After a hearty lunch...
Ignoring Zhang Zikai, who looked like he'd lost all will to live, Lu Chen's attention was already focused on the system's wish interface.
Having completed the [Raiden Shogun Can Really Cook] achievement, Lu Chen now had 350 Primogems—enough for two pulls.
Back when he used to play Genshin Impact, Lu Chen always liked to hoard his pulls, saving them up for big draws like a true stash-happy hamster.
But this so-called "Real-World Teyvat System" was stingier than he'd imagined. Who knew how long it would take to save up enough for a ten-pull...
Lu Chen resisted the urge to curse the system...
There had to be a reason the rewards were so limited.
Before the two worlds connected, the real world was clearly barren. There were only monsters like Slimes, and treasure chests were nothing more than basic wooden ones.
Which meant... someone like him, with just 4 stamina and 82 attack power, could easily flatten a local gang boss.
If the system handed out massive rewards from the start, it would completely break the balance.
And then what would be the point?
The moment he initiated the wish, his Primogems dropped to just 30.
The familiar blue sky and drifting clouds appeared. Two shooting stars streaked across the sky.
They crashed to the ground, glowing brightly in their descent—both of them...
Blue.
Hmm... (Seriously?)
Well, it could be worse.
He still had a ten-pull reward coming from the upcoming challenge task, not to mention that million-yuan prize. Lu Chen comforted himself with the thought...
He tapped on the two blue items.
[Adventurer's Experience: Increases character level ×5]
[Blunt Sword (One-Handed Sword): Base ATK 23, can be upgraded to Lv.70, max ATK 185. No additional attributes.]
With a thought, a plain, dull-edged sword appeared in Lu Chen's hand.
In Genshin Impact, this was the starter weapon used by Lumine and Aether—weakest of the 1-star tier.
Even so, it was still a valuable resource for Lu Chen.
Better to have something than nothing. He couldn't exactly punch Slimes barehanded next time.
Plus, it gave a slight attack boost.
He used the [Adventurer's Experience], and his level instantly rose to Lv.12.
Leveling was fast—and his attack power went up a notch, too.
...
With the wishing session done, Lu Chen glanced at Zhang Zikai.
"Well? Thought of a plan yet?"
"Ah!"
Zhang Zikai jumped in shock.
Raiden Ei was sitting on the couch, this time not watching TV, but deeply engrossed in a junior high math textbook.
Knowing Lu Chen was talking to him, Zhang Zikai turned around, face full of dread.
"You guys should've just kidnapped my dad. I'm a total disappointment—there's no way I can convince him..."
So at least you know you're useless... Lu Chen shrugged. "I don't care how you do it. That's your problem. In three days, I want to see Ei's acceptance letter."
"Three days?!"
"Too much?" Lu Chen tilted his head. "Two days then?"
"Three's great! Three is totally fine!" Zhang Zikai looked utterly defeated.
"Good."
"Also..." Zhang Zikai scratched his head. "I might've come up with a good idea..."
Raiden Ei, still reading, and Lu Chen, still browsing the system, both turned to look at him, immediately ramping up the pressure.
"Let's hear it," Lu Chen said.
"Special admissions! Get her in as a special talent student!" Zhang Zikai looked like he'd grabbed onto a life raft.
"Special talent?" Lu Chen and Raiden Ei exchanged a glance.
Lu Chen recalled that special admissions were typically for either the arts or sports. But what talents did Ei have that could qualify?
"How's Ei's painting? Did she ever study with Kitsune Saiguu?"
Raiden Ei shook her head.
"How about singing? Did she ever train with Mikoshi Chiyo?"
Raiden Ei shook her head again.
"..."
So what have you been doing for the past few thousand years?
If only the test was on poetry slams or something... Lu Chen muttered to himself. Clearly, art wasn't the way to go. Time to consider sports.
In the sports department, she had plenty of skills. As a literal god, Ei could probably break national records just jogging. Throw a shot put? Might hit the clouds...
But that wouldn't be elegant.
His Ei was more graceful than Narukami Island's springtime cherry blossoms. That sacred and noble body absolutely could not be used to...
Throw shot puts!
He needed another option...
Zhang Zikai seemed to be on the same page. He suddenly lit up. "Fencing! Let Miss Ei join the fencing team!"
Both Lu Chen and Ei looked at him.
Zhang Zikai continued, "Miss Ei's sword skills are insane! She took down Old Zhou's whole crew in seconds—it was like watching a goddess. If she shows off in front of my dad, he'll agree to anything you ask!"
"There's a fencing team at our school?" Lu Chen asked skeptically.
"There was, but it's about to get shut down..."
From Zhang Zikai's explanation, Lu Chen finally understood why he'd suggested the fencing team.
Haizhou Academy's fencing team had once been prestigious. But the last few years, the students were mediocre. They got completely destroyed by the neighboring experimental school in the last competition and didn't even qualify for nationals. The school was now considering cutting the fencing team to save costs.
Zhang Zikai's father had been in charge of sports and had personally founded the fencing team. These days, he wanted more influence within the school board. If Ei could bring glory back to the team, Director Zhang would go all-out to support her enrollment.
"Do I need to learn your fencing techniques?" Raiden Ei asked.
Lu Chen looked at her. "Fencing in sports is nothing like traditional swordsmanship."
Now, if it were a kendo match, that'd be different.
But Raiden Ei shook her head. "Techniques are just surface-level. A true martial artist can master anything. The sword and naginata styles of Inazuma all originated from me. As long as I put my mind to it, no martial art is beyond my reach."
"My Ei is the best!" Lu Chen grinned. He had to admit, he had been baiting her a bit earlier.
Then he turned to look at Zhang Zikai, giving him a clear look that said, "You're in charge of this now."
Zhang Zikai patted his chest confidently—oddly fired up about it all.
...
Two days later, during a break between classes, Lu Chen was reading his politics textbook when Zhang Zikai came bursting into the room.
"What's he doing here?" Zhou Yang asked warily.
Zhang Zikai marched straight up to Lu Chen's seat, his dramatic entrance drawing curious looks from their classmates.
"You—move it!" he snapped, glaring at Zhou Yang.
Zhou Yang was sitting in the empty seat next to Lu Chen. Every break, he'd come over to pester him, even if Lu Chen ignored him.
"What's your problem..." Zhou Yang muttered.
He knew Zhang Zikai was tough, but he wasn't about to back down in front of everyone.
But to his shock, Lu Chen tapped his shoulder and said, "Zhang's here about something important. Can you give him your seat?"
"..."
Zhou Yang felt like love no longer existed in the world.
Sure enough, Zhang Zikai was here for Ei.
Looking deeply aggrieved, Zhou Yang gave up the seat. Then he leaned in and whispered to Lu Chen:
"It's done! My dad arranged a trial session in the gym. Hurry and bring Miss Ei over!"