Radiant World

This world had quite a few similarities to his previous life. Its technological level was roughly equivalent to the early twentieth century; it had everything it should have. At the very least, Le Yu did not have to worry about having no paper to wipe himself after taking a dump.

The greatest difference was that this world had a single unified nation.

The East Sea Archipelago, the Thousand-Mountain Southern Frontier, the Beyond-the-Pass Woodlands, and even the fertile Central Plains—all lands on this continent belonged to one regime: the Radiant Court.

The Radiant Court was not only the unified government of these vast lands, but also... a Heaven's Mandate regime that had endured for two thousand years!

When Le Yu unearthed this passage from Qian Yuliu's memories, his first instinct was that Qian Yuliu had been brainwashed—no monarchy lasted forever. How could a feudal regime survive for two thousand years? Had the laws of historical cycles been eaten by dogs?

Land Annexation, natural disasters and man-made calamities, factional strife—any one of these combinations could bring down a dynasty!

But as Le Yu continued digging, he finally discovered the greatest difference between this world and his original one, as well as the foundation of the Radiant Court's eternal monarchy: Radiant Stone resources.

Radiant Stone was a rare mineral resource found widely throughout the land. It had special uses in many industrial fields, but its greatest effect was this: it could alter Mental Power.

If a baby had a crystal shard containing Radiant Stone implanted from infancy, then after more than a decade of alteration, once the baby grew into an adult, they would naturally activate their Mental Power attributes. They could even use Mental Power to power various Radiant Stone machines or unleash supernatural abilities.

Activating Mental Power also aided self-recovery, improved resistance, enhanced training results, and even strengthened learning ability. It could be said that in this world, failing to activate Mental Power was equivalent to being disabled.

The founding ancestor of the Radiant Court had discovered the wonderful uses of Radiant Stone for humanity, developed them to their fullest, built a powerful army, and thus laid the foundation for Radiance's eternal reign.

However, while Radiant Stone benefited humanity, it did not benefit political unification. It could even intensify political conflict. Yet through research, the Court invented two new technologies: Radiant Stone Positioning and Radiant Stone Echo.

Thus, the first article of the Radiant Constitution, which had endured for a thousand years, was born:

"The glory of the Radiant Charter shines upon all citizens."

According to the Constitution, all newborn infants had to receive an implant of a Radiant Stone crystal shard. It had a name derived from the Constitution: the Radiant Charter. Once implanted into the human body, the Radiant Charter automatically synchronized with Mental Power, and every Radiant Charter was unique.

No one would refuse the Radiant Charter implant, a prerequisite for survival in this world that activated one's Mental Power attributes. For the Court, once everyone possessed a Radiant Charter, the entire world became transparent before their eyes.

Through Radiant Stone Positioning and Echo technology, the Court could determine anyone's exact coordinates. From then on, no rebellion could ever stir up trouble again.

There had not been no uprisings and rebellions in Radiance's history, but for the Court, it was as though they fought with god's-eye view while the rebels were shrouded in the fog of war.

The immense gap in intelligence was enough for the Court to effortlessly crush any rebellion at any time. They did not even need a large army to suppress them; a small squad of elites could defeat many with few. When you always knew the enemy's exact movements, pulling off ingenious schemes like arson, cutting off supplies, or overturning the table was absurdly easy.

Le Yu could not help feeling a trace of respect for the Radiant Court's forebears. The Radiant Charter was like giving everyone in the world a suit of armor while also granting them a vulnerable weakness. Even knowing it would create a new weakness, no one could refuse this gift.

However, no matter how great a technology or system was, it would eventually come to an end.

In Huiyao Calendar 2082, the Skyline District raised the flag of Against the Light, and Skyline Governor Ma Yuanyi was sacrificed to the cause.

In Huiyao Calendar 2083, Against the Light rebels appeared in every administrative district, and the 145th Radiant Emperor was assassinated and died. That same year, an edict that sent everyone into wild celebration was announced to the realm:

"Each administrative district shall suppress the Against the Light rebels independently. They are permitted to mobilize troops at their discretion and need not report to the Cardinal Department."

