Natural Strongman Tiandao Siming

"Everyone, please look. This is the most outstanding product of our Star Project so far."

Inside the underground base's VIP Room, an Ember executive codenamed Doctor, wearing a Silver Mask, spread his arms wide.

A massive Holographic Projection brimming with modern technological flair slowly unfolded behind him.

In the image, Tiandao darted through the training ground at astonishing speed, every movement as precise as if calculated by a computer.

Doctor watched Tiandao's various exaggerated feats on the screen with pride.

At the same time, he introduced him to the guests unfamiliar with him.

"Starborn Sequence 001, Tiandao Siming. His overall potential has been rated S-Class. Just half a year after undergoing Star Core Surgery, he possessed the astonishing strength to defeat a Special Tactics Squad on his own."

The video switched to a combat record.

In the footage, the young Tiandao wore his signature sunglasses as he strolled leisurely through a dense barrage of gunfire.

Bullets brushed past his clothes, yet could not so much as touch a strand of his hair.

Every dodge was perfectly timed, as if he could foresee the future.

Before long, he had crossed the Special Tactics Squad's dense wall of fire.

"That's impossible!"

A noblewoman wearing a Canary Mask cried out in disbelief. The champagne glass in her hand tilted slightly, and its contents nearly spilled onto her lavish gown.

Doctor chuckled softly and ran a finger across the Control Panel before him.

In an instant, the image in the Holographic Projection froze on the moment Tiandao delivered a beautiful spinning kick, knocking down the final special operative.

"He reached this level without a Star Source?"

"Doctor, are you sure there's nothing fabricated in this video?"

Faced with the doubts, Doctor replied elegantly, "I guarantee with my life that neither of these recordings received any post-production editing."

As he spoke, Doctor tapped the Virtual Keyboard before him and brought up a set of complex data.

"More astonishingly, this battle took place on the 183rd day after Tiandao underwent Star Core Surgery. In other words, he was not even eleven years old at the time."

At those words, sharp intakes of breath rose one after another in the VIP Room as everyone processed the immense shock brought by the two videos.

The powerful figures who usually sat high above others all leaned forward, greed gleaming in their eyes beneath their masks.

After all, if Tiandao were replaced with a Rank 1 Star Envoy whose Star Source type was not combat-oriented—

Then this Special Tactics Squad would be fully capable of defeating someone above their rank.

In other words, a single Star Core Surgery had transformed a ten-year-old child like Tiandao Siming, granting him strength comparable to a Rank 1 Star Envoy.

If Doctor's claims were true—

Then the so-called Star Project truly was a great, epoch-making plan.

Watching the murmuring crowd, the corners of Doctor's mouth rose slightly beneath his mask.

He operated the Control Panel before him and switched to Tiandao's data analysis chart.

Tiandao's 3D Model was separated layer by layer, eventually focusing on the crystal at the center of his Chest Cavity, which emitted a Glow of Blue Light.

Doctor lightly touched the projected crystal with his fingertip, and it immediately burst forth with a dazzling radiance.

"The Heavenly Eye Beast Star Core, a rare variant said to be capable of glimpsing the future."

"And Tiandao Siming's compatibility with it is..."

A blood-red number appeared on the holographic screen: 100%.

At the sight of that cold, blood-red number, the entire room fell into deathly silence.

But Doctor was not finished. His voice suddenly lowered, carrying an almost bewitching power.

"Do you know? Before performing the Star Core Surgery, we also gave this child a Star Energy Physical Examination."

He paused deliberately and lightly tapped the screen.

Before long, a detailed examination report slowly unfolded before everyone.

After seeing one crucial figure on it, the crowd erupted in cries of shock.

Innate Star Energy Level: S

"Whoosh—"

The moment that figure appeared, the VIP Room exploded into an uproar.

The Canary noblewoman shot to her feet, her red lips trembling beneath her mask. "Th-That's impossible. A naturally awakened S-Class?"

Upon seeing Tiandao's data, the powerful figures present once again fell into brief silence.

They knew only too well what S-Class Innate Star Energy meant.

Normally, a Star Envoy's strength depended not only on their "Star Source type," but also on their own "Innate Star Energy Level."

If a "Star Source" were compared to a Star Envoy's "engine"—

Then "Innate Star Energy" would be the engine's "fuel tank."

