Picking Up Attributes From Today

Panda Novel

They were all familiar faces—President Fred, Dirk Norway, Fatty Hart, and Daniel.

Apart from that, another dozen or so villagers like Captain Hudders, Jonah, Joseph, Andrew, and Uncle Leo were also present.

Classmates, teachers, friends, fellow villagers—not one more and not one fewer, all of them had come.

“Meng Lei!”

Everyone quickly went forward.

“You’re all here!”

Meng Lei greeted them one by one. Then, to Puhaman, he instructed, “Puhaman, get someone to prepare some wine and food. I’m going to show everyone a good time.”

“I’ve already gotten someone to prepare the wine and food, Master. You can start the banquet anytime,” replied Puhaman respectfully.

“Have them served,” Meng Lei instructed with a wave.

“Yes, Master!”

With a clap from Puhaman, a group of graceful palace maidservants carrying exquisite food and drinks stepped into the palace and placed them on the table.

“Have a seat, everyone. Let’s eat as we speak!”

After dismissing the palace maidservants, a smiling Meng Lei said, “All of you must be hungry after such an arduous journey from the Fire Dragon Kingdom to the Imperial City. Let’s eat!”

Then, they began to dig in.

A round of food and drinks later, Meng Lei went straight to the point. “President, what is the Fire Dragon King trying to do by getting everyone here?”

“As expected, I can’t hide anything from you.”

Fred said with a wry chuckle, “Meng Lei, His Majesty would like to request that you give him a way out…”

“Give him a way out?”

Meng Lei swayed the wine cup in his hand lightly as he said, “I’d originally thought of Flit the 66th as a wise man, but little did I know that he’s actually this ridiculously foolish.

“Does he think that I’ll give him a way out just because he asks my friends, teachers, and fellow villagers to plead for mercy on his behalf? Little does he know that such actions would only backfire and disgust me even more.

“Thaniel!”

“Yes, Master!”

Thaniel quickly jogged into the room.

At the sight of Thaniel, President Fred’s countenance changed drastically, and he quickly got up to bow in greeting.

However, Thaniel lowered and hung his head instead, not even casting a glance at him. It was as if he hadn’t even seen him.

“Make a trip to Fire Dragon Kingdom and bring the Fire Dragon King, Flit the 66th, here!”

Meng Lei said dispassionately, “I’d like to ask him if his head is harder1 than the seven Dragon half-deities or if he thinks he deserves to be shown more consideration than Frederick the 32nd.”

“Yes, Master!”

Thaniel bowed in acknowledgment before retreating from the room.

“Grandmaster…”

Fred stared at Thaniel from the back, great tidal waves churning in his heart.

The grandmaster has actually…

“Please don’t blame me for being heartless, President. What goes around comes around. This is just karma.”

Meng Lei sighed softly and said, “For 40,000 years, the humans have been exploited and abused by the Dragons. Billions of humans were capitalized on by the Dragons.

“Suppressed, exploited, and discriminated against, they have no status, no freedom, no chances of cultivating. In the Four-Classes Stratification System, humans are the lowliest of all. How ridiculous is that? And how cruel is that?”

Meng Lei said with a shake of his head, “A very long time ago, I made a serious vow to myself. Should there come a day! A day where I possessed enough power! I’ll definitely overthrow the Colossal Dragons’ reign and destroy this disgusting, warped reign and return a beautiful world to the humans!”

Fred could only chuckle wryly again and again while Hudders, Dirk Norway, Fatty Hart, and the others’ blood boiled with passion, their emotions surging from his words. There were only looks of worship left in their eyes.

“Now that I have the power and ability to do so, I naturally have to fulfill my promise!”

As he gazed at Fred, Meng Lei said, “Therefore, please don’t stop me, President. Please don’t beg for mercy on behalf of those Colossal Dragon nobles who only occupy high positions but do nothing for the people. This will only sour our relationship.”

“I understand now.” With another wry laugh, Fred sighed and said, “I get it now. You don’t need to say any further.”

“Thank you for being understanding, President.”

