Mutation, Officially Announced!

Deputy Director Shao left with five students, and the classroom immediately erupted.

Calling these five students out alone, could it be for some great opportunity?

Everyone thought of the impromptu physical test a couple of days ago. Behind closed doors, people had all sorts of guesses about this test, and they'd all heard some whispers.

Although there was no official news, all the students subconsciously formed an unspoken consensus: this test might be related to their future, related to their personal destiny.

Especially for those children who were generally average academically and had no hope of getting into university, they had secretly prayed countless times, hoping to be favored by fate.

Many people couldn't hide their disappointment when their names weren't called.

They seemed to be flipping through books, but in reality, they had no mind to study.

Jiang Yue, however, seemed unfazed. With a pen and a blank sheet of paper, he was sketching and drawing again.

About half an hour later, the five students who were called out returned to the classroom.

Deputy Director Shao also came into the classroom shortly after, pressing his hands down to signal everyone to quiet down.

"At 9 AM this morning, we will tune in to the National Television Channel One to watch the number one leader read an important document."

This bombshell news naturally caused a sensation in the entire class.

This had never happened before.

The nation's supreme leader reading a document on short notice—at least in their generation, this had never happened.

This usually only occurred when the country faced a major emergency, such as going to war.

Even Jiang Yue was somewhat surprised.

The country's actions were much faster than he had imagined.

Everyone waited for 9 AM with nervous, excited, and complex emotions.

The TV signal had already switched to the background footage of the national leader's address.

Half a minute early, the leader's familiar face appeared on screen.

Calm, wise, steady—like a great mountain, always giving a sense of reliability.

This was the impression the leader left on most people in Great Zhang Country.

At 9 AM, the leader began reading the document on time.

Everything was as Jiang Yue had predicted; it was indeed related to the drastic changes happening across Gaia Planet.

In view of the dramatic changes occurring in various parts of Gaia Planet, after extensive deliberation by multiple authoritative global institutions, human civilization was about to face unprecedented challenges, and humanity's fate would embark on a new era.

The leader called upon the sons and daughters of Great Zhang Country not to fear or retreat, but to rise up and prepare to fight against difficulties, both physically and mentally, to welcome the new era.

The leader also announced that starting immediately, a nationwide physical test would be conducted. Especially for the youth, the physical test would become a long-term program to allow the country to comprehensively assess the physical condition of its citizens and discover new talent.

Of course, the leader did not forget to encourage young people not to give up their cultural studies, stating that no matter how human civilization changed, scientific knowledge would always have its place. The nation's construction required a large number of talents in various fields.

If everything before was just speculation and rumors online, then this speech by the number one leader was equivalent to the most authoritative and official announcement.

Jiang Yue listened to every word of the document carefully, without missing a single one.

This was the highest-level strategy of the entire Great Zhang Country, and many things could be analyzed from it.

Traditional knowledge wasn't rendered meaningless overnight, but its significance would definitely be greatly diminished.

Those who were physically strong and fit the country's new strategy, even if they were previously poor students, would now have an opportunity and become the most sought-after individuals.

It had to be said that after this document was issued, there were very few students left in the entire classroom who could still focus on school.

After more than a decade of hard study, the landscape had changed overnight.

Indeed, few could remain calm.

There was one exception: Li Yue.

Although she was on the list of five, it seemed to have no impact on her. She continued to diligently review her studies.

It was as if all the surrounding commotion had nothing to do with her.

They were all sixth-form students, and should have been at a purely innocent age. Underneath this intense upheaval, human nature continued to manifest in every detail.

Some people were beaming with joy, some were secretly shedding tears, some were railing against heaven and earth and society, and some were staring blankly, not knowing what to do.

"Li Yue, why did the teacher call you? Was it something good? Did the teacher mention me, Mao Doudou?"

Mao Doudou was the most impatient. He turned around and asked Li Yue, thinking that he himself should have been the gifted child of destiny.

"Yeah, Li Yue, tell us! Was it because your physical test results were exceptionally good?"

Facing the swarm of gossipers, Li Yue gripped her pen tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, showing obvious nervousness.

She had always been an invisible presence and only wanted to remain so. Faced with such a grand occasion, she felt deep down that she couldn't handle it.

When she got nervous, she couldn't speak even more.

"Alright, alright! Go ask someone else." Jiang Yue knew Li Yue too well; she was usually a quiet person, and with so many people watching and asking questions, it would be even harder for her.

Around the desks of the other students, there were even more people gathered. Curiosity was something everyone possessed.

Seeing Jiang Yue protecting Li Yue and preventing everyone from asking, someone immediately turned hostile: "Class monitor, I wasn't asking you, why are you butting in? Still thinking you're some great scholar?"

"Exactly, times have changed, and top students aren't worth much anymore! Don't put on airs with us."

Mao Shijiu was immediately unhappy upon hearing this: "Seriously, can you guys be human for once! You can't solve this problem, you can't solve that problem, and who was it that fawned over Boss Jiang like a dog every day? Are you already trying to burn the bridge after crossing the river?"

After all, they were in the same dorm. Mao Shijiu's support for Jiang Yue was absolutely unwavering.

The two classmates who made sarcastic remarks had faces that turned green and then white, clearly not convinced.

In reality, they weren't usually this arrogant. It was just that the situation had changed too suddenly, and they couldn't adjust their mindset. Words they wouldn't normally dare to say just came out.

