Chapter 9

"Lei Meng, brain domain width 7.96%, fifth class, mentor evaluation: C5."

"Wu Dachuan, brain domain width 8.14%, fourth class, mentor evaluation: C8."

...

"Ji Min, brain domain width 7.51%, fifth class, mentor evaluation: B9."

"Ye Tianlong, brain domain width 8.77%, third class, mentor evaluation: D1."

...

As the dean Shi Shi spoke succinctly, the graduation assessment began promptly, with students receiving their graduation certificates one by one according to their numbers. For students who could not enter the three major advanced genetic academies, the graduation certificate from the Jiao Yang District Primary Genetic Academy was of great importance, providing better job opportunities.

"Quite similar to the previous era," Lin Feng thought to himself.

Influenced by his elder brother, Lin Feng was also fond of history. Although times had changed and many things were different, the traces of human history could not be erased. Many current models still carried on from the previous era, taking the best and discarding the worst.

"Please, let the mentor evaluation be above B9," Yang Li clasped his hands and prayed incessantly.

Seeing his devout appearance, Lin Feng couldn't help but smile and teased, "Are you praying to the Buddha or to Mentor Yin?"

"Go away, stop making fun of me," Yang Li pouted, "Of course you don't care. Who doesn't know that Mentor Yin likes you the most? Your mentor evaluation won't be low."

Lin Feng couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

Sometimes, Ah Li's words were tactless, making one unsure whether to cry or laugh.

The mentor evaluation was very important. It was a comprehensive assessment, unrelated to brain domain width. Simply put, it evaluated the student's performance over the six years at the academy. The quality of this evaluation directly affected promotions in the military system, and some students with poor evaluations might not be accepted even if they were strong enough.

The military system emphasized discipline and obedience. The guards were also part of the military system, though strictly speaking, they belonged to an external system.

Just as he was speaking—

"Taojing, brain domain width 9.25%, second class, mentor evaluation: B5." The instructor's voice was calm, less cold and more warm. For the academy, only students with a second-class brain domain width were considered to have truly graduated; the others had merely completed their time at the academy.

Lin Feng looked forward, seeing a girl with a neat ponytail, her figure slightly slender.

He naturally recognized Taojing, though they had not interacted much. This girl practiced diligently and rarely spoke to others, not out of coldness but shyness. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito, but her character was actually quite good, as evidenced by Mentor Yin's high B5 evaluation.

Taojing had the highest mentor evaluation among all the students who had completed the graduation assessment so far.

And she was the first student with a brain domain width exceeding 9%, reaching a second-class evaluation.

But...

The room remained silent.

Lin Feng's gaze fell on the brain domain width tester. This time, the tester had a pair of 'arms.' The front was a screen, and the back, facing all the students, were two sun lamps. They were not solar-powered but shone as brightly as the sun, blindingly bright.

The two sun lamps, one on each side, were connected to the fluorescent control panels in front of the mentors from the Crown Elite Academy and the Sunset City Genetic Academy.

As long as the sun lamps lit up, the two sides could negotiate. Otherwise...

All would be in vain.

Disappointment.

Taojing's lips were chapped, and she held back tears, her slender body trembling slightly. Unlike others, Taojing had great hopes of joining one of the two major advanced genetic academies. But the result... she still lost. Despite this, Taojing politely bowed deeply to the two mentors before leaving.

"Pity," Lin Feng watched, feeling a liking for Taojing's demeanor.

But the slots for the two major advanced genetic academies were limited, and it was indeed difficult for a second-class brain domain width to gain entry.

"I told you, no hope," Yang Li muttered, leaning close to Lin Feng and whispering, "Do you know why the two major advanced genetic academies sent mentors instead of instructors? They're all eyeing Xiao Shiyuan. It's hard for others to be selected."

"As long as you have the heart, there will always be a path that suits you best," Lin Feng looked at Taojing's slender and lonely back, saying softly.

Yang Li raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Can I interpret this as sour grapes?"

