Chapter 1

Jincheng, Ninth Middle School, Class 7 of Grade 3.

Although the college entrance examination (CEE) has ended and all the students have learned their scores, they are now all eagerly watching their homeroom teacher, Yu Zeping, with a bit of anxiety.

Because the announcement Yu Zeping is about to make will largely determine their future.

The sunlight streaming through the windows added a golden hue to the tense, youthful faces, and also cast shadows!

"According to the joint announcement by the Blue Star Alliance's East Asia Region Gene Committee, the Huaxia Gene Committee, and the Huaxia Ministry of Education..."

Just by mentioning these three official institutions, all 46 students in Class 7 of Grade 3 instinctively sat up straight, ready to listen.

Many students interlaced their fingers, and some even held their breath.

Because the content to be announced is more important than the national CEE, which was once called the exam that decided one's entire life a hundred years ago.

It can be said to be an exam that determines the future!

"The gene double-excellence line for the 2137 CEE is 597 points, the gene single-excellence line is 483 points, and the gene admission line is 395 points."

The three score lines, as usual, were quickly and clearly read out by Yu Zeping.

But they were like three thunderclaps, making many students pale and lose their color instantly.

They also made many students breathe a sigh of relief, their faces showing signs of ease.

There were about seven or eight students who were stunned, sitting there as if struck by lightning.

"This... 395 points?"

"Why did the gene admission line increase by 22 points this year compared to last year?"

"I... I... I just missed it by one point!"

A male student tried to pout, but ultimately couldn't control his emotions and burst into tears on the spot!

This triggered several other students who didn't meet the gene admission line to sob as well.

A single gene admission line, and the future is set!

Listening to the cries of the students, Xu Tui felt deeply distressed and wanted to comfort the sobbing student behind him, but didn't know what to say.

He was also a bit scared.

A single score line, just three numbers, but at this moment, it basically determined the future of nine students!

According to what Yu Zeping said before the CEE to increase their pressure, if you don't pass the gene admission line, you have no hope in life except for living a miserable existence!

But now, in this short moment, Xu Tui suddenly felt that what the teacher said back then was far less cruel than the reality!

On the podium, Yu Zeping quietly watched the students who were crying because they didn't pass the gene admission line, his lips tightly pressed together, his throat feeling choked up!

This wasn't the first time he had taught a graduating class of Grade 3; he had experienced this six times.

But each time, the feeling in his heart was indescribably heavy.

The consequences of not reaching the gene admission line were too much for these eighteen-year-old children to bear!

Subconsciously, Yu Zeping looked out the window, his gaze piercing through the void—damn invaders!

If it weren't for those alien invaders, the gene admission line wouldn't be so cruel.

Time can heal all wounds!

The cries and sobs in the classroom gradually stopped within half an hour.

Yu Zeping took a deep breath, "Students who didn't reach the gene admission line, don't be discouraged.

There are many paths to Rome. If you work hard in the future, you can still get a bottle of E-grade or D-grade gene liberation agent.

On the path of gene evolution, anything is possible. There are precedents, I won't elaborate."

That was all the comfort he could offer.

"Alright, students who didn't reach the gene admission line, please report to the vocational education office and quickly determine your next learning direction.

Other students, please gather on the No. 4 training field in half an hour!"

At this moment, Yu Zeping's gaze became incredibly sharp, "Your gene unified exam has just begun!"

...

On the No. 4 training field, after a brief farewell, the remaining 37 students of Class 7 of Grade 3, including Xu Tui, had all arrived.

They gathered in small groups, discussing their scores, with both aspirations and slight worries.

"I scored 471, not reaching the single-excellence line."

"I scored 534, just over the single-excellence line. I wonder how many gene points I can activate."

"I scored 603, Cheng Mo, what about you?"

"Cheng, you should call me 'big leg.'"

"Why?"

"Because I scored one point higher."

"Just one point higher?"

"One point higher is still 'big leg'... bang!"

Suddenly, a loud slap landed on the back of Xu Tui's head, making his eyes widen and about to flare up.

"Damn, who... Oh, the teacher is here!" Xu Tui's face instantly changed from anger to a smile.

A sly smile.

Yu Zeping ignored Xu Tui's sly smile, walked through the crowd, and directly stepped onto the podium.

"I understand the elation of some students who scored high.

But I want to tell you that scoring high on the CEE is just getting a ticket to the gene unified exam.

Whether you can enter a good gene university,

Whether you can strengthen or even evolve your genes, become a gene warrior, and a cosmic powerhouse, depends on your own efforts!"

Yu Zeping said this while looking at Xu Tui.

Xu Tui, showing a big white-toothed smile, smiled awkwardly.

On the podium, as Yu Zeping's gaze moved away from Xu Tui, he roared at the students of Class 7 of Grade 3.

"Now, training continues!

Triple the usual training volume!

According to regulations, the authority and intensity of corporal punishment are fully open!"

A thin whip suddenly appeared in the hands of the muscular Yu Zeping and cracked loudly.

A group of students, including Xu Tui, who were usually fearless, all showed deep fear on their faces.

Even with only 50% of the corporal punishment authority and intensity, Yu Zeping had made them all cry and howl.

