Chapter Ten: Entry Assessment (Part Two)

"Where did this genius come from?" Captain Feng Qiang was puzzled. "Why would the higher-ups assign such a prodigy to us? What are they trying to do?"

"He’s even more impressive than Miss Lanxin," Ma Wu exclaimed in astonishment. "Miss Lanxin’s physical development is just under twenty, but this young man's is at least twenty-four."

"How is that possible? Is this boy really only sixteen?" He Changlou could not comprehend it.

"But that’s not the main issue," Qingxia's eyes glimmered with wisdom. "His physical development is so high, yet his brain domain development hasn’t even reached thirty percent!"

To instantly kill a level-three mutant isn’t considered remarkable for a Guardian. However, if the one who accomplished this is a sixteen-year-old boy, it leaves everyone speechless.

With such strength, even among Guardians, he would no longer be considered a mere fledgling; his abilities are comparable to those with average experience. But those Guardians with average experience are at least twenty-five or twenty-six years old, even thirty, and have served for four or five years. Yet Summer Yan is only sixteen!

Without exaggeration, in the eyes of these four, Summer Yan surpassed even Lanxin in talent and genius. They weren’t even certain whether Summer Yan had used any abilities; if this physical prowess wasn’t due to any augmentation, his strength might be even greater than what he showed.

“Is something the matter?” Summer Yan returned to the squad, immediately noticing the peculiar looks on the faces of the four. Their expressions were strange, almost uncanny.

It was only natural. Witnessing Summer Yan’s performance made it hard for anyone to remain composed.

“Summer Yan, you truly are hiding depths,” Qingxia said with a cheerful smile, her autumn-water eyes studying him with a hint of curiosity.

Captain Feng Qiang's expression was odd as he questioned, “Summer Yan, the dossier says your brain domain development hasn’t reached thirty percent. Is that true, or is it fabricated?”

“It’s not fabricated. I’m somewhat special,” Summer Yan replied, without offering a concrete explanation.

“Summer Yan, the physical strength you demonstrated just now—was it purely your own, without any ability enhancement?” Ma Wu asked immediately. Everyone was intensely curious about this point.

After a brief silence, Summer Yan nodded. “That’s right. I didn’t use any abilities.”

With this answer, the group’s expressions changed for real. He had not used any abilities, relying solely on his physical strength in battle. In other words, his power might actually exceed that of an average Guardian. This was unquestionably a combat prowess above Lanxin’s.

Although Summer Yan was still a newcomer and only average among Guardians, not yet matching the likes of veteran He Changlou, he was only sixteen. If given a few more years, how far could he grow?

The four were deeply astonished. In a few years, his strength could surpass all Guardians—an utterly plausible outcome.

Such a prodigy being valued and cultivated by the organization was unsurprising. Joining the Guardians at sixteen was not unusual.

For Feng Qiang, the idea of letting Summer Yan join their squad crossed his mind, but he still leaned toward refusal. After all, Lanxin was already a heavy burden on their team as a newcomer.

The others looked at Summer Yan with a hint of admiration. He was definitely not a third-ranked member by institutional standards; at the very least, he would rank above the first, perhaps far beyond.

Summer Yan’s strength had grown considerably compared to six months prior. Even Lanxin could not be sure that, using her ultimate augmentation, she could win with absolute certainty.

Perhaps, Summer Yan’s strength now rivaled hers.

“Summer Yan, you’re from District One, right? Member of some family?” Captain Feng Qiang squinted, curious. Could District Nine really have the resources to foster such a prodigy?

If Summer Yan were indeed from a prominent family, they would need to reconsider any refusal. His identity wouldn’t seem suspicious, even if his brain domain development hadn’t reached thirty percent, since the chances of him being human would still be over ninety percent.

“No, I was born in District Nine and have always been a member of the institution,” Summer Yan shook his head.

At this, the four’s expressions grew even stranger—there were many questionable aspects. First, Summer Yan was a genius, so it made sense he’d be noticed, but not at this stage; more likely, it would happen once his brain domain development reached thirty percent.

After all, at present, Summer Yan might not even qualify as human.

Cultivate? Cultivate a potential enemy?

“Let’s keep moving. Summer Yan, stay towards the rear with Miss Lanxin,” Captain Feng Qiang said, smiling.

“Understood!” Summer Yan moved back, walking alongside Lanxin, maintaining a distance of several dozen meters from the others.