Meng Lei nodded slightly. Then, he turned to Dirk Norway and the others and asked, “Mr. Dirk, can you tell me what kind of benefits Flit the 66th had offered all of you?”

“Benefits? Loads of them!”

Dirk Norway said with a laugh, “He promised that upon succeeding, not only would he bestow upon me ten Laws of Nature Origin Crystals and aid me in ascending to Saint Domain-level, but he’d even confer me as a Duke of the kingdom and bestow a territory of 250 square kilometers upon me. I’m not going to beg for mercy on his behalf, though!”

Dirk Norway smiled smugly as he said, “I knew right away what you wanted to do after hearing that you’ve killed the emperor and all the court officials!”

At this point, fanaticism and agitation filled Dirk Norway’s eyes as he said, “This is our—the humans’—best opportunity in the last 40,000 years to stand up and become the master. If I beg for mercy on his behalf, I’ll become a sinner of the human race. How can I possibly still bring myself to stand with my back straight in this world if I do that?”

“Well said, Mr. Dirk!”

Daniel praised aloud. Captain Hudders and the others also nodded incessantly.

“As expected of the Mr. Dirk I know!”

Meng Lei also broke into a smile. “I knew right away that you’re a pure human when I first met you. Therefore, you must have been very disappointed when you learned that I also possessed the Dragon bloodline, right?”

“Of course I was!”

Dirk Norway didn’t shy away from the topic because of President Fred’s presence. He shook his head and said with a laugh, “I had always thought that you were a pure-blooded human genius. Little did I know that you were also a Dragon Person. I was indeed disappointed for quite a while back then.

“Speaking of which, though, don’t you also possess the Dragon bloodline? Why are you so ruthless toward the Dragons and granted them no mercy whatsoever?”

This was also something that had troubled President Fred all this while, and he looked at Meng Lei with perplexity in his eyes.

Meng Lei didn’t keep it a secret. “I have a special ability that allows me to assimilate other bloodlines into my body.”

“I see!”

“I understand now!”

Realization dawned upon both Dirk Norway and President Fred. No wonder Meng Lei had suddenly awakened the Fire Dragon bloodline and subsequently even the Golden Colossal Dragon bloodline. So it was because he had a fascinating ability like that!

With a casual flip of his wrist, Meng Lei took out 100 Laws of Nature Origin Crystals and passed them to Dirk Norway.

“Mr. Dirk, you’ve been stuck at the pinnacle of ninth-grade for a very long time now. These Laws of Nature Origin Crystals should be of help to you!”

“Laws of Nature Origin Crystals!”

A huge shudder went through Dirk Norway as he exclaimed, “How can this do? These are too precious. I can’t take them!”

“I made a small windfall during my trip to Dragon Island recently, so I have tons of Laws of Nature Origin Crystals,” explained Meng Lei. “You can just take them without any worries.”

“In that case, it’ll be disrespectful of me to decline any further.” Dirk Norway was awfully excited. “Thank you, Meng Lei! If there’s anything you need in the future, feel free to let me know. Be it the most dangerous of places or the most severe of trials, I’ll do it all!”

“What a coincidence, I really do have something that I need your help with.”

A smiling Meng Lei said, “Sir, you should also be aware that there are many things that need to be rebuilt from scratch at the moment. I urgently need talents. If you have friends who can be of help in this aspect, please introduce them to me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get into contact with them immediately when I get back!”

Dirk Norway nodded heavily. He could roughly guess just what kind of situation Meng Lei was currently facing and knew what he needed.

“I’ll have to trouble you, then.”

Meng Lei gave him a small smile. Then, he turned to Fatty Hart, to whom he couldn’t help but chastise mockingly, “Fatty, aren’t you usually very perky and chatty? Why are you as timid as a mouse today?”

Fatty Hart’s flesh quivered as he gave a wry laugh and replied, “Old bro, Golden Colossal Dragon blood also runs in my veins. I’m afraid that you’ll kill me!”

“Is that even considered Golden Colossal Dragon bloodline?”

