Beyond Earth

In 2137, an era of highly developed technology.

Compared to the 21st century, there were two major changes.

The first was the gene technology, discovered and researched since the early 19th century, which saw several major breakthroughs starting in the mid-21st century.

Each breakthrough brought immense benefits to humanity.

Hereditary diseases were basically eradicated.

Incurable diseases were significantly reduced!

The number of incurable diseases threatening human life had plummeted from over 400 in the 21st century to 26 in the 22nd century.

Well, provided you had money.

For instance, the basic physical quality of humans themselves.

The basic human qualities enhanced solely through reproductive genetics, such as speed, strength, and lifespan, had improved by over 10% even within the ordinary human population.

The improvement after taking various gene potions was even more astonishing.

The second aspect was the achievements in space exploration, which various countries were enthusiastic about.

Nearly a hundred years ago, countries in the United Federation Zone, European Federation Zone, Russian Federation Zone, and Huaya Zone successively announced the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligent life, established contact, and attempted a certain degree of communication.

The consequence of this communication was a surge of breakthroughs in individual technical problems that had plagued humanity, but it also heralded an invasion by extraterrestrial intelligent life.

It was an invasion.

Fortunately, humanity was not short of vigilance and wisdom.

The invasion by extraterrestrial intelligent life was repelled beyond Earth, but it did not end. The Blue Star Alliance was thus established, and humanity's great gene era officially began in 2037.

And the Gene Aptitude Test was born under these circumstances.

Humans enhanced by gene potions would experience significant improvements in all aspects, even qualitative changes.

Gene Warriors on the extraterrestrial battlefield shone brightly; often, a single powerful Gene Warrior could determine the outcome of a battle and change the course of a campaign.

Humans enhanced by gene potions were better at research and faster at specialized production.

Even pilots, whether of fighter jets or spacecraft, would have higher and faster piloting skills and could withstand greater piloting intensity.

The great gene era had arrived.

Through nearly a century of research and continuous adjustments, humanity's understanding of self-exploration and integration with gene potions deepened.

This led to the Gene Aptitude Test that Xu Tui was now facing.

As the old teacher said, the college entrance examination score was merely a ticket to entry; it was more about motivating students and squeezing out their potential.

Effort and struggle would make your genes superior.

After the college entrance examination, students who passed the Gene Admission Line would receive either a D-grade or C-grade Gene Compound Chain Allele Potion, depending on their scores. This was the scientific name.

The common name was Gene Liberation Potion.

According to Xu Tui's current understanding from official knowledge—human genomes possess a natural stable chain, exhibiting a high degree of stability. Strengthening, mutation, and evolution require vast amounts of time for slow differentiation.

However, the Gene Compound Chain Allele Potion could, under safe conditions, release this stability and then, through various means, strengthen, mutate, or even evolve existing genes in a short period.

Humans who took this Gene Compound Chain Allele Potion were called Gene Liberators.

It was worth mentioning that the Gene Compound Chain Allele Potion, also known as the Gene Liberation Potion, ranged from E-grade to A-grade, with significant differences in efficacy.

E-grade was the worst, and A-grade was the best.

However, A-grade and B-grade Gene Liberation Potions were very rare, reportedly only accessible through channels within the military and gene research institutes, with extremely strict management.

The most common ones circulating in the market were E-grade Gene Liberation Potions, with D-grade and C-grade Gene Liberation Potions also available.

However, their prices were quite steep.

The difference between E-grade, D-grade, and C-grade Gene Liberation Potions lay in two aspects: first, the gene collapse rate.

Second, the gene liberation base point.

Taking an E-grade Gene Liberation Potion carried a 0.5% chance of gene collapse.

The consequence of gene collapse was immediate death, rendering any rescue efforts useless!

The gene collapse rate for D-grade Gene Liberation Potion was 0.2%, and for C-grade, it was 0.1%!

Among the E to A-grade potions, C-grade Gene Liberation Potion had the lowest mortality rate.

This was somewhat like gambling with one's life; the probability wasn't too high, and as long as one's luck wasn't too bad, they could become a Gene Liberator.

But the second aspect of the difference was something that luck could not compensate for.