Lin Feng was taken aback, then suddenly realized that Ah Li thought he was talking about himself. He laughed, "If you say so, then so be it."

"Hey," Yang Li grinned, winking, "Just a joke. In my opinion, the Crown Elite Academy's biggest loss that day was not accepting you. Xiao Shiyuan and you, compared to you, what kind of genius is he? I can guarantee that in time, the Crown Elite Academy will regret it so much their intestines will turn green!"

"Is that so?" Lin Feng smiled, pointing forward, "At least he's a hot potato now."

Brain domain width 9.88%!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two bright red sun lamps lit up almost simultaneously, illuminating the entire testing center. The surrounding steel-reinforced glass seemed to be burned red, and exclamations of admiration and envy arose from all sides. Every student looked on with longing, their hearts filled with desire.

This was the treatment of a genius!

The two major advanced genetic academies vying for him at the same time!

What did it matter if he came from a poor background?

Everyone knew that Xiao Shiyuan's future was limitless. No matter which advanced genetic academy he entered, he would become a standout. His old black clothes would be replaced by expensive genetic armor, and his patched shoes would become genetic boots. His family would also benefit from him, rising above their civilian status.

"Damn, I knew it!" Yang Li muttered, his eyes bloodshot.

It was unclear whether it was from the sun lamps or envy.

"The treatment should be quite good," Lin Feng looked forward, thinking that the two fluorescent screens beside Xiao Shiyuan would now display the 'sincerity' of the two major advanced genetic academies. In other words, the benefits and conditions. Whichever side offered better conditions and more sincerity, Xiao Shiyuan would likely choose that academy.

Taojing couldn't even get the lowest admission qualification, but Xiao Shiyuan could choose better benefits.

This was the difference, the gap in brain domain width, the unbridgeable chasm between a second-class and a first-class genius!

"Even if it's better, it can't compare to the benefits you got when you were recruited early, but... it's enough," Yang Li turned his head, sighing deeply, "Comparing people really makes one angry." It was unclear whether he was talking about himself or Lin Feng.

Snap!

One sun lamp was turned off.

"Sunset City Genetic Academy, I see," Lin Feng glanced to the left. The mentor from the Crown Elite Academy looked surprised, his face turning pale. The mentor from the Sunset City Genetic Academy smiled, looking satisfied.

The two major advanced academies were always in open and covert competition.

"The rapid development of the Sunset City Genetic Academy in recent years is indeed true," Lin Feng thought. Xiao Shiyuan's choice seemed difficult but was actually simple. With the conditions set, it was clear which side offered better benefits.

Clearly, the Crown Elite Academy lost.

And losing the first time, they might lose the second as well. Not long after Xiao Shiyuan, another 'first-class genius,' Xiang Yang, with a brain domain width of 9.51%, the second-ranked student in the academy, came up.

Sure enough, the mentor from the Sunset City Genetic Academy smiled again.

"Damn, Shi Wenlong has a chance!" Yang Li's eyes widened.

Lin Feng nodded. Shi Wenlong's brain domain width ranked third in the academy, though second-class, it was very close to first-class. The two major advanced genetic academies had a quota limit, similar to the War Academy, admitting only a hundred students each year. Admitting two students from one district already exceeded the quota.

If the Crown Elite Academy and the Sunset City Genetic Academy each admitted one student, they would likely call it a day. But now...

The Crown Elite Academy hadn't even filled one quota!

"Look at that guy, so smug," Yang Li sneered, though his tone revealed a hint of jealousy. If he could easily enter the Crown Elite Academy, who would want to fight for the one spot at the War Academy, which, in terms of reputation and strength, was far inferior to the Crown Elite Academy?

"Shi Wenlong, brain domain width 9.39%, second class," the instructor's voice rang out.

Lin Feng glanced at Shi Wenlong's confident and smug face, then at the mentor from the Crown Elite Academy, who looked hesitant. Despite the fact that the Crown Elite Academy rarely admitted second-class geniuses, the situation was different now. If they missed Shi Wenlong, this trip would be a waste for the Crown Elite Academy.

