Picking Up Attributes From Today - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Magic Test, Cruel Reality 1
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

They were clearly Dragon People, but they were dressed in civilian clothing, one had to feel confused!
“These Dragon People… Some of them are fallen nobles!”
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!”
Meng Lei was stunned. “Civilians? There are civilians among the Dragon People?”
“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…”
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!”
“I see!”
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! 2
“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!”
“That’s true!” Meng Lei nodded quietly.
“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!
“Accompanying people, please stop!”
“Magic test, 10 gold coins per person!”
“Meng Lei, you all can go in!”
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!” 1
“Yes!”
The four nodded hard.
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!
“So many people, how long will we have to wait?”
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. 3
“Brother Meng Lei, I’m… I’m nervous!”
Jonah pulled Meng Lei’s sleeves, her little face full of anxiety and nervousness. She was completely devoid of her former liveliness and mischief!
“Relax. Such things only depend on fate, so being nervous won’t help!”
Meng Lei, not knowing how to comfort her, could only say so!
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!
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! 1
With talent, one could leap high beyond their current positions, into a bright future!
Without talent, one could only continue sticking around, being mediocre, and looking for an alternative path!
“This is much crueler than the College Entrance Examination!” Meng Lei sighed quietly. “It’s actually similar to ancient imperial examinations!”
While waiting anxiously, they witnessed all kinds of reactions from others!
Some cried out of joy and left rejoicing!
Some shook their heads and sighed, not satisfied with the test result!
Even more were in great agony, as they left sadly!
The cruelty of reality was shown here completely and vividly!
The rows moved forward slowly. After hours of waiting, Meng Lei and his three peers approached the testing table!
Three youths in black magic robes stood in front of the table, responsible for testing this row!
One was in charge of calling people!
One was in charge of testing!
One was in charge of recording!
They all performed their duties in an orderly manner! 1
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.
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.
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! 1
“Next!”
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!
Perhaps because he was too nervous, the yellow-haired young man staggered and suddenly fell on the ground, almost bumping onto the crystal ball!
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…” 5
“No need to say your name, just put your hand on the crystal ball!”
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!
As to those without magical talent, there was no need to even register them— reality was that cruel! 1
“Yes… Yes!”
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!
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”! 1
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!
It was an earthly yellow color, mixed with a little bit of cyan, looking like faint-colored light reflected by lenses!
“Elemental Affinity: Medium-Grade Earth Element, Low-Grade Wind Element!”
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.”
Spiritual tester?
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.
“S-Sir, how to use… spiritual power?”
Porter’s face flushed red as he asked with some difficulty.
“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…”
“Okay!”
Porter hurriedly nodded, and his eyes looked toward the red dot at the spiritual tester’s bottom!
Instantly, the red line inside the spiritual tester started to rise, passing by one numbered mark followed by another!
This is the instrument for testing spiritual power?
Meng Lei’s eyes gleamed, staring at the red line in the spirit tester. 3
This thing is somewhat similar to a thermometer. However, that one tests spiritual power and the other tests temperature!
After a moment, the red line stopped moving.
The young man in charge of the assessment gave the mark where the red line was a look, and his tone softened a little.
“Spiritual Power: 23
“4 times that of same-age peers!
“Barely meeting the standard!
“Elemental Affinity: Medium-Grade Earth Element, Low-Grade Wind Element!
“Overall evaluation: Has magical talent, qualified to become a Magician!”