens of thousands of gold coins per ticket, I can’t afford that!</em></p><p>Meng Lei had initially wanted to join the fun, but all he could do now was only to think about it. He wasn’t that big of a millionaire yet!</p><p>He arrived at Flame Arena an hour later.</p><p>The massive Flame Arena was somewhat similar to the stadiums and theaters on Earth. It was a grand and magnificent building that occupied an extremely big plot of land and formed the shape of a lick of flame. It shone a dazzling fiery red everywhere and gave off a blood-boiling and fiery, passionate feeling!</p><p>At that moment, it was already packed with people outside Flame Arena. There were Dragon People nobility decked out in gold and jewels, big-bellied wealthy tycoons and overlords, fashionable and sexy noblewomen and ladies…</p><p>Human traffic flowed ceaselessly, and people moved constantly!</p><p>People’s voices were loud and went on without pause!</p><p>“How lively!”</p><p>Meng Lei had been just an ordinary employee in his past life. As he had needed to support his family, he had rarely taken part in large-scale activities. However, he did know what the train stations during the spring festival looked like!</p><p>The scenery outside the arena at this moment could totally give the spring festival a run for its money!</p><p>Meng Lei went along with the human traffic flow and reached the grand entrance, where the strict guards on duty stopped him. One of them said, “Lord Magician, please go to the ticket booth on the right to purchase a ticket first!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head and replied, “I’m not here to watch the King of Fighters battle. I’d like to join Flame Arena and become a fighter!”</p><p>“Huh?”</p><p>The guard looked Meng Lei up and down, mildly startled. Join the battle arena? Now, that was rare! Very few Magicians were willing to become fighters!</p><p>“Sir, you’re not joking?”</p><p>“No, I’m not!” replied Meng Lei with a shake of his head.</p><p>“Please wait for a moment, sir!”</p><p>The guard immediately gave a few instructions to his companion behind him, and then said to Meng Lei, “Lord Magician, please follow me!”</p><p>Meng Lei followed the guard into Flame Arena. They turned a few corners to the left and the right as they walked before they finally came to an office. The guard knocked on the door and entered. After a while, he came back out again.</p><p>“Lord Magician, Master Uno invites you in!”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>The moment Meng Lei entered the office, he saw a calm and collected elderly man dressed in rich brocades seated on the chair. The elderly man looked at Meng Lei with a scrutinizing gaze!</p><p>“Little fellow, so you’re the one that wants to become a fighter?”</p><p>Uno looked Meng Lei up and down, his brows slightly drawing together. Meng Lei was seriously too young. He was the very picture of a little brat that hadn’t grown up at all. He was already a Fourth-Grade Magician at such a young age?</p><p>He must be joking, right?</p><p>“Yes!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded slightly.</p><p>“Flame Arena welcomes any expert to join!” Uno’s voice was calm and detached as he said, “However, you should be aware of our rules. Only Fifth-Grade Warriors or Fourth-Grade Magicians and above are qualified to join. You’re so young, so you probably…”</p><p>He didn’t continue, but it was evident what he meant—he was clearly dubious about Meng Lei’s battle capabilities. In fact, Uno was even wondering if the little fellow in front of him had come up with this idea in a moment of folly because he didn’t have the money to watch tonight’s King of Fighters battle.</p><p>After all, the arena’s fighters could watch the King of Fighters battle from the inside!</p><p>Meng Lei let out a laugh. He didn’t bother saying any superfluous rubbish but began to lightly chant a magic incantation instead. The Thunder Elements in the surroundings began to swiftly gather, and then they formed two long spinning spears!</p><p>Each spear was three meters long and an inch thick. They spun at high speed, as though two high-speed electric drills with electric currents twining around them, and gave off a terrifying might that made one’s heart palpitate!</p><p>“Fourth-Grade Spell, Spinning Lightning Drill!”</p><p>Uno got up from the chair and stared at the two lightning drills in front of him. Astonishment filled his eyes, and he said, “You’re really a Fourth-Grade Magician? So it’s I whose eyes had failed him!”</p><p>He was someone who had seen a lot of the world. He calmed down very quickly, and with a joyous expression, said, “Since you can use Fourth-Grade Spells, then you’re undoubtedly a Fourth-Grade Magician. You are absolutely qualified to become one of our Flame Arena’s fighters!”</p><p>“It’s fine as long as I can!” Meng Lei breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Do I need to go through any procedures?”</p><p>“Yes, there are necessary procedures, of course!” Uno added with a smile, “I’ll go through the procedures’ specific requirements with you first. You can consider and make your decision again thereafter. If there are no issues, then we can sign the contract after that!”</p><p>“Sure!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded.</p><p>“How do I address you?”</p><p>“Meng Lei!”</p><p>“My young friend Meng Lei, as this is the first time you’re joining our Flame Arena, you can only start out from the lowest grade, a One-Star Bronze Fighter. This is a compulsory rule that nobody can change!”</p><p>“No problem!”</p><p>“A Bronze Fighter needs to fight at least 10 battles a month!</p><p>“And a One-Star Bronze Fighter’s appearance fee is 1,000 gold coins per session!</p><p>“If you win three battles in a row, you can level up to a Two-Star Bronze Fighter!</p><p>“A Two-Star Bronze Fighter’s appearance fee is 2,000 gold coins per session!</p><p>“If you win six battles in a row, you can level up to a Three-Star Bronze Fighter!</p><p>“A Three-Star Bronze Fighter’s appearance fee is 3,000 gold coins per session!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>“These are the requirements and appearance fees!</p><p>“There are also other benefits other than that!</p><p>“For example, after you become our Flame Arena’s fighter, you’ll be under the Flame Arena’s protection. Under circumstances where the empire’s constitution or the kingdom’s laws aren’t violated, the arena has the authority to ensure a fighter’s life and wealth security!</p><p>“Another example is, after you become a Four-Star Bronze Fighter…”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-37

Chapter 37

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 37</h1><p>After exchanging some words, Meng Lei felt that the Flame Arena’s benefits were really good. The appearance fee was relatively high, and the protection mechanism was very sound!</p><p>Its only weakness was that it was extremely dangerous!</p><p>Once he stepped into the ring, it would be a real battle of life and death!</p><p>Weapons hurt people easily in a battle, and nobody could guarantee that there would be no accidents. This had resulted in a very high mortality rate for fighters!</p><p>Hence, it was not easy earning money from this!</p><p>“Little friend Meng Lei, if you think these requirements are okay, sign this contract!”</p><p>Uno prepared a contract and handed it to Meng Lei. After Meng Lei had read it carefully and confirmed that there were no problems, he decisively put down his signature!</p><p>Since he had made his decision, he would not hesitate!</p><p>“The contract is in effect!”</p><p>After watching Meng Lei sign the contract, Uno stretched out his right hand and said, “Brother Meng Lei, welcome to Flame Arena. From now on, you will be a member of our arena!”</p><p>Uno was very happy. The Flame Arena had more than 10,000 fighters of various types, but the number of magician fighters did not exceed the fingers on his hands!</p><p>Magician fighters were too rare!</p><p>In order to recruit magician fighters, the Flame Arena not only lowered its standards but also promised huge profits. Unfortunately, the Magician profession was an honorable one and made money easily. Who would want to surrender their status to be a precarious fighter?</p><p>Magician fighters had always been a scarce resource!</p><p>Therefore, Uno was overjoyed after he recruited the Magician Meng Lei!</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei, this is your identity badge. With this badge, you can enter and exit Flame Arena freely. Also, you can watch any match in Flame Arena for free!</p><p>“Of course, including tonight’s King of Fighters battle!”</p><p>“This is a part of the benefits!?”</p><p>“Hehe, the fighters are part of the arena’s staff, so they have the right to watch the fights!”</p><p>“That’s great!” Meng Lei nodded slightly. “Master Uno, I wonder if I can familiarize myself with the arena?”</p><p>“Of course!”</p><p>Uno smiled slightly and called a service staff. He then said with a smile, “Brother Meng Lei, this is our arena service staff, Mary. Let her show you around!”</p><p>“Well then, thank you, Master Uno!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled and thanked him before he left the office!</p><p>When the two walked away, Uno beckoned someone to his side!</p><p>“Investigate his background. I want to know everything about him!”</p><p>“Yes, sir!”</p><p>…</p><p>Mary had a pair of fluffy cat ears, which looked very cute as they moved around. She also had a beautiful fluffy tail, a unique symbol of cat people!</p><p>With her leading the way, Meng Lei wandered around Flame Arena. The huge fighting arena contained distinct levels. The largest and most luxurious facilities were the fighting arenas themselves!</p><p>“Flame Arena has 31 arenas of various types, including 20 bronze arenas, 10 silver arenas, and 1 golden arena!</p><p>“The area of each arena is amazing, and it can accommodate 100,000 spectators at any time. An arena is divided into the ring and the viewing platform!</p><p>“The viewing platform is divided into VIP boxes and the fighter viewing platform…”</p><p>Mary was very talkative, enthusiastic, and patient in her explanation. After walking and looking around, Meng Lei had a general understanding of Flame Arena!</p><p>Finally, Meng Lei came to the golden arena where the King of Fighters battle would be held tonight—the Flaming Ring of Life and Death!</p><p>As the only golden arena in Flame Arena, the Flaming Ring of Life and Death was much larger than any gymnasium on Earth. It was in the shape of a pillar, very much like Rome’s Colosseum on Earth!</p><p>The ring was at the bottom, surrounded by the spectator stands!</p><p>Presently, the spectator stands at the Flaming Ring of Life and Death were already filled with people. The nobles, wealthy merchants, and ladies from the capital city were talking enthusiastically about tonight’s King of Fighters battle!</p><p>The waiters in the arena walked through the stands, serving wine and water, and delivering desserts and dried fruits. The huge golden arena was full of voices and looked very lively!</p><p>Although the King of Fighters battle had not yet started, the atmosphere in the arena had already reached a frenzy!</p><p>Meng Lei appeared on the fighter viewing platform!</p><p>This was the area where fighters watched the battle. It was higher than the ordinary spectator stands but lower than the VIP boxes. It was located in the middle of the viewing platform and was meant for the arena’s staff to view the battles!</p><p>“Eh? There is someone new here?”</p><p>The fighter viewing area was already full of fighters. They were slightly surprised when they saw the unexpected arrival of Meng Lei. His young age made it even more surprising!</p><p>Meng Lei nodded casually and found a place to sit down. He did not know any of the fighters here, and there was no need to!</p><p>No one was certain who they would meet in the arena. By then, they would be fierce rivals!</p><p>It was completely unnecessary to befriend enemies. Their statuses meant that there could be no real friendship between fighters!</p><p>Meng Lei was right!</p><p>There was indeed no friendship between fighters!</p><p>Although the fighters were very familiar with each other and understood each other’s strength, level, tricks, fighting habits, etc., they were not friends with each other!</p><p>To understand each other was just to know your enemy better so that they can improve their chances of winning!</p><p>Some of the fighters’ gazes flickered as they stared at Meng Lei carefully, trying to see through all his secrets. Most of them were One-Star or Two-Star Bronze Fighters!</p><p>Meng Lei was a newcomer, and they were likely to meet him in future battles. Hence, they had to study him carefully!</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t know what these fighters were thinking. He looked into the distance as though he was paying attention to the ring. In fact, he was counting today’s gains!</p><p>Ever since he had left the academy until rushing to Flame Arena and sitting here to watch the battles, he had not had a moment of rest!</p><p>After leaving the academy, the system’s cue sound had not stopped ringing. This meant that Meng Lei had been picking non-stop, especially in Flame Arena, where the pick-up rate was higher!</p><p>Among the light balls he picked up, most of them were physical body constitution light balls, followed by gold coin light balls. Magical power light balls and spell light balls were relatively rare!</p><p>What surprised Meng Lei were the spirit light balls and the battle skill light balls. Perhaps because the King of Fighters battle was about to take place today, people were very excited, and hence these two types of light balls were surprisingly common!</p><p>In just one afternoon, Meng Lei’s spiritual power had increased by more than 100 points, and he had picked up six battle skills and a… Battle Aura Technique!</p><p><em>Battle Aura Technique, this is a rare item!</em></p><p>Meng Lei immediately went through the Battle Aura Technique named <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> and was stunned!</p><p><em>What a stroke of luck!</em></p><p>After browsing the information in his mind, Meng Lei was left with a dumbfounded expression.</p><p><em>This item turns out to be a Battle Aura Technique of the Fire Dragon Kingdom’s royal family. Only Dragon People with fire dragon bloodlines are qualified to practice!</em></p><p>The royal family—the race that controlled the Fire Dragon Kingdom!</p><p>After tens of thousands of years of reproduction, the royal family of Fire Dragon Kingdom had plenty and diverse members, including pureblood Fire Dragons, mixed-blood Dragon People, and mixed-blood Dragon Beasts!</p><p>There were only a few pureblood Fire Dragons, and the most numerous were the mixed-blood dragons. The Dragon People consisted nearly 99.99% of the royal family’s population!</p><p>Although most of them had diluted bloodlines and were the sort that lazed around, they were, after all, members of the royal family!</p><p>They were all qualified to cultivate the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> .</p><p>As for other people, no matter how high their status was, how much their wealth they had, and how noble their bloodlines were, they were not qualified to cultivate the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> !</p><p><em>Here’s the problem!</em></p><p><em>I am not of the Fire Dragon bloodline!</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-38

Chapter 38

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 38</h1><p>As the cultivation technique used by Fire Dragon Kingdom royalty, the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> was no doubt a top-notch Battle Aura Technique. When cultivated to a level of great mastery, one could go straight up to the pinnacle of ninth-grade!</p><p>This was a priceless treasure that no amount of money could buy!</p><p>However, what frustrated Meng Lei was that he couldn’t cultivate this godly secret technique as he didn’t have any Fire Dragon blood in him!</p><p><em>Fire Dragon Manual can purify the Fire Dragon bloodline in the cultivator’s body, such that the dragon blood inside them becomes purer and more refined. When cultivated to a level of great mastery, they would be able to transform into a Fire Colossal Dragon!</em></p><p>As part of the Colossal Dragon race, not only did the Fire Colossal Dragons possess a strong and powerful body, but they were also born with the ability to manipulate flames and had extremely powerful combat abilities. They were an existence far above the rest of Heaven’s Vault Continent’s lifeforms and were a synonym for great power and fearsomeness!</p><p>If he could, of course Meng Lei would like to cultivate it, but…</p><p><em>Nevermind! I’ll think of something in the future!</em></p><p><em>If I really can’t come up with any solution, then I can only sell it. Turning it into gold coins is also a great option!</em></p><p>While he was certainly frustrated about it, he had to admit that his rewards from this afternoon were indeed impressive. His Physical Body Constitution had increased by more than 200 points, the number of gold coins he had had increased by more than 1,000, and his Spiritual Power had increased by more than 100 points!</p><p>He had even obtained six battle skills and the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> !</p><p>After adding everything up, the frustration in Meng Lei’s heart was swept clean. He secretly rejoiced that the decision he had made today was simply too wise! His battle capabilities had visibly improved, how awesome was that!</p><p>Bong, bong, bong!</p><p>At that moment, three loud and resonant gongs suddenly rang out. A few dazzling rays of light shone down from the ceiling and converged at the fighting ring underneath. The ring, which was made out of gold, reflected a brilliant golden light at once!</p><p>The light was glorious and resplendent, brilliant and dazzling!</p><p>“What the! A fighting ring made out of gold!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes narrowed slightly as he received a huge shock. The ring was very big, easily more than 20 meters long and wide, and three to four meters high. Standing erect in the battleground, it was totally a block of gold!</p><p><em>If that were to be divided into gold coins, just how many would it amount to?</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes practically bore right into it, wishing beyond belief that he could straight up take the entire fighting ring and keep it. Just how many Attribute Points would he be able to redeem with that?!</p><p>“Dear guests!</p><p>“Esteemed guests and friends!</p><p>“Good evening, everybody!</p><p>“I am Heidi Glenna, your host for tonight’s King of Fighters battle! On behalf of Flame Arena, let me welcome you!”</p><p>A clear and melodious voice rang out, and the beautiful form of a woman floated down from the ceiling. With a hot and sexy figure and snowy white wings, she was as though a holy and pure angel from the divine kingdom of light. She was the host for tonight!</p><p>A Swan-Woman?</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes widened dramatically. A Swan-Person was just like a Cat-Person—both of them belonged to the Beast People race. This was the first time Meng Lei had ever seen a Swan-Person. He couldn’t help but be astounded by their beauty!</p><p>“She’s so beautiful. No wonder Swan-People are said to be one of the most beautiful races in Heaven’s Vault Continent. Those looks… They really make one’s blood boil with excitement!”</p><p>“The annual King of Fighters battle shall take place tonight. At this greatly anticipated moment, please allow me to formally introduce tonight’s battle contestants to everyone!</p><p>“They are, respectively, this year’s newly-promoted King of Fighters…</p><p>“…Oden Flit!”</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>A ray of golden light cascaded from above and shone upon a corner of the ring. A small raised platform entered everyone’s sight, and on it stood a big and tall, strong, and muscular figure!</p><p>He was 2.4 meters tall and had bulging muscles!</p><p>He had a single fiery red horn on his head and a pair of fiery red wings on his back!</p><p>Fiery red scaly armor covered his body, and a long fiery red tail grew from his bottom!</p><p>His body was a brilliant fiery red all over, as though a flaming giant!</p><p>He was the newly-promoted King of Fighters—Oden Flit, a Fire Dragon Person with terrifying battle capabilities!</p><p>“Oden!!!”</p><p>“Oden!!!”</p><p>“Oden!!!”</p><p>“The King of Fighters!!!”</p><p>“The King of Fighters!!!”</p><p>“The King of Fighters!!!”</p><p>Upon seeing Oden Flit’s appearance, loud deafening cheers resounded in the entire arena at once. Several big-bellied noblemen waved their arms and shouted hysterically, while several sexy and beautiful young ladies blushed and became extremely excited!</p><p>Horrifying waves of cheers rang out louder than the previous, almost flipping off the ceiling. The on-site atmosphere was close to exploding!</p><p><em>That guy sure is popular!</em></p><p>Meng Lei rubbed his ears that had become numb from the reverberations, somewhat in disbelief. He didn’t expect that this Fire Dragon Person named Oden Flit would actually be so popular.</p><p>One must know that the people who were able to be present here today weren’t like those fervent fans on Earth that chased after young and fresh stars. Rather, they were officials that held authority and power, nobility with high social status, and extremely wealthy tycoons!</p><p>These people were akin to celebrities and people from high society on Earth, yet they were actually also groupies and were even so frenzied and unbridled in being one. This was something completely out of Meng Lei’s expectations!</p><p><em>No, wait, Oden Flit… Flit?</em></p><p><em>Isn’t that a royal surname?</em></p><p><em>Could that guy also be royalty?</em></p><p><em>A Fire Dragon Person! Flit! Could he really be royalty!?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was astonished!</p><p>Fighters!</p><p>They might look like they were living the life, but they were ultimately meant for people’s viewing pleasure!</p><p>In the eyes of the nobility, who had high status and social standing, fighters were ultimately a cheap and lowly occupation. None of the nobility would be willing to be a fighter and become a toy for people’s viewing pleasure!</p><p>Much less royalty?</p><p>As the royal race in control of Fire Dragon Kingdom, Fire Colossal Dragon blood flowed through the royalty’s veins. They thought of their bloodline as noble and refined, and their status as venerable. Who among them would be willing to become a fighter?</p><p>However, very evidently, that was what Oden Flit had done!</p><p>Now, that was pretty inconceivable!</p><p>What Meng Lei didn’t know was that Oden’s immense popularity was the result of the term “King of Fighters”. Before he had become a King of Fighters, what Oden had welcomed weren’t cheers and acclamations, but disdain and mockery.</p><p>Unlike regular fighters, the term “King of Fighters” represented the king among the fighters and symbolized great strength and power.</p><p>The nobility might be full of disdain toward fighters, but they idolized the Kings of Fighters!</p><p>Before Oden had become a King of Fighters, people mocked him, and the royalty despised him. However, after he became a King of Fighters, everything changed.</p><p>That was a King of Fighters’ charm!</p><p>It was also the most direct reflection of how the strong were the most revered in Heaven’s Vault Continent!</p><p>“As everyone knows, our newly-promoted King of Fighters has royal blood in him. The noble and refined Fire Dragon blood flows within him. This is also the reason why King of Fighters Oden possesses superbly strong battle capabilities!”</p><p>Heidi Glenna’s voice was loud and clear. She said, “These few years, ever since he joined Flame Arena, Oden has pressed on with a crushing force, won every single battle he was in, and successfully stood out from the rest to take the throne of the King of Fighters in the end!</p><p>“This is Oden’s victory!</p><p>“And also the royal bloodline’s victory!</p><p>“Let us wish for Oden’s happiness, and hope that he can continue his winning streak in the King of Fighters battle coming up! And hope that he can create another miracle and another legend!”</p><p>“Oden!”</p><p>“Oden!”</p><p>“Oden!”</p><p>…</p><p>“As for the other contestant tonight, I’m sure everyone is already very familiar with who he is. He once held the King of Fighters position for three successive terms, won the King of Fighters battles thrice in a row, and even achieved brilliant results in the King of Fighters battle organized by the empire this year!</p><p>“He is our Giant Spiritual God—Nicolas Austin!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-39

Chapter 39

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 39</h1><p>He was more than four meters tall, and was a bronze color throughout!</p><p>The muscles all over his body intertwined and bulged like rocks!</p><p>His eyes were bright and piercing, and he held a mace in his hand!</p><p>He wore a suit of golden armor and had a horned Viking helmet on his head!</p><p>He was the King of Fighters that had held the title for three terms straight—Nicolas Austin, the Giant Spiritual God!</p><p>“All of our guests should be aware that our Giant Spiritual God has Ancient Giant blood in him. He has herculean strength and was once the winner of the King of Fighters title for three years straight. He even fought with all his might against powerful opponents in the Emperor of Fighters battle organized by the empire this year, and achieved an impressive third place!”</p><p>The host’s voice overflowed with passion and resounded throughout the sky above the ring. She said, “Today, we shall look forward to seeing whether Nicolas can overcome his opponent to achieve victory, and continue his King of Fighters legend!”</p><p>“Giant Spiritual God!!!”</p><p>“Giant Spiritual God!!!”</p><p>“Giant Spiritual God!!!”</p><p>As though deafening claps of thunder, even more fanatical cheers erupted with a boom and engulfed the Flaming Ring of Life And Death. The reverberations made the audience’s eardrums hurt, causing their ears to hum and making them dizzy!</p><p>As the winner of three King of Fighters terms, Nicolas the Giant Spiritual God enjoyed immense popularity. It was something that the newly-promoted King of Fighters Oden couldn’t compare with, despite having royalty blood in him!</p><p>“And now, let us hand the ring over to the two Kings of Fighters!”</p><p>The host flapped her snowy white wings and slowly left the ring. Then, Oden and Nicolas, who were standing on the small raised platforms, moved simultaneously!</p><p>With a flap of his wings, Oden turned into a beam of fiery red light and arrived in the ring in an instant. He moved swiftly and as quick as lightning, arousing scream after scream from the audience!</p><p>Roar!!!</p><p>Nicolas let out a furious roar and stepped onto the platform with one foot. With a dull and thunderous boom, the platform cracked and fell apart. Nicolas’ big and tall form leaped high into the air and landed on the ring!</p><p>“Victory for Oden!!!”</p><p>“Victory for the Giant Spiritual God!!!”</p><p>In this instant, the cheers and screams in the arena reached their pinnacle. People screamed and shouted excitedly as though they had gone mad!</p><p><em>Madness! Truly madness! Looks like fervent fans exist in every world. Eh? That’s…</em></p><p>Meng Lei noticed light balls dropping one after another from the crazed, fervent fans. Judging from the color, these light balls were mostly spirit light balls.</p><p><em>Could it be that people easily drop spirit light balls when they are excited?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was secretly astonished. However, he didn’t stay idle. He turned and left the fighters’ viewing gallery, went down the safety passage, and quietly came to the stands.</p><p>Fighters were the arena’s internal staff. Hence, apart from being unable to enter the VIP rooms, they could freely enter any area in the arena.</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Spirit +5!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Spirit +7!”</p><p>Meng Lei collected dropped light balls without a moment’s pause as he walked about the stands.</p><p><em>Hehe, how marvelous! I was really right to come to the arena!</em></p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>Just as Meng Lei collected his light balls, the cheers throughout the arena came to a sudden stop, as though someone had pressed the pause button. Meng Lei lifted his head and took a look. As it turned out, the battle between the Kings of Fighters had begun!</p><p>Magic shields rose into the air. The two Kings of Fighters gazed at each other from afar, sparks flying everywhere!</p><p>“Nicolas, I’m going to end your path of glory!”</p><p>Oden flapped his wings, his form suspended in mid-air. His voice was cold and emotionless like a blade, and there was an icy glint in his eyes.</p><p>“Shamelessly boastful little fellow, I hope your fists are half as tough as your mouth!” scoffed Nicolas as he sneered at him, his countenance full of disdain.</p><p>“Die!!!”</p><p>With a roar, Oden swooped down and struck out with his fist!</p><p>“Good job coming here!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>As though meteors crashing into Earth, Oden and Nicolas clashed against each other forcefully. Within the booming thunderclap-like sounds of collision, the two of them went back and forth as they clashed intensely.</p><p>Every punch connected with flesh!</p><p>There was no holding back!</p><p>“Oden! Oden! Oden!”</p><p>“Giant Spiritual God! Giant Spiritual God! Giant Spiritual God!”</p><p>The audience in the arena were crazed as they shouted and cheered desperately!</p><p><em>One is a Dragon Person with Fire Dragon blood in him and part of royalty!</em></p><p><em>The other is a demi-giant with Ancient Giant blood in him!</em></p><p><em>This is truly like Mars ramming into Earth—a clash of the powerful!</em></p><p>Meng Lei stopped collecting light balls and watched the ring with bright and sparkling eyes, which were full of envy. As Kings of Fighters, Oden and Nicolas were definitely Ninth-Grade Warriors!</p><p>Ninth-grade!</p><p>That was a special domain!</p><p>This was because it was only one step away from reaching the Saint Domain!</p><p>The Saint Domain!</p><p>An existence far above!</p><p>An existence that transcended life and death!</p><p>An existence that controlled the heavens and earth!</p><p>It was a great and noble existence that truly stood at the pinnacle of all lifeforms!</p><p>Apart from this, ninth-grade also represented extremely strong and powerful battle capabilities!</p><p>Looking at the entire Fire Dragon Kingdom, Sixth-Grade and Seventh-Grade Warriors emerged in an endless stream. For Dragon People with even the least bit of purity in their bloodlines, even if they didn’t cultivate much, they would still become comparable to a Sixth-Grade or Seventh-Grade Warrior when they came of age!</p><p>In comparison, there were relatively fewer Eighth-Grade Warriors. It was impossible for one to reach a level like this just by relying on their bloodline. One could only reach this level by cultivating diligently.</p><p>As for Ninth-Grade Warriors, the numbers were even fewer!</p><p>There might not even be a single person that could attain ninth-grade among 10,000 Dragon People!</p><p>Thus, every Ninth-Grade Warrior enjoyed an illustrious social status. Those that were willing to become fighters for people’s viewing pleasure… There were even fewer of them!</p><p>This might also be another reason why Oden and Nicolas were so popular!</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>The intense battle in the ring had already turned white-hot. Oden, the Fire Dragon Person, transformed into a fiery beam of light and raised his speed and physical strength to their maximum, leaving afterimages everywhere in the ring!</p><p>On the other hand, Nicolas the Giant Spiritual God’s speed was evidently not on par with Oden’s. However, he was like a massive mountain. No matter how Oden blasted and bombarded him, he remained firm and unmoving!</p><p>Everyone could tell by this point of the battle.</p><p>Oden had high speed, and his attacks were swift and forceful!</p><p>Nicolas’ defense and physical strength were a notch higher!</p><p>One was fast, while the other was strong!</p><p>One could land strikes on his opponent, but couldn’t deal a fatal blow!</p><p>The other had stronger physical strength, but he was ultimately always slower by half a beat!</p><p><em>It can’t be that this stalemate is going to continue like this?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was secretly rendered speechless. The audience was also dissatisfied with the battle situation in the ring. They cheered and shouted even more desperately, hoping that the contestant they supported could defeat the other party and emerge victorious.</p><p>“Kid, do you only know how to scurry about madly like a mouse?”</p><p>Nicolas swung his mace, though it missed its target every time. He goaded, “Fight head-on with me if you have the capability to! You can’t defeat me just by fleeing about willfully!”</p><p>“Hmph!”</p><p>Oden was furious, yet there was nothing he could do. He was ultimately still too young and hadn’t been able to develop his body to perfection. In terms of physical strength, he lost to Nicolas!</p><p><em>If I can cultivate Fire Dragon Manual to a level of great mastery, I’d be able to smack him to death with just one hand. What a shame!</em></p><p>Oden was rather regretful and ended up spacing out slightly.</p><p>However, how could a battle between experts brook even a moment’s distraction?</p><p>Right in that split second, the experienced Nicolas seized the opportunity and swung his mace down. Oden barely managed to duck in a moment of desperation, but it was in this instant that Nicolas’ heavy fist came smashing down.</p><p>Oden wasn’t that lucky this time!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The iron fist struck Oden heavily. With a terrible cry, Oden was thrown backward as blood spurted madly from his mouth!</p><p>“Lose!”</p><p>Nicolas was unforgiving upon gaining momentum. His attacks crashed down upon Oden like a hurricane. Within horrifying sounds of collision, Oden went smashing down and landed on the ground like a fallen leaf in the wind.</p><p>An uproar went through the crowd, and then the whole place instantly quietened!</p><p>The audience stared at the arena in a daze, all of them somewhat unable to recover from their astonishment.</p><p>The battle had still been equally matched in strength the previous moment!</p><p>Yet now a great change had suddenly taken place the next moment!</p><p>Oden… had lost?</p><p>Boom!</p><p>After a brief silence, Nicolas’ supporters erupted into tremendous cheers, while Oden’s supporters cursed and swore, unable to accept the outcome.</p><p>“The results are out. The Fire Dragon Person has lost!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head and sighed. Then, he got up and walked toward the ring. He remarked, “After suffering so many punches, probably even all the sh*t in Oden has probably been punched out of him?”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t know whether or not Oden’s sh*t had been punched out of him, but what he did see was that in the instant when Nicolas’ punch threw out Oden, a shining blood-red light ball had dropped from him!</p><p>Oden was a Ninth-Grade Warrior. The light balls he dropped would probably be exceptional, right? Alright, he’d better hurry and pick it up!</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Fire Dragon bloodline!”</p><p>(⊙_⊙)</p><p>“What!?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-40

Chapter 40

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 40</h1><p>Chapter 40: Modifying One’s Body, Transforming Into A Dragon For The First Time</p><p><em>I’ve οbtained the Fire Dragon bloodline?</em></p><p>Meng Lei looked absolutely bewildered. Previously, when he had picked up the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> , he had even found it a white elephant. After all, he couldn’t practice it, so what use was there to it, no matter how impressive it was?</p><p>Alright!</p><p>He had still been frustrated the last second, and then he immediately picked up the Fire Dragon bloodline the next second? Wasn’t this kinda ridiculous?</p><p><em>However! I may have picked it up, but it’s not like they can force me to assimilate it if I don’t want to, isn’t it?</em></p><p>With that in mind, Meng Lei was just about to communicate with the system when a bunch of crimson flames unexpectedly appeared in his body. Then, they separated into countless sections and turned into innumerable tiny fire dragons. These fire dragons instantly darted into all his limbs and bones, fusing with every single inch of his blood and flesh!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>As though a barrel of petroleum set on fire, Meng Lei felt a piercing and acute wave of pain coming from within his body and assaulting his senses madly. A muffled grunt escaped Meng Lei, and he almost let out a tragic cry.</p><p><em>W-what’s going on?!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was terribly shocked by this sudden turn of events. He forced himself to endure the severe pain in his body and ran to the nearest restroom.</p><p>A bout of crimson red flames emerged from within his body the instant he entered the restroom. It scorched his body and burned his clothes, turning him straight into a man on fire!</p><p>Under the blazing flames, his clothes didn’t even last a few seconds before they were reduced to ashes. Meng Lei’s whole body became exposed to the air at once!</p><p>Through the crimson flames, one could clearly see blue veins bulging against Meng Lei’s skin surface. His muscles were trembling, his bones were shaking, and wisps of black smoke were coming out of him!</p><p>“Ahhh!”</p><p>Meng Lei cried out in pain and agony. He felt like his whole body was about to be ripped apart. Violent spasms went through him. He had never once imagined that this was how extreme pain would feel like. It was truly utter misery, where one could neither live nor die!</p><p>While he was being assaulted by great pain, Meng Lei wasn’t aware that his body was currently undergoing a miraculous change. As the small and light flames burned his body, everything, be it his bones, meridians, skin, or blood, was going through changes that ordinary people would find hard to even imagine!</p><p>Every single cell!</p><p>Every inch of his blood and flesh!</p><p>Every single bone!</p><p>All of them were being reborn in the flames!</p><p>In his dazed state, an earth-shattering roar resounded. A hologram of a Fire Dragon covered from head to toe in fiery red scaly armor, and as though fully cast from solid metal, floated in the air behind Meng Lei. It roared into the heavens as it flapped its wings!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>In the instant that the Fire Dragon hologram appeared, the sounds of blades piercing through flesh rang out, and fiery red bloodstained scales began to pop up one by one on the surface of Meng Lei’s body!</p><p>On both of his arms and both of his legs!</p><p>On his chest and his abdomen!</p><p>On his back and his buttocks!</p><p>In the blink of an eye, the fiery red scales had spread and covered every part of Meng Lei, making him look as though a monster covered in scales!</p><p>However, it wasn’t over yet!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>Yet another soft pop rang out. Behind him, a long, thick, and muscular dragon tail grew from where his buttocks were. Fiery red scaly armor covered the tail, which was covered in blood. It looked evil and sinister and reeked of blood!</p><p>At the same time, two bamboo shoot-like objects also grew from his forehead. They were sharp-tipped and red, seeming as if they were going to pierce through the heavens!</p><p>These were a pair of dragon horns!</p><p>Fiery red dragon scales!</p><p>Fiery red dragon horns!</p><p>A fiery red dragon tail!</p><p>The changes finally came to a halt at this point. The flames enveloping Meng Lei all over slowly extinguished. The acute pain also ebbed away like the tide. Meng Lei collapsed into a heap on the ground, gasping for air and panting heavily!</p><p>Sweat and blood covered the ground. It was as though Meng Lei was lying in a pool of blood. At this moment, Meng Lei didn’t even feel like lifting a finger at all!</p><p>It hurt!</p><p>It hurt too much!</p><p>He felt as if he had gone to hell and back!</p><p>Even just thinking back to that feeling now gave him lingering fears. Meng Lei swore that he never wanted to experience it ever again!</p><p>Bam!</p><p>Someone pushed the restroom’s doors open right at this moment, and a thin and frail figure walked in. Right away, he was badly frightened by the scene in front of him and let out an ear-piercing scream!</p><p>“Ahhh!”</p><p>“Stop screaming!”</p><p>A severe jolt went through Meng Lei. His form turned into an afterimage and appeared right in front of the person that had just walked in. He clapped his hand over his mouth in one swift motion, his movements so quick that it was completely in a different class from what it was before!</p><p>“Listen! Stop screaming!”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t want to be seen in such a pathetic state. He glared viciously at the person, signaling to him not to cause a commotion.</p><p>“L-let go of me! I won’t scream!”</p><p>The person nodded tactfully, and actually calmed down very quickly.</p><p>“You’d better behave!”</p><p>After threatening him again, Meng Lei carefully released his hold on him. True enough, the person didn’t scream anymore. Instead, he looked Meng Lei up and down before he asked in surprise, “You… Are you awakening your bloodline?”</p><p>“Awakening?”</p><p>Meng Lei was a little stunned. It was then that he realized that his body had undergone great changes. His arms, legs, abdomen… All of it was covered in a layer of fiery red scaly armor. A long dragon tail had even grown out of his buttocks behind him!</p><p><em>What the hell! Why have I turned into a Dragon Person!?</em></p><p>Meng Lei looked green around the gills. He had only just obtained the Fire Dragon bloodline the last moment, and now he had turned into a Dragon Person the next…</p><p>“B*stard system, who allowed you to assimilate it? Have you asked me for permission?!”</p><p>Meng Lei was so furious that he let loose a torrent of abuse!</p><p>However…</p><p>When he clenched his fists, explosive power filled his whole body from head to toe, as if he could destroy a mountain with just one punch!</p><p>When he jumped lightly, his body felt so light and buoyant, as if all of his weight was gone. It was as though most of gravity’s pull on him had been canceled out, as though a layer of shackles on him had been removed!</p><p><em>My body… It’s so strong!</em></p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t help himself from glancing at his personal stats interface. And then, what he saw astonished him!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human (Contains Fire Dragon bloodline)</p><p>Wealth: 26,397 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Fifth-Grade Warrior (2,480/5,000)</p><p>Spirit: Fourth-Grade Magician (1,197/2,000)</p><p>Magic Power: Fifth-Grade Magician (2,023/5,000)</p><p><em>What the hell! That’s such a big change!</em></p><p>His Physical Body Constitution had been 800 points previously, but it was 2,400 points now, and had increased by threefold!</p><p>His Magic Power had been 1,000 points previously, but it was 2,000 points now, and had increased by twofold!</p><p><em>What an exaggeration! This is simply too big of an exaggeration!</em></p><p><em>Is the Fire Dragon bloodline really that much of a mutant?!</em></p><p>Meng Lei found himself in disbelief, and his feelings of frustration slightly lessened.</p><p>“The body will go through a qualitative change when one is awakening their Dragon bloodline!” The person gazed at Meng Lei and added calmly, “It’s absolutely normal for you to feel your power becoming stronger, and your body becoming lighter!”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded. After taking in the sensations in detail, he directed his gaze at the person. It was then that he realized he actually knew the fellow in front of him.</p><p>“Abbe, how come you’re here?”</p><p>The person that had entered the restroom was Abbe, Meng Lei’s cold and distant housemate. Meng Lei’s attention had been fully directed at the changes in his body just now, so he hadn’t recognized him for a moment there, but he finally belatedly realized his identity now!</p><p>“You know me?”</p><p>Abbe was startled.</p><p>Meng Lei chuckled and replied somewhat dryly, “Hee! We see each other every day, so would you say whether I know you or not?”</p><p>“See each other every d— You’re Meng Lei?”</p><p>Abbe’s eyes widened, and he stared at Meng Lei in disbelief. “Why are you here? No, how come you could awaken the Dragon race’s bloodline? Aren’t you a human!?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-41

Chapter 41

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 41</h1><p>Chapter 41: Fifth-Grade Warrior, New Plans</p><p>Abbe had had his attention on Meng Lei for a very long time now!</p><p>He had already heard of Meng Lei’s great reputation before he had enrolled in the academy and knew that Meng Lei was the most gifted talent among this year’s batch of new students.</p><p>When the two of them then became housemates, everything about Meng Lei couldn’t escape Abbe’s scrutiny all the more. After three months of observation, Abbe professed to be someone that knew Meng Lei very well. However, little did he expect that Meng Lei had actually still kept such a huge secret from him!</p><p>“Aren’t you a human? How come you could awaken the Dragon bloodline?” Abbe stared hard at Meng Lei, his eyes full of perplexity. “Or have you always been a Dragon Person all along?”</p><p>“You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask, then?”</p><p>Meng Lei held out his hands and added, “I was watching the King of Fighters battle just now when this suddenly happened. To be honest, I’m still in utter confusion right now!”</p><p>Abbe didn’t doubt him. “Looks like you really have Dragon blood in you!”</p><p>Although a lot of Dragon People had awakened their Dragon bloodline at a young age, there was no lack of people like Meng Lei, who only awakened after maturing to a certain stage.</p><p>Meng Lei wasn’t a special case!</p><p>“Perhaps, I guess!”</p><p>Meng Lei had complicated feelings about this. He wasn’t going to tell Abbe the truth, of course. Even if he did, Abbe might not necessarily believe him, anyway. Assimilating the Dragon bloodline into his body?</p><p>Just the sound of it alone was ridiculous!</p><p>“Congrats!” said Abbe detachedly.</p><p>Then, he paid Meng Lei no further attention and went about his business in the restroom. Meng Lei walked over to the mirror and observed his current appearance.</p><p>He looked strange and was even covered from head to toe in blood. Meng Lei turned on the tap and started to clean himself.</p><p><em>That looks a lot more pleasant to the eye!</em></p><p><em>Except… Am I going to look like this from now on?</em></p><p>Meng Lei sighed. Even though the Fire Dragon bloodline brought him great power and strength, he simply couldn’t find himself in a good mood the moment he thought of how he had turned into a monster!</p><p>He preferred his previous human appearance!</p><p>Meng Lei asked, “Abbe, is it impossible for me to return to how I looked previously?”</p><p>“Why do you want to return to what you looked like previously?” Abbe’s puzzled voice drifted over from the cubicle. “In Fire Dragon Kingdom, everyone longs to have Dragon blood so that they can become an existence envied, respected, and feared by others! Additionally, what you’ve awakened is the Fire Dragon Kingdom’s royal bloodline, which is even more extraordinary! Why would you want to return to what you looked like previously?”</p><p>“I look kinda strange now. I still prefer how I looked previously!” With a shake of his head, Meng Lei asked, “Tell me, is there any way to change it back?”</p><p>“I really don’t understand what you’re thinking!” replied Abbe with a shake of his head.</p><p>Nevertheless, he went on and said, “For Dragon People that awakened their bloodline at a later stage, their Dragon blood is ultimately comparatively less concentrated, so they aren’t able to maintain a Dragon form for long. You’ll return to your previous appearance when the energy in your body is fully expended!”</p><p>“Oh, I see!”</p><p>Realization dawned upon Meng Lei.</p><p>And true enough!</p><p>After a mere five minutes, Meng Lei felt an empty and hollow feeling coming from his body. The dragon scales on his body faded away swiftly like the tide, and in the blink of an eye, they had already disappeared cleanly!</p><p>His dragon tail and dragon bones also vanished along with them!</p><p>Meng Lei became smooth and clean, with not a single thread of clothing on him!</p><p>“I’ve turned back!</p><p>“Haha, I’ve turned back!</p><p>“This current look is much more pleasing to the eye after all!”</p><p>Right at that moment, Abbe walked out of the cubicle to see Meng Lei fully naked, and his eyes widened big and round at once.</p><p><em>What the f*ck! He’s so big!</em></p><p>“Abbe, get me a set of clothes!”</p><p>…</p><p>Meng Lei returned to the Flaming Ring of Life And Death after getting dressed and exiting the restroom. The King of Fighters award ceremony was currently underway!</p><p>The King of Fighters battle had ended!</p><p>It concluded with the three-term King of Fighters, Nicolas the Giant Spiritual God, successfully defending his title. As the victor, he received the people’s cheers and idolization, and his limelight was unparalleled for a while there!</p><p>On the other hand, as the loser, Odin Flit quietly left the Flaming Ring of Life And Death. In the upcoming period of at least a year, he would have to live with the loser’s title!</p><p>No matter which world it was, people only remembered the victors, while the losers were destined to be forgotten and despised. Reality… was simply always this brutal!</p><p>“The victor is king, while the loser is the knave!”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t leave in a hurry. Instead, he continued to pick up attribute light balls that had dropped. After the Fire Dragon bloodline’s accidental assimilation, both his physical body constitution and magic power reserves had reached fifth-grade!</p><p>On the contrary, his spiritual power was now lagging behind in the last place and was still at the fourth-grade level.</p><p>It was just nice that the arena was crowded, and the people there were mostly in a state of stimulation. He could pick up a few more spirit light balls during this period to compensate for the difference in his spiritual power!</p><p>…</p><p>It was already midnight by the time he returned to the academy!</p><p>After he cleaned himself up, Meng Lei didn’t meditate like what he usually did but studied the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> instead. He intended to give the top-notch Battle Aura Technique a try.</p><p>What was that saying again? “If you can’t beat them, then join them” or something?</p><p>Since he already had Dragon blood in him, then it would be too wasteful if he didn’t cultivate the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> .</p><p>More than an hour later, when he felt that he was more or less done with studying it, Meng Lei attempted to practice the technique. Upon being guided, a mysterious energy current in him began to crawl slowly in his meridians, much like a snail!</p><p>It moved at a very slow speed!</p><p>However, Meng Lei was secretly rather excited!</p><p>According to the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> , that mysterious energy current was Fire Dragon Battle Aura. The fact that the Fire Dragon Battle Aura had begun to circulate in his body meant that he had already entered the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> ‘s rudimentary stage!</p><p>This was a fantastic turn of events!</p><p><em>As long as I can cultivate the Fire Dragon Manual, I am confident that I can cultivate this battle aura technique to a level of great mastery!</em></p><p><em>Alright, I’ll set a small goal first. For example, becoming a Ninth-Grade Warrior?</em></p><p>Meng Lei practiced the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> the whole night. After a night’s cultivation, his Fire Dragon Battle Aura circulation speed had become a lot faster. It was quite a few times faster than what it had been when he had first started!</p><p><em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> also proved itself worthy of being a cultivation method for the Fire Dragon royal family’s use. After a night’s cultivation, Meng Lei’s Physical Body Constitution had actually increased by more than 40 points!</p><p>Now, that was pretty dramatic!</p><p>That was more than 40 points in a night!</p><p>In other words, it was indicative of more than 1,200 points in a month!</p><p>At this rate, he would need only two months to become a Sixth-Grade Warrior!</p><p>A Sixth-Grade Warrior!</p><p>That definitely wouldn’t be weak anymore!</p><p><em>However! I can’t possibly spend all my time cultivating the Fire Dragon Manual. I still have to meditate at night to increase my spiritual power and magic power reserves.</em></p><p><em>Should I do it in the afternoon instead?</em></p><p><em>No, that won’t do. The afternoon is meant for picking up light balls!</em></p><p><em>How about… In the morning?</em></p><p><em>Alright, the morning it is, then!</em></p><p><em>I’m already more or less done with learning the basics of using magic. I only need to improve my spiritual power and my magic power reserves, and study even higher-grade spells from now on!</em></p><p><em>Magic classes… It doesn’t matter whether I go for them or not!</em></p><p><em>Alright! I’ve happily made up my mind!</em></p><p>Cultivate the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> in the morning!</p><p>Pick up attributes in the afternoon!</p><p>Meditate at night!</p><p>His schedule for 24 hours a day had been adequately set!</p><p>He also needed to go to the Flame Arena, of course. The fact that Meng Lei had already become a fighter, and was required to fight at least 10 battles per month aside, just the huge number of attribute light balls available there alone already meant that he had to go there!</p><p>In the next three days, Meng Lei strictly implemented the plans he had previously set and carried out self-learning… No, it should be… self-refining instead!</p><p>Thus, he was absent for his magic classes in the morning. This greatly puzzled Mr. Horatio, the teacher in charge of teaching thunder-elemental magic. Meng Lei wasn’t one to skip classes usually, so why hadn’t he come for classes for three days in a row lately?</p><p>The students didn’t know anything either when Horatio asked them about it. In the end, left with no other choice, Horatio could only directly report this matter to Meng Lei’s head teacher!</p><p>Students were given a lot of freedom for classes in Fire Dragon Academy, so they could choose whether they wanted to attend them or not. Mr. Horatio definitely wouldn’t care that much if others didn’t attend classes, but Meng Lei was a different case!</p><p>He had very high hopes for Meng Lei and didn’t wish for him to be remiss in his studies because of this.</p><p>“What? That little fellow hasn’t come for classes for three days?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-42

Chapter 42

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 42</h1><p>Chapter 42: Arthur Galen Battling A Tauren</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t know that his head teacher had been informed about his absence from class. At this time, he had just finished his <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> cultivation and was heading to Flame Arena alone!</p><p>Finally, he was going to have his first fight tonight!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +2!”</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful…”</p><p>This time, Meng Lei did not take the magic cab but traveled on foot. He had the entire afternoon for his journey.</p><p>There was no need to hurry. Thus, he was able to take advantage of his spare time to stroll around the lively areas and pick up attribute light balls!</p><p>Magic device markets, slave markets, magic core trading markets, mercenary halls, warrior academies…</p><p>He had a fruitful harvest along the way, and his gains were much better than performing meditation at night. His physical and spiritual power improved by more than 100 points, while his magic reserve was only slightly worse off!</p><p><em>Walking within the academy compound can increase magic reserves!</em></p><p><em>If you want to increase your physical body constitution, you still have to go outside!</em></p><p>…</p><p>At night, Bronze Arena No. 20 was already crowded!</p><p>As the bronze arena with the lowest specifications, Arena No. 20, be it its scale or decoration, could not be compared to the Flaming Ring of Life And Death, even its tickets were much cheaper!</p><p>Therefore, most of the spectators who came to the bronze arena to watch the matches were petty bourgeoisie, such as low ranking nobles, small-time businessmen, wealthy peasants, and so on. It was precisely because of the low prices that the number of spectators was the largest!</p><p>The seats in the huge Arena No. 20 were all full. The spectators nibbled melon seeds, drank beer, and boasted and bragged. They looked very happy. After a hard day of work, this place provided the best relief for them!</p><p>Bong, bong, bong!</p><p>Three beats of drums suddenly sounded, and the audience went quiet!</p><p>A dozen lights suddenly shone down, illuminating the ring below. There was a host wearing a formal suit standing on the stage, shouting loudly!</p><p>“Dear spectators and friends, good evening. Welcome to the Flaming Ring of Life And Death. I am tonight’s host…</p><p>“I’ll skip the idle chat. Let us invite the two fighters, who will give you a spectacular battle tonight, with warm applause!</p><p>“They are both Two-Star Bronze Fighters. Harrell the Raging Bull!”</p><p>The host’s voice was loud and shrill. “As we all know, Harrell, the Raging Bull, was a newcomer who joined our Flame Arena last month. However, he already has a sterling record. He has battled 11 times and achieved an amazing result of 10 wins and 1 loss!</p><p>“Currently, Harrell has five consecutive victories. As long as he defeats his opponent tonight, he will achieve the great result of six consecutive victories and be promoted to become a Three-Star Fighter!</p><p>“Let us welcome him on stage with warm applause!”</p><p>“Moo—”</p><p>As soon as the host’s voice landed, a loud and sonorous moo suddenly traveled over. A burly man with the head of a bull leaped into the ring under the bright lights!</p><p>He was 2.5 meters tall, with bulging muscles. He had two dark curved horns on his head, exuding an eerie chill!</p><p>“Moo—”</p><p>Harrell bulged his chest muscles and bellowed at the sky!</p><p>“Raging Bull!”</p><p>“Raging Bull!”</p><p>“Raging Bull!”</p><p>The audience was roused. They waved their arms and gave off a deafening cheer that shook the earth. The atmosphere was extremely explosive!</p><p>The host was very satisfied with the atmosphere. He made a downward pressing motion with his hands, and the cheers suddenly stopped.</p><p>“Our other fighter is even more mysterious. He is also a newcomer, and only became an honorable fighter three days ago! In other words, tonight is his first battle, his debut! Are you disappointed? Just a rookie, how can he compare up to our Raging Bull Harrell?”</p><p>The audience nodded and booed disdainfully. Newcomers had no rights and were not popular here. They were not into newcomers!</p><p>“You are making a mistake if you think this way!” The host’s voice was loud and clear. “Although this fighter is a rookie, he is a special breed of fighter that is rarely seen in the Flame Arena, because…”</p><p>The host stretched his voice, and when the audience’s curiosity was piqued, he shouted, “He is a noble… Magician!”</p><p>What?</p><p>Magician?</p><p>The audience went silent before erupting into a roar!</p><p>Magician fighter?</p><p>This was a rare sight!</p><p>The audience was fired up. The disappointment in their eyes was replaced by curiosity and anticipation!</p><p>To those high ranking nobles and officials, ordinary Magicians were nothing, but to these petty bourgeoisie and wealthy peasants, Magicians still had their pulling power!</p><p>Especially when the Flame Arena rules only permitted Fourth-Grade Magicians to become fighters!</p><p>It was extremely rare to watch a Fourth-Grade Magician battle!</p><p>Besides, magician fighters were rare, and having the good fortune to watch a magician fighter battle made their tickets worthwhile!</p><p>“Next, let us invite the noble Lord Magician, Master Arthur Galen, with warm applause!”</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>In the dark corner, a dazzling lightning bolt suddenly exploded. Amidst the sound of the blast, a young man bathed in lightning strode into the ring!</p><p>He wore a golden mask that covered his entire face. The lightning that surrounded him made him extremely mysterious and majestic, which was completely in line with a Magician’s identity!</p><p>“Magician!”</p><p>“Magician!”</p><p>“Magician!”</p><p>Upon seeing Arthur Galen’s grand entrance, the audience suddenly went into a frenzy, cheering excitedly!</p><p>“First, let me announce the rules of the fight!</p><p>“Our fights are fierce battles. The fight is only over when one party surrenders, admits defeat, becomes unconscious or dies!</p><p>“Are both of you clear on this?”</p><p>“Understood!”</p><p>“Okay!”</p><p>“Very good! I now announce that the match has officially started!”</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>The audience instantly became quiet!</p><p>Countless unblinking eyes stared at the ring, full of expectation!</p><p>At the same time, in a VIP box in arena No. 20, Uno, the person in charge of the arena, stood in front of the French-styled windows, looking at Arthur Galen below, with an inexplicable expression!</p><p>“The top freshman of the Fire Dragon Magic Academy came to Flame Arena to be a fighter. What is this little fellow thinking?”</p><p>Uno felt a little uneasy. A genius Magician was nothing to him. What mattered was the Fire Dragon Magic Academy, which he came from!</p><p>He would be in trouble if Meng Lei perished here!</p><p>“Let’s test his abilities first! If he can’t make it, I’ll have to find a way to drive him away!”</p><p>…</p><p>“Magician! Hmph, you should surrender!”</p><p>Two long white wisps of mist sprayed out of Harrell the Raging Bull’s nostrils, and a pair of eyes as big as copper bells stared at Meng Lei fiercely. “So that your tiny limbs won’t get smashed into pieces by me!”</p><p>“Hehe, you can try!”</p><p>Meng Lei laughed coldly, with a look of disdain.</p><p>“Hmph! Take this punch from me!” The Raging Bull roared as his feet trampled on the ring, making a dull noise. It felt like a heavy tank was rumbling over, as his heavy fist flew toward Meng Lei’s face!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-43

Chapter 43

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 43</h1><p>Chapter 43: Violent Thunderstorm, Achieved First Victory</p><p>Raging Bull was like a heavy tank crushing over. His heavy fist was aimed directly at Meng Lei’s face, as it gave off a majestic and terrifying aura!</p><p>“Raging Bull!”</p><p>“Raging Bull!”</p><p>Upon seeing this scene, the spectators that supported Raging Bull shouted and cheered, “F*ck this Magician. Let him know how powerful Taurens are!”</p><p>It was clear that even though the spectators looked forward to seeing a Magician like Meng Lei, the majority still supported Raging Bull. This was the result of his 10 victories!</p><p>After all, some spectators had also bet on him. Naturally, they hoped that he would win!</p><p><em>As expected, the Taurens of the Beast People are indeed ferocious!</em></p><p>Meng Lei could feel Raging Bull’s terrifying power, so his face became solemn. The Tauren was a big tribe among the Beast People. They were half-human half-bull and were extremely strong and brave. They were natural battle machines. In terms of strength, they were even more brutal than the royal races of the Beast People, the Lion and Tiger People!</p><p>When a human faced off with a Tauren, the disparity in strength was just too obvious!</p><p><em>Pity that I won’t go head-to-head with you using strength!</em></p><p>Meng Lei stood his ground and had already started chanting a magic spell. He planned to hide the Fire Dragon bloodline and use it as a last resort!</p><p>“Thinking of using magic? Fat chance!”</p><p>Raging Bull was fast. Within a few big strides, he appeared in front of Meng Lei. His huge fist came collapsing down, delivering a fierce blow toward Meng Lei’s head!</p><p>Taurens were already extremely strong, and as a Fifth-Grade Warrior, Raging Bull was even more tyrannical. If this blow connected, Meng Lei would definitely perish!</p><p>“Hehe, die!”</p><p>Raging Bull grinned, as though he had seen the scene of Meng Lei staggering with blood splashing around before collapsing dead on the ground. This made him very excited. Ever since he had been captured by the Fire Dragon Kingdom and had become a slave, Raging Bull had suffered tremendous hardship. Hence, he was full of hatred!</p><p>He hated the Dragon People and humans!</p><p>He hated everyone in the Fire Dragon Kingdom!</p><p>Raging Bull wanted revenge!</p><p>After being sold to Flame Arena to become a fighter, Raging Bull had been fighting ferociously and ruthlessly. He had achieved 10 victories, and all his opponents had died tragically!</p><p>Therefore, Raging Bull was referred to as the Cold-Blooded Bull Demon, which demonstrated that he was as cold-blooded and ruthless as the devil. Raging Bull liked this title very much. He wanted revenge and killed everyone he could kill!</p><p>This human Magician in front of him was no exception!</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>However, the moment Raging Bull’s fist landed, Meng Lei, who was standing there, suddenly disappeared. He was gone without a trace as if he never existed!</p><p>“What?”</p><p>Raging Bull was slightly stunned. He looked around but was unable to find Meng Lei. At that moment, he heard the audience. “On top of your head! He is above your head!”</p><p>“On top of my head?”</p><p>Raging Bull instantly turned his head and saw a dazzling light!</p><p>Snap!</p><p>Within the extremely dazzling brilliance, a thunder python descended from the sky with its mouth wide opened and swallowed Raging Bull!</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>Lightning and thunder raged, while electric currents flowed unrestrained!</p><p>Raging Bull was engulfed by electricity!</p><p>“Moo—”</p><p>Raging Bull was hardy. After being hit by the Third-Grade Spell, Thunder Python, he didn’t collapse. Instead, he roared angrily at the sky, summoning his strength to resist the currents that were eroding his body!</p><p>Clearly, his body was strong, and third-grade spells were unable to hurt him!</p><p>“I never thought that just a third-grade spell could finish you off. But this was enough to hold you back for a while!”</p><p>Meng Lei was surprisingly calm. Thunder Elements gathered in his palm, creating the terrifying fourth-grade thunder spell—Violent Thunderstorm!</p><p>“Human, this little spell is not even enough to tickle me!”</p><p>Raging Bull’s body was really terrifying. He only took four seconds to break free after being paralyzed by the Thunder Python. He repeatedly roared as he charged at Meng Lei, looking extremely savage and ferocious!</p><p>Meng Lei quietly stood his ground, allowing Raging Bull to charge over!</p><p>“Go to hell!”</p><p>Raging Bull raised his heavy fist and slammed it down!</p><p>When his iron fist was about to close in on Meng Lei, the latter suddenly opened his eyes and slowly chanted two words. “Violent Thunderstorm!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Blinding lightning suddenly came crashing down, instantly engulfing Raging Bull and illuminating the dim ring. The tall and strong body of Raging Bull was completely covered by lightning!</p><p>“Moo—”</p><p>A shrilling cry escaped from the lightning, but Meng Lei was unrelenting. He knew that the thunderstorm alone could not subdue Raging Bull. He had to be more ruthless!</p><p>“Descending Wild Thunder!”</p><p>Ten seconds later, another thunder spell slammed down, drowning the bull who was still trapped in the thunderstorm. After releasing this spell, Meng Lei finally heaved a sigh of relief!</p><p>“Descending Wild Thunder is known as the strongest fourth-grade single-target spell, which should be enough to knock him out!”</p><p>The audience went quiet!</p><p>Nearly 100,000 spectators stared at Raging Bull, who was wrapped in lightning, shocked and speechless. They had been spectating such battles for many years but had never witnessed such an awesome fight!</p><p>Thunder Python!</p><p>Violent Thunderstorm!</p><p>Descending Wild Thunder!</p><p>Magic attacks were indeed flashy. The thunder pythons, the thunderbolts, and the violent thunderstorm were simply too captivating to the eye!</p><p>Visually, a fight between Warriors was not as good as a display of magic… The audience enjoyed this amazing scene a lot!</p><p>“One word to describe it—satisfying!”</p><p>“I, a Baron, have been watching these fights for many years, and this is the first time I saw a Magician appear in the arena. This scene is… so cool!”</p><p>“Three consecutive magic spells to lock in the victory. It turns out that a Magician’s battle is so beautiful and picturesque!”</p><p>“Hahaha, this magician fighter named Arthur Galen is really extraordinary. Even the Cold-Blooded Bull Demon, who has recently risen to fame, was defeated by him!”</p><p>“He is too formidable. The gap between the two is simply too great!”</p><p>After a short silence, the audience broke out in cheers. The audience was wildly gesticulating as they engaged in their discussions, appearing exhilarated. Although Raging Bull, whom they supported, had lost, they had been able to witness such a wonderful display of magic. It was worth the price of the ticket!</p><p>“Strange! Isn’t this little fellow human? How is a human Magician able to dodge so quickly?”</p><p>Uno stared at Meng Lei from his VIP box, his eyes full of confusion. Although Raging Bull was savage and proficient at using violence to subdue his opponents, his speed was not slow. Otherwise, he would not have been able to win 10 fights in this ruthless arena!</p><p>The strange thing was that Meng Lei had actually evaded his attack!</p><p>This was astonishing!</p><p>He was just a Fourth-Grade Human Magician. How did he manage to develop such a fast speed?</p><p>“I don’t understand! This little fellow must be hiding some secrets!”</p><p>…</p><p>The lightning dispersed!</p><p>Raging Bull was still standing upright, with no signs of collapsing. This surprised Meng Lei. However, when he was about to continue his attack, Raging Bull suddenly collapsed on the ground with black smoke emitting from his mouth!</p><p>Raging Bull… was not able to fight anymore!</p><p>“I declare the winner of this match… Arthur Galen!”</p><p>The host appeared out of nowhere and announced the match’s outcome loudly. The audience cheered and shouted the name, Arthur Galen!</p><p>It was obvious that after this battle, Meng Lei had gained a lot of popularity. Many spectators now knew about him!</p><p>Meng Lei did not care much about this, and continued on with the important task of picking!</p><p>“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Spirit +3!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Wealth +21!”</p><p>“Ding…”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-44

Chapter 44

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 44</h1><p>Chapter 44: Fifth-Grade Magician, Strike a Deal With Lance</p><p>Meng Lei was elevated after achieving a big victory in his first fight and getting off to a good start. The appearance fee of 1,000 gold coins made him even happier too!</p><p>1,000 gold coins meant 100 Attribute Points!</p><p>He also had a fruitful harvest today, picking up various attributes. When he saw that the spiritual attribute was about to break through the 2,000-mark, Meng Lei simply spent some gold coins to raise himself to fifth-grade!</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human (Contains Fire Dragon Bloodline)</p><p>Wealth: 22,614 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Fifth-Grade Warrior (2,729/5,000)</p><p>Spirit: Fifth-Grade Magician (2,014/2,000)</p><p>Magic Power: Fifth-Grade Magician (2,316/5,000)</p><p>Magic Spells: Some increase</p><p>Battle Aura Technique: Fire Dragon Manual</p><p>Battle Skills: Some increase</p><p>I am both a Fifth-Grade Warrior and a Fifth-Grade Magician!</p><p>I can be considered as a dual cultivator of magic and martial arts!</p><p>Meng Lei was very satisfied with his progress. In Heaven’s Vault Continent, the dual cultivation of magic and martial arts was not taboo. There were many Dragon People who were like that, training their physical bodies and learning magic spells at the same time!</p><p>Meng Lei did not know whether they would stop doing that after cultivating to a high level. But for him, he did not want to give up training his physical body or magic for the time being!</p><p>The battle advantage of being proficient in both was simply too great!</p><p>…</p><p>It was already 1 a.m. by the time he returned to the academy!</p><p>Meng Lei cleaned up hastily and performed his night meditation as usual!</p><p>He was quiet the whole night!</p><p>Early in the next morning, Meng Lei ended his meditation. After eating breakfast to fill his stomach, he began his cultivation of <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> as planned!</p><p>After the last three days of training, Meng Lei felt that the Fire Dragon Battle Aura in his body had become stronger, and its circulation speed was getting faster. Every time the Fire Dragon Battle Aura completed one circulation, the Fire Dragon bloodline would be purified further!</p><p>When the Fire Dragon bloodline in his body could not be purified by the Fire Dragon Battle Aura anymore, it meant that this battle aura technique had been complete, and he had stepped into the realm of pureness!</p><p>That day was the day he would be transformed into a Fire Dragon!</p><p>“Heard that you have not been going to class for three days!”</p><p>When Meng Lei sat cross-legged and prepared to practice the <em>Fire Dragon Manual</em> , his housemate, Abbe, walked down from the stairs and looked at Meng Lei coldly!</p><p>“Yeah!”</p><p>Meng Lei did not deny it!</p><p>“Seems like you won’t be going today as well?” asked Abbe.</p><p>“Yes, and I won’t be going in the future!” Meng Lei smiled and said, “Magic lessons are of no use to me. It’s a waste of time to attend classes. It’s better to practice by myself!”</p><p>Abbe frowned when he heard this. He felt that Meng Lei’s words were a bit arrogant. Fire Dragon Magic Academy was the third-ranked magic academy in the Dragon God Empire, and the teacher was an eighth-grade magic instructor!</p><p><em>You, a Third-Grade Magician, dare to say such things?</em></p><p>“Hmph!”</p><p><em>Truly arrogant!</em></p><p>Although he was unhappy, Abbe was indifferent by nature and didn’t wish to say anything more. After a quiet snort, he turned his head and left the apartment!</p><p>“This fellow… always feels weird!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head. Unexpectedly, at that moment, his magic communication device suddenly rang!</p><p>There were many magical devices in this world, and the magic communication device was one of them. Its function was similar to that of mobile phones on Earth, but looked completely different!</p><p>The magic communication device was not as feature-rich as a mobile phone. It was not as complicated, and it couldn’t install many ‘apps’. It had only one function—communication!</p><p>Meng Lei opened the magic communication device. Bright lights lit up before converging into a face. It was the class guide and their senior sister, Jenny Lane!</p><p>“Senior sister, what’s up?”</p><p>Meng Lei was a little puzzled. Senior Sister Jenny was about to graduate this year and was very busy. She generally would leave them alone if nothing cropped up.</p><p>“Junior Meng Lei, have you not attended class for three days?” Senior Sister Jenny asked frowningly with a serious expression!</p><p>“Yes, what’s the matter?”</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned for a moment. From Senior Sister Jenny’s tone, it seemed that something was wrong?</p><p>“You are skipping class, do you know?” Senior Sister Jenny scowled and scolded, “You have just started school for a few days, and have already begun to skip classes. I can’t imagine what you will do in the future!”</p><p>“Surely, it’s not that serious? I remember that the academy does not stipulate that I have to attend magic classes? All I needed to do is to pass the exam, right?!” Meng Lei was a little bewildered.</p><p>“You are right. The academy has no hard rule that magic classes must be attended, but this is meant for senior students. After all, senior students have already learned the theory and fundamentals of magic. It doesn’t make much sense for them to attend class!”</p><p>Senior Sister Jenny rebuked, “But you are only in first grade, the foundation stage. How can you deliberately skip class? Are you aware that Department Head Dirk already knows about this? He is very angry and wants to see you in his office!”</p><p>“I’ll go! But is this necessary?”</p><p>Meng Lei was in a fix. His attributes moved by several hundred points per day, so how would he be able to find time for the head teacher?</p><p>“I have already conveyed his message. It’s up to you whether you want to go or not!”</p><p>Senior Sister Jenny was very dissatisfied with Meng Lei’s attitude. “However, I want to remind you that Department Head Dirk is the first-years’ head teacher. You should be honored that he is making time to talk to you. You will go if you know what is good for you!”</p><p>Right after that, she hung up!</p><p>“I’m so screwed!”</p><p>Meng Lei rolled his eyes.</p><p>Yes, he had to go!</p><p>Department Head Dirk did not have a good temper. If he did not show up, Meng Lei would definitely die a miserable death. There was no other way, especially when he was the head teacher!</p><p>After leaving the condominium, Meng Lei was about to head to the teaching faculty building when a tall, green-skinned Dragon Person stopped him. It was actually Lance, the person he had taught a lesson to on the entrance exam day!</p><p>“Yo! Isn’t this our genius freshman Meng Lei? What’s going on? Where are you going?” Lance was acting strangely as he peered at Meng Lei.</p><p>Meng Lei shot him a glance and said coldly, “Was the previous beating not enough?”</p><p>“Lowly race! What are you arrogant about? I was careless the previous time, and you took advantage of it. Do you think I am afraid of you?” Lance was furious. “Tell you what, I have already broken through two levels in a row and have advanced to become a Fifth-Grade Warrior. If you are capable, let’s battle in the ring. Care to see if I will give you a beating?”</p><p>“Fifth-Grade Warrior?”</p><p>Meng Lei raised his eyebrows, feeling very surprised. “If I remember correctly, three months ago, you were only a Third-Grade Warrior. How did you become a Fifth-Grade Warrior in just three months?”</p><p>“Hmph! I am a once-in-a-century genius. How can I compare to you, a lowly human!”</p><p>Lance folded his arms across his chest and said with a stern voice, “Enough with petty talk. Do you dare to step into the ring with me? If you don’t dare, you will make a detour when you see me in the future and stop acting arrogant!”</p><p>“Hehe, do you think I dare not?” Meng Lei smiled and said, “I am open to fighting you in the ring. But I don’t like to do things that don’t have any rewards. You should understand what I mean, right?”</p><p>“You want a battle reward? Okay, I am agreeable to that. My purpose is to expose you in public!” Lance sneered repeatedly. “I want everyone to know that this so-called human genius is nothing special, and cannot be compared to us, the noble Dragon People!”</p><p>“Great!” Meng Lei smiled. “How much do you plan to offer?”</p><p>“10,000!” Lance gave a thumbs up. “As long as you are able to defeat me, 10,000 gold coins will be yours! But if you lose… Hmph, I don’t want your money. I just want you to announce something in public, in front of everybody!”</p><p>“Eh?” Meng Lei frowned</p><p>“I’m a lowly good-for-nothing. I can never be compared to Lance!” Lance said triumphantly, “I just want everyone to know that no matter how talented you are in magic, you are just a lowly good-for-nothing!”</p><p>“I agree to your conditions! But 10,000 gold coins are just too little!” Meng Lei’s smile vanished. “100,000 gold coins! As long as you are willing to take out 100,000 gold coins, I will fight you!”</p><p>“100,000 gold coins? Why don’t you rob a bank?” Lance was furious. “50,000! The most I can offer is 50,000!”</p><p>“Hmph! You want to embarrass me, but are unwilling to pay the price. How can there be such a good deal?” Meng Lei laughed coldly. “However, 50,000 gold coins… is also fine!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-45

