Today was the big day when the Kellen Family's Second Son would unlock his genes!
At that moment, guests streamed endlessly into the Kellen Family residence, all smiling and offering their congratulations to the family head, Clarence.
A young man stood in the main hall.
He looked about sixteen years old. He had handsome features, black hair, and black eyes, making him look quite different from the people around him.
What was strange was that his eyes were filled with a foolish, vacant air. Even though the hall was filled with imperial dignitaries, the young man did not spare them a glance.
His eyes remained fixed on the mechanical component in his hands. It seemed that the only thing in the entire hall that could interest him was the mechanical component he held.
This young man was the protagonist of today's gene-unlocking ceremony, Kellen Su Ming!
Sixteen was exactly the age at which one unlocked one's genes. It was also the best time to witness the effort and talent accumulated over the previous sixteen years.
The firmer one's foundation and the greater one's talent, the more powerful the energy level produced within the body would be upon first unlocking the genes!
As the offspring of an Apocalypse Level powerhouse, everyone faintly felt that Kellen Su Ming did not seem particularly intelligent.
Even so, they still held immense expectations for Kellen Su Ming's potential.
After all, Su Ming's elder brother, Kellen Suri, had set the Empire's record for the past ten years when he unlocked his genes two years ago.
Gene Level: 13 points!
Brain Domain Level: 15 points!
Gene Level represented a person's combat power in terms of martial force. For ordinary people, a level of around 5 to 8 points upon first unlocking the genes was already considered genius-level. Yet the Kellen Family's eldest son had reached a Gene Level of 13 points.
Even more astonishingly, Suri's Brain Domain Level had reached 15 points.
Brain Domain Level represented a person's ability to pilot mecha. The higher the level, the more powerful the mecha one could pilot.
Although martial force, once it reached a certain level, was not necessarily weaker than mecha.
At the same level and with the same martial force, however, anyone capable of piloting mecha was absolutely invincible!
Like father, like son. Suri had already proven with his talent that the offspring of an Apocalypse Level powerhouse were no good-for-nothings. In the future, Kellen Suri would certainly become a powerhouse on the level of an imperial pillar.
And now... as Kellen Suri's younger brother, Kellen Su Ming...
He would probably shock the world once again today.
No wonder the Kellen Family's head, Clarence, had returned directly from the battlefield specifically to witness his son's rise!
Seeing that the time was almost right, Clarence smiled and said to the old man in front of him, "Mr. Isok, let's begin!"
Isok nodded. He took out a syringe filled with dark green liquid and injected it into Su Ming's arm.
This was Gene Plasma, a product born after technological civilization had developed to its peak and gradually begun unlocking the human body's combat potential.
It could unlock the genes within the human body, granting people the ability to break through their genetic limitations.
After the Gene Plasma was injected, Su Ming's body immediately filled with a sensation of revival.
Clarence looked at his Second Son in the center of the hall and slowly nodded, a trace of satisfaction flashing through his eyes.
Reaching this point practically meant that the gene unlocking had succeeded. All that remained was to wait for Su Ming's genes to open and test his two values!
A remarkably handsome young man standing beside Kellen Clarence now looked at Su Ming in the middle of the hall, a gloomy glint flashing deep in his eyes.
This young man was Su Ming's elder brother, Kellen Suri!
The reputed number-one genius of the Empire in the past decade.
Yet his gaze toward Su Ming held none of the kindness an elder brother should show his younger brother. It contained only the wariness and rejection one would show toward a competitor!
At that moment, Su Ming suddenly released a sensation of breaking free from restraints.
"Congratulations, Lord Clarence. Your son has successfully unlocked his genes! The Empire will soon have two new pillars!"
The surrounding guests hurriedly offered their congratulations.
A smile flashed through Clarence's eyes, but he still spoke modestly. "My son hasn't had his two values checked yet, so it's too early to draw a conclusion. Mr. Isok, please help check Su Ming's levels!"
Isok nodded with a smile, then pressed an instrument against Su Ming's arm.
Two values quickly appeared on the instrument.
Everyone hurriedly looked over, curiously examining the figures on the device. When they saw the "1" and "-3" displayed on it, they all widened their eyes in disbelief.
"1" and "-3" meant that Su Ming's Gene Level was only 1 point, while his Brain Domain Level was even lower than that of an ordinary person!
"Could the testing device be broken? Try another one!"
Isok hurriedly took out another testing device, but the result was still "1" and "-3."
He changed devices several times in succession, but the result remained the same.
