THE GREAT GENETIC ERA

Chapter 1: The Genetic Exam.

Jincheng, Ninth High School, Classes 3–7

Even though the college admission exams were over and all of the students had already received the results, they were still looking expectantly at their homeroom teacher, Yu Zeping, at this moment. They even felt a little uneasy.

That was because what Yu Zeping was going to announce next would greatly affect their future.

The sunlight beaming through the window highlighted the students’ nervous, youthful faces. However, it also cast a dark shadow.

“A joint announcement from the Blue Star Alliance Huaya Greater Area Genetic Committee, Huaxia Genetic Committee, and the Huaxia Ministry of Education…”

Yu Zeping had only announced the names of the three official organizations, yet all 46 students of class 3–7 could not help but sit up straight and listen intently.

Several students interlaced their fingers. Some even held their breaths.

The content that was going to be announced next was deemed more important than the college admission exams, which had been said to be the exam that determined a person’s life a hundred years ago.

This exam determined a person’s future.

“The Genetic Double Excellence Score for the year 2137 is 597, the Genetic Single Excellence Score is 483, and the Genetic Admission Score is 395,” Yu Zeping recited the three admission scores as he always did, quickly and clearly.

However, it felt as though those were three bolts of lightning. The words made the faces of several students turn pale and instantly devoid of color.

The words also made some students heave a sigh of relief. Their expressions became more relaxed.

Seven to eight students looked as though they were struck by lightning as they sat numbly in their seats.

“This… 395 points?”

“Why did the Genetic Admission Score’s cutoff point suddenly increase by 22 points from the previous year?”

“I…I…I was just one point off!”

A male student tried his best to purse his lips together but ultimately could not control his emotions. He slumped onto the table and started to bawl.

This caused the other students who failed to meet the Genetic Admission Score to start weeping.

This Genetic Admission Score had determined their future.

Xu Tui felt extremely bad when he heard the woes of his classmates. He wanted to console the student who was weeping behind him, but he did not know where to start.

He also felt a little scared when he recounted the exam.

An admission score was only made up of three digits, yet, at this moment, it had determined the future of nine of his classmates.

According to Yu Zeping, if an individual failed to meet the Genetic Admission Score, they could only remain in the bottom rungs of society for the rest of their lives. There was no more hope for them.

However, in this brief moment, Xu Tui suddenly felt that what their homeroom teacher told them before was far less cruel than what was happening now.

On the platform, Yu Zeping looked silently at the students who were bawling because they failed to meet the Genetic Admission Score. His lips were tightly pursed. His throat was dry.

This was not the first time he had taken a graduating class of third years. He had gone through this six times.

However, he could never find the words to express the heaviness in his heart.

The consequences of failing to meet the Genetic Admission Score were too much to bear for these children who had just turned 18.

Instinctively, Yu Zeping looked out the window. His gaze pierced through the empty space. Those darned Invaders!

If not for the Galactic Invaders, the Genetic Admission Score would not be as cruel as it was now.

Time could heal all wounds.

The crying and weeping in the classroom gradually stopped after some time.

Yu Zeping took a deep breath, then said, “Those who failed to meet the Genetic Admission Score, don’t be too dejected.”

“All roads lead to Rome. If you work hard in the future, it is still possible that you can get your hands on a Level E or Level D Genetic Liberation Elixir.”

“Everything is possible on the path of genetic evolution. There are precedents to all of this, but I won’t go into details.”

These were the only things he could say to console the students.

“Alright, after this, those who failed to meet the Genetic Admission Score are to report to the Office of Academic Affairs and determine a direction of study as soon as possible.”

“The rest of the students are to gather at Court Number Four in 15 minutes.”

Yu Zeping’s gaze suddenly turned incredibly sharp, “Your genetic exams are just about to start.”

At Court Number Four…

After their temporary goodbyes, the rest of the 37 students of class 3–7 had gathered at the court, including Xu Tui.

They huddled together and discussed their grades. They had grand plans for the future but were also slightly worried.

“I got 471 points. I didn’t even reach the Single Excellence Score.”

“I got 534, just past the Single Excellence Score. I wonder how many Genetic Base Points I would be able to activate.”

