Ten thousand meters above the ground.
A small aircraft bearing fiery cloud patterns on both sides was speeding through the sky. It was Crimson Flame's standard field-service aircraft.
Normally, only those on missions or high-ranking executives above a certain level could requisition it.
A boy who looked eight or nine stood beside a round, pudgy middle-aged man and asked quietly,
"Dad, you mean he's here to take the assessment too?"
The boy looked toward the small figure at the rear of the plane, who was circling in place while throwing punches.
The boy was named Xing Yan. He ranked sixth among the children at home, so many people also called him Xing Xiaoliu.
As for the round, pudgy middle-aged man beside him, he was naturally his father, Xing Taisen.
Elsewhere, perhaps not many people had heard that name.
But on Skysea Island, no figure of any standing could possibly be unfamiliar with it, because he was the head of the Skysea Xing Family!
As the number one lineage on Skysea Island, the successive heads of the Xing Family were also known as the underground island lords of Skysea Island.
Xing Taisen was the current Skysea Island Underground Island Lord.
Besides Xing Taisen and his sixth son, Xing Yan, Gao Yang and Li Xin had come along as well.
The Crimson Flame Tianhai Branch had temporarily been placed under the care of another deputy director.
Traveling with them were also a ten-year-old girl named Hua Yiren and a twelve-year-old boy named Xiang Beifeng.
And of course, Lin Xuan was among them as well.
In fact, the person Xing Yan was asking about was Lin Xuan.
As a member of the Xing Family, Xing Yan had already learned quite a bit about the Spark Program before coming, and had also inquired into the circumstances of the other two companions accompanying him to the Spark Program assessment.
Therefore, he had always thought that, at eight years old, he was the youngest among this group.
Only before departure did he unexpectedly discover Lin Xuan's existence.
Even though Lin Xuan was far more developed than children his age, he was still much shorter than eight-year-old Xing Yan, not to mention that he bore the label of a Premature Infant.
Xing Yan truly could not understand why such a tiny fellow who looked as though a gust of wind could knock him over was qualified to take the assessment alongside them.
"Mhm. His name is Lin Xuan, and he's three this year."
Xing Taisen nodded in reply. There was also a trace of confusion in his gaze as he looked at Lin Xuan, but he quickly shook his head. "I know what you're thinking. But since he dared to take the assessment at such an age, even if he ultimately fails, that's already remarkable. Don't underestimate anyone."
"I understand, Dad." Xing Yan nodded seriously.
But Xing Yan was hardly the only one secretly studying Lin Xuan. The other two recommended candidates were more or less doing the same.
After all, who wouldn't be curious upon seeing that their companions suddenly included a three-year-old child?
"You are diligently practicing the True Meaning Five Elements Fist. Proficiency +2" "You are comprehending the fist intent of the True Meaning Five Elements Fist. Proficiency +3"
"I'm about to break through again. I never expected Big Sis's personal guidance to be this effective."
Seeing that the progress bars for the two martial arts methods on the panel in his mind were nearing the upgrade threshold again, Lin Xuan was naturally overjoyed.
Over the past few days, everyone in the family had been doing their utmost to prepare him for the upcoming Spark Program assessment.
Especially his eldest sister, Lin Rou, who had personally explained the key points of the True Meaning Five Elements Fist and the True Meaning Swimming Dragon Step to him, then repeatedly demonstrated them herself.
The effect of having food fed straight into his mouth was naturally not something that could compare to him secretly figuring things out alone.
It was precisely under such circumstances that his two martial arts methods had taken another great step forward and would soon cross the threshold into Lv.3!
"But that means I need to quickly find another new martial arts method. Otherwise, even if it doesn't affect the progress of these two methods, the Martial Artist profession still won't be able to advance to Lv.3..."
Seeing that he was about to advance again, Lin Xuan began making plans ahead of time.
When his Martial Artist profession had advanced from Lv.1 to Lv.2 last time, he had gained the additional passive skill Evil Thought Detection. The help that passive skill had brought him was simply immense.
Thus, there was no way he would not consider the Martial Artist's next advancement in advance.
"Xuanxuan, take a break. Work and rest should be balanced." Li Xin arrived at the rear of the plane carrying two cups of orange juice and smiled as she handed one to Lin Xuan.
"Thank you, Auntie Li!"
Lin Xuan did not refuse. After taking the orange juice, he planned to rest for a while.
Of course, he had noticed that the three little brats were all secretly peeking at him, but he did not care.
The current situation was different from the past two years at home, or from before at kindergarten.
Back then, he had needed to conceal his talents and avoid appearing overly mature.
But now that he was already going to take the Spark Program assessment at three years old, he could not keep pretending to be a little fool every day like before.
At this point, occasionally displaying behavior beyond that of an ordinary person was actually more natural.
Just like earlier, while the other three companions were resting, he had taken the initiative to practice his punches by himself.
That alone was not something most three-year-olds could do.
Children were naturally playful. Unless forced to do it, how many three-year-olds would voluntarily be disciplined and hardworking?
Forget three-year-olds—even eight-year-old Xing Yan did not possess such self-awareness.
That was also why he had kept secretly watching Lin Xuan and asking his father about Lin Xuan's identity.
"You'll soon be representing the Crimson Flame Tianhai Branch in the assessment, so get to know each other first. If you pass, you'll be able to look out for one another in the future."
Li Xin smiled as she led Lin Xuan to the middle section of the plane, then suggested this to Xing Yan and the other two recommended candidates.
"My name is Xiang Beifeng. I should be the oldest among the four of us. I'm twelve this year, and I'm a Mechanical Modifier."
The hulking Xiang Beifeng, already over 1.7 meters tall, was the first to step forward and introduce himself. His tone was very steady.
"My name is Hua Yiren. I'm ten this year. I awakened a Divine Ability last year, so I suppose I count as a Mutant?" The seemingly timid girl spoke softly.
"A member of the Hua Family?" Xing Taisen looked at Gao Yang beside him and asked.
"Why do you care what family she's from? If it weren't for the fifty million you just sponsored the branch with, I wouldn't even have brought you along. Shut up already!"
Gao Yang snapped back at him directly.
"Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore, okay?" Xing Taisen was not angered by this. He still wore a smiling expression, clearly indicating that he and Gao Yang had a good relationship.
"My name is Xing Yan. I'm eight this year. I should originally count as a Martial Artist, but I awakened a Divine Ability this year as well."
Xing Yan introduced himself too.
But upon hearing that he had become a Mutant who had awakened a Divine Ability on top of being a Martial Artist, both Xiang Beifeng and Hua Yiren looked shocked.
After Xing Yan finished his introduction, he looked toward Lin Xuan.
"Lin Xuan, three years old, Martial Artist... I'm really good at fighting!"
Lin Xuan was holding his orange juice and drinking it. Seeing everyone looking at him, he immediately gave them an innocent, adorable baby smile.