Chapter 33 - 31 Penglu Mountain Fierce Beast Riot

A group of twenty people entered, and within about three minutes, these twenty had completed the test. The announcement then sounded again, calling the next group of twenty to enter the assessment. At this moment, the huge electronic screen outside had already displayed the rankings. The first assessment on gene compatibility required a 60% to pass, meaning one needed a gene compatibility of at least 60% to move on to the second assessment. A gene compatibility of 60% was graded as E-level. Even within the E-level, rankings could differ; your 60% is E-level, someone else's 61% is also E-level. The real differences in ranking weren't just a matter of one percentage point; even a 0.001% difference could be reflected in the rankings. Of course, this was just the first assessment, and once the later assessments were completed, these minor differences in the same grade might become irrelevant. "Yi Yi, your gene compatibility is 85%, which reaches B-level, placing you within the top three at our school." In the assessment area of Qinghe University, Qu Fei spoke somewhat excitedly; she was Qu Yi's cousin, and naturally, she was happy about Qu Yi's good results. "You passed too, huh?" Qu Yi was somewhat distracted, her gaze fixed on the rankings displayed on the big screen. She was eager to know if any of the students taught by Mr. Ding from Yujiang University had made it onto the list. Qu Fei pouted, "I'm only E-level, just being a study companion to the prince." In assessment area number 38, Li Wanran, who had been sitting bored all day, sighed, "It looks like it won't be our turn today." Geng Qianxing also nodded. Although the first assessment was very quick, with so many participants, it was normal not to be called on the first day. Traditionally, the admissions assessments of the Blue Star Ten Great Colleges aimed to eliminate over 80% of students in the first round. This meant, out of two million participants, at most only four hundred thousand could advance to the second round. That number was just theoretical; the actual figure would certainly be less than four hundred thousand. After the first day of assessments, the hotels around Pu Hai Martial Arts Square became livelier. Many were eliminated, but some had passed the first round with good results. These students with good results from the first round had the opportunity to enter one of the Blue Star Ten Great Colleges. If invested in at this time, once the investee made it into the Blue Star Ten Great Colleges, it could mean great returns. "Mr. Geng, do you think our school has a chance to get someone in?" The first day had ended without any students from Yujiang University taking the test, and Tan Bei became increasingly anxious. Even though deep inside he knew it was unlikely for any Yujiang University students to succeed, there's always that faint hope, right? If just one Yujiang University student made it into the Blue Star Ten Great Colleges, it would be a resurgence for Yujiang University. It didn't matter whether the student was truly from Yujiang University or if they were just using its assessment quota. "Principal Tan, don't worry. Since you trust Mr. Ding and me so much, we will definitely give it our all," Geng Qianxing spoke, uttering a platitude. He dared not make any promises to Principal Tan. Tan Bei could only sigh, more comforting himself than truly asking Geng Qianxing for reassurance. At this point, even if Geng Qianxing told him something just to placate him, it would still add a bit of hope to his heart. "Wanran, as long as you can pass the first two rounds... No, just the first round, we can find a way to get you into the Future Genetic Planning Bureau of Yanjing..." After coming outside, Wanran's mother approached her anxiously. "Mom, it's likely our turn tomorrow; I haven't even participated in the test today." Li Wanran was speechless; she had reassured her mother several times about her confidence. Her parents just wouldn't believe her or perhaps didn't even listen. Step back and consider, if she couldn't pass the first round, how could she possibly achieve it through effort? Such tests of gene compatibility couldn't be influenced by effort; they rely entirely on one's inherent abilities. Not only Li Wanran, but most family members accompanying the candidates were engaged in this sort of futile inquiry, constantly asking if their children were confident they could pass the first round of testing. ... In the top-floor suite of Tinghuan Hotel, a man in white pajamas sat on a lounge chair, a cigarette held in his hand. Standing in front of him were a man and a woman, the woman in her thirties and appearing very efficient. "Mr. Quan, today's first round of assessments identified three candidates who met the targets, with gene compatibilities exceeding B-level. Two of them are Genetic Affinity Bodies, and one is a Coupled Gene Body..." The woman spoke at a steady pace, articulately. "Another Coupled Gene Body has appeared? Tell me more," Mr. Quan said, sitting up from his lounge chair, his interest