Chapter 6

Gao Dun was very familiar with the mechanical, cold, and emotionless electronic voice that echoed in his mind. In *Ancient Epoch*, he had listened to this voice countless times.

This is the game system prompt!

"Could it be..." Gao Dun's heart raced as he thought of a possibility.

With a try-it-out attitude, Gao Dun uttered the word "System."

Green lines of light appeared on his retina, quickly converging and intertwining to form a data table.

This was the game system interface, something a veteran player of *Ancient Epoch* would be very familiar with.

Name: Gao Dun Freeman.

Class: Mage.

Character Template: Nameless.

Race: Human.

Attributes: Strength 10; Dexterity 13; Constitution 12; Intelligence 19; Wisdom 12; Charisma 11.

Racial Traits: Rapid Learning (gain one additional feat at level 1, and one additional skill point per level).

Level: 2 (Character Experience: 2980/3000).

Experience Pool: 0.

Mana: 40/40.

Arcane Skills: Spellcraft 5; Concentration 4; Arcane Knowledge 7; Sigilcraft 6; Runecraft 5; Use Magic Device 3.

Crafting Skills: Enchanting 6; Alchemy 3.

Knowledge Skills: Nobility 6; Geography 5; History 4; Nature 3; Local 2; Planar 1; Religion 6.

General Skills: Ride 5; Appraise 6; Diplomacy 2.

General Feats: Mage Weapon.

Arcane Feats: Shallow Meditation.

Crafting Feats: Wondrous Item Creation; Scroll Scribing; Potion Brewing.

Apart from the lack of hit points, this data panel was identical to the system in *Ancient Epoch*, even including the sub-systems unique to the Mage class such as "Potions and Scrolls," "Item Creation and Enchanting," "Rituals and Sigils," and "Spell Development."

I admit I really like the Mage class, but that's in the game, right? Why did you give me a game system and then irresponsibly kick me into another world?

Recalling the mysterious voice in his mind the night before he was transported, the mastermind behind his穿越, Gao Dun could only hold his forehead and put on a sad expression.

"Alright, at least I, as a穿越者, didn't get an exception and received a golden finger. My luck isn't too bad." Gao Dun's optimistic nature kicked in, and he quickly accepted the reality.

Moreover, Gao Dun discovered another unique advantage of his own.

This world, named Telos, had a foundational setting similar to *Ancient Epoch*, built on the same grand rules.

However, in terms of the power system, there were significant differences.

For example, the core of the spellcasting system in this world was spell slots. Casters needed to extract energy from the magic network, shape it into spells, and store it in spell slots, which they could then release when needed.

After several versions of changes, the modern virtual online game *Ancient Epoch* had eliminated spell slots and adopted a system where spells were cast using mana points.

This change was good news for Gao Dun. Traditional mages who relied on spell slots had to carefully consider and prepare their spells each day, choosing from dozens or even hundreds of spells to store in their limited slots. Each spell cast required deep thought, and they never wasted a spell slot lightly.

With mana points replacing spell slots, mages could freely choose and cast the spells they needed. More importantly, compared to the few spell slots they had each day, Gao Dun could now cast a much larger number of spells.

With forty mana points, he could cast forty zero-level spells or twenty first-level spells. A low-level mage with such a substantial spell reserve would be nearly unbeatable at higher levels.

Is this a golden finger that allows a high-version to dominate a low-version?

"Brother, brother!"

Just as Gao Dun was immersed in the shock of the system, his sister's call pulled him back to reality.

"What is it?" Gao Dun asked.

The brief moment of daze lasted only a couple of seconds, and Xeona didn't notice anything unusual about her brother.

"There are visitors. I'll go greet them. You're still weak, so stay and rest in the study."

Gao Dun listened carefully and indeed heard a knock at the door downstairs. Unfortunately, the Freeman family couldn't afford to hire a servant, so Xeona had to go and open the door herself.

Gao Dun nodded. "Go ahead, don't worry about me."

Xeona turned and left. The young girl's jet-black hair was tied into a lively ponytail, which bounced lightly as she walked, leaving Gao Dun with a beautiful view of her back.

"Although being transported here wasn't my wish, having such a beautiful sister is pretty good luck," Gao Dun consoled himself, trying hard not to think about everything he was familiar with on Earth.

Not long after, Gao Dun heard intense conversation downstairs, which seemed to be escalating into an argument.

