Chapter 1

In the spacious classroom of Class 301, Senior Year, dozens of students sat cross-legged, as if in deep meditation, with faint, almost imperceptible light swirling around them.

"You are not carefree students anymore! You are in your final year of high school, and you only have one year left before the college entrance exam. If you can't even get into a university, you are destined to become food for the beasts!"

Ms. Yang Ziqing, a middle-aged woman in her forties, stood with her hands on her hips, spittle flying as she berated the students who were meditating.

"I don't care how much you used to misbehave or how lazy you were. In my class, there is no room for slacking off! In one year, you must all raise your source ability values to at least 6, or I won't even let you take the college entrance exam."

"Did you hear me?" Ms. Yang shouted again when she received no response.

"We heard you!" the students replied in unison.

"Very good." Ms. Yang nodded in satisfaction. "I've already given you the methods for cultivating source energy. You can practice after school as well. In a month, there will be the first major mock exam for your senior year. Don't embarrass me! Oh, and the top 100 students in the school will have the chance to enter the Natural Selection Class. You know the drill. Dismissed!"

"Whoosh—"

The students who had been meditating like monks suddenly came to life, showing no signs of their previous diligent practice as they happily walked out of the classroom.

Ms. Yang's face turned ashen. She knew these students were just pretending. Looking around, she saw only one student still meditating, focused and serious, which gave her a bit of comfort.

It was a pity, though, about his source energy talent...

At the front of the classroom, Su Hao took a deep breath, the faint light around him converging as he emerged from his cultivation. "My source energy cultivation has improved a bit. At this rate, my ability index should reach 100 within a month. With my physical fitness and theoretical foundation, my source ability should have a chance to reach 4!"

Su Hao stood up and stretched, then looked out the window.

Outside, the students were proudly showing off their abilities. Some were practicing breaking stones with their chests on the playground, others were creating fireballs in the nearby woods, and some were making ice in the swimming pool. There was even a guy flying awkwardly in the sky.

This was the era he lived in—the Source Energy Era!

In 2030, a catastrophe swept across Earth, and a type of light known as source energy descended from another dimension.

Countless source energies appeared, granting special abilities to people, objects, and even animals, plunging Earth into chaos. Later, the governments of various countries worked together for 20 years to stabilize the chaotic situation.

The power of source energy was fully harnessed and used in all aspects of life, including scientific research, education, and agriculture. Society developed at an unprecedented pace, and by 2050, the world had fully entered the Source Energy Era.

This was the best of times, where people didn't worry about food or clothing, and high school students could fuse with source energy, mastering special abilities and living without worry.

It was also the worst of times, where wild animals had transformed into beasts, rampaging and slaughtering, leaving no place outside the cities safe.

For high school students, their sole goal was to master source energy!

To take the college entrance exam!

To attend the best universities!

"To get into university, your source ability needs to be at least 6. At this rate, I might not even reach 5 by the time of the exam, and my chances of getting into university are slim." Su Hao felt a bit disheartened.

In this era, all special abilities existed for survival and combat. His ability, however, was model analysis, a weak and pitiful skill.

Su Hao had calculated that even if he excelled and got into university, the only use for his model analysis would be as a general's... staff officer... or a sand table maker?

Or perhaps as a city planner working behind the scenes?

Yes, this might allow him to survive, but... which boy doesn't have a dream of fighting beasts and protecting the Earth, a dream that makes his blood boil?

Unfortunately, dreams remained just that.

The calculation of source ability was closely related to source energy talent. His weak talent meant his source ability value would never be high.

According to the latest evaluation by global organizations, the final value of source ability was a combination of theoretical foundation, physical fitness, combat skills, and ability index, divided by 100.

The theoretical foundation included all basic theoretical courses, covering all source energy information, beast information, combat methods, overcoming weaknesses, and even the growth of certain herbs on a planet, encompassing all knowledge. The difficulty was extremely high, with a maximum score of 200. For most students, scoring 100 was already impressive.

Physical fitness represented the strength of the body, with a maximum score of 400, the human limit. A score of 100 represented the physical strength of a normally developed high school student.

Combat skills represented the current combat techniques and martial arts mastered, with a maximum score of 400. For most students, the score was only 0 to 5.

Finally, the most important factor: the ability index!

The ability index was related to talent level, ability manifestation, and source energy cultivation, with a complex calculation. However, the talent level had a significant impact, ranging from F to A. The higher the talent level, the higher the ability index.

The upper limit was infinite!

Su Hao's ability, E-level model analysis, dragged down his overall score.

