Chapter Seven: The Qualification Examination

Time flew by, and Southport New City passed a tranquil week, the city running smoothly along its usual trajectory. Yet, as the qualification assessment for energy crystal mining drew near, certain individuals began to stir.

Southport Examination Center.
Main Conference Hall.

The vast room was already filled with many people.
“Director Tu, did you sell that chip you hoarded last time? If not, how about selling it to me? I’ll pay this much.”
“Cut the nonsense, I’m keeping it for my wife.”
“Why would you marry an intelligent lifeform?”
“None of your business.”

The number of people in the conference hall gradually increased until there wasn’t an empty seat left.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The glass windows rattled violently under the pressure of the wind, followed by a piercing whistling sound that finally faded into silence.

Moments later, a side door creaked open, and in strode a man in his thirties, deliberately exuding authority. Clad in black, his gaze carried a hint of showiness. As he stepped out, the entire main hall fell silent.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked steadily to the main seat and swept his eyes around.

Clang!

A dull thud echoed as the man in black tossed a dagger onto the table.

He spoke in a measured tone, “The energy crystal mining qualification assessment is imminent. By the order of Councillor Zhou, this exam will be managed by the Southport New City Education Office, with cooperation from all secondary schools and security handled by the Grey Zone Guard Station. I will personally oversee the proceedings. Does anyone have objections?”

“Third Middle School of New City, no problem.”
“Fifth Middle School, no problem.”
“Grey Zone Guard Station, ready to serve.”
“Heh, Lord Lu lives up to his reputation as an ability user. Just his words are filled with killing intent. Fine, the Education Office has no issue either.”

“Discuss the specifics among yourselves. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.” With that, the man in black departed through the rear door, leaving the dagger embedded in the table.

Even as the sharp whistling sound returned, no one in the vast conference hall dared speak. The attendees were still immersed in his overwhelming aura, silent as if facing a predator.

After a while, an elderly man with grizzled hair and deeply lined face stood up, pointing at the dagger and exclaiming, “These ability users are so arrogant! Infuriating!”

“Careful what you say, Director Zhong.”

“That old monkey is always spouting nonsense. If the ability users didn’t risk their lives in the mining zone, would you be able to pull energy crystals out of your backside?”

“Exactly, do you really think the city runs thanks to the Guard Station? Even if you light your own lantern, you wouldn’t generate a single watt of power. You still dare to slander the ability users behind their backs.”

Despite the ability users’ strength, the city still relied on a large bureaucracy for management. In a vast system, naturally, many harbored resentment toward the ability users.

“Vulgar, utterly vulgar!” The elder coughed several times, his anger rising. He was already considering how to vent his frustration on a few gene prototype injectees.

Couldn’t afford to cross the ability users, but surely he could take it out on those little monsters.

“Enough, let’s focus on business. Our exam papers are printed. Is the Confidential Division sending people to transport them on August 13th?”

“Yes, we’re handling transport, but the Guard Station should send some escorts. The city is unsettled these days—the conflict between gene prototype injectees and ordinary citizens is deepening.”

……

After nearly a week of revision, Ji Cheng had gone over every detail and minor knowledge point.

He put down his book and stretched lazily. “Should be fine now. Everything’s ready, just waiting for the exam to start.”

Ji Cheng even felt a hint of excitement. Always a poor student, this was the first time he felt so confident, so poised to face a test.

In the blink of an eye, August 13th arrived—the very day of the energy crystal mining qualification assessment.

Fourth Shelter District, Number 151.

At seven in the morning, the alarm rang out.

A fair, soft hand reached out to the alarm clock, fumbling to wind it back half a turn.

The room was soon filled with steady breathing again.

……

“Such a good sleep—what time is it?” Ji Cheng yawned and sat up, stretching vigorously.

“It’s already ten o’clock!” Ji Cheng cried, stunned. “Luo Rao!”

“Ah… what is it?” Luo Rao propped herself up at the foot of the bed, suddenly shivering with embarrassment. “I think… I think I accidentally turned off the alarm earlier…”

“We’re doomed. The written exam runs from nine to eleven, and now everyone else is halfway through their papers while I’m still in bed.” Ji Cheng groaned and jumped to the floor.

