The group filled out their forms and headed upstairs after a more thorough blood draw than usual.
After finishing up, Fu Shiwu glanced around the mostly empty building, hesitating. "Should we wait here?"
"Let's explore the academy while we're here," Wen Zhaoming suggested.
Finding themselves bored waiting, they wandered through several buildings within the academy. Apart from biomedicine, the buildings covered traditional subjects like physics and chemistry, though these areas were relatively smaller compared to biotic ability studies.
"Xuhai, look at this," Fu Shiwu suddenly spotted something, grabbing Tang Xuhai's arm to show him.
Following his gaze, Tang Xuhai saw a massive, crystalline weapon in the instrument department, not the usual metallic make.
"Is this a cannon?" Fu Shiwu asked, puzzled.
Tang Xuhai, serious, seemed to understand why such a weapon existed. "I think it's to counter metal ability users. Creating weapons without metal could prevent them from manipulating them."
Realizing this, Fu Shiwu nodded. Facing metal ability users like Feng Zhuoming in the past, whose abilities rendered their guns useless and even turned them against themselves, indicated the need for material changes in weaponry.
"If this material works, I'd want a gun made from it too," Fu Shiwu admired the weaponry in the instrument department, unable to hide his envy.
"Don't worry, I'll find a way to get you one," Tang Xuhai assured firmly.
For dealing with aliens, specialized material weapons seemed unnecessary, but Tang Xuhai understood Fu Shiwu's frustrations from earlier encounters when his weapons were rendered useless.
Many research labs within the academy had open doors, perhaps due to the special circumstances, allowing free access to scientific advancements.
At an exhibition, Wen Zhaoming, Miao Jia, and Liu Peiqi examined various reports on alien studies—text, images, even daring photographs taken in the heat of battle.
"Incredible," Miao Jia exclaimed.
The viciousness of the aliens in those battles was evident—the expanding tentacles, menacing hooks, jaw extensions, and a straw-like protrusion gave a vivid depiction of their ferocity.
Miao Jia shuddered, imagining the risks involved in capturing such photographs up close.
"Yeah, truly remarkable," Wen Zhaoming sighed, acknowledging the invaluable help provided by photographers and war correspondents who risked their lives for these images.
Unlike those seeking attention, those risking their lives now for such close shots were truly bold.
Engrossed in the academy's intriguing displays, time flew by. Tang Xuhai reminded them, prompting a move towards the biotic ability science section.
Back at the biotic ability section, they collected their reports. Fu Shiwu held a sheet with puzzling results that made him uneasy.
"Huh?" Tang Xuhai's surprise made Fu Shiwu avert his gaze.
"What's wrong?" Fu Shiwu asked as Tang Xuhai leaned in to see his report.
Aside from their tested abilities, Tang Xuhai's age, and ethnicity, his report held unexpected details: "Body's source molecule content: 4.7%. Source cell content: 3.8‰. Level three gold variant attribute... Eastern European lineage, one-eighth?"
"Eastern European ancestry?" Fu Shiwu raised his eyebrows. "Do you have ancestors from Eastern Europe?"
"Yes, my great-great-grandmother was Russian," Tang Xuhai explained, surprised that a test could reveal this detail.
Realization struck Fu Shiwu; Tang Xuhai's distinct features and slightly deep eye sockets indicated his foreign heritage.
Wen Zhaoming scanned his report, a much more typical one with similar source molecule and cell content to Tang Xuhai's, but with a simple fire-based ability.
Miao Jia remained fixed on his report, motionless.
Curious, Wen Zhaoming asked, "Anything different in yours? Let me see."
Miao Jia, absent-minded, handed his report to Wen Zhaoming. "Oh," was all he said, passing it over.
"Are you okay?" Concerned, Wen Zhaoming asked, joined by Fu Shiwu and Tang Xuhai.
"I'm fine. I was an orphan, didn't know my origins, so seeing half of my lineage as a minority surprised me," Miao Jia explained, revealing his report showed half-minority lineage.
Uncertain how to comfort him, Fu Shiwu just patted Miao Jia's head.
"I'm fine. What about yours, Fu Shiwu? Let me see," Miao Jia forced a smile, swiftly grabbing Fu Shiwu's report.
"Wait!" Fu Shiwu couldn't help but exclaim.
"What's going on? Fu Shiwu!" Miao Jia suddenly shouted.
As a regular human, Miao Jia's report showed source cell content just below 0.1‰, unlike everyone else whose cell content surpassed 0.2‰. Moreover, Fu Shiwu's source cell value was zero!
His ability attribute also showed a string of question marks, leaving him bewildered. "I don't know what's happening. I always felt your abilities were obtained through fever, but mine isn't like that. I've never seen it as an ability."
Miao Jia couldn't believe Fu Shiwu's status. He was so powerful and skilled; how could he be just an ordinary person, even more ordinary than himself?
"Shiwu..." Tang Xuhai, seeing Fu Shiwu's bewildered state, uncomfortably put his hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. Maybe the test isn't accurate. You're definitely an ability user..."
"Who says our tests aren't accurate?!" a cold voice interrupted.
Tang Xuhai looked up, finding a person in a white coat staring at them disapprovingly.
"Who are you?" Miao Jia asked the intruder bluntly.
"Dr. Zuo?" Fu Shiwu recognized the person from the morning's presentation.
"You've come at the right time. What kind of lousy test did you conduct? It's completely unreliable!" Tang Xuhai seized Fu Shiwu's report, shoving it under Dr. Zuo's nose.
Dr. Zuo held the report, scanning it briefly. He lifted his head, seemingly incredulous. "Fu Shiwu, is that you? Which one of you is Fu Shiwu?"
Others were puzzled by his behavior, all eyes turning to Fu Shiwu.
"Is it you?!" Dr. Zuo suddenly became agitated, his eyes fixed on Fu Shiwu. Approaching him, he seemed unsteady, saying, "Do you know you've caused a stir in our biotic ability department? I came down to find you. Thank goodness you're still here!"
As Dr. Zuo extended his hand toward Fu Shiwu's face, Tang Xuhai, uncomfortable with his gaze, firmly slapped it away.
"What are you doing?!" Tang Xuhai exclaimed.
Dr. Zuo's face flushed with excitement; he took a few steps forward, eyes fixed on Fu Shiwu, speaking unsteadily, "You're Fu Shiwu? Do you know, you've caused a sensation in our biotic ability department? I've been looking for you. Fortunately, you haven't
left!"
Dr. Zuo seemed bewildered by Tang Xuhai's boldness, especially after being pushed away.
"Why did you say that about Shiwu? Can you explain?" A composed Wen Zhaoming inquired.
"It's not suitable to discuss here. Let's move somewhere else," Dr. Zuo suggested amidst the commotion.
Thank you for reading this far! You can access more chapters from HERE by joining my Patreon community. You'll gain exclusive early access to the COMPLETE NOVEL.
As a member of my Patreon community, here is what you'll get:
For $5
- Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public.
- You also get access to all the novels I'm translating, you can find them here HERE.
- Your name will be featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
- The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
- You Get Ad-free Chapters.
For $10
- You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.
- You get access to Digital art.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in gold).
For $20
- You get to recommend a Novel and I will immediately start translating it.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in blue).
Plus, you can Cancel your membership at any time.
Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!