Among the four scores, only the theoretical foundation was a fixed score and the only one determined by an exam. It would only change if you took the exam or went to the source energy association for an evaluation. For example, if you scored 100 on your first exam and didn't take another exam or go to the school or source energy association for a change, your score would always be 100!

The other three scores were related to personal strength, changing as you cultivated, but they were also the easiest to measure. Numerous instruments could easily measure them. For example, a physical fitness detector could scan you and instantly give your current physical fitness score.

Improving strength required strong talent, endless resources, and persistence and effort!

For Su Hao, talent and resources were distant dreams. The only thing he could do was persist and work hard. Therefore, although his strength was very weak, his theoretical foundation was exceptionally high. At First High School, such people were jokingly called—geniuses!

"Theoretical foundation: 180 points, physical fitness: 100 points, combat skills: 0 points, ability index: 100 points. Total score: 380 points. Source ability: 3.8, almost 4!"

Su Hao silently calculated, quickly packed up his things, and prepared to leave after school.

However, at that moment, a loud thud echoed, and the classroom door was kicked open.

"Su Hao, get out here," a tall and handsome student appeared at the door.

"What's the matter?" Su Hao didn't move. He wasn't stupid. This person was Sun Yaotian, a genius at First High School, with a source ability of over 8, who could crush him easily.

"Did you and Chen Yiran go home together again?" Sun Yaotian sneered.

Su Hao frowned. "We live on the same route, and we occasionally walk together after school..."

"I don't care if you live on the same route!" Sun Yaotian interrupted him. "You should know what Chen Yiran's ability is. With your status, you don't even have the right to look at her. Stay away from her, or I'll beat you up every time I see you!"

"Sun Yaotian, you!" Su Hao was furious, clenching his fists.

"What, want to fight?" Sun Yaotian sneered. "School rules don't allow fighting in the classroom. If you dare to come out, we'll see."

Su Hao's face turned ashen, his anger surging but suppressed.

Fighting Sun Yaotian with his 3.8 source ability would be like hitting a rock with an egg. He would probably be killed with one slap. Fighting was not allowed in the classroom, but if he attacked first and Sun Yaotian retaliated, it would be different.

"Cowardly as a mouse." Sun Yaotian sneered and left. "Remember my words. This is your last warning."

"Sun Yaotian..."

Su Hao's anger boiled.

He worked harder than anyone, but he could only linger at the bottom, all because of his damned talent. With a theoretical foundation of 180 points, he was the undisputed top student! To achieve this, he had studied countless materials over the years. But his ability index... he only had 100 points, while Sun Yaotian had an ability index of 500!

Sun Yaotian's ability was A-level iron element control, a powerful combat talent that increased his combat strength significantly, far superior to Su Hao's model analysis!

"One day... I will surpass you, I will!"

Su Hao's eyes blazed with anger as he turned and left the classroom.

His idea was simple: if talent was lacking, he would make up for it with effort!

What if his ability was low? If he couldn't get the ability points, he would get all 1000 points in the foundation: 200 points in theoretical foundation, 400 points in physical fitness, and 400 points in combat skills. If he mastered all of these, he could still push his source ability to 10 and become a strong person!

Su Hao gritted his teeth, left the school, and headed home.

On the bustling street.

"Thud!"

A person quickly flashed past Su Hao, like a shadow, moving so fast it was terrifying. Su Hao stumbled.

His phone, which he was checking, flew up in an arc and landed in the person's bag.

Su Hao was stunned, then quickly reacted. "Thief?"

Another figure flashed past, and a middle-aged man quickly chased after the thief. Su Hao understood. "Damn, it's really a thief, and he didn't just steal from one person?"

This area had many thieves, and most of them relied on their speed to steal and run, leaving no time for reaction. But this time, he had stolen from Su Hao!

Su Hao's anger surged. Being threatened by Sun Yaotian was already frustrating, and now his phone was stolen right after he left school?

"Bang!"

Su Hao punched the protective shield of a nearby hover motorcycle, shattering it, then started the motorcycle and chased after the thief.

The hover motorcycle traced a gentle line in the air, chasing after the thief. Su Hao gritted his teeth. "Damn, just because you're fast, you think I can't catch you?"

On the same straight line, three streaks of light flashed.

The black figure in front was fleeing at high speed, followed by the angry middle-aged man, and finally, Su Hao on the hover motorcycle.

Su Hao chased for over ten minutes, finally catching up to the thief at the edge of the Jianghe City bridge.