Chapter 45

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 45</h1><p>Chapter 45: Dragon Bone Herb, Instant Third-Grade Spell</p><p>Lance was incredibly excited after receiving Meng Lei’s affirmation. He took out his magic communication device right away and informed his scoundrel friends about it. He also got those friends to advertise it widely and spread the news!</p><p>The news spread like wildfire!</p><p>In no time, it had spread throughout Fire Dragon Academy!</p><p>Fatty Hart sat in class as per usual.</p><p>He had always attended earth-elemental magic classes with Meng Lei during the last three months. Although he didn’t understand why Meng Lei wanted to come along and attend earth-elemental classes, it didn’t matter, anyway. With Meng Lei for company, he wouldn’t be lonely anymore!</p><p>However, Meng Lei had stopped coming for classes ever since the mid-term examination. This bored Hart out of his mind, and he became very listless in class.</p><p>“Fatty, why are you still here?”</p><p>“What?”</p><p>Fatty Hart was stunned for a moment before he directed his gaze to the classmate speaking to him.</p><p>“Lance from Class 2 is going to have a showdown with Meng Lei from our class. They have probably already gone ahead to the battle platform to get permission for a showdown by now. Isn’t Meng Lei your buddy? Why aren’t you going over to take a look?”</p><p>“Lance and Meng Lei? Showdown?”</p><p>Fatty Hart was startled for a while. Then, he shook his head several times in a row and said, “That’s impossible! How can Lance, that piece of trash, be a match for my Big Brother Meng? Isn’t he just looking for torture?”</p><p>“Fatty, you’re too out of the loop!”</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>“Uhh?!” Fatty Hart was astonished!</p><p>“I heard that Lance consumed a stalk of Dragon Bone Herb recently, so his body has already broken through to fifth-grade. With his mighty Fifth-Grade Warrior battle capabilities, isn’t dealing with Meng Lei going to be a piece of cake for him?”</p><p>“Dragon Bone Herb? What the f*ck!”</p><p>Fatty Hart’s countenance changed dramatically. He didn’t bother with classes anymore and headed out at once!</p><p>“Dragon Bone Herb! Has that broken horn of a throat really consumed the Dragon Bone Herb? F*ck, that’s really some dumb luck he has!”</p><p>Others might not know about the Dragon Bone Herb, but Fatty Hart knew exactly what it was. That thing was an extremely rare plant, and the reason why it was rare was that it grew on Colossal Dragons carcasses and matured by absorbing the dead Colossal Dragons’ life essences!</p><p>As such, Dragon Bone Herbs had a special effect. It could refine the concentration of Dragon blood in Dragon People’s bodies and allow their bodies to undergo an explosive power-up for a short period of time. In addition, the effect… was the best when consumed by people below sixth-grade!</p><p>Therefore, to Dragon People on a lower social stratum, the Dragon Bone Herb was a miraculous elixir for refining one’s bloodline for sure. It was a treasure that all Dragon People dreamed of and longed for!</p><p>Fatty Hart didn’t expect Lance, that piece of trash, to have actually obtained something like that. That was truly some dumb luck he had! The heavens must be blind!</p><p>“I have to stop this battle! Meng Lei can’t possibly win!”</p><p>One could say that hurrying there at the fastest speed he could muster was truly a tough task for Fatty Hart. At a height of less than 1.6 meters tall, and with a weight of close to 100 kilograms, running was practically torture to him!</p><p>But what was he to do?</p><p>He could only grit his teeth and push on!</p><p>More than 10 minutes later, he finally reached the battle platform!</p><p>He arrived only to see Meng Lei and Lance standing on the battle platform. The magic shield had already risen into the air and enveloped the entire battle platform. The teacher in charge of guarding the battle platform stood in the corner and served as the judge!</p><p>Students that had hurried over upon hearing the news filled up the area outside the battle platform. There were splendidly-dressed Dragon People nobility, as well as simply-dressed human commoners; there were seniors in the higher grades, as well as first-year freshmen!</p><p>They pointed and gesticulated as they speculated wildly, making the place extremely lively!</p><p>“Excuse me, please let me through!”</p><p>“What are you squeezing in here for? Can’t you see that there are people here?”</p><p>After making a Herculean effort to squeeze through the crowd, and seeing the two people on the battle platform, Fatty Hart shouted, “Old bro! Don’t fight with him! You’re not his match!”</p><p>“Did you hear that? That useless loser is calling out to you!”</p><p>Lance had also heard what Fatty Hart said. The corners of his mouth quirked upward slightly, and a smug expression came over his face. “Hurry and admit defeat if you know what’s good for you, so as to avoid making a fool out of yourself later and embarrassing yourself!”</p><p>Meng Lei chuckled leisurely and made an ‘OK’ hand gesture at the little fatty, signaling to him to keep calm. Then, he said, “You can start now. I’m in a hurry and don’t have the time to waste going on and on about nothing with you here!”</p><p>“Hehe! I just hate that cool demeanor of yours so much. What are you being so arrogant for? You’re nothing but cheap human trash with a lowly bloodline. What’s there for you to be so arrogant about?!”</p><p>Lance looked savage as he said, “Today, I’m going to thoroughly embarrass you in front of so many people here. I want everyone to know that a cheap piece of trash will always be a cheap piece of trash, so don’t ever think of comparing yourself to Dragon People like us!”</p><p>“Exactly! Kill that lowly human!”</p><p>“Let him know how mighty we Dragon People are!”</p><p>“Lance! Teach him a good lesson, and show him the Dragon People’s strength!”</p><p>“We Dragon People are the strongest…”</p><p>All the Dragon People nobility watching the battle also echoed him. The teacher, who was acting as a judge and standing in the corner, frowned slightly but chose to remain silent.</p><p>He had long since gotten used to this!</p><p>In this kingdom presided over by Dragon People, the human race’s social standing was ultimately lower than the Dragon People’s. Dragon People looking down on humans was a kind of normalcy that nobody could change!</p><p>Even if a Magician enjoyed considerably high status, it ultimately still couldn’t compare with that of Dragon People of the same level. Take Ninth-Grade Magicians, for example. Dragon People could become generals at war or ministers in the cabinet, and could be conferred as Dukes or Marquises, whereas humans could only take up positions in magic academies at best, and be conferred as Earls!</p><p>This kingdom… It ultimately didn’t belong to the human race!</p><p>“Is that so?”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled, and very brightly at that. “Then why don’t you strike and let me, a piece of a cheap piece of trash, have a look at how impressive you are?”</p><p>“I’ll satisfy you!”</p><p>Lance let out a sinister laugh and stepped onto the platform with one foot. By borrowing the ground’s powerful rebound force, his entire self leaped high into the air. Then, he smashed his fist downward at Meng Lei!</p><p>“Get down on the floor, you cheap piece of trash!”</p><p>Suspended in mid-air and looking down at Meng Lei underneath him, Lance was so agitated that his blood was boiling. He had waited very long for this day!</p><p>Yes, very, very long!</p><p>Ever since Meng Lei had humiliated him on the day of the entrance assessment, he had sworn to take his revenge for sure. He wanted to sweep away all the humiliation he had suffered in the past and get back his prestige!</p><p>After a few months of waiting, he had finally found his chance!</p><p>The Dragon Bone Herb!</p><p>It was a treasure that Dragon People on a lower social stratum longed for the most!</p><p>And he had gotten his hands on it!</p><p>After that, he had broken through in a single night, and his battle capabilities had soared!</p><p>“Don’t worry! I won’t let you lose so easily! I will break your arms and crush your teeth so that you’ll know what the outcome of offending me, Lance, is! Hehehe…”</p><p>Lance couldn’t stop himself from laughing out loud while he formed beautiful daydreams in his mind. Just as he was about to reach the climax, a dazzling bolt of lightning came down from the heavens and struck him right in the head!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Lance was instantly enveloped in lightning. Every strand of his hair stood on end. Through the harsh electric currents, one could even see the ghastly white skeleton inside him!</p><p>“I couldn’t help striking when I saw how lewd your smile was. So sorry about that!”</p><p>As Meng Lei waved his hands, lightning snakes crashed down one after another, as though a machine gun spewing bullets!</p><p>This wasn’t a high-grade spell, but a second-grade one, Lightning Snake Flurry!</p><p>Meng Lei could already instantly release first-grade spells when he had been a Third-Grade Magician!</p><p>He was now a Fifth-Grade Magician, so instant release of second-grade spells was naturally a piece of cake for him!</p><p>“You bastard!”</p><p>Several lightning snakes wandered about inside his body. Although they couldn’t hurt Lance, it felt incredibly humiliating. This was totally different from the scene that he had imagined!</p><p>“You cheap piece of trash, I’m going to kill you!”</p><p>As Lance let out one after another furious roar, he charged toward Meng Lei with electric currents all around him. He had a very strong and tough body, so second-grade spells couldn’t hurt him at all. At best, they could only numb him!</p><p>“That would depend on whether you have the chance to or not!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head and laughed softly. Then, he slowly uttered two words, “Thunder Python!”</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>A five meters-long and incredibly thick and muscular lightning python descended from the heavens practically at the same time and swallowed Lance in one gulp!</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>“Instant release of a third-grade spell!?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-46

Chapter 46

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 46</h1><p>Chapter 46: Humiliating Lance, Reprimanding A Senior</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>“Instant release of a third-grade spell???”</p><p>The judging teacher sprung to his feet upon seeing the sudden appearance of the Thunder Python. “He released the Thunder Python practically in an instant! Instant release! That’s definitely instant release!</p><p>“He’s only a low-level Magician, yet he can already instantly release a third-grade spell?”</p><p>The judging teacher found this beyond his imagination. As the person in charge of presiding over the battle platform and acting as a judge for students’ public showdowns, he had witnessed innumerable magic showdowns. Out of which, there was no lack of incredibly wonderful and exciting ones!</p><p>However, this was his very first time seeing the instant release of a third-grade spell!</p><p>Why was that?</p><p>It was because one needed to be at least a great Seventh-Grade Magician before they could achieve instant release of third-grade spells!</p><p>Fifth-Grade Magicians couldn’t do it!</p><p>Neither could Sixth-Grade Magicians!</p><p>And great Seventh-Grade Magicians were a rare existence among students in the academy!</p><p>This meant that practically nobody among the students in the academy could instantly release third-grade spells, not even the sixth-year graduating students!</p><p>“I’ve heard that this student named Meng Lei could already instantly release first-grade spells during the mid-term examination when he was at Third-Grade Magician standard!”</p><p>This was inconceivable to the judging teacher.</p><p>“And he can actually instantly release third-grade spells now! Could he have… already reached the level of a great Seventh-Grade Magician?</p><p>“No! That’s impossible! How long has it only been since the mid-term examination?”</p><p>The judging teacher was astounded. Similarly, the students watching the battle were also rather shocked. Although their level of skill was low, they weren’t blind. In fact, there were a lot of seniors from higher grades there!</p><p>These seniors had exceptional judgment and could discern the inner workings of what was going on. However, it was precisely because of this that they were the most badly shocked!</p><p>“That Thunder Python’s might is so strong! It really makes one shudder with fear!”</p><p>“Yes! I feel the same way, too. What grade is that spell?”</p><p>“That’s a third-grade thunder spell… Thunder Python!”</p><p>“A third-grade spell? Surely not? I didn’t see him chanting a magic incantation. Could he have been chanting it silently?”</p><p>“What’s there to chant?! Didn’t you see that the Thunder Python was an instant release? That’s an instant release of spells!”</p><p>“F*ck! Instant release of a third-grade spell? How can that be?!”</p><p>“What kind of joke is that?! I’m already graduating next year, but even I can’t do that! A first-year brat like him…”</p><p>Shock!</p><p>Confusion!</p><p>Inconceivable!</p><p>Gasps filled the place. Lance, who had been swallowed by the Thunder Python, was destined for a tragedy, though. A third-grade spell was several times more destructive than a second-grade spell, even though it still couldn’t kill him!</p><p>However, the electric currents wreaking havoc constantly numbed his body and made him spasm all over. He lost control over his body and stood frozen on the spot, unable to even budge a little!</p><p>He couldn’t even open his mouth to shout!</p><p><em>As a fellow Fifth-Grade Warrior, you’re a far cry from Raging Bull!</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s countenance was carefree as he admired how agonized Lance was because he couldn’t move, despite being furious. He felt exhilarated. He wanted to teach Lance a lesson that he would never ever forget so that he would never dare to come and mess with him again!</p><p>“Old bro, you’re so awesome!”</p><p>Fatty Hart screamed and shouted excitedly, “Hurry! Continue to release magic, and deal him a lethal blow! Don’t give him the chance to retaliate!”</p><p>“There’s no hurry!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved him off and smiled as he watched Lance.</p><p>At that moment, the Thunder Python’s effect slowly faded, and Lance gradually regained his senses. With his fangs bared and his claws brandished, he pounced toward Meng Lei in great fury and exasperation!</p><p>However, what welcomed him was yet another Thunder Python!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Lance was frozen to the spot again, his body constantly shaking all over!</p><p>“Old bro, what exactly do you want to do?”</p><p>Fatty Hart couldn’t quite understand Meng Lei’s intentions anymore.</p><p>“You’ll understand after you watch further!”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t continue to attack, either. Instead, he simply watched quietly!</p><p>Lance struggled free again after a brief moment. However, before he could move, yet another Thunder Python dived toward him and trapped him where he was!</p><p>By this point, a lot of people had already understood.</p><p>“What exactly is that guy trying to do? Why does he keep attacking Lance with Thunder Python? Is that the only spell he knows? Or is Thunder Python the strongest offensive spell he knows?”</p><p>“Ha! Do you think this is the most powerful spell he knows when he can instantly release a third-grade spell?”</p><p>“Err… What is he trying to do, then?”</p><p>“Don’t you understand yet? That guy is evidently using low-grade spells to humiliate Lance. He’s attacking Lance’s self-confidence by humiliating him again and again, and playing Lance for a fool while having him under his complete control!”</p><p>“Damn! That’s so brutal!”</p><p>Meng Lei was indeed humiliating Lance. He wanted Lance to know that even if his body had broken through to fifth-grade, he could still use low-grade spells to defeat him, regardless!</p><p>So what even if his battle capabilities had greatly increased?</p><p>He was still a brainless and useless piece of trash!</p><p>Just like that, Lance struggled free time and again, only to be trapped by Thunder Pythons time and again. This humiliated Lance and filled him with extreme grief and resentment! Tears of humiliation streamed down his cheeks!</p><p>A Dragon Person senior couldn’t bear to watch any further. He shouted at Meng Lei, “What kind of ability does using low-grade spells to humiliate an opponent weaker than yourself count as? Hurry and let go of Lance!”</p><p>“So you want to stand up for him? Come on up, then!”</p><p>Meng Lei turned to look at the Dragon Person, the corners of his mouth seemingly turned up into a smile, yet not at the same time!</p><p>The Dragon Person senior’s words came to a stop, and his eyes turned shifty. Although he was a fifth-year senior and also had the battle capabilities of a Fifth-Grade Magician, he wasn’t confident that he could defeat Meng Lei!</p><p>Instantly releasing a third-grade spell?</p><p>F*ck!</p><p>That was practically the goddamn nemesis of a low-level Magician! Didn’t they see how Lance, someone with a Fifth-Grade Warrior’s body, had also been restrained and didn’t have any means of retaliation at all?</p><p>Asking him to go up there?</p><p>He would only be trapped even more completely and become an even bigger embarrassment!</p><p>“Shut up if you don’t dare to come up here. Don’t mouth off and embarrass yourself over there anymore!” said Meng Lei with a cold snort. Then, he didn’t spare the Dragon Person senior even a glance anymore!</p><p>“You bastard!”</p><p>Humiliated, the Dragon Person senior left with his tail between his legs. This would pass after a while if he just put up with it, but if he were to really go up the platform and end up being defeated, then he would really be thoroughly embarrassed!</p><p>How was he supposed to carry on in the academy in the future?</p><p>“That bastard! He’s too arrogant!”</p><p>“That’s going too far in his bullying!”</p><p>“Killing someone is no more than giving him a simple death! Humiliating us Dragon People like that is intolerable! Isn’t anyone going to step forward and teach that bastard a lesson?!”</p><p>Feelings ran high among the Dragon People nobility watching the battle. They were extremely frustrated, yet not a single one of them dared to step forward. Even the sixth-year Dragon People graduating seniors didn’t dare to!</p><p>So what even if they were sixth-year students?</p><p>Against Meng Lei, someone who could instantly release a third-grade spell, even they had to admit defeat!</p><p>“Impressive! That’s truly impressive!”</p><p>“That really brings us so much honor! It’s been more than two years since I’ve come to the academy, but I’ve never seen that bunch of arrogant Dragon People being such losers before!”</p><p>“Hehe! That really goddamn works off the anger!”</p><p>The Dragon People were frustrated, but all the human students present were secretly delighted. In the whole of Fire Dragon Kingdom, the humans were a class lower than the Dragon People right from the start. This situation remained the same, even after they had come to the academy!</p><p>A lot of human students, especially the commoners, were frequently bullied by their Dragon People classmates, but they didn’t dare to speak up despite their fury. This wasn’t the first or second day that their grudge against the Dragon People students had existed!</p><p>Now, upon seeing Meng Lei humiliating Lance like that, and berating a Dragon Person senior, they naturally found this incredibly gratifying. It was as if they had won a huge victory in war!</p><p>“Meng Lei, don’t overdo it!”</p><p>At that moment, the judging teacher spoke up.</p><p>“Fine!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded slightly. Then, he began to chant a magic incantation for the strongest fourth-grade thunder-elemental single-target offensive spell—Descending Wild Thunder. It formed swiftly, and then engulfed Lance!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-47

Chapter 47

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 47</h1><p>Chapter 47: A Careless Slip, Breakthrough Again?</p><p>Lance was engulfed by electricity. He slumped to the ground and was unable to fight anymore. This brought an end to the fight, and unsurprisingly Meng Lei won!</p><p>He then swaggered off with 50,000 gold coins under the frustrated gazes of the Dragon People nobility!</p><p>“Brother, you are so amazing! Can you tell me how exactly did you manage to perform the instant release of a third-grade spell? Have you reached the level of the great Seventh-Grade Magician?”</p><p>“Would you believe me if I told you so?”</p><p>“Uh… it seems unlikely, right?”</p><p>“In that case, why did you ask?</p><p>“Fine! By the way, brother, you just won 50,000 gold coins. Shall we go out and have a good meal to celebrate?”</p><p>“I’m afraid not!”</p><p>“Why?”</p><p>“Because I am going to see Department Head Dirk now, do you want to go together?”</p><p>“Look for him? No, thanks!”</p><p>As soon as Meng Lei mentioned the head teacher, Fatty Hart’s face changed instantly. He shook his head vigorously and ran off as though he was fleeing from something!</p><p>“This fellow…”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled and shook his head. He then headed toward the teaching faculty building and soon arrived at Department Head Dirk’s office!</p><p>As the department head for the entire first grade, Department Head Dirk’s office was huge. However, its fittings were unremarkable and unpretentious. The most important thing was the bookshelves, which took up a lot of space!</p><p>When Meng Lei entered the office, Dirk Norway, the head teacher, was standing in front of a bookshelf, engrossed in a magic book!</p><p>Meng Lei executed a perfect magic salute and asked respectfully, “Department Head Dirk, are you looking for me?”</p><p>Department Head Dirk did not answer, but pointed to the rows of bookshelves and said with a smile, “Meng Lei, what do you think about my collection of books?”</p><p>“Department Head Dirk, you have a vast collection of books!”</p><p>Meng Lei glanced at the numerous magic books and praised them sincerely. The number of books here was comparable to a library!</p><p>“Hehe, naturally!”</p><p>Department Head Dirk said proudly, “I have accumulated all the magic books of the ten magic elements here, including the basics of magic, the theory of magic, as well as the scientific information on materials, alchemy, magic formations, astrology, and so on!</p><p>“Oh yes, there are also books on Dragon magic chants, Giant People’s magic, Elven magic, and Beast People totems. Haha, almost everything!”</p><p>“Looks like Department Head Dirk is into books!”</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned. He couldn’t help but expressed his admiration!</p><p>“Magic is a journey, profound and complex, as vast as the stars in the sky. Even if we exhaust all our lifespans, it is difficult to understand even a tiny portion of magic’s true essence!” Department Head Dirk had a pious expression. “There is nothing we can do except to research and study hard in order to understand a thing or two!”</p><p>“I agree. Thank you for your lesson, Department Head Dirk!”</p><p>Meng Lei was convinced. At the same time, he understood why Department Head Dirk was already a top-tier Ninth-Grade Magician mentor despite being in his 50s. He deserved this achievement with his eager-to-learn attitude!</p><p>He was a little over 50 years old, a top-tier Ninth-Grade Magician, and one step away from the Saint Domain!</p><p>This was already a rare achievement!</p><p>“You are very talented. This is something that countless people could only dream of. But you have to understand that talent is only the key to unlocking the treasure called magic. Whether you are able to get the treasure in the end and how much you receive depends on your hard work!” Department Head Dirk looked at Meng Lei and asked, “Do… you understand?”</p><p>“Understood!” Meng Lei nodded his head.</p><p>“Will you continue to skip class in the future?”</p><p>“Skip!” Meng Lei answered without any hesitation!</p><p>“…”</p><p>Department Head Dirk was taken aback for a moment and became furious. He had deliberately cultivated the atmosphere and spent the effort to teach using precepts and examples. All this for nothing!</p><p><em>Still skipping? What a straightforward answer!</em></p><p>He was furious!</p><p>Department Head Dirk pointed at Meng Lei and trembled in anger. Just as he was about to go wild, the office’s door opened, and the judging teacher in charge of the ring walked in happily!</p><p>“Department Head Dirk, congratulations!”</p><p>As soon as the judging teacher walked through the door, he congratulated Department Head Dirk loudly. As he came around the bookshelf and saw Meng Lei and Department Head Dirk, he couldn’t help being stunned. “Student Meng Lei is here too!”</p><p>Right after he finished his sentence, and without waiting for Meng Lei to answer, he smiled and said to the head teacher, “Department Head Dirk, you must be complimenting student Meng Lei? Oh yes, student Meng Lei is such an outstanding student. He deserves praise!”</p><p>Department Head Dirk was confused. He looked at Meng Lei, then at the teacher, and asked puzzledly, “Mr. Joe, what are you talking about?”</p><p>“Department Head Dirk, stop acting!”</p><p>The teacher, Joe Bolton, laughed and said. “Meng Lei fought in the ring and insta-released a third-grade spell to defeat Lance, a first-year student from Class 2, effortlessly…”</p><p>“Wait!” Department Head Dirk interrupted Mr. Joe, and asked with a look of confusion. “Meng Lei used instant release? A third-grade spell, you say!?”</p><p>“Department Head Dirk, have you not heard of this?”</p><p>Upon seeing Department Head Dirk’s expression, Mr. Joe realized what was going on and said with a smile, “This is what happened…”</p><p>After listening to Mr. Joe, Department Head Dirk was shocked. He stared at Meng Lei for a long time before saying, “Is what Mr. Joe said true? Can you cast third-grade spells instantly?”</p><p>“Yes!” Meng Lei nodded. He did not deny it, and there was no need to. He believed this had spread throughout the entire academy by now.</p><p>“Only a Seventh-Grade Magician can instantly cast third-grade spells!”</p><p>Department Head Dirk stared directly at Meng Lei with a flickering gaze, as if he was trying to see through Meng Lei. “You are only a Third-Grade Magician, how did you manage to do that?”</p><p>“Department Head Dirk, I accidentally had a breakthrough!” Meng Lei scratched his head. “Now, I am a Fourth-Grade Magician!”</p><p>Meng Lei tried to hide his awkwardness. He did not want people to know that he had become a Fifth-Grade Magician. His speed was too fast. He was worried it might bring him trouble!</p><p>“Accidentally?”</p><p>“Fourth-Grade Magician?”</p><p>Department Head Dirk and Mr. Joe looked at each other. They did not know what to say. After a while, Department Head Dirk frowned and said, “Even if you are a Fourth-Grade Magician, you should be unable to instantly release third-grade spells. This does not conform to logic!”</p><p>Meng Lei scratched his head and said something ambiguous, “Maybe my spiritual power is extraordinarily strong?”</p><p>“Spiritual power?” Mr. Joe asked puzzledly, “Meng Lei, your spiritual power should have been assessed before. How many levels has it managed to reach?”</p><p>“I did have it assessed during the mid-term examination. However, I deliberately hid my actual power at that time!” Meng Lei said with a smile, “Hence, I was assessed with the spiritual power of a Third-Grade Magician!”</p><p>“What about your actual spiritual power level?” asked Mr. Joe.</p><p>“Was not assessed before! It should be stronger than a Third-Grade Magician,” replied Meng Lei.</p><p>“Why don’t you have it assessed?”</p><p>Mr. Joe looked at the head teacher. “Department Head Dirk, do you have a Spiritual Tester here? Why not we let student Meng Lei have his spiritual power assessed?”</p><p>“There’s no need to!” Department Head Dirk waved his hand as his gaze flickered. “Only a great Seventh-Grade Magician can instantly release third-grade spells. Even if Meng Lei’s spiritual power has not reached seventh-grade, it shouldn’t be too far behind. There’s no need to assess it!”</p><p>“Quite true!” Mr. Joe agreed and turned towards Meng Lei. “Despite your young age, you already possess such potent spiritual power. Student Meng Lei, your future is limitless!”</p><p>“Thank you, Mr. Joe!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled. He knew very well what was going on. The reason why he could achieve the instant release of third-grade spells was not because of his strong spiritual power, but rather… the system!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-48

Chapter 48

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 48</h1><p>Chapter 48: Secret of Instant Release, Where Is My Home?</p><p>In theory, when Meng Lei had sufficient magic reserves, he could instantly release all the spells that the system had picked up and merged!</p><p>He could do it for third-grade spells, as well as fourth-grade ones! He could even release fifth-grade, sixth-grade, seventh-grade, eighth-grade, and ninth-grade ones if he wanted!</p><p>Unfortunately, his magic reserve was comparable to that of a Fifth-Grade Magician, so he could only perform a few fifth-grade spells before his reserve was emptied. As for the release of higher grade spells? Fat chance!</p><p>Even so, his big system-cheat allowed Meng Lei to have an advantage over Magicians of the same grade. Also, this advantage would be maintained forever, to the extent of becoming disgustingly unfair!</p><p>It was worth mentioning that Meng Lei chanted magic incantations before releasing the spells because he wanted to act like a normal Magician. Otherwise, god knew whether they would label him as a freak and dissect him.</p><p>Moreover, the system had not picked up some of the spells, as he had learned them by himself. Naturally, he could not instantly cast the spells he had learned on his own. He had to perform them step by step, releasing them through chanting incantations!</p><p>Of course, since he was a Fifth-Grade Magician, it was possible for him to instantly cast first-grade spells!</p><p>Department Head Dirk stared at Meng Lei and asked a strange question, “Meng Lei, I want you to be honest with me. Were you exposed to magic before entering our academy?”</p><p>“No!” Meng Lei shook his head!</p><p>“To think that at such a tender age, his spiritual power is already so strong… This is not something that cannot be cultivated within a short period of time!” exclaimed the head teacher. “It seems that you not only have superior elemental affinity, but your innate spiritual power is also very strong!”</p><p>“Yes, he is simply the God of Magic’s secret offspring!”</p><p>Mr. Joe firmly believed that mental power was different from other forms of energy. It was impossible to improve it within a short time, so Meng Lei’s potent spiritual power was likely the result of nature.</p><p>Meng Lei knew that he had succeeded in hoodwinking the two teachers, which was also the best outcome. He did not want to expose the system, so the best way was to attribute his potent spiritual power to ‘natural gifts’!</p><p>“Meng Lei, you have a talent that makes people envious. However, I still maintain my stance. There is no end to learning. Learning is the only way that will bring you forward. You can skip class, but you must never stop learning!”</p><p>Department Head Dirk said with a solemn expression, “I will monitor your progress strictly in the future. If I feel that your progress has slowed down, it will mean that you are slacking off. In that case, you’ll have to attend classes again!”</p><p>“Understood, teacher!”</p><p>…</p><p>After a successful discussion with Department Head Dirk, Meng Lei could now skip class with a peace of mind. He never attended any classes after that day. Instead, he strictly followed his own schedule:</p><p>Cultivate the Fire <em>Dragon Manual</em> in the morning!</p><p>Pick up attributes in the afternoon!</p><p>Meditate at night!</p><p>In between, find time to go to the Arena!</p><p>…</p><p>Life was fulfilling and comfortable, and time flew by quickly. Unknowingly, another three months had passed!</p><p>That night, Meng Lei did not meditate as usual. Instead, he took a bath and fell asleep!</p><p>Meng Lei slept particularly well. When he woke up the next day, the sun was already high up in the sky. It was almost noon!</p><p>“What a good rest!”</p><p>Meng Lei stretched himself lazily and felt refreshed. Although meditation could replace sleep, he had not slept for nearly half a year. Thus, this long-missing sleep felt exceptional!</p><p>Only one word could describe it—satisfying!</p><p>“Wake up!”</p><p>Bong, bong, bong!</p><p>Someone was knocking on his door. Meng Lei opened it and let Fatty Hart and Daniel in. Their faces were flushed with joy!</p><p>“Brother, why are you still in bed?”</p><p>The eyes on Fatty Hart’s fat face narrowed. “Did you not meditate last night, but rather slept and woke up naturally like us?”</p><p>“Our winter vacation is starting today, and I’m feeling relaxed. Thus, I had a rare good night’s sleep!”</p><p>Meng Lei motioned for his friends to make themselves at home while tidying his bed. “Speaking of winter vacation, you should be going home, right?”</p><p>“Yeap, going back!” Daniel nodded and smiled. “I have plenty of free time during winter vacation, and I haven’t been home for half a year. It’s time to go back and have a look!”</p><p>“Indeed, we should go back!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded slightly. As for Fatty Hart, there was no need to ask. His home was in the capital city, and he often made time to go home. Given his character, he should be home during their winter vacation!</p><p>“Brother, are you going home too?” asked Fatty Hart.</p><p>“Home?”</p><p>Meng Lei was startled and fell silent for a long while. Home was a warm word and a place of dreams, but… did he have a home?</p><p>Magical Beast Village?</p><p>Meng Lei had only been there for a little more than a month, not as long as his time in the academy. Could that be considered as his home?</p><p>Meng Lei had no idea. From the bottom of his heart, the Magical Beast Village was just a place that he had stayed in. He did not have much attachment or any sense of belonging to that place!</p><p><em>My real home… is Earth!</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s thoughts raced past as he returned to Earth of an unknown timeline, going back to that beautiful seaside town to his comfortable little abode!</p><p>He saw his nagging parents, naughty and cute children, his outwardly fierce but soft-hearted wife, hot and delicious food…</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t help but fall into a daze!</p><p>After arriving in this world, he had evasively been suppressing these memories to the deepest depths of his heart, trying his best to accept everything here, enhancing his strength as much as possible, and surviving to the best of his abilities!</p><p>However, at this moment, when the gate of memories was opened, memories came flooding in. Meng Lei was swept into the torrent, unable to free himself!</p><p><em>Father!</em></p><p><em>Mother!</em></p><p><em>Cola!</em></p><p><em>My wife!</em></p><p><em>I… miss you all!</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes faintly sparkled as they turned moist!</p><p>“Brother, are you okay?”</p><p>Fatty Hart and Daniel asked softly after noticing a change in Meng Lei’s mood. He had never been like this before!</p><p>“No-nothing! Just thinking of home!”</p><p>Meng Lei took a deep breath and suppressed the disorderly memories back to the depths of his heart. He then said with a forced smile. “I am definitely going home during our winter vacation. There is no reason for me to stay here in the academy.”</p><p>“That’s right!”</p><p>Upon seeing that Meng Lei had recovered his composure, Fatty Hart and Daniel believed him.</p><p>Fatty Hart then laughed. “A semester passed in the blink of an eye, and I won’t be able to see you for more than a month! I feel melancholic and a little sad when I think about it!”</p><p>“That’s right!” Daniel nodded with a forlorn expression!</p><p>“The two of you… Is this necessary?” Meng Lei smiled and shook his head. “But you are right. We won’t be able to see each other during the holidays. I also feel the same in my heart. Why don’t we indulge ourselves today? How does that sound?”</p><p>“Good idea! My treat!” Fatty Hart’s eyes lit up instantly as he patted his chest. “Where do you want to go? Just name the place. I won’t reject it! Hehe, ‘that’ sort of place is fine too!”</p><p>After finishing speaking, he squinted his eyes, with an unnatural look on his face.</p><p>“Haha, look at you!” Meng Lei rolled his eyes. “Could you not be so lecherous?”</p><p>“That’s right! I am still a kid!” Daniel also glared at Fatty Hart, with a look of condemnation!</p><p>Fatty Hart chuckled. “Hehe! I was just joking!”</p><p>“How about Juxian Restaurant?” Meng Lei suggested. “I heard that it offers high-end magical beast delicacies. The taste is unique, and it is famous throughout the city!”</p><p>“What the hell!? Brother, you actually knew about Juxian Restaurant? Looks like I have to spend a lot of money today!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-49

Chapter 49

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 49</h1><p>Chapter 49: Spatial Ring, Fled When Caught</p><p>Today, Meng Lei, Fatty Hart, and Daniel ate and drank at Juxian Restaurant, venting out the pain and hardships they had experienced over the last six months, as well as celebrating the upcoming winter vacation. They helped themselves to generous portions of meat and wine, experiencing a joy that they had not felt before!</p><p>However, when the three of them walked out of the restaurant, Fatty Hart had a tearful and painful expression on his face!</p><p>He had spent a lot on this meal. His savings were… completely gone!</p><p>“Fatty, don’t feel bad!”</p><p>Meng Lei patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, “Isn’t it just over 10,000 gold coins? I will treat you next semester!”</p><p>“Brother, don’t you know?” Fatty Hart shook his head and wailed. “My old man only gives me 20,000 gold coins per month for pocket money, and I have already spent more than half of it as soon as it arrived. How am I able to survive this winter vacation?”</p><p><em>20,000 gold coins?</em></p><p><em>Pocket money?</em></p><p>Meng Lei felt that deep malice people usually had toward nobility.</p><p><em>What the hell!</em></p><p>He had to run around all the time and risk his life at the arena every few days, just to earn slightly over 20,000 gold coins per month!</p><p><em>Fatty, you have a good life! You have so much pocket money every month!</em></p><p>Indeed, comparing yourself to others would only create unwanted frustrations!</p><p>“Although the bill was high, the food at Juxian Restaurant is really delicious, especially the garlic-flavored barbecued Sun Moon Divine Frog, which is really memorable. We enjoyed it so much that we didn’t want to leave!” Daniel licked his lips, revealing a satisfied look as he recalled the taste of the dish.</p><p>Fatty Hart gritted his teeth and said angrily, “That goes without saying! The Sun Moon Divine Frog is a Seventh-Grade Magical Beast, and each one costs 30,000 gold coins. That barbecued Sun Moon Divine Frog earlier cost me more than 4,300 gold coins!”</p><p>“Hehe! The price is indeed outrageous!” Daniel chuckled.</p><p>He knew that Fatty Hart had just spent a lot of money and was depressed, so he did not say anything more. Although Fatty Hart was a noble, he was a student, after all. He had spent more than 20,000 gold coins for a meal, which was indeed outrageous!</p><p>“A Seventh-Grade Sun Moon Divine Frog is worth 30,000 gold coins!?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s heart trembled. This was not a small amount. According to his conversion, this was worth 3,000 Attribute Points!</p><p>3,000!</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes widened!</p><p>“The Sun Moon Divine Frog was a Seventh-Grade Magical Beast. Generally, the price for Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts begins with 100,000 gold coins. However, prices could differ due to taste, size, and effects!”</p><p>Fatty Hart said in a bored tone, “The Sun Moon Divine Frog is delicious and a rare delicacy. However, due to its small size, the whole Sun Moon Divine Frog’s price is not high. It costs only about 30,000 gold coins. Other Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts could fetch more than this!”</p><p>“Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts begin with 100,000 gold coins?” Meng Lei’s eyes brightened. “If we can hunt down a Seventh-Grade Magical Beast, wouldn’t we make a windfall?”</p><p>“Yes, you may make a windfall, but it’s too dangerous!” When Fatty Hart heard what Meng Lei said, he couldn’t help but shiver. “These Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts are terrifying. They are not something we can deal with. Brother, you should drop the idea!”</p><p>“Haha, I was just mentioning it casually. Please, don’t take me seriously!”</p><p>…</p><p>After leaving the restaurant, Fatty Hart and Daniel returned to the academy to pack their things, while Meng Lei went to the Magic Device Market. This time round, he was not here to pick up attributes, but to buy magic devices!</p><p>It was winter vacation, and he would return to Magical Beast Village. Of course, he would enter the Magical Beast Forest to train, hunt, and kill magical beasts, pick up attributes and magic cores, and earn gold coins!</p><p>Fatty Hart’s words had enlightened Meng Lei. Not only were the magic cores valuable, but the corpses of magical beasts were as well. Clearly, they shouldn’t be thrown away, or else it would be a huge waste!</p><p>Hence, Meng Lei needed a magic device to store the magical beasts’ corpses!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Wealth +18!”</p><p>The Magic Device Market… was a very big place, like the electrical appliances markets back on Earth. It was divided into many areas. Meng Lei went straight to the area where spatial magic devices were sold and walked into a shop!</p><p>“Lord Magician, welcome to our shop!”</p><p>A hot and sexy fox girl, who was the shop assistant, bowed and greeted Meng Lei with a smile. Her breasts in front of her chest matched her fluffy red tail, looking very alluring!</p><p>“Fox girl?”</p><p>Meng Lei glanced at the fox girl assistant, resisting the urge to stare. He turned his gaze on the pieces of spatial magic devices displayed in the crystal cabinet and asked, “Assistant, what kind of spatial magic devices do you have?”</p><p>“Lord Magician, our spatial magic devices are mainly divided into three types—spatial bracelets, spatial rings, and spatial belts!”</p><p>The fox girl assistant smiled sweetly; her voice was clear and sweet. “I wonder which type are you looking for, Lord Magician?”</p><p>“The spatial ring!” Meng Lei said after giving it some thought.</p><p>“Our spatial rings are divided into three grades according to their storage size. We have 10 cubic meters, 50 cubic meters, and 100 cubic meters. How much space do you need?”</p><p>“100 cubic meters then!”</p><p>Meng Lei raised his eyebrows in response to her question. Of course, the larger the spatial ring, the better because more items could be stored inside. The truth couldn’t be simpler!</p><p>“Lord Magician, look at this ring!”</p><p>The fox girl assistant took out a transparent box with a black ring that was encrusted with a red diamond. “This is a spatial ring from the Devotion series. It comes with 119 cubic meters of storage space. Its details are exquisite, and its lines are sharp. Pure elegance, classic beauty, inlaid with the Hongling diamond…”</p><p>“Stop!” Meng Lei interrupted the fox girl who was talking non-stop. “How much does this cost?”</p><p>“Lord Magician, the original price of this spatial ring was 15,340,000 gold coins. But you are very lucky. Our store is currently having a sale. There is a 20% discount for this spatial ring of the Devotion series…”</p><p><em>15,340,000 gold coins…</em></p><p>The corners of Meng Lei’s mouth twitched. “I think you better talk about the 50-cubic-meter spatial ring!”</p><p>Upon hearing this, disappointment flashed across the fox girl’s eyes. When she had seen Meng Lei, who was a handsome man with graceful mannerism and dressed in magic robes, she had thought he was some aristocratic Magician with generous spending power. Little did she expect he was a poor useless ghost!</p><p><em>Crap!</em></p><p>She was overjoyed for nothing!</p><p>Even so, the fox girl concealed her thoughts that arose from the bottom of her heart, and said with a sweet smile, “Lord Magician, 50 cubic meters of storage space is a moderate amount, hence the prices are relatively favorable as well. They start from around 1,500,000 to 5,800,000 gold coins and beyond…”</p><p>“…”</p><p>The corners of Meng Lei’s mouth twitched as sweat appeared on his forehead. “How much is the cheapest spatial ring in your store?”</p><p>“…?”</p><p>The fox girl was stunned. She pointed at a spatial ring placed at the bottom of the crystal cabinet and said, “This is the cheapest spatial ring in this store. It has a 1-cubic-meter storage space, and the original price is 190,000 gold coins. If you want—”</p><p>“Forget it! I don’t want any of these!”</p><p>Meng Lei left the shop with cold sweat on his forehead as if he was fleeing from it!</p><p><em>Damm*t, even the cheapest spatial ring cost 190,000 gold coins. This is a robbery!</em></p><p><em>190,000 gold coins?</em></p><p><em>Even if I sell myself, I can’t even fetch so many gold coins!</em></p><p>“Poor ghost! You shouldn’t be shopping if you don’t have money!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-50

Chapter 50

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 50</h1><p>Chapter 50: Battle Of The Silver Fighters, Fire Demon Bloodline</p><p>Meng Lei was very frustrated!</p><p>He’d initially thought of himself as someone who owned a modest amount of assets after the last half a year of wealth accumulation. Even though it couldn’t compare to what the nobility had, he had excess money in his card and felt reassured!</p><p>That was why he had dared to enter the store to purchase the magic device that he’d had his eyes on for the longest time. Little did he expect that a spatial magic device would actually be that expensive! Even the cheapest spatial ring cost 190,000 gold coins!</p><p><em>Goddamnit!</em></p><p><em>I’m a pauper after all!</em></p><p><em>Forget it! I’ll go to the arena first!</em></p><p>…</p><p>On this night, all seats in Arena No. 7 were full!</p><p>As a Silver Arena, be it scale or decor, Arena No. 7 was a place far beyond what Bronze Arenas could compare with. Just the audience in the venue alone was enough to prove that!</p><p>Dragon People nobility decorated with gold and silver!</p><p>Big-bellied overlords!</p><p>Gorgeous and fashionable upper-class young ladies!</p><p>They were people that either enjoyed a high social status or had great riches!</p><p>They were either the wealthy or the noble!</p><p>This was what the Silver Arena was—the upper-class society’s entertainment venue. It wasn’t a place that the petty bourgeoisie could freely enter!</p><p>“Esteemed guests!</p><p>“Dear friends and audience!</p><p>“Good evening, everyone! Welcome to Flame Arena!</p><p>“I am Nilya Noel, your host for tonight!</p><p>“Tonight, I am honored to present everyone an exciting showdown between two fighters! The first is the Two-Star Silver Fighter, Aric Bene, the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon!”</p><p>A flash of light suddenly shone, and the beautiful Swan-Woman host appeared on the stage. Her clear and melodious voice rang throughout Arena No. 7, and the noisy venue quietened at once.</p><p>“Dear guests, all of you should know that the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon is famous for being bathed in flames, and for his strong and ferocious, wild and violent fighting style. He is affectionately known as the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon by the audience…</p><p>“As of now, the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon has fought a total of 192 battles and achieved an excellent battle record of 98 victories, 32 draws, and 62 losses, of which, he has knocked out the opponent 19 times. He is one of the most experienced Silver Fighters in our Flame Arena!”</p><p>“Flaming Tiger Fire Demon!!!”</p><p>“Flaming Tiger Fire Demon!!!”</p><p>“Flaming Tiger Fire Demon!!!”</p><p>The host had only just said that when the stands erupted into huge cheers. As the most experienced veteran Silver Fighter of Flame Arena, the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon had gained and accumulated immense popularity. Having 1/3 of the audience in the venue cheering and rallying for him was the best proof of this!</p><p>However, when the beautiful swan-woman host revealed the other fighter’s identity, the cheers and rallying became even louder. Each wave of cheers overpowered the previous and almost flipped over the roof!</p><p>“Thunder God!!!”</p><p>“Thunder God!!!”</p><p>“Thunder God!!!”</p><p>“I love you, Thunder God!!!”</p><p>The host was greatly satisfied with the on-site atmosphere. After the waves of cheers died down slightly, she continued and said, “As everyone is aware, the Thunder God is a Magician fighter that’s rarely seen in the Flame Arena. Ever since his debut, he has been termed as the Thunder God by the audience due to his cool and swell battling style and his identity as a Thunder-Element Magician!</p><p>“At present, the Thunder God has fought 30 battles, and achieved a great record of 23 victories, 3 draws, and 4 losses! Out of which the 3 draws, and 4 losses had only occurred when he was leveling up to a Silver Fighter. Ever since he successfully leveled up to a Silver Fighter, the Thunder God has not lost a single match and has achieved a crazy battle record of 11 consecutive victories!</p><p>“Tonight, can the Thunder God continue his previous madness and overcome the opponent to achieve victory and increase his number of consecutive wins to 12 matches? We look very much forward to that!</p><p>“Now, let us welcome the two Silver Fighters on stage with warm applause!”</p><p>“Flaming Tiger Fire Demon!!!”</p><p>“Thunder God!!!”</p><p>Whoosh, whoosh!</p><p>Two beams of light shone downward. At once, two light streams—one red and one silver—shot out intensely from the entrances. Before anyone could register it, they had already landed in the ring at top speed!</p><p>The light streams settled to reveal two figures!</p><p>One of them had a strong and robust body and bulging muscles. He was a crimson red all over, and his gaze was sharp. In particular, his head of red locks, which flew in the breeze, was as though burning flames, giving off extremely high heat!</p><p>He was the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon—Aric Bene, a veteran Silver Fighter that had fought 192 matches, and whose victory rate was as high as 51%!</p><p>As for the other figure!</p><p>He had a golden mask on his face and donned a magician robe. He had an elegant bearing and cut a handsome figure. In terms of body shape and momentum alone, he couldn’t compare to the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon at all!</p><p>Yet more than half of the audience present screamed and shouted madly for him the moment he stood on-stage. The noble young ladies were even red in the faces and had become extremely crazed in their behavior, contrary to their previous ladylike elegance!</p><p>“I love you, Thunder God!!!”</p><p>“Thunder God, I want to have your babies!”</p><p>It was easy to see that the audience that had come for the Thunder God was evidently way crazier than the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon’s. As a veteran Silver Fighter, this put an awful look on the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon’s face, and he looked at the Thunder God in an extremely hostile manner!</p><p>“For what reason do you get to be more popular than me when you’re just a newbie and a junior?!”</p><p>The Flaming Tiger Fire Demon sounded wild and raging as he roared furiously, “Junior, I will finish you, and let the audience realize just how big of a mistake their choice is!”</p><p>“Hurhur, come at me, then!”</p><p>Meng Lei sounded calm and collected. Hidden under the mask, the corners of his mouth quirked upward slightly into a confident arch. The Flaming Tiger Fire Demon? He didn’t think much of him just yet!</p><p>“Kill!”</p><p>A bout of red flames suddenly burst forth from the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon and enveloped his whole body. As if he had become a flaming man, he gave off an alarmingly high heat!</p><p>The flaming man moved the next moment. He transformed into a burst of flames and shot toward Meng Lei. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed the distance of 20 meters and arrived in front of Meng Lei!</p><p>“Good job coming here!”</p><p>Meng Lei stared hard at him. With a point of his finger, an electric current shot out from his fingertip and instantly struck the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon. It easily pierced through the flames on the outside to come into contact with the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon’s skin surface, leaving behind an expanse of charred blackness!</p><p>“Hmph!”</p><p>The Flaming Tiger Fire Demon let out a muffled grunt and froze slightly!</p><p>However, it was precisely during this brief moment that Meng Lei launched a crazy bout of attacks. Several lightning bolts as thick as a human’s arm descended from the heavens and struck the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon heavily!</p><p>It was the Fourth-Grade Spell, Descending Wild Thunder!</p><p>However, it wasn’t over yet!</p><p>Muttering under his breath, Meng Lei quickly chanted a magic incantation and summoned all the thunder magic elements within a radius of 100 meters of where he was, which quickly converged toward him. As they fell into place, they actually formed 10 Thunder Pythons that were 30 meters long and as thick as water barrels!</p><p>The dazzling Thunder Pythons lit up the arena, and also lit up the eyes of everyone among the audience. This scene was practically too cool! The audience went completely mad and began to shout and roar hysterically! Each of their faces was flushed, as though they were climaxing!</p><p>“Sixth-Grade Spell, Lightning Snake Flurry!</p><p>“Land!”</p><p>Meng Lei struck his palms against the floor. Amidst loud and ear-piercing cries, the 10 Thunder Pythons swooped down one by one, flooding the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon and covering the ring!</p><p>“It’s over!”</p><p>Meng Lei turned around, no longer sparing the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon, who had been flooded by lightning and electric currents, another glance. Instead, he waved at the screaming audience, turning them even crazier!</p><p>“Thunder God!!!”</p><p>“I love you, Thunder God!!! Be my 18th pretty boy! I want to keep you in my backyard!”</p><p>Amid the crazy shouts, the rampaging electric currents gradually ebbed away, revealing the form of the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon, who had been struck by Lightning Snake Flurry. He could be said to be in an extremely pathetic state right now. The burning flames had already been extinguished a long time ago. Even his clothes had been burned to ashes, and his body was charred all over…</p><p>Yeap, the sight of him was a little too horrible for one to bear!</p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Fire Demon bloodline!”</p><p>“Huh!?”</p><p>The Fire Demon bloodline!?</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-51

Chapter 51

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 51</h1><p>Chapter 51: The Five Great Eras, Transforming Into A Fire Demon</p><p>The Fire Demon bloodline?</p><p>What the heck was that?</p><p>Meng Lei was rather bewildered!</p><p>During this half a year of studying in Fire Dragon Academy, he had spent almost all his time on improving his battle capabilities. He rarely read other types of books or studied other kinds of knowledge!</p><p>Take for example, <em>The Great Magical Beasts Encyclopedia</em> , <em>The Classification of Intelligent Beings In The Continent</em> , <em>Human Geography of The Continent</em> , and so on—he hadn’t read any of these at all! Meng Lei was a complete newbie in everything apart from thunder-elemental and earth-elemental magic!</p><p>Fire Demon?</p><p>Was that a kind of living thing in Heaven’s Vault Continent too?</p><p>In his confusion, Meng Lei immediately took out his magic communication device and dialed Fatty Hart’s magic code, intending to ask him about it. Since Fatty Hart had taken rudimentary lessons before, he had learned about a lot of things related to the past. There was definitely no going wrong in asking him about things like this!</p><p>“Old bro, what’s up?”</p><p>Fatty Hart’s round face appeared in the magic communication device.</p><p>“Fatty, do you know about the Fire Demons?”</p><p>“What?”</p><p>“The Fire Demons! The ‘fire’ of Fire Demons, and the ‘demon’ of Fire Demons! Fire Demons!”</p><p>“The Fire Demons?” Fatty was startled. “Old bro, why are you suddenly asking about that? What’s that noise over there? Why is it so noisy?”</p><p>Meng Lei replied crossly, “Cut the crap! Do you know about Fire Demons or not?”</p><p><em>Duh, I’m in the arena! Of course it’s noisy!</em></p><p>“I don’t like how that sounded, old bro. I, Fatty Hart, know everything from as high up in the heavens as astronomy and as far below in the ground as geography. I know everything that happened in the last 500 years and can predict everything that’ll happen in the coming 1,000 years. What’s there that I don’t know?”</p><p>Fatty Hart blew his own horn, his nose in the air as he said, “If you want to talk about the Fire Demons, then you’ll definitely have to bring up the faraway ancient times. Old bro, you should have heard about the few eras that Heaven’s Vault Continent has gone through before, right?”</p><p>“Yes, I have!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded lightly. Like Earth, Heaven’s Vault Continent had also gone through a few long eras in the remote past. They were respectively the Fairy era, Titan era, Beast People era, Colossal Dragon era, and the current era where the four races dominated the continent!</p><p>Every era had its own master. They dominated and ruled over the whole continent during their time, and fully deserved the title of ruler!</p><p>“In that case, do you know how the Fairy era ended?” asked Fatty Hart.</p><p>After a moment’s thought, Meng Lei replied, “It was probably the ancient Titans that ended them, right?”</p><p>The next era’s actuation was usually the cause of the end of an era. For example, the end of the Titan era was due to the emergence of the Beast People.</p><p>Through their terrifying numbers, the Beast People, who had an alarming reproduction rate, had overthrown the ancient Titans’ rule to eventually emerge and become the masters of Heaven’s Vault Continent!</p><p>For the same reason, the Beast People era was later also overthrown by the Colossal Dragons, who then became the masters of the continent and built a glorious era!</p><p>Times alternated, and things developed!</p><p>Lives went through the cycle of rebirth, and each dynasty replaced the previous!</p><p>Nothing was eternal. No empires would stay strong and prosperous forever, either. This was an unchanging natural law of order that nobody could change!</p><p>“No! You’re wrong!!” Fatty Hart shook his head. “The Fairy era didn’t end because of the Titans. Rather, it was because of… The Fire Demons!”</p><p>“The Fire Demons?”</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned for a moment there.</p><p>“Yes, the Fire Demons!”</p><p>Fatty Hart nodded lightly and said, “It’s said that during the Fairy era, forests were abundant and full of life, and vegetation grew vibrantly and exuberantly in Heaven’s Vault Continent. Rich and dense forests covered more than 90% of the whole continent!</p><p>“The Heaven’s Vault Continent of that time was very beautiful. Beautiful Fairies strolled in the woods, snowy white unicorns pranced along the lakes, enchanting tree spirits danced in the gardens…</p><p>“However, the Fire Demons descended upon the world one day!</p><p>“Nobody knew where they came from, whether they were Heaven’s Vault Continent’s native beings, or whether they had come from outer space, or other places. People only knew that they were bathed in fire, had burning eyes, and a mane of scorching flames…</p><p>“They were a terrifying group of flaming living beings!</p><p>“Wherever they passed through, forests were burned and destroyed, and vegetation and woods caught fire. Expanses of crimson land spread for miles. In less than 100 years, the homeland that the ancient Fairies had depended on for their survival had all burned away!</p><p>“After a long period of resistance, the ancient Fairies joined hands with the other races in the continent to put a stop to the crazy Fire Demons and completely annihilated them. However, while this was a move that brought great destruction to the enemy, it also brought severe damage to themselves! Following that, the ancient Fairies fell into decline, and the powerful Titans took the opportunity to emerge!”</p><p>“So, the end of the Fairy era was fully caused by the Fire Demons?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked absolutely stupefied. He asked, “Are the Fire Demons that fearsome? They had actually ended the ancient Fairies during a time when they were at their most prosperous?”</p><p>“Fearsome? Hurhur!”</p><p>With a laugh, Fatty Hart said, “The ancient Fairies were an existence that could suppress the ancient Titans so badly that they couldn’t even raise their heads! The Fire Demons had finished even an existence as strong and powerful as them. Do you think there’s any chance that they aren’t fearsome?”</p><p>“That’s true!” Meng Lei agreed wholeheartedly. Then, he asked, “Do Fire Demons still exist in Heaven’s Vault Continent?”</p><p>Fatty Hart thought for a moment before he replied, “True Fire Demons likely don’t exist anymore. In any case, I haven’t heard about any. However, descendants with Fire Demon bloodline in them likely exist. After all, the Fire Demons had wreaked havoc in Heaven’s Vault Continent for so many years back then. It’s impossible for them not to leave any trace of themselves behind at all!”</p><p>“Right!”</p><p>Meng Lei fell into deep thought after he hung up.</p><p>Fatty Hart had said something that made a lot of sense. After wreaking havoc in Heaven’s Vault Continent for so many years, the Fire Demons had indeed left behind blood descendants—the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon was precisely one of them!</p><p>Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly have dropped the Fire Demon bloodline!!!</p><p>Now, the question was—was there any use to the Fire Demon bloodline?</p><p>Just as Meng Lei was puzzling over this, an abnormal sensation suddenly came over his body. A warm current that had appeared out of nowhere flowed into his limbs and bones…</p><p>“Oh no!”</p><p>After his experience with assimilating the Fire Dragon bloodline the last time, Meng Lei knew what was about to happen, of course. Not daring to make any further delay, he ran straight to the restroom!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>In the instant he closed the restroom’s door, a burst of bloody red flames rose from his body and fully enveloped Meng Lei. Wisps of black aura were mixed among the red flames, just like the flames on the Flaming Tiger Fire Demon!</p><p>At the same time, a wave of pain, almost as though it was ripping him apart, assaulted Meng Lei’s senses. A muffled cry escaped him, and he almost let out a tragic scream!</p><p>Fortunately, having had prior experience, and coupled with the fact that his spiritual power had become stronger, Meng Lei barely managed to keep himself from screaming. Even so, cold sweat constantly formed and trickled down his body, and his countenance contorted from the pain!</p><p>“This feeling is truly goddamn… indescribable!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled dismally. Then, his skin blackened, and his arms began to elongate. His nails extended forward, and steel needle-like hair grew on his back. Something similar to an oxtail also grew behind him at his buttocks!</p><p>The most dramatic thing was that four sharp curved horns—two long and two short—grew out of his head. They looked like a ram’s, or a devil’s horns, and looked very savage!</p><p><em>I’m starting to transform again!</em></p><p><em>It was a Fire Dragon Person the last time. What will it be now?</em></p><p><em>A Fire Demon Person?</em></p><p>Although he didn’t have the mental strength to be sarcastic, Meng Lei could clearly feel that his body was strengthening at speed visible to the naked eye. It actually didn’t lose out to the last time when he was assimilating the Fire Dragon bloodline!</p><p><em>Go on and strengthen!</em></p><p><em>Do your best to strengthen!</em></p><p>…</p><p>The Fire Demon bloodline assimilation process didn’t last long. It ended after 15 minutes. Meng Lei went over to the mirror and stared at his appearance that had undergone a huge change… He was rendered completely speechless!</p><p>Blackish skin, yellow pupils, a steel needle-like mane of hair, long, slender, and powerful arms, an ox tail-like tail, and flames that enveloped him…</p><p>It certainly didn’t look very handsome—in fact, it was a little ugly!</p><p>However, it seemed like his power… had increased by leaps and bounds!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-52

Chapter 52

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 52</h1><p>Chapter 52: Comparable To A Fire Dragon, Two Types of Bloodlines</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human (Contains Fire Dragon bloodline and Fire Demon bloodline)</p><p>Wealth: 182,915 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Seventh-Grade Warrior (14,878/50,000)</p><p>Spirit: Sixth-Grade Magician (7,102/10,000)</p><p>Magic Power: Sixth-Grade Magician (6,919/10,000)</p><p>Spell(s): Some increase</p><p>Battle Aura Technique(s): Fire Dragon Manual</p><p>Battle Skills: Some increase</p><p>“My Physical Body Constitution was still 7,000-odd points previously, but it has reached as high as 14,878 points now! The increase is pretty dramatic!”</p><p>Meng Lei was greatly comforted as he stared at his personal stats. After the last three months of painstaking cultivation, all of his various attributes had increased by quite a few times!</p><p>Be it his physical body constitution, spiritual power, or his magic power reserves, all of them had reached Sixth-Grade Warrior or Magician level. His battle capabilities were steadily increasing and were far beyond what they had been three months ago!</p><p>In particular, thanks to his unexpected gain of the Fire Demon bloodline today, his physical body constitution had improved by leaps and bounds, and stepped into an all-new domain!</p><p>Seventh-Grade Warrior!</p><p>This was already part of a High-Level Warrior’s domain! He could be said to be a fairly strong expert, even in the capital city. Should he go to a remote region, he could even dominate an area!</p><p>“Following my physical body constitution’s enhancement, my magic power has started to lag behind a little! It’s alright, though. I can break through anytime I want, as long as I’m willing to!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s line of vision involuntarily landed on the wealth field. He had been saving his gold coins but hadn’t borne to use them all this time. That was how he had accumulated the vast total assets of 182,915 gold coins!</p><p>182,915 gold coins = 18,291 Attribute Points!</p><p>18,291 Attribute Points!</p><p>This was enough to propel Meng Lei into the level of a Seventh-Grade Magician if he used them now. With both his magic power and physical capabilities at seventh-grade, his battle capabilities would become terrifying for sure!</p><p>Meng Lei wasn’t in a hurry to redeem the points, however. Good resources should be employed where they were needed most. It wouldn’t be too late even if he redeemed the points during a critical moment instead. He should be thrifty wherever he could afford to!</p><p>A few minutes later, the energy within his body gradually depleted fully. A wave of feebleness came over Meng Lei, and he turned back into his human form.</p><p>“Judging from the transformation time, the Fire Demon bloodline is a strong and powerful one that doesn’t lose out to the Fire Dragon bloodline at all!”</p><p>Why was that?</p><p>It was because, at Meng Lei’s current level of body sturdiness, his dragon transformation could only last eight minutes. When he transformed into a Fire Demon, the transformation similarly lasted only eight minutes!</p><p>The same body!</p><p>The same amount of transformation time!</p><p>What did this show?</p><p>It showed that the Fire Demon bloodline was just as strong as the Fire Dragon bloodline!</p><p>“Two types of bloodlines!</p><p>“The Fire Dragon bloodline!</p><p>“The Fire Demon bloodline!</p><p>“Surely, I can also be considered as having the potential to become an expert now, right?”</p><p>Meng Lei was very satisfied with his unexpected gain tonight. However, the drafts at his crotch and his naked body made him exceptionally embarrassed. During his first transformation into a Fire Demon just now, the flames that he’d released had burned up all his clothes again…</p><p>“If only I had a spatial ring! If I could prepare a few sets of clothes and store them in the spatial ring, this awkward situation of having nothing to wear would never happen!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s desire for a spatial ring grew even stronger. That thing really brought a lot of convenience. It was just a pity that it was too expensive, so he couldn’t afford it!</p><p>Bang, bang, bang!</p><p>The sound of knocking rang out—someone was knocking on the restroom’s door!</p><p>“Huh?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes swiveled, and he walked behind the door and opened it. A big-bellied human nobleman then walked in and glared at Meng Lei hostilely!</p><p>The haughty human nobleman shouted furiously, “Kid, was it you that locked the restroom’s door from the inside? Do you have a death wish?!”</p><p>“Hehe, so sorry about that!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled apologetically. Then, he smashed his fist right into him!</p><p>Pow!</p><p>…</p><p>“Damn! These clothes are too big!”</p><p>Meng Lei left the restroom cursing after he had changed. The clothes were too big, making him feel as if he was wearing a dress. It felt very uncomfortable!</p><p>But what was he to do?</p><p><em>Let’s just put up with it!</em></p><p>A few minutes later, Meng Lei, dressed in clothes too big for him, knocked on the door to Uno’s, the supervisor of the arena, office.</p><p>“Come in!”</p><p>“Good day, Supervisor Uno!”</p><p>“Oh, it’s Meng Lei!”</p><p>A smiling Uno looked up. However, when he noticed Meng Lei’s clothes, he couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment there. With an expression full of puzzlement, he pointed at Meng Lei and said, “Brother Meng Lei, you…”</p><p>“Cough! I accidentally dirtied my clothes just now, so…” replied Meng Lei with an embarrassed smile. He didn’t even bat an eyelid as he lied!</p><p>“Dirtied?”</p><p>His words made Uno think of other matters, and he gave Meng Lei a meaningful look. Then, he said with a smile, “Brother Meng Lei, your appearance fee of 10,000 gold coins for tonight has been paid to you. Do take note, and check whether you’ve received it!”</p><p>“No, it’s fine! With you in charge, I can rest reassured!” replied Meng Lei with a wave of his hand. Then, he said with a smile, “Other than collecting the appearance fee, there’s something else I’d like your help with!”</p><p>“What is it?”</p><p>Uno raised his eyebrows, secretly delighted. Ever since Meng Lei had joined Flame Arena, he had rarely troubled him. This made Uno feel rather helpless!</p><p>Why? Because he wanted to get into Meng Lei’s good books!</p><p>Yes, that’s right!</p><p>He wanted to get into his good books!</p><p>Others might not know Meng Lei’s background, but Uno was very clear on that—he was Fire Dragon Academy’s top freshman!</p><p>However, if that was all there was to him, then he wouldn’t be worth Uno getting acquainted with him, of course!</p><p>Uno’s real reason for befriending Meng Lei was his performance in the arena—in a total of 30 matches, he had achieved 24 victories, 3 draws, and 4 losses!</p><p>He had also become a Silver Fighter in one try and achieved the extraordinary accomplishment of 12 consecutive victories!</p><p>A Silver Fighter was a high-grade fighter that typical fighters couldn’t hope to even match up to. Without strong battle capabilities to back them up, it was useless no matter how experienced they were!</p><p>Silver Fighters typically possessed at least the battle capabilities of a Sixth-Grade Warrior at their pinnacle. An overwhelming majority of Silver Fighters were Seventh-Grade Warriors. Flaming Tiger Fire Demon, the Two-Star Silver Fighter whom Meng Lei had just defeated, was precisely a Seventh-Grade Warrior!</p><p>Had it been other Sixth-Grade Warriors at their pinnacle, or even a Seventh-Grade Warrior or Magician, Uno wouldn’t have taken a second look at them. As someone who had astounding forces behind him, why would he care about a Seventh-Grade Warrior or Magician?</p><p>But…</p><p>If the said Seventh-Grade Warrior or Magician were a 15-years-old young boy, then that would be unbelievable!</p><p>Moreover, Uno had even realized something critical!</p><p>Meng Lei wasn’t just a Magician—his body was also very strong. Although he had rarely made use of his physique in all 30 of his matches, it couldn’t escape Uno’s eyes!</p><p>15 years old!</p><p>At least sixth-grade pinnacle!</p><p>And a dual cultivator of magic and martial arts at that!</p><p>He had rarely even heard of someone like that, much less seen one. Uno had only one word of appraisal for him—a genius!</p><p>A real genius!</p><p>When associating with someone like that, he naturally needed to get in their good graces. Meng Lei might just become an astonishingly great figure in the future! When that happened, he would receive unimaginable rewards!</p><p>Thus, upon seeing that Meng Lei had something to request of him, Uno was naturally overjoyed.</p><p>“I’d like to take a month’s leave to return home!”</p><p>Without any hesitation whatsoever, Meng Lei went straight to the point and voiced his request. As a Silver Fighter, he needed to fight at least five matches per month. He couldn’t go home unless he took a leave of absence!</p><p>“Take leave?”</p><p>Uno nodded slightly. Fire Dragon Academy was on winter vacation now, so it was normal that Meng Lei would apply for leave to go home. He didn’t reject his request, but smiled and said, “That’s alright, of course! Is a month enough? How about two months instead?”</p><p>“A month is enough!”</p><p>…</p><p>It was already 10 p.m. by the time he left Flame Arena. Meng Lei didn’t return to the magic academy but headed toward Great Axe Academy instead. His two little buddies, Joseph and Andrew, were studying there.</p><p>Winter vacation had probably also started at Great Axe Academy. Meng Lei wanted to ask Joseph and Andrew whether they would like to go back to the village together. If possible, they would be able to keep each other company if they went back together!</p><p>“Looking at the date, it has been almost two months since I last saw them?</p><p>“And there’s that girl Jonah, too…”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-53

