"Your father is a Hidden Class, Sacred Sword Berserker, the strongest in the Empire."

"He once led the Empire's forces on the Abyss battlefield, resisting the invasion of otherworldly races, and was crowned a King after a single battle."

"Your younger brother holds a Rare Class, Dragon Knight, and has been admitted to Shangjing Academy."

"And you? The lowest talent rating, failed your class advancement at the ceremony, and you don't even qualify for the academy entrance exams?"

"You worthless bastard! You've brought utter shame upon the Gu family name!"

In the oppressive hall, Gu Chen listened to the furious shouts ringing in his ears as a flood of memories suddenly surged into his mind.

He had transmigrated.

This was a world invaded by the Abyss, where humans could become Class Holders upon reaching adulthood.

And he, as the eldest son of the royal lineage of the North, could have had all the resources of the Seven Cities of the North his for the taking, with just a word from his father. Becoming a God-level Class Holder in the future, ruling the North, and inheriting the royal title seemed only a matter of time.

But who could know the untold hardships hidden behind this illustrious status?

Ever since he could remember, he had lived in a small border town called Lincheng. To afford his schooling, the farming couple who adopted him fell ill from overwork and passed away one after another. Before they died, however, the farmers gave him all their savings, urging him to get into Lincheng First High School and become a Class Holder.

Because in this world, for those born into the lowest strata of society, there was only one path to change their fate: becoming a Class Holder.

At fifteen, Gu Chen entered Lincheng First High School with excellent grades and began learning the fundamentals about Class Holders. However, the high school life he had longed for was far less wonderful than he had imagined. Due to his poor background and lack of support, he was constantly ostracized and bullied by other students. The harder he worked, the more miserable his life became.

Under this constant pressure, his mindset shifted, and he gradually lost all hope for this world.

But just last month, a couple had found him.

Only then did Gu Chen learn of his true parentage. The man before him was his father, Gu Qingfeng. And the elegant woman radiating an air of nobility was his stepmother, Qin Yun. As for his birth mother, she had passed away shortly after he was born.

He didn't complain about the injustices of the past eighteen years; all he knew was that from this point forward, he was no longer an orphan. He had a family.

He then learned that after his birth mother's death, the otherworldly races from the Abyss had invaded the Shenxia Empire. At the time, Gu Qingfeng was under military orders and could only leave his young son in the care of a farming family in Lincheng. He had expected to return from the front lines within three to five years, but the delay unexpectedly stretched to eighteen years.

Therefore, this was the first time in his entire life that Gu Chen could remember seeing his own father.

After hearing these explanations, his heart was filled with complex emotions. But there wasn't much to say; after all, his father was an Imperial soldier. With the Abyss invading and otherworldly races running rampant, only with a country could one truly have a home – he understood this principle.

But then he learned that his father and stepmother also had a son. Furthermore, this younger brother had grown up by his parents' side and was now a widely admired prodigy.

At that moment, Gu Chen suddenly felt that his father's explanation of having 'no choice' sounded like a complete joke.

To protect him? By abandoning his younger self in a strange city?

Preoccupied with the war? By never once asking about his well-being in eighteen years?

His own father knew about the years of poverty and bullying he endured? Yet did nothing?

The eldest son, tossed to farmers in the outskirts, left to be bullied for eighteen years, treated worse than a dog. While the second son was kept close, lavished with countless efforts and resources, advanced into a Rare Class, and admitted to the Empire's top institution, Shangjing Academy.

"Sigh, this kid truly is pitiful," Gu Chen thought. "No wonder I ended up transmigrating into his body..."

Gu Chen sighed. After reviewing these memories, he felt a degree of empathy for the original owner. The familial love and care the original owner had yearned for his entire life were nothing but a complete and utter joke. Although he had reunited with his father, he had never felt the slightest bit of care from him—only undisguised coldness and disdain.

Bang!

While Gu Chen was still processing the original owner's memories, Gu Qingfeng slammed his palm down, shattering the table before him. Instantly, everyone present trembled in fear. Several servants lowered their heads further, terrified into silence.

"Rebellious son! Kneel down now!"

With a furious roar, a terrifying aura washed over the hall. Gu Chen felt a strong gust hit his face as he looked up at the imposing figure.

"I, Gu Qingfeng, have spent half my life on horseback," Gu Qingfeng declared, "guarding the Abyss battlefield diligently for eighteen years, slaying countless otherworldly foes, and earning the title War King of the North."

"And you? Causing trouble at school, unable even to awaken as a Class Holder? What right do you have to call yourself my son?"

"Look at you! Full of hooligan habits! You don't resemble me in the slightest! You have utterly disgraced me!"

Gu Chen frowned, his expression turning completely grim. Perhaps because he had assimilated the original owner's memories, intense anger surged within him as he faced Gu Qingfeng's tirade.

Just as he was about to retort, a series of messages suddenly appeared in his vision.

[Class Advancement System Loading... Entering Selection Interface...]

[Different choices will lead the Host to vastly different Class Holder careers. Please choose carefully.]

"The system is here?" Gu Chen was slightly surprised and quickly suppressed his rising anger.

Just this morning, he had failed the Advancement Ceremony for his senior year of high school. Could he still change his class? Wasn't it said that everyone only gets one chance to advance their class?

[Please select your Class Holder career path]

[Option 1: Path of the Prodigal Son - Apologize to your father, gain his understanding, and strive to turn over a new leaf from now on.]

[Class Advancement: Hidden Class - Mortal World Sword Immortal]

"I can really advance my class?" Gu Chen's eyes lit up, but—

"Not choosing it!"

Abandoned for eighteen years, and now I'm supposed to apologize to him? Is this system crazy?!

[Option 2: Path of Forbearance - Continue to endure your father's scolding, silently bearing the coldness and disdain.]

[Class Advancement: Rare Class - Ninja Turtle]

"This is also an option?" Gu Chen's mouth twitched. "Ninja Turtle? What the hell?!" A perfectly normal person advancing into a turtle class – how could that not be rare? Wouldn't that just make me a Turtle Man?

"I've transmigrated! I've got a system! This is the standard setup for a power-fantasy protagonist! Am I supposed to endure some kind of suffering-fetish plotline now?!"

"Nope, not choosing it!"

[Option 3: Path of Defiance - "Today I know that I am I! If the Heavens oppress me, I shall split them! If the Earth confines me, I shall shatter it!" Since you view me as a disgrace, sever all ties. Henceforth, you owe each other nothing.]

[Class Advancement: Randomly advance into a Common Class, obtain a God-level Talent.]

Looking at the three options before him, Gu Chen instantly made his decision.

A true man stands between Heaven and Earth; how could he possibly live long in frustration under another's thumb?

For eighteen years, I received not a single benefit from you, Gu family. Alone, helpless, bullied by all—it's a miracle I even survived living at the bottom!

And after all that, you dare say I've disgraced you?

Fine!

A father like this? I'd rather not have one!

Eldest son of the War King of the North? I don't give a damn about that status! Whoever wants it can have it!

From this day forward, I'm done putting up with this!

"I choose Option Three."

[Selection Successful]

[You can now randomly advance into a Common Class.]

[After Class Advancement, you will obtain a God-level Talent.]

A God-level Talent! Gu Chen felt a surge of anticipation. Although it was only a Common Class, with the boost from a God-level Talent, his future achievements surely wouldn't be lacking.

Just as he was about to investigate further, Gu Qingfeng's furious rebuke echoed in his ears once more.

"Worthless bastard! Do you think staying silent means I can't deal with you?"

"Your punishment is to kneel in the courtyard for a full day and night! Do not rise without my permission!"