Suddenly, it occurred to him that he could add cooking as a basic skill to his own skill tree. If he took an exam, he would definitely have basic cooking skills, and even level one cooking, but as for level two, he shouldn’t expect too much for now.

After eating, he turned off the air conditioner. At this time, the woods surrounding the villa area swayed gently in the breeze. The neighborhood was peaceful, with only the sound of a fountain not far away. Sean Foster realized it wasn’t too hot, so he calmed himself, sat down slowly, and enjoyed the tranquility, gradually entering a state of nurturing and rest.

An hour later, he woke up and went online. He had always been an internet addict, and now with a more advanced and faster computer, he casually browsed the web.

Unconsciously, he found himself on a professional online Go website.

In this world, Sean Foster wasn’t very interested in Go, but he knew that Go was considered one of the national arts, with thirty million registered players nationwide. However, in this world, there was no distinction between amateur and professional players; rank was determined purely by skill.

In his previous life, Sean Foster was interested in Go and was a leading member of the university Go club, with a genuine passion for the game.

This website had a beginner’s section, mainly for teaching the basics of Go.

He thought for a moment, logged into the education system, and added a Go skill to his skill tree. Then he logged into the beginner’s section of the website, observed some matches, and familiarized himself with the controls.

An hour later, Sean Foster found that the rules of Go in this world were not much different. He chose the nickname “Hulu” and entered the newcomer match room.

Soon, someone accepted his challenge.

Although Sean Foster was cautious, as soon as the match started, he realized that the skill level in the newcomer area was indeed quite low. However, even so, Go games took a long time, especially when the opponent refused to concede. It took an hour and a half to finish a game, which left Sean Foster rather frustrated. Thinking it over, he noticed there was an option to “play against the computer,” so he selected that in the newcomer area.

Sure enough, playing against the computer in the newcomer area was much faster. Once he gained a certain advantage, the computer would concede and not drag things out. Each game took only about twenty minutes to finish.

After completing the tenth game, the system prompted: “Based on your results, the system has determined that you have reached a basic level in Go. You may go to a Go certification institution for verification. This system allows you to enter the first-level Go game area.”

Reading the system rules, he found that the system allowed players to skip a level and enter the next Go game area based on their performance. This was designed for cases where a player’s skill outpaced their certification level. However, if Sean Foster didn’t register for assessment and obtain a basic Go certificate, he wouldn’t be able to enter the second-level Go game area.

Sean Foster was delighted. He immediately used his education system to submit an application for “trainee player certification, basic Go skill assessment.” The electronic process was indeed fast; in no time, a message arrived: “Information confirmed. Please go to your local Go academy for certification within one week.”

Sean Foster then entered the first-level Go game area and played a match with another person. As soon as the game began, he felt a clear difference. His opponent’s opening was very steady, and it seemed they were well-matched. Black and white took turns making moves, but after an hour, the opponent’s black stones resisted for a while before conceding due to a six-point difference, without dragging the game out.

Sean Foster was very satisfied. He estimated his own level was above first-level Go, but it was unlikely he had reached third-level. He continued playing.

He was brought back to reality by the signal from his “Da Ling Tong” (mobile device). It was a call from his mother. He pressed his mother’s number, and after two beeps, his mother’s familiar face appeared on the small screen.

“Mom, are you doing well? How’s Dad? Is there something you need?” Sean Foster asked.

“Your dad and I are both fine. How are things over there?”

“Not bad. I’m planning to study hard and make progress every day,” Sean Foster replied with a smile, briefly explaining his choices.

“Isn’t that a bit too much coursework?” His mother was clearly pleased. In this era, and with their family’s situation, they would be well-off even without great achievements, but a son who wanted to work hard was always a good thing.

“It’s not too much. I just want to see my own limits,” Sean Foster said. “Mom, did you call for something today?”

“Do you still remember Ethan Reed?”

“Yeah, she’s Aunt Reed’s daughter, right?” Sean Foster hesitated for a moment before answering. In this world, children usually took their father’s surname; following the mother’s surname was rare and usually for a reason.

“That’s right, your childhood sweetheart. What, you don’t want to see her?”

If it were the original Sean Foster, he might have refused, but now, as he searched his memories, he could hear the anticipation in his mother’s voice, so he said, “Sure, but let’s wait until the end of this semester. I’ll come back at the end of December, spend the New Year together, and return to the city in March. How does that sound?”

Sean Foster’s mother was immediately delighted. “Great, I’ll work out the timing and contact your Aunt Reed. We’ll talk more later. Don’t stand her up this time!”

“I know. Okay, we’ll talk again soon.” Sean Foster ended the conversation with his mother succinctly.