Chapter 53

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 53</h1><p>Chapter 53: Bullying And Humiliation, Raging Fury</p><p>There were more than 70 warrior academies in Fire Dragon Capital City, and Great Axe Academy was one of them. This mid-range warrior academy had a history of more than 5,000 years and had groomed a large number of excellent Warriors and experts!</p><p>It had a long-standing history and was a producer of innumerable experts!</p><p>When Meng Lei stood at the Great Axe Academy entrance, he noticed two giant decorated axes over 20 meters long towering aloft above the school gates. The axe blades gleamed coldly in the light, the sharpness of the blades displayed to their fullest!</p><p>They were the symbols of Great Axe Academy, the Saenger war axes!</p><p>“Halt!”</p><p>The guards stopped Meng Lei in his way.</p><p>“I’m here to look for someone!”</p><p>“Please register here first!”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>The management in warrior academies wasn’t as strict as in magic academies. After a simple registration, Meng Lei successfully entered Great Axe Academy and headed toward the freshmen condominiums.</p><p>He had been here five months ago and knew where the freshmen condominiums were. Thus, he naturally knew his way around when he came here again this time. It didn’t take him long to reach the freshmen condominiums.</p><p>It wasn’t any less crowded than in the magic academies. Warrior academies recruited a lot of students every year. As long as they could fork out the expensive school fees and their ages met the requirements, the academies typically accepted everyone into the school.</p><p>Thus, this led to very mediocre living conditions in warrior academy dormitories. For example, Joseph and Andrew’s dormitories were just like the student dormitories on Earth. Six people occupied a single dormitory unit and slept on bunk beds. The living conditions couldn’t compare to the magic academies’ at all!</p><p>It was already 11 p.m. However, the student condominiums were brightly lit. Carefree laughter and sounds of conversation could be heard from every dormitory. There were people playing magical beast chess, people drinking and playing finger-guessing games, people singing and howling… It was a complete change from its usual iron-fisted solemness. The whole condominium building was extraordinarily lively and bustling!</p><p><em>Looks like winter vacation has also started in Great Axe Academy!</em></p><p>Meng Lei rode the magic ladder up to the 11th floor and arrived in front of Joseph’s dormitory. Unexpectedly, he’d only just reached the entrance when someone was thrown out of the dormitory!</p><p>This particular building was a single-sided condominium. Rooms were only built on one side of the building, so the other side was empty thin air. Should anyone come flying out and fall off from the 11th floor, they would definitely die very tragically!</p><p>“Look out!”</p><p>With his sharp eyes and quick reflexes, Meng Lei appeared behind the person in a flash. He caught him lightly with an arm and pulled him back easily.</p><p>“Ugh!”</p><p>The person threw up a mouthful of blood, within which were a few broken teeth. Half of his face was badly swollen, and his nose bridge was also sunken in. He honestly looked rather wretched and miserable!</p><p>“Joseph?”</p><p>Upon looking at the person in his hold, Meng Lei’s expression instantly darkened!</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei?” A jolt went through Joseph upon hearing his voice, and he hurriedly looked toward Meng Lei, his eyes full of joy and surprise. “Big Brother Meng Lei, why are you here?”</p><p>Right after he spoke, he grimaced and held one side of his face, in so much pain that he couldn’t stop gasping. From the look of it, he had really suffered a pretty bad beating just now!</p><p>“Joseph, what exactly is going on?” asked Meng Lei in a loud and low voice, his countenance somber.</p><p>“I-it’s nothing. I accidentally tripped and fell!”</p><p>Joseph’s eyes were rather evasive, and he deliberately changed the topic. “Big Brother Meng Lei, has your academy also entered the winter vacation period? Are you here to look for me to go home together?”</p><p>Joseph seemed very excited at the thought of going home. His tanned face was brimming with joy. After all, he was only 14 years old, and not only was this his first time away from home, but the duration had even reached as long as half a year. This was especially when he had even been bullied and humiliated by others during this half a year in the academy. He really wanted to return home at this point!</p><p>“Tell me, who was the one that hit you?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s voice was icy cold as he shouted the question again. If he hadn’t coincidentally arrived just now, Joseph might really have just fallen down from here. This was the 11th floor! With Joseph’s Trainee Warrior battle capabilities, wasn’t it a given that he would be smashed into bits and pieces?</p><p>When he thought of that, rage blazed within Meng Lei. He was the one that had sent Joseph and Andrew into the academies. How was he supposed to live with himself if anything were to happen to them?</p><p>“Where’s that cheap and lowly commoner? Get your ass back here and pour me some feet-washing water!”</p><p>At that moment, a piercing and arrogant voice drifted out from the dormitory. Joseph couldn’t help but tremble upon hearing it, his face full of fury and terror!</p><p>“Cheap and lowly commoner?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes narrowed. He kicked open the half-closed door with one leg and walked in!</p><p>Bam!</p><p>The door slammed against the wall heavily and caused a deafening boom, giving the people inside the dormitory a huge shock. They looked over one by one, and their eyes fell on Meng Lei!</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, I really tripped and fell out of my own carelessness just now. No one hit me!”</p><p>Joseph was badly frightened upon seeing Meng Lei kicking open the door with mighty momentum. He hurriedly caught hold of Meng Lei and said, “Let’s go and look for Andrew. He’ll definitely be overjoyed to see you…”</p><p>“There’s no hurry!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved him off. His sharp and piercing gaze swept across the five people in the dormitory. “Who was the one that hit Joseph? You’d better step forward!”</p><p>“Who are you?”</p><p>A muscular man, who was 2.2 meters tall, had sharp horns on his head, and had a physique as brawny as an ox, walked over to Meng Lei. His strong and well-built chest muscles were practically pressing against Meng Lei’s face as he looked down from above and replied, “I’m the one that hit him. What about it?”</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, let’s go!”</p><p>Joseph held Meng Lei back and said softly, “That’s Larry. Not only is he ranked third in our level, but he’s also nobility. He isn’t someone whom we can afford to mess with. Let’s just go!”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t budge. “Joseph, judging from the situation today, he must have frequently bullied you, right?”</p><p>“I…”</p><p>Joseph’s mouth opened and closed. He tried desperately to hide his misery and indignation, but the more he did, the more he couldn’t hold back his tears. As though a breached dam, tears streamed from his eyes!</p><p>Bully?</p><p>It was far more than that!</p><p>People that could enroll in warrior academies were either the wealthy or the noble. Even at the worst, they were still fairly well-off families that had excess money in their pockets. But what about him?</p><p>He was nothing more than a commoner and even came from a remote region. He didn’t fit in with the people in the dormitory at all. Putting the fact that he was excluded from everything aside, the key here was that he was frequently bullied!</p><p>Out of the five people in the dormitory, four of them bullied him. They constantly shouted at him and ordered him around arrogantly. They made him wash their clothes and socks, pour them feet-washing water, tidy their beds and tables, bring them food…</p><p>They ordered him around like a slave!</p><p>But that wasn’t all of it!</p><p>The key was that they had even beat him up!</p><p>Whenever someone upset them or something he did displeased them, they would beat him up. They would slap him across the cheek, hit his face, kick his head, make him kneel and apologize…</p><p>During the last half a year, he’d been subjected to all kinds of bullying and torture and suffered all sorts of hardships. How could all of that be so simply described with just the word ‘bully’?</p><p>“Looks like you have really been subjected to all kinds of bullying during the last half a year!”</p><p>Meng Lei clenched his fists, and then patted Joseph on the shoulder. He felt very guilty. During the last half a year, he had been busy upgrading his battle capabilities the whole time and had rarely paid any attention to Joseph and the other two.</p><p>In fact, he had even almost forgotten about the three of them. After all, they were the old Meng Lei’s companions, not his. His memories of the three of them were limited to just the period of slightly over a month’s time after he had transmigrated here!</p><p>It was really… very little!</p><p>However, Meng Lei felt very guilty during this moment, because to Joseph, he was his closest companion, and was a good buddy to whom he could vent his frustrations to!</p><p>“Hurhur, bully? I just like bullying him. What are you going to do about that?” The muscular man named Larry crossed his arms. “Not only did I make him wash my clothes and socks, and pour me feet-washing water, but I even made him kneel and apolog—”</p><p>“Hmph!”</p><p>Meng Lei flew into a rage, and his palm went flying across!</p><p>Smack!</p><p>The sharp wind impact from his palm grazed Larry’s cheek, and his palm landed solidly on his cheek, throwing Larry backward completely!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-54

Chapter 54

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 54</h1><p>Chapter 54: Giving Larry A Savage Beating, Spending Money To Apologize</p><p>The crisp-sounding slap sent Larry flying, and he smashed headfirst into a bed that was made of black iron and wood. The impact broke the bed into tiny pieces!</p><p>The entire dormitory fell quiet instantly!</p><p>Everyone stared blankly at Larry, who was smashed into the bed and then at Meng Lei, who was quietly standing there. No one had any response. Larry… was knocked into the air like this?</p><p>He was a Fourth-Grade Warrior, after all!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Just when everyone was bewildered, Larry slapped the ground with bloodshot eyes. “Damn you, cheap piece of trash! How dare you attack me? I am going to kill you!”</p><p>Larry instantly turned into a gust of wind and charged toward Meng Lei, with speed comparable to that of a Fourth-Grade Warrior. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Meng Lei!</p><p>“Die, you cheap piece of trash!”</p><p>Larry used up all his strength and smashed his fist downward—it was a ferocious move!</p><p>Joseph’s eyelids twitched when he saw this scene, and his heart almost jumped out of his mouth!</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei, be careful!”</p><p>“No need to worry!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled at Joseph and casually stretched out his right hand. Then a thud resounded as he grabbed Larry’s fist in his palm!</p><p>The ferocious fist, terrifying power, and violent aura… All these vanished into thin air, like a clay ox entering the sea—never to be seen again!</p><p>“How… could this be possible?”</p><p>Larry’s angry eyes widened as he felt the terrifying power coursing through his fist. He was horrified. Unexpectedly, this seemingly thin and weak human piece of trash possessed terrifying power!</p><p>“Oh my dragon god!”</p><p>“Am I seeing things?”</p><p>“He… actually caught Larry’s attack?”</p><p>“Incredible!”</p><p>“Larry is a genuine Fourth-Grade Warrior. His attacks are terrifying. He actually ended up getting caught so easily?”</p><p>Everyone’s jaws almost dropped. They were aware of how strong Larry, who possessed the Black Dragon’s pure bloodline, was. Even before joining the academy, he had been a Third-Grade Warrior, and during the final exam, he had a successful breakthrough, becoming a Fourth-Grade Warrior!</p><p>Given his talents, the academy’s unbelievably powerful top two students were only slightly stronger than him. As for everyone else… They were no match for him!</p><p>However, now, a seemingly cheap piece of trash that had appeared out of nowhere had actually neutralized Larry’s attack so easily?</p><p>It was simply shocking, confusing, and unbelievable!</p><p>“You’re only making a fool out of yourself with your weak strength!” Meng Lei shook his head slightly and closed his palm. Then, a crisp “clack” echoed, and Larry’s fist broke in pieces. His face contorted in pain as he broke into a cold sweat!</p><p>“You think that you can bully people at will, just because you have some strength?”</p><p>Meng Lei stretched out his left fist and smashed it into Larry’s stomach. Larry spewed out blood. He was in such great pain that he curled up into the shape of a shrimp!</p><p>“He who insults others will always be humiliated! When you bully others, have you never thought that you will be bullied someday?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes were emotionless. He raised his knee and shattered Larry’s chin. The poor fellow couldn’t even scream in pain!</p><p>“Kneel down!”</p><p>Meng Lei stretched out his right hand and pressed on Larry’s shoulder. Suddenly, an overbearing force surged forth, and Larry bent his knees, collapsing on the ground!</p><p>Whimper—</p><p>Larry seemed to have suffered great humiliation. Veins popped out on his forehead while both his eyes were bloodshot. He was crazily struggling to stand up, but Meng Lei’s right hand appeared to be an immovable force. No matter how much Larry struggled, he was unable to resist!</p><p>“Oh my dragon god!”</p><p>“Is this little fellow human?”</p><p>Joseph’s four roommates looked at the kneeling Larry, struggling on the ground. He was slightly trembling, and his eyes filled with horror. Larry… had no power to resist!</p><p>He was utterly defeated!</p><p><em>Isn’t Brother Meng Lei a Magician? Why is his physical body so strong?</em></p><p>Joseph was stunned and suspicious. The roommates didn’t know much about Meng Lei’s background, but he knew everything about him. It was precisely because of this that he was even more shocked and confused than the others!</p><p><em>It’s said that a Magician’s body is generally very weak, but Brother Meng Lei…</em></p><p>“We are doomed! He’s coming after us!”</p><p>Three of the four roommates, like Larry, often bullied Joseph. At this moment, having witnessed Larry’s horrible situation, their faces went pale with fright—they were terror-stricken!</p><p>Usually, what you feared most would come looking for you!</p><p>Meng Lei suddenly turned his head, and his emotionless eyes fell on them. “Who else has bullied Joseph before? Step forward!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>As soon as this statement escaped his lips, the three roommates turned into jelly and almost collapsed on the ground in fright. They were doomed. Meng Lei was looking at them to enact revenge!</p><p><em>What should we do?</em></p><p>“So, you have the guts to do the deed, but not for admitting it?” Meng Lei’s voice became colder. “Joseph, who are the people that bullied you? Point them out to me!”</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei, just forget it!”</p><p>Joseph was a kind and honest teenage boy. Although he hated his roommates for bullying him, he had no intention of taking revenge!</p><p>“Joseph, this is not acceptable!” Meng Lei shook his head. “We abide by our duty and do not take the initiative to bully others. But… If anyone tries to bully us, we won’t let them!”</p><p>After speaking, Meng Lei looked at the four roommates again. “I will give you one last chance. If you have bullied Joseph before, step forward! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”</p><p>“I… I…”</p><p>A handsome boy, whose face was pale, teeth were clattering, and legs were trembling, stuttered, “I… bullied… Joseph… before!”</p><p>“Great!” Meng Lei nodded slightly.</p><p>Thud!</p><p>The handsome boy knelt down with a thud and slapped himself in the face. “I deserve to die! I’m a jerk! I shouldn’t have bullied Joseph! I am willing to apologize! I am willing to compensate! Just let me go! I beg you!”</p><p>“Compensate?” Meng Lei’s heart trembled. “If you think that everything will be okay by handing out some compensation after bullying someone, then what are we training for!?”</p><p>“10,000 gold coins! No! 30,000 gold coins! I am willing to give 30,000 gold coins as compensation! I guarantee that I won’t bully Joseph ever again!” cried the handsome boy, tearfully. He was just a step away from wetting his pants!</p><p>“30,000 gold coins? Do you think you are chasing away a beggar?” Meng Lei gave a cold snort. “I will let you off for 50,000 gold coins. Otherwise…”</p><p>“50,000!” exclaimed the handsome boy, his eyes betraying his pain. However, when he met Meng Lei’s indifferent gaze, he couldn’t help but shiver. “Okay! I am willing to give 50,000 gold coins as compensation!”</p><p>“Right!” Meng Lei nodded slightly and turned toward the remaining three.</p><p>“I am also willing to give 50,000 gold coins as compensation!”</p><p>“Me too!”</p><p>Two of them hurriedly expressed their intentions. Although the loss of 50,000 gold coins pained them greatly, they didn’t want to end up like Larry, who was beaten to the point that even his own mother would be unable to recognize him!</p><p>This was simply too pitiful!</p><p>“Hand over the money now!” commanded Meng Lei and reached out his hand.</p><p>“Yes, yes!”</p><p>The trio did not dare to be tardy, and promptly took out their magic crystal cards!</p><p>“Who is fighting in the dormitory?”</p><p>At that moment, a cold and angry roar resounded!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-55

Chapter 55

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 55</h1><p>Chapter 55: Disciplinary Team’s Arrival, The Strongest</p><p>“Who is fighting in the dormitory?”</p><p>A cold voice resounded as several big burly men with huge axes on their backs angrily charged into the dormitory!</p><p>They were all wearing standardized armor, carrying the same halberd, and they had the same cold, emotionless gaze!</p><p>As soon as these people appeared, they exuded a powerful aura, making it hard for everyone to breathe.</p><p>Suddenly, a burly man pointed at Larry, who was kneeling on the ground, and exclaimed, “Skyles, isn’t this your brother!? What the hell? Why was he beaten up so badly?”</p><p>The brawny man referred to as Skyles did not respond. Instead, he looked at Larry solemnly. “What is going on?” His voice was extremely cold, with some traces of anger!</p><p>Whimper—</p><p>Larry looked like an aggrieved little daughter-in-law as he pointed at Meng Lei and screamed, “Brother… he… attacked… me… kill… this… cheap piece of… trash, I… want… him dead…”</p><p>“How dare you beat up my brother!”</p><p>Skyles’ eyes were cold. He looked at Meng Lei with a razor-sharp stare, his icy voice suppressing the limitless anger that was boiling inside!</p><p>The other burly men also looked at Meng Lei, feeling astonished. Skyles was like a mad demon when it came to protecting his little brother. This was a fact everyone knew!</p><p>Because of this, few people in the academy dared to provoke Larry. However, someone had the courage to do so, and he was just a young kid!</p><p>This was unexpected!</p><p>“That’s wonderful!”</p><p>“It’s the disciplinary team!”</p><p>“And Senior Skyles!”</p><p>“We are saved! We don’t have to pay any money!”</p><p>On the other side, the handsome boy and the two bullies, who had already taken out their magic crystal cards for Meng Lei, were overjoyed. They swiftly pulled their cards back!</p><p>“Senior Skyles, you have to avenge us!” The handsome boy cried, “This guy charged into our dormitory out of the blue and started beating up Larry. We don’t know how Larry offended him!”</p><p>“He is too much. Not only did he beat up Larry, he even forced him to kneel and apologize. Look at what Larry has become!”</p><p>“That’s right, senior…”</p><p>The three roommates burst into tears. They described Meng Lei as the evil-committing tyrant that deserved to die, while they were the innocent victims, who had suffered all kinds of grievances and bullying!</p><p>In fact, there was no need for them to complain about. Skyles had already seen his brother’s pitiful condition. He felt so angry that his lungs were on the verge of exploding. “I don’t care who you are or what your status is. Since you dared touch my brother, I will make you regret what you have done today!”</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t hide his smile. “Your brother said the same thing just now. Look what happened to him!”</p><p>“Bastard!” Skyles was furious. An aura, many times stronger than Larry’s, erupted from him. It blotted out the sky and covered the earth, as it charged toward Meng Lei!</p><p>His aura was too terrifying, and just the pressure from its leaking energy waves made it difficult to breathe for Joseph, the handsome boy, and the rest. They ended up gasping for air!</p><p>“Brother… Meng Lei! What shall we do now?”</p><p>Joseph’s face was horrified, and his eyes betrayed his despair. As a student of the academy, how could he not know who Skyles was?</p><p>Skyles—the sixth-years’ chief representative, captain of the academy’s disciplinary team, strongest in the Great Axe Academy, and a personal disciple of the vice-chancellor!</p><p>It was no exaggeration to say that Joseph had spent his first six months in the academy just listening to Skyles’ legends!</p><p>And now, he had actually ended up offending this legendary character. How could he possibly fix this?</p><p>Joseph was in an utter state of despair!</p><p>However, he didn’t expect Meng Lei to remain calm and collected when faced with the terrifying Skyles. It was as if he was enjoying the breeze on his face, treating Skyles lightly!</p><p>“Trying to suppress me with your aura?” Meng Lei laughed. “You are not much stronger than your useless little brother. Don’t make a fool out of yourself in front of me!”</p><p>“What the hell!? Such insolence!”</p><p>“Isn’t this fellow a freshman? This is just too crazy!”</p><p>“What an arrogant fellow. He actually dared to speak to Skyles like this. This is absolutely crazy!”</p><p>“Something bad is going to happen to this little fellow soon…”</p><p>“He is courting death!”</p><p>Skyles was indeed enraged. He raised his hand and swung a slap at Meng Lei. His speed was as fast as lightning. Even its shadow was unable to keep up with it, as his palm appeared in front of Meng Lei!</p><p>Meng Lei stood in place, as if he was unable to react in time or that he was rooted to the spot by fear. Just as Skyles’ palm was about to land on his face, Meng Lei unexpectedly vanished!</p><p>“Gone?”</p><p>Skyles was slightly astonished. Unexpectedly, at that moment, piercing pain suddenly traveled from his abdomen. It was so painful that Skyles almost vomited out his previous night’s dinner!</p><p>“You are like your little brother. A good for nothing!”</p><p>Meng Lei appeared quietly and gently stuck Skyles with his palm, sending him flying away, like a bullet that just left the barrel!</p><p>Everyone was rendered speechless!</p><p>The disciplinary team’s burly men, Joseph, his four roommates, and Larry, who was still kneeling on the ground, all watched this scene with terrified expressions, completely forgetting how to react!</p><p>It wasn’t until Skyles collapsed heavily on the ground and let out a low growl that everyone was jolted awake.</p><p>Larry shook his head as though he had gone mad. “Impossible! This is impossible! How could this cheap piece of trash defeat big brother…”</p><p>“F*ck!”</p><p>“This is too much!”</p><p>“Skyles was insta-defeated?”</p><p>“Where did this freak come from? Why haven’t I seen him before!?”</p><p>The burly men carrying the giant axes were so frightened that they broke into a cold sweat. Their eyes were full of awe and horror as they looked at Meng Lei.</p><p>Skyles was the strongest person in their Great Axe Academy, a genuine Sixth-Grade Warrior!</p><p>As for this Meng Lei? He looked like a first-year freshman!</p><p>Despite his tender age, he was able to defeat Skyles so effortlessly!?</p><p>“We’re finished!”</p><p>The burly men were astonished, while Joseph’s three roommates were in a state of panic. They felt so regretful that their intestines turned green. If time could be reversed, they swore that they would give their magic crystal cards to Meng Lei immediately and run away from here as far as they could, never to provoke Meng Lei again!</p><p>Unfortunately, time could not be reversed, and there was no medicine for regret in this world. They had offended Meng Lei just now and must bear the punishment they deserved!</p><p>When faced with everyone’s shocked and horrified gazes, Meng Lei was calm and collected, as if the feats he performed were trivial.</p><p>He turned his head and looked at the handsome boy and the rest. “Let’s resume what we were discussing earlier. What have you got to say now?”</p><p>“We… we…” Their expressions were pale, as they shivered in fear!</p><p>“Don’t be nervous! I’m a civilized person!” Meng Lei waved his hand and said plainly, “As long as you can give me a satisfactory explanation, I won’t take action against you!”</p><p><em>You are a civilized person!?</em></p><p><em>I must be a fool if I were to believe you. You are a rotten person!</em></p><p><em>Why didn’t you mention this when you were savagely beating up Brother Larry?</em></p><p>“I… I am willing to give 70,000 gold coins as compensation!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-56

Chapter 56

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 56</h1><p>Chapter 56: Magic Carpet, Ran Into Bandits Along The Way</p><p>“70,000 gold coins?”</p><p>Meng Lei gave a cold snort. “100,000 gold coins! Not a gold coin less!”</p><p>“10… 00,000?”</p><p>The handsome boy went limp and almost collapsed onto the ground. His lips trembled as his face turned green. “Big… Big brother, I really can’t cough up 100,000 gold coins!”</p><p>Bang!</p><p>Meng Lei’s leg flew out, instantly sending the handsome boy up in the air. He then reached out and grabbed him!</p><p>“Listen! You are in no position to bargain!” said Meng Lei with a cold expression. “You can either pay with gold coins… or your life!”</p><p>“Gold coins! I’ll pay!”</p><p>Upon sensing the killing intent in Meng Lei’s eyes, the handsome boy was so scared that he almost wet his pants. His thoughts spun quickly like a pellet drum. “Yes! I am willing to give 100,000 gold coins as compensation!”</p><p>“Very good!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded as he turned toward the other two!</p><p>“We are also willing to give 100,000 gold coins as compensation!”</p><p>The two had long been frightened by Meng Lei. Their thoughts moved quickly, for fear that Meng Lei would savagely thrash them if they were slow in answering!</p><p>“Transfer now!”</p><p>Meng Lei threw over a magic crystal card!</p><p>The trembling trio had anguished expressions as they stuttered, “Big… Big brother, we are momentarily unable to come up with so many gold coins!”</p><p>Although they were the offspring of aristocrats, they were still teenage students. How could they come up with so many gold coins?</p><p>“This is your problem. None of my business!” Meng Lei waved his hand and said impatiently, “I will stay in your dormitory tonight. I want to see 300,000 gold coins tomorrow morning. Not a single coin less!”</p><p>“Yes… Yes!” They exclaimed in unison with pained expressions.</p><p>Cough!</p><p>“Brother!”</p><p>The members of the disciplinary team couldn’t stand it anymore. A burly man with a giant axe on his back whispered, “You shouldn’t be doing this. Extortion is prohibited in the academy…”</p><p>“Extortion?” Meng Lei laughed. Then, his eyes fell on the burly man like a sharp blade. “You can be careless with what you eat, but you have to be careful with what you say. When did you see me extorting money?”</p><p>“…”</p><p>The corners of the burly man’s mouth twitched. He was completely stunned, as though thousands of alpacas had galloped through his heart.</p><p><em>You just extorted money from the three of them! We were standing right before you the whole time! And now you deny it!?</em></p><p>“Listen! This is not extortion, but… co-mpe-nsa-tion!”</p><p>Meng Lei pointed at Joseph and said plainly, “For the past six months, they have been bullying my friend! They’ve been beating him, scolding him, and forcing him to kneel down, wash their clothes, and serve them water. Just like a servant!</p><p>“Their despicable actions have caused irreparable trauma to my friend. Is this little compensation too much to ask for!?”</p><p>“This…”</p><p>The burly man was rendered speechless. He was a sixth-year student and a commoner of the human race. How could he not know about the academy’s ugly side and internal strife?</p><p>Nobles bullying the commoners and Dragon People bullying the humans were very common happenstances!</p><p>Many commoners silently endured the mistreatment because of their weak abilities and poor background. Thus, such a ‘compensation’ had been unheard of in the academy so far!</p><p>Nevertheless, since now someone had demanded it, it made perfect sense!</p><p>The reasoning was simple: <em>Since you bully me, I’ll ask for compensation! It all depends on whose fists are bigger! The academy? As long as no one dies, the academy will not care at all!</em></p><p>This had contributed to the aristocratic and powerful students’ arrogance. They bullied the weak without any hesitation and pulled no punches!</p><p>If one didn’t want to be bullied or would like to bully others, then they had to train hard and be stronger than the rest!</p><p>This… was the Great Axe Warrior Academy’s philosophy, which was somewhat similar to the practice of raising the most venomous insect[1] back on Earth. This was far more barbaric, reckless, and cruel than how Fire Dragon Magic Academy operated!</p><p>“If there is nothing else, you can leave!” Meng Lei waved his hand and issued an expulsion order!</p><p>The disciplinary team’s members looked at each other. Although they felt aggrieved, they were unable to do anything. Meng Lei was stronger than them, and remaining there would invite ridicule. Thus, it was better to leave!</p><p>The burly man of the human race took a long look at Meng Lei before whispering a warning, “Brother, take it easy! Don’t kill anyone!” He then turned and left with the disciplinary team, taking away the unconscious Skyles with them!</p><p>The dormitory was only left with Meng Lei and the rest within an instant.</p><p>“Joseph, close the door!”</p><p>“Ah… okay!”</p><p>After Joseph closed the door, Meng Lei pulled over a chair and sat on it. He then said plainly. “You only have one night. What you have to do… I believe I don’t have to repeat myself, right?”</p><p>“Understood!”</p><p>“We know what we have to do!”</p><p>The handsome boy and the other two nodded hurriedly and began to think of ways to raise money. 100,000 gold coins was not a small sum—it was enough to cause them a huge loss!</p><p>“Very good!”</p><p>…</p><p>A magic flying carpet crossed through the blue sky at high speed.</p><p>The scenery underneath—a green wheat field, a lush forest, and meandering rivers—passed swiftly, like a series of images, forming a beautiful animation!</p><p>The southern lands were covered with fertile and lush greenery for thousands of miles!</p><p>“You didn’t get to witness that particular scene. Brother Meng Lei incapacitated Larry swiftly with a grab, a punch, and a knee. It was so cool that I was stunned!”</p><p>“Wow!”</p><p>“And…”</p><p>Ear-pleasing cheers spilled across the sky, intertwining into a sweet-sounding melody!</p><p>This group of people had left the city and embarked on their journey back to the village. They were Meng Lei, Joseph, Andrew, and Jonah, who were all on winter vacation.</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei, you’re so awesome!”</p><p>“That’s right! Even Senior Skyles was not his match!”</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei, aren’t you a Magician? Why is your physical body so strong? Unless you are a dual cultivator of magic and martial arts?”</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei, did you buy this magic carpet?”</p><p>“Brother Meng Lei…”</p><p>The three little fellows were usually irritable during traveling. But today, they were extremely excited, talking about their six months’ worth of stories and experiences along the way. How could there be any opportunity to get irritated?</p><p>The magic carpet flew at breakneck speed, very different from a worn-out bullock cart. After half a day, the Magical Beast Ridge was already in sight!</p><p>“Look! That’s the Magical Beast Ridge!”</p><p>“Yeah! Almost there! We are reaching home soon!”</p><p>“Wow! This magic carpet is indeed fast!”</p><p>When looking at the lush greenery and the Magical Beast Ridge, which laid on the ground like a giant dragon, Jonah and the other two were excited. Their faces were flushed red as they sat on the magic carpet!</p><p>“Finally, we are reaching the Magical Beast Ridge!”</p><p>Meng Lei was also overjoyed. The Magical Beast Village was the first place he had come to know in this world. It had a special meaning for him. Thus, he felt at ease returning to this familiar place!</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>Suddenly, a shrill air-piercing sound echoed. An arrow, which was more than three meters long and shrouded in lightning, pierced the sky, charging at lightning speed at the magic carpet!</p><p>“Look out!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s ears twitched before his spiritual power erupted and detected the arrow. He immediately forced the magic carpet to a stop as it hung in mid-air!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>The lightning arrow went through the magic flying carpet’s front portion and grazed the back of Andrew, who was sitting in the front. It then shot itself high into the sky and exploded into a ball of fireworks!</p><p>“My god!”</p><p>Andrew instantly broke into a cold sweat. Fortunately, the carpet had stopped in time. Otherwise, the arrow would have pierced his entire body like mutton skewers!</p><p>“Sh*t!”</p><p>Meng Lei looked at the ground, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes!</p><p>[1] Legend has it that ancient Chinese would place all sorts of insects into a pot and allow them to kill each other. The one that is remaining would be the most venomous insect.</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-57

Chapter 57

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 57</h1><p>Chapter 57: Wiping Out The Bandits, A Spatial Ring</p><p>To both sides were towering mountains and precipitous ridges, while only a valley ran through the middle. A group of shabbily-dressed bandits was lined up in the valley’s center, blocking the wide pathway there!</p><p>Their clothes were torn and tattered, and they were the very picture of a ragtag crowd. Currently, they were all standing around a magic ballista, and they watched the magic carpet suspended in mid-air excitedly!</p><p>“Tsk, tsk, a magic carpet!”</p><p>“Our prey this time must be pretty rich. A magic carpet alone is already worth 30,000 gold coins, and comparable to a small trade caravan!”</p><p>“Hehe! There are so many big preys lately! What we earn in a day is comparable to what we usually earn in a month…”</p><p>“I am the one that planted this tree, and I am the one that paved this road. If you wish to pass, then leave your money behind! Boys, continue to launch the Violent Thunder Crossbow, and shoot that magic carpet down for me!”</p><p>A savage-looking one-eyed bandit riding on a Horned Cloud-Striding Horse shouted his orders loudly as he brandished an enormous sword and waved it about. He was the leader of the Lone Wolf Bandits, Lone Wolf!</p><p>“Yes, Boss!”</p><p>The bandits let out a loud cheer and launched the magic ballista. Accompanied by an intense and dazzling flash of lightning, another two to three meters-long lightning arrow hurtled outwards, going straight for the magic carpet!</p><p>“A magic carpet! Hehe!”</p><p>Lone Wolf, the leader, licked his lips with a hint of savagery in his lone eye. “Here’s hoping that the prey today doesn’t disappoint me!”</p><p>“It’s coming again!”</p><p>“What do we do, Big Brother Meng Lei?”</p><p>Blood drained from the extremely frightened trio’s faces as they fearfully watched the lightning arrow hurtling toward them at high speed. Should it strike them, even if they were lucky enough to avoid being stabbed to death, they would also be smashed into pieces after falling from so high up!</p><p>They would still die a terrible death, nonetheless!</p><p>“These are bandits!”</p><p>Meng Lei stood tall and proud on the magic carpet. With a casual wave of his arm, a lightning shield that shone bright and dazzling quietly appeared and wrapped around the magic carpet!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The lightning arrow struck heavily against the lightning shield. A dull boom rang out, and the lightning shield began to shake violently, seemingly showing signs of shattering!</p><p>However, the strange thing was that it ultimately managed to stand strong. The lightning arrow gradually exhausted all of its energy and stopped moving in the end!</p><p>“What?</p><p>“They actually managed to block it?”</p><p>Lone Wolf was astounded. “The Violent Thunder Crossbow has astonishing might and can directly shoot a fifth-grade expert to death, yet it couldn’t penetrate that lightning shield. Could it be that… That protective shield is a magic shield that’s higher than fifth-grade?!</p><p>“Instant release of a fifth-grade spell?</p><p>“Sh*t!</p><p>“There’s a high chance that our prey is a great Ninth-Grade Magician!”</p><p>Lone Wolf’s countenance changed dramatically. He shouted, “Retreat! Hurry and retreat!”</p><p>Right after he spoke, he whipped the Horned Cloud-Striding Horse beneath him viciously. He dashed over to the Violent Thunder Crossbow and kept the mighty thunder crossbow. Then, he raced away on his horse, deathly afraid of being even a step too slow!</p><p>“Boss?”</p><p>“What’s wrong with Boss?”</p><p>Upon seeing their leader suddenly fleeing for his life, the whole group of bandits looked bewildered. Why was their leader retreating when everything was fine and dandy?</p><p>“A bunch of good-for-nothings! Retreat at once!” bellowed Lone Wolf furiously.</p><p>“Okay, okay…”</p><p>It was only then that the bandits began to retreat.</p><p>However, it was too late!</p><p>Buzz, buzz!</p><p>All the Thunder Elements within a radius of several hundred meters swiftly converged and instantly formed 10 Thunder Pythons that were over 30 meters long. Their lightning scales shone and dazzled, and their massive bodies looked vivid and true to life. They floated in the sky, giving off an aura that made people’s hearts pound wildly in fear!</p><p>“Sh*t!”</p><p>Lone Wolf’s eyelid twitched violently as he took in the mighty terrifying aura in the sky. Fear and hopelessness filled his heart.</p><p>“A sixth-grade spell! That’s definitely the might of a sixth-grade spell!</p><p>“Instant release of a sixth-grade spell!</p><p>“My god! Just who have I offended?”</p><p>“Lightning Snake Flurry… Land!”</p><p>10 Thunder Pythons howled and roared as they swooped down from the sky. They crashed head-first into the ground and exploded with a deafening boom. An overwhelming amount of Thunder Elements rampaged madly and enveloped the area within a radius of 100 meters!</p><p>“Ahhh!”</p><p>Amidst shrill and tragic screams, the bandits were burned into charcoal, reduced to ashes, or evaporated into vapors…</p><p>They died a tragic and miserable death!</p><p>It was hard to watch!</p><p>“Oh my god!”</p><p>When Lone Wolf looked back and saw what had happened, he became even more horrified. He brandished a dagger and viciously stabbed the Horned Cloud-Striding Horse in its rump. The horse let out a shrill whinny and broke into a desperate dash in a dramatic burst of speed!</p><p>“An expert of that level… is actually riding on a magic carpet!</p><p>“Isn’t he just out to bully others?!”</p><p>Lone Wolf was furious and filled with regrets. Magic carpets were low-grade flight tools that only Low-Level Magicians would use; High-Level Magicians completely turned their noses up at them. That was why he had dared to rob them of the magic carpet!</p><p>Never did he ever imagined that things would go completely out of his expectations!</p><p>“I’ve run into a wall this time!”</p><p>Lone Wolf was so full of regret that he was beating his chest, but all he could do was to flee desperately for his life!</p><p>“Flee? Do you think you can successfully flee?”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled calmly and snapped his fingers lightly. Thunder Elements converged and quietly formed a lightning lance!</p><p>“Go!”</p><p>With a soft command from Meng Lei, the three-meters-long lightning lance pierced through the air and shot lightning-quick toward Lone Wolf. It pierced right through Lone Wolf’s back and protruded from his chest!</p><p>“Ahhh!”</p><p>Lone Wolf let out a terrible scream as the momentum threw him out. He fell into the bushes by the road, with no one knowing whether he was alive or dead!</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, you’re so awesome!”</p><p>Jonah, Joseph, and Andrew were dumbfounded from astonishment. They stared at Meng Lei’s back, their eyes full of bright and twinkling little stars!</p><p>“You guys can do it too if you cultivate well!”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled at them. Then, he steered the magic carpet down.</p><p>By the time he reached right in front of Lone Wolf, the vice-ridden bandit leader was already on the brink of death and on his last breath. It was evident that he wasn’t going to make it!</p><p>However, when he saw Meng Lei’s group of four standing on the magic carpet, his eyes widened big and round furiously, and disbelief filled his eyes. “A-all of you a… aren’t…”</p><p>Before he’d even finished, Lone Wolf’s head fell to the side, and he stopped breathing altogether. However, his eyes were widened big and round, a clear indication that he hadn’t died in peace!</p><p>He’d thought that he had run into super experts, but never would he have expected that the ones that had wiped out his Lone Wolf Bandits and killed him would actually be… Four little brats!</p><p>He practically didn’t die in peace!</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, is that guy d-dead?”</p><p>Hiding behind Meng Lei, Jonah and the other two stuck out their heads carefully, their little faces pale.</p><p>“Yes, he’s dead!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded and hopped off the magic carpet. His eyes fell onto Lone Wolf’s left hand right away, and he noticed a bronze-colored ring on his left ring finger…</p><p>Meng Lei took the ring off the finger and imbued spiritual power into it. He burst into laughter at once.</p><p><em>Looks like I was right! It really is a spatial ring!</em></p><p>A spatial ring!</p><p>The treasure that Meng Lei had longed for!</p><p>It was just that it was too expensive, so all he could do was sigh and look longingly at it!</p><p>However, when Meng Lei had seen the Violent Thunder Crossbow vanishing right before his eyes just now, he’d guessed that this group of bandits probably owned spatial equipment. It looked like his guess had been on the mark!</p><p><em>I went through so much trouble to look for one to no avail, only to obtain it effortlessly in the end!</em></p><p><em>It’s a spatial ring with an area of over 50 cubic meters! I’ve struck it big this time!</em></p><p><em>Eh? There are actually so many things inside?</em></p><p>Several objects floated about in Meng Lei’s mental vision. There were heaps of gold coins, heaps of magic cores, heaps of jewels…</p><p>What a dazzling array of things!</p><p>What a wide variety of things!</p><p>They almost blinded Meng Lei!</p><p><em>I’ve really struck it big this time!</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes shone brightly.</p><p><em>The gold coins alone probably amount quite a few hundred thousand? Not to mention the other things, such as magic cores, jewels, and weapons!</em></p><p><em>Our forefathers don’t lie, indeed. Horses really don’t bulk up without feeding at night, and people really don’t get rich without unexpected windfalls!</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-58

Chapter 58

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 58</h1><p>Chapter 58: A Wild Beast Tide, Producing Lightning With A Flip Of The Hand</p><p>After they exterminated the Lone Wolf Bandits, Meng Lei and the others resumed their journey back home. Jonah and the other two constantly chattered, their eyes brimming with worship and idolization when they looked at Meng Lei. Everything they said could be summed up into one sentence:</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, you’re so awesome!”</p><p>Meng Lei replied with a smile, “You guys will also be just as powerful in the future if you cultivate well!”</p><p>Then, he secretly deposited all the gold coins in the spatial ring into the system, making his wealth surge by 300,000 gold coins!</p><p>Adding what he previously had to it, he now had a total of 480,000 gold coins!</p><p>This didn’t even include the magic cores, jewels, weapons, and other things inside the spatial ring! Should he sell those treasures, he would earn yet another hefty sum of money!</p><p><em>I’ve really struck it big this time!</em></p><p>Meng Lei fingered the spatial ring, reveling in the pleasant sensation of receiving a huge windfall. He was in such a fantastic mood that snot bubbles were practically forming at his nose!</p><p><em>Of course, the biggest gain is still this spatial ring that’s worth several million gold coins!</em></p><p>There was no doubt about the spatial ring’s functionality. With it, Meng Lei could now hunt magical beasts to his heart’s content without any reservations!</p><p>Although the 50 cubic meters space wasn’t particularly spacious, it was sufficient to store a lot of magic cores. Meng Lei’s mind had already drifted all the way to the Magical Beast Forest. He almost climaxed as he fantasized about hunting and killing magical beasts, gathering magic cores, and making a huge windfall!</p><p>The magic carpet was very fast. After two hours of flight, they finally returned to Magical Beast Village. However, the scene before their eyes gave the four of them a huge shock instead!</p><p>A beast tide!</p><p>A beast tide was happening again!</p><p>All over the mountains and the plains, wild beasts gathered into surging torrents and raced toward Magical Beast Village like a bunch of thunderclouds. It was as if they wanted to drown the tiny Magical Beast Village within the torrents of wild beasts!</p><p>…</p><p>Dozens of young adults stood atop the village walls, their eyes full of horror and hopelessness!</p><p>These young adults were the team of guards led by Captain Hudders. As Magical Beast Village members, they frequently fought against beast tides, so every one of them was a seasoned warrior. Typical beast tides didn’t faze them at all!</p><p>However, the beast tide this time made everyone incredibly hopeless!</p><p>“Why did this happen?”</p><p>Hudders stood on top of the walls, staring at the dozen or so magical beasts surrounded in the middle by the beast tide torrents. Apart from hopelessness, there was still only hopelessness on his face!</p><p>Fourth-Grade Magical Beast, Iron-Armored Rhinoceros!</p><p>Third-Grade Magical Beasts, Mountain-Rendering Pangolin, and Blood-Spotted Snake!</p><p>Second-Grade Magical Beasts, Azure Sky Snake, White Snapping Turtle, Golden-Armored Scorpion, Bramble Rat, Swamp Dragon Turtle, Blood-Toothed Boar, Titan Longhorn Beetle, and Wind Wolf King!</p><p>One Fourth-Grade Magical Beast!</p><p>Two Third-Grade Magical Beasts!</p><p>Eight Second-Grade Magical Beasts!</p><p>Countless First-Grade Magical Beasts!</p><p>Given their terrifying lineup, how were they supposed to fight against them?</p><p>They didn’t even have a sliver of hope at winning!</p><p>“Why?</p><p>“Why are there so many Magical Beasts in the beast tide this time?”</p><p>Hudders didn’t understand. Magical Beast Village was situated at the fringes of the Magical Beast Forest. Usually, one would already be considered especially down on their luck if they ran into a First-Grade Magical Beast. Why had even a high-grade magical beast like the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros shown up this time?</p><p>It didn’t make any sense!</p><p>However, no matter how absurd it was, the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros had ultimately shown up and had even led a bunch of magical beast underlings to launch a never-before-seen beast tide. Magical Beast Village was currently facing an unprecedented disaster!</p><p>“Captain, what should we do?”</p><p>The guards trembled with fear. Even their voices were shaking somewhat. The scale of the beast tide had shocked and frightened all of them!</p><p>“We can only adopt whatever solution we can according to the situation!”</p><p>Captain Hudders slowly expended a breath of air. He said, “Behind us is our home and our family. We have no other choice other than to fight to the death!”</p><p>“Our home!”</p><p>“Our family!”</p><p>A severe jolt went through everyone. The fear in their eyes gradually faded, replaced by absolute resolution and frenzy.</p><p>“Captain is right! We have no other choice. The only thing we can do is to fight to the death!”</p><p>“If you want to hurt our families, then you’d have to do it over our dead bodies!”</p><p>“Fight to the death!”</p><p>“Fight to the death!”</p><p>Roar!</p><p>At this moment, an earth-shattering roar of fury reached them. The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros in the middle of the beast tide roared ferociously into the sky, launching the signal for the beast tide to attack!</p><p>Howl!</p><p>Hiss!</p><p>Woof!</p><p>Moo!</p><p>Meh!</p><p>All the wild beasts responded with their own ferocious cries. The torrential sound waves converged into one, as though an explosive peal of thunder booming throughout the sky!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>As another ferocious roar rang out, torrents of wild beasts covering every inch of land transformed into horrifying tidal waves and surged toward Magical Beast Village. Dozens of Magical Beasts took the lead and brazenly launched magic attacks!</p><p>Rock bullets, water arrows, wind blades, wood thorns, lightning flashes…</p><p>First-grade and second-grade magic attacks that covered every expanse of land formed a dense and packed rain of swords that swarmed over in a crushing momentum!</p><p>Everyone wore looks of hopelessness upon seeing this. The village walls were made of wood; how were they supposed to withstand magic attacks of this scale?</p><p>Moreover, most of them weren’t even Warriors. How were they supposed to withstand the attacks, too?</p><p>“T-this… How did it turn out like this?!”</p><p>“Captain! What should we do?!”</p><p>“Oh my dragon god…”</p><p>“We’re finished!!”</p><p>Hudders lost all hope in his heart. All he could do was watch helplessly as the magic attacks approached, ultimately fully occupying his range of vision!</p><p>He knew that everything was finished!</p><p>Up against such terrifying magic attacks, the village walls would be reduced to rubble, and everyone would be annihilated!</p><p>Buzz!</p><p>However, just as the rain of magic attacks was about to land, an unexpected turn of events occurred. A transparent silver glow quietly appeared and instantly spanned across the top of the village walls!</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>The dense and packed rain of magic attacks crashed against the silver glow, causing an outburst of brilliant and dazzling fireworks!</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>Everyone’s eyes widened!</p><p>“A… A magic shield?!” exclaimed Hudders in astonishment.</p><p>Hudders hadn’t been mistaken—it was indeed a magic shield. Amid booming explosions, the silver glow perfectly withstood all the attacks, undamaged in the least!</p><p>All of the magic elements dissipated!</p><p>The billowing waves of smoke faded away!</p><p>The village walls were undamaged and intact!</p><p>Everyone was safe and sound!</p><p>“It managed to block the attacks?”</p><p>The guards had a dazed look in their eyes.</p><p>“Who was it? Who had launched the magic shield?”</p><p>Hudders looked around him.</p><p>Then, he saw a blood-red magic carpet right above him. Someone stood proudly on the magic carpet. The figure looked familiar… Yet like a stranger at the same time!</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>Hudders exclaimed in astonishment, “Meng Lei!”</p><p>“Long time no see, Captain Hudders!”</p><p>The person standing proudly on the magic carpet was exactly Meng Lei. Upon hearing Captain Hudders’ exclamation, Meng Lei turned and smiled at him.</p><p>“Captain Hudders, we’ll talk again after I’ve taken care of the beast tide!”</p><p>After he spoke, Meng Lei raised his hands. Lightning flashed at his fingertips. Thunder balls quietly formed one after another and shot toward the torrential flood of wild beasts like a machine gun’s bullets!</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>Explosions that shook the heavens and earth rang out with a deafening boom. Smoke and dust instantly enveloped the flood of wild beasts in front of the village walls. Amid an endless stream of screams and cries, severed limbs were thrown out, and blood and flesh flew everywhere!</p><p>A large majority of the wild beasts in the beast tide were just normal animals. How could they possibly withstand magic attacks?</p><p>After a round of wild booms and violent explosions, the wails and cries of wild beasts filled the place. In just the short span of a few breaths, an immeasurable number of beasts had perished on the spot!</p><p>This horrifying scene terribly frightened the other wild beasts. Scared out of their wits, they fled desperately. How would they possibly still have the guts to attack Magical Beast Village?</p><p>Roar!</p><p>This greatly enraged the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros in the middle of the beast tide. It let out several roars to suppress the alarmed and panicked wild beasts. Then, with another few roars, the dozens of magical beasts surrounding it moved!</p><p>The Mountain-Rendering Pangolin, Blood-Spotted Snake, Azure Sky Snake, etc., roared furiously as they charged forward with ferocious momentum. Their eyes gleamed red, as though they wanted to rip Meng Lei, who was standing on the magic carpet, into pieces!</p><p>What a shame that what awaited them was a rain of lightning lances that covered every expanse of land instead!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>Amidst hair-raising sounds of flesh being stripped away from bone, the Mountain-Rendering Pangolin, Blood-Spotted Snake… All of them were impaled to death by the lightning lances. By the time they charged over to the bottom of the magic carpet, all of them were already dead!</p><p>“This…”</p><p>Hudders and the guards were totally astounded!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-59

Chapter 59

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 59</h1><p>Chapter 59: Contractual Magic Circle, Subdued As A Mount</p><p>Electric currents rampaged, and flashes of lightning reached far and wide!</p><p>Broken limbs and severed appendages were everywhere, all bloodied and mangled!</p><p>Dozens of Magical Beasts were all skewered to the ground!</p><p>This horrifying scene completely stunned Hudders and the rest!</p><p>“Oh my dragon god!!!”</p><p>“This many Magical Beasts… All of them have died just like that?”</p><p>“There are Third-Grade Magical Beasts, the Mountain-Rendering Pangolin and Blood-Spotted Snake, among them, you know! And they’ve died just like that?!”</p><p>“A hallucination! This must be a hallucination…”</p><p>Everyone felt as if everything was a dream. They were ultimately just ordinary humans; hunting some ordinary wild beasts was as far as it went. When had they ever seen anything like this?</p><p>Roar!!</p><p>The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros’ roaring pulled everyone back to reality at this point. The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros, which was as big as a bus, was in a terrible rage. It stomped on the ground, exhaling heavily through its nostrils!</p><p>The ground trembled, and the mountains shook!</p><p>Trees quivered!</p><p>The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros glared furiously at Meng Lei, killing intent raging within its eyes!</p><p>It launched a brazen attack the next moment!</p><p>Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!</p><p>It took only an instant for dozens of rocks as big as an ox’s head to rise into the sky. As though cannonballs had been launched, they suddenly shot toward Meng Lei!</p><p>It was the Second-Grade Spell, Rock Meteor Rain!</p><p>“Insignificant tricks!”</p><p>With a wave of Meng Lei’s arm, lightning arrows appeared out of nowhere and met the large expanse of rain of rocks head-on!</p><p>It was the Second-Grade Spell, Thunderbolt Arrow!</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>Lightning arrows and rocks made contact, causing a deafening sound of explosion to erupt. The rocks were smashed into bits, turning into broken fragments that covered the whole sky as they landed like snowflakes!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Upon seeing that its attack hadn’t been effective, the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros roared again and again. The horn at its forehead flashed yellow, and all the earth elements within a radius of dozens of meters converged in its direction. It was gearing up for a big move!</p><p>“A big move? It’s time to end this!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head lightly and launched the Third-Grade Spell, Thunderbolt Chains. Countless silver threads quietly appeared around the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros. Before it could react, they had already firmly surrounded it!</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros was wrapped like a mummy. Electric currents thrashed about and flowed around it, numbing its body. The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros spasmed all over and shook in its boots, as though it was rave-dancing!</p><p>“It’s over!”</p><p>Meng Lei drew an arc across the air. A lightning spear appeared and pressed against the middle of the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros’ forehead, ready to pierce through its head and impale it to death on the spot anytime Meng Lei wished to!</p><p>However, Meng Lei hesitated at this point.</p><p>The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros couldn’t be said to be strong, but neither could it be said to be weak!</p><p>It was a Fourth-Grade Magical Beast, after all. It didn’t count as much in the depths of the forest, but it was considered a fairly powerful Overlord-Level Magical Beast in the fringes and outer boundaries!</p><p>If used well, there was a high chance that it could solve the beast tide problem for good. The moment he thought of that, Meng Lei turned to Captain Hudders and said with a smile, “Captain Hudders, what do you think of this Iron-Armored Rhinoceros?”</p><p>“(⊙o⊙)”</p><p>Hudders was mildly startled but replied nonetheless, “The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros is a Fourth-Grade Magical Beast with top-notch defenses and is also skilled at earth-elemental magic. If placed in the battleground, its offensive abilities can be said to be terrifying!”</p><p>“Since that’s the case, how about getting it to become your mount?” asked Meng Lei.</p><p>“My mount?”</p><p>Hudders looked totally bewildered.</p><p>“Yes! Your mount!”</p><p>A smiling Meng Lei said, “If the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros becomes your mount, it should be able to solve the beast tide problem very well. The village won’t suffer from beast tide attacks in the future anymore!”</p><p>“I… This… Is this viable?”</p><p>Hudders became agitated at once. Even his voice was somewhat shaking. As a Warrior, he naturally longed to have a powerful mount!</p><p>It was just a pity that… It was too difficult!</p><p>With his Second-Grade Warrior capabilities, it wasn’t difficult for him to tame a lousy mount. However, such mounts were no different from white elephants. What use were they even if he tamed them?</p><p>What was tough was taming powerful mounts!</p><p>Take the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros, for example!</p><p>If one wanted it to recognize them as its master…</p><p>The first way was to defeat it with absolute strength so that it would become most willing to recognize them as its master!</p><p>The second way was to use a contract scroll and forcibly compel the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros to recognize them as its master through the contract’s power!</p><p>The third way was to get a Magician to set up a Contractual Magic Circle…</p><p>It was just a shame that Hudders couldn’t achieve any of the methods, no matter which it was. If he had such abilities, he’d have made it big a long time ago. Why would he still be stuck in this tiny little Magical Beast Village?</p><p>Therefore, in the case of mounts like the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros, the only thing he could do was just to daydream about it, and nothing more!</p><p>However, Meng Lei was telling him right now that he could make the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros recognize him as its master. How could Hudders not become agitated?</p><p>“Why not?”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled and began to quickly chant a magic incantation. Before long, a dazzling and colorful magic circle arose from underneath the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros, giving off strange fluctuating waves!</p><p>The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros became unsettled upon seeing the magic circle. It began to struggle fiercely, and the Thunderbolt Chains actually started to show signs of breaking! Upon seeing that, Meng Lei launched a few more Thunderbolt Chains in succession!</p><p>For a moment there, the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros was shackled and wrapped like a mummy, unable to budge at all!</p><p>Meng Lei landed on the ground and dragged his finger lightly across the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros. It easily cut through its tough skin, which was as solid and sturdy like iron, and formed a laceration!</p><p>Blood spurted from the wound and landed in the magic circle by itself!</p><p>“Captain Hudders, come over here and subdue this beast!”</p><p>“Sure, sure!”</p><p>Hudders hurriedly ran, so worked up that he could barely contain himself!</p><p>Meng Lei pointed at the magic circle and said with a smile, “Drip a few drops of blood into it!”</p><p>Hudders didn’t dare to be tardy. He took out his dagger, made a cut on his finger, and let a few drops of blood drip from the cut. At once, the magic circle emitted a bright light, which shrouded Hudders’ and the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros’ blood!</p><p>Both human and beast blood began to rapidly transform and formed a strange pocket-sized blood-colored magic circle. Then, it separated into two and shot swiftly toward the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros and Hudders, before entering their heads and vanishing without a trace!</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>The magic circle on the ground also vanished along with it!</p><p>“How is it, Captain Hudders?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked at Hudders, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. He’d long wanted to subdue a Magical Beast as his mount, so he’d specially studied how to set up a Contractual Magic Circle before!</p><p>However, this was still Meng Lei’s first time setting up a Contractual Magic Circle and subduing a Magical Beast. Thus, he naturally found it very new and interesting!</p><p>“It… feels like… I now have a bit of a link with it?”</p><p>Hudders looked at the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros, which also looked at him!</p><p>Two pairs of eyes gazed at each other!</p><p>The irascibility and savagery in the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros’ eyes disappeared, and reverence and allegiance took its place. The way it looked at Hudders was completely different from how it had looked at him previously!</p><p>Hudders called out, “Come here!”</p><p>The Iron-Armored Rhinoceros walked over obediently without even the least bit of resistance!</p><p>It didn’t resist even when Hudders reached out and touched its nose and was as docile as a kitten. There was no trace of its previous demeanor at all!</p><p>“So this is the might of a master-servant contract? It’s impressive, indeed!”</p><p>Meng Lei clicked his tongue in wonder and admiration as he watched. The contract’s successful formation had actually straight up changed the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros’ will and thoughts, causing it to recognize Hudders as its master from the bottom of its heart!</p><p>This was too scary!</p><p>“Haha! I have a mount now! I have a mount now!”</p><p>Hudders kept stroking the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros, so excited that he was practically grinning from ear to ear. The other guards also approached them, both excited and envious!</p><p>“Captain, congrats!”</p><p>“Tsk, tsk, having the Fourth-Grade Magical Beast Iron-Armored Rhinoceros as a mount, I’m totally green with envy!”</p><p>“It’s so mighty and imposing! I’m dying of envy…”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-60

Chapter 60

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 60</h1><p>Chapter 60: Superior-Grade Fire-Elemental Affinity, Bringing Fortune To The Village</p><p>Successfully subduing the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros was just an interesting new experience to Meng Lei, but to Hudders and everyone else in the village, it was an event of epic proportions!</p><p>Captain Hudders was incredibly excited!</p><p>The team of guards was also filled with joy.</p><p>Everyone knew that with the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros keeping watch now, the beast tide problem that had brought the village great suffering would be completely solved. There wouldn’t be any more suffering due to beast tide attacks!</p><p>This was an epic event!</p><p>“Thank you, Meng Lei!”</p><p>Hudders held Meng Lei’s hands tightly, his feelings of gratitude showing in his actions. The other guards also looked at Meng Lei with awe and astonishment in their eyes.</p><p>They couldn’t get the scene from just now out of their minds!</p><p>Countless magic thunder balls!</p><p>Sharp lightning lances falling like a rain of swords!</p><p>Dozens of Magical Beasts impaled to the ground!</p><p>Thunderbolt Chains securely restraining the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros!</p><p>Meng Lei!</p><p>He was actually this powerful and formidable?</p><p>How long had it only been? Yet he had already undergone such an astonishing change?</p><p>“I’ll feel like you’re treating me like a stranger if you say such words of gratitude!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved and let Jonah and the other two down from the magic carpet. He said with a smile, “After being away from the village for more than half a year, I miss the village’s roasted meat and your malt wine very much, Captain. I wonder if there’s still any left?”</p><p>“I might not have anything else, but I definitely have enough roasted meat and malt wine!”</p><p>Hudders burst into laughter and said, “Hurry! Inform the village chief, and get the villagers to hurry and come out to welcome our hero! We’ll have a campfire banquet tonight to welcome Meng Lei and the rest home!”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>“Haha! Yes, we certainly should give them a proper welcome back!”</p><p>…</p><p>The crisis this time had been quietly resolved, they had gained a strong guard like the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros, and there were even wild beast and magical beast carcasses strewn all about. One could say that this was killing several birds with one stone!</p><p>This delighted the villagers very much, and they happily cleaned up the carcasses. Everyone was happy and joyous as if it were the New Year celebrations!</p><p>The adults were extremely busy!</p><p>The kids went to Meng Lei and turned into curious little babies!</p><p>Meng Lei was a very patient person and was also very fond of children. He sat on a big rock in the middle of the village with a group of young children in tow and narrated what he had seen and done in the capital city.</p><p>Jonah, Joseph, and Andrew supplemented with additional information at the sides…</p><p>They spoke vividly and lively, making the children constantly gasp in astonishment!</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, can houses really fly in the sky?”</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, have all of you ever seen Dragon People with dragon horns on their bodies?”</p><p>“Big Brother Meng Lei, I heard from the adults that you can launch lightning from your mouth and control lightning. Is it true?”</p><p>Children’s curiosity could never be satiated. The group of young children chittered and chattered as they asked him questions. Despite Meng Lei’s great patience, even he was a little bothered by all the questions!</p><p>Upon seeing this, Jonah helped Meng Lei out. She took out a magic crystal ball and said with a smile, “Look over here, everyone. Do you know what this is?”</p><p>“A glass ball?”</p><p>The children blinked at her.</p><p>“This isn’t a glass ball, but a magic crystal ball!” replied a smiling Jonah. She said, “With it, we’ll be able to evaluate our magic talent, just like this!”</p><p>She placed her hand on top of the crystal ball. At once, the originally transparent magic crystal ball emitted a pale green glow like vibrant green jade, brilliant and dazzling!</p><p>“Wow!”</p><p>“It’s green! It turned green!”</p><p>The children’s jaws dropped, wonder filling their eyes.</p><p>“Big Sister Jonah, the glass ball turned green. What kind of magic talent is that?”</p><p>“The magic crystal ball turning green means that I have Wood-Elemental magic talent!” Jonah smiled sweetly and explained patiently, “The green light isn’t very strong, which shows that I have average magic talent. If you look at Big Brother Meng Lei’s magic talent, you’ll see the difference!”</p><p>As she spoke, she passed the crystal ball over to him.</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t help but chuckle. Then, he also placed his hand on top of the magic crystal ball.</p><p>Buzz!</p><p>For a moment there, the originally transparent magic crystal ball immediately emitted an incredibly piercing light, as though a 10,000-watt filament lamp. It was so bright that it made their eyes hurt!</p><p>There were three colors amid the dazzling light!</p><p>A silver that darted about everywhere like electric currents!</p><p>An ocher yellow that was rich and heavy, moving about slowly!</p><p>A fiery red that was boiling hot and burned intensely!</p><p>The three colors of light, two strong and one weak, intertwined, and coordinated with each other. They shone incredibly dazzling and beautifully, lighting up everyone’s eyes!</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>“Wow!” The children exclaimed in astonishment again.</p><p>“Huh?” Meng Lei’s eyes flicked over. “A fiery red color?”</p><p>Stunned by the lights, Jonah asked with a look full of puzzlement, “Big Brother Meng Lei, do you also have Earth-Elemental and Fire-Elemental magic talent?”</p><p>She remembered that Meng Lei only had Thunder-Elemental magic talent when they were going through the magic evaluation test half a year ago. Why had he gained Earth-Elemental and Fire-Elemental magic talent after a short span of half a year?</p><p>Moreover, judging from the current situation, his Fire-Elemental affinity actually didn’t lose out to his Thunder-Elemental affinity at all. Only his Earth-Elemental affinity was slightly weaker!</p><p>Even so, it was still much stronger than her Wood-Elemental affinity!</p><p>In other words, Big Brother Meng Lei had Superior-Grade Thunder-Elemental affinity, Superior-Grade Fire-Elemental affinity, as well as High-Grade Earth-Elemental affinity!</p><p>Two Superior-Grade elemental affinities!</p><p>One High-Grade elemental affinity!</p><p>Given his magic talent, he could truly be labeled as savage to the extreme!</p><p>“This… Maybe they had awakened recently?”</p><p>Meng Lei narrowed his eyes a little, various thoughts running through his mind. The High-Grade Earth-Elemental affinity was something that he had picked up from Fatty Hart. What was the Superior-Grade Fire-Elemental affinity all about, then?</p><p>He had never picked that up before!</p><p>Wait!</p><p>Could it be the Fire Demon bloodline?</p><p>It was also possible that it was the Fire Dragon bloodline!</p><p>When he thought of that, Meng Lei couldn’t help but figure it out somewhat. Be it the Fire Dragon or the Fire Demon, both of them were strong and powerful Fire-Elemental Magical Beasts. Both could control fire and manipulate flames!</p><p>After assimilating the Fire Dragon and Fire Demon bloodlines, having superior elemental affinity with Fire Elements… was completely reasonable!</p><p>Meng Lei took a deep breath.</p><p><em>Looks like there’s a great need for me to study fire-elemental spells in the future. It’s a huge waste if I don’t make use of such strong elemental affinity!</em></p><p>“Awakened recently?”</p><p>Jonah was a little dazed.</p><p>“Is that even possible?”</p><p>“Haha, of course it is. Aren’t I a living example?”</p><p>Meng Lei laughed and changed the topic. He said, “Jonah, this magic crystal ball isn’t cheap, right? Surely you didn’t spend that much buying this just to come back to the village to show off?”</p><p>“Of course not!” Jonah rolled her eyes at Meng Lei. She explained, “I want to let the children check their magic talent and then teach them how to use magic. I don’t want them to stay in the village and accomplish nothing for all of their lives!”</p><p>“That’s a wonderful way of thinking. I raise both hands in agreement!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded slightly and said with a smile, “Hurry and do it, then. Who knows, there might really be people with magic talent here!”</p><p>“Okay!”</p><p>Jonah began to check the children’s magic talent right away.</p><p>As the saying went, “When a man achieves the Dao, even his poultry and dogs rise to Heaven!”</p><p>This was exactly it!</p><p>Although Jonah hadn’t achieved great accomplishments, as the first person in Magical Beast Village’s history to enter a magic academy to study, her existence had already begun to influence this tiny village!</p><p>All those above 10 years old and below 18 years old could get their elemental affinity tested.</p><p>Of course, all the children above 16 years old had already gone out of town to serve military service. Thus, only children below 16 years old were tested.</p><p>After a series of tests, they really did discover two lucky little fellows. Both were girls, and were even a pair of twins!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-61