He threw on a jacket, clinging to a sliver of hope. “I’ll go to the exam hall anyway, maybe there’s still a chance.”

Luo Rao bit her lip nervously. “Actually, the alarm clock itself was thirty-five minutes slow… You knew that, right?”

“I… did not.” Ji Cheng clutched his chest, grabbed a bottle of heart pills from the corner, poured out a handful, and swallowed them. “I’m off.”

Outside the Southport New City Examination Center, a line of armed guards stood straight at the entrance, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes.

“Stop. Exams are in progress. Unauthorized persons must not approach.” One guard raised his gun, the muzzle angled toward Ji Cheng’s feet—a clear warning to go no further.

Ji Cheng hurriedly stopped and, catching his breath, handed over his exam pass. “I’m a late candidate.”

Beep-beep-beep—the scanner on the guard’s chest beeped. “Identity confirmed: Candidate Ji Cheng.”

The guard’s expression remained neutral as he lowered his weapon and stepped aside. “Please enter.” Ji Cheng followed the signs, rushing toward the exam hall.

Just as Ji Cheng reached the entrance, an electronic voice echoed throughout the building:

—Written exam time is over. Candidates must immediately put down their pens. Any answers submitted now will be invalid. Invigilators, please collect the papers in order.

The announcement repeated three times, and the once quiet exam center became noisy.

“So what exactly was I rushing for?” Ji Cheng muttered, face fallen, and turned back home.

……

“So, how did the exam go this morning?” Luo Rao asked, mouth full of food.

Ji Cheng shot her an annoyed look. “The bell rang before I even entered the hall.”

Luo Rao smiled gently. “Then have lunch and take a nap. I’ll give you a shoulder massage. There’s still the group test this afternoon, isn’t there?”

“No nap.”

After lunch, Ji Cheng sat wide-eyed on his stool, watching the clock’s hands tick toward twelve-thirty before heading out.

“Zero on the written exam—no hope for a full mining license. But if I score over 450 in the group test, plus the bonus for being a gene prototype injectee, getting a provisional mining license shouldn’t be a problem,” Ji Cheng calculated inwardly.

“I’ve never repeated a grade and have received the gene prototype injection—I’m a key candidate for development. Even if I don’t qualify for the auxiliary level, as long as I score 500, I can get the provisional license.”

Ji Cheng regained some hope. With his knowledge base, scoring above 450 on the group test was entirely possible.

Unlike the written exam, the group test used the same set of questions for all license levels, so the difficulty wasn’t extreme. Every two or three years, someone managed to break the 450 mark.

Half an hour later, Ji Cheng joined the crowd at the entrance of the Southport New City Examination Center.

“Make way, make way—watch out for the cameras!” A commotion erupted behind him, and the crowd of candidates pressed even closer, making it almost impossible to turn.

Ji Cheng glanced back but saw nothing, so he asked the person beside him, “Do you know what’s happening back there?”

“You don’t know?” The bearded candidate scoffed, but his tone softened when he noticed Ji Cheng’s vertical pupils.

“Well, apparently an ability user is supervising this exam. You know how rare it is to see them, so the group test will be broadcast live by the TV station.”

“I see.” Ji Cheng nodded.

“What’s your name, brother? Let’s be friends.” The bearded man's gaze was ambiguous.

“Ji Cheng. As for friends, I’ll pass.” Ji Cheng gave an awkward smile, unsettled by the man’s look.

In the exam center’s holographic plaza, as candidates streamed in, the holographic equipment was undergoing its final calibration.

“All candidates, please enter the answer zone. Note: each seat is for one candidate only.”

Looking ahead, Ji Cheng saw a platform at the center, surrounded by a circle of white chairs forming a ring.

“Well, obviously. You can’t fit two people on one chair,” the bearded candidate grumbled.

Ji Cheng agreed, but imagined that if Luo Rao were here, she’d insist on squeezing onto the same chair, which amused him.

He was about to find a seat when suddenly the crowd grew restless. Sensing something amiss, he glanced to the side and saw a graceful woman emerge from the parting crowd.