In the distance, he could see the thief and the middle-aged man arguing, pushing each other. Su Hao sped up. "Damn thief, where do you think you're going this time?"

The hover motorcycle rushed in, and Su Hao felt something was off.

"Thud!"

The middle-aged man fell to the ground, the obstacle removed, and the thief's figure was revealed. Su Hao was horrified to see a blood-stained dagger in the thief's hand, just pulled out from the middle-aged man's body.

The thief took out a small blue bottle and dropped a drop on the middle-aged man's body.

"Sizzle!"

A drop of liquid fell, and the middle-aged man's body began to corrode, then vanished!

"This is..."

Su Hao was terrified. This person wasn't a thief, but a killer! A killer from the Drifting Organization! According to the news, killers from the Drifting Organization had this newly developed corpse-dissolving liquid that could easily erase all traces of their targets.

"Damn!"

Su Hao cursed, turned to leave, but the killer had already noticed him, sneered, and pulled out a silver pistol, aiming at him.

In an instant, Su Hao's body trembled, his hair standing on end.

It's over! I'm going to die!

Meeting the killer's cold eyes, Su Hao felt a chill, but inexplicably, the suppressed anger in his heart finally erupted.

I, Su Hao... am I destined to be bullied for life?

No, never!

Seeing the blood on the killer's chest, clearly injured and moving slowly, Su Hao's eyes turned fierce. Fear faded, and he decided that even if he died, he would take the killer down with him!

"Click!"

Su Hao pressed a button on the hover motorcycle.

"Boom!"

A burst of energy gathered in the motorcycle, and its speed instantly reached its limit, tracing a line in the air and crashing into the killer.

"Sizzle!"

A laser beam shot from the silver pistol, but it missed, passing by Su Hao, the heat making his ears burn.

"Boom!"

The hover motorcycle crashed into the killer's chest, sending him flying into the metal cargo containers at the dock, causing them to collapse and crush the killer with a dull thud.

Su Hao was thrown off the motorcycle and landed on the ground, the powerful impact throwing him into a dog pile. He couldn't control the force.

Getting up with bruises all over, Su Hao was shocked to see the killer, despite the heavy impact, climb out of the collapsed containers.

"Damn, those containers must weigh several tons, and he's still alive? How strong is this killer?"

"He can't be allowed to live!"

This thought flashed through Su Hao's mind. He picked up the silver pistol and aimed at the killer, who had just climbed out of the containers.

The killer's cold, bloody, red eyes made Su Hao almost drop the gun in fear.

"Die!"

Su Hao closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and pressed the trigger.

"Zap!"

A laser beam shot out, instantly piercing the killer's body, who fell to the ground.

"Dead?"

Su Hao breathed a sigh of relief, threw the gun away, and turned to run, but he stopped. His 180 points in theoretical foundation meant he knew many things others didn't.

The gun had his fingerprints, the middle-aged man was dead and vanished, and the killer was dead. He couldn't leave any evidence.

Su Hao forced himself to overcome his nausea and searched the killer's body, finding the blue bottle of corpse-dissolving liquid.

"Sizzle!"

The liquid dripped, and the killer's body began to evaporate, slowly disappearing, along with the silver pistol and the hover motorcycle, erasing all traces of the killer.

He couldn't leave any evidence, as any weapon might have a GPS tracker or other location system.

"It's over."

Su Hao breathed a sigh of relief but was surprised to find a mysterious blue-black card left behind where the killer had been.

"What the hell is this? The corpse-dissolving liquid didn't dissolve it?" Su Hao was astonished and picked it up when the effect wore off.

"Whoosh!"

The mysterious blue-black card glowed and entered Su Hao's body through his right hand, disappearing without a trace.

"Buzz—"

Su Hao felt a loud hum in his mind, and the surroundings became hazy. The scenery around the Jianghe City bridge became blurry.

In a half-dream, half-awake state, it seemed like a long time, yet also just a moment.

The mysterious card appeared deep in Su Hao's mind, flashing. If Su Hao were still conscious, he could hear the thoughts flashing through the card.

"…Ability detected… Model analysis… Fusion in progress… Concrete construction…"

The scene was a blur of light, and Su Hao felt as if he had taken some hallucinogenic drug, losing himself but feeling comfortable and relaxed.

"Whoosh!"

Su Hao's body trembled, and he woke up.

Looking around, no one was attacking him. Checking himself, he felt no abnormalities.

"I don't know what trick the killer used, but I almost fell for it."

Su Hao shook his head, found an inconspicuous corner, and quickly left.