Chapter 61

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 61</h1><p>Chapter 61: Going Into The Mountains Again, Hunting Magical Beasts</p><p>They were dressed in long, coarse sackcloth dresses, barefooted, and covered in mud like clay monkey dolls, but both girls on the left and right looked exactly the same as if they were cast from the same mold.</p><p>They were that lucky pair of twin sisters!</p><p>Hester Draper, High-Grade Fire-Elemental affinity!</p><p>Monica Draper, High-Grade Water-Elemental affinity!</p><p>“High-grade elemental affinity! It’s actually better than mine!”</p><p>Jonah was astonished at the results of the test. High-grade elemental affinity was extremely rare. It was uncommon even among the nobility, not to mention the remote and secluded Magical Beast Village.</p><p>Yet it had appeared twice at once in this pair of sisters!</p><p>One could only say that different people really had different destinies!</p><p>“It would be too much of a waste not to study magic when they have such great magic talent!”</p><p>Meng Lei looked at the twin sisters with a big smile. “Hester, Monica, from now on, the two of you can learn how to meditate from Big Sister Jonah. Improve your spiritual power first, then enroll in a magic academy next year.”</p><p>“Okay!”</p><p>The two sisters nodded hard, as though they understood him but not quite, either. Two shallow dimples appeared on each of their muddy little faces, making them look extremely adorable.</p><p>Envy filled the other children’s eyes as they looked at the twin sisters. Despite their young age, they understood what having, or lacking, magic talent meant, too!</p><p>“Those without magic talent shouldn’t lose heart, either. You guys can learn Battle Aura from Joseph and Andrew. All of you will still have the chance to become someone strong in the future!”</p><p>“Okay!”</p><p>…</p><p>Night fell, and the roars of beasts rang out occasionally in the forest.</p><p>Numerous campfires blazed on the flat ground in the village center. Golden-yellow roast meats gave off a meaty aroma that enveloped the village while villagers sat on the ground as they cheered and laughed.</p><p>“Meng Lei, thank you for subduing the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros for me. Here’s a toast to you!”</p><p>“Meng Lei, thank you for forking out money to support Joseph’s studies!”</p><p>“Haha…”</p><p>Tonight was destined to be a lively and bustling night. The men played finger-guessing games and drank, the women danced and sang, and the children cheered and laughed. Everyone’s faces brimmed with joy and smiles of happiness.</p><p>The campfire banquet lasted all the way till late night before it ended. That night, Meng Lei skipped his daily meditation and had a good sleep instead.</p><p>Early in the next morning, he got his things ready and set off.</p><p>Morning fog shrouded the forest, and only the surroundings three to four meters around a person was visible. Not only was visibility very low, but the plants in the village had also grown all over the place.</p><p>Towering ancient trees and thorny undergrowth!</p><p>Draping vines and thick, verdant shrubs!</p><p>Speeding up one’s journey was a very difficult task in such a messy and unbearable environment. One could very easily come under attacks. A poisonous snake, a poisonous scorpion, a scourge of poisonous mosquitoes—any of these could take a person’s life!</p><p>“The higher a Magical Beast’s level is, the more valuable it is.</p><p>“I have to try my best to go as deep into the forest as I can.</p><p>“There’s no need to waste any time in the forest’s outer boundary!”</p><p>There were only ordinary wild beasts in the forest’s outer boundary. Meng Lei wasn’t the least bit interested in them, so he rode on the magic carpet and headed straight toward the depths of the forest.</p><p>Magical Beast Forest was enormous, so much so that it was practically boundless. After flying for a good half a day, Meng Lei finally landed in the forest, ready to hunt some Magical Beasts!</p><p>“Earthquake!”</p><p>With the spot beneath Meng Lei’s feet as the center, a series of rhythmic tremors quietly spread outward in every direction. It was the Earth-Elemental Spell, Earthquake!</p><p>Earthquake was a very simple spell that even First-Grade Magicians could cast. Capable of making the ground shake and sway, the tremors’ scale and frequency depended wholly on the spellcaster’s spiritual power and degree of control in magic power.</p><p>In the hands of a high-level Magician, Earthquake could shake the earth, trigger an avalanche, and cause massive destruction. At the same time, it could also produce vibrations in the ground so mild that they were barely discernible.</p><p>Meng Lei was currently using Earthquake to search for Magical Beasts in the surroundings. With his current spellcasting standard, he could cover a search range within a radius of over 200 meters with Earthquake!</p><p>“There’s a Magical Beast at two o’clock!”</p><p>Meng Lei carefully crept over and parted a bunch of bushes. A lizard that was dark green in color throughout, covered head to toe in spikes, and over five-meters-long entered his sight.</p><p>“It’s the Fourth-Grade Magical Beast, Ground-Spike Lizard!”</p><p>Meng Lei frowned lightly, his interest in it somewhat a little lackluster. The prices of Fourth-Grade Magical Beasts were so-so, and their magic cores only fetched 2,000 to 3,000 gold coins per core. It didn’t bring in much!</p><p>Even so, Meng Lei still cast the Earth-Elemental Spell, Ground-Piercing Lance, anyway, and stabbed the Ground-Spike Lizard dead before the poor lizard even realized what was happening.</p><p>“Ding! 1 Ground-Spike Lizard killed, 2,400 gold coins gained!”</p><p>“2,400 gold coins? Not bad!”</p><p>Meng Lei walked over, fished out a dagger, and gouged out the Ground-Spike Lizard’s magic core. He ignored the blood on it and tossed it straight into the spatial ring.</p><p><em>Another 2,000 gold coins into the bank account!</em></p><p>“That’s double the cash with a single Magical Beast! Marvelous!</p><p>“Earthquake!</p><p>“Another Magical Beast at 11 o’clock in front!</p><p>“A Fourth-Grade Magical Beast?</p><p>“Ground-Piercing Lance!”</p><p>“Ding! 1 Golden Rhinoceros Beetle killed, 2,200 gold coins gained!”</p><p>“Earthquake!</p><p>“A Fourth-Grade Magical Beast again? What the f*ck!”</p><p>“Ding! 1 Golden-Spotted Silver Ant killed, 2,400 gold coins gained!”</p><p>Just like that, Meng Lei hunted as he advanced. In this particular region of Magical Beast Forest, mid-grade Magical Beasts were very common. Just like normal wild beasts in the forest’s outer boundary, they fought and fed on each other and competed against each other for the sake of survival!</p><p>“I’ve already killed seven Magical Beasts and earned more than 20,000 gold coins in less than two hours!</p><p>“Yeap, not bad, I would say!”</p><p>Meng Lei walked up to a Six-Winged Iron Crocodile that had died with grievances. He gouged out its magic core, put it happily into his spatial ring, and then continued on his journey.</p><p>“What a shame that there isn’t any way I can carry these Magical Beast carcasses out. Otherwise, I’d be able to earn yet another sum of money!”</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>“Eh?”</p><p>Right at this point, a few peculiar sounds reached his ears. Meng Lei’s footsteps came to a stop. He cocked his ears and looked toward the three o’clock direction. A few more of the peculiar sounds reached his ears again, the sounds crisp, clear, and horrifying!</p><p>Meng Lei wasn’t a stranger to the sound—this was the sound of a sharp blade piercing through flesh.</p><p>“Is someone fighting over there?</p><p>“That doesn’t make sense, though! There aren’t any battling sounds!”</p><p>Puzzled, Meng Lei quietly crept over. Then, he was astounded by the scene in front of him!</p><p>In the fields in front was a blazing campfire, and propped on top of the fire was a rack of roasted meat. The roast was a golden-yellow color, and a meaty aroma assailed the nostrils, easily stimulating anyone’s appetite.</p><p>However, Meng Lei wasn’t in the mood to eat the roasted meat at all because strewn all over the ground around the campfire were five dead bodies!</p><p>There were both men and women, and both Warriors and Magicians!</p><p>Everyone’s eyes were widened, and all of them were unable to rest in peace after their deaths, however. Their throats had been slit, and blood was gurgling as it flowed out of their wounds. They had died in an extremely tragic manner!</p><p>“Who the hell did this? Isn’t this too brutal?” Meng Lei murmured softly, a chill coming over him.</p><p>It was evident from the pitiful, horrifying sight of the victims, as well as the signs in the murder scene that they hadn’t even been able to put up any resistance at all during their deaths.</p><p>They hadn’t been able to put up even an ounce of resistance, yet the killer had still slit their throats, nonetheless.</p><p>How tragic!</p><p>“Are you looking for me?”</p><p>Unexpectedly, a joking voice suddenly rang out in Meng Lei’s ears right at that moment. Alarm had only just welled up within Meng Lei when he felt a slight chill at his throat.</p><p><em>Danger!!!</em></p><p>That was Meng Lei’s immediate reaction.</p><p>His second reaction was to pull back.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Meng Lei’s powerful physical body constitution, which was on par with a Seventh-Grade Warrior’s, produced an outburst of strength. The moment he sprung into the air, he went ten-meters-high and leaped forcefully backward. In just a split second, he had already shot over ten meters away!</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>The person that had ambushed Meng Lei was astonished!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-62

Chapter 62

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 62</h1><p>Chapter 62: Killing The Assassin, Becoming A Seventh-Grade Magician</p><p>In the instant when Meng Lei jumped away, a small and skinny man with a large bamboo hat on his head and wrapped head to toe in black clothing showed up. He had a dazed and stupefied expression on his face as he stared at Meng Lei, who had jumped more than ten meters away.</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>“He’s that fast!?”</p><p>A moment ago, he had detected someone approaching, so he had concealed himself. Right after that, Meng Lei had appeared within his sight.</p><p>He was so young!</p><p>And he was a Magician, too!</p><p>So, how strong could he even be?</p><p>Thus, he had promptly launched an attack.</p><p>Little did he imagine that Meng Lei would actually move so quickly. His outburst of speed in that instant just now had definitely surpassed a Fifth-Grade Warrior’s. Was he really a goddamn Magician?</p><p>“I’ve actually made a mistake in my judgment!”</p><p>The small and skinny man licked his lips, a dark and deep look in his eyes.</p><p><em>That was so close!!!</em></p><p>Meng Lei landed on a tree, a layer of cold sweat forming on his back. It was fortunate that he had reacted in time just now. Otherwise, his throat would definitely have been slit!</p><p>That was really such a close shave!</p><p>He suddenly thought of a saying, “In Magical Beast Forest, what one needs to be on guard against the most aren’t Magical Beasts, but humans!”</p><p>Magical Beast Forest was independent of the four great empires. There were no laws, no rules and regulations, and no morals here. It was a wild, savage, and uncivilized territory. It was the Magical Beasts’ paradise and the adventurers’ heaven!</p><p>Most of the people that came here were here for magic cores. Some hunted Magical Beasts honestly and honorably to obtain magic cores, but some didn’t go about it in the same way. Instead, they pointed their blades at their own kind.</p><p>After all, it was obvious that one could obtain magic cores a lot faster by killing others.</p><p>This led to humans becoming a more dangerous presence in the Magical Beast Forest instead!</p><p>Very evidently, the small and skinny man in front of Meng Lei right now belonged to this group of people. The moment he thought of that, the look in Meng Lei’s eyes turned cold and frosty, and murderous intent arose in his eyes.</p><p><em>To actually dare to set his sights on me, he ought to die!</em></p><p>The small and skinny man glanced at Meng Lei. Then, he disappeared from the spot where he was. Meng Lei secretly became more cautious and vigilant—he didn’t think that the other party would leave just like that!. And true enough…</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>An almost indiscernible sound of something slicing through the air quietly rang out. An icy glint suddenly flew out from the left and shot right toward Meng Lei’s temples.</p><p>A person’s temples were awfully fragile. Once struck, there was no doubt that the person would die!</p><p>Meng Lei pulled back and evaded the attack. Then, he heard a crash—the man had actually inexplicably emerged from underneath his feet and was plunging the dagger in his hand toward Meng Lei’s heart!</p><p>The dagger reflected a vibrant green glow in the sunlight. It was obvious that it was covered in poison. Should one be even the slightest bit struck by it, they would lose their life for sure!</p><p><em>A diversion tactic? How cunning!</em></p><p>Meng Lei didn’t panic at all. His right hand suddenly transformed into a dragon claw and, in one motion, grabbed hold of the dagger plunging toward his heart. Then, as the man watched him in stunned surprise, he rammed his knee upward brutally.</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>As though something had been forcibly burst, the man let out a shrill scream that sounded like the squeals of a pig being slaughtered, and his whole self launched right into the air!</p><p>“Die!”</p><p>Meng Lei let out a cold snort and casually flung out a lightning lance. It instantly pierced through the man’s heart and pinned him onto a large tree!</p><p>“Y… you’re… a… a… dragon…”</p><p>The man’s mouth opened and closed. He wanted to say something, but in the end, before he could utter anything, his head fell to the side… and he croaked!</p><p>“Phew!”</p><p>Meng Lei breathed a big sigh of relief, and his heart finally settled at ease. That guy was an assassin. He could appear and disappear like a ghost and was incredibly sly and cunning. Even a Sixth-Grade Warrior would perish in his hands if they were careless!</p><p>What a pity that he had bumped into Meng Lei instead!</p><p>“Murderers will also be killed by others someday!”</p><p>Meng Lei walked right up to the small and skinny man. There wasn’t even an ounce of sympathy in his eyes. Who knew just how many people had died in the hands of people like him that specially hid in the shadows to attack adventurers in Magical Beast Forest? He was definitely scum even among the dregs of society. There was nothing regrettable about his death at all.</p><p>However, one must admit that people like him were usually very wealthy.</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes turned bright and shiny, and he began to rummage through the corpse’s clothes…</p><p>“Nothing in his hands! Nothing in his pockets, either!</p><p>“No spatial equipment! No magic crystal cards or gold coins, either!</p><p>“How strange! Why isn’t there anything on him? Could he actually be a pauper?</p><p>“That shouldn’t be the case, though…”</p><p>After searching the body for a good half a day, he simply didn’t find even half a bronze coin. This aggravated Meng Lei badly. His presumption was that wicked crooks like him that relied on attacking and killing adventurers should all be filthy rich, so how could he possibly be penniless?</p><p>“Something’s not right here!”</p><p>Meng Lei decided to start a fire in a fit of pique and began to burn the man’s dead body. “I don’t believe that you don’t even have half a gold coin on you…”</p><p>The fire burned and blazed!</p><p>Under the burning of fire-elemental spells, the man’s body didn’t even last that long before he was burned into ashes. His clothes, flesh and blood, and bones—all of them were reduced to ashes.</p><p>And with that, true enough, Meng Lei discovered something odd!</p><p>A belt made out of some kind of special magic material laid quietly among the ashes. In addition, there were four rings tied to the belt!</p><p>“Why didn’t I find this when I was searching his body just now?</p><p>“Could the belt have been sewn inside the clothes?</p><p>“Yeah, there’s a possibility of that!”</p><p>Meng Lei was secretly glad that he had gone a step further. Then, he picked up the belt and began to examine it.</p><p>The moment he did, Meng Lei became utterly excited.</p><p>“Haha! It’s actually a spatial belt!</p><p>“What a huge space!</p><p>“I’m rich! I’m gonna be rich now!</p><p>“Let’s take a look at the four rings now!</p><p>“What the hell?”</p><p>Meng Lei was absolutely delirious with joy!</p><p>The belt and the four rings were actually all spatial magic devices!</p><p>The space inside the belt was the largest and stretched as far as 150 cubic meters!</p><p>The four spatial rings were slightly inferior. They were respectively 100 cubic meters, 60 cubic meters, 50 cubic meters, and 10 cubic meters each.</p><p>Apart from that, there was a large quantity of highly valuable items, such as magic cores, gold coins, jewels, weapons, magic crystal cards, magic materials, magic devices, and more inside the five spatial magic devices!</p><p>Of course, there were also clothes, roast meat, condiments, tents, and some other day-to-day necessities that weren’t valuable but were still useful inside.</p><p>“Just the value of the five spatial magic devices alone has already exceeded 30,000,000 gold coins!</p><p>“Not to mention that there are so many gold coins, magic crystal cards, and jewels, too!</p><p>“I’ve really struck it big this time!</p><p>“Wahahaha, I’ve struck it big now!</p><p>“Calm down!</p><p>“Calm down!</p><p>“This is the Magical Beast Forest where it’s full of perils!.</p><p>“If I celebrate too soon and things start going wrong instead, it’ll become a tragedy.”</p><p>Meng Lei forced himself to calm down. He eagerly found somewhere relatively safe and began to make an inventory of his rewards this time.</p><p>“First things first—all the gold coins go into the system.”</p><p>“Ding! Congratulations to the host. Wealth +570,000 gold coins!”</p><p>“570,000 gold coins!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes lit up, and he hastily looked at the personal stats interface.</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human (Contains Fire Dragon bloodline and Fire Demon bloodline)</p><p>Wealth: 1,067,835 gold coins</p><p>“One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand…</p><p>“One million and sixty thousand!</p><p>“One million and sixty thousand gold coins!”</p><p>Meng Lei broke into a grin so wide that it practically stretched from ear to ear. “I had worked so arduously in my past life and conscientiously did my best to earn an income, but even after toiling for four years, I’d only been able to make a down deposit for a house.</p><p>“Never would I have thought that I’d become a millionaire after coming to this alternate universe for just half a year! My life doesn’t lose out to the main characters in those novels, right?”</p><p>A millionaire!</p><p>For this, Meng Lei had struggled and strove for several years in his past life. Now that he’d finally realized this dream in this life, one of the biggest regrets in his heart had been resolved.</p><p>However…</p><p>Although money was wonderful, if it couldn’t be put to practical use, then it was nothing more than just a bunch of numbers.</p><p>“Come, come! I’ll redeem 60,000 gold coins’ worth of Stat Attribute Points first.</p><p>“Then, distribute them to my Spirit and Magic Power attributes.</p><p>“Haha, I can finally be willful for once!”</p><p>“Ding! Congratulations to the host for becoming a Seventh-Grade Magician!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-63

Chapter 63

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 63</h1><p>Chapter 63: An Arduous Task And The Road Ahead Is Long, Meng Lei Was Swallowed</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human (Contains Fire Dragon bloodline and Fire Demon bloodline)</p><p>Wealth: 1,007,835 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Seventh-Grade Warrior (15,123/50,000)</p><p>Spirit: Seventh-Grade Magician (10,128/50,000)</p><p>Magic Power: Seventh-Grade Magician (10,032/50,000)</p><p>Spell(s): Some increase</p><p>Battle Aura Technique(s): Fire Dragon Manual</p><p>Battle Skills: Some increase</p><p>“Magic power has been liquefied! Its quantity has decreased, but its destructive power has become more terrifying!</p><p>“Spiritual power has also greatly increased!</p><p>“Seventh-Grade Magician!</p><p>“I am now a high-grade Magician!</p><p>“A Great Magician!”</p><p>Meng Lei was extremely excited as he kept looking at his attributes.</p><p>Magic cultivation often required diligent meditation, slowly improving every day and night, and years of research. This was much more difficult compared to Battle Aura!</p><p>It was a process of accumulation and consolidation for Magicians before the seventh grade. The power they could unleash was limited, and they generally were no match for a Warrior.</p><p>But when they reached the realm of seventh-grade, the situation was completely different. At this stage, the Magician could instantly cast third-grade magic, releasing shockingly powerful advanced spells. Their damage output would be much more than Warriors of the same grade!</p><p>Because of this, a Seventh-Grade Magician was much more precious than a Seventh-Grade Warrior. Kingdoms would generally award titles to Seventh-Grade Magicians, making them noblemen and granting them territories!</p><p>There was no such treatment for Seventh-Grade Warriors.</p><p>One could see the vast difference in treatment!</p><p>“I’m going back to the capital city now. If I’m lucky, who knows, I might become a Baron, haha!”</p><p>Meng Lei was very satisfied with today’s harvest—570,000 gold coins, countless treasures, and a spatial magic device worth 30,000,000. It could be said that he had made a fortune.</p><p>This trip to the Magical Beast Forest was worth it!</p><p>“However, if I want to continue my progress, I will need even more gold coins.”</p><p>For Physical Body Constitution, 34,877 Attribute Points were required to advance from seventh-grade to eighth-grade, which translated to 340,000 gold coins!</p><p>Spiritual Power required 390,000 gold coins!</p><p>Magic Power also required 390,000 gold coins!</p><p>Adding the three together, he required a total of 1,120,000 gold coins.</p><p>1,120,000 gold coins!</p><p>Meng Lei currently only had 1,000,000 gold coins. This was not enough!</p><p>This was of secondary importance. Meng Lei could easily raise the difference by selling his magic cores, gems, magic devices, and other things in his possession.</p><p>The main concern was—what was he to do after that?</p><p>The advancement from seventh-grade to eighth-grade already required a lot of gold coins. What about eighth-grade to ninth? And from ninth to Saint Domain?</p><p>How many gold coins would these need?</p><p>10,000,000?</p><p>50,000,000?</p><p>Or… even more?</p><p>Meng Lei did not have the answer. But one thing was certain. The more one progressed, the more they needed. The amount may exceed his imagination.</p><p>“Not enough! Far from being enough!”</p><p>Meng Lei let out a suffocating breath. That wisp of joy in his heart also disappeared. He felt that he had an arduous task, and the road ahead was long.</p><p>“Make more money! I need more money!”</p><p>Meng Lei ventured deeper into the Magical Beast Forest without any hesitation.</p><p>“There’s a Magical Beast at one o’clock!”</p><p>“Ding! Ghostly Spirit Cat killed, 3,200 gold coins gained!”</p><p>“Another Magical Beast at four o’clock!</p><p>“Ding! Horned Rhinoceros killed, 8,300 gold coins gained!”</p><p>He continued to venture deeper. Although the Magical Beasts were getting scarce, they were stronger!</p><p>Fourth-Grade Magical Beast!</p><p>Fifth-Grade Magical Beast!</p><p>Sixth-Grade Magical Beast!</p><p>Meng Lei advanced deep into the forest and finally reached the area where the Sixth-Grade Magical Beasts were. By then, the night had quietly fallen, and the Magical Beast Forest was gradually shrouded in darkness!</p><p>“It’s getting dark. I have to find a safe place to spend the night.”</p><p>Most of the Magical Beasts hid in their nests during the day and hunted at night. Hence, the Magical Beast Forest was much more dangerous at night than during the day!</p><p>Because of this, the night was a great opportunity to hunt for Magical Beasts. However, Meng Lei was unable to continue. After a day of running around, he was already very tired and needed a rest to replenish his strength and energy.</p><p>Nevertheless, in the depths of the Magical Beast Forest, he could not let down his guard.</p><p>Now that it was night, where would be a suitable place to rest?</p><p>Meng Lei released the magic carpet and hovered over the forest, looking for a suitable place to camp. As he was high up in the air, he was able to see far and managed to find a spot.</p><p>“That canyon looks good!”</p><p>A long and narrow crack appeared in the sea of trees ahead as if someone had cut through it with a knife. It was a canyon sandwiched between two big mountains.</p><p>“Let’s head over there to take a look.”</p><p>Meng Lei activated the magic carpet and flew over quickly. Within a short while, he had reached the top of the canyon and saw a gurgling stream flowing from the canyon’s depths. The vegetation on both sides of the stream was extremely lush.</p><p>If one didn’t look carefully, they wouldn’t be able to find it.</p><p>Meng Lei followed the stream and flew all the way into the depths of the winding canyon. At times, it was narrow, but at times, it was spacious, extremely inconsistent. As he got deeper, his field of vision gradually widened.</p><p>At the deepest part of the canyon, a huge pool appeared in front of him. White mist drifted above the water surface, giving off the appearance of a fairy cave.</p><p>The mist looked like a scene from a dream.</p><p>“This is… a hot spring?”</p><p>While hovering in the air, Meng Lei could feel a sense of warmth on his face, which made him overjoyed. Clearly, there was a hot pool below.</p><p>“If it’s really a hot spring, that will be great!”</p><p>Meng Lei landed on the water and stretched out his hand. A warm current that was able to soothe his muscles and bones traveled from the water, permeating his skin. It was extremely comfortable!</p><p>“This hot spring… fits the bill!”</p><p>After a tiring day, it was a great blessing to be able to encounter such a hot spring. Afraid that even Hui Xialiu[1] could not resist it, Meng Lei gave off a cry, took off his magic robe, and plunged in without hesitation. He groaned in comfort as the hot spring water moistened his skin.</p><p>“What the heck! It’s too hot!</p><p>“However… not enough.”</p><p>Given the water temperature, an ordinary person would definitely be boiled and become a red-skin pig, but Meng Lei was different. His body was comparable to a Seventh-Grade Warrior, and he possessed the bloodlines of the Fire Dragon and Fire Demon. He was completely not afraid of heat.</p><p>Water at 70–80°C was no different from this hot spring!</p><p>“Haha, nice!”</p><p>Meng Lei opened up his arms and kicked his legs as he swam around the pool. The speed was enough to embarrass the fish and cause the toad to hang itself.</p><p>“Flip-flap, flip-flap” sounds echoed as the water splashed around in all directions!</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>First was freestyle, which had the fastest speed.</p><p>Next was the energy-saving breaststroke.</p><p>Followed by the beautiful butterfly stroke… Forget it, he did not know how to perform it!</p><p>After a round of wild bombardment, Meng Lei lay on his back in the water and closed his eyes. He felt the wonderful feeling of the water gently touching his skin and the warmth sweeping across his whole body. Not to mention, all of this was simply amazing.</p><p>One way to describe it—very satisfying!</p><p>Crash!</p><p>At that moment, a sudden change occurred.</p><p>There was a deafening sound of water exploding, and a huge black figure suddenly jumped out of the water. It opened its big black mouth as it charged toward Meng Lei!</p><p>“What the hell?”</p><p>Meng Lei only felt a stench through his nose. Before he could react, he was swallowed by the black figure!</p><p>Gurgle~</p><p>Gurgle~</p><p>Burp~</p><p>The black figure burped contentedly and shook its head. It then dived back into the water, as if it had never appeared in the first place!</p><p>[1] A famous web novelist</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-64

Chapter 64

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 64</h1><p>Chapter 64: The World At The Bottom Of The Lake, Saint Domain Dragon Corpse</p><p>Meng Lei’s entire body was wrapped in greasy liquid. The terrifying pressure that engulfed him and the stench that assaulted his nose almost made him vomit out his overnight meal.</p><p>“I was actually swallowed!</p><p>“Goddamnit!</p><p>“I was cautious for most of my journey. Ultimately, I let my guard down!”</p><p>Meng Lei was a little ashamed. After he had come to the Magical Beast Forest, he had been extremely careful. Little did he expect that he would fall into a trap!</p><p>When one celebrated too soon, things would start going wrong.</p><p>“However, the most urgent thing is to get out of this wretched place. This stench is killing me!”</p><p>Just as he finished his thoughts, Meng Lei decisively decided to transform his body. A raging fire ignited across his whole body as his arms became longer and thicker, and his nails morphed into sharp claws. He was now in the state of Fire Demon!</p><p>“Burn!”</p><p>As Meng Lei transformed into a Fire Demon, raging flames began to burn. The black figure screamed in pain as it felt a bone-piercing pain. It began to twitch violently.</p><p>“Hey! This is what you get for swallowing me!”</p><p>Meng Lei could feel the black figure’s pain, and the anger in his heart was relieved. He had set off a huge fire in its stomach—it shouldn’t be a good feeling.</p><p>It was not over yet. Meng Lei used his claws to severely rip the black figure’s internal organs, similar to the scene where the Monkey King wreaked havoc in the Iron Fan Princess’ belly.</p><p>“Moo, moo—”</p><p>This hurt the black figure, and it cried like a cow. Its long tail slapped the water as it charged around madly in the pond. It was in extreme pain.</p><p>Water splashed everywhere as waves tumbled, white mist rose, and the rocks crumbled!</p><p>Through the white mist, one could see the body of the black figure that was being exposed from time to time. It appeared to be an emerald green python with a bull’s head and horns and crocodile claws.</p><p>It was the Seventh-Grade Magical Beast—Crocodile-Backed Ox Python!</p><p>As a powerful Seventh-Grade Magical Beast, the Crocodile-Backed Ox Python was the tyrant of this area for a hundred-mile radius. This canyon and water pond were one of its lairs. Usually, not many Magical Beasts dared to trespass!</p><p>The Crocodile-Backed Ox Python had been sleeping at the bottom of the lake for a few days. Just when it had been about to go out hunting, it had found Meng Lei. Hence, it had swallowed Meng Lei in one bite and saved the effort of going out.</p><p>Unexpectedly, this was the beginning of a nightmare…</p><p>Its stomach was ravaged by flames, while a sharp blade was cutting through its intestines!</p><p>The suffering that it was going through was comparable to the Ten Great Tortures of the Manchu and Qing Dynastie.! The Crocodile-Backed Ox Python was in despair!</p><p>Its screams lasted for a full quarter of an hour before it gradually stopped. Finally, it died after experiencing the ultimate torment.</p><p>“Ding! One Crocodile-Backed Ox Python killed. 220,000 gold coins gained!”</p><p>“220,000 gold coins? Is this a Seventh-Grade Magical Beast?”</p><p>Meng Lei slashed its back and crawled out of the body. He felt sticky and smelly, and he almost vomited in disgust.</p><p>“Bah, bah! It’s so stinky!”</p><p>Meng Lei took his soap and shower gel out of the spatial ring. After rubbing hard for half an hour, the stench was gone.</p><p>“What the heck is this?”</p><p>Meng Lei felt a little helpless before recalling the monster he killed. It was a Seventh-Grade Magical Beast, and its magic core was very valuable. Well, it must be picked up.</p><p>Just as he thought of this, Meng Lei turned and looked around. He didn’t see any traces of the Crocodile-Backed Ox Python. He believed it must have sunk to the bottom of the pond.</p><p>“Let’s go take a look.”</p><p>It was pitch black at the bottom of the pond, and one couldn’t even see their fingers. However, this did not trouble Meng Lei. He dived to the bottom of the pond and executed the technique ‘Earthquake’!</p><p>A tremor gently rippled forth, and he received feedback on everything within a radius of 200 meters. Meng Lei easily found the corpse of the Crocodile-Backed Ox Python. However, he did not make a move.</p><p>He stared at the bottom of the lake as a strange expression flashed across his face.</p><p>“Below, the bottom of the lake is… empty?”</p><p>The magical thing about ‘Earthquake’ was that it could not only detect things on the ground, but it could also detect things one to two meters underground.</p><p>The tremors he felt were not from a piece of land.</p><p>Meng Lei made a miraculous discovery. The area one meter below the bottom of the pond was not earth or any geological formation. Rather, it appeared to be… an empty vacuum!</p><p>“Empty?”</p><p>“How could it be empty?”</p><p>“Weird!”</p><p>Meng Lei executed ‘Earthquake’ again. This time it was not to detect, but to… dig!</p><p>The mud deposit at the bottom of the pond slowly rippled outward. Within a short while, a hole with a two-meter diameter and a depth of one meter appeared.</p><p>According to Meng Lei’s conjecture, if the pond’s bottom was really empty, the water would pour into the ‘vacuum’ after he had dug the hole.</p><p>But he was wrong!</p><p>After the hole was created, the water did not gush into the hole. It was as if the hole did not exist at all. On the contrary, a dazzling red beam shot up out of the hole, blinding Meng Lei’s eyes!</p><p>After gradually adapting to the red light, Meng Lei couldn’t wait to look at the hole. He felt scorching heat on his face, making him feel as if he was in a volcano.</p><p>Right, this was the crater of a volcano!</p><p>He ended up discovering a red world below. There were red rock walls all round and red lava underneath.</p><p>Gurgle~</p><p>Gurgle~</p><p>The hot lava was like boiling water with bubbling black smoke, constantly releasing terrifying heatwaves and a pungent sulfuric smell.</p><p>“Underground… lava? Not possible!”</p><p>Meng Lei was dumbfounded. “This pond isn’t that deep. It can’t connect all the way underground. The only possibility… This is the crater of an active volcano! That’s why there is lava on such a shallow surface!”</p><p>Upon seeing the underground lava and experiencing the emitted heat, Meng Lei did not know why he was edgy with an itch in his heart…</p><p>He had an urge to jump into the hot lava and take a bath!</p><p>“Could this be due to the Fire Dragon bloodline in my body?”</p><p>Meng Lei quietly hypothesized as he popped his head into the hole to observe further. He felt that there was something strange about this crater as the water above it did not flow down. It was illogical!</p><p>“What is that?”</p><p>Meng Lei trembled violently as he stared in one particular direction. He was shocked and horrified as if he had seen a ghost.</p><p>“Dragon? Fire Dragon? That is a Fire Dragon?”</p><p>Meng Lei became a little incoherent. He saw an island sitting in the middle of the vast boiling lava lake. On it, there laid a giant beast of more than 50 meters long.</p><p>Its entire body was covered with fiery red impenetrable-looking scale armor.</p><p>Two dragon horns rose high up, as though they were trying to pierce the sky. Its bat-like wings were spread out, covering the entire island. Its stout tail was covered with barbs and was submerged in the lava. A ferocious and violent aura radiated from it. Even at a distance of tens of meters, Meng Lei could feel the pressurizing aura!</p><p>The ridiculous thing was that this behemoth was actually dead, a lifeless corpse. A black spear was stuck in its head, nailing it in place!</p><p>“This is a Fire Dragon!”</p><p>“Moreover, this is a Saint Domain Fire Dragon!”</p><p>“Why did it die here?”</p><p>Meng Lei found it hard to believe. Dragons were known as the sky’s overlords and belonged to the creatures at the top of the pyramid of lifeforms in the Heaven’s Vault Continent, not to mention Saint Domain Dragons!</p><p>In the first place, could such a powerful creature even be killed?</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-65

Chapter 65

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 65</h1><p>Chapter 65: Gouging Out Dragon Cores & Picking Up Dragon Sh*t</p><p>Shock!</p><p>Confusion!</p><p>Disbelief!</p><p>Meng Lei was feeling a complex mix of emotions!</p><p>A Saint Domain Fire Dragon was already a strong and powerful existence that stood far above all other lifeforms. Creatures that could match up to it… were far and few, yet even it had been killed!</p><p>What did this bit of strength he possessed even count as?</p><p>“There are too many big fishes in Heaven’s Vault Continent! Sigh, I’d better just cultivate properly instead!”</p><p>Meng Lei readjusted his frame of mind. Then, as he gazed at the Fire Dragon carcass on the little island, an indistinct look flashed across his eyes. The value that a Saint Domain Fire Dragon’s carcass held was hard to imagine.</p><p>It was no exaggeration to say that even a single dragon scale scraped off from its body or a pile of dragon sh*t could fetch an exorbitant sum of money. After all, they were a Saint Domain dragon scale and a pile of Saint Domain dragon sh*t!</p><p>Its dragon core, in particular, was absolutely priceless and a most valuable treasure. Even a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast’s magic core could go for up to 10,000,000 gold coins, much less a Saint Domain dragon core?</p><p>“Also, it’s said that the Dragon race adores shiny and glittering things very much and loves to sleep in dens built with gold coins and jewels. As such, every dragon is a moving treasure vault.”</p><p>The moment he thought of that, Meng Lei became worked up at once. A moving treasure vault! If that was really true, then he’d be rich for sure.</p><p>“I have to go down there! I absolutely have to!”</p><p>The more Meng Lei thought about it, the more agitated he became. How he wished he could jump into the pit, walk right up to the Saint Domain Fire Dragon carcass, pluck off its dragon scales, and pick up its dragon sh*t…</p><p>Now, here was the problem—how was he supposed to get down there?</p><p>Meng Lei tossed a rock into the pit. An invisible “wall” blocked the rock, and it couldn’t drop into the pit at all. Come to think of it, the same “wall” must have also blocked the water from the pool.</p><p>“A magic barrier?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s brows drew together at once. Magic barriers were a type of defensive magic spell. They basically worked on the same principle as magic shields and possessed defensive and isolation effects.</p><p>The difference laid only in the size of their effective range.</p><p>“With this magic barrier here, how am I supposed to get down there?”</p><p>Meng Lei was rather anxious. To pass through a magic barrier, one must either get the spellcaster’s permission or break it using sheer brute force!</p><p>Apart from that, there were no other solutions!</p><p>“It’s highly likely that the Saint Domain Fire Dragon put up the magic barrier. How can I possibly break it apart when I’m so weak?”</p><p>Despite thinking so, Meng Lei still attempted to launch an attack anyway.</p><p>What if… It broke, right?</p><p>The earth in the surroundings grouped together and swiftly transformed into a ten-meters-tall earth giant. This was the Sixth-Grade Earth Spell, Swamp Giant!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The giant drew back its fist and smashed it hard against the magic barrier. Following a deafening explosion, the magic barrier remained as intact as ever, whereas the recoil’s impact shattered the earth giant.</p><p>“As expected, the magic barrier is rock-solid, indeed!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s heart sank. Then, he launched the strongest earth-elemental spell that he could cast as of now—Giant Boulder. Earth Elements started gathering in the sky and, under Meng Lei’s deliberate manipulation, condensed into an enormous rock shaped like an electric drill.</p><p>“Giant Boulder… Land!”</p><p>Meng Lei let out a low shout. The rock boulder plummeted from the sky and instantly got past the pool water before crashing violently against the magic barrier!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Amid the shocking collision sounds, a fearsome rebounding force erupted and spread into the surroundings. The rock boulder was smashed directly into smithereens, and along with it, the mud at the bottom of the pool splashed everywhere from the impact.</p><p>Meng Lei was also thrown out, of course.</p><p>“Ugh!”</p><p>With a tuck and roll, Meng Lei landed in the distance. A sense of helplessness welled up in him as he gazed at the magic barrier that had now revealed a large part of itself. Even the Seventh-Grade Spell Giant Boulder hadn’t been able to leave even a scratch on the magic barrier. What must he do in order to break the magic barrier?</p><p>Thunder spells?</p><p>Fire spells?</p><p>Or brute force?</p><p>“There’s water here, so all spells’ effect, be it thunder-elemental or fire-elemental, will be drastically reduced. At this point, I can only give brute force a try!”</p><p>The moment he thought of that, Meng Lei promptly transformed into a Dragon Person. He built an earthen wall around himself to block out the pool water in the surroundings. Then, he leaped high into the air and smashed his fist down.</p><p>“C’mon, break apart!!!”</p><p>Meng Lei had a body that was comparable to a Seventh-Grade Warrior’s. After he transformed into a Dragon Person, his strength was also enhanced severalfold. By further borrowing the force from the downward momentum, this punch of his now contained an absolutely astounding amount of power.</p><p>Even an Eighth-Grade Magical Beast would find the punch hard to stomach if it took the hit. This was also the strongest attack that Meng Lei could currently deliver.</p><p>“If this fails too, then there’s totally nothing I can do about it anymore!”</p><p>Meng Lei had a look of determination in his eyes as he crashed heavily into the magic barrier. However, something completely out of his expectations happened. In the instant that his fist connected with the magic barrier, a slight tremor went through the magic barrier, as though hard, solid ice melting into tepid water or refined steel melting into molten metal…</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>Meng Lei’s fist passed right through and went straight past the magic barrier!</p><p>Along with his fist, Meng Lei himself also passed through the magic barrier!</p><p>It was much like how a sharp arrow passed through a sheet of paper—no obstruction whatsoever!</p><p>“What the heck!?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked absolutely stupefied.</p><p><em>I’d come smashing down with such an aggressive momentum, yet in the end, I didn’t even touch anything at all and passed right through?</em></p><p><em>What the heck are they up to?!</em></p><p>As if a meteor, Meng Lei crashed toward the lava lake at extremely high speed. Scorching heatwaves rushed toward his face, and Meng Lei turned pale from fear at once. The lava’s temperature went as high as over 1,000°C. Should he fall into the lava lake, could his weak and tiny arms and legs even take it?</p><p>Even the Fire Dragon bloodline and the Fire Demon bloodline wouldn’t be able to take it. The temperature was too high!</p><p>“Earth Orbs!”</p><p>At the eleventh hour, Meng Lei cast Earth Orbs, one of the lowest-grade spells, in succession. Several basketball-sized earthen balls formed instantly and blocked him underneath his body to reduce his speed. Just as Meng Lei was about to fall into the lava lake, he finally came to a stop.</p><p>“Phew!”</p><p>When he sensed that his body was no longer falling anymore, at last, Meng Lei involuntarily let out a long breath of air. That was seriously too dangerous just now. Had he fallen into the lava lake, the consequences would have been unthinkable.</p><p>After that, Meng Lei manipulated the earthen balls to pull himself up to the little island in the lake center. The moment he got near the island, a terrifying wave of pressure rushed toward him, and Meng Lei was almost flattened to the ground. Even breathing had become difficult!</p><p>“How terrifying!</p><p>“How absolutely terrifying!</p><p>“Even a carcass can give off such terrifying pressure. Just how powerful must it have been when it was still alive?”</p><p>Meng Lei wiped the cold sweat off his brow and slowly straightened his back. He examined the behemoth lying prostrate in front of him, with an aghast look all over his face!</p><p>It was massive, and even a scale was as big as a bamboo dustpan!</p><p>When one stood underneath it, it was as if they were standing at the bottom of city walls!</p><p>Its crimson-red body was incomparably hard and tough. Filled with a metallic texture, it felt like one was touching steel when they touched the body surface. Light knocks against it produced dull thuds, and it didn’t seem like a body made out of flesh and blood at all.</p><p>“Tough, massive, and boiling hot! Is that what a Fire Dragon is?”</p><p>Meng Lei clicked his tongue in wonder and admiration as he circled around the Fire Dragon and examined it closely. In the past, he had only been able to see creatures like this as statues, on walls, and in magic-related books. He’d never had the opportunity to see it in the flesh like what he was doing now before.</p><p>After a round of observation, Meng Lei now had a deeper understanding of a Fire Dragon’s strength and power. He also somewhat understood why a creature like it was able to stand far above the other lifeforms now.</p><p>“With such a fearsome body, it’s hard to be weak even if it’d wanted to!</p><p>“But… With such a hard and tough body, what must I do in order to dig its dragon core out and pluck off its scales? Am I really going to have to pick up its… dragon sh*t?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-66

Chapter 66

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 66</h1><p>Chapter 66: Saint Domain Magician, This Is A Divine Weapon</p><p>In the boiling hot lava lake, smoke coiled and drifted around while the lake surface bubbled.</p><p>The air in the surroundings was hot and dry. Adding to this the low oxygen content, there was no way ordinary creatures could survive here at all. This was a forbidden area, a place of doom, and even more so a true hell on earth!</p><p>“What should I do?</p><p>“What exactly should I do?”</p><p>Meng Lei was in such a panic that he was going around in circles. The Fire Dragon carcass was too massive. The storage space in his spatial magic devices was nowhere even near enough, which meant that he didn’t have any means of bringing it away with him wholesale for now!</p><p>To avoid falling to the extent of leaving empty-handed, he had to think of a way to pluck at least a little something off its body. Dragon scales, dragon core, dragon horns… These were all wonderful things that could sell for good prices!</p><p>“The problem now is, how do I pluck them off?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes landed on the black spear. The murder weapon had pierced all the way through the Saint Domain Fire Dragon’s head and protruded from its throat.</p><p>It… had impaled the Saint Domain Fire Dragon to death!</p><p>“The hardest and toughest part of a Fire Dragon’s body is its head, yet it could even pierce right through its head. This spear…”</p><p>An indistinct look flashed across Meng Lei’s eyes. He sprung off the ground and leaped onto the Fire Dragon’s head, and made close contact with the peerless murder weapon!</p><p>It was pitch-black like ink throughout, as thick as an adult’s forearm, covered in magic pattern markings all over, and forged from an unknown material.</p><p>“It looks simple and unadorned, while its might muted and subtle!</p><p>“But since it could pierce through the Fire Dragon’s head, then it must be very sharp, right? I should be able to gouge out some stuff with it?”</p><p>Meng Lei gripped the black spear in his hand and pulled forcefully.</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>“Uh…”</p><p>It didn’t budge at all!</p><p>He pulled forcefully again. However, it still didn’t budge. Even when he gritted his teeth and applied force again, it still didn’t even goddamn budge a little.</p><p>“I… F*ck!”</p><p>Meng Lei fell onto his bottom on top of the Fire Dragon’s head. He was close to cursing. “What kind of goddamn spear is that, exactly? It’s actually that heavy?</p><p>“But this shouldn’t be happening!</p><p>“With my Seventh-Grade Warrior strength, what kind of spear can’t I pull out? Or is it stuck in the Fire Dragon’s skull?</p><p>“No, I can’t give up!</p><p>“That’s my only hope in taking apart this dragon carcass!”</p><p>Meng Lei gritted his teeth and tried again.</p><p>Yet during the next few minutes, even after Meng Lei had put in every ounce of strength he had in him, it was as if the black spear had become part of the dragon carcass, and it didn’t even shift at all.</p><p>“I’m so tired!”</p><p>Meng Lei panted heavily. He had the impulse to pick up a hammer and smash everything to smithereens at the moment.</p><p><em>This is so goddamn infuriating! I’ve already wasted half a day doing this, so why don’t you just goddamn move a little?!</em></p><p>“You’re not going to be able to pull out the Gods-Slaying Spear like that!”</p><p>At this moment, an old, aged voice suddenly rang out by Meng Lei’s ear.</p><p>“Who’s there?!”</p><p>Meng Lei jerked violently. He sprung off the ground and took a huge, sudden stride forward. His eyes were full of shock and wariness as he looked around everywhere. Someone else was actually here in an obscure place like this, yet he hadn’t detected their presence at all.</p><p>He’d been too careless!!</p><p>If the other party had harbored ill intentions, he would’ve been…</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t help but shiver.</p><p>“Relax, I don’t have any ill intentions.”</p><p>A wisp of green smoke emerged from the black spear and rose into the air before converging into the shape of a human… No, to be more accurate, it was… A Dragon Person!</p><p>Dressed in a long fiery-red robe, he had a head of long fiery-red hair and a long fiery-red beard. He looked kindly and amicable, and there were two fiery-red horns at the top of his head.</p><p>“W-who are you?” asked Meng Lei as he stuttered in a trembling voice.</p><p>Astounded and horrified, he stared hard at the red-haired elderly man floating above the Fire Dragon’s head.</p><p>“Who am I?”</p><p>The red-haired elderly man chuckled and stroked his beard. “I’m the Fire Dragon Magic Academy’s president, and the chief court Saint Domain Magician of Fire Dragon Kingdom. My name is Amos Kroc. Little fellow, you should’ve heard of this old man’s name before, right?”</p><p>“The president of Fire Dragon Magic Academy?”</p><p>Meng Lei was a little stunned. He murmured softly, “The president of our academy is Fred Flit. I’ve seen what he looks like before, but he doesn’t look like you… Wait!</p><p>“Amos Kroc!!!”</p><p>Meng Lei exclaimed in surprise, “Did you say you’re Amos Kroc?!”</p><p>“Haha, looks like you’ve heard of me!”</p><p>The red-haired elderly man smiled in gratification. “I’m very comforted to hear that!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes were fixed on the old man, however. He said, “Amos Kroc is the second president of our Fire Dragon Magic Academy, but he has already been dead for more than 20,000 years. Yet you’re saying that you’re Amos Kroc. Are you just teasing me?”</p><p>Amos Kroc—the second president of Fire Dragon Magic Academy, a strong and powerful Saint Domain Dragon Person, and a Saint Domain Magician skilled in both water-elemental and fire-elemental magic.</p><p>He was the first Dragon Person to master Dragon-Language Magic and was skilled in the research of magic. He had invented a total of 189 water-elemental and fire-elemental magic spells and made an outstanding contribution to water-elemental and fire-elemental magic research!</p><p>Meng Lei had seen these achievements at the group of statues in Fire Dragon Square. All the glorious achievements of Amos Kroc, the second president, had been engraved on the statue. They were still fresh in Meng Lei’s memories even now, and he also looked up to him very much.</p><p>However, the problem was that President Amos Kroc had mysteriously disappeared after he had stepped down. There had been no news of him ever since, and everyone thought that he had already passed away.</p><p>As of now, more than 20,000 years had already passed!</p><p>“I’ve been dead for more than 20,000 years?”</p><p>The old man was mildly stunned for a moment. Then, he sighed and remarked, “I didn’t expect that more than 20,000 years have already gone by. How times have changed… Time passes by too easily!”</p><p>Meng Lei stared at the old man, not daring to relax even a little.</p><p>“Little fellow, relax. I am indeed Amos Kroc!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos chuckled and said, “Back then, I was stuck at the pinnacle of Saint Domain for many years without any improvement, so I resigned from my position as academy president to wander around the continent and travel to every corner of it.</p><p>“In the end, my efforts were rewarded, and I found an opportunity to break through. Thus, I found this volcanic crater in the Magical Beast Forest.</p><p>“Unexpectedly, at the final stages when I was about to break through, this black spear came flying here from some unknown place. It killed me on the spot, devoured my soul, and sealed me within it!”</p><p>There was neither hatred nor fury in the old man when he related all these. He spoke in a calm and tranquil voice, and his disposition was cheerful as if he was narrating something trivial and unimportant.</p><p>His state of mind moved Meng Lei emotionally.</p><p>Despite being killed by someone, he was still able to stay so calm and tranquil. What an unbeatable state of mind he possessed!</p><p>Of course, he didn’t eliminate the possibility that Ol’ Amos was lying and deceiving him, either.</p><p>With regard to that, Meng Lei had no way of telling. He could only go along with the old man and ask, “So, you don’t know who had killed you, either?”</p><p>“That’s right!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos nodded slightly, somewhat frustrated. “Being sealed in this black spear and unable to see the light of day, and becoming something neither human nor ghost, this old man has resented, hated, and had become aggrieved before…</p><p>“But after such a long time, everything has already been worn away. It’s just that I was killed so absurdly, yet I don’t even know who my foe was. This old man is certainly more or less rather frustrated!”</p><p>“Anyone would be frustrated.” Meng Lei shook his head and went on. “But the owner of this spear could kill even you, so their battle capabilities must have reached unfathomable depths. Perhaps not knowing who they are might be something positive instead!”</p><p>“I’ve also considered that.” Ol’ Amos smiled and said, “The material that this spear is made out of isn’t something that can be found in Heaven’s Vault Continent. The magic circle engraved on it also contains endless profoundness and has surpassed the Saint Domain stage.</p><p>“Thus, my bold conjecture is that this black spear’s owner must be a terrifying existence far above the Saint Domain level for sure. I can only count myself unlucky to be killed by him.”</p><p>“In that case… This spear is a treasure?”</p><p>“It’s far more than just a treasure. This is a divine weapon!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-67

Chapter 67

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 67</h1><p>Chapter 67: Dripping Blood To Claim Ownership, An Unfilial Descendant</p><p>“A divine weapon? Is it that impressive?” Meng Lei exclaimed.</p><p>“Impressive?” Ol’ Amos was a little taken aback. He said, “A divine weapon is a weapon that only the deities high up above can use. It has incomparable might and divine power that reaches all the way to the heavens and is capable of destroying heaven and earth!</p><p>“Back then, I’d already achieved great mastery for my Fire Dragon body, and my physical body didn’t lose out to a pure-blooded Fire Dragon King in the slightest. I was only a step short of breaking through to the Dragon King realm.</p><p>“Even so, I was still killed by this spear that had come flying out of nowhere anyway. You can imagine just how sharp this spear is!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos sighed softly. “To slay a Saint Domain at their pinnacle as if they’re just slaughtering livestock, even if we survey the entire Heaven’s Vault Continent, only divine weapons are capable of possessing such might. Therefore, I named it the Gods-Slaying Spear.”</p><p>“So, it really is a divine weapon!”</p><p>Meng Lei stroked the black spear, excitement flashing across his eyes. Right after that, however, he became frustrated again. “So what even if it’s a divine weapon? I can’t use it anyway!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos stroked his beard and smiled. “Divine weapons are sentient, so you can’t use it when it hasn’t acknowledged your capabilities, of course! Try dripping a drop of blood on it and see if you can subdue it.”</p><p>“Dripping blood to claim ownership?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked at the old man. “This thing shouldn’t already belong to someone, right? What if it already has a master? I don’t want to die in my prime!”</p><p>“No, it doesn’t!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head with a smile. “If it had a master, it wouldn’t have been abandoned here for over 20,000 years. My guess is that its master has either already died or abandoned it.</p><p>“No matter what it is, you can rest assured and give it a go. Even if you fail to claim it as yours, there won’t be any negative consequences!”</p><p>“Is that so?!”</p><p>Meng Lei was dubious. He didn’t really believe the old man’s words that much. However, the divine weapon was simply too tempting and irresistible!</p><p>“If I die, the worst that can happen is that I’ll just lose my life. But if I survive, I’ll gain eternal repute! Riches are gained from danger! Let’s go all out!”</p><p>Meng Lei gritted his teeth and squeezed out a drop of blood.</p><p>Bzzz!</p><p>The blood dripped onto the black spear’s surface and was absorbed into the spear-like water that had dripped onto a sponge. As that happened, the black spear also suddenly began to shake.</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>A dazzling purple electric current surged out of the spear and shot toward Meng Lei. Before he could duck, the purple electric current had already engulfed him!</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>As if he had been struck by lightning, Meng Lei’s hair instantly frizzed up, and violent spasms began to go through him as though he had consumed five kilograms of Ecstasy pills.</p><p>“This… Why is this happening?!”</p><p>The old man’s countenance changed drastically. “I’d clearly sensed that the spiritual mark that the Gods-Slaying Spear’s master had left inside the spear had already dissipated 14,000 years ago. This shows that the spear had already become a masterless artifact a long time ago, so why is this happening?”</p><p>A divine weapon’s master was definitely a deity for sure!</p><p>There was no doubt about that!</p><p>Something that belonged to a deity…</p><p>How would a mere mortal… even dare to covet it?</p><p>If he hadn’t sensed that the spiritual mark in the Gods-Slaying Spear had already dissipated a long time ago, Ol’ Amos wouldn’t have dared to allow Meng Lei to attempt subduing the divine weapon at all.</p><p>If its master found out by any chance, not only would Meng Lei be a goner, but even he would also suffer a calamity along with him. He’d already died once and didn’t want to die a second time.</p><p>Therefore, this situation was something that Ol’ Amos had never expected. He didn’t know whether this was something that one must go through during the Gods-Slaying Spear’s ownership claim process or if Meng Lei had triggered some kind of restriction in the Gods-Slaying Spear and was just being unlucky right now.</p><p>The old man didn’t know any of these, so the only thing he could do now was to pray!</p><p>“Oh Dragon God, please watch over him!”</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>The purple electric current was still lashing at Meng Lei, while he was spasming nonstop. The only thing that slightly reassured the old man was that Meng Lei’s life force was still very strong…</p><p>“Oh Dragon God, please watch over him!</p><p>“That kid is a descendant of mine, please don’t let him die…”</p><p>It seemed fated that the Dragon God would hear the old man’s prayers. As time slowly passed, the purple electric current surging out of the black spear finally weakened.</p><p>Gradually, like a swallow returning to its nest, the purple electric current enveloping Meng Lei shrank back into the black spear, and his spasms and convulsions also stopped.</p><p>Burp~</p><p>As Meng Lei gave a belch, a wisp of black smoke emerged from his mouth. He was honestly sporting a very pathetic appearance at the moment. Every strand of his hair stood vertically on end, and he was charred charcoal-black all over, just like a black version of Ne Zha, the demon child[1].</p><p>“Little fellow, how are you feeling?” asked Ol’ Amos anxiously, his countenance nervous.</p><p>Meng Lei turned to look at him. As his body was still numb, his movements appeared very mechanical. He grinned and revealed a mouthful of pearly-white teeth. “It seems like… I’ve succeeded!”</p><p>“Seems like? Succeeded?”</p><p>The old man was dumbfounded. “So did you succeed or not, exactly?”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at the black spear and hooked his finger slightly. Then, something strange happened…</p><p>The black spear that Meng Lei hadn’t been able to budge even a millimeter even after he exerted every ounce of strength he had… moved. It pulled itself out of the dragon carcass’ head, rose into the air, and flew right up to Meng Lei.</p><p>“Go!”</p><p>As Meng Lei took in the sensation of the mysterious connection between him and the black spear, he pointed in the air and gave an order.</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>At once, the black spear turned into a purple lightning bolt and instantly shot toward the rock wall. With a crisp and clear crack, a hole formed immediately in the rock wall that even the boiling lava couldn’t melt, and the spear sank deep into it.</p><p>“Come!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved, and the black spear flew back again. It stayed quiet and still as it floated in front of Meng Lei, incredibly obedient.</p><p>“A divine weapon! That’s exactly what a divine weapon is!”</p><p>The old man’s eyes lit up brightly, and he burst into carefree laughter. “This old man has forged countless weapons and was once known as the empire’s greatest artifact-refining master. However, I’ve never forged a magic device that’s controllable by will and moves according to one’s will like that before!</p><p>“It certainly lives up to the two words ‘divine weapon’!”</p><p>“It’s a great treasure, indeed!” Meng Lei stroked the black shaft as if he was stroking the woman he loved. “And it’s even a thunder-elemental weapon, so it just so happens to match my elemental affinity. What a great treasure!”</p><p>Meng Lei was truly elated. Among all the thunder-elemental spells available, the one he loved using the most was Thunderbolt Spear. This particular spell was very domineering and was the most astounding in terms of single-target offensive power.</p><p>A strike from the spear could stab the enemy dead!</p><p>How domineering was that?</p><p>Thus, the Gods-Slaying Spear was very much to Meng Lei’s liking. It could be said to be perfect!</p><p>“There are so many great existences that couldn’t obtain even a single divine weapon after risking their lives and desperately fighting each other for their whole lives!”</p><p>With a chuckle, Ol’ Amos went on and said, “Whereas you’re only 20 years old, yet you’ve gotten one without even working for it. An opportunity like that is truly enviable! However, you must remember to use it appropriately and not show it to others easily.”</p><p>“The idea that one does not openly show their wealth… is something I understand!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded repeatedly and continued to stroke his beloved spear.</p><p>“I’m glad you understand that.”</p><p>As Ol’ Amos stroked his beard, a look of gratification appeared on his face. However, what Meng Lei said next caused his expression to darken completely. Meng Lei wondered aloud, “I wonder if the Gods-Slaying Spear is capable of taking apart this dragon carcass?</p><p>“Tsk, tsk, this is a Saint Domain Colossal Dragon carcass, you know! If I can gouge out its dragon core, I can definitely sell that for a crazy sum of money!”</p><p>The veins at the old man’s forehead bulged from his skin, and his expression was as dark and sullen as the bottom of a charred pot. He glared viciously at Meng Lei and broke into a huge scolding. “You unfilial descendant!”</p><p>[1] Refers to the 2019 animation film Ne Zha</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-68

Chapter 68

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 68</h1><p>Chapter 68: Bloodline Barrier, Leaving The Underground</p><p>‘Unfilial descendant’?</p><p>(Sweat drop!)</p><p>It was only then that Meng Lei remembered that the Saint Domain Fire Dragon carcass here was the old man’s remains in front of him right now. Well, mumbling about taking apart his body and selling his dragon core in front of him was certainly going a little overboard!</p><p>“Hehe! I’m just saying it casually, so don’t take me seriously!” replied Meng Lei as he scratched his head and blushed in shame.</p><p>“Hmph! Don’t you dare think that I have no idea what you’re thinking!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos wasn’t that easy to fool. He glared at Meng Lei and said, “My blood flows through your veins, and you’re my, Amos Kroc’s, blood kin and descendant. Others can clamor about splitting up and claiming my body, but… You can’t!”</p><p>Meng Lei was stupefied upon hearing what he said. “O-ol’ President, what are you talking about? How come I don’t understand what you’re saying?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos pointed at the magic barrier above the lava lake and barked, “I’m the one that had set up that magic barrier. With the dragon core inside my body as the core and the surging fire-elemental magic power inside the lava lake as the power source, it can withstand and isolate even a Saint Domain expert’s attacks. How do you think a tiny little Seventh-Grade Warrior like you had managed to come in?”</p><p>“This…”</p><p>Meng Lei had nothing to say to that.</p><p><em>How had I come in?</em></p><p><em>How the heck would I know?!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was indeed very puzzled about that. He only remembered that he had somehow managed to pass through the magic barrier into this place after he had transformed into a Dragon Person. As for the actual reason why…</p><p><em>Your humble consort[1] has no idea, either!</em></p><p>“Hmph! Let me tell you the truth!” Ol’ Amos snorted and said, “Ever since this old man here perished in this place, I’ve taken this place as my final resting ground. I didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone, so I’d set up that magic barrier.”</p><p>“And then?”</p><p>Meng Lei blinked.</p><p>“Anyone would be tired of a place after staying there for a very long time. Although this old man’s frame of mind has already transcended the secular world, even I cannot be exempted from such conventions. After more than 20,000 years, even I’m tired of this place!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos let out a small sigh and went on. “I’d like to go out and take a look at the scenery outside. Unfortunately, the Gods-Slaying Spear had firmly bound me here such that I couldn’t go beyond 10 meters of it.</p><p>“Thus, I could only pin my hopes on outsiders and hope that someone could take the Gods-Slaying Spear away with them and bring me out of this place!</p><p>“But I know very well that a person’s inner thoughts are the hardest thing to predict.</p><p>“This place contains my remains, my entire life’s worth of wealth and assets, and even a peerless divine weapon like the Gods-Slaying Spear. Should I meet someone harboring ill intentions, I’d be in danger!</p><p>“Thus, I’d modified the magic barrier to allow only my blood kin and descendants—in addition, the battle capabilities of the ones from the younger generation mustn’t go beyond ninth-grade—to pass through the magic barrier and reach this place!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos let out a wry chuckle. “It’s just a shame that after such a long time, the ones that had managed to reach this place were mostly Magical Beasts. Even when the occasional human came, none of them had met the criterion. In these 20,000-odd years, you… are the first!”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t quite know what to say anymore. This place was located in the depths of Magical Beast Forest and was extremely remote. Apart from Magical Beasts and a handful of adventurers that took their lives lightly, who would come here?</p><p>Besides, even if they did, not only did they need to be his descendants, but their battle capabilities also mustn’t surpass ninth-grade. These conditions were too demanding!</p><p><em>Only finding one after 20,000 years is something you deserve, old man! Come to think of it, though, when did I become that old geezer’s descendant?</em></p><p><em>That shouldn’t be!</em></p><p><em>Is it because of the Fire Dragon bloodline in my body?</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s mind ran lightning-quick.</p><p><em>The Fire Dragon bloodline that I’ve assimilated came from the newly-promoted King of Fighters this year, Oden Flit. Could he be the real descendant of that old man instead?</em></p><p><em>That’s highly likely the case.</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes swiveled left and right sneakily. He believed that his conjecture was close to the mark, but he wasn’t going to tell Ol’ Amos.</p><p><em>Didn’t you hear what the old man said? His entire lifetime’s worth of wealth and assets are here!</em></p><p><em>That’s a Saint Domain expert’s entire lifetime’s worth of wealth and assets, you know!</em></p><p><em>Tsk, tsk. If I can get my hands on them… Hehehe!</em></p><p>“Ol’ President, am I really your descendant?” Meng Lei blinked at him and asked with an expression full of “disbelief”.</p><p>He had to think of a way to get on better terms with the old man, and then… inherit his assets!</p><p>“The bloodline barrier will never make a mistake!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos glared at Meng Lei and said indignantly, “But you aren’t anyone honest, either, kid. To actually dare to set your sights on my remains and even harbor thoughts of selling my dragon core… Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning[2] and suffering retribution?”</p><p>“Cough, cough! You can’t blame me for that, Ol’ President!”</p><p>Meng Lei blushed and said, “Every part of a Dragon’s body is a piece of treasure, much less when we’re talking about a Saint Domain Colossal Dragon here. How can I possibly not be tempted?</p><p>“Besides, I didn’t know that you’re my ancestor. If I’d known, would I even dare to harbor such thoughts?”</p><p>Upon hearing what he said, Ol’ Amos’ expression mellowed slightly. “On account of the fact that you were unaware, I’ll let this pass! But if you ever dare covet my remains again, see if I don’t break your goddamn legs!”</p><p>“Not at all, not at all! How would I possibly have the guts to… Hehehe!” Meng Lei reassured him repeatedly like a huge wuss!</p><p>“Hmph! At least you know what’s good for you!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos snorted lightly and waved his arm. The enormous Fire Dragon carcass actually rose into the air, and then, it plunged right into the boiling hot lava lake. In the blink of an eye, it had vanished from sight.</p><p>Then, the ripples faded, and the lava lake returned to a state of tranquility, as though nothing had ever happened.</p><p>“Rest in peace, my remains!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos stared at the lake surface that was now tranquil again in a daze, his eyes rather forlorn. That body had accompanied him all the way till this moment; now that he was leaving, it was inevitable that he would have complex feelings about it.</p><p><em>It’s gone! My dragon core, dragon scales, and dragon sh*t are all gone!</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s heart was bleeding, but there was nothing he could do except to watch helplessly. He even had to console the old man at the same time. “Ol’ President, cheer up. You can still come back here and take a look in the future!”</p><p>“Yeah!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos gave a small sigh. His eyes swept across the surroundings as if he wanted to imprint everything here deeply in his heart. It was only after a brief moment that he adjusted his frame of mind and said, “Let’s go!”</p><p>“Alright!”</p><p>After Meng Lei responded, he looked at Ol’ Amos and began to speak but then hesitated.</p><p>“If there’s something you want to say, then just spit it out. There’s no need to hum and haw,” said Ol’ Amos dryly as he glared at Meng Lei.</p><p>“Cough, cough! Ol’ President, are you leaving just like that?” asked Meng Lei meaningfully as he glanced about.</p><p>Ol’ Amos had a ghost of a smile on his face. “How else am I supposed to leave if not like this? This old man here is all alone in the world. Apart from this remnant soul, I have nothing else. If you’re hoping to gain some kind of benefit from me, I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you!”</p><p><em>Disappoint me?</em></p><p><em>Didn’t you say just now that your entire lifetime’s worth of wealth and assets are in this place? Yet you’re “all alone in the world” now?</em></p><p>Meng Lei almost wanted to flip a table, but he could only give up obediently when he considered the gap in their battle capabilities. “What are you saying, Ol’ President? I was just giving you a friendly reminder!”</p><p>After he spoke, Meng Lei picked up the Gods-Slaying Spear. A stone platform rose from underneath his feet, and he slowly flew toward the magic barrier.</p><p>After they left through the magic barrier, Ol’ Amos got Meng Lei to cast an earth-elemental spell and bury the exposed magic barrier in order to prevent anyone from discovering it.</p><p>“I’m finally out!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos floated above the water surface. As he gazed at the pitch-black canyon, a hint of agitation flashed across his eyes. After being trapped underground for over 20,000 years, he had finally broken the seal and emerged today.</p><p>One could easily imagine how agitated he was!</p><p>Meng Lei could understand how Ol’ Amos must feel, so he didn’t bother him. Instead, he dragged that Crocodile-Backed Ox Python’s carcass to the shore and took out his dagger, condiments, and roasting rack, intending to make something to eat.</p><p>After a day of rushing about in the forest and suffering for so long underground, his stomach was already growling by now. He was so hungry that his chest was practically connected to his back now, and he desperately needed to eat something.</p><p>Meat cut!</p><p>Meat cleaned!</p><p>Meat arranged!</p><p>And then, he cast Fireball Technique to roast the meat!</p><p>“Little fellow, you have both earth-elemental and fire-elemental magic talent?”</p><p>[1] The term jokingly used here is a third-person term of address that royal consorts use to refer to themselves when replying to the Emperor</p><p>[2] Refers to the common saying among the Chinese that people will be struck by lightning as a form of divine punishment if they are unfilial to their parents and elders in the family</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-69

Chapter 69

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 69</h1><p>Chapter 69: The Astonished Ol’ Amos, An Eliminated Clan</p><p>The luminous moon hung in the sky while the stars twinkled brightly.</p><p>The canyon bathed in moonlight in the night looked as if a black veil was draped over it. The cries of Magical Beasts occasionally rang out, making the canyon seem even quieter and tranquil.</p><p>Water vapor rose into the air, and campfires blazed!</p><p>Beside the pool, golden, glistening Magical Beast meat gave off an aroma that assailed the senses. Big, fat drops of grease dripped into the campfire and produced loud sizzling sounds, whetting Meng Lei’s appetite and making him swallow his saliva.</p><p>“Setting up a fire by the lake and eating in the wilderness!” Ol’ Amos floated in mid-air and gazed at the scene before him. He couldn’t help but sigh emotionally. “Campfire, roasted meat, and ale… Tsk, tsk. What a nostalgic scene!”</p><p>“Haha!”</p><p>Meng Lei let out a laugh. He could understand how Ol’ Amos felt. After being trapped in the same place for over 20,000 years, anyone would find every little thing in the outside world novel upon their release.</p><p>“Hehe, the meat’s done!” Meng Lei’s knife rose and fell. He cut off a piece of shank meat and passed it to Ol’ Amos before saying, “Ol’ President, you haven’t had meat for a very long time, right? Here, try my cooking!”</p><p>“Brat, are you out to aggravate me?” Ol’ Amos glared at him. “Can’t you see that this old man is in soul-state now?”</p><p>“Uh…”</p><p>A sweat droplet formed on Meng Lei’s forehead as he replied in embarrassment, “Sorry, I forgot about that! Hehe, I won’t hold back anymore, then!”</p><p>After he spoke, he picked up the fragrant roasted meat and tucked in happily. The saying that anything would taste wonderful when one was hungry made a lot of sense. At the very least, Meng Lei was certainly eating very happily!</p><p>In addition, the Seventh-Grade Crocodile-Backed Ox Python meat itself contained an abundant amount of magic elements. And since it lived in a hot spring like this, the meat texture naturally tasted even more delicious.</p><p>“This feels great! Absolutely great!”</p><p>Meng Lei gorged himself on the food, salivating as he did.</p><p>“Hmph!”</p><p>As Ol’ Amos stared at Meng Lei, whose mouth was covered in grease, he couldn’t help but lick his own lips. How he wished he could throw himself forward and take a few big bites himself!</p><p>Unfortunately, he was in soul-state, so there was no way he could keep the food in him at all.</p><p><em>Sob, what a hard life I lead…</em></p><p><em>Oh well, I can only distract myself now!</em></p><p>“Brat, you have both earth-elemental and fire-elemental magic talent?”</p><p>“Three elements!”</p><p>“Three elements?”</p><p>“Yes, I have magic talent for three elements—earth, fire, and thunder!”</p><p>“You also have thunder-elemental magic talent? Not bad! That’s pretty adequate!”</p><p>“Adequate? I guess so!”</p><p>“What about your elemental affinities? Any that are high-grade? A high-grade elemental affinity is the minimum requirement for breaking through to Saint Domain. If you don’t have even that, your future achievements will be limited.”</p><p>“It’s so-so! Only my thunder and fire elemental affinities are of superior-grade, while my earth-elemental affinity is only high-grade. I can’t compare to you at all, Ol’ President!”</p><p>(⊙_⊙) “What?” (⊙_⊙)</p><p>Ol’ Amos gasped in surprise. Although he suspected that Meng Lei was posturing, he was still astonished by his exaggerated posturing, nonetheless. “Superior-grade for both thunder and fire elemental affinities? High-grade earth-elemental affinity? Kid, are you pulling my ear?”</p><p>“Why would I pull your ear?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s mouth was covered in grease from eating. “I have the best magic talent among all the freshmen that enrolled in Fire Dragon Magic Academy this year, you know! And I even get a scholarship grant of 5,000 gold coins per year!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>Ol’ Amos didn’t know what he should say anymore. It was only after a long while that he said sulkily, “Superior-grade elemental affinity in itself is already extremely rare, not to mention having superior-grade elemental affinities for two elements. It’s practically sheer dumb luck that a kid like you can actually have magic talent like that!”</p><p><em>Sheer dumb luck?</em></p><p><em>What’s with that choice of words?</em></p><p><em>I’d picked those up with my own strength!</em></p><p><em>If you’re that capable, then go pick up one yourself and show me!</em></p><p>Meng Lei curled his lip indignantly. He didn’t want to pay any more attention to that old man who didn’t know how to properly choose his words.</p><p>“By the way, I’ve noticed that your spiritual power is pretty strong, kid. Your speed of cultivation must be very fast, right? Which stage of cultivation have you reached?” asked Ol’ Amos.</p><p>“It’s so-so, I guess. I’m only at the Seventh-Grade Great Magician realm.”</p><p>“You’re only at the Great Magician realm when you have such wonderful magic talent?” Ol’ Amos snorted and asked in dissatisfaction, “Brat, have you been slacking instead of properly cultivating?”</p><p>“O-only Seventh-Grade?”</p><p>Meng Lei became displeased at once. “Ol’ President, you’re right. I’m already 15 years old, after all, and it has already been more than half a year since I’ve been introduced to magic, yet I’m only a Seventh-Grade Magician. My progress is indeed too slow!”</p><p>“What? 15 years old? More than half a year since you’ve been introduced to magic!?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was so shocked that his jaw nearly dropped onto the floor. He couldn’t help suspecting whether or not he’d misheard. “It’s only been half a year since you’ve been introduced to magic? Oh my Dragon God! How can that be? I had taken a whole four and a half years to reach the Seventh-Grade Magician stage back then!”</p><p><em>It’s impossible for others, but I’ve got a frickin’ cheating device, after all. Can others compare themselves with me?</em></p><p>Meng Lei kept quiet and ate instead. He continued digging into the delicious Crocodile-Backed Ox Python meat, the very picture of someone low-profile that kept his strength and achievements deeply hidden.</p><p>Ol’ Amos didn’t believe Meng Lei’s claims, however. He stared at Meng Lei and barked, “Brat, are you bluffing this old man here? If you’re 15 years old this year, how can you possibly have only been introduced to magic less than a year ago?”</p><p>“Uh…”</p><p>Meng Lei was mildly taken aback.</p><p>“As a member of the Kroc clan, one is initiated into magic at 5, officially studies magic at 10, enrolls in a magic academy at 14, and is required to graduate at 20!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos had a ferocious look in his eyes as he roared furiously, “Yet you’re telling me that you’ve only been introduced to magic less than a year ago?! What’s that, if not a bluff? You unfilial descendant, how dare you deceive me? How infuriating!”</p><p>“Wait, wait! The Kroc clan?” Meng Lei hastily interrupted Ol’ Amos’ shouts. “Ol’ President, you must be mistaken. I’m not a member of the Kroc clan! Which clan is that, by the way? It doesn’t seem like there’s a clan like that in Fire Dragon Kingdom?!”</p><p>Meng Lei wasn’t very sure because he wasn’t very familiar with the clans in Fire Dragon Kingdom.</p><p>“Still trying to bluff me?!” Ol’ Amos sneered. “The Krocs is a clan that I’ve single-handedly built. There are a great number of talents and countless geniuses in the clan, and it’s ranked top among the three great clans of Fire Dragon Kingdom… Yet you’re saying that this clan doesn’t exist? Are you asking for a beating?”</p><p>“Alright, I get it now!”</p><p>Meng Lei figured out what was going on now. He didn’t bother speaking anymore—instead, he took out his magic communication device and dialed Fatty Hart’s magic code.</p><p>“What are you doing?” asked Ol’ Amos with a glare.</p><p>“Keep calm and wait for a while, Ol’ President!”</p><p>After a short while, Fatty Hart’s round face appeared in the magic communication device. He was repeatedly yawning and looked sleepy-eyed and groggy. Evidently, he’d been woken up from his beauty sleep.</p><p>“Old bro, what’s the big idea at a late hour like this?” A yawning Fatty Hart grumbled. “Don’t you know that disturbing someone’s rest is very impolite?”</p><p>“Sorry about that! I’ll treat you to a good meal when we’re back in the academy!”</p><p>After Meng Lei apologized, he went straight to the point and asked, “Fatty, let me ask you something. Have you heard of a clan called Kroc?”</p><p>“The Kroc clan?” Fatty Hart shook his head. “Nope!”</p><p>Meng Lei glanced at Ol’ Amos and tried to jog Hart’s memory. He said, “Think about it carefully again. I heard that this clan is ranked top among Fire Dragon Kingdom’s three great clans and is founded by Amos Kroc, the second president of Fire Dragon Magic Academy…”</p><p>“The clan founded by the second academy president?” Fatty Hart rubbed his eyes and said dryly, “Old bro, are you joking with me? That’s old history from tens of thousands of years ago. How can it possibly exist all the way till now? It’s long been eliminated!”</p><p>“Eliminated?”</p><p>“Eliminated for sure. In any case, that clan doesn’t exist in the Fire Dragon Kingdom, much less ranked top among the three great clans!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-70