Her eyes were alluring, her movements unmistakably suggestive, as if she was flirting with someone. Even before she approached, a sultry, rosy fragrance wafted over, reminiscent of a black rose.

“It’s Miss Su! One of the ten beauties of Southport New City—not only gorgeous but also a renowned scholar. Her knowledge of energy crystals rivals seasoned professionals. Didn’t expect her to participate in this exam,” the bearded candidate muttered, swallowing hard.

“She… she seems to be heading this way!” The bearded man’s voice trembled with excitement.

“Of course I know,” Ji Cheng thought dryly. “She’s coming straight to me.”

The graceful woman stopped before Ji Cheng, turned lightly in a half circle, and parted her red lips. “What are you smiling about, so happy?”

“Su Yi.”

Seeing her so composed, Ji Cheng felt compelled to tease, “I’m thinking about how to make you cry.”

She was, after all, the one who’d been thoroughly beaten by his former self—Su Yi.

“Hmph!” Su Yi’s beautiful eyes clouded with anger, her elegance slipping. “You’re really… really infuriating.”

She’d hoped to get closer to Ji Cheng’s sister and repair their relationship, but he was so handsome yet so aggravating. She muttered a curse at Ji Cheng and marched to the farthest seat.

“What did I ever do to deserve this?” Ji Cheng watched Su Yi walk off, while the bearded man stared after her, lovestruck. Ji Cheng felt a wave of disdain. “Wake up, it’s time to get inside, man.”

Ji Cheng picked a seat at random. As soon as he sat, his information appeared on the armrest. The glaring zero from the written exam prompted him to quickly turn off the display.

Woo—woo—

A dense, sharp whistling sounded overhead. A small, jet-black vessel shaped like a flying eagle shot down toward the plaza at breakneck speed.

The crowd jumped in alarm, immediately clearing space as all eyes focused on the craft.

The “black eagle” ship touched down at the main platform, instantly decelerating from over ten times the speed of sound to a dead stop—so abrupt it seemed unreal.

“What is that? Some monster breaking in?”

“Don’t be clueless—that’s a single-person aircraft. The control core requires a high-level intelligent lifeform, so only the elite can use them.”

“That’s incredible! How much does it cost?”

Ji Cheng stared enviously at the vessel. Men always love vehicles, and this was cooler than any car.

—Five minutes until the exam begins. Candidates not yet seated, please take your seats.

The electronic voice sounded, and the candidates quickly found seats.

Ji Cheng checked his seat one last time, then glanced around.

The holographic equipment was now floating overhead, fully calibrated. Television crews had set up their cameras—some aimed at the answer zone, others at the leaders on the central platform, especially the man in black.

“That woman up there is Director Wang from the Education Office, right?”

“Director Wang is pouring tea for the man in black. Who is he?”

“I saw him get off the black eagle ship—that must be the ability user supervising today! He’s real—I’ve barely seen ability users on screen, let alone in person.”

“With such a massive city, the energy crystals mined by ability users keep everything running. They hardly ever stay in the city.”

Excitement shone in the eyes of every candidate seated nearby, a fervent admiration for heroes.

The defensive shields used in every city on Baishan Star all relied on energy crystals. Ability users—those who could venture into the mining zones and bring back vast quantities—were naturally revered and cherished by the people.

—The exam is about to begin. All candidates, please stop talking.

Suddenly, it was as if countless transparent boxes fell over everyone. The candidates’ voices were confined to their seats, and a holographic screen popped up in front of each, densely filled with exam instructions.

Ji Cheng looked left and right, realizing he couldn’t see a single word on anyone else’s screen—a clear anti-cheating measure.

Buzz.

A barely audible mechanical hum, and all the seats began to rise, floating until they were nearly level with the central platform.

The grand electronic voice resounded over the plaza:

“During the exam, holographic images will display questions to all candidates. Candidates may answer orally or on the screen. There are twenty-five questions, each worth twenty points. If you miss more than ten, you will receive a zero.”

“Energy Crystal Mining Qualification Assessment, Group Test Hall—officially begins.”