It was a gap that could almost never be bridged in a lifetime.

In the setting sun, Xu Tui glanced back at Jincheng Ninth High School, which most students called purgatory, and boarded the maglev bus home.

Thanks to technological advancements, the maglev technology, which was expensive and highly restricted a hundred years ago, had developed rapidly and now served as a powerful tool to alleviate urban congestion.

About half an hour later, as Xu Tui exited the elevator, he heard sounds at his doorstep.

Aunt Ma and Old Man Xu Jianguo's voices from downstairs.

"Hey, Old Xu, what was your kid's college entrance exam score? My kid didn't do too well, but thankfully passed the Gene Admission Line."

Old Man Xu Jianguo was quite humble. As Xu Tui arrived at the doorway, he heard this voice.

"Let's not talk about it. My kid didn't do too well either."

"Didn't do well? Then what was the score?" Aunt Ma pressed.

"Anyway, it wasn't good." Old Man Xu shook his head and was about to close the door.

Aunt Ma got anxious, holding onto the door, and asked, "Even if it wasn't good, there must be a score. What is it?"

"Jinbu is back."

Xu Tui's old man saw Xu Tui and called out.

Mm, Jinbu was Xu Tui's nickname.

"Hey, Jinbu is back?"

Aunt Ma quickly reached out to Xu Tui, "Your dad said you didn't do well. What was your score?

Did you not even pass the Gene Admission Line?

My boy was really close, but thankfully he passed the Gene Admission Line?"

Xu Tui dodged, not wanting to argue for now, and looked at his old man.

According to his old man, neighborly relations were also very important.

A hand suddenly shot out from the gap in the door, grabbed Xu Tui's ear, and yanked him inside, scolding him.

"You brat, you only got 604 points, barely passing the Dual Excellence Line. What have I taught you all this time?"

"Mom, it hurts, be gentle."

As Xu Tui was dragged back into the room by his mother, Aunt Ma downstairs froze, stunned on the spot.

"Uh, see you later, Sister Ma. I'm going to start cooking."

Old Man Xu gave an awkward smile and closed the door.

Outside the door, Aunt Ma paused, then spat, "Hmph, so you passed the Dual Excellence Line, what's there to show off about?"

Inside the door, his mother stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at his father. "You always try to save face for others. Jinbu's score was earned fair and square, not by cheating. What's there to be afraid of saying?"

"I just didn't want her to lose face."

"She might lose face, but what about you?"

"Mom, I'm going to take a shower!"

Seeing that the usual nagging session was about to start, Xu Tui quickly escaped to the bathroom to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

"There's food in the pot. I'll go check on the dishes!"

The battle-hardened old man also chose the cooking escape route at the first opportunity.

Dinner consisted of only one dish of braised pork, a plate of stir-fried lettuce with oil, and a large bowl of hand-pulled noodles with hot oil poured over them, exuding a rich aroma.

Three boiled eggs were placed in Xu Tui's bowl, with a little bit of the red chili oil from the noodles, making Xu Tui's mouth water.

These were to replenish his physical energy consumption.

"Eat up."

With a slurping sound, Xu Tui wiped his oily lips and patted his stomach contentedly.

"Dad, this is the accident liability consent form and accident insurance policy that needs to be signed and fingerprinted for taking the Gene Liberation Potion tomorrow. They need to be submitted tomorrow," Xu Tui said, taking out a piece of paper.

His father didn't look at the content, but after glancing at his equally solemn mother, Zhang Xiuli, he looked back at Xu Tui.

"Jinbu, you passed the Dual Excellence Line, but there's still a one in a thousand chance of death when taking the Gene Liberation Potion tomorrow. In reality, the death rate is a bit higher than that. Are you scared?"

Xu Tui nodded first, then shook his head.

"Last year, 230,000 students in our Jincheng passed the line and took the Gene Liberation Potion. Over 400 students' genomes collapsed on the spot during the process. Everyone thinks misfortune won't befall them, but by the time misfortune strikes, it's too late. Jinbu, if you're scared, or don't want to, or have any fear, then just say so. I can refuse to sign this accident liability consent form. Although your future development will be limited, our family of three will have no problem with food and shelter."