Chapter 70 - : Ninth-Grade Magical Beast, Titanic Dragon-Ape

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 70 - : Ninth-Grade Magical Beast, Titanic Dragon-Ape</h1><p>How times had changed, and the stars had shifted!</p><p>No matter in which world, nothing stayed eternally unchanging. This was a natural law of order that nobody could change.</p><p>Ol’ Amos naturally understood this, but when he heard that the clan he had single-handedly built had already disappeared over the long course of history, he couldn’t help but be overcome by grief, nevertheless.</p><p>“To be honest, I should’ve realized this a long time ago. When I was killed back then, the Krocs had lost their pillar. Being destroyed is something almost inevitable.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos sighed softly, his grief unconcealable.</p><p>Saint Domain experts were lofty and stood high above. They were capable of building and supporting a clan, but at the point of their deaths, in the situation that they hadn’t yet groomed a successor, any clan would die out, no matter how powerful they were.</p><p>Their success was dependent on the Saint Domain. But their destruction was also dependent on the Saint Domain!</p><p>The list of such cases was endless.</p><p>“Fortunately, an excellent descendant like you has emerged from the clan, so there’s still hope of making a comeback!</p><p>“Yes! A comeback!”</p><p>A jolt went through Ol’ Amos, and an intense gleam burst forth from his eyes. “Brat, from now on, you must shoulder the heavy responsibility of rebuilding the Kroc clan! You must cultivate diligently and refrain from slacking!</p><p>“This old man will put in everything he has to teach, supervise, and aid you. We’ll strive to rebuild the clan as soon as possible, and let the glory of the Kroc clan make a comeback in Heaven’s Vault Continent!”</p><p>Meng Lei was rather speechless.</p><p><em>Rebuild the Kroc clan? What’s that got anything to do with me?! I’m not a member of the Kroc clan!</em></p><p>However, these words weren’t to be uttered so carelessly. Meng Lei deliberated over his tone, and then he said seriously, “Ol’ President, regarding the heavy responsibility of rebuilding the Kroc clan, I must apologize, but I was born a commoner and have never had any concept of the Kroc clan.</p><p>“Even if I accomplish much in my cultivation in the future and have intentions of founding a clan, I’d only build a clan that belongs to me, such as a Meng clan or something, and not some Kroc clan. I hope you can understand that!”</p><p>“You—”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was so furious that he was fuming. He glared viciously at Meng Lei, but Meng Lei didn’t wuss out this time. Instead, he refused to back down and glared back at him!</p><p>Ol’ Amos could only reply resignedly, “Fine! We’ll do as you’ve said. In any case, you’re a descendant of my Kroc clan, and the blood of the Kroc clan flows within you—this is something that’ll never change. The clan that you build is also a continuation of the Kroc clan. We’re just putting old wine in new bottles!”</p><p>“Ol’ President is understanding indeed!”</p><p>Meng Lei burst into sneaky laughter.</p><p>“Brat, I’ll have you know that this old man is very strict. If you dare to slack even the slightest bit, see if I don’t skin you!”</p><p>The night passed peacefully.</p><p>The next morning, Meng Lei left the canyon after having breakfast and embarked on the conquest of continuing his Magical Beast hunt. He was currently in the Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts’ zone of activity, and all Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts had their own territories.</p><p>Thus, it was usually very difficult to encounter even a single Magical Beast even for a distance of several kilometers. There was nothing that Meng Lei could do about this. The only thing he could do was to continue to ride on the magic carpet and search for Magical Beasts. That was the fastest way to go about it!</p><p>Even so, he had killed only a couple of Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts in the whole morning. His efficiency in hunting had become much lower than when he was in the outer boundaries, and Meng Lei was very dissatisfied with this.</p><p><em>I earned only 310,000 gold coins after a whole morning. That’s too inefficient! I have to think of a way to speed up my money-making!</em></p><p>Meng Lei mused silently inwardly. At this moment, faint sounds of battle could be heard coming from in front. Ol’ Amos, who was seated on the magic carpet, also noticed the commotion. He said, “There’s something going on over there. Let’s go over and watch the show!”</p><p>“Yeah!”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t have any objections. He controlled the magic carpet and flew in the direction of the sounds. Now that the old man had regained freedom after being trapped underground for over 20,000 years, he wished very much to see all the sights there were to see and watch all the shows there were to watch.</p><p>Thus, he had behaved like he was sightseeing the entire way. He looked at this and that, just like a country bumpkin who had entered the city!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Howl!</p><p>“Team One, block it!</p><p>“Team Two, follow up with magic attacks!</p><p>“Team Three, launch an ambush!”</p><p>Before they had even gotten near, they could already hear intense sounds of battle from a far distance away. Trees were breaking, the ground was exploding, Magical Beasts were roaring, and people were constantly shouting. The battle was unusually intense!</p><p>“Hahaha, from the look of it, some people are besieging Magical Beasts!” Ol’ Amos stroked his beard and, with an enthusiastic expression on his face, asked, “Brat, based on the sound, can you tell what kind of Magical Beast the unlucky fellow currently under siege is?”</p><p>Meng Lei rolled his eyes. “How am I supposed to tell from the sound?!”</p><p>“You actually have the cheek to call yourself a Magician when you can’t even tell something like that based on the sound?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos side-eyed Meng Lei. Then, as he twisted his beard, he said with a smile, “A qualified Magician needs to be knowledgeable and multi-talented. Not only must they master their spells, but they must also be versed in other kinds of knowledge!</p><p>“Listen closely to the sound—it resembles a dragon’s roar, yet it’s also like an ape’s cry. It sounds like a drumstick banging against a large drum, yet it also carries a rich and heavy whizzing of something hurtling through the air. Evidently, this is a Magical Beast from the Dragon-Ape family!</p><p>“Now, look at the scale of the tremors in the ground and how rich and loud the beast cries are. This should be one of the physically-largest species of Dragon-Ape Magical Beasts. If I’m not wrong, the unlucky fellow currently under siege is probably the strongest and most valiant Magical Beast from the ape family on the continent—the Titanic Dragon-Ape!”</p><p>“The Titanic Dragon-Ape?” Meng Lei frowned and asked, “What grade of Magical Beast is that?”</p><p>“What? You don’t even know about the Titanic Dragon-Ape?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos turned dissatisfied at once. He chastised him and said, “As a student of my Fire Dragon Magic Academy, foundational subjects like Comprehensive Continental History, Complete Collection of Magical Beasts, etc. are compulsory classes!</p><p>“You actually don’t even know about a high-grade Magical Beast as famous as the Titanic Dragon-Ape? How did you pass the Complete Collection of Magical Beasts class?”</p><p><em>Complete Collection of Magical Beasts? I’ve never taken that class before, alright?!</em></p><p>“Ol’ President, Complete Collection of Magical Beasts is an elective now. It’s a subject meant to give away credits to those poor-performing students that can’t accumulate enough credits. I’ve never taken that class before at all!”</p><p>Meng Lei shrugged as he replied with a helpless expression.</p><p>“An elective?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was a little stunned. Then, he flew into a rage. “Preposterous! How preposterous! An important foundational subject like Complete Collection of Magical Beasts has actually become an elective now? Is there something wrong with the brain of the current leader of the academy?!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head inwardly. However, he lowered the altitude at which the magic carpet was flying at and entered the dense and dimly-lit forest. Then, he crept over carefully!</p><p>A cliff several hundred meters tall appeared in front of him. A white veil-like waterfall crashed down from the top of the cliff, producing a deafening boom. It seriously had the elegance and grace of the poem “Straight down three thousand feet the white torrents run; descending from the Nine Heavens like the Milky Way ¹ “!</p><p>At the bottom of the waterfall was an enormous pool of water. The pool water flowed rapidly, and mists circled and drifted around it. Together with the verdant trees and shrubbery in the surroundings, the scenery was exceptionally alluring!</p><p>Yet Meng Lei didn’t have the luxury of admiring the scenery at the moment because a hair-raising scene was currently taking place on the sandy shore right before the pool—dozens of fully-armed adventurers were currently besieging a gigantic beast!</p><p>The behemoth had a King Kong-like body. Its muscles intertwined around each other and were incredibly strong and sturdy. Yet it had the head, sharp claws, as well as wings of a Colossal Dragon!</p><p>It was completely the fusion of a Colossal Dragon and King Kong!</p><p>“That’s the Titanic Dragon-Ape?”</p><p>Meng Lei gazed at the behemoth in front of him that was over ten-meters-tall and emanating a horrifying aura. Fear and trepidation welled up in him. The aura of the monster in front of him was simply too horrifying. It was in a completely different class from a Seventh-Grade Magical Beast!</p><p>“How strange! The Titanic Dragon-Ape is a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast. Why would it show up in a place like this? Oh, I get it now, so that’s the reason why. No wonder!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-71

Chapter 71 - : Rapport In Coordination, Dragon-Ape Infant

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 71 - : Rapport In Coordination, Dragon-Ape Infant</h1><p>Roar!</p><p>The four to five-stories-tall Titanic Dragon-Ape let out roar after roar. Its arms that contained Herculean strength delivered punch after punch as it launched frenzied attacks on the human adventurers.</p><p>Its razor-like claws were capable of cleaving mountains and severing rocks and were exceptionally sharp. Its roars produced roiling soundwaves as they shook the heavens and earth. It gave off an extremely horrifying and fearsome might throughout its being, as though a savage beast from primitive times.</p><p>Compared to it, ferocious tigers and lions were practically cute, little babies.</p><p>It was currently in an extremely perilous situation, however.</p><p>Dozens of adventurers had it surrounded on all sides. More than a dozen Warriors had formed a sturdy wall of defense and were holding off the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s attacks head-on. Each and every one of them was strong and valiant. They moved like lightning and leaped as high as birds in flight, jumping up and down and moving about incredibly swiftly.</p><p>Judging from their speed and intensity of attacks, they were at least Sixth-Grade or Seventh-Grade Warriors!</p><p>Behind these Warriors were five to six Magicians dressed in magician robes. With magic staffs in their hands, they chanted spell incantations and cast an unending stream of spells.</p><p>Swamp Rock Bullets, Meteor Rain of Fire, Vine Lances…</p><p>A barrage of spells bombarded the Titanic Dragon-Ape one after another as though they were free of charge to use. The attacks split its skin and flesh, drenching it in blood.</p><p>At the same time, a group of assassins fully wrapped in black robes weaved back and forth about the Titanic Dragon-Ape. They came and went like shadows, waiting for opportunities to launch ambushes to curb its movements from the sides.</p><p>Warriors!</p><p>Magicians!</p><p>Assassins!</p><p>As the three groups of people acted as one body and coordinated their movements with great rapport, they were actually overpowering the Titanic Dragon-Ape, despite the odds. As the Titanic Dragon-Ape faced attacks coming from all directions, despite being strong and powerful, the pitiful Ninth-Grade Magical Beast could only rely on its solid, robust body to passively endure the attacks, ending up completely at a disadvantage,</p><p>“That group of adventurers has such great rapport in their coordination!”</p><p>This was Meng Lei’s very first time witnessing a large-scale team battle like that, and his heart couldn’t help but be set afire with passion as he watched. A thrilling grand scene like this was much more exciting than any Hollywood visual effects blockbuster. It was simply so intense.</p><p>Warriors that met the enemy head-on!</p><p>Assassins that came and went like phantoms!</p><p>Magicians that fervently dealt damage!</p><p>Three parties as one body!</p><p>Total rapport in their coordination!</p><p>“A good man is hardly a match for multiple enemies, and a ferocious tiger fears the pack of wolves!”</p><p>Meng Lei let out an emotional sigh. “Even a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast has to yield when it’s up against a siege with so many people! As expected, there’s strength in numbers, and many hands make light work, indeed!”</p><p>“What nonsense!” Upon hearing Meng Lei’s comments, Ol’ Amos scoffed and said, “Brat, open your eyes wide and take a good look at what the true situation really is!”</p><p>“Uh…”</p><p>Meng Lei was taken aback. “Was I wrong to say that?”</p><p>“What you’ve noticed is just what’s on the surface!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head and said in contempt, “Most of the people in that group of adventurers only have sixth-grade to seventh-grade battle capabilities, and even the strongest among them is no more powerful than eighth-grade. Even if they have high numbers, they can still forget about killing a Titanic Dragon-Ape!</p><p>“You must understand that contained within the Titanic Dragon-Ape is the blood of our Dragon race, and it’s an outstanding presence among the Ninth-Grade Magical Beasts. It has incredible physical strength, peerless defenses, and can even fly. How can adventurers with that extent of ability rival it?”</p><p>Meng Lei frowned and argued, “That’s true, but the adventurers are clearly overpowering the Titanic Dragon-Ape by a lot!”</p><p>“No, wait! Doesn’t the Titanic Dragon-Ape have wings? Why isn’t it flying?</p><p>“If it flies into the sky and gains an aerial advantage, not only can it avoid the assassins’ ambushes, but it can also avoid some of the magic attacks. The adventurers’ advantage in numbers will be greatly reduced.</p><p>“Dammit, it’s so stupid that I can’t even bring myself to watch anymore.</p><p>“Why don’t you just goddamn fly…”</p><p>“Have you gotten an inkling of what’s wrong now?”</p><p>After he side-eyed Meng Lei, Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and explained with a smile, “It’s not that the Titanic Dragon-Ape isn’t feeling it today or that it’s stupid. Rather, it’s because… It can’t retreat.”</p><p>“It can’t retreat?”</p><p>Meng Lei stared blankly at him. “Ol’ President, why’s that?”</p><p>“Look carefully at its crotch.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos pointed at the area in between the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s legs.</p><p><em>Its crotch?</em></p><p>Puzzlement appeared on Meng Lei’s face. When he looked at the Titanic Dragon-Ape, he saw that the area between its legs was stained full of blood. Blood dripped from between its legs and almost dyed the ground red!</p><p>“You see it now?” asked Ol’ Amos as he stroked his beard with a smile.</p><p>“Ol’ President, has the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s butthole been violated?” Meng Lei was bewildered.</p><p>“Your butthole’s the one that’s been violated!”</p><p>Black lines filled Ol’ Amos’ face as he berated him furiously, “What the heck are you thinking about? Can you be more serious here?!”</p><p>“Uhh? Or maybe its balls have been cut off?” Meng Lei made another guess.</p><p>“Goddammit, you retard! That’s a female Dragon-Ape! How would it have any balls?!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was fuming mad. He glared viciously at Meng Lei and snapped. “Open your eyes and take a good look behind the Titanic Dragon-Ape!”</p><p>“Behind it? Isn’t that a cave behind it?”</p><p>Meng Lei scratched his head. “That’s probably the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s den, right? What’s the deal about the den? Isn’t this very normal?”</p><p>“Your IQ is too low. I can’t communicate with you!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was pretty mad, and he couldn’t be bothered to keep Meng Lei in suspense anymore. “That Titanic Dragon-Ape’s combat power has obviously dropped by a lot, and it’s weaker than even an ordinary Eighth-Grade Magical Beast now. Moreover, there’s blood at its crotch, and it’s also desperately guarding its den. The truth is already very clear and obvious by now—it has just given birth to its offspring…”</p><p>“Given birth?”</p><p>Meng Lei was dumbfounded for a moment. Then, he exclaimed in a low voice, “Ol’ President, are you saying that the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s combat power has dropped only because it has just given birth to its infant? That’s why it’s desperately guarding its den and keeping the adventurers from entering?”</p><p>“Yes!”</p><p>The old academy president nodded lightly and sighed as he fingered his beard. “A Titanic Dragon-Ape that’s in its usual state is strong enough to fight on equal grounds with an adult Dragon. How would those adventurers dare to encroach upon it?</p><p>“It’s only when it has just given birth and is in a weakened state that it would attract covetous attention from these adventurers. After all, this is a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast, as well as a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast’s infant. The temptation is too strong.”</p><p>“So that’s what it is.”</p><p>A huge jolt went through Meng Lei, and a look of realization flashed across his eyes. A Ninth-Grade Magical Beast’s value didn’t need further explanation; just its magic core alone could already fetch a whopping dozen of millions of gold coins, not to mention a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast’s carcass.</p><p>In addition, it was highly probable that there was also a newborn infant here.</p><p>They could target both simultaneously because both held a fatal attraction toward adventurers!</p><p>Even Meng Lei’s heart was beating fast from temptation, much less the adventurers.</p><p>“A Ninth-Grade Magical Beast’s carcass! And a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast’s infant!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes lit up with a greenish glow, and his breathing gradually turned heavy. He muttered, “If I can wrest it from them and get my hands on it, I’ll definitely strike it rich…”</p><p>“What? Tempted?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos side-eyed Meng Lei and put a damper on his spirits. “Benefiting from a fight between two other parties is naturally a good idea, but you must be able to swallow the profits down first.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos pointed at a muscular man behind the adventurers and said with a smile, “That group of adventurers aside, just that guy alone is already someone whom you can’t compete with. He’s at least an Eighth-Grade Warrior.”</p><p>“Eighth-Grade…”</p><p>Meng Lei grimaced and looked at the man.</p><p>Behind all the adventurers stood a muscular man that wore silver armor and held a broadsword. He stood on the hillside and directed the adventurers from a high position, giving out commands.</p><p>It was evident that he was the leader of the group of adventurers.</p><p>“You see it now?” Ol’ Amos reminded him, “With that leader and that group of fairly strong high-grade adventurers, you won’t be able to swallow it.”</p><p>“I guess so.”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled and said no more. Then, he began to watch the battle seriously.</p><p>Just like what Ol’ Amos had said, the Titanic Dragon-Ape had indeed likely just given birth. Not only did it not have even 1/10 of its usual combat power, but it was also anxious about its infant in the cave behind it. As such, it could only take the attacks passively, totally at the mercy of the adventurers bombarding it with frenzied attacks.</p><p>In the beginning, it could still withstand the attacks by relying on its powerful defenses, but as time passed, the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s injuries became more and more serious, and it gradually exhausted its stamina…</p><p>The Titanic Dragon-Ape was rather close to falling now.</p><p>“Time for me to move!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-72

Chapter 72 - Dragon-Ape Dies, Extreme Stupidity

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 72 - Dragon-Ape Dies, Extreme Stupidity</h1><p>Roar!</p><p>Its badly mangled body was drenched with dripping blood!</p><p>On the ground, blood converged into a stream!</p><p>The Titanic Dragon-Ape let out roar after roar, the aura around it as violent and ferocious as ever. However, its roars had already weakened to less than half of what they had initially been. Its arms swung about madly, but its movements had also slowed down by half a beat compared to before.</p><p>It was already riddled with injuries and utterly exhausted.</p><p>“Time for me to move!”</p><p>At this point, the adventurers’ calm and steady leader moved. As he raised his enormous sword, a dazzling red light rose around him and manifested into a suit of armor.</p><p>“Battle Aura Armor!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes lit up. When Warriors cultivated Battle Aura, their Battle Aura could only circulate within their bodies in the beginning, and its might didn’t explicitly show. Only high-grade Warriors could bring out the true might of Battle Aura!</p><p>At seventh-grade, Battle Aura liquefied to bring enduring stamina.</p><p>At eighth-grade, Battle Aura manifested into armor to greatly improve one’s defenses.</p><p>At ninth-grade, Battle Aura manifested into wings to allow short periods of flight.</p><p>Different grades brought about different changes. The combat power levels were in completely different leagues!</p><p>The fact that the muscular man in front of them could exhibit Battle Aura Armor was enough to show his eighth-grade Warrior status. As for whether or not he was a Ninth-Grade Warrior, that was something that remained to be seen.</p><p>But no matter what, he was a strong enemy, regardless.</p><p><em>Battle Aura Armor… Now, that’s what a real Eighth-Grade Warrior is!</em></p><p>Meng Lei licked his lips, an unusual look flashing across his eyes. He could redeem Stat Attribute Points anytime to upgrade his body to the eighth-grade level so that it would become comparable to an Eighth-Grade Warrior’s.</p><p>However, he wasn’t a real Eighth-Grade Warrior!</p><p>This was because his Battle Aura cultivation was still too lacking, and his Fire Dragon Manual was still not up to standard yet. He could neither achieve Battle Aura liquefaction nor Battle Aura armor manifestation.</p><p>With just an eighth-grade body, he could only be considered a pseudo-Eighth-Grade Warrior at best.</p><p><em>But it’s alright! I’ll be able to do that one day, too!</em></p><p>Just as Meng Lei was lost in thought, Ol’ Amos beside him exclaimed softly, “Look! That guy’s about to make the kill!”</p><p>Meng Lei was quickly brought back to reality. He saw the adventurers’ leader transform into a red light streak that shot toward the Titanic Dragon-Ape. He moved lighting-quick and reached in a split second.</p><p>“Die, damned beast!”</p><p>As though a divine laser sword, dazzling red light suffused the huge sword in his hand. It slashed across the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s throat, and then, as a clear “splurt” rang out…</p><p>Warm blood sprayed everywhere, and the furious roars came to a stop!</p><p>The Titanic Dragon-Ape instantly froze where it stood!</p><p>After achieving his objective with one strike, the adventurers’ leader swiftly shot backward and retreated. In just an instant, he’d returned to where he’d been standing at earlier. He gazed at the Titanic Dragon-Ape from above, a hint of excitement flashing across his eyes.</p><p>“Stop attacking!”</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>The adventurers on the battlefield simultaneously halted their movements. Each and every one of them stared excitedly at the Titanic Dragon-Ape, whose throat had been slit with one sword slash. They wore agitated expressions and were delirious with joy!</p><p>“Hahaha!”</p><p>“We’ve succeeded! We’ve succeeded!”</p><p>“After so much trouble, we’ve finally done it!”</p><p>“Tsk, tsk, a Titanic Dragon-Ape! That’s the Ninth-Grade Magical Beast, Titanic Dragon-Ape, you know! We’re gonna be rich! Haha, we’re gonna be rich now!”</p><p>In contrast to the cheering adventurers, the Titanic Dragon-Ape had a look of grief on its face instead. It held its hand over its throat as best as it could, yet it simply couldn’t stop the blood gushing madly from its wound.</p><p>It turned to look at the den behind it, but it couldn’t utter even a mournful cry. All its cries turned into bloody bubbles mixed with blood that gushed out of its wound when they reached its throat.</p><p>“Ugh… ugh…”</p><p>The Titanic Dragon-Ape stretched its arms out and grabbed at its den from afar. Yet its arms, which had ripped apart tigers and leopards alive and cleaved mountains and severed rocks in the past, fell back down with a crash before it could even raise them.</p><p>Giving birth had exhausted too much of its strength, while the fierce battle had depleted all of its remaining energy. A single slash of the sword had also severed its very last bit of life force.</p><p>Drip, drip…</p><p>Tears filled the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s eyes, and it cried out mournfully a couple of times in the direction of its den. Then, it crashed onto the ground and lost all signs of life.</p><p>It had died and completely left this world! Even though it was clearly worried about its newborn child!</p><p>Now that it was dead, how was its child going to survive?</p><p>“The Titanic Dragon-Ape has died just like that?”</p><p>Upon seeing this, Meng Lei felt rather sad without any rhyme or reason. In the past, he’d felt absolutely nothing when he hunted Magical Beasts.</p><p>But at this moment, when he saw the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s various actions during its last moments, Meng Lei felt like something had moved his heart, and he felt rather sorrowful.</p><p>“When it comes to a parent’s deep love for their young, humans aren’t comparable to beasts.” Ol’ Amos sighed. “In this respect, all living things are equal.”</p><p>“That’s right.”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded silently.</p><p>At the other side…</p><p>When the adventurers saw the Titanic Dragon-Ape collapse and die, they cheered even harder and louder. With a big wave, the muscular leader declared, “My brothers, today, we have successfully killed the Titanic Dragon-Ape without suffering any casualties! This is a joyous occasion to be celebrated!</p><p>“However, we mustn’t forget that we’re in the depths of the Magical Beast Forest where high-grade Magical Beasts run amok, and other adventurers have their covetous eyes on us. This place can be said to be incredibly dangerous!</p><p>“This is especially true when we’d created a huge commotion with our battle just now and very likely attracted other adventurers here! Therefore, we must take absolute care to avoid being careless and indifferent to our surroundings!”</p><p>All the adventurers’ expressions sobered up, and they looked around warily. Just like what their captain had said, it wasn’t time to rejoice yet. Should they celebrate too soon and end up letting other adventurers reap the rewards of their efforts, that would be a tragedy.</p><p>“Heed my orders!” The muscular leader shouted, “The assassin team is in charge of keeping a lookout in the surroundings! Closely monitor every bit of activity in the surroundings within a radius of a few kilometers of where we are. Report to me at once if there’s any abnormal activity!”</p><p>“Understood!”</p><p>“The Warrior team is in charge of taking apart the Titanic Dragon-Ape! Ensure that you take it apart in the shortest amount of time while making sure that you do not damage any of the internal organs, especially its magic core! Ensure that you preserve it properly after digging it out!”</p><p>“Understood!”</p><p>“The few Magicians are to follow me. Everyone else, hurry and get to work!”</p><p>After the leader dismissed them with a wave, all the adventurers began to busy themselves with their respective tasks. Five to six Magicians walked up to the leader and followed him to the cave next to the waterfall.</p><p>“They’re going for the Titanic Dragon-Ape infant now.” Ol’ Amos looked at Meng Lei and asked mirthfully, “What are you going to do?</p><p>“A Ninth-Grade Magical Beast’s infant will grow up into a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast, you know. In fact, there’s a certain chance that it’ll evolve into a Saint Domain Magical Beast.”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes twinkled as he replied, “On top of that, this is even the infant of a flying Magical Beast known for its defenses and physical strength. It’s practically the perfect mount for Magicians like us. How can I miss out on this?”</p><p>“Oh? You intend to make a move on it?” Ol’ Amos raised his eyebrows. “Brat, you’d better not become dizzy with temptation. Do only what’s within your means. If you ask me, you really won’t be able to take down those adventurers.”</p><p>“Ol’ President, then you’d better open your eyes wide and watch!”</p><p>The corners of Meng Lei’s lips quirked upward slightly, and he controlled the magic carpet and flew straight out. Without any intention of ambushing them from the shadows or playing any schemes or tricks, he simply jumped out openly just like that.</p><p>“Dumbass, are you out of your mind?!” Ol’ Amos was shocked by Meng Lei’s rash actions. “What kind of person would do that? Can’t you secretly cast a few spells and launch a sneak attack or two first?”</p><p>“Uh…”</p><p>Meng Lei smacked the back of his head. Chagrined, he said, “I forgot all about sneak attacks!”</p><p>“Dumbass! Your stupidity is beyond hope!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos didn’t know what he should say anymore. With his finger pointed right at Meng Lei’s nose, he berated him furiously, “With that IQ of yours, where did you even find the guts to come and hang around Magical Beast Forest? It’s practically a miracle that you’re still alive!”</p><p>“Don’t get mad, Ol’ President! Anger is bad for your liver!” Meng Lei responded as he chuckled sneakily.</p><p>Then, he looked at the highly vigilant adventurers and shouted in a strong and loud voice, “That Magical Beast is mine! You’d better hurry and scram, or else… Die!”</p><p>“What a goddamn retard!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-73

Chapter 73 - The Ultimate Threat, A Fake Saint Domain

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 73 - The Ultimate Threat, A Fake Saint Domain</h1><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>Deafening booms resounded from the waterfall, and water in the pool flowed rapidly.</p><p>The trees were dense and luxuriant, while the vegetation was thick and lush.</p><p>As the adventurers stared at Meng Lei, who had suddenly come charging out, every one of their countenances changed drastically, and their vigilance reached extreme heights.</p><p>“Damn! We’ve attracted other adventurers here after all!”</p><p>The muscular leader’s countenance, who had just walked over to the front of the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s den, also changed. He quickly dashed over and scowled furiously at Meng Lei, who was seated on the magic carpet.</p><p>Meng Lei was dressed in black magician robes and wore a golden mask on his face. Thus, they couldn’t see what he really looked like or get a clear idea of his background.</p><p>However, the fact that he could reach this part of the forest already signified fairly impressive battle capabilities in itself. On top of that, he even had the guts to wrest food from a tiger’s jaws—this showed that Meng Lei was very confident in his own abilities.</p><p>In a situation where they couldn’t get a clear idea of Meng Lei’s background, no one dared to take him lightly. However, there was absolutely no way that they’d surrender the Titanic Dragon-Ape.</p><p>Out of all those who had the guts to come to Magical Beast Forest to make a name for themselves, which one among them wasn’t putting their lives on the line when they did so? How would a mere few words possibly scare them off?</p><p>“Lord Magician, this Titanic Dragon-Ape is the prey that we, the Fire Cloud Mercenaries, only successfully slew after much painstaking trouble. We’ll never hand it over to anyone!” The leader stepped forward. “As long as you leave now, we can pretend that we didn’t hear what you said earlier.”</p><p>He was neither haughty nor obsequious. In fact, there was even a mild threat in his demeanor.</p><p>The Fire Cloud Mercenaries!</p><p>They were the biggest mercenary unit in the Fire Dragon Kingdom border provinces. They were strong and powerful. They enjoyed great fame in the mercenary circle and were a force that ordinary people didn’t dare to easily offend.</p><p>Once they identified themselves as the Fire Cloud Mercenaries, the leader believed that it would definitely frighten away most of the eyesore-like adventurers. The prey might be attractive, but one’s little life was more important, wasn’t it?</p><p>However, Meng Lei sneered instead. “My mind is set on the Titanic Dragon-Ape. If you know what’s good for you, scram at once!”</p><p>“You’re pushing it!”</p><p>The leader’s countenance changed mildly, and he shouted, “Be on your guard!”</p><p>Swoosh!</p><p>The Fire Cloud Mercenaries proved themselves to be a first-rate mercenary unit, indeed. All the members were well-trained, and at the leader’s command, all the assassins instantly vanished without a trace from where they were!</p><p>Over a dozen Warriors swiftly dashed to where the Magicians were. They surrounded the five to six Magicians and the leader on all sides to protect them, forming a firm and sturdy barrier around them.</p><p>At the same time as that, the Magicians quickly began to chant spell incantations!</p><p>“O’ Snow Goddess in the faraway lands of supreme ice and frost, please heed my call. With your pure and untainted hands… Snow Screen!”</p><p>“O’ crimson lotus flames buried deep in the dark shadows underground, I summon you in my name! Be my sword of magic and crush all that stands in my way… God of Fire’s Fire Blast!”</p><p>“Well-trained and highly coordinated movements! Pretty impressive!”</p><p>As Ol’ Amos watched the Fire Cloud Mercenaries’ members form into a battle formation in just a few short seconds, he couldn’t help but rub his palms in admiration, full of praises for them.</p><p>“These guys are only average in strength, but they’ve gone through bloody and fiery battles to temper themselves. They’re very experienced and have great coordination among themselves, so they produce a favorable chemical reaction when they come together.</p><p>“To put it simply, 1+1+1 equates to more than 3! This is something that genius students living in ivory towers like all of you cannot match up to!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos looked at Meng Lei and said with a laugh, “The academy can teach you magic knowledge and lead you through the grand doors of magic, but it cannot make you a real Magician. All of you still have a long way to go!”</p><p>“Ol’ President, I’ll admit that what you said makes a lot of sense.” Meng Lei didn’t rebut him. “But some people cannot be measured by conventional methods.”</p><p>“Oh?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos raised his eyebrows, remaining somewhat noncommittal. “This old man would like to see just what is so special about you.”</p><p>“You’ll see.”</p><p>Meng Lei gave him a small smile. Then, he slowly raised his right hand. As Thunder Elements gathered in his palm and the light of electricity flashed, a spear formed from surging Thunder Elements quietly took shape.</p><p>“Third-Grade Spell, Lightning Spear!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head and smiled. “Any Seventh-Grade Magician can achieve instant release of third-grade spells. There’s nothing special about that.”</p><p>“What about this?”</p><p>Meng Lei smiled, and the lightning spear in his palm suddenly began to spin rapidly. Its tip became thin and narrow, while the rear end thickened. Hoops of lightning wound all around it, and it gave off a blinding arc of light!</p><p>“Fourth-Grade Spell, Spinning Lightning Drill!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was rather astonished. “You can actually instantly release fourth-grade spells?”</p><p>“That’s the Fourth-Grade Thunder-Elemental Spell, Spinning Lightning Drill!”</p><p>A thunder-elemental Magician from the Fire Cloud Mercenaries also exclaimed loudly, “Instant release of fourth-grade spells! Captain, he’s an Eighth-Grade Magician!”</p><p>“What? An Eighth-Grade Magician?!”</p><p>The leader… No, the captain’s countenance changed slightly. “Are you sure?”</p><p>“No… Not very, but according to the laws of magic, only Magicians that are eighth-grade and above can achieve instant release of fourth-grade spells,” replied the thunder-elemental Magician solemnly.</p><p>The other few Magicians also nodded heavily. Magicians could only instantly release spells that were four grades lower than their own Magician grades.</p><p>To achieve instant release for fourth-grade spells, one needs to be at least an Eighth-Grade Magician!</p><p>“An Eighth-Grade Magician… Things have become rather troublesome.”</p><p>The captain’s expression turned rather awful-looking. “However, Eighth-Grade Magicians aren’t that difficult to deal with. That guy’s all alone, and he doesn’t have a magical pet mount to protect him. With the Fire Cloud Mercenaries’ strength, we can defeat him for sure. What’s troublesome are the forces backing him up…”</p><p>With sloppy execution came consequences!</p><p>An Eighth-Grade Magician was a noble and exalted existence, and they were usually involved with a whole lot of other people.</p><p>This was what the captain was the most troubled over!</p><p>However, just as the captain was secretly making plans, the Spinning Lightning Drill in Meng Lei’s hand transformed again. The spinning spear suddenly enlarged, and its diameter expanded to two meters wide in an instant.</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>What would happen when a two-meter wide round pillar spun at high speed?</p><p>The answer was… A tornado!</p><p>Over here, it should be known as “Thun-nado”!</p><p>The Thun-nado spun at high speed, and everything that it went near to was crushed to bits. It was as if it possessed a mighty force that could devour everything and destroy anything. The sight of it made one’s heart palpitate in fear and turned their breathing quick and ragged.</p><p>“The Fifth-Grade Spell, Violent Thunderstorm!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos exclaimed in astonishment, “You actually took only a short second to cast Spinning Lightning Drill and Violent Thunderstorm in succession! That’s also considered instant release! Aren’t you a Seventh-Grade Magician? How come you’re able to achieve instant release for fifth-grade spells?”</p><p>“T-that’s the Fifth-Grade Spell, Violent Thunderstorm!”</p><p>“Instant release! He actually insta-cast Violent Thunderstorm!”</p><p>“Captain, he can do an instant release of fifth-grade spells!”</p><p>“H-he… He’s a great N-ninth-Grade Magician!”</p><p>“A great Ninth-Grade Magician?!”</p><p>The captain’s heart began to convulse intensely, and a hint of hopelessness welled up within him. He had the confidence to defeat an Eighth-Grade Magician, but if the one they’d run into was a great Ninth-Grade Magician…</p><p>How the heck were they supposed to fight him?</p><p>There was no way they could beat him!</p><p><em>Have they already wussed out with just these?</em></p><p>Meng Lei smiled and stayed quiet. With a casual wave, Violent Thunderstorm suddenly dispersed as if it had never been there before. Just as looks of puzzlement appeared on everyone’s faces…</p><p>Roar!</p><p>An earth-shattering roar abruptly reached them from above. A savage-looking dragon head suddenly emerged from the dark clouds, followed by its mighty and imposing body!</p><p>It was the Seventh-Grade Spell, Thunder Dragon Descends!</p><p>“I-instant release of a seventh-grade spell!”</p><p>“A S-saint Domain Magician! He’s a Saint Domain Magician!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-74

Chapter 74 - The Dragon-Ape Infant, An Equal Contract

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 74 - The Dragon-Ape Infant, An Equal Contract</h1><p>Dark clouds billowed, and the dragon’s armored scales gave off a savage feel!</p><p>The thunder dragon gave off a majestic aura as it soared into the sky!</p><p>A surging wave of pressure emanated from the thunder dragon, so oppressive that everyone’s scalps were tingling, and they couldn’t quite catch their breath.</p><p>In Heaven’s Vault Continent, seventh-grade spells were already considered high-grade spells capable of causing massive destruction and containing a fearsome level of destructiveness.</p><p>The moment a seventh-grade spell fully struck an Eighth-Grade Warrior, they would suffer serious injuries even if they survived. This was the reason why every single person present there was so fearful of the thunder dragon above.</p><p>However, the most fearsome thing here was that…</p><p>The casting of Thunder Dragon Descends had been completed in just two to three breaths. This meant that it was an instant release of… a seventh-grade spell!</p><p>“A Saint Domain Magician!”</p><p>“He’s a Saint Domain Magician!”</p><p>“C-captain, he’s a Saint Domain Magician! He’s… a Saint Domain!”</p><p>The Magicians’ legs trembled while their countenances filled with shock and fear. A Saint Domain, a lofty Saint Domain high up above… A Saint Domain was actually standing right in front of them!</p><p>“S-saint Domain!!”</p><p>Fear appeared on the faces of the captain and everyone else from the Fire Cloud Mercenaries. There was none of the self-confidence and courage from earlier anymore.</p><p>They could fight an Eighth-Grade Magician, but if the one they’d run into was a Ninth-Grade Magician, then they would have to flee, much less when it was a Saint Domain?!</p><p>“S-sir, we were too full of ourselves and ignorant and ended up affronting you. We’re willing to offer up this Titanic Dragon-Ape, so I hope you can forgive our sins, sir!”</p><p>The captain reacted very quickly. He dropped onto his knees with a loud thud, and hurriedly began to beg for mercy. One by one, the other members of Fire Cloud Mercenaries also knelt down and begged for mercy.</p><p>Even though they were extremely unwilling and reluctant to part with their kill, they didn’t possess even a shred of desire to fight back at all when facing a Saint Domain. What they had was just the desire to survive.</p><p>In Heaven’s Vault Continent, one could offend anybody, with the sole exception of Saint Domains. Otherwise, even their deaths would be in vain.</p><p>So what even if that was a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast? When placed in front of their lives, it could be discarded all the same.</p><p>“You may live, but dismember the Titanic Dragon-Ape first!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s voice was aloof and distant. He’d initially wanted to kill them, but the moment he saw the towering Titanic Dragon-Ape, he changed his mind at once.</p><p>That was such a massive lump of meat. How long would it take if he were to handle it all by himself? So, he’d better make them stay and help out instead,</p><p>“Yes, yes! Glad to offer my services!”</p><p>The captain didn’t dare to be remiss. He hastily ordered his subordinates to dismember the Titanic Dragon-Ape, lest Meng Lei found them too slow and changed his mind.</p><p>For a while there, the sound of flesh being cut and bones being cleaved rang out in the surroundings.</p><p>“Not bad.”</p><p>Meng Lei was very pleased with their performances. With their help, it’d be much faster than him doing it all by himself. If nothing went wrong, they should be able to finish dismembering the Titanic Dragon-Ape before night fell.</p><p>“How did you manage to instantly release a seventh-grade spell?” At that moment, Ol’ Amos’ voice, which was filled with puzzlement and astonishment, rang out. “Are you actually a Saint Domain? But that doesn’t make sense. Your spiritual power is clearly only seventh-grade!”</p><p>“It’s a secret.”</p><p>Meng Lei gave him a smug smile and didn’t pay any more attention to the furious old man. Instead, he turned and walked toward the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s den. He wasn’t afraid that the Fire Cloud Mercenaries would play any no-good tricks!</p><p>The cave was very big. It reached over a dozen meters high, but on top of the 100-meter high cliff, it was no more than a small scar at best.</p><p>The cave was very deep, and it twisted and turned such that one couldn’t see right to the end. Inside were jagged, strangely-shaped rocks and hanging stalactites, and it looked like a whole different world.</p><p>After walking for about 300 to 400 meters, the cave interior suddenly brightened—there were glittering jewels embedded on the walls.</p><p>There were pure, transparent diamonds, colorful, glittering jewels, warm and mild jade, agate the size of a dog’s head, as well as bright and colorful crystals…</p><p>“Damn! What a huge diamond! That’s as big as a pig’s head, isn’t it?</p><p>“The green of this jade is so rich! Like a green hat ¹ !</p><p>“Is this agate…?”</p><p>There was a greenish glow in Meng Lei’s eyes. Looking at this place through the eyes of a human from Earth, every single jewel here was a piece of treasure worth millions and would definitely sell for exorbitant sums of money!</p><p>Everything else aside, the worth of just the diamonds alone was already immeasurable. Even the smallest was as big as an infant’s fist, while the biggest was no smaller than a pig’s head.</p><p>All of these highly valuable treasures had been embedded so casually in the moist and gloomy earthen walls? To act as illumination? How aggravating and frustrating!</p><p>“They’re actually using such treasures as illumination! That’s just treasures covered by dust and a waste of God’s gifts!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head and sighed. He’d already made up his mind—he was going to take all the jewels with him and leave not even a single one here when he left later. That bunch of fat, old geezers from the nobility loved glittery things like these the most. He’d definitely be able to sell them for a good price.</p><p>As he went all the way into the depths of the den, the light suddenly dimmed. However, Meng Lei’s eyes lit up instead. Compared to when he’d seen the jewels earlier, the light in his eyes was much brighter by severalfold!</p><p>He was looking at… a nest?</p><p>Meng Lei’s breathing turned quick and ragged as he crept over stealthily. A small nest piled full of weeds, tree branches, and beast furs appeared before his eyes—there was a young beast sleeping soundly inside.</p><p>Under a layer of wet, sticky fluid was soft, supple armor. A pair of bloodstained wings wrapped tightly around its body, while its nose and lips were soft and tender…</p><p>“Is this thing really the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s infant?”</p><p>After he got a good look at the little beast’s true appearance, Meng Lei now held a rather distrustful attitude toward life. Wet and wrinkly, this was clearly a soft and tender naked gorilla with wings!</p><p>The kind that had just been born, no less!</p><p>Which part of it had even a shadow of the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s mighty aura?</p><p>Weak, helpless, and pitiful!</p><p>Weren’t these just describing that thing over here?</p><p>“This is the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s infant, no doubt about that.” Ol’ Amos floated in mid-air, twisting his beard with a smile as he said, “Don’t look down on it. Once it gets past its weak stage that lasts two days, it’ll be on par with a Fifth-Grade Magical Beast. Ripping apart tigers and leopards with its bare hands and devouring jackals and wolves will be a cinch.”</p><p>“Is this thing really that powerful?”</p><p>Meng Lei curled his lip, a million doubts in his mind. He wasn’t judging a book by its cover. It was just that this miniature version of the Titanic Dragon-Ape in front of him now was honestly a little too big of a wuss. It looked just like a newborn kitten, the kind that even a chopstick could suppress.</p><p>“Stop being so goddamn pretentious and set up a contractual magic circle to contract it at once!” urged Ol’ Amos in dry amusement. “Remember, sign an equal contract, not a master-servant one!”</p><p>“Why should I sign an equal contract?”</p><p>Meng Lei frowned, somewhat reluctant. “Isn’t a master-servant contract better? Getting it to become my servant and bow to me completely, commanding it with ease so that it’ll do whatever I say, isn’t that a better idea?”</p><p>“Meng Lei, you must understand this.” Ol’ Amos shook his head. “A magical pet is the trusted right-hand man of us Magicians and is also the closest partner of us Magicians. It’s even more so a friend and support that’s worth our utmost trust!</p><p>“While getting it to become your servant can certainly give you great assistance when its master completely controls a Magical Beast’s mind and consciousness, it’s no different from a puppet during battle. The rapport between the two is too poor.</p><p>“The chemical reaction is terrible, and 1+1 equates to less than 2.</p><p>“But an equal contract is different.</p><p>“After you enter into an equal contract, the Magical Beast and its master are on equal terms. They rise to glory together and fall to disgrace together. When a Magical Beast has its own mind and consciousness, and its heart is closely linked to its master’s, they can coordinate with each other with great rapport and achieve an effect where 1+1 equates to more than 2!”</p><p>“Oh, I see!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded slightly, as if deep in thought.</p><p>“There’s also something else that you must understand—when one enters into a master-servant contract, they are usually forcibly subduing a Magical Beast. This is a contract that the Magical Beast signs in a situation where it’s resentful and unreconciled to its fate. But now?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos sighed and said, “The Titanic Dragon-Ape infant is still young and is oblivious and ignorant of the outside world. If you raise it, it’ll see you as its one and only kin.</p><p>“In a situation like that, unless you’re suffering from brain damage, why would you enter into a master-servant contract that’ll turn it into a puppet?”</p><p>“Ol’ President, you’re right. That makes a lot of sense!” Meng Lei agreed wholeheartedly. Then, he scratched his head and said in embarrassment, “But I have a problem… I don’t know how to set up the contractual magic circle for an equal contract!”</p><p>“I’m gonna faint!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-75

Chapter 75 - Besieged By Magical Beasts, A Great Army Invades

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 75 - Besieged By Magical Beasts, A Great Army Invades</h1><p>Chapter 75: Besieged By Magical Beasts, A Great Army Invades</p><p>“You don’t even know how to set up a contractual magic circle for an equal contract? Who taught you your magic basics? Even someone like you can become the top freshman?” Ol’ Amos was very dissatisfied with Meng Lei, and he criticized him sternly. “A qualified Magician… Not only must he… but he must also…”</p><p>“Ol’ President, can we leave all that for later and deal with this Titanic Dragon-Ape infant first?”</p><p>Meng Lei was rendered rather speechless. Was this old geezer once a Department Head of the Moral Education Department? Hence the terrible work habit of being fond of criticizing and lecturing others?</p><p>“Hmph!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos snorted, greatly dissatisfied with Meng Lei’s attitude. Regardless, he still taught him how to set up the contractual magic circle for an equal contract anyway. Meng Lei got the hang of it right away and mastered it after just one round of explanation from Ol’ Amos.</p><p>He successfully set up the contractual magic circle after that.</p><p>Bzzz!</p><p>A dreamy, colorful glow enveloped the Titanic Dragon-Ape infant in the little nest, and the little fellow, which was sound asleep, slowly opened its eyes. There was a confused, lost, naive, and adorably silly look within them!</p><p>Meng Lei squeezed out a drop of blood and successfully signed the contract. The way the little fellow looked at Meng Lei instantly became a lot more affectionate. It leaned over and rubbed its head against Meng Lei’s hand affectionately as it called out in a babyish voice.</p><p>“Wah~ Wah~”</p><p>“Haha, it already sees you as its closest companion!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and broke into a smile, a hint of gratification coming over his face.</p><p>“Ol’ President, how do I take care of it when it’s so young?”</p><p>Meng Lei also broke into a smile, raising the question as he stroked the little Dragon-Ape’s head. The little fellow wasn’t actually that small. It was about the same size as an adult gorilla. It just seemed small and inconsequential relative to an adult Titanic Dragon-Ape, that was all.</p><p>“Magical Beasts are tough and ferocious by nature. They’ll grow to become strong and robust in an extremely short time after they’re born. In this respect, we humans have no hope of even competing with them.”</p><p>A smiling Ol’ Amos stroked his beard and explained, “You need only to wait for it to pull through its two-days-long weak stage. After that, it’ll become just like any other Magical Beast and feed on raw meat and mature on its own.”</p><p>“I see!” Meng Lei clicked his tongue in wonder. “To think that Magical Beast infants don’t actually feed on milk. This particular characteristic of theirs is very similar to non-mammalian animals. How amazing!”</p><p>“Non-mammalian animals?” The old academy president stared blankly at him for a moment.</p><p>At that moment, a series of chaotic footsteps suddenly rang out. Meng Lei looked over to see a Fire Cloud Mercenaries member running in. “S-sir! T-this is terrible, Magical Beasts have come attacking!”</p><p>“Magical Beasts?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s pupils contracted, and he ran out of the cave in a flash.</p><p>…</p><p>Hiss!</p><p>Rustle, rustle!</p><p>Thump, thump, thump!</p><p>Strange, peculiar sounds rang out in the thick, dense forest. Trees shook and weeds broke. The whole forest within five kilometers ahead of them was shaking!</p><p>This unusual activity added a hint of creepiness to the usually quiet and dead silent forest. The Fire Cloud Mercenaries members gripped their weapons tightly, their countenances were awfully somber.</p><p>The assassins standing guard on the periphery had reported an invading wave of Magical Beasts. Their numbers were unknown, and the targets were making a straight line for this area!</p><p>This situation was exceedingly abnormal and completely strayed from the usual workings, but this was what made it even more terrifying instead. One must know that they were currently in the far depths of Magical Beast Forest—even a random old Magical Beast around here was a high-grade one!</p><p>Besieged by high-grade Magical Beasts? Just the thought of it alone made one’s scalp tingle!</p><p>“Captain, what do we do?” a member asked nervously as he gripped his weapon.</p><p>Their leader was calm and rational and stayed composed even in the face of danger. He replied, “No need to fear! With Lord Saint Domain around, what can a mere few Magical Beasts amount to?”</p><p>“That’s true!”</p><p>The mercenaries nodded one by one, their fear lessening slightly. A Saint Domain expert could destroy the heavens and earth. How would typical Magical Beasts possibly be a match for them?</p><p>“Where are the Magical Beasts?”</p><p>Meng Lei walked out of the cave at this point.</p><p>The captain hastily answered respectfully, “Sir, they are currently closing in on us!”</p><p>He’d only just spoken when a Magical Beast dashed out of the forest.</p><p>It was a wolf species of Magical Beast. Its body was ten meters long and fully covered in steel needle-like fur. Its contours were well-proportioned, its muscles sharply defined, and it was full of a physical strength kind of aesthetic.</p><p>The strange thing was that this particular wolf-type Magical Beast had two heads—one white and one black—and this color division continued throughout its whole body, which was also half-white and half-black. The color division was clear and distinct, just like the national treasure[1]!</p><p>“That’s the Seventh-Grade Magical Beast, Sun-Moon Double-Headed Wolf!” A mercenary called out its name.</p><p>“A Seventh-Grade Magical Beast has actually scared all of you this badly?”</p><p>Meng Lei stared at the Sun-Moon Double-Headed Wolf, rendered somewhat speechless.</p><p>“Sir, there are more!”</p><p>The captain let out a wry laugh.</p><p>At this point, a second Magical Beast dashed out of the forest. It was as large as a truck container and had eight legs. This was a spider species of Magical Beast that was fully blood red in color, but it had a human head and looked incredibly horrifying.</p><p>It was the Seventh-Grade Magical Beast, Man-Visage Demon Spider!</p><p>Then, it was followed by the third, fourth, fifth…</p><p>As the trees shook, Magical Beasts dived out of the forest one after another like mushrooms sprouting after rain. They came in a variety of sizes and species, carrying with them an astounding might and cold and vicious looks in their eyes.</p><p>“Seventh-Grade Magical Beast, Tri-Eyed Poisonous Toad!”</p><p>“Sixth-Grade Magical Beast, Iron-Armored Crocodile!”</p><p>“Seventh-Grade Magical Beast, Raptor!”</p><p>“Seventh-Grade Magical Beast…”</p><p>“Oh my Dragon God!”</p><p>“Why are there so many high-grade Magical Beasts?!”</p><p>The sight of so many high-grade Magical Beasts caused every Fire Cloud Mercenaries member’s legs to shake, and fear and panic came over their countenances.</p><p>Too many!</p><p>Too many high-grade Magical Beasts were showing up!</p><p>Were there 50 of them? Or 100?</p><p>But what made them despair the most was that an endless stream of high-grade Magical Beasts was still arriving one by one. How were they supposed to fight them all?!</p><p>“S-sir, what should we do?”</p><p>Blood drained from the captain’s face. He gazed at Meng Lei, having already placed all his hopes on him. A ferocious tiger was hardly a match for a pack of wolves, much less a group of high-grade Magical Beasts?</p><p>Besieged by this many Magical Beasts, even if the Fire Cloud Mercenaries was strong and had wonderful coordination, they still didn’t have even a shred of hope!</p><p>They’d be ripped apart and become food in those Magical Beasts’ bellies!</p><p>Everyone else from the Fire Cloud Mercenaries also stared hard at Meng Lei, their despairing and fearful faces full of hope.</p><p>Now that things had come to this point, Meng Lei was the only one they could rely on!</p><p>“Ol’ President, why are there so many Sixth-Grade and Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts congregating here when everything’s perfectly alright?”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t pay any heed to the Fire Cloud Mercenaries members. Instead, he frowned and raised a question. Every high-grade Magical Beast had their own territory, and they usually fought and went at one another’s throats. Why would they show up here together?</p><p>“It’s probably because of the Titanic Dragon-Ape.”</p><p>A glint flashed across Ol’ Amos’ eyes as he pointed at the Titanic Dragon-Ape carcass. “A high-grade Magical Beast’s flesh and magic core hold lethal attraction to Magical Beasts of lower grades. If they can devour and feed on it, it’ll boost their strength and might even help them to level up.</p><p>“When they were battling and dismembering the Titanic Dragon-Ape earlier, its vital energy dissipated into the air and drifted out. This ended up attracting the Magical Beasts here.”</p><p>“So that’s what happened!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded slowly. “Those guys’ noses sure are sharp! But this is just as well. Saves me the trouble of going around like a headless chicken to look for them.”</p><p>“What do you intend to do?” Ol’ Amos raised his eyebrows. “I have to remind you, dealing with this many Magical Beasts won’t be easy. If you really can’t handle it, then you’d better run. You aren’t their target anyway.”</p><p>“Run? That word doesn’t exist in my dictionary!”</p><p>[1] Refers to the panda, China’s national treasure</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-76

Chapter 76 - Flame Inferno, Annihilation

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 76 - Flame Inferno, Annihilation</h1><p>A Magical Beast could already be considered a high-grade one at seventh-grade.</p><p>Not only were they astonishingly intelligent, but they also possessed strong, domineering combat power.</p><p>It was very tough for a human to defeat a Magical Beast of the same grade, especially when their numbers increased to form a beast tide. Their level of destructiveness could be said to be terrifying at that point.</p><p>Everywhere they passed through, lands turned barren, and nothing would be left alive.</p><p>That was why the Fire Cloud Mercenaries were scared witless when facing a siege by so many Sixth- and Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts. If it weren’t for the fact a “Saint Domain” was standing right next to them, they’d have fled for their lives a long time ago.</p><p>Man-Visage Demon Spider, Golden Lightning Python, Iron-Armored Crocodile, Sun-Moon Double-Headed Wolf… The Magical Beasts were savage, bloodthirsty, and vicious. As they stared at the Titanic Dragon-Ape carcass lying on the ground, their snouts constantly twitched, and drool dripped from their jaws, their eyes brimming with greed.</p><p>Devour it!</p><p>Devour the Titanic Dragon-Ape!</p><p>Once they devoured the Titanic Dragon-Ape, they’d benefit tremendously! The day where they’d level up and break through… wasn’t far off anymore!</p><p>All the Magical Beasts became restless and agitated for a while there. They pounced toward the Titanic Dragon-Ape one after another, for fear that other Magical Beasts would get there earlier than them should they be a step too slow.</p><p>In this instant, all of them had gone berserk!</p><p>“S… Sir, w-what do we do?!”</p><p>The mercenaries screamed and shouted in fear as they trembled like leaves in the wind.</p><p>“What are you panicking for? Step back!” Meng Lei snorted, displeasure coming over his features.</p><p>“Yes, yes!”</p><p>The mercenaries hastily hid behind Meng Lei. To their backs were the cliff and precipitous rock walls, as well as the waterfall. The Magical Beasts couldn’t launch attacks from there. Thus, the area behind them was safe.</p><p>“You just had to seek your own ruin, didn’t you?” Meng Lei’s voice was loud and sonorous. “Just as well that I round up all of you in one go and turn you into money in my pocket, then!”</p><p>Meng Lei moved in the very next instant!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The ground suddenly began to shake. It was as if a magnitude 9.0 earthquake had broken out. The ground shook, and the mountains trembled, while trees swayed from side to side. Fissures appeared out of nowhere in the ground, and earth spikes abruptly emerged!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>The sudden attack caught the frenzied Magical Beasts off-guard. Some fell into the fissures, while the earth spikes impaled some. For a moment there, they looked somewhat in a pathetic state.</p><p>However, they were Sixth- and Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts, after all. A magic attack of this scale evidently couldn’t take their lives. After leaping out of the fissures and crushing the earth spikes, the Magical Beasts charged forward once more.</p><p>The nearer they got to the Titanic Dragon-Ape, the stronger the stench of blood became, and the Magical Beasts became increasingly restless, frenzied, and bloodthirsty!</p><p>Yet, just as they reached the point ten meters away from the Titanic Dragon-Ape, a mighty and imposing fire dragon suddenly descended from the sky and came crashing toward them. It exploded with a thunderous boom…</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Howl!</p><p>Sparks flew everywhere, and shrieks and cries rose and fell in succession.</p><p>“Great!”</p><p>“Fantastic!”</p><p>The mercenaries were overjoyed upon the sight of this, and they raised their arms in cheers.</p><p>“Sixth-Grade Spell, Fire Dragon Meteor!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and broke into a smile. “Pretty impressive might it has! That attack can already cause some damage to Sixth- and Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts. A large-scale spell like this is exceptionally taxing on one’s magic power, though. You’d better take it easy!”</p><p>“I know that!”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t say much about that. Instead, he drew out all the magic power inside him in a furor and gathered it above him. Upon being summoned, all the Fire Elements within a radius of 100 meters came converging toward him.</p><p>In a split second, a gigantic fireball of diameter over 60 meters soundlessly formed. Like the scorching sun, it gave off astonishingly high heat.</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>When the mercenaries felt the scorching heat above them, they all raised their heads and looked up one by one. Astoundment surfaced in their eyes. The mighty aura of a fireball over 60 meters wide was simply too astounding. However, the even more fearsome thing was that an endless stream of Fire Elements was still converging toward it and strengthening it!</p><p>Expand, expand, and expand!</p><p>Like the hero of a certain anime rolling something into a ball ¹ , the fireball expanded at an astonishing speed. In just a few short breaths, its diameter had already exceeded 100 meters!</p><p>“That’s…” Ol’ Amos’ lip corners were twitching. “Brat, aren’t you afraid of exhausting all your magic power if you cast large-scale spells one after the other?”</p><p>“Haha! We’ll think about it again when I’ve exhausted it!”</p><p>Meng Lei burst into laughter. Then, he shouted, “Flame Inferno… Land!”</p><p>Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!</p><p>Like a meteor plummeting from outer space, the gigantic fireball crashed forcefully into the horde of Magical Beasts. As a huge, earth-shattering explosion rang out, the area in front of everyone turned into a sea of fire.</p><p>Flames raged and blazed, setting everything on fire without any reservations.</p><p>Amid shrill and tragic cries, the Magical Beasts turned into fiery beasts. They ran and jumped about in a frenzy in the sea of fire, completely enveloped within the flames.</p><p>“Retreat! Hurry, retreat!”</p><p>The mercenaries, who also found the blazing heat unbearable, retreated one by one. They retreated all the way until they were right in front of the waterfall. Only then did they feel slightly better.</p><p>“I can make the kill now!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes glinted sharply as he brought out the Gods-Slaying Spear. A seventh-grade spell was certainly astonishing in terms of might and could burn Sixth- and Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts to death, but time was necessary in order to achieve that.</p><p>Would the Magical Beasts stay obediently in the sea of fire and let the flames burn them to death?</p><p>Of course not!</p><p>They would flee! They would run! And they would move!</p><p>Some of the Magical Beasts would escape for sure.</p><p>Meng Lei knew this very well, so he wanted to deal an additional blow. Under these circumstances, the Gods-Slaying Spear was undoubtedly the best weapon for that.</p><p>As for whether or not he could use the Gods-Slaying Spear in front of others, Meng Lei had already consulted Ol’ Amos beforehand. The old man had a very simple answer to that, which was, “Rest assured and use it!”</p><p>The reason for that was even simpler—even an experienced and knowledgeable top-tier Saint Domain like him didn’t recognize that thing, so how would others possibly be able to? Much less recognize its status as a divine weapon?</p><p>Therefore, he could rest assured and use it openly as much as he wanted.</p><p>“Go!”</p><p>Meng Lei flung his arm out casually, and the Gods-Slaying Spear shot into the sea of fire. What followed closely was the sound of bone and flesh being pierced right through, as well as shrill cries.</p><p>It didn’t take long before the cries softened and then disappeared. All the Magical Beasts in the sea of fire had been slew by the Gods-Slaying Spear!</p><p>“What a great treasure!”</p><p>A satisfied Meng Lei nodded as the Gods-Slaying Spear returned to his hand. His eyes then landed outside the sea of fire on the Magical Beasts that had just emerged from the forest.</p><p>These Magical Beasts were a step too late, but on the contrary, they were fortunate enough to avoid being struck by Flame Inferno. Currently, their eyes were filled with fear and horror as they stood outside the sea of fire, hesitant to step forward.</p><p>The smell of blood from the Titanic Dragon-Ape made them restless, but the sea of fire before their eyes frightened them. What exactly should they do? Should they follow their instincts and continue to rampage, or leave with their tails in between their legs and safeguard their lives?</p><p>This was an important question!</p><p>The Magical Beasts sank into indecision.</p><p>“Not leaving yet? That’s great!”</p><p>Meng Lei licked his lips. He rode the magic carpet to the area above the Magical Beasts and cast another round of Flame Inferno.</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>A fireball started floating in mid-air, and a sea of fire began to spread. Then, these Magical Beasts also met with tragedy!</p><p>The sea of fire engulfed them. As the great fire set them ablaze, their visibility range also became hindered, and they couldn’t escape for a while there. Then, one by one, the Gods-Slaying Spear impaled them to death, and their souls returned to hell.</p><p>With that, the Magical Beasts in the farther distance became badly frightened. Each and every one of them was terrified out of their wits, and they didn’t dare to hesitate or harbor any hope of lucking out anymore. Every single one of them fled with their tails in between their legs!</p><p>“They’re pretty quick at fleeing, huh?”</p><p>Meng Lei licked his lips, not quite having had his fill of fun yet.</p><p>Ol’ Amos reemerged, somewhat dissatisfied. “Don’t use the Gods-Slaying Spear so often in the future. Otherwise, there won’t be any more meaning to your training.”</p><p>“Understood!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded lightly, the picture of someone that had learned his lesson. However, he secretly disagreed.</p><p><em>My purpose in coming to Magical Beast Forest isn’t just for training. Earning gold coins is my number one key task instead!</em></p><p><em>Of course I’ll have to hunt as many Magical Beasts as I can!</em></p><p>Although the sea of fire had engulfed the Magical Beasts just now, there was no way all of them would be annihilated. In a situation like that, was he supposed to just watch as they escaped?</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-77