The four immediately began to discuss whether Summer Yan could join the team.

In fact, according to Gong Kui’s plan, if Summer Yan failed to join the third squad, the plan would collapse completely. Even if Summer Yan fell into a coma once within half a year, he could not reach thirty percent physical development. The premise of the plan was that Summer Yan must join the third squad.

If he were refused, then in the decisive battle a year later, he would only face death.

Three conditions—if any one was unmet, he would certainly die, with no hope of survival.

In other words, the opinions of these four would determine whether Summer Yan could live. Even if the process was cruel—a struggle between life and death—for Summer Yan, their nod was salvation and hope.

“I stand by my opinion. Summer Yan hasn’t even reached thirty percent brain domain development. Who can trust him? Who knows if he might stab us in the back one day. I absolutely will not let him join the team,” He Changlou insisted.

“I agree,” Ma Wu added. “Since Summer Yan isn’t from a major family in District One, there’s no need to worry about those rules.”

“If three of us don’t approve him joining, he must leave,” He Changlou said with a cold smile.

“What use is a genius? We don’t need geniuses, especially since he’s still just a newcomer,” Ma Wu grumbled.

“What do we do, Captain?” Ma Wu and He Changlou looked to Captain Feng Qiang.

“We already have enough members. If Summer Yan were more support-oriented, perhaps we could consider it. But as a combatant—along with Lanxin—we already have three. We don’t need so many direct combat ability users. So my personal opinion is to refuse, but that’s just my view; your choices don’t concern me,” Captain Feng Qiang replied, shaking his head.

He was decent enough not to let his choice sway the team members. But it was meaningless now—Ma Wu and He Changlou had already decided to reject Summer Yan.

In other words, Summer Yan had been refused, with no hope of joining the third squad. Was this the end of his road?

Such a harsh future—the reason for joining the third squad was simply to fight for life and death, but he might not even get the chance to join!

Once their deliberations concluded, the team quickly approached the location of the level-four mutant.

The battle ended swiftly. Among them were four combat ability users, led by Captain Feng Qiang, who suppressed the level-four mutant.

Summer Yan and Lanxin merely assisted from the sidelines, contributing little. Still, in just two minutes, they slew the level-four mutant.

Captain Feng Qiang's strength was formidable, a top-tier Guardian with nearly fifty percent brain domain development, comparable to an average institutional chief. He could easily defeat the mutant alone, the others merely lending a hand.

Afterwards came Summer Yan’s test results, though the outcome was already foregone.

“Summer Yan, I don’t really agree with you joining our squad,” Captain Feng Qiang said with a wry smile. “You lack experience due to your age, and as a combatant, we don’t need you; our numbers are already full.”

Summer Yan’s smile was bitter.

“I don’t agree either,” He Changlou added. “Your strength is decent, only slightly weaker than mine, but your lack of experience means our squad might not be able to protect you. My apologies.”

“I object as well. It’s not because he’s a guy—no, it’s because he’s too young,” Ma Wu corrected himself, coughing awkwardly.

“I agree to Summer Yan joining,” Lanxin said earnestly. “He is my junior, a disciple of our Thousand Sect School. I have no reason to oppose.”

But with three opposing, it was meaningless. For the sake of completeness, everyone looked to the intellectual beauty Qingxia for her final opinion, though it would not change anything.

Qingxia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I agree to Summer Yan joining our squad. His strength is impressive, and his growth is rapid. The higher-ups must have their reasons for this arrangement. I believe Summer Yan is human and won’t betray us.”

She and Lanxin agreed, but the other four had refused, so Summer Yan still could not join.

At the same moment, Gong Kui sat in her office, her gaze piercingly shrewd, as if she could see through all things.

“Summer Yan, at least I believe you needn't worry too much,” Gong Kui murmured, shaking her head gently. “If they don’t let you in, how can they stifle humanity’s prodigies? I think the first to slip will find a way to let you join.”

She let out a cold laugh. “The premise of the plan is that Summer Yan must join the third squad. I’ve never worried about this. As long as you show enough talent, some will not allow you to live.”

“If a genius is allowed to grow, to spread his wings, he will become a cause of dread for an entire race in the future!”

Gong Kui had never doubted that Summer Yan would pass the third squad’s test. There would always be a turning point, unless his talent was not dazzling enough.