“I scored 603. How about you, Little Tui?” Cheng Mo suddenly asked.

“Old Cheng, you should call me Big Tui,” Xu Tui corrected.

“Why?”

“Because I scored one point higher than you.”

“Just one point?”

“I should be Big Tui even if it’s just one point higher.”

Boom!

A sudden loud slap hit the back of Xu Tui’s head. Xu Tui glared and was about to erupt with fury.

“Oh, f*ck! Who… Oh, it’s HT!” A mischievous smile instantly formed on Xu Tui’s lips.

Yu Zeping completely disregarded Xu Tui’s mischievous smile. He walked past the crowd and immediately got up to the stage.

“Some of you scored high marks and feel proud of your achievement. I can understand that. But what I want to tell you is that scoring well in the college admission exams is merely receiving an entrance ticket to the genetic exams.” Yu Zeping paused, scanning the students’ reactions. He then continued, “Whether or not you can enter a good genetic college. Whether or not you can strengthen and evolve your genes to become a Genetic Warrior or a powerful fighter in this universe would still depend on how hard you work.”

Yu Zeping had aimed these words toward Xu Tui.

Xu Tui revealed his row of white teeth as he smiled, embarrassed.

On the stage, Yu Zeping started to roar at the students of class 3–7 as his gaze moved away from Xu Tui’s body.

“Now, training will continue—three times the normal amount of training!”

The students started to murmur upon hearing this, but Yu Zeping went on, “According to the agreement, the limits to corporal punishment and its intensity will be completely released.”

Yu Zeping flailed the thin whip in his hand which contrasted his pudgy body, causing the air to crackle.

The students, who normally feared nothing, all had an expression of immense fear, Xu Tui included.

Yu Zeping normally only lifted 50 percent of the limits to corporal punishment and the strength he could use during a normal day. That was enough to make them wail as they trained.

How bad would it get now that the limits to corporal punishment and the intensity were fully lifted?

No one wanted to try it out.

As if on cue, Xu Tui scurried outward like a bunny.

The first exercise was a 5,000-meter run.

No!

Five thousand meters was what they did on an average day. They were doing three times their normal training today, which meant that they had to run 15,000 meters. That was 15 kilometers!

No one grumbled.

Even more so, no one was confused.

First, all of the students understood why they had to do this. N♡vεlB¡n: Unleashing Imagination, One Read at a Time.

Second, they had long since adapted to the training after being hardened by Yu Zeping, a physical education teacher, for three years.

Yes, Yu Zepong was a physical education teacher.

In this day and age, all of the homeroom teachers in the school were physical education teachers.

They were also called physical punishment masters.

***

During training…

That was the training that they had to go through every day.

That included the whip.

The long slender whip landed on Xu Tui’s buttocks with incredible stability, accuracy, and ferocity.

“Score one point higher for physical punishment if you can!”

The whip caused Xu Tui’s buttocks to rapidly swell. Xu Tui howled in pain.

“The goal of today’s training is to draw out your limits so that it boosts the effects of the genetic elixirs you will soon consume by the largest amount.”

The long slender whip crackled while it was in Yu Zeping’s hand. The sounds of the whip were like lightning as it entered the ears of Xu Tui and the rest of the students. They involuntarily picked up sleep.

Several students lengthened their stride and easily overtook Xu Tui and the rest of the students to become the leaders of the pack.

Xu Tui also drastically increased his speed. However, he tried his best to maintain a constant average speed and adjust his breathing.

This was a long 15-kilometer run. It was not a 5,000-meter run that would pass in a flash.

After the run, he still had to do 80 pushups, 50 burpees, 80 frog jumps, 10 sets of springs, 50 pull-ups, 300 meters of obstacle runs, 10 minutes of limb agility training, 10 minutes of reflexes training…

Yes, three times the normal amount.

In this day and age, the students who had physical education teachers as homeroom teachers had long adjusted to such a high intensity of training.

Despite that, after triple the amount of normal training and the threat of the homeroom teacher’s whip, the students soon became exhausted.

The students lay down on the ground like dogs immediately after the homeroom teacher said that they could rest and hydrate themselves.

They gulped down the weird-tasting energy drink that the school had prepared for them as they gasped for air while lying on the ground.