Meng Lei said dryly, “The Golden Colossal Dragons have never once acknowledged you as a fellow clansman, y’know!”

Upon hearing that, Fatty Hart broke into a bright, beaming smile. “I knew you wouldn’t kill me, old bro! Hehehe, when I left the house, my old man kept reminding me over and over to be more respectful toward you.

“He even said something about how it’s not the same anymore, and that you’re a ruthless Dragon murderer that rejects the Dragons’ existence…

“I knew that my old man was ridiculously wrong. No matter how estranged we become, old bro, you’ll never kill me, a brother whom you studied with!”

“Brother? Dare you proclaim to be brothers with me when you’re that weak? Don’t you elevate your standing,” replied Meng Lei jokingly.

Then, he took out a divine tree fruit and tossed it over to him. “Eat this and ascend to Saint Domain-level soon. Otherwise, I have no friends like you!”

“What’s this?”

A look of puzzlement came over Fatty Hart’s countenance.

Meng Lei casually explained, “The divine tree’s fruit. It’s something that can allow humans and Magical Beasts to break through to Saint Domain!”

Then, he took out another dozen or so fruits and gave them to Daniel, Captain Hudders, Joseph, Jonah, and the others.

He had already checked these fruits. They didn’t contain the Tree of Life’s divinity, so the others could consume them with peace of mind.

“Break through to Saint Domain?”

“Does a treasure like that really exist?”

“This is too precious! We can’t accept them!”

Everyone received a huge shock and declined the fruits repeatedly.

“I have no use for the divine tree fruits, so just take them with peace of mind.”

A smiling Meng Lei said, “Besides, all of you are people whom I’m close with. Who am I supposed to give them to, if not you?”

“This… Alright!”

Only then did they accept the divine tree fruits from him.

Fatty Hart held the fruit in his hands, so agitated that he was close to tears. “I, Fatty Hart, have suffered humiliation ever since I was born. They said that I’ve tarnished the Golden Colossal Dragon bloodline and that I’m a disgrace to the Dragons!

“They even said that I’m just like my old man; that I can only use the name of the Golden Colossal Dragon bloodline to get by for my entire life!

“Who would have thought that this day would come where I, Fatty Hart, could also attain the Saint Domain level! Sob, thank you, old bro! Getting to know you is the most fortunate thing that has ever happened to me in my life…”

“Can’t you be a little less of a good-for-nothing?” Meng Lei rolled his eyes at him. “Cultivate well and attain Saint Domain level soon. If you can refine your bloodline and transform into a Golden Colossal Dragon, I’ll appoint you as the new Dragon Emperor and put you in charge of managing New Dragon Island!”

“Really!?” A jolt went through Fatty Hart.

Meng Lei snorted lightly and said, “Have I ever lied to you?”

“Hehe! Old bro naturally keeps his word! I’m absolutely certain about that!”

Fatty Hart snickered sneakily.

“Captain Hudders!”

Meng Lei turned to Hudders and the dozen or so villagers. He said, “Why don’t all of you stay since you’re already here? How about this? Let’s bring all the villagers here and let them stay in this imperial palace.”

“Absolutely not! Absolutely not!”

Hudders received a huge fright. “All of us are just simple men from the countryside. We’re used to living in the mountains. How would we be qualified to live in these imperial palace courtyards?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. If the Colossal Dragons can live here, why can’t you?”

Meng Lei waved him off and said, “Everyone can move here and cultivate here in the imperial palace.

“Those who should be training their body would train their bodies; those who should be cultivating Battle Aura would cultivate Battle Auras; those who should be practicing magic would practice magic. With specialized staff in charge of meal preparations, wouldn’t it be better?”

Hudders could only laugh wryly, actually rendered somewhat speechless for a moment there while the others were secretly lost for words.

How willful!

That was too goddamn willful!

Giving away divine tree fruits without a second thought, allowing people from the countryside to move to the imperial palace… Just how egotistical must he be in order to do something like that?

“Where is Meng Lei?”

At that moment, a cold, aloof voice suddenly traveled over from the skies and exploded like a thunderclap…