To Le Yu, this edict was clearly one of the beginnings of the chaotic age. With this decree, every governor could openly lay hands on military power, unite military and civil authority, appoint officials, and turn their own territory into a state within a state.

But compared to the state of the world, Le Yu was more concerned with the supernatural Mental Power activated by the Radiant Charter.

He touched the back of his neck. The Radiant Charter was implanted above the cervical spine. He could barely feel it by touch; it seemed to have merged into his body.

Over the centuries, the Radiant People had developed all kinds of supernatural techniques for wielding Mental Power, known as battle techniques and Secret Arts. Qian Yuliu had used no weapon, yet removed Le Yu's head with nothing but his hands. That had been a Mental Power battle technique.

Beyond offensive methods, heightened Mental Power gave the Awakened an almost precognitive instinct for danger. Its most direct manifestation was that all novice Awakened could automatically evade aimed attacks!

Le Yu stepped out of the sedan and glanced at the bullet-hole cracks in the windshield. He did not feel much lingering fear.

That was because when he had turned his head to evade the shot, it had not been luck, but a passive skill.

For an Awakened of his level, unless he faced a dense barrage of gunfire, the instant any firearm aimed at him, he would automatically evade!

A world where everyone has superpowers...

Le Yu and Chen Fu entered the Statistics Department. The reception staff greeted them calmly, while the agents passing by wore composed expressions, utterly unmoved by the attack that had just occurred.

Were they accustomed to it, or simply fearless?

Their department was the Statistics Department Special Operations First Action Team, located on the second floor of the Statistics Department. When Le Yu arrived at the second-floor office, a young man sitting near the door smiled. "Captain Qian is back. Does that mean we can get off work?"

Qian Yuliu was the captain of the First Action Team. Although he himself had no awareness of it, the fact that someone of his age and background could hold such a position was enough to prove just how exceptionally gifted he was.

Drawing on Qian Yuliu's memories, Le Yu replied in his usual calm tone, "Ten more minutes. Leave early, and your bonus gets docked."

"Ah—how boring. We finally got a field assignment, and Captain, you stole it from us. Did you catch any Against the Light Faction members?" The young man stretched lazily, picked up a pen, and spun it between his fingers.

"Fine, Zhu Junjie. From now on, every field assignment goes to you." Chen Fu gave a dismissive snort, sat down, and propped his feet on the desk. "We caught one utterly useless Against the Light Faction member. The moment he came out, Brother Qian took his head off. Nothing interesting about it."

"The Anti-Light Rebels are all like that. Anyone with a brain would not be stupid enough to oppose the Court." Zhu Junjie laughed.

"Our county is doing pretty well. Yesterday, the Anti-Light Rebels in neighboring Eaglehorn County tried to seize military supplies. The Statistics Department people over there are so busy they're working twenty-four-hour shifts. Unlike us, we can drink tea, read the papers, and wait to clock out." Another female agent, Ally, said.

"Who knows when these Anti-Light Rebels will finally be wiped out? I had planned to join the Internal Affairs Department, but who knew I'd be transferred to the Statistics Department..." complained Zhou Guangshi, a rather handsome male agent.

Chen Fu giggled. "I know, little Zhouzhou, you want to join the Internal Affairs Department and get promoted. Ah, no, that was wrong. I should respectfully call you Governor Zhou. When you get rich and powerful, don't forget us!"

The others laughed and joined in. "Governor Zhou, don't forget us when you get rich and powerful!" "Get rich and powerful, get rich and powerful." "Zhouzhou, remember to stay rich and powerful!"

Le Yu did not join the conversation. Qian Yuliu was not the sort of superior who enjoyed getting along happily with his subordinates.

But judging by what they said, the Statistics Department's agent teams normally had little work. That meant he should be able to enjoy a peaceful stretch of Moyu days, so the mission challenge of survive for fifteen days should not be difficult to complete...

Suddenly, a sinister greeting sounded from the doorway:

"The whole building could hear you chatting."