“Peeing, who’s going?”

Xu Tui staggered as he stood up. The pain in his upper thighs caused him to limp.

Cheng Mo stood up in a hurry when he saw Xu Tui. He quickly limped and hopped toward him and hugged Xu Tui’s neck. He grinned as he placed half of his body weight on Xu Tui’s body, who was already grimacing in pain.

However, Cheng Mo had not finished laughing when he suddenly let out a pathetic cry.

Tang Ting, who weighed nearly 100 kilograms, followed his lead and placed his body weight onto Cheng Mo’s body.

The students did this to each other, one after the other. There was a string of laughter and pitiful cries.

Under the sunlight, the bunch of grimacing youths squirmed into the toilet by supporting themselves with the shoulders in front of them.

Yu Zeping squinted when he saw the back of a certain student.

After peeing, the students were about to leave when the heavyweight, Tang Ting, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Brothers, come, come. Let’s get rid of the fatigue and energize ourselves!”

Tang Ting distributed cigarettes and tossed one at Xu Tui. He then took out something from a slit in the washroom as if he was performing magic.

Eight guys huddled together inside the washroom. Suddenly, a rotund figure stepped in.

The bunch of boys fled, feeling guilty.

They almost immediately tossed the item in their hand into the toilet bowl at the first warning sign. Cheng Mo instantly stepped on the flushing mechanism.

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

Left without a choice, he clenched his teeth and kept all of the smoke in his mouth. He shut his mouth tight.

“What a heavy scent. What were you guys doing?” Yu Zeping asked sternly.

“Peeing."

“Teacher, we were all peeing.”

“Yes, we also let out some farts!” Cheng Mo quickly added.

Yu Zeping glared at Cheng Mo before his gaze finally landed on Xu Tui, who had his mouth tightly shut. “What about you, Xu Tui?”

Xu Tui kept his mouth closed and did not say anything.

The homeroom teacher raised the whip in his hand. Sparks flew.

“Answer me!”

Xu Tui had no choice when faced with the threat of the whip.

“I…I am angry!”

Three bales of white smoke shot out of Xu Tui’s open mouth and nostrils.

That was the smoke that he had puffed previously.

The group of boys burst out into laughter when they saw the scene.

Yu Zeping slapped the back of Xu Tui’s head fiercely.

“Angry?”

“Look at you!” Yu Zeping was furious. You can even spew out smoke when you are angry? Why don’t you go and become a deity? Go, you’re doing half a day’s worth of training more!”

Xu Tui immediately revealed a torturous expression. Tang Ting, Cheng Mo, and the rest of the boys started to laugh.

“The same goes for all of you!” Yu Zeping added. That immediately caused the laughs of Tang Ting, Cheng Mo, and the rest of the boys to turn into pitiful wails.

“HT, you sure are wise!”

Xu Tui, who was already running out of the washroom, laughed. He gave Yu Zeping a thumbs-up.

…

Under the waning glory of the setting sun, a bunch of sweat-covered youths stuck to each other as they left the training court and ran home.

They could still hear the shouts of the physical punishment master, Yu Zeping, ringing in their ears.

“Be more obedient during these few days. I’ll definitely whip you so hard that you will cry for your mother if you dare to touch those kinds of trash that would affect the effects of the genetic medication again!” Yu Zeping threatened. “Replenish your protein when you get home and do your muscle recovery well.”

The boys acknowledged, and Yu Zeping added, “Bring along your electronic documents, liability form signed by your parents, and insurance form when you come tomorrow.”

Chapter 2: Outside the Earth

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The year 2137 was an era of rapid technological advancement.

There were two important areas of transformation that happened during the 21st century.

First, the genetic research that humans had been conducting since the 19th century, finally, had consecutive breakthroughs during the 21st century.

Every breakthrough gave humans massive benefits.

Genetic disorders were basically eradicated.

There was a massive decline in terminal illness.

The number of terminal illnesses that threatened humans dropped drastically from over 400 during the 21st century to 26 in the 22nd century.

That was if an individual had money.

Take for example a person’s fundamental qualities.

The fundamental qualities that were passed down simply through reproduction, such as speed, strength, and lifespan, exceeded 10% even in ordinary humans.

