Family Banquet

"Stage 12?"

"Tier 1 Stage 12?"

The Evolutionary Association President was somewhat dumbfounded.

It was not that Tier 1 Stage 12 itself surprised him.

A Tier 1 Stage 12 Evolutionary was undeniably powerful. Even in all of East Ning City, they belonged to the absolute top tier.

But the Evolutionary Association President had an extraordinary background. Having risen to his position, he had even met genuine Tier 2 Evolutionaries.

What shocked the Evolutionary Association President was that Lin Yuan possessed the strength of Tier 1 Stage 12 on his very first visit to register. One had to know that an Evolutionary's growth in strength required gradual progression as well.

It was impossible to be Tier 1 today and jump to Tier 2 tomorrow.

The Universe Human Alliance had extremely strict standards for classifying the strength of Ranked Evolutionaries.

Compared to Tier 1 Evolutionaries, Tier 2 Evolutionaries differed by more than a hundredfold in energy fluctuations alone.

Such an enormous gap was difficult to cross in a short time.

Yet Lin Yuan had reached Tier 1 Stage 12 when he came to register with the Association for the first time.

The Evolutionary Association President had two theories about this.

The first was that Lin Yuan was exceptionally good at hiding.

He had become an Evolutionary long ago but had simply never registered, keeping it hidden until now, when he had reached Tier 1 Stage 12.

That possibility was unlikely.

Given the Human Alliance's oversight of Evolutionaries,

an unregistered Evolutionary who revealed his strength without authorization would be punished if discovered.

Even if Lin Yuan used his Second Level Citizen privileges to avoid punishment, the Evolutionary Association President would have learned of it in passing.

There was no way he could still know nothing by now.

The second possibility was that Lin Yuan's evolutionary talent was terrifyingly exceptional.

He might have gone from Tier 1 Stage 1 to Stage 12 in only a few years, or even less than a decade.

With the Human Alliance's life-extension technology, a Tier 1 Evolutionary could easily live five hundred years. A few years naturally meant nothing.

The Evolutionary Association President leaned toward the second theory.

Compared to the president's calm analysis and contemplation,

Zhu Qianqian beside him had slightly parted her lips.

Oh my god.

This was a Stage 12 Evolutionary.

Zhu Qianqian had worked here for nearly two years.

This was the first time she had seen a Stage 12 Evolutionary.

In a place like East Ning City, a Tier 1 Stage 12 Evolutionary was already the ceiling. Their numbers were comparable to those of Second Level Citizens, and they were not people one could casually encounter.

Moreover, this Stage 12 Evolutionary was Lin Yuan, who looked no different from an ordinary person.

That contrast made Zhu Qianqian find it even more unbelievable.

According to the officially published standard combat strength of a Tier 1 Stage 12 Evolutionary, a single strike was enough to destroy a skyscraper dozens of meters tall.

The thought of such immense power being contained within Lin Yuan's body left Zhu Qianqian utterly baffled.

"Let's go."

"Let's receive Mr. Lin."

The Evolutionary Association President spent only two breaths thinking.

Then he decided to personally head to the Assessment Room and wait for Lin Yuan to emerge.

At first, the president had only intended to meet Lin Yuan and build a good relationship with him.

But now, having inferred the other man's terrifying evolutionary talent, the president felt that he needed to lower his stance somewhat.

Assessment Room.

Lin Yuan opened his eyes and rose from the Virtual World Cabin.

"What a pity."

Lin Yuan gently shook his head.

After he defeated the twelfth opponent, the Assessment Space immediately formed an opponent at the Tier 2 level.

Lin Yuan did not withdraw. Instead, he wanted to see how great the gap was between himself and those Tier 2 Evolutionaries.

The result was obvious.

After enduring only three moves, Lin Yuan was defeated.

"Tier 2."

Countless flashes of insight suddenly passed through Lin Yuan's mind. With Heaven-Defying Comprehension supporting him, he actually began to slowly comprehend the path ahead.

To begin grasping the essence of Tier 2 after just one battle with a Tier 2 Evolutionary—if word got out, who knew how many Evolutionaries would smash their heads into walls.

Compared with Lin Yuan, the vast majority of Evolutionaries might as well have lived like dogs.

Yet to Lin Yuan, this was perfectly ordinary.

Under Heaven-Defying Comprehension, Lin Yuan was in a state of Sudden Enlightenment at every moment. Even without fighting a Tier 2 Evolutionary, comprehending the Tier 2 realm had been inevitable. It was merely a matter of sooner or later.

"I have the general direction now. I can break through within five years."

A smile appeared on Lin Yuan's face.

Coming to the Evolutionary Association this time had truly been the right choice.

Not only had he registered himself in passing, but he had also understood the road ahead.

Bang.

Lin Yuan pushed open the door.

He saw Zhu Qianqian and a middle-aged man standing outside.

"Mr. Lin, this is our president."

Zhu Qianqian immediately introduced him.

"The president?"

Lin Yuan looked toward the middle-aged man.

The president of the Evolutionary Association was unquestionably an influential figure, likely ranking among the top five people in all of East Ning City.

"My surname is Liao."

The middle-aged man stepped forward and spoke warmly.

"What president? I'm merely a few years older than you, Mr. Lin. If you don't mind, you can just call me Brother Liao."

Chairman Liao said enthusiastically.

The two chatted for a while.

Then Lin Yuan rose to take his leave.

