As the vehicle sped along, Alex Stone and the others soon returned to the school in the North District. Compared to the bustling Central District, the school now seemed somewhat desolate.
The school leaders, looking at the new batch of combat professionals, wore smiles that never seemed to fade.
The number of people awakening combat professions this year was noticeably higher than the previous year, which was a good omen for their North District.
Moreover, there were several promising talents like Emily White who had awakened top-tier professions, adding a new force to defend against disasters in the future, filling them with hope.
As for the majority of life professionals, they were not neglected but received plenty of encouragement.
They hoped that in the future, they could improve their profession levels and contribute to the construction of the base.
After a speech by the school leaders, the newly awakened students were filled with fighting spirit, eager to enter the Star Origin World and improve themselves.
Finally, after determining the date for the organized trial, Alex and his class were practically considered graduates, only awaiting formal confirmation after the trial.
After bidding farewell to several teachers they were close to, Alex and Emily stepped out of the school gate, leaving the place they had been familiar with for over a decade.
Outside the school gate, they both looked back at the place, filled with emotion. So much sweat and tears had been shed here. This departure would likely mean a completely different scene upon their return.
"Alex, see you at the trial in a month! I guess I'll have to improve my profession level in Star Origin during this time, and get my family to cash some money out, so it will be more convenient during the trial. You just wait, your sister will protect you in the future!"
Emily suppressed her sadness, pretending to be cheerful, but her reddened eyes betrayed her true feelings.
Alex looked at his deskmate of many years, knowing very well that after graduation, the difference in their professions would make future meetings rare.
They were like two intersecting lines, briefly meeting before gradually drifting apart. The heights she would reach in the future would be beyond his reach.
Alex subconsciously wanted to ruffle Emily's hair, but he stopped halfway, instead patting her shoulder and softly saying:
"Work hard to improve yourself, we'll still need you to protect us in the future! Don't slack off! See you in a month."
After saying that, he smiled slightly, waved goodbye, and walked towards the left, the road leading to the barren areas closer to the border.
Watching Alex's departing figure, Emily waved her arms vigorously and shouted, "See you in a month!"
With his back to Emily, Alex raised his right hand and waved twice, resolutely stepping onto the road he had traveled countless times.
Along the way, Alex tried to memorize every plant and tree on the road, trying to distract himself from the sorrow of parting.
When he returned home, looking at their small home with his sister, Alex composed himself and walked in with a cheerful smile.
His sister, Alice Stone, had been waiting at home for a long time.
Today was the day of awakening for Alex's class, so the whole school had a rare day off. The sensible and well-behaved Alice had been praying all day that her brother would awaken a good profession.
She had witnessed Alex's hard work in training. Every time the school organized competitions, he would secretly train himself to earn prize money to improve their lives.
Awakening a good profession would not only free them from relying on the base's aid as their main source of income, but also allow him to venture beyond the border and avenge their parents, whom he only had vague memories of. This had always been his wish.
Hearing the range detector, Alice immediately ran to the window and looked through the thick glass. Seeing that it was her brother returning, she quickly opened the door and rushed over excitedly, throwing herself into Alex's arms.
Alice looked up at her brother with a bright smile and asked excitedly, "Brother, how was it? What profession did you awaken today?"
Having expected this question, Alex remained silent until he brought his sister back into the house, then frankly told her about his "farmer profession."
He also showed her the black card generated during the awakening. For so many years, they had barely survived on the base's relief. The prize money from competitions had been exchanged for various materials because they had no place to save money.
Now that they had this black card, it marked the official start of their self-sufficient life.
Alice, already thirteen years old, understood the advantages and disadvantages of various professions. Hearing that her brother had awakened the worst farmer profession, she was disappointed but quickly hugged Alex to comfort him, looking at the black card with mysterious patterns in her hand:
"Brother, it's okay. I'll be awakening in five years. I'll definitely awaken a top-tier combat profession, kill disasters, and earn lots and lots of money. Our lives will get better and better!"
Looking at his sister's confident appearance, Alex couldn't help but smile warmly. He gently patted her head and said with a smile:
"Don't worry, your brother isn't that fragile. Although it's a farmer profession, it's more than enough to cover our daily expenses.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself. When your brother makes money, I'll exchange it for some top-tier ingredients so you don't have to work too hard."
Alice nodded vigorously, determined to train even harder than before and earn more prize money to share the burden with her brother.
Watching his sister nod obediently, her little face full of determination, Alex smiled and went to the kitchen to cook some food for them.
Watching her brother skillfully cooking in the kitchen, Alice returned to her room and began to practice the body refining exercises taught by the school.
The ingredients and food in the kitchen were provided by the base. Now that Alex was eighteen, this aid would be cut off, and he had to enter the Star Origin World to start planting as soon as possible.
After they finished eating, Alex went straight back to his room, lay on the bed, placed the black card on his forehead, and with a thought, his consciousness automatically entered the Star Origin World through the black card.