This time, everyone in the main hall exchanged glances, each seeing the indescribable look in the others' eyes.
Kellen Clarence's Second Son, the Kellen Family's second young master, Kellen Su Ming, was a cripple!
If one's level upon first unlocking the genes was below 3 points, one could practically be judged a cripple.
There was almost no chance of cultivating to any significant level in the future.
How could this be? The eldest young master was peerless, while the second young master was a good-for-nothing?
"I thought the Second Young Master Su Ming looked like an idiot, so I figured his level wouldn't be very high. I never expected it to be this low."
"This is going to be entertaining. The offspring of an illustrious Apocalypse Level powerhouse is not only a good-for-nothing but also an idiot!"
Kellen Clarence stared wide-eyed at Kellen Su Ming in disbelief. He then abruptly slammed the table and rose, pointing at a nearby attendant as he shouted, "In all these years, did Su Ming never cultivate? Even a little cultivation should have produced a different value!"
The attendant beside him immediately knelt and prostrated himself, trembling. "Please forgive me, Family Head. The Second Young Master is obsessed with mechanical components. He can't let them leave his hands at any time, or he starts wailing uncontrollably. He simply can't cultivate normally."
Seeing this, a trace of smugness flashed through Suri's eyes. He gave a meaningful look to someone in the guests' section.
That person immediately stood up and said to Kellen Clarence, "Lord Clarence, according to imperial law, during wartime, citizens who have reached sixteen years of age and possess no cultivation talent must go to a rear-line logistics planet and work there for five years."
"Lord Clarence, as the Imperial Marshal, surely you won't use your authority to evade this matter, will you?"
Kellen Clarence turned his gaze toward the man, a chill flashing through his eyes.
The man was an official from his political opposition. He had never expected him to launch an attack at a time like this.
By saying this directly in front of so many dignitaries, he had made it impossible for Clarence to use his authority to protect his son, even if he wanted to.
But... who did this man think Clarence was? How could he care about the coercion of some insignificant official?
He ignored the official and shifted his gaze to Su Ming. Then he slowly asked, "Son, tell me. Will you cultivate properly from now on and stop immersing yourself in mechanical components?"
Imperial law applied to those without cultivation talent.
But if Clarence was willing to pour enough resources into him, Su Ming still had a chance to cultivate in the future.
All he needed now was a single answer from Su Ming.
But at that moment, when Su Ming heard that someone wanted to stop him from analyzing mechanical components, he immediately panicked. "No, no! I'm only missing one component. Let me finish it first!"
As soon as they heard this, the entire hall erupted in laughter.
At a time like this, the Second Young Master was still thinking about fiddling with mechanical components. He really was hopeless—a useless idiot!
A deep fury flashed through Clarence's eyes. His own son was truly damn stupid! Even if he wanted to protect him, there was no way he could do so.
Now that Su Ming had said this, it was obvious he had no intention of cultivating properly. What reason could Clarence possibly have to protect his son under the eyes of so many imperial dignitaries?
"Forget it. My Kellen Family has no need for a mentally deficient young master. Keeping him here would only make him a good-for-nothing. Send him to a logistics planet to work for five years!"
Deep disappointment filled Clarence's eyes. He waved his hand and said to the attendant beside him, "Since he wants to play with mechanical components, send him to the Mechanical Maintenance Department and let him play to his heart's content!"
"The Kellen Family has no need for cripples. From today onward, strip Su Ming of the Kellen surname. Now, take Su Ming away!"
Clarence spoke slowly and did not look at Su Ming again, as if the young man before him were the disgrace of the entire Kellen Family.
After hearing Clarence's words, an attendant rose and supported Su Ming as they headed toward the door.
Just as they were about to reach the entrance, Su Ming stared at the mechanical component in his hands. Then, with a click, he successfully analyzed it, splitting it into two separate parts.
"Hehehe... The last one... I finally finished it..."
Su Ming's foolish-sounding voice came from outside the door, causing the people in the hall to burst into laughter once more. Clarence's face grew even more livid.
However... no one knew that, at that moment, a strange electronic voice suddenly rang out in Su Ming's mind.
"Beep... The achievement of analyzing one million mechanical components has been completed. The Mecha Martial Venerable System is activating..."
"Beep... System activation complete. The sealed consciousness is returning..."
"Beep... Altering genes. Transforming the carbon-based organism into a Starlight Body. Acquiring the Nine Radiance Star Saint Body..."
"Beep... Acquired the Starry Sky Limitless Heavenly Art..."
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