The No. 37 Long Sequence Observation Mission

Xu Tui had become a sensation among the first-year freshmen at Huaxia Gene Evolution University in record time.

He had eclipsed several astonishingly talented classmates with an overwhelming lead.

Take Pi De, for example, who had activated 25 Gene Points and was hailed as a once-in-a-decade prodigy.

On the first day of freshman registration, he had already been confirmed as an F-grade Gene Liberator.

They said that activating one more Gene Ability Chain would make him an E-grade Gene Liberator.

Then there was Zuo Qingqing, who had activated 24 Gene Points and had been rated an F-grade Gene Liberator upon admission. She was also from the Mysterious System.

And Che Heng, who had activated 24 Gene Points and had likewise been rated an F-grade Gene Liberator upon admission.

Most of the buzz around this year's incoming freshmen had originally been about them.

The school's official social media account, its news channel, campus hot topics, and student reporters had all focused their coverage on those few.

Then, in just half an hour, news about Xu Tui flooded everyone's feeds!

A D-grade authority powerhouse among the freshmen!

Soybean Superman takes on four and scores a decisive victory!

A freak among the freshmen takes down nearly half the new students in the Limitless System!

D-grade authority, Soybean God, handsome and tall—how is that fair?!

One sensational report after another appeared on social media.

Of course, there were plenty of negative ones, too.

And no shortage of doubts.

There weren't many teachers with D-grade authority, let alone students—especially freshmen.

Xu Tui, the person at the center of it all, took a casual look and then closed the page.

He didn't want his newly acquired D-grade lower authority exposed to the public in such a high-profile way.

If he had the choice, Xu Tui would much rather keep a low profile and quietly make his fortune.

Unfortunately, Yuan Shu hadn't given him that option.

Faced with a choice between keeping a low profile and safeguarding his future prospects and studies, Xu Tui had decisively chosen the latter.

With a crowd of classmates watching, Xu Tui went straight to the finger-and-palm strength testing station.

Compared to before, the testing instructor was clearly treating him with more respect—and even a hint of special consideration.

"Remember, give it everything you've got. You can even borrow a little force here." At the testing center, the instructor spoke with great warmth.

"Borrow force?"

Xu Tui looked puzzled.

"Finger-and-palm strength is a minor category, after all. It's easily affected by your forearm muscles and wrist strength. Borrowing a little force during the test is no big deal," the instructor explained.

Xu Tui was stunned.

"Teacher, wouldn't that count as cheating?"

"No!"

The instructor answered firmly. "At most, it's a tiny flaw in the test.

Even if someone from the Inspectorate were sitting right here, they couldn't say a thing.

You're still so young. What's wrong with giving you a little consideration?"

Xu Tui was stunned.

That sounded a little off.

Giving him special consideration?

That made no sense at all.

"If anyone has a problem with it, let their father go to the battlefield, too. I'll give them the same consideration." The instructor fiddled with the equipment as he spoke.

Only then did Xu Tui understand.

It was the same misunderstanding as with Chai Xiao.

They thought he had inherited his D-grade lower authority.

They thought his father had been an unknown fallen hero.

Xu Tui wanted to explain, but after thinking it over, he kept quiet.

It was too much trouble.

If he said he hadn't inherited the authority, he'd have to explain how he got it.

That would mean a whole lot of explaining.

Better to say nothing.

Let them misunderstand.

It would only mean a little extra trouble for his father, Xu Jianguo.

Though it wasn't really trouble.

This was a scientific society, not a superstitious one.

Other people might consider his father a fallen hero, but that wouldn't make him one.

"Xu Tui, this is pretty good. Your finger strength is 37 kilograms, your burst speed is 22 meters per second, and your accuracy within five meters is 82 percent. You don't need any special consideration—you're guaranteed a 'Good' rating."

"Thank you, Teacher!"

"Good boy. Off you go." The female instructor looked at him with affection.

Xu Tui: "..."

Xu Tui was pleased to receive a "Good" rating for his finger-and-palm strength ability.

After looking over the Assessment Form, Chai Xiao seemed a little disappointed.

"Just a little short. If your finger strength were over 50 kilograms, your burst speed over 25 meters per second, and your accuracy within ten meters at least 80 percent,

then you'd basically be considered to have activated a Gene Ability Chain and would receive the Finger Burst ability rating.

You'd be recognized as an F-grade Gene Liberator.

That would raise your freshman tier rating by another small grade."

At that, Chai Xiao suddenly froze. "Wait, that means a small-grade increase from your finger-and-palm strength would take you to a Mid C-grade rating.

And if you were also an F-grade Gene Liberator, you'd get a High C-grade rating.

You're going to the moon!

Good thing you didn't make it.

You should only get a Mid C-grade rating."

Chai Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, though he still felt a little envious.

But only for a moment.

In the next instant, Chai Xiao leaned toward Xu Tui again. "Hey, buddy, tell me how you got that D-grade lower authority, will you?"

"Old Chai, I've already told you. I really did find a spy lying low on the way here. Why don't you believe me?"

"Is it that easy to find a spy?

"Every year during freshman registration, serious losses caused by spies leaking information occur in various places.

"The Special Intelligence Agency goes all out every year, and they still can't root out all the spies and traitors," Chai Xiao said.

"That's not the right way to look at it. Without the Special Intelligence Agency, there might be even more serious losses caused by spies and traitors," Xu Tui said.