piqued. "Right, this Coupled Gene Body is named Qu Yi, with a gene compatibility of eighty-five percent from the first round of assessment. She's from Anjiang Province and has some family business, but no significant influence. Our safety coefficient for taking her away is eight." After the woman finished speaking, Mr. Quan stood up, paced around the room several times, then stopped and asked, "Did Chang Chongjin record this woman's information and circumstances?" The woman replied, "It has been recorded. We checked the surveillance and the situation at that time; many people know about it. If even this wasn't recorded, Chang Chongjin and Li Xing would be utterly incompetent." Mr. Quan nodded, paced again, and then said, "Were Chang Chongjin and Li Xing killed because of her?" The woman hesitated, then shook her head, "By her side, there's just an uncle named Qu Jiuyi, who only has ordinary Inner Strength and hasn't even reached the Martial Artist threshold. How could he have the capability to kill Chang Chongjin and Li Xing?" Another man who had been standing there silently spoke up suddenly, "Could it be that Chang Chongjin and Li Xing were too arrogant and offended someone?" In recent days, numerous strong individuals had arrived in Pu Hai; if Chang Chongjin and Li Xing's arrogance led to their deaths, that wouldn't be odd. "No, that's unlikely. Li Xing, maybe, but as long as he was with Chang Chongjin, such an incident wouldn't be possible," the woman replied to him. Mr. Quan sat down again, took a puff of his cigarette, and slowly said, "Xiu Jian, continue the investigation, and make up for the missing results from the previous investigation about Chang Chongjin and Li Xing's disappearance. Zhang Tai, you stay by my side." "Yes." Both bowed in response. They knew why Mr. Quan wanted Zhang Tai by his side—it was out of fear. They weren't wrong; Mr. Quan was indeed afraid. The person who killed Chang Chongjin and Li Xing was definitely a strong individual. If such a person came after him, not having a bodyguard by his side was unacceptable. Regarding Chang Chongjin and Li Xing's loyalty to the Genetic Alliance and their not leaking his existence as Boss Quan, hehe, he wouldn't believe it himself. "Also, check if Qu Yi and those other Genetic Affinity Bodies have any connections to Zhang Yongcheng from Da Han Yi Academy, especially that Coupled Gene Body." Speaking of Zhang Yongcheng, Mr. Quan showed not the slightest respect. Both Zhang Tai and this Xiu Jian woman knew how significant Zhang Yongcheng's background was. Although Zhang Yongcheng was quite old, he was the esteemed president of Da Han Yi Academy, respected worldwide. Mr. Quan's irritation with Zhang Yongcheng stemmed from the recent killings of Chang Chongjin and Li Xing. The Genetic Alliance had to inspect the entire Pu Hai area, but President Zhang Yongcheng had bluntly rejected them. The recruitment assessments for the Ten Great Colleges of Blue Star were a global affair, concerning the future of humanity. Why should the Genetic Alliance act unchecked in Pu Hai? Such actions were absolutely not allowed. ... Ding Huan had been at Penglu Mountain for several days but hadn't ventured deep into the mountain, only wandering around its periphery. It wasn't that he feared the Genetic Beasts, but because a man named Liu had told him that he had encountered a Two-Horned Fire Lizard. Naturally, Liu's abilities weren't very strong—merely that of an Outer Strength Martial Artist at best. Even with plentiful experience, an Outer Strength Martial Artist wouldn't dare to venture deep into Penglu Mountain. From this, Ding Huan inferred that Liu must have encountered the Two-Horned Fire Lizard near the outskirts of Penglu Mountain. The first few days were fine, but today, Ding Huan felt an inexplicably disturbing unease. After hesitating, he still entered the cave he had dug earlier. Based on his experiences from his previous life, being careful and cautious was never wrong. He had been chased by unique individuals and eventually perished on a desolate planet in space, not because he was careless or not vigilant enough, but because his strength and equipment were inadequate. Ding Huan had just sealed the cave when he suddenly heard a series of rustling sounds. Peering through a gap in the cave, Ding Huan saw a massive Black Ape leading tens of thousands of Genetic Beasts charging towards him. Ding Huan's scalp tingled; it wasn't that he hadn't seen a beast tide before. He had even fought against beast tides whose scale dwarfed the current one by hundreds of times, under the lead of top-tier strong individuals, along with numerous human gene cultivators. He didn't need to be at the very front; picking up what others left behind sufficed, as there were always bigger figures at the front. But now, facing tens of thousands of Genetic Beasts alone, what could he do except await death? Especially with the leading Black Ape, which was likely nearing a Level Four Genetic Beast. Why were these dense, massive Genetic Beasts charging towards him? Had he offended this Black Ape?