"What's going on?" Gao Dun, as the head of the Freeman family, felt it was his duty and responsibility to check.

By the time he reached the first floor, the conversation was clearly audible.

A sharp and rough male voice pierced Gao Dun's ears: "Miss Xeona, I hope you will consider carefully. You have seen my sincerity. The goddess Aenysa can vouch for my love."

"Mr. Denvel, I have already said many times, I will not marry you."

A young man with beady rat eyes and a face full of freckles appeared in Gao Dun's mind.

Denvel Ritter, the eldest son of the Ritter family.

The head of the Ritter family, Long Ritter, was a wealthy merchant who, due to his "outstanding contributions to the state and the church," was granted the title of honorary knight.

In plain terms, he bought a noble title.

An honorary knight is not a true noble, cannot receive a fief, and cannot pass the title down. Families like the Ritter, who rose rapidly through commerce, would inevitably pursue higher power and social status, and an honorary title was far from enough.

Over the past year, Denvel had suddenly appeared before Gao Dun and his sister, showing an intense interest in Xeona.

As time passed, Denvel's pursuit of Xeona became more and more intense, from active to passionate, and from passionate to fanatical. Gao Dun remembered the last time, Denvel even wanted to give Xeona a unicorn made of pure silver and adorned with various precious gems!

However, Xeona always maintained a distant and cold attitude toward Denvel's advances.

Not only did Denvel's character and talents fail to impress Xeona, but even the love behind his fanatical pursuit was questionable.

Although the Freeman family had fallen on hard times, they were still a legitimate noble family with a hereditary title. Any discerning person could see that Denvel's primary goal in pursuing Xeona was to use marriage to elevate the Ritter family into the noble circle.

Gao Dun walked to the front door and found an extremely exaggerated scene.

A young man dressed in luxurious, gold-embellished clothing—Denvel—stood in the small garden. Behind him, three carriages were parked on the road, loaded with expensive fabrics, various exquisite artworks, and gold and silver utensils that sparkled in the sunlight.

It seemed he was deliberately showing off, leaving the priceless items exposed to the sun.

Of course, any criminal with ill intentions would have to carefully consider whether they could deal with the muscular, well-armed guards standing by the carriages.

"Truly a vulgar nouveau riche," Gao Dun thought, forming a clear impression of Denvel.

Additionally, standing beside Denvel were three beautiful women. They wore tight, waist-cinched gowns with large openings at the neck and waist, revealing half of their plump chests and long, slender legs.

Don't misunderstand; these provocatively dressed women were not from a special service industry but were priests of Aenysa.

Aenysa, the goddess of love, beauty, and passion, had perhaps the most visually pleasing group of priests among the earthly representatives of the gods.

At engagement or wedding ceremonies, Aenysa's priests were often invited as witnesses.

Denvel's display made Gao Dun guess his intentions.

After repeated persuasion, Denvel found that Xeona remained unmoved. His patience finally ran out, and his voice turned cold: "Dear Xeona, you should face the reality of the Freeman family's situation. To treat your brother's injuries, you mortgaged the house and borrowed 3000 gold coins. If you don't pay it back within three months, you will lose your home. What will you do then?"

Denvel sneered, "Do you want to move to the commoner district across the river? Heh, living among commoners, you will face endless ridicule and disdain. In such a situation, do you still want to revive the Freeman family and restore the glory of your ancestors?"

Pausing, Denvel changed his tone to a more persuasive one: "Just marry me, and with the Ritter family's wealth, your ideals can be realized. Besides, isn't your brother a mage? If you marry me, the Ritter family will cover all his expenses for spell research and learning."

Xeona's lips were set in a stubborn line, and her pale hands were clenched into fists, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

Her heart was struggling.

Undoubtedly, Xeona despised the frivolous and vulgar Denvel. If it were just for herself, she would refuse without hesitation. But considering the future of the family and her brother's prospects, she couldn't act rashly.

From a young age, she had been taught that, when necessary, noble women should sacrifice their own happiness for the family's benefit in matters of marriage.

Previously, although their lives were modest, they could still get by. But this time, to save Gao Dun's life, they had to mortgage their home.

The villa was a precious legacy left by their parents, filled with countless memories of their family. For Xeona and Gao Dun, this home was irreplaceable. She knew that with their current abilities, it would be difficult to repay the debt within three months.

Denvel's words struck at her heart. Xeona wavered.