The world had been overrun by terrifying monsters. The population plummeted, and society collapsed. In the end it was ten awakened heroes, grand magicians, who erected a colossal city wall to protect the last of humanity. Those powerful mages stood tall in their flowing robes, projecting a formidable barrier of pure energy. The shield held back the demonic hordes, granting mankind a fragile sanctuary and heralding the dawn of a new era — the age of awakening.
Now every person had the chance to awaken a unique profession upon reaching adulthood. The classes of those first ten heroes became legendary inheritance professions, with only one successor allowed at any time. They were the pillars of humanity.
In Fuan City, year 335 of the disaster calendar, in a massive building at the heart of the district, the annual awakening ceremony was about to start.
An older voice called from inside a vehicle. "Lin Fang, we've arrived."
A young man with black hair, dressed in sportswear, stepped out of the car and responded with a polite nod. "Yes. Thank you, Uncle Zhang."
He took in the bustling crowd. The annual awakening test is as lively as ever, he thought. The system was simple. Once you came of age, you got one chance to take the test and awaken your profession.
These professions varied wildly, not just in ability but also in rarity. Rarity was divided into several tiers: NR, SR, SSR, and the legendary UR class. The rarer the profession, the more powerful the individual, and the more certain the spot in a top academy. He glanced at the grand statues of past heroes as the other hopefuls prayed. All the young candidates made sure to pray to the great inheritors for their blessing, hoping it would help them awaken a stronger class.
Someone next to him prayed earnestly. "Great Berserker senior, hear my plea. Please bless me so that I awaken an SR-rank profession."
The crowd buzzed with similar prayers and impatient shouts.
"Hey, hurry it up in the front. It's almost my turn to be tested."
"Heavenly Maiden, I've grown up hearing your legendary stories. I admire you so much. Please bless me to become the next successor of the noblest profession."
Hearing this, Lin Fang just smirked to himself. How hilarious. How could someone daydream so hard in broad daylight?
Suddenly another teen with a friendly face approached him to chat. "Hey, buddy," he started. "What's with all of them?"
He then explained with excitement, "You mean you haven't heard? The rumour is that a new successor for an inheritance profession is going to be awakened during this year's test. Right now there are four empty slots for inheritors. Of course they're all praying for that golden ticket, right?"
Hearing this, Lin Fang rubbed his chin, a subtle, calculating smile playing on his lips. Seems like everyone is extra ambitious this year, he thought. That should make my little business venture a whole lot easier.
Just then the ceremony began with a blinding flash of light. An announcer's voice boomed across the square. "Hurry now, the test is beginning."
Results were announced one by one. "Lin Hu, NR-rank profession, level 10, 13 mana points. Wen Ning, NR-rank profession, level 8, 8 mana points. Gai, SR-rank profession, level 34, 55 mana points. Admitted."
The teen from before looked on with pure envy at Gai's result. "Wow, 55 mana points. If only I had that much power."
Seizing the perfect opportunity, Lin Fang turned and casually held out a juicy red tomato in front of the boy's face. "Then, would you like to try a tomato that can increase your mana?"
The teen was completely taken aback. "Increase my mana? With a tomato?"
Lin Fang flashed a confident grin. "That's right. I'm a spirit botanist. This is a special variety I cultivated myself. It boosts your mana by five percent for five minutes. Only five gold coins per fruit."
Saying this, Lin Fang opened his shoulder bag, revealing an assortment of other strange and vibrant-looking vegetables. "I also have red sweet potatoes to keep you full all day, slimming cucumbers that burn fat, and power potatoes that increase attack by ten percent."
The surrounding crowd began to gather, whispering among themselves. One person scoffed, "This has to be a scam, right? I've never heard of spirit vegetables like these. They can boost mana and help you lose weight?"
"Just buy one and try it. Then we'll know if it's real," another suggested. "Besides, I am so sick of eating energy bars every single day."
Seeing he had their full attention, Lin Fang raised his voice with a bright smile. "First come, first served. Limited stock, so once they're gone, they're gone. The first customer gets to try one for free."
The teen who started it all was still doubtful, but he took the tomato. The second he bit into it, he shouted with glee as a brilliant golden aura erupted around him. "My mana — it's really going up! And my body feels so much lighter."
Suddenly a man in a sharp suit pushed through the crowd, his eyes wide with shock. "Wait a minute. I'm not mistaken, am I? These are the spirit vegetables developed by the agricultural department of the Extraordinary Academy. I heard these are special supplies reserved only for SR-rank students."
He turned to the crowd, explaining, "This must be a special promotion for the exam. These people were told that one day they too could join the prestigious academy."
Instantly the man turned back to Lin Fang with a wink, declaring excitedly, "Bag them all up for me."
Those words were a spark, and the crowd absolutely exploded.
"On what grounds? Hey, I was here first."
"Vendor, I want ten of these damn things."
"I think my magic power actually went up. These tomatoes are amazing. Definitely not your average produce."
Watching the chaos, Lin Fang just smiled, completely satisfied. Even though he was just a farmer, he thought, ever since hitting max level all his vegetables came with some kind of beneficial buff. Sure, he'd use a few marketing tricks, but the powerful effects of his vegetables were one hundred percent the real deal.
A little later, after the crowd had cleared, Lin Fang sat all alone on the steps of a now quiet shop. Suddenly a pair of legs stopped right in front of him. A blond man stood there, muttering and calculating costs.
"Cheap pumpkin seeds, five gold. Flower rhino fertiliser, seven gold. Sugar for grape wine, ten gold. Plus some magic-boosting medicine for two hundred and fifty-seven gold." He then handed Lin Fang his pay. "Here's your ten gold fee."
Staring at the few coins in his hand, Lin Fang sighed. This wasn't nearly enough for the premium fertiliser he needed.
The blond man smiled. "Thanks, Lin Fang. Your spirit crops are so effective. Why not just plant some more?"
Hearing that, Lin Fang snapped back in frustration. "You think growing spirit plants with these effects is that easy?"
The blond man looked at him regretfully. "It's a shame. You were so gifted when you were young—"
But Lin Fang just cut his friend off, clapping him on the shoulder. "All right, go on home now. Auntie Zhou is waiting."
Lin Fang's silhouette faded as he walked off, lost in his own thoughts. That's right. They called him a genius, only for him to awaken as a useless NR-rank farmer. When he burned offerings for his archmage father, he was afraid the old man would jump right out of his coffin in rage.
He smiled softly to himself. Maybe this is just the balance of things. An herbalist mother and an archmage father somehow produce a simple farmer. But honestly, he was happy with his quiet life. No battlefields, no throwing his life away like his father. No making his mother worry. Looking toward his home, he resolved to run the farm well for his mother's sake.