How unbearable would it be with the full authority and intensity?

No one wanted to try!

In the next moment, Xu Tui darted out like a rabbit.

The first event: a 5,000-meter run.

No, that's the usual training volume. Now, with triple the training volume, it's 15,000 meters, 15 kilometers!

No one complained.

No one questioned.

First, the students understood why this was necessary.

Second, after three years, they had already adapted to the training under their PE teacher, Yu Zeping.

That's right, Yu Zeping is a PE teacher.

Now, all high school homeroom teachers are PE teachers!

Also known as physical training directors!

Daily training.

That is, training every day.

This training has been ongoing for three years.

Yes, including the whip.

The thin whip tip struck Xu Tui's buttocks with a steady, accurate, and fierce posture.

"Show your skills in physical training too!"

The whip made Xu Tui's buttocks under his school uniform quickly swell, and he screamed.

"The goal of today's training is to push you to your limits to maximize the effects of the gene agents!"

The thin whip tip whistled in Yu Zeping's hands, the sound like thunder, making the students involuntarily speed up!

Many students, at this moment, took large strides, easily surpassing Xu Tui and others, becoming the leaders!

Xu Tui also significantly increased his speed but tried to maintain a steady pace, adjusting his breathing!

This is a 15,000-meter long run, not a 5,000-meter run that you can just push through!

After that, there are 80 push-ups, 50 burpees, 80 frog jumps, 10 sets of interval running, 50 pull-ups, 300-meter obstacle running, 10 minutes of limb flexibility training, 10 minutes of neural reflex training...

Yes, triple!

In this era, students with PE teachers as homeroom teachers have long adapted to this intensity of training.

But with the training volume suddenly tripled, and under the threat of the thin whip, they quickly became exhausted.

When Yu Zeping said "rest and rehydrate," they all lay on the ground like dead dogs.

They gulped down the energy drinks prepared by the school doctor, which had a strange taste, and lay on the ground panting like dead dogs.

"Who will go to the bathroom?"

Xu Tui staggered to his feet, the soreness in his thigh muscles making him walk with a limp.

Seeing this, Cheng Mo quickly flipped up, limping and hopping to hug Xu Tui's neck, pressing half his weight on Xu Tui, who was already grimacing in pain, and laughed.

However, before Cheng Mo could finish laughing, he screamed in pain.

The 100-kilogram Tang Ting also followed suit, pouncing on Cheng Mo.

One after another, screams and laughter filled the air.

In the sunlight, a group of grimacing teenagers, with their shoulders and arms around each other, entered the bathroom.

Looking at a certain back, Yu Zeping squinted his eyes.

After a satisfying trip to the bathroom, just as he was about to leave, the 100-kilogram Tang Ting started passing out cigarettes.

"Guys, have a smoke, to relax and refresh!"

Tang Ting passed out a round, giving Xu Tui one, and then magically pulled out a lighter from a crack in the bathroom, lighting it.

In the bathroom, the eight boys gathered, smoking, when a large, muscular figure suddenly stepped in.

The boys were quick.

Almost as soon as they heard the first warning, they threw their cigarettes into the toilet, and Cheng Hei quickly stepped on the flush pedal.

Xu Tui, who had just taken a puff, was frustrated but a step too late.

With no choice, he bit his lip and put the half-smoked cigarette, including the filter, in his mouth, tightly closing his lips!

"What's that heavy smell? What were you doing?" Yu Zeping demanded.

"Using the bathroom!"

"Teacher, we were using the bathroom!"

"Um, we also let out a few farts!"

Cheng Hei added with a hateful tone.

Yu Zeping stared at Cheng Mo, then his gaze fell on Xu Tui, who was tightly closed-mouthed. "Xu Tui, what about you?"

Xu Tui remained silent!

Yu Zeping's thin whip raised, cracking.

"Answer me!"

Under the threat of the whip, Xu Tui had no choice!

"I... I'm angry!"

Three wisps of white smoke spurted from Xu Tui's nose and mouth as he opened his mouth.

It was the smoke he had just inhaled.

The boys burst into laughter at the sight!

Yu Zeping's hand slapped Xu Tui's head hard.

"Angry?

How capable you are!

Angry enough to smoke?

Why don't you ascend to heaven?"

"Go, add half the usual training volume!"

Xu Tui immediately showed a look of despair, while Tang Ting, Cheng Mo, and others grinned and winked.

"You too!"

Yu Zeping added, immediately turning Tang Ting and Cheng Mo's smiles into groans!

"Teacher, your eyes are sharp!"

Xu Tui, running out of the bathroom, smiled and gave Yu Zeping a thumbs up!

...

In the glow of the setting sun, a group of sweat-soaked teenagers, with their shoulders and arms around each other, left the training field, heading home.

In their ears, they still heard the roar of their physical training director, Yu Zeping.

"Behave yourselves these few days!

Whoever touches cigarettes, alcohol, or any other garbage that affects the gene agents, I'll whip them until they cry for their mother!"

"Supplement more protein after you get home, and do muscle recovery..."

"Bring your electronic ID, a signed accident liability agreement from your parents, and insurance documents when you come tomorrow..."