"True."

Before long, Xu Tui arrived at the testing center for the Mysterious System.

As soon as he entered the Mysterious System's testing center, Xu Tui felt an indescribable sense of relief.

The Limitless Academy had been far too crowded.

Coming from the Limitless Academy to the Mysterious Academy was like leaving a bustling city and stepping into the wilderness.

It was so spacious.

There was no line at all in front of Teacher Bian of the Wisdom Heart System.

Teacher Bian, whose hair was half white, sipped goji berry tea while flipping through a book.

"Teacher Bian."

"Hmm, finished testing? Why did it take so long? Let me see." Teacher Bian took the Assessment Form from Xu Tui.

"Oh, so you went to the Limitless System to test another ability. A 'Good' rating—not bad."

After checking the records, Teacher Bian quickly printed out a final assessment sheet.

"Xu Tui, you've activated twenty Gene Points, so your basic tier rating is Low C-grade. Your sensing ability is rated as ordinary.

"That's only enough to keep your Low C-grade rating from dropping to High D-grade, so you'll stay at your current tier.

"However, your finger-and-palm strength ability is rated 'Good.' According to the rules, that lets us raise your tier rating by one small grade.

"So your freshman admission tier rating is Mid C-grade. Is that right?" Teacher Bian asked.

"That's right." Xu Tui nodded.

After confirming it, Teacher Bian printed out another sheet and handed it to Xu Tui.

"Here. This is your final rating confirmation, and it also determines your tier benefits. Your benefits will remain at this level for three months.

"If everything looks right, sign to confirm," Teacher Bian said.

Xu Tui took it and was about to sign when he suddenly stopped.

"Teacher Bian, did you make a mistake? I should have a Mid C-grade rating. Why does it say my benefits are at the High C-grade level?" Xu Tui asked.

Chai Xiao quickly leaned in. "You're getting an extra perk, too? Teacher Bian, when will you make a typo for me? Are the benefits in the Mysterious Academy's Wisdom Heart System this good?"

"Student Chai, if you're interested, you can apply to transfer to the Wisdom Heart System in the Mysterious Academy. If the school approves, I'll be sure to guide you to the best of my ability."

Teacher Bian's answer was perfectly serious, but also rather dull.

"And this isn't a typo.

"Xu Tui has a Mid C-grade rating, but his tier benefits are at High C-grade."

"How can that be?" Xu Tui and Chai Xiao both looked confused.

"Don't you know?"

Teacher Bian asked in return. "Xu Tui, you're Professor An's specially recruited student, and the only student specially recruited into our Wisdom Heart System this year.

"Specially recruited students receive benefits one small grade higher for their first year.

"So Xu Tui has a Mid C-grade rating, but receives High C-grade benefits."

"I see. Thank you, Teacher Bian."

Xu Tui quickly signed the form.

"Good. This will be uploaded to the school system for review. Once it's approved, you'll be entitled to High C-grade benefits," Teacher Bian said.

Chai Xiao: "..."

Chai Xiao was so envious he couldn't stand it.

The Manifestation Sensing System had offered Xu Tui a special recruitment spot, and now the Wisdom Heart System had done the same. Both had wanted the same student.

Why had no one fought over him when he enrolled?

"Teacher An, thank you for giving me a special recruitment spot."

After completing his freshman tier assessment, Xu Tui sent An Xiaoxue a message of thanks.

"Don't thank me. All the teachers in our Wisdom Heart System agreed to it."

"By the way, have you finished registering as a freshman?"

"Almost. I just finished the tier assessment. I still have some other paperwork to complete."

"All right. Hurry up. Come find me once you've finished registering. I need to talk to you."

"Okay, Teacher An."

Xu Tui sent back a string of messages. Her final one left him curious.

Why was An Xiaoxue in such a hurry to see him?

"Hey, Old Chai, hurry up and help me finish the registration paperwork. My teacher needs to see me about something."

"Sure!"

Chai Xiao agreed readily.

In just half a day, their relationship had improved by leaps and bounds. Xu Tui had gone from calling him Senior Chai Xiao, to Senior Chai, and now to Old Chai!

In a mysterious hall whose location was unknown, over a hundred holographic screens suddenly lit up. Streams of information flashed across them, transforming the entire hall in an instant into what looked like a galaxy.

All the streams of information eventually converged on the largest holographic screen in the center.

Before long, strings of characters began appearing on the central screen.

"Comprehensive observation indicates that Subject 37 Long Sequence Observation has undergone a profound abnormality. The conditions for contact and guidance have been met. Number One, please confirm a contact and guidance plan."

"Number One has been unresponsive for an extended period. Proceed according to the established contingency plan."

"Three contact and guidance plans are compatible with the comprehensive environment of Subject 37 Long Sequence Observation."

"Order Number Nine to attempt contact with and guide Subject 37 Long Sequence Observation, and carry out the observation mission!"

"Number Nine, no response."

"Number Nine, no response. Select Number Fourteen to contact and attempt to guide Subject 37 Long Sequence Observation, and carry out the observation mission."

"Number Fourteen has responded. Currently unavailable."

"Order Number Twenty-Six to contact and attempt to guide Subject 37 Long Sequence Observation, and carry out the observation mission."

"Number Twenty-Six has responded. Agreement confirmed. Will carry out the mission."

"Mission execution begins."