The growth that resulted after a person consumed various genetic medications was even more alarming.

The second area was the results obtained from the fervent galactic explorations of various countries.

Nearly 100 years ago, countries like America, the Eurozone, Russia, and China announced that they found intelligent life outside of Earth. They had also established a connection with extraterrestrial life and tried to communicate with them to some extent.

The result of the communication was the rapid breakthrough in the technology that humans always had major problems with. However, the invasion of intelligent extraterrestrial life also descended upon Earth.

It was an invasion.

Fortunately, humans did not lack caution and foresight.

The invasion of intelligent extraterrestrial life was blocked outside Earth. However, the invasion did not end. The Blue Star Alliance was thus set up, and humans entered the Great Genetic Age during the year 2037.

The genetic exams were also developed under such a premise.

Humans who were enhanced through the use of genetic medication would have massive improvements in all of their qualities. Those were qualitative transformations.

The resulting Genetic Warriors performed exceptionally on the extraterrestrial battlefield. Many times, a powerful Genetic Warrior was enough to change the flow and decide the outcome of a battle.

Humans who were enhanced by genetic medication became more adept in research and much faster when it came to producing specialized items.

Even pilots, be it of fighter jets or spaceships, became much more skilled and faster at helming the vehicle. Their bodies could also sustain more drag.

The Great Genetic Era was upon humans.

Through the 100 years of research and constant adjustment, humans obtained a deeper understanding of their bodies and how they fused with the genetic medication.

That culminated in the genetic exam that Xu Tui was about to face.

Just as Yu Zeping had said, the score he obtained from the college admission exams was just an entrance ticket. It was merely an encouragement to the students to push them to do better.

Hard work and great effort would make a person’s genes more exceptional.

After the college admission exams, the students who met the Genetic Admission Score would receive a Level D or Level C Genetic Compound Chain Allele Elixir based on their grades. That was the scientific name of the elixir.

It was more commonly known as the Genetic Liberation Elixir.

According to the explanation Xu Tui got from the Genetic Liberation Elixir, a human’s genes were made up of naturally stable chains. These chains were very stable. Any enhancement, mutation, or evolution of these chains required an exorbitant amount of time.

The Genetic Compound Chain Allele Elixir could remove this stability while ensuring the safety of the individual, then cause the genes to strengthen, mutate, or even evolve within a short time through a variety of methods.

Humans who consumed the Genetic Compound Chain Allele Elixir would later be called Genetic Liberators.

It was worth mentioning that the Genetic Compound Chain Allele Elixir differed greatly in their effectiveness as they ranged from Level E to Level A.

Level E was the weakest level, while Level A was the best.

However, Level A and Level B Genetic Compound Chain Allele Elixir were extremely rare. It was rumored that only the military and the Genetic Research Institute have the means to obtain them. They were also very strictly controlled.

What was more common on the market were Level E Genetic Liberation Elixirs. Level D and Level C Genetic Liberation Elixirs could also be found on the market.

However, they commanded a much fancier price.

Level E, Level D, and Level C Genetic Liberation Elixirs differed in two ways. The first was their Genetic Breakdown Probability, and the second was the Genetic Liberation Base Points.

There was a 0.5% chance that a person’s genetic sequence would break down after they consumed a Level E Genetic Liberation Elixir.

The consequence of a genetic breakdown was death. There was no saving someone whose genes had broken down.

The Genetic Breakdown Probability of a Level D Genetic Liberation Elixir was 0.2%, while the probability of a Level C elixir was 0.1%.

Of all levels of the Genetic Liberation Elixir, the probability of death was the lowest with the Level C Genetic Liberation Elixir.

This felt a little like gambling with a person’s life. The probability was not high, and a person would be able to become a Genetic Liberator as long as they were not too unlucky.

However, the difference in the second area was not something that luck could make up for.

It might even be a difference that could not be reconciled during a person’s lifetime.

…

Under the setting sun, Xu Tui looked back at the Jincheng Ninth High School that most students called a “Training Hell”. He then squeezed into a maglev public transport.

With the advancement in technology, the maglev technology that had been extremely expensive and highly restricted 100 years ago had become a useful tool to eliminate congestion in cities today.