"Mentor evaluation, D9," the instructor's face showed a hint of hesitation but reported it truthfully.

Shock!

A look of astonishment spread across the room.

Including the mentor from the Crown Elite Academy, all the students, and even Shi Wenlong himself. His handsome face turned pale, then red, and D9 was the lowest mentor evaluation in the academy. In other words, Mentor Yin's evaluation of Shi Wenlong was as bad as it could be!

Yang Li's face turned red, covering his mouth to suppress his laughter.

Lin Feng also found it amusing, watching Shi Wenlong's miserable and pale face, and the mentor from the Crown Elite Academy, who crossed his arms and closed his eyes. Indeed, the Crown Elite Academy's quota was not filled, but this did not mean they would settle for a student with extremely poor 'character.'

Moreover, Shi Wenlong's own qualifications did not meet the Crown Elite Academy's standards.

"Ha ha ha!" Laughter erupted, making Shi Wenlong, already red-faced, wish he could find a hole to hide in. He had never felt so humiliated.

"Laughing at what!" "Laughing at what!" Shi Wenlong roared, but his voice and expression were futile.

Yang Li laughed the loudest, and Lin Feng also smiled. Since that nightmare year, he hadn't felt such joy. Shi Wenlong, like a provoked beast, roared and glared, especially at Lin Feng and Yang Li, his teeth almost grinding to pieces in anger.

"Dead poor guy!" Shi Wenlong's veins bulged, his eyes bloodshot, "Don't be so smug, after today, you'll be dead!"

Shi Wenlong had long harbored murderous intentions toward Lin Feng.

...

The laughter lasted nearly a minute before gradually subsiding.

The graduation assessment continued, but for the mentors from the Crown Elite Academy and the Sunset City Genetic Academy, it was essentially over. They had already reviewed the basic information of this year's students. Apart from Xiao Shiyuan, Xiang Yang, Shi Wenlong, and Taojing, there were no other promising candidates. If not for the face of Dean Shi, they would have left long ago.

"Yang Li, brain domain width 9.03%, second class, mentor evaluation: B8," the instructor's voice rang out. Yang Li clenched his fist in excitement, unable to hide his joy.

The difference between third class and second class was significant. A second-class brain domain width meant he could apply to the War Academy. Whether he succeeded or not, it was at least a chance. What made Yang Li happiest was the B8 mentor evaluation, which excited him even more than the second-class brain domain width.

Although he did not receive the attention of the two major advanced academies, Yang Li was already content.

"Dog's luck!" Shi Wenlong's eyes glinted with malice, clearly displeased.

As Yang Li passed Shi Wenlong, he flexed his arm muscles in a show of defiance, laughing loudly, which made Shi Wenlong tremble with anger.

"Next, number 32, Lin Feng." At this moment, the instructor's voice rang out. The students, who were discussing Yang Li's results, immediately stopped, their eyes focusing on Lin Feng, including Shi Wenlong's cold and disdainful gaze.

All eyes were on him!

One could say that Lin Feng's attention was even higher than Xiao Shiyuan's!

"Wow, a tenth-class genius!"

"5% brain domain width, my mom is better than him, ha~"

"Do you think he'll regress into an idiot this time?"

...

Mocking laughter and ridicule filled the air.

Human nature was such that even verbal abuse could give them a sense of satisfaction and superiority.

But Lin Feng's expression remained unchanged, calm and composed.

For him, he did not ask for much. As long as his brain domain width exceeded 5%, proving that he could continue on the path of ancient martial arts, Lin Feng would be satisfied.

"Zzz~" The brain domain width tester was placed steadily on Lin Feng's head, emitting electromagnetic light. All the students watched with wide eyes, suppressing their laughter, as the numbers appeared on the screen. Especially those who had not seen Lin Feng three months ago, they were eagerly waiting for a laugh.

Three months ago, Lin Feng set a 'record' unprecedented in history, earning the name of a tenth-class genius.

What about this time?

"Snap!" Under the stifled laughter and anticipation of everyone, the number on the screen clearly appeared—

9.90%!

...

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