"What, you disagree? If you disagree, let's settle it after school. You can choose one-on-one or a group fight," Mao Shijiu challenged, relying on his strength.

"Forget it, forget it. Harmony is precious, harmony is precious," Tong Feifei, Mao Shijiu's deskmate, said with a smile, trying to smooth things over.

At the same time, he slyly said to Li Yue: "Little Yue Yue, if it's inconvenient to say, tell us privately later."

Li Yue picked up her textbook again and returned to her usual invisible mode.

At this moment, the person drawing the most attention was Du Yifeng, who sat on the windowsill with his legs crossed, one foot resting on a desk.

"You all saw the video posted in the group last time. Honestly, you only know about this now? Your news is too slow. The real higher-ups got the news long ago. Do you know what we, the first batch of outstanding performers in the Physical Test, are called? Awakened ones! Let me put it this way, in this Physical Test, apart from a few with exceptional talent who stood out, how many of those Awakened ones weren't already prepared? Fang Ziyang, dare you say you weren't? Wang Shen, dare you say you weren't? Han Jingjing..."

"Du Yifeng, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute!" Han Jingjing wasn't buying Du Yifeng's act.

"Jingjing, look, our Physical Test results are almost the same. This is simply fate, a match made by heaven," Du Yifeng said.

"Du Yifeng, have you heard this saying?" Han Jingjing asked.

"What?"

"Villains die from talking too much." Han Jingjing immediately added, "I always feel that having good Physical Test results might not be a good thing for you. A scumbag is the most fitting persona for you."

"Jingjing, you misunderstand me so deeply. Don't I have any appeal to you?"

"A little."

"Which part?"

"Stay away from me!"

Following this leader's speech, coupled with the announcement of the Physical Test results, the previously positive learning atmosphere in the graduating class completely disintegrated.

An ostentatious atmosphere silently spread through the classroom.

The calm and focused study of the graduating students vanished in an instant.

Instead, most people's minds began to wander.

At a speed that was almost visible to the naked eye, the entire class structure was rapidly reorganizing.

Except for Li Yue, the perpetually invisible one who was naturally not good at uniting others, the other four outstanding performers in the Physical Test, who were called out separately, were each surrounded by a large crowd.

Du Yifeng, in particular, was in his element.

The study circles formed over six years of middle school dissolved at an incredible speed.

Jiang Yue didn't feel much about this. In the past, because he was a super-scholar and the class monitor, many people would indeed surround him.

Most people gather with the tide and disperse with it.

It was Mao Shijiu who was indignant: "Everyone is such a fair-weather friend, flocking to whoever is in vogue."

Jiang Yue didn't say anything, but Mao Doudou felt indignant on his behalf.

He was Jiang Yue's loyal friend, always respecting Jiang Yue as an older brother, a devotion that was unwavering.

He knew very well how much Jiang Yue usually cared for everyone, whether in studies or life. If they encountered any difficulties, as long as they asked, Jiang Yue never stood by and did nothing.

When conflicts arose with students from other classes, Jiang Yue, as the class monitor, had often helped resolve issues for his classmates.

That Du Yifeng, calling himself a social big shot with a swagger, always showing off. When it really mattered, it was good enough that he wasn't just watching from the sidelines; he wouldn't be looking down on others.

What comparison could he be to Jiang Yue? These sycophantic guys were truly blind.

"Doudou, stay calm. Doing your own thing is better than anything else."

Tong Di, standing nearby, agreed wholeheartedly: "As expected of the class monitor, those words have deep meaning. The class monitor means that the new era has just begun, and we should look at things with a long-term perspective. Don't be shortsighted, don't lose your composure over temporary gains or losses. The new era is a fair start for everyone. As long as you do your best, opportunities are equal for all..."

Mao Doudou looked bewildered, his eyes rolling like two edamame beans: "Boss, is that what you mean?"

Jiang Yue gave a wry smile. He really wanted to say, "That's not what I meant at all."

He had actually just said it casually, but Tong Di, having read too many novels, had overthought it.

"Mao Shijiu, that's why they say you're not steady. Why is the class monitor the class monitor, and others aren't? Could the class monitor, who was a class monitor in the old era, degenerate into a weakling in the new era? Haven't you heard the principle that the strong always remain strong? In my opinion, the class monitor is a born child of destiny, like 'Heaven did not give birth to my Boss Jiang, and the great chapter would be like eternal night.' The reason he wasn't on the teacher's list for this Physical Test, I'm sure, is for only a few reasons..."

"First, the class monitor is deliberately playing the long game to catch a big fish, aiming for a stunning debut."

"Second, like many novel protagonists, the class monitor must possess a top-tier bloodline, but his golden finger hasn't been triggered yet, and he hasn't awakened. Once he awakens, they'll know what it means to have fortunes change from east to west in thirty years..."

"And the third reason... the class monitor might have already awakened his powers, and they are very strong. But he's naturally cautious, determined to be a 'veteran turtle,' avoiding all sorts of karma. This is quite popular now."

Tong Di rambled on, his imagination running wild.

As long as Gaia Planet didn't explode, Tong Di's wild guesses would be endless.

Mao Doudou looked at Jiang Yue again, his head full of little stars, and asked doubtfully: "Boss, is that how it is?"

Jiang Yue held his forehead, speechless for a long time