As he spoke, Old Man Xu Jianguo pushed the accident liability consent form that Xu Tui had handed him back to Xu Tui. He ignored the insurance policy.

"Jinbu, your future is yours to decide!"

Although his father's status in the family fluctuated, his mother, Zhang Xiuli, was always quiet and never interrupted when it came to serious matters.

Xu Tui looked at the accident liability consent form before him and suddenly looked out the window.

"Dad, the TV says extraterrestrial intelligent life has been invading for almost a hundred years. I want to go and see what they look like."

After taking a deep breath, Xu Tui, having made up his mind, pushed the accidental liability waiver back in front of his dad, Xu Jianguo.

"Dad, if there's a chance, I want to see what's beyond Earth!"

His mother, Zhang Xiuli, pursed her lips, her eyes filled with worry.

A one-in-a-thousand mortality rate didn't sound high, but when it came down to an individual, it was a hundred percent chance of death. How could parents not worry?

Dad Xu Jianguo glanced at his wife, then at his son Xu Tui. He picked up the pen and, with a few swift strokes, signed his name on the accidental liability waiver. He even pulled his wife's finger over to add her fingerprint!

His dad suddenly stood up and solemnly handed the accidental liability confirmation to Xu Tui.

"Xu Tui, from today onward, your future is yours to decide. But you must always remember one thing."

"In Mom and Dad's eyes, as long as you're safe, healthy, and bouncing around, that's the best!"

Xu Tui nodded vigorously.

His mother, Zhang Xiuli, however, started crying before she could say anything.

"Mom, don't worry. I'm on the Dual Excellence Line, and I'm not only using the C-grade Gene Liberation Potion with a lower mortality rate, but also a bottle of Gene Activation Stabilization Potion that can halve the death rate!

My mortality rate might only be zero point five in a thousand."

"Is that how you comfort people?" Seeing his wife crying even harder, Dad Xu Jianguo glared.

"With your straightforward personality, I'm really worried if you'll ever find a girlfriend!

Will we ever get to hold our grandchild?"

His dad was extremely experienced in such situations.

As soon as he employed the tactic of changing the subject, his mother, Zhang Xiuli, immediately stopped crying and began planning Xu Tui's future.

"They're encouraging births now, Jinbu. You must let us hold our grandson before you graduate."

Xu Tui fled in disarray.

"Mom, we have triple training volume today, so I'm really tired. I'll go to bed early."

"This child..." His mother, Zhang Xiuli, was a little displeased.

"Don't forget your evening meditation," his dad, Xu Jianguo, reminded him.

"I'm already used to it, Dad!"

Back in his small room, Xu Tui brushed his teeth. He casually browsed his personal communicator's friend feed for a few minutes, seeing almost all posts were about classmates' moods.

As soon as five minutes were up, Xu Tui turned off his personal communicator.

As a high school student, managing his time well was very important.

Afterward, Xu Tui took off his shoes, got into bed, and sat down cross-legged. His eyes were slightly closed as he began to inhale through his nose and exhale through his mouth, relaxing his entire body. Within minutes, he entered a serene meditative state.

This was something his father, Xu Jianguo, had taught Xu Tui since he was little and made him stick with: the evening meditation.

The main reason Xu Tui could stick with it was that meditation allowed him to relax quickly and fall asleep fast.

Especially when he was a child and couldn't sleep after watching exciting hot-blooded anime, or when he was so scared after watching a horror movie that he couldn't sleep all night, falling asleep at dawn, only for school time to arrive.

That suffering was simply unbearable.

This evening meditation allowed Xu Tui to clear his mind in a very short time and enter a deep sleep.

And no matter how tired he was the night before, he would be full of energy the next day!

Half an hour later, Xu Tui, still meditating, leaned slightly and fell asleep on the bed, his legs still in the cross-legged position.

A little while later, the door gently opened, and his mother, Zhang Xiuli, came to Xu Tui's bedside, pulled the blanket up for him, and gazed at him for a long time before quietly leaving.

*******

Everyone passing by, don't forget to collect and recommend!