The more outstanding one's Innate Star Energy was, the more efficiently a Star Envoy could absorb Star Energy later on, and the more Star Energy they could use at the same rank.

Thus, a saying had always circulated throughout the Star Envoy Realm.

There were no useless Star Sources, only useless Star Envoys.

The same Star Source often produced vastly different results in the hands of people with different Innate Star Energy Levels.

Although some special Star Sources could alter a Star Envoy's Innate Star Energy after the fact—

The vast majority of Star Sources could not achieve that.

Therefore, in the Star Envoy Realm, Innate Star Energy Level was often regarded as an important measure of a Star Envoy's potential.

In some places, it was even the only measure.

Thus, in everyone's eyes, Tiandao, who possessed S-Class Innate Star Energy, was an Innate Strongman destined for greatness even without Star Core Surgery.

And now, this super genius with limitless potential had obtained a Star Core that ordinary Star Envoys had never possessed.

This would undoubtedly push Tiandao's already absurd potential even further.

Doctor watched the crowd's reactions with satisfaction, as though admiring a play he had carefully arranged.

He slowly walked up to the projection and ran a hand across Tiandao's 3D image, his movements as gentle as if he were caressing a priceless treasure.

"Perfect innate conditions, perfect Star Core compatibility, and unparalleled combat talent."

Doctor snapped his fingers, and the image switched to a recording of Tiandao fighting a Rank 1 Star Envoy.

In the recording, the young Tiandao evaded every attack from a Rank 1 Star Envoy with movements so dazzling they made the eye swim.

Although the young Tiandao lagged behind the Rank 1 Star Envoy in strength, speed, and physique in every respect—

Relying on his exceptional combat talent, every one of Tiandao's movements seemed to have been precisely calculated by a Supercomputer, always allowing him to evade the opponent's lethal strikes with the smallest possible motion.

"Pay attention here."

Doctor suddenly paused the footage and pointed at Tiandao's blue-glowing eyes beneath his sunglasses.

"One of the Heavenly Eye Beast's abilities: Future Sight."

"Although Tiandao currently cannot fully unleash the potential of these eyes and can only predict an opponent's actions roughly half a second ahead, that is already enough for him to challenge some veteran combat-type Rank 1 Star Envoys across ranks even without obtaining a Star Source."

After finishing, Doctor said no more, allowing everyone to slowly digest this earth-shattering information.

After an unknown amount of time, a man wearing a Griffin Mask suddenly spoke up in the VIP Room.

"Doctor, name your price."

His voice was raspy, yet it carried an unyielding force that brooked no refusal.

But however domineering his tone was, it could not extinguish the others' determination to compete.

In an instant, it was as if someone had opened the floodgates. Bids rang out one after another throughout the VIP Room.

The Canary noblewoman even removed a special gemstone ring from her hand and slammed it heavily onto the table. "Is this Star of Eternal Night enough?"

Faced with everyone's frenzy, Doctor ultimately poured cold water on them.

He shook his head elegantly, the Silver Mask reflecting a cold gleam. "Unfortunately, everyone, Tiandao Siming is not for sale."

"Although various reasons have created many disagreements and divisions among us old fellows, we have rarely reached such a unanimous agreement over this child Tiandao's future."

"That is, no matter the price, we must keep this child in Ember."

"Because only he can carry the dreams of us old fellows and prove to those who once betrayed us, abandoned us, and looked down on us that Ember was never merely ash to be swept away after burning out."

"It can also nurture the spark of a New Era and, in this brand-new age, burst forth once again with a dazzling light capable of eclipsing every star."

At that, Doctor walked directly to the holographic screen and looked at Tiandao's 3D image.

"We invited you all here today not only to demonstrate the value of the Star Project."

"Another very important purpose was to take this opportunity to let you know in advance about Ember's chosen successor."

"Because we sincerely believe that under his leadership, Ember will soon bring an end to the so-called Star Source Era and usher in a brand-new age."

After saying this, Doctor turned to the crowd and declared with a crazed expression, "Everyone, are you ready to welcome the new age?"

"An age... named Tiandao."

As if sensing something, Tiandao on the holographic screen suddenly turned his head and "looked" toward the audience.

His sunglasses reflected a cold light, and a mysterious smile curved across his lips...