Chairman Liao personally escorted Lin Yuan to the entrance.

The next day.

Lin Yuan returned home.

"Tomorrow, be a little sweeter with your words. Even though you're an Evolutionary now, you can't act too distant. They're all relatives. Even an Evolutionary has to understand social etiquette. You might need those relatives' help someday."

His mother, Lu Qiong, reminded Lin Yuan while cooking.

"I understand."

Lin Yuan took two bites and finished his sister's cake, then turned his gaze toward the large bag of snacks beside it.

Tomorrow was the day of the family banquet. Lin Yuan's distant relatives would come over to congratulate him on becoming an Evolutionary, while also taking the opportunity to gather together.

Lin Yuan naturally remembered it. His father, Lin Shoucheng, had mentioned it to him a few days ago.

"Hey, Old Lin, do you think we should book a few tables at Prosperity Star Hotel?"

His mother, Lu Qiong, asked hesitantly.

The reason for her hesitation was that Prosperity Star Hotel was one of the highest-end hotels in Donghai City. The cost of a table there was equivalent to several months of Lin Shoucheng's salary.

Lu Qiong truly found it hard to part with the money.

"Book them. Of course we should book them at Prosperity Star."

His father, Lin Shoucheng, answered without a moment's hesitation.

"Uncle Nian specially invited Lin Hao this time. He's the secretary of some Bureau Chief in East Ning City. We can't make Yuan lose face."

Lin Shoucheng said.

"Lin Hao..."

His mother, Lu Qiong, was somewhat distracted.

Given Lin Hao's social standing, he and their family could practically be said to belong to two different classes.

Usually, Lin Shoucheng did not even have an opportunity to meet Lin Hao.

Who would have thought that because Lin Yuan had become an Evolutionary, they had actually invited such an important figure?

"Then we really do have to book it at Prosperity Star."

Lu Qiong nodded.

In her simple view, since Lin Hao was willing to make time to come, their family naturally had to entertain him properly.

Spending a little more money was only right.

East Ning City.

Inside a luxurious residence.

Chu Shiyu stood there with his head lowered.

Before him sat a bearded man.

"You investigated information related to that classmate of yours, only to receive a warning from the main consciousness of the Goddess of Wisdom?"

The bearded man wore a grave expression as he asked again.

"Yes."

"Grandfather, I didn't do it on purpose."

Chu Shiyu's face turned pale with fear, and his legs trembled faintly.

The bearded man sitting before him was the founder of Chu Corporation.

He had suddenly summoned him today to ask why he had been warned by the Goddess of Wisdom.

Chu Shiyu could only answer truthfully.

"Whether it was intentional is unimportant. For your classmate to receive this level of personal information protection from the Goddess of Wisdom, his background is far from simple."

"You may not have targeted him at the time, but if he takes it to heart, we'll be in trouble."

"Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll take you to visit your classmate's home."

The bearded man made up his mind.

It was not that he was making such a huge fuss over nothing; the gravity of the matter had simply exceeded imagination.

That was the Goddess of Wisdom, who governed the entire Universe Human Alliance! Even Star Lords had to proceed with caution, much less the Chu Family.

When it came to anything related to the Goddess of Wisdom, one could never be too careful.

"Okay, okay..."

Chu Shiyu agreed through gritted teeth.

At another estate.

Huo Qingyao stood ramrod straight as he held a video call with a stern-looking man in military uniform.

"The Goddess of Wisdom... Your classmate has probably already been placed on the Goddess's priority watchlist."

"He will certainly achieve great things in the future."

The imposing man in military uniform said slowly from the other end of the video call.

"Achieve great things..."

Huo Qingyao shrank his neck.

For his uncle to give such an evaluation, it meant Lin Yuan's future accomplishments would far exceed the limits of a mere East Ning City.

"You brat really know how to cause trouble."

"Fine, I'll make a trip for you."

"No matter what your classmate achieves in the future, the first thing to do is ease the relationship between you two."

"That day, you boasted that you could mobilize the enlistment list. Anyone with even a little discernment would see that as arrogant nonsense."

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to apologize to him."

"We don't need to become friends, but at least we cannot become enemies."

The military man on the other end of the video call said.

Evolutionary Association.

Chairman Liao sat in his chair.

Before long.

His secretary entered.

"Have you found out Mr. Lin's background?"

Chairman Liao looked up and asked.

"Chairman, Mr. Lin Yuan's personal information has been sealed by the Goddess of Wisdom. I did not dare continue investigating, for fear of causing trouble."

The secretary spoke directly.

"Sealed by the Goddess?"

Chairman Liao's expression turned solemn.

Why would the Goddess of Wisdom personally seal the information of a single citizen? Even if he were a Second Level Citizen, that would make no sense.

There had to be some other reason.

"However, while we couldn't investigate Mr. Lin Yuan, we did learn something about his parents."

"Mr. Lin's parents are natives of East Ning City. They were born and raised here and have no connection to anywhere else."

The secretary suddenly said.

"So, Mr. Lin is from East Ning City as well?"

A sharp glint flashed in Chairman Liao's eyes.

"What do you mean, Chairman?"

Seeing this, the secretary immediately guessed something and could not help asking.

"Whether it can be done or not, we'll have to ask him in person."

"Do this: clear tomorrow's schedule. I'll personally pay Mr. Lin a visit at his home and discuss it with him in detail."

Chairman Liao said solemnly.