Chapter 77 - Divine Beast Teddy, Half A Month Goes By Quietly

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 77 - Divine Beast Teddy, Half A Month Goes By Quietly</h1><p>Ahead was a blazing sea of fire!</p><p>To the back was a gushing waterfall!</p><p>A sight as unusual as that appearing in the same place was honestly a wondrous spectacle. However, the Fire Cloud Mercenaries were in no mood to admire the scenery because they were currently busy with dismembering the Titanic Dragon-Ape.</p><p>Every one of them worked conscientiously and diligently, lest they accidentally showed even the slightest bit of disrespect.</p><p>What? Resentment?</p><p>They didn’t dare to!</p><p>Just how terrifyingly powerful must one be in order to wipe out almost 100 high-grade Magical Beasts in under five minutes? Who’d dare to harbor any resentment?</p><p>They longed only to finish dismembering the Titanic Dragon-Ape as soon as possible and send Meng Lei away after that. They didn’t have the leisure to think about anything else.</p><p>In the cave elsewhere, Meng Lei was currently playing with the baby Titanic Dragon-Ape. After the contract was formed, a mysterious connection had appeared between Meng Lei and the little fellow. Just like that, it had taken Meng Lei as its closest companion.</p><p>Meng Lei rubbed the little fellow’s head and remarked with a laugh, “Seeing how you’re pitch-black all over, how about I name you Mastiff ¹ ?”</p><p>The little fellow looked completely lost as it blinked in an adorably silly manner. Black lines filled Ol’ Amos’ forehead, however, and he remarked, “Mastiff? Can’t you give it a nicer-sounding name?”</p><p>“How about Husky ¹ ?”</p><p>“What’s a Husky?”</p><p>“It’s also a type of dog!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was rendered totally speechless. “What sort of names are those? Your taste in names is terrible. It’s always either a cat or a dog. Can’t you be a little less of a good-for-nothing?”</p><p>“Names are just a way of referring to things, isn’t it? Is there a need to be so serious about it?” Meng Lei was none too bothered. He tilted his head to the side and suggested, “How about Teddy ¹ ? What do you think of that name?”</p><p>“Teddy? Teddy! Yeah, sounds pretty good!” Ol’ Amos thought for a moment and nodded. Then, he asked, “What’s the meaning behind the name?”</p><p>“Teddy is also a kind of… Cough, divine beast! The kind that can destroy the heavens and earth. Its destructiveness and all that are comparable to a Colossal Dragon!” replied Meng Lei as he held back his laughter.</p><p>“A divine beast? Is there a divine beast like that?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was rather dubious. It just felt rather strange, somehow.</p><p>“Teddy is a kind of divine beast from my hometown. Not a lot of people know of it, so it’s normal for you to not have heard of it before!”</p><p>Meng Lei laughed and settled on the name. “Alright, let’s call it Teddy. It just so happens that the name of this little fellow’s species starts with ‘T’ too, so Teddy is a very appropriate choice of name.”</p><p>“Something feels rather off…”</p><p>At this point, the captain walked in and interrupted their idle chat. “Sir, the Titanic Dragon-Ape has been fully dismembered. May I know what we should do with it?”</p><p>“What to do with it? Bring it away, of course!”</p><p>Meng Lei left the cave and started to store the dismembered Titanic Dragon-Ape part by part into his spatial magic devices. However, they ran out of space as he was halfway through.</p><p>Meng Lei had six spatial magic devices of various sizes in total, and all of them were now stored full to the brim. Yet there was still half of the Titanic Dragon-Ape left!</p><p>“Ol’ President, my spatial magic devices can’t fit anything else inside them. What should I do?”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t want to give up the Titanic Dragon-Ape. That was a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast; even a single strand of hair mustn’t be left behind! Every part of it was money itself!</p><p>“No problem!”</p><p>The old academy president smiled calmly. Then, with a wave, every bit of the remaining half of the Titanic Dragon-Ape vanished from where they were!</p><p>Upon the sight of this, Meng Lei exclaimed at once, “Ol’ President, do you also carry spatial magic devices everywhere with you?”</p><p>“Duh! This old man is a high and mighty Saint Domain, after all. If I don’t even have something like a spatial magic device, wouldn’t I be a laughingstock?” Ol’ Amos replied haughtily with a snort.</p><p>“That’s true!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes swiveled shiftily as sneaky little ideas occurred to him. That old geezer had previously said that he was all alone in the world and didn’t carry any worldly possessions on him. But from the look of it now, it seemed like that was a complete lie!</p><p>After all, he was already carrying spatial magic devices everywhere with him…</p><p>“Sir, how should we handle these Magical Beasts?”</p><p>The captain’s lip corners started twitching when he saw all the dismembered Titanic Dragon-Ape parts disappear. Although the loss pained him terribly, he didn’t dare to let it show. As such, he’d pointed at the charred Magical Beast carcasses and raised the question.</p><p>By now, the sea of fire had already extinguished, with only a few sparks still burning here and there, to reveal several “charcoal” mounds—in other words, the unlucky Sixth- and Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts!</p><p>“Gouge out their magic cores. You can discard the carcasses after that,” replied Meng Lei detachedly after casting a sweeping glance at the carcasses.</p><p>“Discard them? Sir, why are you discarding them?”</p><p>The captain was taken aback. He hastily tried to persuade him otherwise. “Even though these Magical Beast carcasses are burnt, their bodies haven’t suffered much damage on the inside, so you can still sell them for money!”</p><p>“You can have them if you want!” Meng Lei said as he shook his head lightly.</p><p>He had no intention of taking those Magical Beast carcasses with him. Disregarding the fact that his spatial magic devices were already full, even if they weren’t, he wouldn’t have taken them anyway. They wouldn’t bring much money, after all.</p><p>“Thank you for bestowing them to us, Sir!”</p><p>The captain was overjoyed, and he thanked him repeatedly. These were high-grade Magical Beast carcasses! Even though they were burnt, their internal organs were still fully intact and undamaged, so all of them could be sold for money.</p><p>The key here, though, was that there were so many of them! If they were to sell them all, they’d definitely earn a hefty sum!</p><p>“Go!” Meng Lei waved him off.</p><p>“Yes, Sir!”</p><p>The Fire Cloud Mercenaries were very quick in their actions. In just half an hour’s time, they’d already dug out all the magic cores. After Meng Lei took the magic cores, he left in satisfaction.</p><p>The mercenaries heaved a big sigh of relief as they gazed at Meng Lei from the back, and some even fell directly onto their bottoms!</p><p>“Phew! He’s finally gone!”</p><p>“There’s too much pressure being in the same place as him!”</p><p>“Hurry! Clean up these Magical Beast carcasses at once. We’re leaving once we’re done, too. It’s not safe here!”</p><p>“Yes, Captain!”</p><p>…</p><p>Ripples went through the lake surface, and the water sparkled under the sun.</p><p>As the saying went, “If the breeze doesn’t come, the water doesn’t ripple”.</p><p>The water in the large and vast lake was clean and clear, and the water weeds were fertile and healthy. As the breeze blew across the lake, a series of ripples went through the mirror-like lake surface.</p><p>Croak!</p><p>Croak!</p><p>A Green-Eyed Frog, the size of a millstone, floated on the water surface. Its lower jaw swelled and deflated as it croaked joyfully, singing the mating song unique to the Green-Eyed Frogs as it attempted to attract the attention of the opposite sex.</p><p>Splash!</p><p>The sound of something emerging from the water suddenly rang out. An enormous opened wide mouth sprung out from the bottom of the lake and swallowed the partner-seeking Green-Eyed Frog in one gulp. Then, it started to chew happily on it.</p><p>Bloody water churned as bones snapped and sinews were severed.</p><p>The poor Green-Eyed Frog! Not only did it fail to find a partner, but it even attracted a fatal disaster instead. How utterly miserable!</p><p>Bam!</p><p>A shadow descended from above at this exact moment. It grabbed the Magical Beast chewing on the Green-Eyed Frog in one swift motion and dragged it out of the water.</p><p>The Magical Beast that had been caught was the Fourth-Grade Golden-Light Fish. Its body was a glittering gold throughout, and it had an extremely exaggerated mouth. It was bathed in the sunlight and looked as if it was made out of gold!</p><p>With the Golden-Light Fish in its grip, the shadow flitted the whole way across the lake surface. Then, it entered the forest beside the lake and threw the fish onto the grass. The struggling Golden-Light Fish jumped up and down against the ground, which started to shake from the impact.</p><p>“You’re back, Teddy!”</p><p>Next to a campfire, a topless young man smiled and greeted the shadow as he fiddled with a few bottles and cans.</p><p>Three meters tall and shaped like an ape, the shadow had black dragon scales all over its body, a pair of black dragon wings on its back, and a strong, muscular body with bulging muscles. Yes, it was Meng Lei’s Magical Contract Pet, Teddy, the little Titanic Dragon-Ape!</p><p>“Grooo!”</p><p>Teddy poked its head over and rubbed against Meng Lei with a look of affection in its eyes, and he patted its head in response. Then, he walked over to the Golden-Light Fish and began to clean it.</p><p>That was their lunch for the day.</p><p>Half a month had gone by since the day he and Teddy had entered into a contract. The little fellow’s stage of frailty had already passed. It was now comparable to a Fifth-Grade Magical Beast, and even ripping apart ferocious beasts with its bare hands was nothing difficult for it.</p><p>Meng Lei was very satisfied with Teddy’s growth rate. Not only did the little fellow take only three days to get past its stage of frailty, but in the days that followed, it even improved by leaps and bounds daily and showed astounding improvements in its strength.</p><p>In Ol’ Amos’ words, Titanic Dragon-Ape infants that had Ninth-Grade Magical Beast blood in them like Teddy grew at exceedingly alarming rates. They were capable of reaching heights that other Magical Beasts could never achieve in their entire lives in just a dozen years or so and could be said to be kings among Magical Beasts!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-78

Chapter 78 - Golden Colossal Dragons And Thunder Titans

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 78 - Golden Colossal Dragons And Thunder Titans</h1><p>After Meng Lei removed the scales and gutted the fish, he sliced the flesh into strips and cleaned them. Then he started to roast them.</p><p>It didn’t take long before an aroma began to pervade the air. As Teddy, the little Dragon-Ape, sniffed about hard, it became restless and fidgety, eagerness filling its eyes.</p><p>“Meat… Wanna eat meat!”</p><p>Thanks to the power of the contract, Meng Lei and Teddy were able to communicate with each other spiritually. Unfortunately, as Teddy was still an infant, its speech was very disjointed and choppy, so it could only express simple thoughts.</p><p>Even so, this was still something completely new to Meng Lei. Hearing animals speak and communicating with animals were things that he’d never experienced before in his past life. He found the experiences very novel.</p><p>“Be patient! It’s not cooked yet!”</p><p>Meng Lei gave Teddy a rub on the head. Then, he continued to slice the flesh into strips and roast them. Little Teddy had initially been eating raw meat, but after its first taste of roasted meat, it never went back to eating it raw anymore.</p><p>At mealtimes every day, it would personally catch a Magical Beast and get Meng Lei to roast it. A complete glutton through and through, it had clearly taken Meng Lei for a chef!</p><p>It didn’t take long for fish to cook. Before long, an aroma pervaded the air. Meng Lei scattered some condiments onto the fish and tossed Teddy a piece.</p><p>Nom!</p><p>The heat didn’t bother Teddy at all as it swallowed the meat whole in one gulp. Then, it blinked its big black eyes and stared expectantly at Meng Lei, saliva dripping from its mouth…</p><p><em>Is there even any difference between Teddy and the poodle back at home?</em></p><p><em>…Is this really a Titanic Dragon-Ape?</em></p><p><em>Can I return it to the store?</em></p><p>“Slow down, no one’s fighting with you over the food!”</p><p>Meng Lei rolled his eyes at Teddy as he took a piece for himself. Then, he pointed at the rest of the roasted fish and said, “They are all yours. Go ahead and dig in!”</p><p>“Wau!” Teddy let out a cheer and dived forward.</p><p>Nom!</p><p>Nom!</p><p>After spending a while to gobble down the food, half the roast fish had disappeared.</p><p>“Did you die of starvation in your past life or what?!”</p><p>Meng Lei also picked up the roasted fish and dug in happily. Golden-Light Fishes were known as the most delicious Fifth-Grade Magical Beasts, and they certainly tasted pretty great, indeed. It could totally give the Garlic Roasted Sun-Moon Divine Frog a run for its money.</p><p>The woods were lush and luxuriant, and the lake clean and clear.</p><p>Birds sang amid the fragrant flowers as the campfire blazed.</p><p>The aromatic fragrance greeting the senses and the blazing campfire came together to form an unusual, though harmonious, picture in this forest full of life, yet also full of danger!</p><p>…</p><p>After lunch, Meng Lei continued on his journey.</p><p>It had been half a month since he had come to Magical Beast Forest. He’d traversed the mountain ridges, battled constantly, and left footprints in almost half of the Magical Beast Forest. Even he himself wasn’t sure how far he’d traveled, how many Magical Beasts he’d killed, or where he was.</p><p>In fact, due to the brambles all over the ground and countless thorny vines in the forest, Meng Lei had found his clothes rather in the way and taken off his top, choosing to walk about topless in the forest. Together with his long hair wrapped around on top of his head, he looked just like an uncivilized caveman!</p><p>“It’s been 16 days since I’ve come to Magical Beast Forest. I should leave after staying for another week!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>At that moment, a series of barely audible explosions suddenly traveled over from the front. They sounded like things colliding against each other, and the explosions were constantly ringing out. A smile appeared on Meng Lei’s face as he cocked his ears.</p><p>“There are dumbasses fighting again. Well, that certainly saves me a lot of trouble!”</p><p>Meng Lei had already heard similar commotions umpteen times, and he’d long since gotten used to it. He followed where the sounds were coming from and dashed over, his speed lightning-quick. Compared to half a month ago, he was moving at more than double his original speed.</p><p>Oh, the magic carpet?</p><p>This area was close to the Magical Beast Forest’s central region, and the magic carpet was very eye-catching, which made it very easy for them to be attacked by fearsome creatures. Meng Lei had no wish to be attacked by powerful Magical Beasts for no reason.</p><p>He was here to hunt Magical Beasts. He didn’t want to be killed by Magical Beasts instead!</p><p>As he got nearer and nearer, the commotion also became bigger and bigger.</p><p>At last…</p><p>Boom!</p><p>A towering tree broke into two, and the gigantic tree crown came smashing toward Meng Lei, who secretly bemoaned his bad luck. A fissure appeared beneath his feet, and he hastily jumped in!</p><p>The fissure quickly closed up, and the tree crown came crashing down right on the heels of it.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Tree branches broke, and fallen leaves flew everywhere. Everything within a radius of several hundred meters became collateral damage, and the surroundings turned into a complete mess.</p><p>A hole appeared in the ground, and Meng Lei poked his head out of it. As he looked at the broken trees and messy branches all over the ground, he realized that he wasn’t going to be able to get out anymore. He cast Earth Split at once and started to dig his way out several hundred meters away.</p><p>At a magic cultivation level like his, casting low-level spells could be said to be something right at their fingertips. To them, digging a tunnel underground was no different from drinking a glass of water.</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>Meng Lei darted out from underground and continued to advance toward the battleground. However, what entered his sight surprised him. As it turned out, it wasn’t Magical Beasts that were fighting but humanoids!</p><p>In addition, both parties in the battle came from illustrious backgrounds!</p><p>One of them was covered throughout in a layer of thick, golden scales. Golden dragon horns protruded from his forehead, a pair of golden dragon wings extended from his back, and there was a golden dragon tail at his hip.</p><p>As though he was made out of gold, he shone a bright, resplendent gold that was dazzling and eye-catching.</p><p>He was a Dragon Person, and one with pure Golden Colossal Dragon bloodline, no less.</p><p>The Golden Colossal Dragons! They were kings among the Dragons!</p><p>On top of that, they were the royal family of the Dragon God Empire, too!</p><p>Not only were they terrifyingly strong, but they also enjoyed a venerable status!</p><p>This resulted in Drakes with Golden Colossal Dragon blood in them also enjoying a fairly lofty status in the whole of Dragon God Empire. Just take a look at Hart’s father.</p><p>Hart’s father had average battle capabilities and could barely match up to an Eighth-Grade Warrior. It didn’t count as much in the Fire Dragon Kingdom, yet because of his status as a Golden Colossal Dragon Person, the Fire Dragon Kingdom royalty had conferred upon him the title of a Duke anyway.</p><p>An Eighth-Grade Warrior as a Duke of the kingdom? Would anyone even believe that?</p><p>But that wasn’t even the worst yet, because even Fatty Hart, a Golden Colossal Dragon Person that was as good as “crippled” and whose bloodline awakening was in total shambles, had been conferred the title of a Viscount the moment he was born, and owned his own land!</p><p>Who were they supposed to go to and reason things out with?</p><p>No one!</p><p>One could only admit that he was blessed with a good life.</p><p>Of course, Golden Colossal Dragons with average battle capabilities like Fatty Hart’s father were ultimately a minority. Golden Colossal Dragons were terrifyingly powerful, and Dragon People that inherited the Golden Colossal Dragon bloodline were also very strong.</p><p>As long as the bloodline in their bodies wasn’t so thin that it was impossible to awaken, their bodies would naturally become on par with at least a Seventh-Grade Warrior after they matured into adults. With a bit of effort, they would reach the Eighth-Grade Warrior level.</p><p>One could see from this just how powerful the Golden Colossal Dragon bloodline was.</p><p>Of course, while it was certainly powerful, there weren’t many Dragon People that had the Golden Colossal Dragon bloodline. In the entire Fire Dragon Kingdom, Fatty Hart and his father were the only ones that did.</p><p>That was the reason why Meng Lei was so surprised when he saw the Golden Colossal Dragon Person in front of him. Why was there a Golden Colossal Dragon Person here? And who was he?</p><p>The other party currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Golden Colossal Dragon Person similarly came from a notable background. There were a total of six people, and every single one of them was seven to eight meters tall. The muscles on their bodies intertwined like rocks piled on top of each other, and they were a burnished bronze color throughout as if they were made out of bronze.</p><p>They had humanoid characteristics, but they were seven to eight meters tall!</p><p>“Could they possibly be the famed Titans?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes were filled with curious novelty and surprise as he watched the six giants that were as tall as two-story buildings. This was his first time seeing a giant, so it delivered quite the impact.</p><p>“No, they aren’t Titans, but Demigiants.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos flew out of the spatial ring at this point. As he also watched the six giants, he explained, “Demigiants have a mix of Titan and human blood in them. Those guys are bronze in color throughout, so they are evidently descendants of the Earth Titans.”</p><p>“The Earth Titans?” A light jolt went through Meng Lei.</p><p>“Surely you know of the Earth Titans, right?” Ol’ Amos frowned and added in a criticizing manner, “It’s about time you fill yourself in on the continent’s history!”</p><p>“Oh man, why are you bringing that up again?” Meng Lei was rather sheepish. Then, he asked, “Ol’ President, what are the Earth Titans?”</p><p>“Like us Dragons, the Titans are also categorized into quite a few types.” Ol’ Amos snorted but continued to explain, “For example, the Thunder Titans who are also the royal family of the Titan Empire, the Ocean Titans that control the oceans, the Storm Titans that dominate the typhoons, the Lava Titans that bathe in lava, and so on… The Earth Titans are also one of them!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-79

Chapter 79 - Absolute Overpowering, Meeting Abbe Again

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 79 - Absolute Overpowering, Meeting Abbe Again</h1><p>These were five different types of Titans—Thunder Titans, Ocean Titans, Storm Titans, Lava Titans, Earth Titans!</p><p>“Pure-blooded Titans can grow as tall as over 20 meters after they mature into adults and are as strong as Ninth-Grade Warriors at their pinnacle. They can challenge some of the weaker Saint Domains and are by no means inferior to us pure-blooded Dragons.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos sighed emotionally and went on. “The Titans are a race with low numbers in Heaven’s Vault Continent and have many things in common with us Dragons. We are both powerful and come from a noble bloodline.</p><p>“Our reproductive rates are also just as low, of course. This has resulted in an extremely low number of pure-blooded Titans, while there are a large number of Demigiants that possess Titan bloodlines instead!”</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t help but remark, “In that aspect, they’re certainly very similar to the Dragon God Empire, where there are few Colossal Dragons but a great number of Drakes!”</p><p>“Yes, very similar, indeed!” Ol’ Amos nodded slightly.</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t ask any further. Instead, he placed his full attention on the battle taking place at the front. Not only was the Golden Colossal Dragon Person’s might beyond comparison and his battle capabilities fearsome, but he was also a dual cultivator of magic and martial arts!</p><p>Unfortunately, he was at a complete disadvantage against the six Demigiants. Not only did they possess domineering, great strength, but they could also control the earth.</p><p>With their feet planted on the ground, the Demigiants completely overpowered the Golden Colossal Dragon Person. To be more accurate, they were beating him into a pulp.</p><p>“The Golden Colossal Dragon Person is close to his limit!” Ol’ Amos shook his head lightly. “Brat, get ready to save him!”</p><p>“Save him? Why are we saving him?” Meng Lei was rather reluctant. “If I take out the Demigiants in the name of avenging him only after they kill him, not only will I be able to monopolize the six Demigiants’ assets, but I can also inherit his. Isn’t that wonderful?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos, who was rather appalled by his words, berated him furiously, “He’s one of us Dragon People after all. Can you bear to leave him in the lurch?!”</p><p>“Absolutely!” Meng Lei chuckled sneakily and added, “It’s not like we know each other anyway.”</p><p>“How can you do that?!” Ol’ Amos was fuming mad. “I know you’re a commoner by birth and don’t have any sense of belonging toward the empire and fellow Dragon People, but in your body ultimately flows the…”</p><p>“Alright, alright! Stop nagging, Ol’ President!” Meng Lei shrugged and said, “I just need to save him, right?”</p><p>However, despite saying that, Meng Lei remained where he was without any indication that he was going to do anything. This greatly displeased Ol’ Amos, and he snapped. “What are you waiting for? If you dawdle any longer, he’s going to croak!”</p><p>“You’re not getting it, Ol’ President.” A chuckling Meng Lei explained, “I’ll wait for the Demigiants to push him so far into a corner that he becomes utterly hopeless and knows that he’s doomed for sure before I make a move. That way, I can earn his utmost gratitude and maximize my profits!”</p><p><em>Just listen to what he’s saying!</em></p><p><em>Is that something a Dragon Person should be saying?!</em></p><p>Ol’ Amos’ eyelids uncontrollably twitched as he tried his darnedest to suppress his urge to beat him up. He chastised him furiously, “An immature little brat like you shouldn’t be having that many nonsensical thoughts in your head! Cut the crap and save him!”</p><p>“Ahhh!”</p><p>At that moment, one of the Demigiants struck the Golden Colossal Dragon Person, who didn’t manage to dodge in time, right in the chest, causing a great deal of blood to spurt from his mouth.</p><p>Upon seeing this, the six Demigiants’ fists, which were as large as brass hammers, smashed toward him like raindrops falling from the sky, their attacks especially violent and ferocious.</p><p>“It’s all over!!”</p><p>The Golden Colossal Dragon Person fell to the ground, hopelessness filling his eyes. His breastbone was crushed and broken, and he was utterly powerless to dodge the attack. Should the attacks land, he’d be smashed into a bloody pulp for sure.</p><p>At the sight of this, a furious Ol’ Amos urged Meng Lei, “What are you still waiting for, brat?! He’s going to die!”</p><p>“Haha, I was waiting for this exact moment!”</p><p>Meng Lei burst into laughter. Then, he smacked his palms against the ground.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The ground began to shake all of a sudden. Caught off-guard, the six Demigiants almost fell flat on their faces. Due to their massive sizes, it was very easy for them to lose their balance.</p><p>“What’s going on?”</p><p>As a jolt went through the Golden Colossal Dragon Person, he noticed someone descending from the sky and standing in front of him. His hair was unkempt and disheveled, and he had his back to him, which prevented him from getting a good look at his face.</p><p>“Who are you?”</p><p>The six Demigiants steadied themselves after stumbling. Raging fury and savagery brimmed in their huge, brass bell-like eyes as they glared furiously at Meng Lei, who had suddenly butted into their battle out of nowhere. They roared, “How dare a cheap, lowly human like you ruin our plans? Die!”</p><p>“A cheap, lowly human? Very well!”</p><p>An icy smile formed on Meng Lei’s face, and he instantly vanished from where he was. By the time he reappeared, he’d already charged all the way up to the Demigiant. As the Demigiant stared at him in stunned astonishment, Meng Lei’s fist rammed right into his abdomen.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>A tremendous power erupted with a thunderous boom. Amid the crisp and clear crack of bones snapping, the Demigiant was unsurprisingly thrown out. He flew through the air and broke a large, towering tree so thick that one could barely circle their arms around it right into two.</p><p>“Gisley!”</p><p>Greatly astonished, the other Demigiants stared at Meng Lei as though they couldn’t believe what they’d just seen. Never would they ever have thought that Meng Lei, who didn’t reach even their knees, would actually possess such terrifying strength!</p><p>He’d actually sent Gisley flying with a punch!</p><p>Just how powerful was that?!</p><p>“Five of them left.”</p><p>Meng Lei licked his lips and vanished from where he was again.</p><p>“Look out!”</p><p>Alarm bells went off in the Demigiants’ heads, and they became even more on guard, but it was to no avail.</p><p>Meng Lei abruptly appeared in front of another Demigiant. His right leg swung through the air and kicked a demi-giant right in his jaw. With a crisp snap, a cry escaped him, and he was flung out as well.</p><p>“Four left.”</p><p>He landed on the ground and vanished again.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>“Three left.”</p><p>“Just two now.”</p><p>“Last one.”</p><p>In the blink of an eye, all six Demigiants had been sent flying. Without waiting for them to get back up, six thunder spears shining with a blinding light descended from the heavens and pierced through their throats!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>All six Demigiants’ outraged eyes were widened big and round, filled with resentment and chagrin, unable to rest in peace!</p><p>“Game over!”</p><p>Meng Lei showed himself and gazed at the six Demigiants. He wasn’t even out of breath, and he carried himself with a calm and cool composure as if he hadn’t lifted a finger at all.</p><p>“H-how strong!”</p><p>Totally astounded, the Golden Colossal Dragon Person stared at Meng Lei from the back. In his eyes, Meng Lei’s back view was so big and tall, stalwart, and beyond one’s reach…</p><p>“Are you alright?”</p><p>Meng Lei turned around and faced the Golden Colossal Dragon Person with a warm smile, just like a morally upright gentleman.</p><p>It was then that the Golden Colossal Dragon Person finally got a good look at Meng Lei. His eyes turned big and round at once, and he stammered, “How… How come it’s you?”</p><p>“Huh? Do we know each other?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked greatly taken aback. He looked the Golden Colossal Dragon Person up and down but found him a total stranger.</p><p><em>I’ve never seen him before! Why does he recognize me?</em></p><p>The Golden Colossal Dragon Person kept silent and gazed straight at Meng Lei for a brief moment. Then, his golden dragon scales slowly faded to reveal a familiar and ordinary-looking face.</p><p>Meng Lei jerked fiercely, and he exclaimed, “Abbe?!”</p><p>“Yes, it’s me!”</p><p>Abbe nodded slowly and got up from the ground with his hand held over his chest. Then, with a flip of his hand, he brought out a test tube filled with blue liquid, threw his head back, and downed it in a gulp.</p><p>Abbe’s complexion improved significantly after the liquid entered his system. He looked at Meng Lei, his eyes full of complex emotions, and remarked, “I’d never imagined that you’d become this strong after just a separation of half a month.”</p><p>“It really is you, Abbe!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head, not quite knowing what to say. How did he even bump into Abbe at a place like this? What a coincidence!</p><p>“Why are you here, though? Weren’t you supposed to return to the capital when the winter break started?”</p><p>Although they were housemates, because they’d rarely interacted, the only thing Meng Lei knew about Abbe was that he was from the capital and nothing else. He’d assumed that Abbe had returned to his hometown during the winter break. Little did he think that he’d actually come to Magical Beast Forest, too!</p><p>“I don’t want to go back!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-80

Chapter 80 - The Meteor Plains, The Ice Age

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 80 - The Meteor Plains, The Ice Age</h1><p>The Demigiant corpses laid quietly on the grass. As their blood dried, it attracted countless flies and mosquitoes.</p><p>Meng Lei frowned and said, “You don’t have to go back if you don’t want to, but you shouldn’t have come to the Magical Beast Forest depths and loitered about here. It’s too dangerous!”</p><p>Abbe had nothing to say to that.</p><p>Meng Lei then asked, “What are your plans now? I’d suggest that you should either leave or go to the forest’s outer boundaries. That way, your life won’t be at risk!”</p><p>“I understand!”</p><p>Abbe nodded silently. Then, as he held his chest, he turned around and left. “Thank you for saving my life. I will repay the favor for sure!”</p><p>Meng Lei became somewhat worried instead when he saw how Abbe was behaving. He couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going?”</p><p>“I don’t know. Wherever my legs take me, I guess!” Abbe replied coolly.</p><p>Then, without even looking back, he left and, in no time, disappeared into the depths of the forest.</p><p>“That fellow…”</p><p>Meng Lei was rendered rather speechless.</p><p>“Forget it, just do whatever you want. Why should I bother that much about him if even he himself doesn’t cherish his own life?”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head and began to examine the Demigiant corpses instead. These guys were pretty strong, and their bodies were on par with Sixth-Grade Warriors.</p><p>If the six of them joined hands with one another, together with their earth-controlling ability, they would have a fighting chance even if they encountered Seventh-Grade Warriors.</p><p><em>Surely there’ll be quite a lot of good stuff on them, right?</em></p><p>“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”</p><p>“Yes, pick it up!”</p><p>“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +91!”</p><p>After some rummaging, Meng Lei indeed found a spatial magic device on them. It was a brass ring that looked simple, classy, and unadorned, yet bold and unconstrained, and was very characteristic of a giant’s style.</p><p>“Let’s see what’s inside of it…”</p><p>He released some spiritual power, which slowly spread into the spatial ring.</p><p>“That’s all there is inside?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s brows drew together at once. The space inside the ring wasn’t big, only about ten cubic meters at best. Apart from a small pile of magic cores, there were only a few pieces of clothing, armor, maces, roasted meat, and other things like that.</p><p>There was nothing else other than these!</p><p>“Can you even call yourselves Demigiants when you’re even poorer than me?!”</p><p>Meng Lei was sorely disappointed. He swore and grumbled incessantly as he flung all the clothes, armor, maces, and whatnot out of the ring. Only Demigiants could use those things; to him, they were nothing but rubbish. Naturally, rubbish should be discarded.</p><p>“Hmm? What’s this?”</p><p>At that moment, something resembling a parchment manuscript fell out of a piece of armor and caught Meng Lei’s attention.</p><p>Parchments were something considered very primitive. Apart from the poor that lived in far, remote mountainous regions, nobody would usually use something like it.</p><p>Those six Demigiants evidently weren’t poor, so why would they carry a parchment manuscript on them?</p><p>Puzzled, Meng Lei picked up the parchment manuscript and took a look at the contents. Crooked, twisted lines covered the manuscript, forming a simple map that looked somewhat similar to military tactical maps used in olden times.</p><p>Apart from that, there were no text, symbols, or references on it at all. Meng Lei couldn’t tell what kind of place the map was depicting, either.</p><p>“Who was the one that drew this map? I promise not to kill you if you come forward now!”</p><p>Meng Lei curled his lip in despise. Just as he was about to toss it aside without further thought, Ol’ Amos unexpectedly popped up and said, “Don’t discard it yet! Let me take a look at it first.”</p><p>“It’s just a useless picture. What’s so interesting about it?”</p><p>Meng Lei grumbled in response but passed him the map anyway. A frowning Ol’ Amos began to examine the map, and the more he did, the deeper he frowned. After a long while, he finally said, “This thing… It looks rather familiar!”</p><p>“Eh?”</p><p>Meng Lei raised his eyebrows and asked in puzzlement, “Ol’ President, isn’t this just an ordinary parchment map?”</p><p>“It is indeed an ordinary parchment map,” Ol’ Amos replied with a small nod. “But the terrain depicted on it—six mountains surrounding a lake—is no ordinary place. That’s the terrain unique to the Meteor Plains!”</p><p>“The Meteor Plains?” Meng Lei’s brows furrowed slightly.</p><p>“What? You’ve never heard of even the Meteor Plains?”</p><p>As Ol’ Amos’ expression turned sour as though he was about to launch into a reproachful lecture again, Meng Lei hurriedly replied, “I’ve heard of the Meteor Plains, of course. It’s located in the great wastelands in the far north and inside the Beast People Empire!</p><p>“It’s said that a long, long time ago, a star from beyond the horizon had fallen and landed in the far northern wastelands. Over the course of time, people started to refer to that area as the Meteor Plains, meaning ‘the land where the stars fell’!”</p><p>“That’s not a legend but something that had really happened.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos gave a slow nod. A hint of nostalgia came over his features, and he said, “It happened during my childhood. I can still remember it as clear as day. That night was just like any other night. My family and I had just had our dinner, and I was playing with my younger sister in the courtyard.</p><p>“All of a sudden, a shooting star came falling from beyond the heavens. With a long trail of fire dragging at its end, it streaked across the sky and lit up the entire night sky!</p><p>“That shooting star had first appeared in the skies above the Fairy Empire. As it traveled from the south to the north, it streaked all the way across the Fairy Empire and Magical Beast Ridge before it finally landed in the great far northern wastelands.</p><p>“In the instant it landed, even the Fire Dragon Kingdom countless kilometers away in the distance could feel the intense tremors caused by its landing. A gray, dusky mushroom cloud rose from the ground and rushed tens of thousands of kilometers up into the sky, so high that it was several times higher than even Mount Almighty Theodore’s Tomb, the tallest mountain in Heaven’s Vault Continent!</p><p>“The earth continued to shake, and a great number of buildings caved in. The night sky became as bright as day, and this brightness lasted as long as several minutes in the entire sky before it gradually dimmed!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos’ eyes glistened, a look of astoundment still contained within them. “It was a sleepless night that night, and we waited all the way until daybreak, only to find out that the sky had been completely blocked out by dust!</p><p>“As far as the eye could see, dust blocked out the sun and also obstructed our sight. Just like a great fog in winter, we could only see as far as five meters from where we stood. Beyond that, nothing was visible because the meteor’s fall had set off too much dust into the air.”</p><p>Meng Lei gave a slow nod and said, “I can see why it would blot out the sky and cover the sun, but the scale of the aftermath is a little too big.”</p><p>“I was still young at that time. In the beginning, I’d found it interesting, and I had a lot of fun playing hide-and-seek with my buddies, but it wasn’t long before disaster fell upon us!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos took a deep breath and went on. “The temperature began to drop sharply and rapidly, and a snowstorm actually broke out in the Fire Dragon Kingdom during June and July!”</p><p>“A snowstorm?!”</p><p>A huge jolt went through Meng Lei. Fire Dragon Kingdom was right next to Magical Beast Forest and had a tropical rainforest climate. Temperatures were high all year round, and June and July were even the hottest periods of the year.</p><p>Snowing during a season like that? How inconceivable!</p><p>“This sudden abnormality didn’t garner much attention. Instead, everyone found it rather novel, except that the dust covering the sky didn’t show any signs of dispersing even as time passed, and the temperature continued to drop.</p><p>“Ever since then, the Fire Dragon Kingdom has turned into a nation of frost. Commoners freeze to death every day, and livestock and wild beasts die in even larger numbers.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos sighed and said, “You can imagine what it’s like in the other kingdoms when even Fire Dragon Kingdom has it this bad, not to mention the Beast People Empire far away in the great northern wastelands.”</p><p><em>The Ice Age!</em></p><p>These three words involuntarily surfaced in Meng Lei’s mind.</p><p>Temperature imbalance, layers of ice covering the land, extremely cold climates, a drop in sea levels, a great number of animals dying out… That was exactly what the Ice Age was!</p><p>Moreover, the Ice Age often signified the extinction of living things. What a striking similarity there was between the scene Ol’ Amos was describing and the Ice Age…</p><p>“What happened after that, Ol’ President?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-81

Chapter 81 - The Missing Meteor, The Golden Leaf

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 81 - The Missing Meteor, The Golden Leaf</h1><p>“After that…”</p><p>Ol’ Amos’ eyes were deep and bottomless. As he sank into far, distant memories, his voice also turned aged like that of someone who’d lived through a great many changes.</p><p>“In the 10-odd years that followed, the whole continent turned into a nation of frost. Countless living things died, and all the major empires and every single race suffered heavy losses.</p><p>“Among which, the Beast People Empire had the highest death toll. According to the post-event statistics, 3/4 of Beast People Empire’s commoners had died, and 1/5 of their nobles were implicated.</p><p>“The Beast People Empire was awfully powerful back then. The power that their empire held firmly outstripped the Dragon God Empire’s and the Titan Empire’s. However, this event dealt the Beast People Empire a heavy blow that shook their very foundation, and they ended up becoming the weakest power among the four great empires.”</p><p>“3/4 of the commoners… How merciless!”</p><p>Meng Lei was incredibly blown away. No matter where commoners were always the social strata with the highest population count. According to statistics, there were currently more than 200 billion commoners in the Beast People Empire!</p><p>A death toll that reached 3/4 of the commoner population…</p><p>Hiss!</p><p>That was a whole 150 billion people!</p><p>If all the other commoners that’d died in the whole continent were to be included, this number would probably be multiplied several times. One could see from this just how merciless that disaster had been!</p><p>“It was very merciless, indeed. We Magicians study the intrinsic nature of the heavens and earth, hoping to get a glimpse of the true essence of nature. Yet in front of the universe, we are simply so insignificant…”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head lightly. “Even a powerful Saint Domain wouldn’t count as much in the presence of the universe. They are nothing but a drop of water in the vast sea, a speck of dust in the universe.”</p><p>“And then? What happened after that, Ol’ President?” Meng Lei asked eagerly.</p><p>“After that, in order to improve the situation, the four great empires started to cooperate with one another. They assembled all the earth-elemental, water-elemental, and ice-elemental Magicians in the whole continent to lay down the dust and make it settle. The Magicians then gathered the moisture in the air and began a grand, spectacular dust-clearing operation.</p><p>“Something worth mentioning here is that our Fire Dragon Magic Academy, as well as many other magic academies, were precisely established during that period of time, with the objective of grooming Magicians, especially earth-elemental ones.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos continued to go down memory lane, and he said, “Thanks to generations of predecessors’ consistent and persistent efforts, sunlight began to shine upon the earth again. The sun rose in the east once again, the ice and snow melted, and the temperatures turned warm and mild.</p><p>“Everything finally returned to what it was like in the past.</p><p>“We had succeeded, succeeded in chasing away the ice and frost!</p><p>“It was just a pity that the lives that have already disappeared would stay forever buried in the ice and snow, never to return again.”</p><p>“How horrifying and heartrending!”</p><p>Meng Lei heaved a small sigh, his emotions rather complex.</p><p>“Ever since then, all the races in the continent busied themselves with licking their wounds and recovering their strength, and Heaven’s Vault Continent instead welcomed a rare era of peace. It was exactly during that period that I’d broken through to Saint Domain.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos said with a sigh, “After I achieved Saint Domain level, I headed to the Meteor Plains right away. I wanted to see for myself just what exactly the star from beyond the heavens that’d caused such a huge ruckus was.”</p><p>“The star from beyond the heavens?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes lit up.</p><p>“Yet when I arrived at the Meteor Plains, the star from beyond the heavens had already long since vanished, leaving behind only a massive impact crater!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head and said with a smile, “At that time, there were many other people with the same thoughts as me. In fact, a lot of people believed that the meteor capable of causing such a disaster must surely be some kind of impressive treasure.</p><p>“This resulted in experts from every nook and cranny of the continent constantly making their way to the Meteor Plains to survey the place and search for fallen treasures in the following several hundred years. However, despite searching everywhere, they returned empty-handed.”</p><p>“Why didn’t they find anything?” Puzzlement filled Meng Lei’s eyes. “A gigantic meteor like that couldn’t have possibly been fully destroyed upon landing, right? Who could’ve taken it?”</p><p>“That’s hard to say.” Ol’ Amos shook his head with a laugh. “There’ll always be someone stronger out there, and there is no limit to how high one can go. In the whole of Heaven’s Vault Continent, there are certainly people who were capable of taking the fallen meteor. At the very least, I was capable of taking the meteor during my pinnacle!”</p><p>“Fine!”</p><p>Meng Lei curled his lip in response. It was only then that he remembered that he was currently in Heaven’s Vault Continent, a powerful advanced martial arts world where individuals’ offensive abilities could reach terrifying heights.</p><p>Meng Lei asked again, “What happened after that?”</p><p>“After that, over the course of time, the treasure-seeking trend gradually died down, and no one paid any more attention to the Meteor Plains,” answered Ol’ Amos.</p><p>“So, that’s the history of Meteor Plains,” muttered Meng Lei to himself.</p><p>Then, he looked at the parchment in his hand again. “So, this parchment manuscript is a map of Meteor Plains?”</p><p>“Yes! During my time, exploring Meteor Plains was something very trendy. How did that saying go again… ‘You can’t call yourself an expert if you’ve never been to the Meteor Plains’?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos nodded and said with a smile, “It was exactly because of that that maps of Meteor Plains were everywhere. Even a Meteor Plains map bought from a roadside peddler would be way more detailed than the one depicted on that parchment manuscript in front of you.”</p><p>“Sigh! So, after all has been said and done, this is just an ordinary map. And here I’d thought that I’d gotten some kind of impressive treasure!”</p><p>Meng Lei was greatly disappointed. A bout of flames burst forth from his palm, and he promptly burned the parchment. Ol’ Amos didn’t stop him, either. He’d explained so much only because he’d found the map familiar to the eye earlier, and not because there really was something unusual about the map.</p><p>Burned? So be it, then. No biggie!</p><p>As the parchment burned into ashes, a golden sheet of unknown substance dropped out of the parchment and fell onto the ground.</p><p>“What’s this?”</p><p>When Meng Lei picked it up, he discovered that it was actually a leaf about the size of an infant’s palm. It looked like an elm tree leaf, except golden-yellow throughout. It was full of dense, packed veined patterns and seemed as if it was forged from gold.</p><p>“Let me take a look at that!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos took the golden leaf from Meng Lei. He held it in his hand and began to inspect it closely, but the more he did, the more astonished he became. “How strange! This thing can actually shut out my spiritual power!?</p><p>“This is really weird. I still can’t get through it!</p><p>“But that shouldn’t be the case…”</p><p>For a brief moment, Ol’ Amos mumbled to himself, failing to make any discovery even after half a day. This greatly surprised him, and he remarked, “This golden leaf looks ordinary, but it’s a unified entity and can completely shut out my spiritual power. I can’t tell what it’s really made out of at all. Even this old man here has no idea what it is!”</p><p>“Even you can’t tell what it is, Ol’ President?”</p><p>Meng Lei examined the golden leaf closely, his eyes glittering brightly. “Might this be some kind of treasure? Hehe, let’s give it a go right away!”</p><p>Meng Lei bit on his finger and broke the skin surface. Then, he dripped a drop of blood onto it.</p><p>“What are you doing?” Ol’ Amos was bewildered by Meng Lei’s actions.</p><p>“Dripping blood to claim ownership, of course!” Meng Lei smilingly explained, “There is a group of well-read and knowledgeable amazing people in my hometown. After much painstaking efforts and observing innumerable predecessors and almighty masters, they’ve concluded this bit of wisdom—when one is dealing with things they are unfamiliar with or things that are difficult to make an accurate judgment of, dripping blood to claim ownership is the way to go. If you can really successfully claim ownership of it, you’ll strike it big. Even if you can’t, you don’t lose out at all!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was rather dumbfounded. He criticized, “What kind of weird theory is that? Dripping blood to claim ownership? Do you think this is a divine weap—”</p><p>Yet before he could even finish, the blood that had dripped onto the golden leaf was actually absorbed into the leaf, and it vanished without a trace!</p><p>“Hahaha! Didn’t I tell you?” Meng Lei was overjoyed. “My hometown kids me not! Kids me not, I say!”</p><p>“I’ll be damned…”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was dumbstruck!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-82

Chapter 82 - The Soul Realm, A White Elephant Divine Weapon

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 82 - The Soul Realm, A White Elephant Divine Weapon</h1><p>Ol’ Amos’ eyes almost fell out of their sockets as he stared at the drop of blood seeping so strangely into the golden leaf. “I’ll be damned… It really worked?”</p><p>In that instant, Ol’ Amos felt as if his entire world had been upturned. Only divine weapons could go through the process of dripping blood to claim ownership, and those that could go through this same process were divine weapons for sure!</p><p>But were divine weapons something that easy to come by?</p><p>“To think that I, Amos Kroc, have traversed the world unhindered throughout my life. I’d started from humble beginnings, improved by leaps and bounds the whole way, and broke through the Saint Domain realm’s shackles at 58 years old to become the top expert of my time!”</p><p>Indignation filled Ol’ Amos’ eyes as he went on. “After that, I even used only a short 1,000 years to attain the Saint Domain realm’s pinnacle and enter the ranks of ultimate top experts in the continent!</p><p>“Yet I’ve only ever encountered a single divine weapon in my illustrious lifetime, and that is the Gods-Slaying Spear that killed me. Even so, I’m proud to share in its glory!</p><p>“How fortunate am I to be killed by a divine weapon?</p><p>“But what about you?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos glared at Meng Lei and shouted furiously, “An immature little brat like you has actually encountered divine weapons one after another! Are the gods up there blind?!”</p><p>“Admit it, Ol’ President, this is fate!”</p><p>Meng Lei snickered and tossed his soft and silky long hair back in a showy manner. “Some people simply aren’t even as blessed as a sheet of paper. Even if they are born with a silver spoon in their mouths, they may still die a tragic death in the middle of the night without the luck to enjoy their good fortune. Whereas some people are just like cockroaches—even if they experience numerous difficulties and dangers, they have numerous chance encounters, and the longer they live, the more exciting their lives become.</p><p>“I’m clearly the latter!”</p><p>There was something else he didn’t mention—if Ol’ Amos knew that Meng Lei even had a software bug-like cheating device, wouldn’t he become so jealous that he’d kill himself by eating sh*t?</p><p>“To hell with your goddamn fate! I simply won’t accept it!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was fuming mad. He grumbled indignantly, “Why do you get to have a divine weapon just by picking up any old parchment manuscript? Yet I’ve never even seen a hint of a divine weapon’s shadow after living for several thousand years?!”</p><p>“Look, look! Something’s happening to the leaf!”</p><p>At that moment, the golden leaf abruptly gave off an incredibly dazzling and brilliant golden light as if it was a miniature sun.</p><p>Right on the heels of it, an odd scene unfolded—everywhere the golden light reached, all the trees, grass, and vines started to grow at an alarming rate as if they’d been injected with highly concentrated growth hormones!</p><p>One meter, two meters, three meters, four meters, five meters…</p><p>In just a few short breaths, with the golden leaf as the center, all the plants within a radius of five meters had turned into “towering trees reaching the skies”!</p><p>Meng Lei was straight up… swallowed by the plants!</p><p>“What the heck? What exactly is going on?!”</p><p>Meng Lei stared at all this in stupefaction, totally dumbfounded, while Ol’ Amos looked absolutely flabbergasted as well.</p><p>At that moment, the cause of all these—in other words, the golden leaf—slowly flew into the air and spun a full round in mid-air before suddenly shooting right toward Meng Lei’s forehead.</p><p>“W-what are you doing?!”</p><p>Meng Lei received a huge shock. The forehead was a person’s vital weakness. Should the golden leaf impale him, wouldn’t he die?</p><p>As such, he instinctively blocked his forehead with his hand. However, in the instant that the golden leaf made contact with his hand, it passed right through bizarrely and continued shooting into Meng Lei’s forehead before vanishing without a trace.</p><p>“F*ck!”</p><p>Meng Lei hastily touched his forehead. When he realized that it wasn’t bleeding, nor was there any sign of injury, he couldn’t help but become a little relieved. However, the problem was that… The golden leaf had clearly wormed its way in!</p><p>There was no way he would be fine!</p><p>“Brat, are you alright?” Ol’ Amos asked anxiously.</p><p>“Seems like… I’m fine?”</p><p>As Meng Lei rubbed his forehead, he asked, “Ol’ President, the golden leaf has wormed its way into my head. Will I be alright?”</p><p>“Probably… yes?” Ol’ Amos wasn’t very sure, either. “My understanding of divine weapons is limited, so I can’t comment much. But since you’ve claimed ownership of it, I should think that it wouldn’t hurt you… probably?”</p><p>“Really?”</p><p>Meng Lei blinked in response.</p><p>“Pay close attention and try to sense where it has gone,” suggested Ol’ Amos.</p><p>“Okay!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded repeatedly. Then, he shut his eyes and started to carefully sense its location. His spiritual power was very strong now, and he was entirely capable of scanning his own body and doing an inner view of his internal organs. There was no way any abnormality in the body could escape the eyes of a spiritual power scan.</p><p>“It has actually gone all the way into my sea of consciousness?!” Meng Lei exclaimed loudly.</p><p>A person’s sea of consciousness, also known as their spiritual realm or soul realm, was the place that harbored their spirit and contained their soul.</p><p>Every single person, or rather, every single living thing, had their own sea of consciousness. The difference laid in the fact that some could “see” their own sea of consciousness, while others were unable to detect the presence of their spiritual realm.</p><p>Typically, once one attained the Seventh-Grade Magician level, they would be able to achieve inner viewing of their own spirit and return to their spiritual realm.</p><p>Of course, as it was common for Warriors’ spiritual power to be a tad weaker than Magicians’, and they needed to attain Ninth-Grade level before they could achieve this.</p><p>The sea of consciousness was like the universe, vast and boundless, limitless and infinite, yet incredibly wide and spacious. Within the endless void floated a single, lone silvery-white flame.</p><p>Chilly, wild and arrogant, and solitary! It strengthened and weakened unsteadily, as though a candle flame hanging in the Moon Palace ¹ .</p><p>That was exactly what the soul flame was—a person’s very core and essence!</p><p>No matter how beautiful one’s outer appearance was, it would never overcome the passage of time’s corrosion, and an exquisite body might not necessarily be capable of holding a soul.</p><p>The “soul” referred to here was precisely the soul flame.</p><p>The soul flame hung suspended in the void, surrounded by gray, dusky fog. Chilly, deep, and remote, it was the one and only source of light in one’s boundless realm of consciousness.</p><p>That was what it was like in everyone’s sea of consciousness.</p><p>Yet Meng Lei’s sea of consciousness wasn’t the same because there was actually something else above his soul flame—the golden leaf!</p><p>Yes, that golden leaf from just now!</p><p>It floated above the soul flame, swaying lightly like light decorations above candle flames. It followed the soul flame’s unsteady fluctuations and spun slowly in a very rhythmic manner, emanating a vast and mysterious aura as it did so.</p><p>“What exactly is that?”</p><p>Meng Lei was anxious and doubtful. He found this particular “divine weapon” simply too odd. When he had claimed ownership of the Gods-Slaying Spear previously, a strong connection had been established between the Gods-Slaying Spear and him. Through this connection, he was able to easily mobilize the Gods-Slaying Spear, but this wasn’t the case for the golden leaf.</p><p>After he had dripped his blood onto it and claimed ownership of it, no connection of any sort had been established between the golden leaf and him at all. Despite it entering his sea of consciousness, Meng Lei still couldn’t sense any connection with it.</p><p>The golden leaf… was just like an inanimate object. It was as if he’d never claimed ownership of it.</p><p>He could clearly see it idling there, yet he couldn’t sense it, much less direct or command it. It felt extremely frustrating!</p><p>“Who can tell me just what the heck that thing is?!”</p><p>Meng Lei attempted to touch the gold leaf with his spiritual power, but the golden leaf stayed still and motionless.</p><p>He applied a bit more force… But it still stayed motionless.</p><p>He then struck at it forcefully, but it simply didn’t budge.</p><p>Even when he smashed madly at it, it stood its ground steadfastly and remained unmoving.</p><p>“Are you a goddamn inanimate object?!”</p><p>Meng Lei was going crazy. He finally knew a tiger’s pain when eating a hedgehog—wanting to eat it yet unable to, and wanting to discard it yet couldn’t bear to part with it. He could only stare at it helplessly, unable to do anything about it!</p><p>“Get lost, get lost! What a weirdo! You sh*tty divine weapon!”</p><p>Meng Lei was fairly incensed, and he withdrew from his sea of consciousness indignantly.</p><p>Ol’ Amos gazed at Meng Lei anxiously and asked with a face full of concern, “How is it? Did you find it?”</p><p>“I did, but…”</p><p>Meng Lei told him what had taken place inside his sea of consciousness with a shake of his head.</p><p>“What?! Really?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos frowned deeply. After musing for a long while, he finally said, “This situation is honestly surprising, but it’s nothing more than two possibilities.”</p><p>“What does that mean?”</p><p>Meng Lei perked up.</p><p>“The first possibility is that this divine weapon is damaged, or maybe it’s defective from the get-go and is a spare part of another divine weapon.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos twisted his beard as he mused with an intelligent gleam in his eyes. “Although a divine weapon’s ingenuity is indeterminable, in essence, it’s still a magic device. When a magic device cannot be used, there’s a high chance that it’s because it’s damaged.</p><p>“Reasons like damaged internal parts, depletion of energy inside its magic core, its magic circle breaking down, and so on. All these can cause a magic device to become unable to function properly.”</p><p>“What about the second possibility?”</p><p>“Now, the second possibility is a complicated one!” A sharp glint flashed across Ol’ Amos’ eyes. “The golden leaf itself is a divine weapon of extremely high quality, but you are too weak, so you’re not qualified to use it at all!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-83

Chapter 83 - Wood-Elemental Magic Talent, Pummeling A Gigantic Python

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 83 - Wood-Elemental Magic Talent, Pummeling A Gigantic Python</h1><p>The Milky Way dazzled as it hung suspended in the sky. Sparkling and brilliant, it was vast and boundless.</p><p>Meng Lei sat cross-legged on a large tree fork as he did his daily meditation. Cultivation was a process akin to rowing against the tide—one must constantly forge ahead, or else they would be driven back. One must be diligent and relentless with their cultivation.</p><p>The forest in the night wasn’t a quiet and peaceful place, and beast roars distracted one’s mind every once in a while. Meng Lei had already gotten used to it by now, though, and he concentrated on refining his magic power and improving his spiritual power.</p><p>Little Teddy lay sprawled on the tree branch beside him, deep asleep. Its snores thundered all the way up to the skies, but in spite of this, its sense of vigilance was exceedingly high. Not even the slightest bit of activity escaped its ears and nose, proving itself to be even more useful than an actual poodle. As a result, Meng Lei could meditate at ease.</p><p>“How strange!” Meng Lei suddenly opened his eyes. “Why am I able to sense Wood Elements all of a sudden? This shouldn’t be happening. Are the Wood Elements especially rich and abundant here?”</p><p>Countless magic elements floated in the air around him. Dense and packed as if stars in the night sky, they sparkled brilliantly and spread everywhere in a vast and boundless manner.</p><p>There were fiery red Fire Elements, silvery-white Thunder Elements, and ocher-yellow Earth Elements. The three different types of magic elements added radiance and beauty to each other, and they looked as if they were fairies.</p><p>Prior to this day, Meng Lei had only been able to detect these three types of magic elements, and he’d also been meditating and refining these same three types of magic elements. But now, it’d actually increased by another type!</p><p>Green magic elements!</p><p>They were obviously Wood Elements!</p><p>Now, mixed among the Fire, Thunder, and Earth Elements were countless Wood Elements. Much like a myriad of green fireflies, they circled around Meng Lei as they danced.</p><p>Even if Meng Lei didn’t actively try to absorb them, they made their way wave upon wave into his body anyway. He was just like a magnet or a whirlpool that was continuously attracting them.</p><p>This scene practically couldn’t get any weirder because Meng Lei didn’t have any wood-elemental magic talent at all!</p><p>Besides, he had never been able to attract Thunder Elements and Fire Elements in the same way as this, despite his superior-grade thunder-elemental affinity and fire-elemental affinity!</p><p>“When did I gain wood-elemental magic talent?” Meng Lei looked absolutely stupefied. “And the magic talent is so crazy, no less. It’s even more terrifying than my thunder-elemental and fire-elemental affinity?!</p><p>“But this shouldn’t be happening…</p><p>“This didn’t happen at all when I was meditating last night!</p><p>“Could it be because of that golden leaf?”</p><p>Meng Lei suddenly thought of the golden leaf that had forcibly taken up residence in his sea of consciousness. Thinking back to the events from the day before and today, the biggest change that had taken place was that there was now an additional golden leaf in his sea of consciousness.</p><p>“That golden leaf is the cause for me suddenly gaining wood-elemental magic talent? Isn’t that kinda ridiculous?”</p><p>A corner of Meng Lei’s mouth was spasming, his mood somewhat complicated. He had initially thought that the golden leaf was an inanimate object because the moment it had entered his sea of consciousness, it had behaved like a grand overlord, indifferent to everything and obeying nothing!</p><p>Little did he think that it would actually “bestow” upon him wood-elemental magic talent!</p><p>This was honestly too…</p><p>“Could it be that it really is like what Ol’ President mentioned? That the golden leaf is a divine weapon of exceptionally high quality, but I’m not qualified to use it yet?” Meng Lei’s eyes were gleaming awfully bright. “I’m gonna strike it rich so bad if that’s really the case!”</p><p>“Hehe! Never mind, I’ll just refine some wood-elemental magic power for now. Since I have wood-elemental magic talent now, how can I let it go to waste?”</p><p>The night passed peacefully as Meng Lei entered a cultivation frenzy.</p><p>Meng Lei was roused from his sleep the next morning.</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Teddy squatted on the tree as he glowered at a Magical Beast. It snarled at the Magical Beast as it pounded its chest and stamped its feet, its senses on high alert.</p><p>This was a huge red python over 30 meters long and as thick as a water barrel. A fiery red color throughout, it had a crimson chicken comb at its crown and a pair of black wings on its back and was as tall as a ten-story building.</p><p>“The Eighth-Grade Magical Beast, Black-Winged Comb Python!”</p><p>A hint of a smile appeared at Meng Lei’s lip corners when he recognized the Magical Beast. After the last half a month spent exploring the Magical Beast Forest, he loved seeing Magical Beasts sending themselves up to death’s door the most now.</p><p>All of these were money, after all.</p><p>“Hiss, hiss!”</p><p>The Black-Winged Comb Python hissed loudly as it flicked its tongue. A hint of greed flashed across its brown eyes as it watched Teddy and Meng Lei, who were perched on the tree.</p><p>“Is it treating us as its food?”</p><p>The corners of Meng Lei’s lips quirked upward, and he asked cheerfully, “How about having this Black-Winged Comb Python for breakfast today, Teddy?”</p><p>“Good… Good!”</p><p>Teddy bounced up and down a couple of times as he responded happily.</p><p>“Hiss!”</p><p>The Black-Winged Comb Python watched them for a brief moment before the wings at its back gave a powerful flap. Its body rose into the air along with the action, and its thick, muscular tail swept abruptly toward Meng Lei.</p><p>Its tail moved swiftly and forcefully, the friction from it whipping through the air producing a crisp and clear explosion. In just an instant, it had already reached right in front of Meng Lei. It could sense the threat that Meng Lei posed toward it, so it wanted to get rid of him first before taking care of Teddy.</p><p>“To capture the bandits, first seize the ringleader? You have it all planned out, don’t you?” Meng Lei shook his head with a laugh. “What a shame that you’ve picked the wrong target!”</p><p>Meng Lei raised his right arm in response to the gigantic tail sweeping toward him. He caught the huge tail that could easily cleave mountains, shatter rocks, and crush tall, towering trees in his hand, and just like that, the tail simply couldn’t cause much of an upheaval.</p><p>“Hiss?”</p><p>The Black-Winged Comb Python was alarmed and horrified upon feeling the surging great strength coming from its tail, and it realized that it’d run into a brick wall. However, before it could retract its tail, Meng Lei applied force in his hand, and all five of his fingers easily broke through the python’s scales to pierce deep into its flesh.</p><p>Blood seeped out of the wounds and splattered onto the ground.</p><p>The Black-Winged Comb Python let out a hissing cry and tried to forcefully retract its tail, but Meng Lei’s fingers were just like pliers firmly shackling it down, and it simply couldn’t move at all.</p><p>“Rise!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s arm muscles flexed with a light shout, and great, boundless power erupted with a boom. To the python’s horror, it realized that its body had uncontrollably flown into the air.</p><p>It crashed heavily against a huge, towering tree over 40 meters tall. With a crisp snap, the tree, together with its roots, broke at the base and its thick, solid trunk came crashing toward Meng Lei.</p><p>“Go!”</p><p>At the sight of this, Meng Lei waved his arm. The Black-Winged Comb Python immediately transformed into an iron chain that struck brutally against the tree trunk.</p><p>Crack!</p><p>The tree trunk broke into two in the middle!</p><p>“Again!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved about and began to slam the Black-Winged Comb Python against the tree trunk in a series of frenzied attacks. Amidst crisp cracking sounds, the tree trunk splintered into several pieces and turned into broken wood fragments in the end.</p><p>“Hahaha! Great!”</p><p>Meng Lei laughed loudly and chucked the Black-Winged Comb Python aside casually. It flew outward and crashed heavily onto the ground.</p><p>“Hiss!”</p><p>As an Eighth-Grade Magical Beast, the Black-Winged Comb Python evidently wasn’t going to fall to its death so easily. It shook its head forcefully to clear its mind. Then, it hastily tried to make a run for it, clearly intending to flee.</p><p>“Thinking of fleeing?”</p><p>Meng Lei snapped his fingers. A three-meter-long thunder spear shot down from the heavens and instantly pierced through the Black-Winged Comb Python’s head, pinning it to the ground.</p><p>“Hiss, hiss!”</p><p>The Black-Winged Comb Python had extremely strong vitality, and it managed to survive this time, too. Its body convulsed all over as it hissed, again and again, terrified and uneasy.</p><p>“I’ve already said that I’m going to eat you. Do you think I’ll let you go?” Meng Lei casually took out a dagger and instructed with a smile, “Teddy, gouge out its magic core!”</p><p>“Howl, howl!”</p><p>Teddy let out a few howls. With the dagger in its grip, it flew toward the Black-Winged Comb Python and happily went to gouge out its magic core.</p><p>Gouging magic cores was one of Teddy’s life pleasures!</p><p>Meng Lei had realized that whenever he killed a Magical Beast, Teddy loved to gouge out its magic core before he had a chance to do it. In the beginning, he’d thought that Teddy wanted to eat the magic core to increase its strength, only to find out in the end that Teddy simply just liked to… dig them out.</p><p>Eventually, Meng Lei entrusted this glorious but arduous task to Teddy. Since it liked to gouge them out that much, then it could feel free to go ahead. It was just as well that it could also allow Teddy to give play to its specialty and nurture its feral nature.</p><p>Killing two birds with one stone? Why not, right?</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-84

Chapter 84 - Terrifying Roars, A Magical Beast Riot

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 84 - Terrifying Roars, A Magical Beast Riot</h1><p>“Ding! 1 Black-Winged Comb Python killed. 1,190,000 million gold coins gained!”</p><p>Meng Lei was in a fantastic mood as he listened to the system notification in his mind. He had earned more than a million gold coins early in the morning the moment he woke up. It couldn’t get any better than this!</p><p>“What’s the use of this iron stick ¹ …”</p><p>Meng Lei hummed a tune as he cleaned the Black-Winged Comb Python carcass. The morning sun weaved through the overlapping layers of tree branches to shine upon Meng Lei, outlining the contours of a beautiful scene.</p><p>Little Teddy squatted at the side as it watched Meng Lei eagerly. Saliva was already overflowing from its mouth, and it could barely wait any further. Roasted meat was its favorite food, especially high-grade Magical Beast roasted meat.</p><p>That taste…</p><p>Wauuu!</p><p>Just the thought of it alone was enough to make Teddy lose control of itself.</p><p>Roar!</p><p>However, an earth-shaking roar suddenly rang out in the depths of the forest at that moment. It exploded with a deafening boom, as though sudden claps of rolling thunder!</p><p>“What’s that sound?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked in the direction from which the sound had come from, anxious and doubtful. The sound had actually filled him with fear and trepidation?</p><p>Roar!</p><p>An even more violent and raging roar rang out. Meng Lei felt his scalp go numb, and his heart involuntarily began to pound faster. He took a look at Little Teddy to see that it’d actually huddled into a quivering ball and was using its wings to cover its head, its eyes full of alarm and fear!</p><p>“That sound had come from the Magical Beast Forest’s depths!</p><p>“Could it be a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast? Or even… a Saint Domain one?”</p><p>Meng Lei was bewildered and anxious.</p><p>Ol’ Amos emerged from the spatial ring at that moment, stretching and yawning as he did so. “Good morning, brat.”</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Little didn’t Ol’ Amos expect an explosive roar to go off in his ears, shocking him so much that he jumped in fright. His expression changed, and he asked, “Brat… What’s that sound?”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head to express that he had no idea what was going on, either. Then, he pointed at Teddy that was all huddled up on the ground.</p><p>“Teddy may be an infant, but it has Ninth-Grade Magical Beast blood in it, nevertheless, and is fearless even in the face of an Eighth-Grade Magical Beast. Why is it so frightened?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos’ countenance was serious and solemn. He shouted in a low voice, “Get ready to run, brat! Things aren’t looking too good!”</p><p>A chill ran down Meng Lei’s spine.</p><p><em>Even Ol’ Amos is saying that things aren’t looking good?</em></p><p>Roar!</p><p>Yet another furious roar rang out at that moment.</p><p>Right on the heels of it, another roar after roar rang out in the depths of the forest. The roars rose and fell in succession continuously, interlacing with each other to form an enraged song of roars in the skies above the Magical Beast Forest.</p><p>Every single roar made Meng Lei’s scalp tingle. They sounded just like the ferocious roars of fierce, primitive beasts, causing chills to run down one’s spine as they shuddered in fear.</p><p>“That was the voice of a Saint Domain Magical Beast, the Six-Winged Heavens-Swallowing Beast, just now!” Ol’ Amos exclaimed in a low voice.</p><p>Howl!</p><p>“That’s the voice of the Saint Domain Magical Beast, the Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf King!”</p><p>Moo!</p><p>“That’s the cry of the Saint Domain Magical Beast, the Golden-Backed Ox Scorpion!</p><p>“Damn! Why are there so many Saint Domain Magical Beasts?! What exactly has happened in Magical Beast Forest’s central region?!”</p><p>A horrified Ol’ Amos barked, “Something must have gone wrong there, Meng Lei. Hurry and get out of Magical Beast Forest!”</p><p>“What exactly has happened, Ol’ President?!”</p><p>Meng Lei followed with another question and asked, “Are there Saint Domain Magical Beasts fighting with each other? Are we able to sneak in there to take advantage of the crisis and reap some benefits as a bystander?”</p><p>“You fool! Are Saint Domain Magical Beasts that easy to take advantage of?! Even if they are, that chance isn’t going to go to you!” Ol’ Amos barked, “Cut the crap and get out of here!”</p><p>“Fine!”</p><p>Meng Lei could only bring out the magic carpet as he curled his lip in response. Then, he grabbed the terribly wussy Teddy and rushed up into the sky.</p><p>The magic carpet flew at high speed above the forest, causing the wind to howl in their ears. Ol’ Amos suddenly shouted, “Look over there, brat!”</p><p>Meng Lei quickly turned to see the shaking and violently swaying forest a far distance away. A large expanse of trees collapsed, and countless bushes and shrubs broke to reveal a massive behemoth with two pairs of wings on its back. It was a dazzling silver color throughout as if it was forged from silver.</p><p>Despite being a great distance away from the behemoth, Meng Lei could still feel a terrifying aura of savagery coming from the monster. It overwhelmed him so badly that he couldn’t even catch his breath!</p><p>“Hiss!”</p><p>Meng Lei sucked in a breath of air. “What a huge Magical Beast! It must be at least 60 to 70 meters long?!”</p><p>“That’s the Saint Domain Magical Beast, Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf King!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos said solemnly in a deep voice, “Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolves become Eighth-Grade Magical Beasts the moment they mature into adults. The outstanding ones can even grow to become Ninth-Grade Magical Beasts, whereas all the rulers of this species are Saint Domains!”</p><p>“The Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf King!” Meng Lei was astounded. “It’s so handsome and so domineering! Compared to it, my seniors’ mounts are practically defenseless babies!”</p><p>Many of the seniors in the magic academy had their own mounts. Mounts were a status symbol, as well as a symbol of one’s strength. However, there was ultimately a limit to students’ strength, so how strong could their mounts possibly go?</p><p>Most of them were Third- or Fourth-Grade Magical Beasts, with only a rare few Fifth-Grade Magical Beasts. For example, the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros, Gale Wolf, Flaming Lion… All of them were low-grade Magical Beasts that weren’t fit to be seen.</p><p>However, these were enough to fill the freshmen with envy. Meng Lei had exactly been one of those envious freshmen back then. At that time, he had already been fantasizing about how he’d also subdue a powerful Magical Beast as his mount one day, just like those seniors.</p><p>How awe-inspiring!</p><p>How impressive!</p><p>But now that he had become stronger, his expectations had also risen. Meng Lei was no longer satisfied with those mounts. In his opinion, only handsome Magical Beasts like the Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf King could match his status now.</p><p>“Are you really comparing those trashy Magical Beasts to the Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf King?” Ol’ Amos’ lip corners were twitching as he scoffed. “If the Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf King knew what you were thinking, it’d probably be so furious that it’d smack you to death with its paw!”</p><p>“Hahaha! It’s just a casual remark!” Meng Lei burst into laughter and said, “You never know, with my current strength, I might just be able to really subdue a Saint Domain Magical Beast as my mount someday!”</p><p>Although Ol’ Amos curled his lip upon his words, he didn’t rebut him. After all, he’d never seen magic talent as wonderful as Meng Lei’s nor a speed of improvement as fast as Meng Lei’s. The Saint Domain realm wasn’t just a dream for him.</p><p>At the other side, another Magical Beast emerged from the forest as it roared. It was a massive creature reddish-gold in color throughout and had an ox body and scorpion legs. It trampled on the forest as it advanced.</p><p>In front of it, tall, towering trees a few dozen meters tall were no different from green foxtail grasses. With just a light push from the creature, all of them broke at their bases, or broke in the middle, or were completely uprooted…</p><p>How ferocious!</p><p>How violent!</p><p>“That’s the Saint Domain Magical Beast, Golden-Backed Ox Scorpion!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos explained, “Extremely strong mutated Magical Beasts don’t live in packs. They are rare hermaphrodites and will only produce one offspring in their whole lives.”</p><p>“Hermaphroditic Magical Beasts…”</p><p>Meng Lei was a little dumbfounded. He didn’t quite know what to say anymore.</p><p><em>There are actually Magical Beasts that fornicate with themselves? Fact is really stranger than fiction in this boundless universe sometimes.</em></p><p>“That’s the Saint Domain Magical Beast, Titanic Long-Horned Beetle, an insect Magical Beast species. It possesses Herculean strength and has peerless defenses. In terms of physical strength, it doesn’t lose out to the Great Earth Bear in the least!”</p><p>“What about that one, Ol’ President?”</p><p>“That’s the Great King Kong Crocodile, a water-elemental Saint Domain Magical Beast. It’s the overlord in rivers and lakes. When it’s in the water, even a pinnacle-level Saint Domain would have great difficulties killing it!”</p><p>Fearsome Magical Beasts emerged one after another like mushrooms after rain. Everywhere they passed by, the earth shook, the mountains trembled, and trees broke in halves. There was no way of knowing just how many ancient, towering trees were out of luck.</p><p>This scene truly frightened all the adventurers in the forest. Innumerable adventurers fled in a panic and ran about in a frenzy, wishing they had been born with more than two legs. Among them, some unlucky fellows that were too close to the Saint Domain Magical Beasts ended up being smacked to death along the way.</p><p>In conclusion, the entire Magical Beast Forest was in a total mess.</p><p>“Six of them!</p><p>“There are as many as six Saint Domain Magical Beasts!</p><p>“What exactly happened to these guys?”</p><p>Worry filled Ol’ Amos’ eyes as he gazed at the restless and roaring Saint Domain Magical Beasts. “All of them are overlords occupying their own territories in Magical Beast Ridge’s southeast region. They usually stay at their dens sleeping all the time and rarely leave to move about. Why are all of them moving at the same time today?</p><p>“What exactly has provoked them?</p><p>“Please, don’t form a beast tide and attack the borders. Otherwise, who knows how many people are going to die…”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-85