Half an hour later, Xu Tui heard voices at the door to his apartment the moment he stepped out of the elevator.

They were the voices of Aunty Ma, who lived downstairs, and his father, Xu Jianguo.

“Old Xu, how much did your child score for the college admission exams? My child didn’t do too well. He just met the Genetic Admission Score.”

Xu Jianguo was a rather humble man. Xu Tui heard him say this when he reached the door of his house.

“Let’s not mention it. My child didn’t do that great either.”

“He didn’t do that great? How many points did he score?” Aunty Ma continued to ask.

“It’s just not great.” Xu Tui’s father shook his head and was about to close the door.

Aunty Ma became anxious. She grabbed on the door and asked, “He should have a score even if he did not do great. Just how many points did he get?”

“Improvement is back.”

Xu Tui’s father saw Xu Tui and greeted him.

Improvement was Xu Tui’s nickname.

“Oh? Improvement is back?”

Aunty Ma quickly reached out toward Xu Tui. “Your father said that you did not do that well. Just how many points did you get?”

“Did you not even reach the Genetic Admission Score?”

“My child didn’t do great either, but, fortunately, he managed to meet the Genetic Admission Score.”

Xu Tui avoided Aunty Ma and did not speak for the time being. He threw a knowing glance at his father.

According to what his father told him, neighborly relations were extremely important.

A hand suddenly reached out from the slit of the door and directly grabbed onto Xu Tui’s ear. The hand then pulled him into the house, scolding as it pulled.

“You rotten lad! You only scored 604. You almost didn’t meet the Double Excellence Score. How do I teach you normally…”

“Mum, it’s painful. Stop pulling so hard.”

As she saw Xu Tui being pulled into the house by his mother, Aunty Ma’s expression suddenly froze. She immediately became confused.

“Goodbye, Sister Ma. I have to prepare dinner now.”

Xu Tui’s father let out an awkward smile and shut the door.

Outside the door, Aunty Ma came to her senses and muttered softly, “It’s just the Double Excellence Score. Why did he have to show off?”

In the house, Xu Tui’s mother glared at his father with her hands on her hips. “You always try to consider another person’s pride in anything that you do. Improvement achieved his score through upright means. It’s not like he cheated to get his grades. Why don’t you dare to talk about his score?”

“It’s because I’m afraid that it would not look good on her.”

“It won’t look good on her, but will it look good on you!”

“Mum, I’m going to take a shower.”

Seeing that the daily nagging was about to begin, Xu Tui quickly used showering as a shield to avoid being caught in between his parents.

“Something is cooking in the wok. I’m going to keep an eye on it.”

Xu Tui’s experienced father immediately saw an opportunity to dodge his mother’s tirades.

Dinner was a plate of braised pork, a dish of stir-fried lettuce, and a large bowl of fragrant oil-seared noodles.

There were three boiled eggs in Xu Tui’s bowl. They were dipped in the chili oil in the noodles. They whetted Xu Tui’s appetite just looking at them.

Those eggs were for Xu Tui to replenish his energy.

“Let’s eat.”

Xu Tui wiped his oily mouth when he finished his meal. He rubbed his stomach, satisfied.

“Dad, this is the liability form that is needed tomorrow when I consume the Genetic Liberation Elixir, as well as an insurance form. I need you to sign them and ink your fingerprint. I have to submit these tomorrow.” Xu Tui took out a piece of paper.

His father did not look at the contents. Instead, he looked toward Xu Tui’s mother, Zhang Xiuli, who had a similarly grave expression. He then turned his gaze toward Xu Tui.

“Improvement, you passed the Double Excellence Score, but the Genetic Liberation Elixir tomorrow still has a death rate of 0.1%. In reality, the death rate is a little higher than that. Are you afraid?”

Xu Tui first nodded, then shook his head shortly after.

“There were 23,000 students who passed and consumed the Genetic Liberation Elixir in the Jincheng Prefecture last year. During the process, more than 400 people suffered a genetic breakdown and died while they were consuming the elixir,” Xu Tui’s father said worriedly. Everyone feels that misfortune would never befall them, but it will all be too late when they get struck by misfortune.”

Nobody said a word.