Chapter 85 - The King Of Magical Beasts, An Exceptionally Huge Ant Tide

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 85 - The King Of Magical Beasts, An Exceptionally Huge Ant Tide</h1><p>In the forest where vines interwove, several hundred armored mercenaries with large swords on their backs cut through thistles and thorns as they ran madly for their lives.</p><p>Well-trained and armed with excellent equipment, their lineup was several times stronger than the Fire Cloud Mercenaries. They were the Fire Dragon Kingdom’s famed Lucivia Mercenaries.</p><p>The Lucivia Mercenaries!</p><p>They were a unit under the Lucivia Chamber of Commerce’s command in Fire Dragon Kingdom. Rich, powerful, and strong, they enjoyed a very high status in Fire Dragon Kingdom’s mercenary circle, and innumerable adventurers dreamed of becoming one of them.</p><p>However, every one of these enviable mercenaries was filled with terror and anxiety at the moment. Even Luxican, their Ninth-Grade Warrior captain, was no exception. All of his usual calmness and composure had left him, leaving him in total panic.</p><p>“Hurry! Hurry up, everyone!</p><p>“Those at the back, keep up with the ones in front and don’t fall behind!”</p><p>Bam!</p><p>A series of rustling sounds suddenly rang out from an area ahead of them at that moment. The mercenaries hastily stopped in their tracks and watched in worry and trepidation the area in front of them.</p><p>Captain Luxican shouted in a low voice, “Wesley, go and take a look at what has happened in front!”</p><p>“Yes… Captain!”</p><p>A small, skinny mercenary dressed in black robes responded especially unwillingly and went to investigate what had happened at the front. However, a brief moment later, they heard a shrill scream coming from the front.</p><p>“T-that’s Wesley’s voice!”</p><p>“What happened to Wesley? What has happened?”</p><p>“Is he…”</p><p>His scream sounded as if an owl’s cry. The mercenaries, who were already fearful and tense, to begin with, were scared even more out of their wits and incredibly frightened.</p><p>Captain Luxican hastily shouted, “There’s danger at the front! Hurry, switch to a different direction!”</p><p>After he spoke, he led the way and rushed toward another direction.</p><p>“Yes, Captain!”</p><p>The mercenaries followed after him one by one.</p><p>However, before they could go far, all of them doubled back to the same spot. They then switched to another direction and began to flee in that direction instead. It was just a shame that, just like before, they ended up returning to where they’d originally been again before they’d gone far.</p><p>Then, they switched directions once more, only to return again.</p><p>The rustling sounds coming from every direction were like terrifying, dreadful obstacles blocking the mercenaries’ way.</p><p>Rustle, rustle!</p><p>As trees swayed and shrubs shook, the culprits blocking their way started to emerge one after another. It was a group of Magical Beast ants that were as large as calves and blood-red in color throughout.</p><p>They had razor-sharp, sickle-shaped teeth and tough, solid hard exoskeletons.</p><p>Barbed thorns covered their legs and their heads were terrifying and savage-looking.</p><p>They were the Sixth-Grade Magical Beasts, Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants!</p><p>“W-why are there so many Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants?!”</p><p>“We’re surrounded!”</p><p>“We’ve been surrounded by Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants!”</p><p>“Captain! Hurry and think of something!”</p><p>The mercenaries’ faces were ghastly pale as they drew back fearfully.</p><p>“I… What can I do?!”</p><p>Captain Luxican was as pale as a sheet as he gazed at the endless stream of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants surging toward them like tidal waves. There wasn’t even the slightest bit of rosiness in his complexion!</p><p>Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants were just Sixth-Grade Magical Beasts and weren’t much to be afraid of, however, what made them fearsome were their terrifying numbers!</p><p>10,000 Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants could bulldoze through everything when they moved out together. Even a large majority of Magical Beasts would have to make a detour upon the sight of them.</p><p>Once their numbers went beyond 100,000, they were no different from a catastrophe. Everywhere they went through, lands turned barren, no lives were spared, and nothing was left behind!</p><p>How many Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants were there in front of them at this moment?</p><p>10,000? 100,000? Or… Even more than that?</p><p>Captain Luxican didn’t know. All he could see was a densely packed multitude of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants that formed an infinite, boundless ant tide surrounding them on all sides.</p><p>“Aren’t Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants underground Magical Beasts? Why are there so many of them here?”</p><p>Luxican couldn’t understand why. However, whether or not he understood was already no longer something of importance because the densely packed ant tide was already surging toward them. They pounced onto them, brandishing their sharp teeth as they did so.</p><p>“Get lost!”</p><p>“Leave me alone, you ugly freaks!”</p><p>“Ahhh!”</p><p>Against the raging, torrential ant tide, the Lucivia Mercenaries were as if an isolated island in the vast ocean. They didn’t last long before all of them disappeared without a trace, drowned by the waves.</p><p>Rustle, rustle!</p><p>The Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants were expressionless, as though what they had done was merely something trivial and inconsequential. They continued to surge forward while waving their sharp teeth.</p><p>Not a single person knew that the famed Lucivia Mercenaries had been annihilated just like that. The incident didn’t create even a ripple in the sea.</p><p>…</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t know about the Lucivia Mercenaries’ tragic fate. He steered the magic carpet and continued flying toward the outside of the forest. Now that they’d gone a far ways off, the Saint Domain Magical Beasts’ roars were no longer audible. It was only then that his heart settled a little.</p><p>“Ol’ President, why exactly are those Saint Domain Magical Beasts rampaging?” Meng Lei couldn’t figure it out. “It’s impossible to even catch a glimpse of them usually, so why did all of them suddenly come to life today?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head lightly. “There’s no smoke without fire. I can’t be sure what exactly has happened in the forest’s central region, but it’s probably nothing good.</p><p>“Saint Domain Magical Beasts are existences that already stand at the pinnacle of Magical Beast Forest. What else is there that’s capable of mass-inciting them?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes swiveled as he asked, “Could some kind of treasure have emerged in the forest’s central region? Thereby causing all of them to make a move for it?”</p><p>“Not impossible, but it’s not very likely.” Ol’ Amos shook his head and said, “A king exists in Magical Beast Forest, and all the Saint Domain Magical Beasts are its subjects. Even if a treasure has really emerged, they don’t have a chance of getting it at all.”</p><p>“The king of Magical Beast Forest?” Meng Lei was taken aback. He hastily asked, “Ol’ President, Magical Beast Forest has a king?”</p><p>“Humans have kings, too. Why can’t Magical Beasts have one?” Ol’ Amos cast a glance at Meng Lei and said, “Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts possess intelligence comparable to humans, while Ninth-Grade Magical Beasts can even speak the human language. It wouldn’t be surprising even if Magical Beasts were to establish their own kingdom, much less just a king!”</p><p>“Fine!”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded quietly. He then asked, “Ol’ President, what kind of Magical Beast is the king of Magical Beast Forest? How strong is it? Have you ever seen it?”</p><p>A complex look flashed across Ol’ Amos’ eyes upon Meng Lei’s questions. “I was fortunate enough to have seen it once. That was when I had just broken through to Ninth-Grade Magician and became Fire Dragon Kingdom’s court magician.”</p><p>“What does it look like? What kind of Magical Beast is it?” asked Meng Lei with a curious expression.</p><p>Buzz, buzz!</p><p>Meng Lei’s magic communication device suddenly rang at this point. Meng Lei’s brows furrowed slightly, and he looked at it with great dissatisfaction, only to see that it was actually Abbe that was calling.</p><p><em>Abbe?</em></p><p>Meng Lei was rather bewildered. Abbe had never called him before, so why was he calling him now?</p><p>A puzzled Meng Lei chose to pick up the call.</p><p>The fellow had a distant and aloof expression on his face, and he uttered only a line before he hung up—”Something has gone wrong in Magical Beast Forest. Leave at once, otherwise, your life will be in danger!”</p><p>“Uh…”</p><p>A mildly dumbstruck Meng Lei stared at the communication device that was now disconnected. “That cold, icy fellow is actually giving me words of caution? How unexpected!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos laughed and replied, “Golden Colossal Dragon People may be haughty by nature, but they also make a clear distinction between kindness and grudges. You saved his life once, so it’s understandable that he’d warn you.”</p><p>“I guess so.”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head lightly. Just as he was about to put away the magic communication device, it rang again unexpectedly. This time, the caller was Fatty Hart.</p><p>“Old bro, are you in Magical Beast Forest?”</p><p>The moment the call connected, Fatty Hart began to question him right away.</p><p>“Yes, what’s the matter?”</p><p>Meng Lei was rather bewildered.</p><p>Fatty Hart replied anxiously, “Something has gone wrong in Magical Beast Forest. A large-scale ant tide has erupted! You’d better run! Any longer, and you’re gonna die!”</p><p>“An ant tide? How did you know that?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked stupefied.</p><p><em>I’m in Magical Beast Forest, and I don’t even know what has happened, yet a little fatty like you in the capital city miles away does?</em></p><p><em>Are you kidding me?</em></p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-86

Chapter 86 - The Fearsome Ant Tide, Returning To The Village

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 86 - The Fearsome Ant Tide, Returning To The Village</h1><p>It was hard to tell what Fatty Hart was currently doing. His arms were bare, and his chest was revealed. Two huge 36D-sized lumps of fat swayed left and right, almost blinding Meng Lei.</p><p>“The news has already spread throughout the capital!</p><p>“His Majesty has just convened all the royalty, nobles, and officials for an emergency meeting and has also issued a special-class beast tide warning!</p><p>“At the same time, His Majesty has deployed the kingdom’s top elite Flying Dragon Troops to the borders. They’re probably on the way there now!”</p><p>Something seemed to occur to Fatty Hart, and he added, “By the way, the academy is also gathering seniors fourth-year and above in preparation against the beast tide.</p><p>“The Mercenary Guild, Magician Guild, and the church have also begun to mobilize their manpower in preparation for the ant tide that’s very likely going to break out!”</p><p>“Is it that bad?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked astonished. It hasn’t even been that long since the commotion had broken out in the Magical Beast Forest, yet the kingdom already knew all about it?</p><p>A special-class beast tide warning—that was the Fire Dragon Kingdom’s highest-class beast tide warning!</p><p>One must understand that as a result of Fire Dragon Kingdom being situated close to the Magical Beast Forest, it suffered badly from beast tide attacks. In order to defend against beast tides more efficiently, the capital was set in a location nearby Magical Beast Ridge, and they didn’t think much of normal beast tides at all.</p><p>Yet they had actually issued a special-class beast tide warning now. It seemed like things were really serious this time!</p><p>“An ant tide?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos’ brows drew together slightly. “There aren’t many powerful Magical Beast ant species in the Magical Beast Forest, though. Why would it set off such a huge commotion?”</p><p>Then, something seemed to come to Ol’ Amos’ mind, and his expression changed. “Hurry, ask him which Magical Beast ant species is the main unit for the ant tide this time?”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t dare to be tardy, and he quickly asked Hart.</p><p>“I heard that it’s the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants!” Hart answered at once.</p><p>“In addition, it’s a very large-scale Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant tide. The eagle scouts have detected that extraordinarily large-scale Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant invasions have simultaneously appeared in several regions of the Magical Beast Forest.</p><p>“These savage Sixth-Grade Magical Beasts have formed overwhelmingly large tidal waves that swept through every part of Magical Beast Forest. All the Magical Beasts there are desperately fleeing, and I heard that even the Saint Domain Magical Beasts were alarmed by this, causing them to flee in a panic!”</p><p>“Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants!!” Ol’ Amos’ expression changed drastically, and he sucked in a breath of air. “To think it’s actually the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants! This is terrible!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s heart gave an uneasy thump upon the sight of Ol’ Amos’ expression. “Ol’ President, is a Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant tide very scary?”</p><p>“How can the word ‘scary’ even cut it?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos heaved a sigh. “Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants are a type of dark-elemental Magical Beast that live underground. They rarely leave their habitat to move about elsewhere.</p><p>“Even if they did occasionally emerge aboveground, they were but just individual Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants that had lost their way. They are just Sixth-Grade Magical Beasts and don’t pose any threat at all.</p><p>“But…”</p><p>Ol’ Amos’ words took a turn in another direction. “When Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants emerge from underground at the same time on a grand scale, they will come together to form an exceptionally fearsome catastrophe. You can never imagine the sight of several million red ants congregating into a red torrent.</p><p>“Not even skeletal remains are left behind, and nothing is left alive in the barren lands!</p><p>“Every single living thing gets wiped out!”</p><p>“Is it that scary?!” Meng Lei gasped.</p><p>“Scary?” Ol’ Amos chuckled and asked, “Do you know why the six Saint Domain Magical Beasts, like the Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf King, for example, suddenly ran out of their lairs roaring as they rushed toward the forest’s central region?”</p><p>“No, I don’t!” Meng Lei shook his head.</p><p>“It’s because they’ve gone to seek protection!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos gazed into the distance. “The king of the Magical Beast Forest lives in the forest’s central region. Only the king is capable of protecting those Saint Domain Magical Beasts. Otherwise, when the ant tide comes sweeping toward them, even Saint Domain Magical Beasts… would die a terrible death!”</p><p>“Even Saint Domain Magical Beasts would die?” Meng Lei gasped.</p><p>“Magical Beast insects such as ants and so on are different from other Magical Beasts. They don’t fear death, and they launch wave upon wave of attacks. Their numbers are inexhaustible, too. Even deities would find them a pain to deal with should they encounter them, much less Saint Domain Magical Beasts?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head.</p><p>“What should we do, then? If the ant tide attacks the kingdom’s borders, how are they going to fight them?” asked Meng Lei.</p><p>“It’ll have to depend on the situation!” With a shake of his head, Ol’ Amos went on. “The ant tide moves at a ferocious momentum with only one motive in mind—to seize food. All the Magical Beasts, trees, and weeds are their targets of plunder! Once they seize enough food in the Magical Beast Forest, they’ll automatically withdraw.”</p><p>“What if they can’t get enough food in the Magical Beast Forest?” Meng Lei balled his hands into fists. “Are they going to charge out of the forest and surge toward the borders?”</p><p>“Yes, that’s right!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos nodded. “Similar incidents had taken place several times before, among which, quite a few of them were false alarms. The ant tide had stayed only in the Magical Beast Forest to seize food and hadn’t attacked the borders.</p><p>“However, there were also a few times where they had invaded and caused great disaster upon the kingdom. People’s lives were plunged into great misery and suffering, and countless lives were lost!”</p><p>“So, nobody can guarantee whether or not they’ll attack the borders, right?” Meng Lei asked with a grave expression on his face.</p><p>“That’s right!”</p><p>“I understand now!”</p><p>Meng Lei let out a breath. He sped up and flew toward Magical Beast Village right away. While it was true that he didn’t harbor many sentimental feelings toward the village, he couldn’t just watch as the villagers perished in the ant tide, either.</p><p>He wasn’t capable of something like that.</p><p>Thanks to the magic carpet flying full speed ahead, Meng Lei managed to return to the village by noon. The adults busied themselves with their chores while the children frolicked and played. Smoke from cooking rose into the air, and the aroma of meat assailed the senses.</p><p>Magical Beast Village was still immersed in peace and quiet. None of them knew that a disaster was imminent!</p><p>Bong!</p><p>Meng Lei landed on the village walls at the village entrance and rang the old brass bell there. The deep, dull bong of the bell resounded in the sky above the Magical Beast Village, startling all the villagers. The adults’ countenances froze, and the children stopped where they were, and all of them looked in the village entrance’s direction.</p><p>“The old brass bell is ringing!”</p><p>“The beast tide is here again?”</p><p>Captain Hudders was having his lunch in his wooden hut when the bell rang. His countenance changed, and he tossed aside the bone he was holding. Then, he picked up his huge sword and exited the hut in a flash. He was in such a hurry that he couldn’t even be bothered to clean off the grease on his hands.</p><p>Swoosh!</p><p>All the adult men stopped their chores and walked out of their homes. They picked up their shovels and hoes, swords and rakes, and various other weapons and ran straight to the village entrance.</p><p>The women called out loudly for their children as they got ready to enter the underground shelter any moment.</p><p>For a moment there, a disturbance went through close to a hundred villagers of the entire Magical Beast Village!</p><p>“Meng Lei!”</p><p>Hudders, who was the first to reach the village walls, was overjoyed to see Meng Lei upon arrival. He said, “Meng Lei, when did you come back? Haha, with you around, I can rest assured!”</p><p>Contrary to his expectations, however, Meng Lei shook his head and replied, “Captain Hudders, I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you. The scale of the beast tide this time is too big. I… can’t stop them!”</p><p>Hudders’ expression changed at once. “But you’re a Sixth-Grade Warrior and even a Fifth-Grade Magician, too. What kind of beast tide is it that even someone like you cannot fight against it?”</p><p>“We’ll talk when everyone’s here!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved him off.</p><p>“Meng Lei!”</p><p>“Captain!”</p><p>Before long, all the guards and adult men arrived one by one. Old Peter, the village chief, also hurried over to the village entrance while using his walking stick for support, stumbling as he did so.</p><p>When everyone had more or less arrived, Meng Lei recounted the details of the ant tide to them. Upon hearing his words, everyone was scared witless, and they felt chills coming all over them.</p><p>Blood drained from Captain Hudders’ face. He asked, “Meng Lei, is what you said really true? The ant tide is really coming?”</p><p>“It’s hard to say for sure whether or not they’ll come, but a large-scale Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant tide has indeed occurred in the Magical Beast Forest. My friend in the capital has also told me that the king has specially issued a special-class beast tide warning because of this.”</p><p>Meng Lei looked grave as he continued speaking in a deep and low voice. “I heard that even the Flying Dragon Troops have been mobilized. The reason for me hurrying back here is precisely to inform all of you to make preparations in advance.</p><p>“You can only be safe if you take precautions. If the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants really surge out of the Magical Beast Forest, it’ll be the end for villages like ours. The kingdom’s troops will never leave the frontier defense stronghold to save commoners like us!”</p><p>A special-class beast tide warning and mobilization of the Flying Dragon Troops!</p><p>Blood drained from everyone’s faces.</p><p>“Meng Lei is right! It’s better to be safe than sorry!”</p><p>Old Peter was the first to make a decision. He instructed, “Tell every household to prepare rations and drinking water at once. The moment we discover traces of the ant tide, everyone is to enter the underground shelter immediately!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-87

Chapter 87 - The Great Dragon Blood Wall, Making Arrangements For The Villagers

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 87 - The Great Dragon Blood Wall, Making Arrangements For The Villagers</h1><p>“Grandpa Village Chief, I’m afraid the underground shelter won’t do!” Meng Lei vetoed Old Peter’s suggestion at once. “The underground shelter can only defend against normal beast tides. It won’t be able to stop the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants!”</p><p>“Why is that?</p><p>Old Peter’s brows drew together into a frown.</p><p>“Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants are a type of dark-elemental Magical Beast that live underground. The moment they catch a whiff of their prey, they’ll start to dig tunnels!” Meng Lei explained solemnly, “You can try imagining how fast Sixth-Grade Magical Beasts are at digging tunnels. The shelter won’t be able to stop them at all.”</p><p>“What should we do, then?”</p><p>Old Peter’s countenance changed at once. The village sat at the Magical Beast Forest’s fringes—the shelter was their last hope. What were the villagers supposed to do when even the shelter couldn’t serve its purpose?</p><p>“Retreat into The Great Dragon Blood Wall!” Meng Lei said slowly, “It’s the safest in the Great Dragon Blood Wall. Our safety can only be guaranteed over there!”</p><p>“The Great Dragon Blood Wall?”</p><p>Everyone looked at one another.</p><p>“Yes, the Great Dragon Blood Wall!”</p><p>Meng Lei gave a heavy nod.</p><p>As a kingdom situated at the borders, the purpose of the Fire Dragon Kingdom’s existence was precisely to protect the empire and guard the borders. For generations, every single person in the Fire Dragon Kingdom had shouldered this responsibility.</p><p>To better accomplish this task, the Fire Dragon Kingdom’s first Fire Dragon King had especially established the capital at a place near the Magical Beast Ridge, such that it was but a day’s journey from the capital to the Magical Beast Forest.</p><p>A day!</p><p>This meant that once a beast tide broke out, under the circumstances where they weren’t hindered, the Magical Beast army would need only a day to reach the capital and threaten the safety of the whole kingdom.</p><p>How could one possibly allow others to intrude into their territories?</p><p>This short distance caused the whole of Fire Dragon Kingdom to feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles. As a result, not only did Fire Dragon Kingdom station eagle scouts in the Magical Beast Forest all year round to monitor all activities in Magical Beast Forest, but they had also built a defensive fortress stretching several thousand kilometers between the Magical Beast Forest and the kingdom.</p><p>This firm and sturdy, long wall that measured 50 meters tall and 20 meters thick on average was a big and tall, and tough and solid frontier stronghold that stretched on endlessly.</p><p>That was the Great Dragon Blood Wall famed throughout the entire empire!</p><p>For several tens of thousands of years, the Great Dragon Blood Wall had seen countless Magical Beasts buried at its feet, an indeterminable amount of Magical Beast blood splashed across its walls, and stood against innumerable beast tide attacks…</p><p>It stood firm and erect for an everlasting period of time!</p><p>It could be said that the Great Dragon Blood Wall was a protective amulet-like fortress. It was the most important, as well as the final wall of defense protecting the Fire Dragon Kingdom. In the whole of Fire Dragon Kingdom, not a single person would allow anything to happen to the Great Dragon Blood Wall!</p><p>Thus, not only were elite troops garrisoned at the Great Dragon Blood Wall all year round, but the moment war broke out, the kingdom would also deploy troops from other regions to head over as reinforcements. It was the safest over there!</p><p>“The Great Dragon Blood Wall may be safe, but it’s a great distance from the village. How are over a hundred villagers going to make their way there?”</p><p>Old Peter let out a troubled laugh. “Not to mention that there are also the old, infirm, women, and children. With their entire families in tow, many of them won’t be able to last till they reach the Great Dragon Blood Wall at all!”</p><p>Hudders and the others also nodded in silence. The Great Dragon Blood Wall was safe for sure, but it was too far from the village.</p><p>Otherwise, they’d have moved to the Great Dragon Blood Wall a long time ago when beast tides had broken out in the past. Why would they still stay here so miserably, letting their blood flow and sacrificing their own lives?</p><p>“That isn’t a problem!” Meng Lei smiled. “There are only 100 people in the village, so we just need to rent a few large magic cars. Magic cars are very fast. It won’t take them long to send people back and forth!”</p><p>“Rent magic cars?”</p><p>Everyone was taken aback.</p><p>“Yes, magic cars!” Meng Lei said with a smile, “Just leave the issue of renting the magic cars to me. All of you can go back home and pack your things. When I return with the cars, we’ll set off right away.”</p><p>After he spoke, Meng Lei jumped onto his magic carpet and disappeared straight into the horizon.</p><p>“But Meng Lei…”</p><p>Everyone looked at each other as they stared at his back view.</p><p>“Won’t it be very expensive to rent magic cars?”</p><p>“It’ll be a huge sum of money for sure!”</p><p>“How is the village going to be able to afford that?”</p><p>Everyone’s face took on a troubled expression.</p><p>“Let’s just act according to what he said and not concern yourselves with other problems!”</p><p>Hudders shook his head as he gave a wry smile. Some things weren’t too convenient for him to mention, so he hadn’t bothered bringing them up. He’d just keep Meng Lei’s kindness in mind and repay him when he had a chance to in the future.</p><p>…</p><p>“Brat, you’re pretty nice to those villagers, aren’t you?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos floated in mid-air. No matter how fast the magic carpet went, he simply continued to float closely above the carpet. It was awfully peculiar.</p><p>“Those are my fellow villagers. I can’t just watch them die like that,” replied Meng Lei calmly. “Besides, helping them is no different from just lifting a finger to me.”</p><p>“That’s true!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos smiled as he twisted his beard. “With your current capabilities…”</p><p>The young and the old chatted as the magic carpet flew at breakneck speed. Before long, they’d arrived at the city nearest to the Magical Beast Village—Magical Beast Town.</p><p>Situated near the Magical Beast Forest, Magical Beast Town was a place where innumerable adventurers stocked up on their supplies, sold their prey, and rested. It was also where merchants acquired magic cores and beast furs or hides. It was an exceptionally bustling and prosperous place where people constantly streamed about to and fro.</p><p>Meng Lei relaxed a little as he walked down the lively streets and listened to the shouts and calls around him. Then, he made a beeline for the magic car depot.</p><p>When he reached the magic car depot, an attendant came forward and asked, “Esteemed Lord Magician, how may I serve you?”</p><p>“I’d like to rent some cars.” Meng Lei asked calmly, “How many passengers can the biggest magic car you have seat?”</p><p>“50 people!” The attendant replied with a smile.</p><p>“50? Great, I’d like to rent two!” Meng Lei held up two fingers. Then, he asked, “How much would it cost to rent two magic cars that can seat 50 people?”</p><p>“Lord Magician, we charge by the hour. The rental fee for a large magic car is 88 gold coins per hour, so that’d be 176 gold coins for two cars.” The smiling attendant asked, “May I know how long you’ll be renting them for?”</p><p>“Around 15 hours, I guess,” replied Meng Lei as he did a silent calculation.</p><p>“The total cost for two large magic cars for a period of 15 hours would be 2,640 gold coins.” The attendant asked with a smile, “May I know whether you’ll be paying by cash or card?”</p><p>Meng Lei casually tossed out a pile of gold coins. After sorting and counting them, the attendant wrote him an invoice, and Meng Lei headed to the car park with the invoice in hand.</p><p>Before long, two large magic cars whistled as they drove out of Magical Beast Town, and they successfully arrived at Magical Beast Village seven hours later. The villagers, who were all set and ready to move, boarded the cars in an orderly manner.</p><p>For a great majority of the villagers, this was their very first time riding on a magic car, and they were terribly excited. A few children were even laughing and clowning around in the aisle, incredibly delighted.</p><p>Gratitude filled Hudders’ eyes as he watched the scene in front of him. “Meng Lei, I must really thank you this time. If not for you, who knows what would happen!”</p><p>“You’re standing too much on ceremony. I’m also a member of the village. This is something I should do.”</p><p>Meng Lei waved him off with a smile and added, “By the way, I found some things that aren’t of much use to me in Magical Beast Ridge. Why don’t you take a look and see if they are of any use to the villagers?”</p><p>Meng Lei took out a few scrolls as he spoke. A puzzled Hudders opened one of them, and his eyes widened big and round at once.</p><p>“Fire Smelting Art?!</p><p>“Meng Lei, t-this is a Battle Aura technique?</p><p>“This… This is too valuable! We can’t accept it!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-88

Chapter 88 - Closure Of City Gates, A Grand Path

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 88 - Closure Of City Gates, A Grand Path</h1><p>Meng Lei hadn’t just been hunting Magical Beasts during these few days spent exploring Magical Beast Forest. He had also encountered quite a few attacks from other humans. Despicable adventurers like them were often involved in contemptible dirty dealings like this, so apart from being fairly wealthy, they also carried other things on them.</p><p>Battle Aura technique manuals were one of such things.</p><p>After a few successful counterattacks where he had killed the attackers, Meng Lei had obtained quite a number of Battle Aura technique manuals. Among them were both ordinary run-of-the-mill manuals, as well as exceptionally rare and precious high-grade manuals. His rewards were pretty bountiful.</p><p>It was just a shame that these were useless to Meng Lei. The Fire Dragon Manual alone was already enough for him to cultivate. All the other manuals, no matter how many they were, were nothing but just white elephants.</p><p>Since they were white elephants, he might take a few out and let the villagers cultivate them instead. That way, not only would it raise the villagers’ combat strength, but the manuals could also be put to their fullest use.</p><p>However, Hudders declined his offer. “Meng Lei, these Battle Aura technique manuals are too valuable. We can’t take them! You’ve already done so much for the village…”</p><p>“Captain Hudders, these are just things that I found in Magical Beast Forest. They aren’t of much use to me, so just take them.” Meng Lei said with a smile, “You can impart these techniques to everyone, especially the children. When everyone’s combat strength is higher, I’ll also be able to go about outside without worrying about other things.”</p><p>“This…”</p><p>After hesitating for a moment, Hudders agreed to it in the end.</p><p>…</p><p>Seven hours later, Meng Lei and the others safely arrived at the Great Dragon Blood Wall. However, none of them had expected that all the city gates leading in and out of Great Dragon Blood Wall were actually closed, and entry and exit had been prohibited!</p><p>The people inside couldn’t come out, and the people outside couldn’t go in.</p><p>A soldier suited up in armor and holding a spear stood ramrod straight on top of the city walls, on standby and ready for battle.</p><p>At the bottom was an assembly of several adventurers, merchants, and commoners. All of them had been denied entry into the city and were now shouting angrily at the soldiers above the city walls.</p><p>“Open the gates!”</p><p>“Open the city gates!”</p><p>“The ant tide is coming! Let me in!”</p><p>“Goddamn it, you bastards! Open your damned eyes and take a good look! I’m Baron Skyles of the foothills! Hurry and open the gates for this Baron here!”</p><p>“O’ dragon god, have you abandoned your people…”</p><p>As though they were statues, the soldiers on top of the city walls were completely indifferent to the people cursing and swearing fiercely at them. They didn’t even pay them any attention, much less harbor any intention of opening the city gates!</p><p>This enraged the people even further, and all sorts of expletives and curses were thrown at them without even a moment’s pause, forming a scene that looked terribly out of place with the stern, imposing Great Dragon Blood Wall.</p><p>The magic cars came to a stop in front of the crowd. Meng Lei alighted and couldn’t help but frown as he watched the scene in front of him. Hudders followed behind Meng Lei and asked anxiously, “Meng Lei, the city gates have closed. What are we gonna do?”</p><p>“Don’t panic.”</p><p>Meng Lei waved him off and walked to the front of the crowd.</p><p>A chubby middle-aged man dressed in nobility fashion spat furiously, “You goddamn bastards! I’m a noble, you can’t keep me out here!”</p><p>“My lord, hurry and think of something!”</p><p>Beside him, a noblewoman with a baby in her arms wept as she said anxiously, “Our child is only one year old. I don’t want… Sob!”</p><p>The fat man took a look at the swaddled baby. The fats on his face quivered a little, and he began to curse even more furiously. “You bastards, open your goddamn eyes, and take a good look! I’m a Baron! A noble…”</p><p>In the midst of the fat man’s cursing and swearing, a shadow suddenly shot toward them from a distance away, and he arrived at the bottom of the city walls in an instant. Then, after he leaped high into the air, the tips of his feet tapped lightly in succession against the city walls, and he climbed up to the top like a spider.</p><p>Upon seeing this, the fat man hurriedly raised his voice and shouted, “Expert! Esteemed expert, I’m willing to offer you 10,000 gold coins. Please bring us up there!”</p><p>However, the expert vanished into the depths of the city walls without even looking back at him, as though he didn’t hear what he’d said at all.</p><p>“That bastard!”</p><p>Baron Skyles was so mad that he couldn’t stop stamping his foot.</p><p>“Mr. Baron here, do they allow people to jump up the city walls like that?” asked Meng Lei as he pointed at the soldiers stationed on top of the city walls.</p><p>Baron Skyles turned around and glared at Meng Lei in annoyance. “Why wouldn’t they? As long as you have the ability to jump up there, it’s not like they can chase you back down, right?”</p><p>“Exactly! The Great Dragon Blood Wall is a fortress meant to defend against beast tides, not to keep us out here. Those goddamn bastards shouldn’t be keeping us out here!”</p><p>“Those capable of jumping up there have already done so. Only weak, innocent commoners like us are left now. They clearly intend to let us die outside the city walls!”</p><p>“The city walls are over 50 meters tall, and only people that are Third-Grade Warriors and higher are able to jump up there. We…”</p><p>At the side, the enraged crowd rallied together, furious yet helpless. Hudders also said, “The moment beast tides come invading, the Great Dragon Blood Wall will close their gates in advance and will only open them again when the beast tide recedes. Those that can’t enter the city in time can only resign themselves to their fate. It’s something that cannot be helped.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos floated out at this point and said in a low voice, “The city gates are made out of obsidian rocks, the most solid, sturdiest, and heaviest rocks in Heaven’s Vault Continent, and they weigh as heavy as half a million kilograms the moment they are closed! An eighth-grade magic core is used up every time they open the gates, and you should know how valuable an eighth-grade magic core is!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos sighed and went on. “In the eyes of the soldiers in charge of guarding the Great Dragon Blood Wall, perhaps ordinary people that can’t even climb up the walls aren’t even worth as much as an eighth-grade magic core.”</p><p>Meng Lei was silent in response to that. When he’d first transmigrated to this world, perhaps he hadn’t been able to understand such actions that totally disregarded human lives. After all, no matter how important everything else might be, human lives were the most important.</p><p>However, as the amount of time he stayed in Heaven’s Vault Continent became longer, and he was exposed to more and more things, it was easy to see why that was the case now.</p><p>In Dragon God Empire, the Four-Classes Stratification System was very clear-cut. In the eyes of the nobility and people with power and status, ordinary humans were just cheap, lowly people.</p><p>Were the lives of cheap, lowly people valuable? Not at all!</p><p>If they die, then so be it.</p><p>How could they possibly compare to an eighth-grade magic core?</p><p>“What a frustrating world this is!”</p><p>Meng Lei took a deep breath and suppressed the messy thoughts in his mind. He walked step by step to the bottom of the city walls and murmured, “Since they won’t open the gates, then I can only go up there myself!”</p><p>He’d only just spoken when the ground in the far distance suddenly began to shake. An earthen dragon suddenly broke out of the ground surface, bellowing and roaring furiously as it charged ferociously toward the bottom of the city walls with its fangs bared and claws brandishing.</p><p>Then, it crashed right into the bottom of the city walls.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Dirt and earth flew everywhere as a booming explosion rang out from the ground.</p><p>A massive amount of dirt and earth piled up, and in less than the amount of time it took to take a few breaths, a grand path leading up to the top of the city walls had formed!</p><p>“Oh my dragon god!”</p><p>“This…”</p><p>Everyone at the bottom of the city walls was astounded by the sight of this. All of them forgot to even react as they gazed at the slope leading straight to the top of the city walls.</p><p>“A path!”</p><p>“It’s a path!”</p><p>Someone let out a shout. A great furor went through the crowd instantly, and tears of joy formed in everyone’s eyes as they began to cheer madly.</p><p>“A Magician!”</p><p>“It’s a Lord Magician!”</p><p>“He created that path!”</p><p>Everyone looked one by one at Meng Lei, who stood at the top of the slope, their feelings of gratitude obvious. Meng Lei gave them a slight smile and said, “Hurry and come up here, everyone! Time waits for no one!”</p><p>“Yes, yes!”</p><p>No one dared to be tardy. They hastily carried their things and climbed along the slope up the city walls. The fat Baron Skyles walked over to Meng Lei, embarrassed and grateful at the same time, yet not forgetting to give him a standard nobility salute.</p><p>“Esteemed Lord Magician, thank you very much. I, Skyles Borunga, am eternally grateful for your kindness in saving our lives!”</p><p>“You’re welcome!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-89

Chapter 89 - Forcibly Recruiting Meng Lei, "I'M Only 15 Years Old."

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 89 - Forcibly Recruiting Meng Lei, "I'M Only 15 Years Old."</h1><p>In the grand city gate tower of Great Dragon Blood Wall…</p><p>A muscular Dragon Person with a pair of horns on his head and dressed in golden armor sat on a high chair. An intimidating aura emanated from him, his dignified and imposing self evident to all.</p><p>He was Marquis Gould, a powerful Ninth-Grade Warrior, and a pure-blooded Fire Dragon Person. A member of Fire Dragon Kingdom’s royalty and the highest commander of the troops garrisoned at Great Dragon Blood Wall.</p><p>As a Fire Dragon Person born into royalty and enjoying high status and authority, like the vast majority of Dragon People nobility, Marquis Gould despised human commoners from the core of his being.</p><p>As a result, when he had received news of the special-class beast tide warning issued by the kingdom, Marquis Gould had immediately ordered the closure of all the city gates serving as entry and exit points from Great Dragon Blood Wall.</p><p>1,314 city gates… All of them had closed!</p><p>Innumerable people were blocked outside the towering city walls!</p><p>Marquis Gould knew very well the consequences brought about by his order. He knew that countless lives would perish under the beast tide’s rampage, that people would be thrown into great suffering and misery, and that there would be a great many casualties, but he didn’t care.</p><p>Heaven’s Vault Continent was a place where the strong lived while the weak perished!</p><p>People incapable of even climbing up the city walls… Their deaths were of no consequence!</p><p>As for the people’s cursing and swearing, Gould could hardly be bothered. Those were just the mad barking of the weak. Would a Colossal Dragon concern itself with an ant’s pitiful cries?</p><p>Of course not!</p><p>However, all of a sudden…</p><p>The cursing and swearing came to a sudden stop. Right after, they turned into astonishingly loud cheers instead. Marquis Gould’s brows drew together slightly, a hint of puzzlement arising in him.</p><p><em>What’s going on outside? Why aren’t they swearing anymore?</em></p><p>“Is anyone there?” Gould shouted.</p><p>“My lord, what is the matter?”</p><p>An armored guard ran in.</p><p>“What’s going on outside?” asked Marquis Gould aloofly.</p><p>“My lord, this is what happened…”</p><p>The armored guard quickly recounted what had happened at the city walls. Marquis Gould raised his eyebrows and asked, “An earth-elemental Magician? Is he a human or a Dragon Person?”</p><p>“He’s a human!”</p><p>“Is he nobility?”</p><p>“Judging from his age and what he’s wearing, he doesn’t look like one.”</p><p>“Neither a Dragon Person nor a noble, yet he’s such a busybody and so ignorant.”</p><p>Marquis Gould said aloofly, “Just as well. Since he’s such a busybody, then we’ll fulfill his wishes. Tell him that he’s been recruited by the frontier troops, and get him to stay at the city walls obediently and wait for further orders.”</p><p>“Yes, my lord!”</p><p>The guard turned and left the city gate tower. Before long, he appeared in front of Meng Lei, who just so happened to have arrived at the top of the city gates after leading the villagers up the slope.</p><p>When looking out from such a high place, one’s field of vision stretched far and wide.</p><p>The Great Dragon Blood Wall was just like a grand, handsome long dragon. It crossed the mountains and went past precipices, cut through grass plains, and spanned across deserts, undulating at the top of towering mountains and precipitous ridges.</p><p>All sorts of marks and dried bloodstains were left behind on the firm, solid black walls. A sense of austerity and ancientness from having gone through many changes in life came rushing forward, involuntarily reminding people of the scenes that took place during beast tide attacks.</p><p>“The Great Dragon Blood Wall was built by 49 Earth Saint Domain Magicians using more than 100 years. It’s constructed using tough, solid black granite throughout the whole structure, with a large number of obsidians mixed inside.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and let out a sigh. “Even the strongest and toughest Ninth-Grade Magical Beast, the Great Earth Bear, can give up on the thought of destroying even a bit of the wall. It can be said to be indestructible.”</p><p>Arrow turrets, crossbow turrets, and cannon turrets were set up every few steps at the top of the city walls. Archers, arbalists, and gunners were stationed at the respective turrets, ready to enter war anytime.</p><p>Apart from these, there were also mage towers.</p><p>“So, this is a mage tower?”</p><p>Meng Lei walked over to a tower a few dozen meters tall and touched the walls, which were engraved with magic circles, his eyes brimming with extraordinary splendor.</p><p>To Magicians, mage towers were of vital importance. Many Magicians longed for a mage tower of their own.</p><p>Through the use of a mage tower, not only could they greatly speed up their spellcasting, but the might of their spells would also increase dramatically. Some mage towers could even combine dozens of Magicians’ magic power to cast ultimate spells—their might was comparable to first-class spells!</p><p>“The mage towers are Great Dragon Blood Wall’s strongest and most powerful weapons of defense.”</p><p>Revisiting a once familiar place had put Ol’ Amos in a very good mood, and he had taken on the stance of someone talking about state affairs. He said, “It can reduce spellcasting time, increase a spell’s might, and also help to conserve magic power. It’s of vital importance to us Magicians.”</p><p>Meng Lei asked curiously, “I’ve heard that mage towers are built using gold coins?”</p><p>“You’re right!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and said with a smile, “Back then, I pretty much invested a good half of my wealth and assets for the sake of building a mage tower. It isn’t something that typical Magicians can mess around with.”</p><p>“Forget it, forget it. It’s destined that I won’t be fated with the mage towers.”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head repeatedly, completely giving up on the idea of constructing a mage tower. If he had that kind of money, he might as well redeem Stat Attribute Points with them and improve his own actual combat strength instead.</p><p>“Look at how it has scared you off.” An amused Ol’ Amos ribbed him. “You’re simply too much of a money-grubber. What’s the point of earning that much money if you’re not going to use it to improve your skills? Decorative purposes?”</p><p>“Saving them and letting them accumulate zeros in the cards is also a fantastic idea,” Meng Lei replied with a laugh.</p><p>At that moment, a soldier walked over and said expressionlessly, “Mr. Magician, you’ve been recruited by our frontier troops. Please come with me!”</p><p>“Uh…”</p><p>Meng Lei was stupefied for a moment. He pointed at himself and asked, “Are you talking about me?”</p><p>“That’s right!” replied the soldier coldly.</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head repeatedly. “Sorry, but I have other things to do, so I can’t go with you for now. Sorry about that!”</p><p>“How dare you defy the frontier troops’ recruitment orders?”</p><p>The soldier’s countenance turned icy cold at once. “With the invading beast tide, the frontier troops are authorized to recruit soldiers to help in the defense against the beast tide. This is a privilege that the kingdom’s law has given us!</p><p>“Now that an ant tide is imminent, everyone in the Fire Dragon Kingdom is on standby to defend against it. Do you mean to challenge the kingdom’s laws?”</p><p>“The kingdom’s laws? I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you.” Meng Lei chuckled and said, “I’m only 15 and a half years old this year and haven’t reached the age to enlist in the army, so I’m not part of the recruitment pool.”</p><p>“What did you say? You’re only 15 years old?”</p><p>The soldier looked startled. “You’d clearly cast the Fifth-Grade Spell, Earth Dragon, just now, yet you’re telling me you’re only 15 years old? Who are you trying to fool?!”</p><p>“Ha, I can even cast the Sixth-Grade Spell, Earth’s Wrath, but it still doesn’t change the fact that I’m only 15 years old!”</p><p>Meng Lei scoffed and brought out a magic badge with a flick of his wrist. “I’m also a first-year newbie of Fire Dragon Magic Academy and am under the protection of the kingdom’s laws. You have no right to forcibly recruit a weak, powerless student like me!”</p><p><em>A first-year newbie?</em></p><p><em>A weak, powerless student?</em></p><p>The soldier felt the urge to beat someone up.</p><p><em>You’re at least a goddamn Fourth-Grade Magician! Even compared to me, you’re not too far off! ‘Weak and powerless’? Goddamn it!</em></p><p>The soldier had an awful expression on his face. He examined the magic badge in Meng Lei’s hand closely and discovered, to his surprise, that it was indeed the symbol of Fire Dragon Magic Academy’s existing students. There was a Fire Dragon scale on it, indicating that Meng Lei was a first-year student.</p><p>Even third-year students were protected by the kingdom’s laws, much less first-year students. They really couldn’t frickin’ recruit Meng Lei.</p><p>“If there’s nothing else, I’ll make a move first!”</p><p>Meng Lei waved him off and then swaggered off with the villagers!</p><p>“A Great Fifth-Grade Magician, yet he’s still a first-year student?” The soldier had an awful look on his face. “Are you kidding me?”</p><p>Elsewhere, after Meng Lei led the villagers down the city walls, he went straight to Magical Beast Town. However, when he arrived, he discovered that the town that had still been lively and bustling slightly over a dozen hours ago had actually become exceptionally quiet and deserted.</p><p>The adventurers lingering about in the town had vanished without a trace.</p><p>The merchants acquiring magic cores and beast furs had also left the town, and even the stores doing business had closed.</p><p>The enormous town had become a ghost town!</p><p>“Looks like news of the ant tide invasion has reached this place!” Hudders shook his head and sighed. “The ant tide has scared everyone off!”</p><p>“No, I think they’ve been scared off by the frontier troops instead.”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-90

Chapter 90 - The World Changed, The Beast Tide Ended

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 90 - The World Changed, The Beast Tide Ended</h1><p>The cruelty of the Kingdom’s laws toward ordinary civilians was most vividly reflected at the outbreak of wars or beast tides.</p><p>If the soldiers died out, the civilians would become reserve troops. If the situation was even graver, even experts without titles would be included in the conscription.</p><p>If the army ran out of food, they had the right to collect army rations from civilians.</p><p>This meant that once war broke out, civilians had to not only serve as reserve troops and prepare to go onto the battlefield any time, but they also had to provide food for the army!</p><p>In comparison, nobles, who were powerful and wealthier, were neither listed for troops nor required to provide army rations. Nevertheless, they were protected by the law and the army.</p><p>The inequality in the treatment of different social groups was cruel.</p><p>This was a mixed society with severely twisted social systems, formed by the coupling of feudalism and slavery. The working masses, who accounted for 99% of the population, enjoyed less than 1% of society’s resources yet had to bear 100% of the social responsibilities.</p><p>Twisted was too mild of a word to describe this society—brutal was its true description!</p><p>Meng Lei felt a fire burning in his chest. He didn’t think of himself as any kind of savior, much less the kind of benevolent, selfless person that worried for the whole world but took no part in its joys.</p><p>He only had one goal from the beginning: to live better, freely, splendidly, and liberally!</p><p>But now, Meng Lei felt very unhappy.</p><p><em>Why is this world ruled by a group of Colossal Dragons that enjoy vast amounts of resources yet do no work? Why can the human race only be appendages to be stepped upon!?</em></p><p><em>This f*cked-up world, wait for it! One day, I will turn this world upside down!</em></p><p><em>If not, then I will… Break this sky and smash this earth! Give this world back its cleanliness!</em></p><p>“Boy, what are you thinking?” Ol’ Amos’ voice suddenly sounded by his ears, waking Meng Lei from his contemplation.</p><p>Meng Lei looked at the deserted town and said quietly, “When all these prosper, the people suffer. When all these are in ruin, the people still suffer! I’ve finally understood this point!”</p><p>“When all these prosper, the people suffer. When all these are in ruin, the people still suffer!” the old man mumbled and then immediately fell silent, with shock and contemplation in his eyes.</p><p>After a long time, he finally sighed and said, “You can see this point? It’s rare!”</p><p>“Ol’ President, you can understand?” Meng Lei raised his eyebrows. “You are a Saint Domain of a noble background, you can relate to such like us…”</p><p>“Meng Lei, you are wrong!” The old man shook his head slightly. “It’s true that I came from nobility, but that doesn’t mean I’m not aware of the masses’ suffering. Did you know that my father was a human and a slave?”</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned as he knew nothing about this.</p><p>“Back then, my father was allocated to my mother as a slave. But, my father was very lucky because he met my kind Mother.”</p><p>The old man’s eyes were gentle as he recalled distant memories. “Although Mother was a noble lady, she was very kind to Father. She not only treated him as family, but she also taught him to cultivate.”</p><p>“And then?” asked Meng Lei.</p><p>“Haha, my father was a natural talent!” Ol’ Amos said proudly, “In just a few years, he finished cultivating Battle Aura and became the kingdom’s youngest Ninth-Grade Warrior. He also successfully reached Saint Domain!”</p><p>“So talented?” Meng Lei blinked.</p><p>“Naturally! Father’s talent in cultivating Battle Aura was rare in the world. My younger sister inherited his talent in cultivating Battle Aura and broke into Saint Domain at the age of 70. Of course, I’m not bad, either!”</p><p>The old man snorted softly. “I’m telling you all these to let you know that the blood of humans, slaves, also runs through my body. I understand the underclass masses’ suffering better than you!”</p><p>“Ol’ President, it seems that I know too little about you.” Meng Lei shook his head and smiled bitterly. “In the future, maybe you can tell me more about your heroic past, haha. Three Saint Domains in one family… It’s amazing, Ol’ President!”</p><p>“Alright, enough! Stop flattering me here.” The old man shook his hand. “If you have so much free time, you may as well cultivate hard, achieve Saint Domain soon, and restore the glory of our Kroc clan!”</p><p><em>Kroc clan? I’m afraid you may never see that happen. In the future, there would only be Meng Clan, Meng Kingdom, Meng Empire… Haha!</em></p><p>Meng Lei laughed loudly and then led the villagers out of the town.</p><p>“Meng Lei, where are we going now?”</p><p>“Magical Beast Town isn’t safe. In case all the soldiers die fighting, the villagers can easily become conscription targets. We need to find a hiding place.”</p><p>Meng Lei controlled the magic flying carpet and soon found a remote canyon. It was inaccessible for people, and the water source was abundant. It was very suitable for resettling the villagers.</p><p>“Everyone, you may settle here for now.”</p><p>“Captain Hudders, Village Chief, here are the 50 tents I just bought, and staples and meat enough for everyone to eat for three days.”</p><p>“Everyone, you may rest here with peace of mind. With Teddy on guard, safety isn’t a problem. When the ant tide subsides, I will come back again to send you guys home.”</p><p>“Thank you, Meng Lei!”</p><p>…</p><p>After settling the villagers, Meng Lei left the canyon and flew toward the Great Dragon Blood Wall. He wasn’t there to contribute to the defense forces but to find the ant tide!</p><p>Others feared the ant tide, but Meng Lei didn’t. It may be an all-destructive ant in others’ eyes, but to Meng Lei, it was a good opportunity to make a fortune.</p><p>Just think about it—an ocean of Magical Beasts was no different than moving mountains of gold with an ocean of dropped items awaiting to be picked up!</p><p>Where else could he go to find such a golden opportunity to simultaneously get rich and strong?</p><p>“The ant tide is coming!”</p><p>“Hurry up and meet the enemy!”</p><p>“The ant tide is coming!”</p><p>At the moment Meng Lei ascended the watchtower, a piercing alarm and exclamations of panic reverberated throughout the Great Dragon Blood Wall.</p><p>The crowd moved hastily as groups of armored, well-equipped soldiers climbed up the city wall and flooded the wall.</p><p>Magicians, archers, arbalists, and cannon shooters rapidly got into position and waited intently. They were ready to attack at any time!</p><p>“The ant tide is here?”</p><p>Meng Lei came to the space above the city wall and looked far in the Magical Beast Forest’s direction. He saw that the distant horizon was already covered by lifted yellow dust.</p><p>He couldn’t see a single ant nor a single Magical Beast, only flying dust.</p><p>“An ant tide?” Meng Lei’s eyes widened.</p><p>“It’s an ant tide!” Ol’ Amos had a solemn expression. “They rushed out of the Magical Beast Forest in less than one day. The Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants Tide this time is historically unprecedented!”</p><p>“That serious?” Meng Lei’s whole body shriveled.</p><p>“Uncommonly serious!” The old man said in a deep voice, “Among the few historical ant tides, they had spent at least three days to get out of the Magical Beast Forest. But this time, it took them less than one day. You can imagine it!”</p><p>“Which means the Magical Beasts in the Magical Beast Forest have pretty much been devoured already?” Meng Lei drew a cold breath. “Given this ant tide’s scale, can the Great Dragon Blood Wall hold?”</p><p>“It has to be held regardless.”</p><p>The old man said with a decisive voice, “The Great Dragon Blood Wall is the last line of defense. If the ant tide crosses the Great Dragon Blood Wall, the entire Fire Dragon Kingdom will suffer.</p><p>“Nobles with rich family backgrounds have the ability to escape, so only the civilians will suffer. They have no time to escape at all!”</p><p>“I understand now!” Meng Lei nodded silently.</p><p><em>The cloud of yellow sand is getting near. It is approaching at breakneck speed.</em></p><p>Gradually… the ground started shaking as though thousands of horses were galloping their way there.</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>The ground shook faster and faster while the booming sounds filled the sky.</p><p>The ferocious red ants were finally visible through the cloud of yellow sand!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-91

Chapter 91 - Dragon-Language Magic, A Sea Of Fire Burns The Sky

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 91 - Dragon-Language Magic, A Sea Of Fire Burns The Sky</h1><p>As thick waves of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants charged with great momentum, yellow sand filled the air, and dust and soil flew everywhere.</p><p>The Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants had bodies the size of calves with blood-red armor, teeth sharp as sickles, and six terrible-looking legs.</p><p>These were terrible monsters that made people fearful upon hearing their names.</p><p>“It’s here!”</p><p>“The ant tide is coming!”</p><p>“Hurry up and meet the enemy!”</p><p>The horn resounded across the sky.</p><p>The soldiers clenched their giant swords, the Magicians clenched their magic wands, and archers clenched their magic bows, and they all shared solemn expressions.</p><p>Everyone was so nervous they were suffocating. This was their first time encountering an ant tide, could they resist it?</p><p>Marquis Gould looked at the approaching ant wave on a tower more than ten meters tall and its unstoppable momentum with a gloomy expression.</p><p>“How long before the Flying Dragon Troops arrive?”</p><p>“Three hours, Lord Marquis!”</p><p>“Three hours is enough!” Marquis Gould drew his sword. “Send my order. All weapons are to be readied, listen to my orders!”</p><p>“Yes, sir!”</p><p>At the other side…</p><p>Meng Lei was also waiting intently. He licked his lips, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.</p><p><em>Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants are Sixth-Grade Magical Beasts. They are as hard as iron, so only seventh-grade magic can instakill them. However, seventh-grade magic greatly consumes magical power, so I’ll be unable to constantly cast seventh-grade spells. In which case, this is the only way!</em></p><p>With this thought, Meng Lei rode the magic carpet to a place several hundred meters before the Great Dragon Blood Wall and stopped.</p><p>“What’s up with that guy? Why did he run out?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s actions appeared very jarring in the neatly lined-up troops. Everyone was a little confounded.</p><p>“Who is that bastard? Why is he acting by himself without following orders?” Marquis Gould was infuriated and demanded to know that person’s identity.</p><p>“I… I don’t know him, Lord Marquis!” the soldier stuttered. “There’s no such person in the defense army at all. He’s likely a Magician who came to assist the battle out of his own free will!”</p><p>“Here to assist the battle out of his own free will?” Marquis Gould’s face was ugly. “Call him back. Without my orders, nobody acts on their own!”</p><p>“Yes, Lord Marquis!”</p><p>The soldiers replied, took the magical-transmitting horn, and prepared to call him when the ground in front of them suddenly started shaking.</p><p>The next moment…</p><p>A crack suddenly opened up on the earth, and then it started expanding rapidly. Amidst the rumbling and exploding sounds, a canyon hundreds of meters wide appeared in front of the Great Dragon Blood Wall!</p><p>“This… This is…”</p><p>“Eighth-Grade Spell, Earth Force!”</p><p>“Holy my, he’s an Eight-Grade Magician!”</p><p>All the Magicians in the tower started gasping in shock. Magicians were rare, to begin with, and eighth-grade ones even more so. There weren’t many in the entire defense army, but there’s one there?</p><p>“This guy is an Eighth-Grade Magician?”</p><p>Naturally, as a Ninth-Grade Warrior, Marquis Gould’s judgment was very good. He looked at the canyon Meng Lei had created, and surprise showed on his face before he felt confused. “What’s the point of making such a canyon? Does he think that a mere canyon can stop the ant tide? A fantasy!”</p><p>Whether it was a fantasy or not, Meng Lei still continued with his digging operation. He continued to chant the Eighth-Grade Spell, Earth Force to extend the canyon.</p><p>Soon, a canyon several kilometers long and hundreds of meters wide appeared. It was like a small snake lying at the foot of the Great Dragon Blood Wall, looking completely insignificant, yet fully demonstrating the might of an Eighth-Grade Magician.</p><p>“Pfft…” Meng Lei breathed out a mouthful of dusty air. “Eighth-grade spells really consume too much magic power, an entire 10,000 units of magic power. I’ve got to replenish them from the ant tide later.”</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>At that moment, the ant tide’s vanguard finally arrived at the edge of the canyon. They jumped in without the least bit of hesitation!</p><p>Countless Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants let out strange cracking sounds and rushed into the canyon.</p><p>If it continued like this, the canyon that Meng Lei had worked hard to make would be filled in a matter of a few minutes. Thus, everything he had done would be in vain.</p><p>“Childish tricks, good for nothing!” Marquis Gould couldn’t help but snort upon seeing that. “Good strength, but stupid! This kind of canyon is nothing for a massive ant tide. They will pass through it effortlessly!”</p><p>The Magicians also shook their heads and sighed.</p><p>At this time, Meng Lei, who was hovering in the sky, moved again. His lips opened slightly, chanting in an ancient and difficult language.</p><p>His voice wasn’t loud, but like some kind of ancient Buddhist chant, it passed clearly and powerfully into everyone’s ears.</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>Marquis Gould’s whole body suddenly shivered in shock.</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>Fire Elements gathered wildly within several hundred square meters, and a big fireball shining with white light appeared in the sky.</p><p>As the immense amount of Fire Elements gathered rapidly, the big fireball expanded at a terrible speed. Within a few breaths, a “small sun” with a radius of dozens of meters appeared.</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>Everyone’s eyes widened!</p><p>“Fire Inferno… Drop!” Meng Lei shouted ferociously.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The huge sun suddenly dropped from the sky and right into the canyon. Following an earth-shaking explosion, bright tongues of fire suddenly splashed out of the several-kilometer-long canyon!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>A huge fire started burning everything in the canyon, and its intense flame rose up dozens of meters into the sky. Like beans being fried in a pan, cracking sounds echoed as the countless Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants that had jumped into the canyon died painfully. The white flames incinerated the ants!</p><p>In but a moment, the hundreds-of-meters-wide canyon turned into a sea of fire. The fire wall was several dozens of meters high, blocking out the ant tide like a line of blockade.</p><p>Any ant that approached… got blown up and turned into dust. The Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants were momentarily stopped right where they were, and some were hesitating to move forward!</p><p>“Is this the Seventh-Grade Spell, Fire Inferno?”</p><p>Inside the mage tower, all the fire-elemental Magicians somewhat doubted life. Judging from the huge fireball’s surface appearance, it was indeed the Seventh-Grade Spell, Fire Inferno. However, wasn’t it a bit… too powerful?</p><p>It had a diameter of a hundred meters and exuded white flames… Was this really Fire Inferno!?</p><p>“A Magician that’s versed in Earth and Fire magic!” Marquis Gould’s eyes narrowed. “Besides, if I didn’t hear wrongly, the magic spell just now… was chanted in Dragon Language. He actually knows Dragon-Language Magic! How can he possibly know Dragon-Language Magic?”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t know how shocked the others were. He felt a bit annoyed right now because of the system’s non-stop notification sounds that kept ringing in his mind.</p><p>“Ding! 1 Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant killed. 10,380 gold coins gained!”</p><p>“Ding! 1 Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant killed. 11,029 gold coins gained!”</p><p>“Ding! 1 Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant killed. 10,853 gold coins gained!”</p><p>“Ding…”</p><p>“System, can I block the notification sounds?”</p><p>Meng Lei swung his head, feeling a bit exhausted.</p><p>“Okay, host!”</p><p>The notification sounds disappeared immediately.</p><p>“Finally, quiet!”</p><p>Meng Lei heaved a sigh of relief before his gaze fell on the Stats interface—his “Wealth” column was changing wildly!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-92

Chapter 92 - A One-Man Suppression? How Can This Be

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 92 - A One-Man Suppression? How Can This Be</h1><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human (Contains Fire Dragon bloodline and Fire Demon bloodline)</p><p>Wealth: 16,729,428 gold coins</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Eighth-Grade Warrior (361,456/1,000,000)</p><p>Spirit: Eighth-Grade Magician (249,518/100,0000)</p><p>Magic Power: Eighth-Grade Magician (20,648/100,0000)</p><p>“Sweet!”</p><p>When looking at his stats, especially the constantly changing Wealth value, Meng Lei felt agitated. A Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants was worth about 10,000 gold coins, and in just an instant, he had killed a couple hundred.</p><p><em>The way I obtained a few million gold coins feels almost like robbing.</em></p><p><em>Fortunately, the ant tide still keeps charging ahead, without the slightest sign of disappearing.</em></p><p><em>These are all moving mountains of gold. If I kill them all, how rich will I be?</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes were so bright they felt heated.</p><p><em>Kill them! Kill all of them! They’re all money!</em></p><p><em>System, replenish Magic Power to full!</em></p><p>Meng Lei waved a hand triumphantly. He was indeed a bit stingy on a daily basis, and he used money carefully, but this wasn’t the time to be stingy. If he was still stingy, others might finish off the ant tide!</p><p>Why would he be stingy?</p><p>“Okay, host!”</p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>The Wealth value instantly reduced by almost 10,000,000, and the Magic Power value rose to 1,000,000, almost breaking the chart!</p><p>Meng Lei took a deep breath, sensing the endless magic power in his body, and felt like he was pumped up and full of energy.</p><p>“Gold mountains, I am coming, hahaha!”</p><p>Meng Lei looked up toward the running ant tide, only to find that these monsters actually turned direction and spread out to the two sides.</p><p>The Great Dragon Blood Wall was several thousands of kilometers long, but the canyon and the fire wall were only several kilometers long.</p><p>The ant tide didn’t move aimlessly but evaded to the two sides and moved in a zig-zag manner.</p><p>“You still know how to evade, not bad!”</p><p>Meng Lei steered the magic carpet to one side, and the Eighth-Grade Spell, Earth Force was activated. Another canyon stopped the ant tide’s march in its tracks.</p><p>Crack…</p><p>Upon realizing that there were no flames, the ant tide jumped into the canyon without hesitation. When Meng Lei saw that, he once again started chanting the ancient and mysterious magic spell.</p><p>The powerful Dragon-Language Magic filled up the space. Marquis Gould’s eyes narrowed as he muttered in a low voice, “It’s really Dragon-Language Magic! This guy really knows Dragon-Language Magic!”</p><p>“It’s coming again!”</p><p>“Another fireball this big!”</p><p>“Who can tell me if this is Seventh-Grade Spell, Fire Inferno?”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The fireball, with a diameter of 100 meters and entirely milk-white, dropped from the sky again. Accompanied by an extremely loud rumbling, the flames sprayed into the horizon. Countless Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants died a violent death again.</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>His Wealth value started rising rapidly again!</p><p><em>Haha! This is the way! Rise! Rise as much as you like!</em></p><p>Meng Lei looked up at the sky and laughed, his mouth cracking like a chimpanzee.</p><p>The soldiers on the wall were looking at him, utterly stunned.</p><p>“What’s that guy laughing foolishly for? He looks like a gargoyle!”</p><p>“Maybe he’s secretly happy for killing so many Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants?”</p><p>“How secret…”</p><p>“He’s got pretty good strength, just his brain is a bit…”</p><p>“Go on!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>The following period of time became Meng Lei’s showtime. He sent out many Earth Force and Fire Inferno spells like they didn’t cost affect his magic power to blast in wild explosions in front of the Great Dragon Blood Wall.</p><p>Whenever canyons appeared, fireballs would drop, and large parts of the ant tide would get bombarded and incinerated. As such, innumerable ants died violently right on scene!</p><p>What was disappearing in a split second? That was!</p><p>What was the art of explosion? That was!</p><p>Wherever the ant tide went, Meng Lei chased, and he really stopped the ant tide out of the Great Dragon Blood Wall on his own.</p><p>A 100-meter-wide sea of fire became a natural barrier between the Great Dragon Blood Wall and the ant tide. However wild the ant tide was, they couldn’t break through the sea of fire’s blockade.</p><p>Such a wild scene stunned everyone on top of the Great Dragon Blood Wall. Everyone watched Meng Lei, who was active on the battlefield, with only one thought left mind:</p><p><em>Is this guy still human? He actually stopped the ant tide army on his own!?</em></p><p>Honestly, Eighth-Grade Magicians were indeed powerful. They could split mountains and the earth with the wave of a hand or cut forests down within an instant. However, Eighth-Grade Magicians were still people. They would still get tired, would still exhaust their magic power, their spirits would still tire out, and their bodies would still reach their limits!</p><p>But Meng Lei?</p><p>How many times had he released Earth Force and Fire Inferno already?</p><p>Why didn’t his magic power get exhausted, but instead, he got more and more spirited as he fought and killed? The more he consumed, the more he had?</p><p>Did logic still exist?</p><p>“Although Dragon-Language Magic saves magic power and is more powerful, there isn’t a Dragon-Language Magician like him, right?”</p><p>Marquis Gould also doubted life a little. “Such rich magical power reserves, even a Colossal Dragon probably can’t match him…”</p><p>In fact, not only them, even Ol’ Amos, who knew Meng Lei the best, was stunned. He knew that Meng Lei’s magic power reserves were rich, as well as that Meng Lei liked to use big actions to overpower others, but his magic power reserve was abnormally rich!</p><p>Ol’ Amos couldn’t help but tease him. “You’ve only gotten promoted to Eighth-Grade Magician for less than a week. Why can you release so many eighth-grade spells? How do you do it?”</p><p>Meng Lei was in a very good mood, so he said half-jokingly, “Ol’ President, I have a magical instrument specially for storing magic power. Do you believe me?”</p><p>“I do! Why not?” The old man’s mouth twitched. “You, boy, already have two divine items on your person. It’s not impossible even if you are to have a few more! Sigh, I’m really envious!</p><p>“If I still had a flesh body!</p><p>“If I could leave the Gods-Slaying Spear!</p><p>“Even if you are my descendant, I would kill you to rob you of your treasures without hesitation. I would open up your body to see what secrets you have!”</p><p>“Hahaha! A pity there’s no chance!” Meng Lei smiled proudly. “But, if it is possible in the future, I will definitely find a way to let you out and give you back a free and clean body.”</p><p>The old man rolled his eyes and said, displeased, “Pfft! Why does it sound so strange coming out of your mouth? When was I ever unclean?”</p><p>“Hahaha!”</p><p>Meng Lei laughed out loud and continued killing. Suddenly, he realized that the ant tide actually stopped moving to the two sides but stayed right where it was.</p><p>Then, they withdrew to the back like a tide, all moving orderly like one, without the slightest hesitation.</p><p>“What’s going on?” Meng Lei was stunned. “They want to retreat?”</p><p>“Undoubtedly! Your killing spree has scared them!” The old man laughed happily. “Or, your killing spree scared the ant monarch. Seeing that the deed cannot be done, it must have decided to retreat, recover, and come back again.”</p><p>“The ant monarch?” Meng Lei seemed contemplative.</p><p>“Magical Beasts of the ant kind are a very special type of gregarious Magical Beasts. They have clear hierarchies and job scopes, and maintain a very efficient situation amongst themselves.”</p><p>The old man explained, “And at the very top of the Ant Magical Beasts is the ant monarch. It is the monarch and also the order center, controlling the movement of the entire ant group.</p><p>“Given how many of its subordinates you slaughtered in such a short time, the ant monarch must have a pinch in its heart, right?”</p><p>“I see!” Meng Lei understood. “Will they come back, then?”</p><p>“That’s hard to say! Maybe they will, or maybe they won’t!”</p><p>“Hard to say? How can this be?”</p><p>Meng Lei was anxious.</p><p><em>System! Hurry! Hurry and exchange for me! 1,000,000 points for Magic Power and Spiritual Power, respectively!</em></p><p>Whoosh!</p><p>In but an instant, 20,000,000 gold coins disappeared into thin air!</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-93

Chapter 93 - Ninth-Grade Spell, Heavenly Fire Meteor

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 93 - Ninth-Grade Spell, Heavenly Fire Meteor</h1><p>1 Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant ≈ 10,000 gold coins!</p><p>10 Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants ≈ 100,000 gold coins!</p><p>100 Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants ≈ 1,000,000 gold coins!</p><p>1,000 Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants ≈ 10,000,000 gold coins!</p><p>After setting them on fire just now, Meng Lei’s wealth had increased tremendously. After deducting the amount spent to replenish the magic power that he had expended, his wealth had already broken through the 40 million mark!</p><p>40,000,000 gold coins!</p><p>Even those wealthy overlords didn’t have assets as impressive as that. One could easily imagine just how rich Meng Lei was right now.</p><p>Yet in that split second just now, 20,000,000 gold coins… instantly poofed into thin air.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>At the same time as that, a wave of incomparably terrifying aura burst forth from Meng Lei and produced series after series of ferocious, surging waves of impact that swept away everything around him in an unbridled manner.</p><p>It was a majestic presence whose robes fluttered in the air!</p><p>Meng Lei stood proudly in the air, his eyes sparkling like the Milky Way and bottomless like a black hole. As if brimming with a light of boundless intelligence, his eyes dazzled and stunned others, causing them to involuntarily drown within.</p><p>“He… He has…”</p><p>At the sight of this, the soldiers on top of the city walls looked as if they had just seen a ghost. “Broken through? Has he broken through!?”</p><p>“A Great N-ninth-Grade Magician! Oh my dragon god, I’ve actually witnessed the birth of a Great Ninth-Grade Magician with my own eyes?”</p><p>“Brat, how come you’ve broken through again?” Ol’ Amos was astonished, too. “It hasn’t even been a week since you broke through to Eighth-Grade Magician, yet you’ve broken through again?”</p><p>“Yes! I’ve broken through again!” Meng Lei murmured to himself, the look in his eyes somewhat indistinct.</p><p>At that moment, he discovered that the world in front of him had completely changed. It wasn’t just a diverse and colorful world anymore. Rather… some additional blurry, indistinct things had now appeared—the drifting clouds, the caress of the breeze, the thick, heavy ground, and the swaying grass!</p><p>Everything was completely different from what he had seen in the past. Even the magic elements drifting about in the universe weren’t just drifting about haphazardly without a fixed orbit anymore, but moving rhythmically according to some kind of cadence.</p><p>“Is what you’re seeing now different from before?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos’ voice drifted over to him softly. Despite his astonishment at Meng Lei’s speed of breakthrough, he had already attained a transcendental frame of mind, so he had recovered his composure by now.</p><p>“Yes,” Meng Lei replied honestly.</p><p>“That’s correct, then!” Ol’ Amos’ emotions were rather complex. “When one’s spiritual power reaches the ninth-grade stage, they are able to see beyond the surface to look at the way how things run and operate. In other words, the universe’s momentum!”</p><p>“The universe’s momentum?”</p><p>A huge jolt went through Meng Lei.</p><p>“In nature’s laws exists the rhythm that everything in the world follows. That is the universe’s momentum, nature’s momentum, and the power of the universe.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos sighed and went on. “Let’s put it this way. After one crosses over into this stage, they are no longer just rigidly chanting spell incantations and carrying out a simple manipulation of magic elements. Rather, one must understand the magic elements’ rhythm and act in tune with how they’re moving, and then guide and control them.</p><p>“How to control the most magic elements using the least amount of spiritual power;</p><p>“How to act in accordance with how the magic elements run and operate, and bring out their might to the largest extent;</p><p>“How to break away from the magic framework left behind by predecessors and create spells that belong only to you. These are what you need to do from now on.</p><p>“In other words, controlling the universe’s momentum!”</p><p>“Controlling the universe’s momentum?” asked Meng Lei pensively.</p><p>“When your understanding of the universe’s momentum reaches a certain level that you can feel the laws on a deeper level, the road to Saint Domain will naturally form.” Ol’ Amos sighed faintly and said, “Work hard brat. You’re even more outstanding than I’ve thought. Sigh, outstanding people always make me feel like I’ve spent my life in vain.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was in a complex mood. He had initially thought that Meng Lei would need to train for a few years before he could attain Ninth-Grade Magician level. Little did he imagine that Meng Lei would actually achieve it so quickly.</p><p>Going from eighth-grade to ninth-grade in just a week… Was he really human?</p><p>No, he wasn’t… He was a mutant, a monster!</p><p>Becoming a great Ninth-Grade Magician before he’d even reached 16 years of age… What was that, if not a monster?</p><p>To be honest, Ol’ Amos had indeed taken a blow. He whined and grumbled, “Brat, give me a heads-up the next time you break through so that this old man can do some mental preparation. Otherwise, you’re going to give me a heart attack someday.”</p><p>“You’re in soul form now, Ol’ President. How would you even get a heart attack? Hehehe,” Meng Lei replied with a laugh.</p><p>His eyes couldn’t help but fall on the stats interface, and then, he was dumbstruck.</p><p>Host: Meng Lei</p><p>Race: Human (Contains Fire Dragon bloodline and Fire Demon bloodline)</p><p>Physical Body Constitution: Eighth-Grade Warrior (361,456/1,000,000)</p><p>Spirit: Great Ninth-Grade Magician (1,250,162/1,000,000,000)</p><p>Magic Power: Great Ninth-Grade Magician (1,031,539/1,000,000,000)</p><p>Spiritual Power: 250,000 + 1,000,000 = 1,250,000</p><p>Yes, no mistakes there!</p><p>Magic Power: 30,000 + 1,000,000 = 1,030,000!</p><p>No mistakes there, either!</p><p>But what was the deal with the ‘1,000,000,000’ at the back?</p><p><em>One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand… Hundred million!</em></p><p><em>1 billion!</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes widened big and round at once.</p><p><em>1 billion? A great Ninth-Grade Magician’s stats upper limit is 1 billion? Are you kidding me?!</em></p><p>Meng Lei held his chest, suddenly feeling great pain in his chest area. He had initially thought that by leveraging the advantages that the system brought and killing Magical Beasts without restraint, the day he would attain Saint Domain level was well within sight.</p><p>One to two months if the progress was fast, or half a year to a year if it was slow.</p><p>But in his instant, he suddenly found the Saint Domain realm so far away from him. It was far, far away, as far as a few galaxies away from him.</p><p>He couldn’t see any hope at all!</p><p>Having an upper limit of 1 billion for his stats meant that he needed to accumulate 10 billion gold coins before breaking through the limit and attaining Saint Domain level!</p><p>“That’s 10 billion! 10 billion, you know! I probably won’t be able to earn that much, even in my entire lifetime!” Meng Lei wanted to cry.</p><p>He had scarcely been able to earn a huge windfall through the ant tide this time and take advantage of the opportunity to break through to Great Ninth-Grade Magician. He hadn’t even rejoiced for that long before the harsh reality dealt him a head-on blow.</p><p><em>Why?</em></p><p><em>Why did I need only 10 million gold coins to break through to ninth-grade, but breaking through to Saint Domain has actually increased by a whole 1,000 times?!</em></p><p><em>Why the hell is that?!</em></p><p>“What’s the matter, brat? Why are you crying?” Ol’ Amos was rather perplexed when he noticed that Meng Lei’s expression didn’t look right. “Isn’t it just breaking through to Great Ninth-Grade Magician level? Do you need to be that worked up about it? Even this old man wasn’t as ridiculously agitated as you when I broke through to Saint Domain level back then!”</p><p>“Me? Agitated? Why the hell would I be agitated?!” Meng Lei couldn’t help but break into a rant. “Do you know how badly I’ve been freaking duped?! I’ve been fired from my job, and my wife has run away, too! Who the hell am I supposed to go to for justification?!”</p><p>“(⊙o⊙)”</p><p>Ol’ Amos was dumbfounded. “What kind of crazy talk are you saying, brat?”</p><p>“I’m not crazy! I’m just petrified by how poor I am!” Meng Lei was on the brink of tears. “I need money! I need a huge sum of money now!”</p><p><em>1 billion?</em></p><p><em>Where am I going to get that kind of money?</em></p><p>Meng Lei looked up and suddenly glanced at the currently receding ant tide. Without another word, he charged over like a lunatic and arrived right above the ant tide.</p><p>“My life is too difficult! Don’t hold it against me!”</p><p>Meng Lei raised his arms high. A terrifying might that went through the heavens and deep into the ground emanated from him, and the Fire Elements within a radius of a few kilometers of where he was converged madly toward him.</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>One!</p><p>Two!</p><p>Three!</p><p>…</p><p>As innumerable soldiers watched on in astoundment, ten brilliant suns appeared in the sky out of the blue. They were incredibly huge, blinding, and scorching hot. They gave off astonishing heat, causing even the blazing sun hanging high above in the sky to pale in comparison.</p><p>“A n-ninth-grade spell!”</p><p>“That’s the Ninth-Grade Spell, Heavenly Fire Meteor!”</p><p>“Hiss!”</p><p>All the soldiers on top of the city walls sucked in a breath of air. Then, they watched powerlessly as the ten blazing suns plummeted from the skies, as though meteors blazing across the night sky, and crashed brutally onto the ground.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Amid the shocking explosions, ten mushroom clouds surged into the sky before converging to form an even bigger mushroom cloud.</p><p>Flames blazed furiously on the ground in front of the city, while the entire area within a radius of a few kilometers turned into a sea of fire.</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>All the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants in the area were burned straight into ashes, not leaving behind even a bit of themselves.</p><p>“Nobody can escape today! Eighth-Grade Spell, Toppling Mountains And Quaking Earth!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-94

Chapter 94 - Making An Escape, Double-Legged Flying Dragons

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 94 - Making An Escape, Double-Legged Flying Dragons</h1><p>After a round of Heavenly Fire Meteor, the area within a radius of a few kilometers turned into a sea of fire, and all the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants in the area were reduced to ashes.</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s wealth value jumped furiously. In a short instant, it had already increased dramatically by 10 million gold coins! However, Meng Lei wasn’t satisfied with this. His gaze swept across the ants outside the sea of fire as he continued to cast spells.</p><p>“Eighth-Grade Spell, Toppling Mountains And Quaking Earth!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>To the east of the sea of fire, the ground suddenly rose into the air. One end of it rose higher while the other end dipped, forming a 90-degrees steep slope that sent all the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants on it into the sea of fire, which burned them into ashes.</p><p>Meng Lei then appeared in the north. With another round of Toppling Mountains And Quaking Earth, countless Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants were burned to death again.</p><p>After that, he went to the west, the south…</p><p>Meng Lei went a full circle around the sea of fire and sent all the ants in the surroundings into the sea of fire, causing the area within a radius of 10 kilometers to become a totally ant-free zone.</p><p>“Oh my dragon god!”</p><p>“T-that’s the power of a Great Ninth-Grade Magician?”</p><p>“How terrifying! How terrifying, indeed!”</p><p>All the soldiers on top of the city walls were so astounded that they could hardly speak. They watched in stupefaction the figure in the sky and the ants running about in disorder as they fled for their lives, unable to speak for a long period of time.</p><p>“Is a Great Ninth-Grade Magician supposed to be that terrifying?”</p><p>Marquis Gould’s grip on the large sword in his hand tightened, and the light in his eyes flashed a little. The look in his eyes was rather turbulent. As a powerful Ninth-Grade Warrior, he knew very well how fearsome a Great Ninth-Grade Magician was.</p><p>An erupting Great Ninth-Grade Magician’s might was something that Warriors of the same grade, like him, could never compare to. In particular, when Great Ninth-Grade Magicians cast first-class spells, it could be said to be capable of destroying the earth.</p><p>However… Was there any other Great Ninth-Grade Magician like Meng Lei?</p><p>Hw possessed unbelievably quick spellcasting, rich and abundant magic power reserves, and plentiful spiritual power. Even Great Magicians versed in Dragon-Language Magic shouldn’t be as much of a mutant as him!</p><p>“That’s straight up a goddamn freak!”</p><p>Marquis Gould couldn’t help but shake his head. However, what perplexed him the most was how Meng Lei didn’t stop even after he had driven back the ant tide. Instead, he followed after them relentlessly, the picture of someone ruthlessly pursuing those down on their luck, and even looked as though he was terribly afraid that the downtrodden ants would escape.</p><p>What was he trying to do? Annihilate the entire ant tide?</p><p>That was also something that the other soldiers didn’t understand. It was just a pity that they would never receive the answer to their questions.</p><p>“Fire Meteor Shower!”</p><p>“Exploding Fireball!”</p><p>“Flame Inferno!”</p><p>“Overturning Heaven And Earth!”</p><p>“…”</p><p>Meng Lei continued to blast spells wantonly and indiscriminately. Amidst the endless explosions, countless Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants died tragically.</p><p>Toward the end, even the ants were close to tears from his pursuit. They actually started to dig tunnels, intending to head underground and escape, which threw Meng Lei into a panic.</p><p><em>Are you fleeing? If I let you flee, where am I supposed to find 1 billion gold coins?!</em></p><p>“Earth’s Wra—”</p><p>“That’s enough, brat!” Ol’ Amos honestly couldn’t bring himself to watch any further. “The ant tide is already starting to recede. There’s no need to continue slaughtering them.”</p><p>“This isn’t enough yet! Far from it!”</p><p>Meng Lei shook his head repeatedly and blasted another round of Earthquake down at them. The ground within a radius of a few kilometers was as though a pot of congee, squeezing together, colliding against each other, deforming, and compressing together…</p><p>Amid waves of tragic cries, another large number of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants that had just crawled underground died. Spurts of blood sprayed out from underground, forming an incredibly bloody scene.</p><p>“Even I’m somewhat sympathizing with those Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants now.” A corner of Ol’ Amos’ lips spasmed as he said, “They really can’t get any unluckier than this to have run into a freak like you. Look at how many Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants you alone have killed.”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t have the leisure to pay any attention to the old man. He continued to pursue the ants, but the area that the ant tide covered was simply too big, and they burrowed underground in large batches. How many could a lone person like him kill?</p><p>Even after hurrying the whole way, a large number of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants still managed to burrow underground, vanishing without leaving a trace of themselves behind. For a moment there, the ground was as bare as it could get, leaving behind only a place in total mess and disorder.</p><p>“They fled pretty quickly, huh?”</p><p>Meng Lei finally stopped. He fell onto his bottom on the magic carpet and panted heavily. The system could replenish his magic power and spiritual power, but it couldn’t replenish his expended energy.</p><p>He was terribly worn out!</p><p>“What a brutal fellow you are!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head, not quite knowing what to say anymore. The great ant tide army made up of countless ants had been defeated and routed by Meng Lei just like that. On top of suffering countless casualties, they hadn’t been able to even reach the Great Dragon Blood Wall’s edges. Just how freaking unlucky were they?</p><p>In the history of beast tides, when had they ever been in such a sorry state?</p><p>“Ol’ President,” said Meng Lei, who hadn’t had enough yet. He looked in the direction of Magical Beast Forest and asked, “Do you think the ant tide will return?”</p><p>“Yes, they will!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos nodded slowly. “The ant tide had taken only a day to surge out of Magical Beast Forest this time. They are moving on a grand, unprecedented scale.</p><p>“I believe they’ll make a comeback for sure.</p><p>“By that time, it won’t be as simple as these few Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants anymore. The scale will definitely become even bigger, and they’ll engulf an even wider area!”</p><p>“The scale will become even bigger?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes lit up.</p><p>“Of course!” Ol’ Amos said solemnly, “The ant tide just now didn’t even cover 25 kilometers. It’s evidently just a small wave of stragglers and wandering soldiers that doesn’t even make up 1% of the total count in the ant tide.”</p><p>“These are just stragglers and wandering soldiers?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes shone even brighter.</p><p>“Which of those large-scale ant tides in history didn’t overrun the heavens and earth and stretched for several thousand kilometers?” Ol’ Amos’ voice was deep and grave. “Endless and boundless, and engulfing the mountains and wilderness, just like the great ocean. Even the sight could throw one into absolute despair.”</p><p>“They’ll be even more of them on an even bigger scale that’s even more fearsome?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes were burning hot.</p><p>“Yes!” Ol’ Amos nodded slightly. Then, he suddenly felt like something wasn’t quite right, and he yelled furiously, “You brat, do you wish for the ant tide to return that much?!”</p><p>“Yes, of course… Cough, no, of course!” Meng Lei shook his head incessantly and vigorously. “The ant tide is bloody and cruel. They take away countless lives and are the nightmare of all living things. Of course I don’t wish for them to return.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos snorted. “Hmph! At least you still have a bit of conscience in you.”</p><p>At that moment, a clear and loud cry suddenly traveled over from the far distance. It sounded like a dragon roar or a lion’s roar, yet also like an eagle’s cry…</p><p>It was crystal clear, loud, and sonorous, and traveled right into one’s spirit!</p><p>“Huh?”</p><p>Meng Lei turned and looked over to see a large, dark mass of clouds that shrouded an area of several hundred kilometers coming toward them in the sky a far distance away.</p><p>However, just how sharp was Meng Lei’s sight? That was no dark cloud—they were clearly numerous… big birds!</p><p>Well, they could tentatively be called big birds for now because they had Colossal Dragon wings, a vulture’s body, and a lion’s head. They had razor-sharp claws and teeth and looked like a combination of a Colossal Dragon, a vulture, and a lion.</p><p>Each of them was more than 10 meters tall, their wings spanned over 20 meters, and there were more than 100,000 of them.</p><p>Their momentum was even more fearsome than the ant tide just now!</p><p>“That’s…”</p><p>Meng Lei was stunned.</p><p>“That’s the Flying Dragon Troops!” Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and said with a smile, “The Flying Dragon Troops are Fire Dragon Kingdom’s top elite troops. They have 100,000 Double-Legged Flying Dragons and are usually garrisoned at Flying Dragon Valley. They are only mobilized during wartimes.”</p><p>“100,000… Double-Legged Flying Dragons?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-95

Chapter 95 - The Flying Dragon Troops, Fighting For Magic Cores

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 95 - The Flying Dragon Troops, Fighting For Magic Cores</h1><p>“Double-Legged Flying Dragons possess two types of bloodlines, the Colossal Dragon’s and a griffin’s. When they mature into adults, they are comparable to Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts.</p><p>“As they are smaller and more compact than Colossal Dragons, their speed is lightning-quick. Adding to these claws and teeth as sharp as razors, they are an outstanding existence even among Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts.</p><p>“However, these aren’t the only reasons why Double-Legged Flying Dragons can firmly suppress other Drakes to become Fire Dragon Kingdom’s top elite troops. They have three more advantages over the others—high reproductive rate, short growth cycles, and high intelligence!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos explained with a smile, “A female Double-Legged Flying Dragon can produce 10 infants, and an infant needs only 30 years to mature into an adult. An adult Double-Legged Flying Dragon’s level of intelligence is comparable to a human’s!”</p><p>“No wonder.”</p><p>Realization dawned upon Meng Lei.</p><p>There were many types of Drakes—Raptors, Ground Dragons, Dragon-Hawks, Triceratops, Dragon-Rhinos, Dragon-Wolves, Dragon-Turtles, Wind Flying Dragons, Crimson-Armored Earthworms ¹ , and so on… All of them were Drakes, but only the Double-Legged Flying Dragons possessed all three of those characteristics.</p><p>Some Drakes were strong and powerful but awfully stupid, while some Drakes were highly intelligent but grew too slowly. A few Drakes had both characteristics but didn’t reproduce.</p><p>Therefore, even if these Drakes had dragon blood in them, they’d hardly be placed in important positions by the Dragon race. In fact, the Dragon race saw some Drakes as a disgrace and drove them out of the kingdom, e.g., the Sillies.</p><p>Sillies were a very kooky species of Drakes. They clearly had Golden Colossal Dragon blood in them, yet they were astonishingly weak and weren’t even a match for ordinary wild beasts in battle. Additionally, they looked very adorable and were mischievous and silly in nature. They were totally people’s number one choice when choosing pets.</p><p>However, the Dragon race saw these fellows as a disgrace and had tried many times to exterminate them. It was just a shame for them that the Sillies reproduced at a rate faster than even pigs, and they couldn’t wipe them out completely. In the end, they could only banish them. One could pretty much consider them weirdos among Drakes.</p><p>As he gazed at the Flying Dragon Troops on the horizon, Meng Lei sighed emotionally. “Double-Legged Flying Dragons are the most successful Drakes for sure!”</p><p>“You’re wrong in saying that!” Ol’ Amos shook his head and said with a smile, “The most successful Drakes are us Dragon People instead!”</p><p>“Uh… That’s true!” Meng Lei burst into laughter. “Would you believe that? How could I have forgotten about the Dragon People?”</p><p>“That’s normal.”</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>Roar!</p><p>As the Flying Dragon Troops got nearer and nearer, waves of dragon might converged to form a single majestic wave that spread throughout the sky and earth as it came crushing toward them.</p><p>“The Flying Dragon Troops!”</p><p>“It’s the Flying Dragon Troops!”</p><p>“They’re finally here!”</p><p>“But the problem is…”</p><p>Had it been any other time, the sight of the Flying Dragon Troops’ arrival would definitely have sent all the soldiers into loud, deafening cheers and the whole place into a furor. However, everyone’s countenances looked somewhat… strange today.</p><p>“The ant tide has already receded by now, though.”</p><p>“Shows how much they really care…”</p><p>In spite of that, no one dared to really comment much. The Flying Dragon Troops were elites; be it their overall strength or their status, they were much more powerful than frontier troops.</p><p>Who would dare to criticize them?</p><p>With a wave of his arm, Marquis Gould gave an order. “Sound the drums and blow the horns to welcome the Flying Dragon Troops!”</p><p>Bong, bong, bong!</p><p>Hoooonk!</p><p>At once, drumbeats that sounded like dull thunderclaps and the long, loud, and clear blasts from the bugle-horn rang out from the top of the Great Dragon Blood Wall. The sounds reverberated throughout the sky and continued endlessly.</p><p>Roar!!</p><p>Upon hearing the bugle-horn blasts, 100,000 Double-Legged Flying Dragon let out roars and howls one after another. The sounds merged into roiling thunderclaps that bore down heavily on the Great Dragon Blood Wall.</p><p>They were putting them in their place!</p><p>This was something that the Flying Dragon Troops often did, not only to display their might but also to upstage the host.</p><p>And true enough, when the regular soldiers heard the fearsome roars, their hearing failed, stars appeared in their vision, their faces turned ghastly pale, and looks of fear surfaced in their eyes.</p><p>“Those bastards!”</p><p>Marquis Gould was infuriated. Yet he could do nothing to stop them and could only watch helplessly as his soldiers dropped their weapons and clapped their hands over their ears as they let out agonized moans.</p><p>“That’s enough!”</p><p>An awe-inspiring voice rang out. The Flying Dragon Troops stopped their roars and stepped aside to open up a path. A Super-Double-Legged Flying Dragon, whose wings spanned over 50 meters and was twice the size of an ordinary Double-Legged Flying Dragon, flew out!</p><p>It had a fully ink-black body, plumes as sharp as steel needles, and a neck that looked much like a snake’s. It exuded vast, surging dragon might!</p><p>It was the highest commander of the Flying Dragon Troops and the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King… Duke Nicolas Granger!</p><p>“Duke Nicolas!”</p><p>Marquis Gould stepped forward and bowed, giving him an ancient and standard nobility salute.</p><p>“Marquis Gould.”</p><p>The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King transformed into a fierce and sinister-looking skinny, bony elderly man dressed in splendid long robes with a flap of its wings. He waved casually in a sort-of response.</p><p>Then, his eyes flitted across the Great Dragon Blood Wall and looked at the chaotic mess outside the city, awfully surprised. “Marquis Gould, your men have driven back the ant tide?”</p><p>Marquis Gould was dumbfounded for a moment there, not quite knowing how he should respond.</p><p>Had the ant tide receded?</p><p>Yes, it had!</p><p>But it had absolutely nothing to do with them, the frontier troops!</p><p>“Marquis Gould, were there unmentionable troubles?”</p><p>At the sight of how Marquis Gould seemed to find it hard to answer him, the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King frowned lightly, and a look of perplexity appeared on his countenance.</p><p>“The ant tide has indeed receded, but we—”</p><p>Marquis Gould was just about to explain when a Double-Legged Flying Dragon suddenly landed on the ground, picked up a fist-sized ball, and started to eat it…</p><p>“A magic core! It’s a sixth-grade magic core! What delicious food!”</p><p>The Double-Legged Flying Dragon exclaimed as its eyes lit up brightly. Upon the sight of this, the other Double-Legged Flying Dragons also flew toward the ground.</p><p>The great fire outside the city had already been extinguished. Even the wall of fire in the canyon had also burned out due to exhaustion of fire elements.</p><p>With that, all the red crystals—the magic cores left behind by the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants—strewn throughout the place had been revealed. As the essence of a Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant’s magic power, it was very hard for magic cores to be burned into ashes, and they were also the only things that the ants could leave behind.</p><p>“Magic cores!”</p><p>“So many magic cores!”</p><p>The Double-Legged Flying Dragons were overjoyed. Like old hens that’d just discovered rice grains, they made a mad scramble for them and started to peck at them!</p><p>They were usually garrisoned at the Double-Legged Flying Dragon Valley and could only eat bloody rams and dogs. How would they possibly have this many Sixth-Grade magic cores to eat?</p><p>Not only were they supreme delicacies, but they were also great sources of nourishment that could improve their strength. Thus, every one of them had gone into a frenzy.</p><p>“What a lot of magic cores!”</p><p>Upon the sight of this, the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s eyes brightened. “My children are starving after hurrying all the way here. Marquis Gould, surely you don’t mind letting them have a good meal first?”</p><p>“Of course not!”</p><p>Marquis Gould shook his head lightly. However, he was dissing them inwardly.</p><p><em>In the entirety of Fire Dragon Kingdom, is there even anyone that’s greedier than you Double-Legged Flying Dragons?</em></p><p><em>Out of all the beast tides, when have you people not slaughtered, robbed, and eaten everything like aggrieved souls that had died of hunger in their past lives, leaving not even a single strand of hair for others? So why even bother asking such a redundant question at this point?</em></p><p>“I just knew that Marquis Gould wouldn’t say no!”</p><p>The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King burst into laughter as he stroked his beard. Then, he announced loudly, “My children, these are Marquis Gould’s welcoming gifts for you. Enjoy them to your hearts’ content!”</p><p>Roar!</p><p>All the Double-Legged Flying Dragons roared as one!</p><p>“You damned dogs, how dare you steal my things!?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-96

Chapter 96 - The Triple-Everything Troops, Beating Up The Dragon King

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 96 - The Triple-Everything Troops, Beating Up The Dragon King</h1><p>During Meng Lei’s mad bombardment of spells just now, the number of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants that had perished in his hands had exceeded several tens of thousands, leaving behind approximately the same number of magic cores, too.</p><p>A single sixth-grade magic core was worth up to 10,000 gold coins. He could definitely sell them for tens of millions of gold coins with all of them put together!</p><p>Tens of millions of gold coins!</p><p>How could he let them off?</p><p>Meng Lei had just so been thinking about how he should collect those magic cores when he saw what had just happened—100,000 Double-Legged Flying Dragons scrambling for the magic cores on the ground like hungry ghosts, clearly treating them as theirs.</p><p>“You damned dogs, how dare you steal my magic cores!?”</p><p>Meng Lei flew into a rage, his eyes turning savage.</p><p>“Don’t be reckless, brat!” Ol’ Amos hastily stopped him. “Don’t be fooled by how ugly these guys are; all of them are nobles. Killing them will bring you a lot of trouble!”</p><p>“Nobles?” Meng Lei was stupefied. “Those idiots?”</p><p>“Yes! Nobles!” Ol’ Amos nodded heavily. “Not only are they nobles, but they also hold titles. They even have their own private territories.”</p><p>“What the hell? Are the heavens blind?!” A corner of Meng Lei’s lips spasmed as he let out an exclamation. He’d honestly been rendered somewhat speechless.</p><p>However, that was indeed the truth. Every single member of the Flying Dragon Troops was nobility. And because all of them were nobles, the Flying Dragon Troops were a special military unit, as well as the one and only unit completely made up of nobles in Fire Dragon Kingdom. They were a presence far beyond what other military units could compare with.</p><p>This led directly to the Flying Dragon Troops always behaving in a haughty and overbearing manner when making contact with other military units, and they always hogged all the war spoils as if it were right and justified.</p><p>They slaughtered everything, ate everything, and snatched everything!</p><p>The greediness of their nature, the awfulness of their table manners, the ugliness of their attitudes—they could be said to be notorious for all of these!</p><p>Yet, on the contrary, the Flying Dragon Troops weren’t ashamed but proud of it instead. They promoted this tradition, developing the “slaughter everything, eat everything, snatch everything” into the “seize everything, eat everything, take everything” tradition!</p><p>Their behavior infuriated the other military units, and they hated them with a vengeance, yet they couldn’t do anything about it.</p><p>It was the same this time, too.</p><p>After seeing the magic cores strewn all over the wide expanse of land, the Flying Dragon Troops had rushed straight toward them. Which part of them had stood on ceremony even the slightest?</p><p>They flew into the air and landed back down and then flew into the air again and landed back down again. They did this continuously, greedily snatching all the magic cores on the ground.</p><p>In this aspect, they had perfectly inherited the Colossal Dragons’ avarice and the vultures’ gluttony and even went far beyond.</p><p>“You damned dogs! You have a death wish, don’t you!?”</p><p>Meng Lei was infuriated. He bellowed furiously, his roars exploding in the sky like roiling thunderclaps and reverberating throughout.</p><p>In the next instant, a dazzling thunder ball descended from above and crashed brutally onto the ground. As a deafening boom rang out, the thunder ball suddenly exploded and enveloped the area within a radius of several kilometers.</p><p>Crackle, crackle!</p><p>The raging electric currents flowed about freely as they pleased. Innumerable Double-Legged Flying Dragons fell victim to the electric currents and began to convulse violently as if they’d taken drugs, and their plumes also stood on end. Then, they collapsed onto the ground in large batches.</p><p>“What?!”</p><p>Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events. Disbelief filled everyone as they watched the Double-Legged Flying Dragons wrapped in electric currents mass-convulsing and mass-flailing.</p><p>“Who? Who did this?!”</p><p>The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King flew into a rage. His hawk-like eyes swept about everywhere, a chilly light flashing intensely in his eyes as he searched for the culprit that had attacked his subordinates.</p><p>Then, he noticed a magic carpet flying over, as well as someone standing proudly on it.</p><p>“How dare you actually attack my sons!? Die!”</p><p>The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King bristled with anger and rushed into the air with a loud boom. He transformed into a flying dragon and charged toward Meng Lei. He wanted to torture Meng Lei to death with cruel and heartless means so that everyone would know how people that had the audacity to attack the Flying Dragon Troops would end up.</p><p>“Duke Nicolas—”</p><p>Marquis Gould wanted to call out to him and stop him, but it was too late. By the time a shadow flashed past, leaving behind afterimages, the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King had already appeared in front of Meng Lei.</p><p>“Die, you lowly piece of trash!” The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King roared furiously.</p><p>His razor-sharp claws that flashed with a chilly glint swiped fiercely toward Meng Lei. His actions were quick, vicious, and accurate, and went straight for Meng Lei’s head.</p><p>“Damn!”</p><p>Marquis Gould was terribly panicking. The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King was comparable to a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast. He moved lightning-quick, and his claws were incredibly sharp. Could Meng Lei hold himself against his sudden attack?</p><p>Yes, it was true that Meng Lei was a Great Ninth-Grade Magician, but everyone knew how fragile and frail a Magician’s physical body was. Should he suffer a full swipe of the claws, wouldn’t he be ripped straight into shreds?</p><p><em>If he dies here…</em></p><p>Marquis Gould shivered all over, not quite daring to continue that train of thought. Only people with Colossal Dragon blood in them could use Dragon-Language Magic. In other words, Meng Lei was a Great Ninth-Grade Dragon-Language Magician.</p><p>The significance behind this identity of his was too strong. Should Meng Lei perish here, who could bear the responsibility?</p><p>Boom!</p><p>Just as Marquis Gould was in an utter panic, the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s sharp claws had already struck against Meng Lei’s head. However, the scene he’d imagined didn’t happen.</p><p>Meng Lei’s head hadn’t exploded from the blow. On the contrary, a layer of dazzling diamond-like crystalline substance materialized on the surface of his body and formed a protective shield around him, protecting him from external harm.</p><p>That was the Ninth-Grade Spell, Earth Guardian’s Saintly Armor.</p><p>Bam!</p><p>The claws scraped across Meng Lei’s forehead. That familiar sensation that he would get from ripping his prey alive in the past didn’t appear. Instead, it felt as if he had just clawed against an obsidian rock, the resulting impact causing his paw to hurt.</p><p>“How can that be?!”</p><p>The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King retreated, his eyes full of shock. His ambush just now had reached in just a split second; where had that fellow found the time to cast a protective spell?</p><p>Was it an instant release?</p><p>“Well done! Well done, indeed!”</p><p>With a wave, Meng Lei withdrew the Earth Guardian’s Saintly Armor. He glared furiously at the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King, his wrath almost driving him mad. When the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King had ambushed him just now, he had firmly and resolutely cast Earth Guardian’s Saintly Armor.</p><p>This spell’s defense power was astonishingly high, but it’d cost him a whole 800,000 Magic Power Points!</p><p>800,000!</p><p>A whole 800,000!</p><p>That was a freaking 8,000,000 gold coins!</p><p>8,000,000 gold coins… All gone, just like that!</p><p>Meng Lei’s heart ached so badly from the loss that his expression had pretty much become altered beyond recognition. “I’m going to use your inconsequential life to make up for this empty space freed up after you made me suffer a loss of 8,000,000 gold coins for nothing!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>He had only just spoken when a crackling sound rang out. A lightning bolt as thick as a water barrel hurtled down from the heavens and viciously struck the Double-Legged Flying Dragon. His plumes frizzed up explosively at once, turning him into a “Double-Legged Hedgehog”!</p><p>Violent electric currents flowed about him freely and produced crackling sounds of explosions. The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King was also pretty tough and hardy. Not only did he not suffer any injuries, but he also became even angrier.</p><p>“Die!”</p><p>He flapped his wings, which produced a tornado that reached into the skies, and charged toward Meng Lei again. However, yet another lightning bolt struck him right in the head.</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>“Damn!”</p><p>The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s eyes were blood red. He let out roar after roar, but the only thing that responded to him was still a lightning bolt as thick as a water barrel.</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>“That bastard!”</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>“You’re driving me up the wall…!”</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>Like the rivers that flowed endlessly, yet also like the Yellow River beyond one’s control in a flood, lightning bolts as thick as water barrels came one after the other. They came crashing down madly and endlessly.</p><p>No matter how strong the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s body was, he wasn’t going to be able to withstand these many hits. Gradually, his flesh began to split into bloody wounds from the lightning bolts, and he became charred black all over. Which part of him still retained even a little of his mighty momentum from just now?</p><p>“This…”</p><p>The mouths of all the soldiers on top of the city walls fell agape, and all of them turned into stone. Never would anyone have expected something like that to happen.</p><p>They had initially thought that even if Meng Lei survived the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s attack, he would also suffer grave injuries.</p><p>They had also thought that the odds were definitely not in his favor, but it was the complete opposite now instead.</p><p>Not only was Meng Lei completely alright, but he was instead beating the Flying Dragon King into a pulp!</p><p>Had he really only broken through to the Great Ninth-Grade Magician level just a while ago?</p><p>He was already that ferocious when he had just broken through?</p><p>“Thunder-elemental! He’s actually even a thunder-elemental Great Magician!”</p><p>Marquis Gould held a completely distrustful attitude toward his life now. It was already flabbergasting enough when Meng Lei had exhibited his double earth-elemental and fire-elemental magic talent just now.</p><p>Who would have thought that he actually had thunder-elemental magic talent, too?!</p><p>Earth, fire, and thunder! Three types of elements!</p><p>A triple-elemental Great Ninth-Grade Magician!</p><p>“Surely even the Dragon God’s illegitimate child wouldn’t be as much of a mutant as him, right?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-97

Chapter 97 - Severing A Wing, Earning Another 30 Million Gold Coins

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 97 - Severing A Wing, Earning Another 30 Million Gold Coins</h1><p>Pin-drop silence reigned atop the city walls.</p><p>The Flying Dragon Troops were as quiet as mice.</p><p>Everyone watched helplessly as Meng Lei beat the living daylights out of the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King, finding the fact impossible to accept.</p><p>That was the great, mighty Flying Dragon King, a noble Duke of the kingdom, and a strong, powerful ninth-grade expert… When had he ever had the living daylights beaten out of him like that?</p><p>Shock!</p><p>Confusion!</p><p>Disbelief!</p><p>Yet, no matter what, it couldn’t change the fact that the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King was being beaten into a pulp. Lightning bolts as thick as water barrels continued to crash down upon him, the interval between each lightning bolt never going past a second. The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King didn’t even have time to catch his breath. Who was going to be beaten into a pulp, if not him?</p><p>“That guy sure is unlucky!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos felt rather sympathetic toward the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King now. If he’d been facing a typical Great Ninth-Grade Magician, he definitely wouldn’t have been in such a sorry state.</p><p>Unfortunately, the one he’d run into was Meng Lei—a monster that could do insta-release ninth-grade spells.</p><p>How was he going to win?</p><p>Even if Meng Lei didn’t instantly release eighth-grade or ninth-grade spells, just that Seventh-Grade Spell, Thunder Light alone was already enough to beat him up to the point where he had no means of retaliation.</p><p>Win?</p><p>The concept didn’t even exist!</p><p>“Meng Lei!” Ol’ Amos shook his head lightly. “Killing him brings you no boons. Instead, it’ll even cause you a whole lot of unnecessary trouble. Just let him off.”</p><p>Meng Lei considered for a brief moment and then nodded slowly.</p><p>Indeed, that was true. The Double-Legged Flying Dragon King was one of Fire Dragon Kingdom’s Dukes, after all. It wasn’t difficult to kill him, but the series of consequences that would bring was something that the current him couldn’t bear.</p><p>It went back to the same old thing—before one possessed enough strength, if they must hide and lay low, then they must hide and lay low. If they must mature like a coward, then they still have to mature like a coward.</p><p>“Fine! I’ll spare that old dog’s life!”</p><p>Meng Lei took up Ol’ Amos’ suggestion. He stopped casting Thunder Light and released the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King.</p><p>“You lowly piece of trash! Die!”</p><p>After he was freed, not only was the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King not grateful, but he even returned kindness with animosity instead. He charged toward Meng Lei at lightning-quick speed.</p><p>However, he had only just flown right up to Meng Lei when a lightning blade shot down from the heavens and slashed across his left wing in a split second, severing it at the base!</p><p>Splurt!</p><p>The wing left his body, and dragon blood spurted about. Intense, unbearable pain assaulted the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s senses, and he let out a shrill, tragic cry before plummeting straight toward the ground.</p><p>“You may live on, but not without punishment. This spatial ring of yours is now mine. I’ll take it as compensation for all of you affronting me!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s voice was aloof and distant. He grabbed the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s severed wing and removed the spatial ring on it. Then, he tossed the wing aside casually, as though he was discarding rubbish.</p><p>The whole place fell into dead silence.</p><p>This sight filled everyone with fear and trepidation. Severing the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s wing with a casual wave? Wasn’t he a little too savage? That was the great Double-Legged Flying Dragon King, after all!</p><p>“That fellow…”</p><p>Marquis Gould narrowed his eyes, a hint of graveness flashing across the bottom of his eyes. Since Meng Lei could beat the living daylights out of the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King, then didn’t that mean that he could also do the same to him?</p><p>He was already that powerful when he had only just broken through?</p><p>“From this point onward, yet another person stronger than me has come into being… Sigh!”</p><p>Marquis Gould’s emotions were rather complex. With a wave, he ordered, “Bring a few light-elemental Magicians over here to follow me and check on Duke Nicolas’ injuries.”</p><p>“Yes, my lord!”</p><p>Elsewhere, Meng Lei had already kept the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s spatial ring. He then landed on the ground and began to collect the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants’ magic cores as though he was the only person present.</p><p>When one’s cultivation reached a realm like his, their spiritual power could physically manifest and perfectly interfere with reality. Thus, retrieving items via telekinesis was no problem for them.</p><p>As he passed through the area, all the magic cores within several hundred meters of him disappeared, leaving behind not even a single one…</p><p>“T-the devil has come?”</p><p>“Run…!”</p><p>Upon the sight of Meng Lei coming over, all the Double-Legged Flying Dragons looked as though they had just seen a ghost. They flew away in a panic, terribly afraid that Meng Lei would strike them to death with a lightning bolt should they be even a step too slow.</p><p>The sight of Meng Lei beating the living daylights out of the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King just now had left an exceptionally deep impression on them and terribly frightened them. For a very long time to come, they probably wouldn’t be able to rid themselves of that fear.</p><p>“Duke Nicolas, are you alright?”</p><p>“Hurry! Treat Duke Nicolas’ injuries!”</p><p>Thanks to the few light-elemental Magicians’ efforts, the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King’s severed wing was successfully reattached, and his other wounds also fully healed. However, this time round, he didn’t charge toward Meng Lei anymore.</p><p>He had been badly frightened.</p><p>Since that lightning blade could sever his left wing so easily, then it definitely could sever his head just as easily. If he charged forward again, who was to say that the lightning blade wouldn’t land on his head this time?</p><p>If he didn’t want to die, then he had no choice but to wuss out.</p><p>“Marquis Gould, who’s that guy?”</p><p>“I don’t know, either!”</p><p>“You don’t know? Isn’t he someone from your frontier troops?”</p><p>“No, he isn’t.”</p><p>Marquis Gould shook his head lightly. Then, he recounted what he knew of Meng Lei, which made the Double-Legged Flying Dragon King break into a huge frown.</p><p><em>Identity unknown?</em></p><p><em>Just broken through to ninth-grade?</em></p><p><em>And even knows Dragon-Language Magic?</em></p><p>“I don’t care who you are, but I will have my revenge for sure!”</p><p>…</p><p>Meng Lei was highly efficient. He had already collected all the magic cores in the area within a dozen kilometers in under ten minutes. What disappointed him, however, was that he had only collected a total of 28,743 magic cores.</p><p><em>It doesn’t even come up to 30,000,000 gold coins?</em></p><p>Meng Lei’s brows furrowed tightly, and he looked at the Flying Dragon Troops extremely hostilely.</p><p><em>If that bunch of idiots hadn’t eaten some of them, it would’ve passed the 30,000,000-mark for sure!</em></p><p><em>That’s 30,000,000 gold coins, you know! 30,000,000!</em></p><p><em>You bastards, since you’ve eaten a few million of my gold coins, you can say that there’s a feud between us now. If I get a chance to in the future, I’ll definitely take all of you out in one go and then gouge out all of your magic cores as compensation!</em></p><p>After glowering at the Flying Dragon Troops, Meng Lei decided to leave. At that point, Marquis Gould strode forward and called out, “Lord Magician, please wait a moment!”</p><p>Meng Lei wasn’t very fond of the frontier troops, so he couldn’t be bothered to even pay him any heed. He steered the magic carpet and rushed up into the sky.</p><p>“My lord, that fellow is simply too full of himself!” barked an indignant attendant.</p><p>“Hmph!”</p><p>Marquis Gould snorted, his countenance displeased and sinister.</p><p>…</p><p>After leaving the Great Dragon Blood Wall, Meng Lei didn’t return to the valley where the villagers were temporarily staying at. Instead, he was rather troubled over another issue—why must he wait for the ant tide to charge out of the Magical Beast Forest and then passively defend against them? Why not take the initiative to launch an attack and invade them instead?</p><p>As the saying went, “Nothing good comes without risk”.</p><p>Besides, he had the magic carpet, so what could the ant tide do to him?</p><p>The moment he thought of that, Meng Lei felt like everything had become clear at once, and he promptly charged into the Magical Beast Forest.</p><p>“Ol’ President, the ant tide has devoured all the Magical Beasts in the forest. Doesn’t that mean that there won’t be any more Magical Beasts in the forest for a very long time to come?”</p><p>Meng Lei chatted idly with Ol’ Amos while flying on the magic carpet. The old man had seen a lot of the world and was very knowledgeable, so he had learned a lot through his chats with him.</p><p>“That’s not the case!” Ol’ Amos gave him an odd smile and said, “In truth, after every ant tide, not only would the Magical Beasts in the forest not disappear, but they would even increase in numbers. They would reoccupy every corner of the Magical Beast Forest and turn the forest back into their paradise.”</p><p>“Uh…” Meng Lei looked dumbfounded. “Increase in numbers? How can that be? Didn’t you say that the ant tide would eat all the Magical Beasts? Why would their numbers increase? Did they all go into hiding? But that shouldn’t be! The ant tide is everywhere, so where can they even hide?”</p><p>“They didn’t go into hiding and have certainly been devoured by the ant tide. However, after the ant tide, more Magical Beasts will indeed appear in the forest.</p><p>“As for the reason, that’s a secret. A secret that belongs to the Magical Beasts!” A smiling Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and decided to keep Meng Lei in suspense.</p><p>“A secret?”</p><p>Meng Lei was taken aback.</p><p>“Yes, a secret! One that you’ll only be qualified to know when you’ve broken through to Saint Domain. When the time comes, you’ll realize that this world is very big and that what you know… is only very little!”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-98

Chapter 98 - Dragon-Language Magic, An Abnormal Ant Tide

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 98 - Dragon-Language Magic, An Abnormal Ant Tide</h1><p>A secret that he’d only be qualified to know when he broke through to Saint Domain?</p><p>Meng Lei rolled his eyes, dissatisfied with Ol’ Amos’ explanation. However, he didn’t press on. Although 1 billion gold coins was an astronomical sum of money, it wasn’t entirely out of reach.</p><p>Meng Lei believed that he’d definitely be able to save up 1 billion gold coins, break through the ninth-grade boundary, and become an existence that stood far above all others.</p><p>The Saint Domain realm was just a matter of time.</p><p>Meng Lei sped the whole way and returned to the Magical Beast Forest again. He didn’t see any traces of the ant tide in the outer boundaries, but as he went deeper into the forest, the ant tide gradually began to show up.</p><p>The scale became larger and larger, and their numbers became bigger and bigger.</p><p>In the beginning, it was just a small group of stragglers and wandering soldiers, but in the end, they had turned into a large spread of red torrents.</p><p>Like a breached dam, the ant tide barged about everywhere in the Magical Beast Forest. They spread to every nook and cranny of the forest. Everywhere they passed by, they left behind only ghastly white bones and a floor full of blood.</p><p>“Hiss, hiss!”</p><p>A huge python over 30 meters long and as thick as a water barrel curled into an S-shape and fled at high speed in the woods. Behind it was a deluge of red torrents surging toward it.</p><p>Meng Lei found the python—a Thorn Python—very familiar to the eye. The first Magical Beast that he had encountered back when he had first entered the Magical Beast Forest was exactly a Thorn Python, a snake-species Second-Grade Magical Beast.</p><p>He could clearly remember that the Thorn Python had attacked him back then. If he hadn’t run fast enough, he would have long since been killed by it.</p><p>Only half a year had passed since then, but Meng Lei no longer thought much of the little Thorn Python anymore. He could kill it even with just a light breath of his.</p><p>How things had changed with time, and how people had changed, despite the environment remaining the same…</p><p>“Hiss, hiss!”</p><p>The Thorn Python fled desperately, but it was ultimately still just a Second-Grade Magical Beast. The ant tide caught up to it in no time. A shrill, tragic cry rang out and then faded away very quickly.</p><p>The ant tide continued to advance, but the Thorn Python was gone forever. The Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants had split it among themselves, leaving behind not even a bit of the python.</p><p>“That’s really crazy!” After witnessing this scene, Meng Lei’s hair couldn’t help but stand on end. “Scenes like this are probably taking place everywhere in the entire Magical Beast Forest.”</p><p>“That’s what it’s like when an ant tide erupts.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos nodded with a sigh. “And this is just within the Magical Beast Forest where the ones being devoured are only Magical Beasts, too. If the ant tide invades the human kingdoms… Now, that’s what you’d call tragic!</p><p>“I had once witnessed with my own eyes the ant tide cleanly devouring more than a billion people. Overnight, more than a billion people went missing, and the whole place within a radius of 5,000 kilometers turned straight into a ghost town. It was practically unbearable to look at.</p><p>“That is what a true catastrophe in the human world is. Despite how so many years have already passed, whenever I think back to it, it still makes my hair stand on end, and I still remember it as though it had only happened yesterday.”</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t help but gasp chills running down his spine.</p><p><em>More than a billion people gone in just a night?</em></p><p>“There’s nothing more terrifying about the ant tide than that!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos said gravely, “They’ll eat everything that can be eaten, be it Magical Beasts or humans. As long as it can be eaten, they won’t let anything off!</p><p>“An ant tide is a disaster itself! A natural disaster that nobody can stop!”</p><p>Meng Lei agreed wholeheartedly with Ol’ Amos’ words. “Since it’s a disaster, then let us stop this disaster. I don’t believe that there’s really no end to the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants!”</p><p><em>If there’s really no end to them, then that’s just as well, too. Won’t my 1 billion gold coins be settled, then?</em></p><p>“Seventh-Grade Spell, Flame Inferno!”</p><p>Boom!</p><p>A white fireball 100 meters wide plummeted from the sky and exploded right in the center of the ant tide wave. Amid the earth-shattering explosions, flames surged into the sky, and the whole area within several kilometers turned into a sea of fire.</p><p>Crackle!</p><p>A wide expanse of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants was burned into ashes while the red ant tide’s center turned into a void!</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s Wealth increased frantically!</p><p>“Wonderful!”</p><p>Meng Lei felt marvelous. Then, he went to the front of the ant tide and threw down another white 100-meter-wide fireball.</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>Fire blazed brightly, flames rushed into the sky, and a sea of fire flooded the ant tide!</p><p>Meng Lei then went to the ant tide’s rear.</p><p>Boom, boom, boom!</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Ding!”</p><p>“Dragon-Language Magic sure is handy!”</p><p>Meng Lei was very pleased with the Seventh-Grade Dragon-Language Magic spell’s might as he watched the white flames blazing on the ground. Not only was the spellcasting time shorter, but it was even double to triple an ordinary spell’s might, despite only consuming 60% of the magic power. The advantage it held was simply too big!</p><p>Using less than 60% of the required magic power to bring out double to triple the spell’s might—this was the difference between Dragon-Language Magic and ordinary magic.</p><p>“The Dragon race is favored by the magic elements from the beginning, so of course Dragon-Language Magic would be more powerful. Back then, in order to study and research on Dragon-Language Magic, you can say that I had spent my entire life’s worth of blood, sweat, and tears on it!”</p><p>At the mention of Dragon-Language Magic, a smug look couldn’t help but come over Ol’ Amos’ features. Dragon-Language Magic was the Colossal Dragons’ exclusive privilege before him, and only Colossal Dragons could cast those spells. Not even Dragon People could do it.</p><p>It was exactly because of his, Amos Kroc’s, diligent and relentless research that the veil shrouding water-elemental and fire-elemental Dragon-Language Magic spells had been removed, such that Dragon-Language Magic was no longer exclusive to the Colossal Dragons.</p><p>It was no exaggeration to say that he had made an enormous contribution to the study of Dragon-Language Magic. He could be said to be the forefather of Dragon People using Dragon-Language Magic.</p><p>“What a shame that you only know water-elemental and fire-elemental Dragon-Language Magic, Ol’ President.” Meng Lei’s greed was rather insatiable. “If only you knew thunder-elemental, earth-elemental, and wood-elemental Dragon-Language Magic spells, too!”</p><p>“That’s only because you’re such a mutant to possess four types of magic talent!” Ol’ Amos said dryly, “I only have water-elemental and fire-elemental magic talent, so I could only conduct research on these two types of Dragon-Language Magic. I couldn’t conduct research on the other elements even if I’d wanted to! But…”</p><p>“But what?” A look of confusion came over Meng Lei’s features.</p><p>“More than 20,000 years have already passed since my time. Development in Dragon-Language Magic should have already made significant progress. When you return to the academy, you should be able to learn thunder-elemental, earth-elemental, and wood-elemental Dragon-Language Magic,” suggested Ol’ Amos.</p><p>“That makes sense!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes brightened. “It’ll more or less be the beginning of a new term after this ant tide. I’ll think of something when I get back to the academy. I should be able to find a chance to learn it!”</p><p>“Okay!”</p><p>Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and gave a nod. He was very approving of Meng Lei learning the other three elements’ Dragon-Language Magic. Given his wonderful magic talent, not learning it would be a waste!</p><p><em>Thunder, fire, earth, and wood!</em></p><p><em>Tsk, tsk. Magic talent of four elements!</em></p><p><em>What enviable talent!</em></p><p>“Let’s go! We’ll head to our next destination.”</p><p>Meng Lei cast a glance at his Wealth. Then, he steered the magic carpet toward the next area. The surging ant tide filled every part of the Magical Beast Forest. In less than half an hour, Meng Lei had already found several groups of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants.</p><p>With regard to that, Meng Lei had only one course of action—burn them!</p><p>Burn them till the skies and the lands turned black!</p><p>Burn them till there weren’t any more light left during both day and night!</p><p>Burn them till not a single one of them was left!</p><p>Burn, burn, burn!</p><p>He’d burn, burn, and burn!</p><p>He set them all ablaze the whole way as he searched for more of them.</p><p>Meng Lei then discovered another wave of the ant tide. The scale wasn’t very big, but they stretched all the way for three to four kilometers, their numbers fairly big, too.</p><p><em>Another windfall!</em></p><p>Meng Lei was in a wonderful mood. However, when he got ready to cast his spells to burn the ant tide to a crisp, he discovered to his surprise that this particular group of ants didn’t seem to be pursuing any prey. Instead, they were… fleeing?</p><p>“What’s the matter with these ants? There’s clearly a group of Iron-Backed Lizards not too far to their left, but why aren’t they going after them? Can’t they see them?”</p><p>“Yes, how strange, indeed!” Ol’ Amos also looked puzzled. “All the ant tides that we’ve encountered along the way were madly pursuing their prey, but this wave of ants is fully ignoring their prey instead… Hmm?”</p><p>Ol’ Amos’ eyes suddenly widened. He pointed at the ants and shouted in a low voice, “Look over there, brat! Is there something in the middle of the ants?”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-99

Chapter 99 - Mad Luck, A Juvenile Ant Monarch

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 99 - Mad Luck, A Juvenile Ant Monarch</h1><p>This ant tide wave wasn’t big in scale, with around one to two thousand Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants. It was a relatively small number.</p><p>Unexpectedly, this ant tide wave didn’t actually rob for food like other ant tides. Instead, it fled in a great rush along one direction.</p><p>Naturally, such strange actions made one suspicious.</p><p>“Meng Lei, hurry. Look at the center of the ant tide.”</p><p>“Center of the ant tide?” Meng Lei was a bit confused. “There’s nothing but Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants… Wait! What is that?”</p><p>“It’s a bit too far, it’s hard to see clearly!”</p><p>Meng Lei steered the magic carpet and approached. Then, in the ant tide’s center, he saw a strange Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant.</p><p>It was strange because it was only 1/10 the size of an ordinary Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant, not much bigger than an ordinary puppet.</p><p>Besides, it emanated golden light, and there were golden butterfly-like wings on its back. They looked as though they were made from gold.</p><p>The little thing blended in the big ant tide army and followed its march. The other Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants simply ran without thinking, paying no heed to Meng Lei at all, as though they couldn’t see him.</p><p>Nonetheless, this tiny member of the group was different. It discovered Meng Lei hovering in the sky, and its two ruby-like eyes betrayed fear and anxiety. It acted in a human-like manner!</p><p><em>This little golden ant had its own independent consciousness…</em></p><p>This was Meng Lei’s first thought.</p><p>“Ol’ President, is it also a Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant?”</p><p>This was Meng Lei’s second thought.</p><p>The old man did not reply to Meng Lei, but instead, stared at the little golden ant hard, like he had seen some rare treasure. His eyes betrayed a mixture of emotions, such as amazement, excitement, and disbelief.</p><p>“Ol’ President?” Meng Lei called, somewhat displeased.</p><p>“Pfft…”</p><p>The old man looked like he had just woken up from a dream. He first let out a long breath before turning to Meng Lei. Suddenly, the look in his eyes became conflicted. It contained envy, jealousy, and relief…</p><p>“Ol’ President, why are you looking at me like this?</p><p>Meng Lei felt a bit nervous from the old man’s look.</p><p>“Brat, I’m seriously suspecting whether you are the Dragon God’s bastard now. Your mad luck is unprecedented!” The old man was a bit indignant. “First, the Gods-Slaying Spear. Then, the Golden Leaf. And now this! I just don’t understand, why do all good things come your way!?”</p><p>(⊙o⊙)</p><p>Meng Lei was astounded. “Ol’ President, you mean, this little fella is also a divine weapon?”</p><p>“It’s a living thing, how can it be a divine weapon?” The old man shook his head slightly, but his tone changed. “But it’s better than a divine weapon!”</p><p>“Not a divine weapon, but better than a divine weapon?”</p><p>Meng Lei was perplexed. “Ol’ President, can you tell me more clearly? Why am I more and more confused?”</p><p>The old man pointed at the little golden ant and said, “Do you know what this little fella is?”</p><p>“No idea.” Meng Lei shook his head.</p><p>“I told you before that ant-species Magical Beasts are an extraordinary group of Magical Beasts. Their self-consciousness is very weak, and all instructions come from their ant monarch.” The old man pointed at the little golden ant. “If my estimation is correct, it should be the ant monarch of this group of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants!”</p><p>“It’s the ant monarch?” Meng Lei’s eyes widened, and then he immediately shook his head. “This little fella is no match for even a Fifth-Grade Magical Beast, how can it possibly be the ant monarch? Ol’ President, are you sure your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you?”</p><p>Any random Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant was easily at sixth-grade, so how would they listen to a little golden ant weaker than a Fifth-Grade Magical Beast?</p><p>He must be joking!</p><p>Ol’ Amos touched his beard and smiled. “Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants are the strongest, fiercest, highest battle-efficient Magical Beasts. Their monarchs are at least Ninth-Grade Magical Beasts.”</p><p>“Is this little fella a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast?” Meng Lei laughed internally. The little golden ant’s aura was very weak, no match even for the big ant soldier beside it.</p><p><em>A Ninth-Grade Magical Beast? I must be a fool if I were to believe you. You are an evil old man.</em></p><p>“True, it may not be a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast now, but it doesn’t mean it won’t grow into a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast.” The old man touched his mustache and smiled. “In this world, there are no creatures that live forever, and no creatures that are born strong. The proper way is for bloodlines to carry on, and for the new to replace the old.”</p><p>Meng Lei frowned. “Ol’ President, you mean…”</p><p>“It’s very simple, actually. Although this little fella is weak, it is a newborn ant monarch.” The old man’s eyes lit up. “Boy, do you know what this means?”</p><p>Meng Lei showed a contemplative look. “Ol’ President, you want me to subdue it, don’t you?”</p><p>“You are not too stupid, huh!” The old man looked very excited. “Do you know how many people want to subdue the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants ant monarch? Once the ant monarch is subdued, it means you have an entire ant tide army.”</p><p>The old man looked at Meng Lei. “You’ve already witnessed the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants’ terror. Imagine, if a person could control this ant tide army, what a spectacle would that be?”</p><p>Meng Lei fell silent, and after a long while, he finally let out a breath. “I’m afraid that would be a disaster beyond imagination.”</p><p>“Yes! Disaster!” The old man said quietly, “If it falls into the hands of good people, maybe it will be relatively better. However, once it falls into the clutches of evil people, it will definitely cause worldwide massacres with corpses lying across fields everywhere.”</p><p>Meng Lei nodded quietly, agreeing to that statement.</p><p>“What a pity. Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants are underground creatures, so they rarely appear aboveground. In addition, ant monarchs hide in the underground perpetually, so it’s almost impossible to subdue them.”</p><p>The old man shook his head and sighed. “In the entire history of Heaven’s Vault Continent, people have subdued all kinds of magical pets, Even Saint Domain Magical Pets have not escaped the fate of becoming mounts, yet nobody has ever succeeded in subduing a Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant Monarch!”</p><p>“Never ever?” Meng Lei was stunned.</p><p>“Never!” replied Ol’ Amos.</p><p>“That’s really hard then.” Meng Lei shook his head.</p><p>“So, you’ve really got mad luck!” A conflicted look appeared on the old man’s face again. “You have a juvenile ant monarch in front of you! As long as you successfully subdue it, you will break all records and become the first in history to do so!”</p><p>“Subdue it?”</p><p>Meng Lei swallowed, feeling his throat was dry, while his heart started pumping drastically beyond his control. Suppose he subdued the little golden ant, he would acquire a big army of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants, wouldn’t he?</p><p><em>An ant tide army that’s endless and enough to ravage everything…</em></p><p>Meng Lei swallowed his saliva.</p><p>“Let’s get it!” Meng Lei roared in a deep voice and then moved decisively.</p><p>Thunderballs shot out of his fingertips one after another, and in the blink of an eye, they covered all the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants. Cracking sounds echoed as the entire ant tide army was enshrouded by electric waves that wreaked havoc.</p><p>The ant tide army flinched and twitched before collapsing to the ground. The little golden ant was hiding in the shivering ant tide’s center and looking at Meng Lei in horror. Evidently, it was terrified.</p><p>“Haha! You are mine!” Meng Lei laughed, jumped down from the magic carpet, appeared in front of the little golden ant, and commented, “It’s hard to imagine that this little fella is controlling the entire ant tide army.”</p><p>“Stop talking nonsense. Hurry and arrange the contract magic array!” Ol’ Amos scolded. “Remember, lay the master-servant contract magic array.”</p><p>“Master-servant contract? Why?”</p><p>Meng Lei felt confused. Before subduing little Teddy, Ol’ Amos had repeatedly been emphasizing that he had to set an equal contract magic array. Why was it different now?</p><p>“It’s very simple. It doesn’t have to cooperate with you in battle, much less have a tacit understanding with you. What it has to do is to obey and be loyal to you.”</p><p>“I see…”</p>

https://newnovel.org/novel/picking-up-attributes-from-today/chapter-100

Chapter 100 - Soul Magic, Your Name Shall Be Little Gold!

Volume 1

<h1>Chapter 100 - Soul Magic, Your Name Shall Be Little Gold!</h1><p>Meng Lei had to admit that the old man’s advice made a lot of sense. Since it would be his army, of course, it had to obey his orders unconditionally and hit wherever he pointed without hesitation.</p><p>From this point, signing a master-servant contract with the little golden ant was undoubtedly the best choice. After giving it some consideration, Meng Lei decided.</p><p>Buzz!</p><p>A magical array shining with colorful lights rose up, and a great invisible force arrived, covering the little golden ant.</p><p>Squelch!</p><p>The little golden ant seemed to know what it was about to experience, and its eyes betrayed how terrified it was.</p><p>Suddenly, two golden light rays shot out of its eyes and fell on Meng Lei’s head.</p><p>Boom!</p><p>In the next instant, Meng Lei felt a buzzing rumble in his mind, and the environment around him changed. The tall, ancient trees and the lush bushes disappeared, and tall buildings, beautiful little gardens, and green meadows replaced them. It was the place of his dreams!</p><p>“This…”</p><p>A huge jolt coursed through Meng Lei’s body.</p><p>“Cola! Slow down! Slow down!”</p><p>A familiar voice sounded beside his ears. Meng Lei turned to look and saw that his wife was walking around the neighborhood with his 2-year-old son. The son was running, stumbling along, while his wife was chasing behind him.</p><p>“Cola!”</p><p>“Wife!”</p><p>Meng Lei’s eyes were filled with tears.</p><p>Suddenly, a dog ran right toward them. The son got very scared and kept moving into his mother’s arms, crying badly…</p><p>“Cola, don’t be afraid, Mom is here.”</p><p>His wife hurried to hold his son in her arms and comforted him with a gentle voice.</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t suppress the emotions in his heart anymore. He hurriedly walked over, the longing in his heart flowing like a flood that overcame a dam.</p><p>But from the old man’s perspective, Meng Lei stood still in place, like he had gotten incapacitated. The look in his eyes was dull and blank.</p><p>Then, he suddenly waved a hand to remove the master-servant contract magic array and changed it to the magic array for an equal contract!</p><p>“Brat, what are you doing?” The old man was shocked. “Why are you changing the array at the last minute…”</p><p>But it was already too late. Two drops of blood rapidly appeared in the middle of the magic array, and then the two drops combined into one and separated into two again, entering the foreheads of Meng Lei and the little golden ant, respectively.</p><p>Buzz!</p><p>The contract was completed, and the magic array dissipated.</p><p>The scene around Meng Lei also changed drastically. The tall building disappeared, his wife and son disappeared, and he was back in the Magical Beast Forest.</p><p>“Cola? Wife? Where are you?”</p><p>Meng Lei leaped hard onto nothing.</p><p>“Brat, what the hell are you doing?” The old man’s voice sounded. “It was all good, so why did you change it to a magic array for an equal contract?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s whole body trembled. He looked around and then at the old man. He mumbled, “What was happening to me? What happened just now?”</p><p>“I understand now!” Ol’ Amos frowned deeply, and a look of regret appeared on his aged face. “It’s all my fault. Actually, I should have thought of it early on!”</p><p>“Ol’ President, what happened?” Meng Lei swung his head hard, feeling a bit of a headache.</p><p>“All this is its fault!” The old man pointed at the little golden ant on the floor.</p><p>“It?”</p><p>Meng Lei looked at the little golden ant but found that it was very weak, like a leaking balloon. Its head dwindled, and its eyes were dull. It seemed like its body was emptied.</p><p>Emptied? How did it get emptied out of nowhere?</p><p>Meng Lei frowned in great confusion.</p><p>“Brat, you were attacked by it!” The old man sighed. “Just now, you suddenly changed the contract array. I thought you decided to do it on a whim. Now it seems that this little fella used a spiritual attack and controlled you.”</p><p>“It controlled me?”</p><p>Meng Lei’s whole body shivered. He couldn’t help but recall the scene just now. That scene was too realistic and didn’t feel like an illusion at all.</p><p>“I really suffered its spiritual attack?”</p><p>“The Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant Monarch is a non-elemental Magical Beast. If it has to be judged by elements, it is probably a strength- and spirit-elemental Magical Beast.”</p><p>The old man’s eyes had a complicated look. “It has amazingly potent strength, and when it reaches adulthood, it will be no weaker than Saint Domain Magical Beasts! But its most terrifying means of attack is still its spiritual attack, or… spiritual magic!”</p><p>“Spiritual magic?”</p><p>Meng Lei frowned slightly.</p><p>“Spiritual magic is very rare, so it’s not in the list of ten elements of magic. Nonetheless, spiritual magic does exist.” The old man explained, “Spiritual magic is a frightening type of magic because its attack target is the soul. Ordinary defense tactics are completely useless, and one can hardly guard against it.”</p><p>The old man looked at Meng Lei. “Such as just now, in the blink of an eye, you’ve suffered its spiritual attack, but you yourself were completely unaware!”</p><p>“Is it this terrible?”</p><p>Meng Lei couldn’t help but look toward the little golden ant on the ground.</p><p>“It’s beyond terrible!” Ol’ Amos sighed. “This little guy was just born, so its spiritual attack is still very immature. If it were an adult ant monarch standing before you, the split second just now would have been enough to shatter your soul from the shock and kill you right on the spot!”</p><p>“Sss…”</p><p>Meng Lei felt a chill coursing through his spine.</p><p>“The Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ant Monarch, as a Magical Beast of the spiritual element, is the most skilled at spiritual attacks. Even if this little guy was just born, it still affected you, a Great Ninth-Grade Magician, without you knowing. You can imagine how terrifying it will become after it reaches adulthood.”</p><p>Ol’ Amos shook his head slightly. “It was precisely based on such consideration that I made you sign a strict master-servant contract with it. It would be easier for you to control it in the future! I didn’t expect…</p><p>“But it’s alright! After singing an equal contract, it will be your equal partner in life and death. It can also bring you great advantages.”</p><p>“This little fella is actually so scary?”</p><p>Meng Lei didn’t know what to say.</p><p>Squeak~</p><p>The little golden ant recovered a little now, it lifted its head and looked at Meng Lei, with a complex look in its two big ruby-like eyes.</p><p>There was helplessness, unwillingness, relaxation, relief, and a slight trace of… intimacy?</p><p>It seemed to know very clearly that after signing an equal contract, it would become the closest companion of this entirely strange and unfamiliar human being in front of it.</p><p>It was beyond race boundaries!</p><p>Beyond blood relations!</p><p>Beyond the barrier of hatred!</p><p>From then on, they would seek mutual benefits and stay together in life and death.</p><p>“Little fella, you actually dared to use a spiritual attack on me!”</p><p>Meng Lei squatted down, looking at the innocent-looking little golden ant, his facial expression was also a bit conflicted. Because of what happened just now, he didn’t like this somewhat thorny little fellow much.</p><p>Squeak~</p><p>The little golden ant squealed again and stretched its head to rub against Meng Lei’s hand. Its big eyes showed affection, and affectionate emotions also showed in the depth of its soul.</p><p>“Sigh!”</p><p>After observing the obedient-looking little fellow, Meng Lei gradually got over it. Anyone, faced with the fate of being enslaved, would fight back with all their might. The little fellow using a spiritual attack on him was completely logical.</p><p>“Actually, this is good as well!”</p><p>Meng Lei touched the little golden ant’s head and suddenly smiled.</p><p><em>It is pretty good to have a completely obedient and loyal servant for sure. But isn’t it better to have a companion who shares all my successes and failures and has a great rapport with me?</em></p><p><em>Does this world lack zombie-like slaves?</em></p><p><em>No! Never! It can be done by one master-servant contract!</em></p><p><em>But what is the point of spending time with such a slave every day?</em></p><p>“I see that you are shiny with golden light like you’re covered with golden armor… Shall I call you Little Gold in the future?”</p><p>“Okay! Okay!”</p>