Xu Tui’s father went on, “Improvement, tell us directly if you are scared, or if you don’t want to, or if you are fearful. We can refuse to sign this liability form. Even though your development in the future would be limited, our family should not have any problems with food and shelter.”

While he was speaking, Xu Tui’s father pushed the liability form that Xu Tui had handed him back toward Xu Tui. He did not care about the insurance form.

“Improvement, it’s your future. Decide for yourself.”

Even though his father’s status was always fluctuating within the family, his mother, Zhang Xiuli, would always be silent when they were discussing serious matters. She would not interrupt Xu Jianguo.

Xu Tui looked at the liability form in front of him and suddenly looked out the window.

“Dad, I saw on television that intelligent extraterrestrial life had been invading us for nearly 100 years. I want to go and see for myself just what do they look like.”

After letting out a small sigh, Xu Tui, who had come to a decision, pushed the liability form back toward Xu Jianguo.

“Dad, if I have the chance, I want to go and see what it is like outside of Earth.”

Zhang Xiuli pouted. Her eyes were filled with worry.

A death rate of 0.1% might not seem like much, but it was a guaranteed death if it landed on Xu Tui. Any parent would be worried.

Xu Jianguo glanced toward his wife, then turned his gaze toward Xu Tui. He picked up the pen and signed the liability form. He then pulled over his wife’s finger and put their fingerprints on the form together.

Xu Tui’s father suddenly stood up and handed the liability form over to Xu Tui seriously with both hands.

“Xu Tui, from today on, you will decide on your future. But you have to always remember one thing… In our eyes, it’s best as long as you are safe and healthy.”

Xu Tui nodded.

Zhang Xiuli wept without saying anything.

“Mum, you don’t have to be too worried. I passed the Double Excellence Score. Not only would I be using a Level C Genetic Liberation Elixir that has the lowest death rate, but I would also receive a Genetic Activation Stabilizing Elixir that can half the death rate. The chance that I die might only be 0.05%.”

“Is there anyone who consoles people like you do?” Xu Jianguo glared when he saw his wife cry even harder.

“With how brutally direct you are, you wouldn’t be able to find a girlfriend in the future,” Xu Jianguo declared. “Can you at least let us have a grandson?”

His father was very experienced with such a situation.

He tossed out every means at his disposal to change the topic. Zhang Xiuli immediately stopped crying and started to plan out Xu Tui’s future.

“Having a child is encouraged in this day and age. Improvement, you have to give us a grandson before you graduate.”

…

Xu Tui fled.

“Mum, we have three times the normal training today. I’m very tired. I’m going to rest early.”

“This child…” Zhang Xiuli felt a little indignant.

“Don’t forget your night lessons,” Xu Jianguo reminded.

“I’ve gotten used to it, Dad.”

As soon as he returned to his small room, Xu Tui brushed his teeth and scrolled through his friends’ social media activities on his communication device. They were all related to his classmates’ feelings.

* Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

Once five minutes was up, Xu Tui turned off his communication device.

As a high schooler, it was very important that he managed his time well.

Then, Xu Tui removed his socks and got onto his bed. He lay cross-legged and closed his eyes slightly. He started to breathe in through his nose and exhale through his mouth. He relaxed his entire body and entered a meditative state within a few minutes.

This was the meditation night lesson that Xu Jianguo had taught Xu Tui when he was young and insisted he did it every night.

The reason Xu Tui persisted with the lesson was that meditation allowed him to quickly relax and sleep, especially when he was young and became too excited to sleep after watching action cartoons or when he could not sleep after watching a horror film.

He did manage to fall asleep when the sun rose.

But the time for school had arrived.

The pain was simply…

This meditation night lesson allowed Xu Tui to release his energy within a short time and enter a state of deep sleep.

Furthermore, he would feel extremely refreshed the next day no matter how tired he had been the previous night.

Half an hour later, Xu Tui, who was still meditating, trembled slightly. He fell sideways onto his bed, his legs still crossed.

Sometime later, the door to his room was gently opened. Zhang Xiuli walked to Xu Tui’s bed and covered him with a blanket. She looked gravely at Xu Tui for some time before quietly leaving the room.

Chapter 3 - The Genetic Research Institute