Assessment

After Chen Chuan finished checking on Chaoming, Supervisor Zhuang led him to a demonstration zone nearby, where the screens displayed Chaoming's projected combat maneuvers simulated through an inactive conscious entity. From the display, Chen Chuan could see Chaoming soaring across the sky. Suddenly, as if receiving a signal, the raptor swiftly locked onto an armed target on the ground. It went into a dive, gliding down at blinding speed before striking like lightning, tearing the target apart, and abruptly pulling up into the heights. The entire sequence was fluid and fast-paced, showcasing Chaoming's agility and ferocity, with every piece of mutated tissue involved and activated highlighted in red. Supervisor Zhuang said, "Supervisor Chen, this simulated footage was calculated by our head office's active conscious entity. It essentially presents what your pet will be capable of once it matures. "If you are willing, Supervisor Chen, you could graft linked field organisms onto it. That way, even out in the wilderness, you would be able to transmit precise orders to your pet while it flies far above. "If you don't need that, you can also communicate using sound via specialized tools. "However, that lacks stealth. Fortunately, your pet's vision will be exceptional after the modification of its mutated tissue. If you establish predetermined gestures and movements, or cue cards, they will serve the purpose just as well. If you require it, Supervisor Chen, we can assist with training." With that, he gave a light wave of his hand, and the display before them changed. Chen Chuan saw instructional video recordings. The so-called "cue cards" were brightly colored cards, each labeled with its intended function so the owner would not forget. Through training, a pet could memorize the meaning behind each card and carry out the owner's commands. Of course, these were limited to simple instructions; anything more complex would be beyond its comprehension. Supervisor Zhuang continued, "Supervisor Chen, once your pet is ready, it will still require a certain amount of training. Our company has customized a set of conditioning exercises tailored specifically to its mutated tissue, which you can use with complete confidence. "The only thing to note is that the growth of a pet's mutated tissue generally occurs in two stages. "In the first stage, after the foundational structure of the mutated tissue takes shape, it will enter a new cycle of growth. Its body size may increase slightly as a result, but nothing too dramatic. Taking your pet as an example, Supervisor Chen, it will roughly reach what its natural adult size would have been. "Next is the second stage, which relies on the proprietary technology of our Winged Blade Light Nest Company. Much like the limit progression of fighters, the mutated tissue undergoes further development. If it reaches this stage, it will break past its original biological limits." Chen Chuan asked, "How long does that take?" Supervisor Zhuang replied, "Every living specimen is different. Our company has conducted a detailed analysis of your pet. If everything proceeds according to the cultivation regimen, it will take roughly three to six months." Chen Chuan nodded slightly. That was not long. But thinking about it, it made sense—creatures like this naturally possessed short life cycles, and if they failed to break their limits quickly, all earlier investment would be rendered pointless. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Does achieving it so quickly carry any other costs?" Supervisor Zhuang smiled. "Supervisor Chen, we utilize mild medicines newly developed by the company. We will not crudely overdraw a creature's potential." In truth, it was primarily a question of investment. As long as a client could afford the price, the company could pour in all their finest resources and technology, ensuring that no issues arose. "However, throughout the second stage, both the pet's physical traits and its growth remain within our control. But if it reaches the third stage, it will no longer be confined to the company's growth plan. From that point on, it relies entirely on the creature's autonomous development. "Very few creatures ever reach that level, however. Animals act largely on instinct, at most following training regimens devised by their masters. Breaking beyond one's limits, on the other hand, is an intensely internal process. It requires the creature to adjust and grow from the inside out, which is extraordinarily difficult." Chen Chuan asked, "Are there precedents for such breakthroughs?" "Quite a few, though most were born of sheer coincidence. "According to the data we've gathered, the highest proportion occurs in the Sanmawoga region. That's because modified organisms are heavily deployed there and warfare is frequent, giving rise to rare individuals that surpass their kind." Supervisor Zhuang smiled. "Your pet is very clever, Supervisor Chen. Perhaps it will break this limit as well." These were polite pleasantries. If Chaoming truly managed to reach that stage, the company would even be willing to pay Chen Chuan for the privilege of tracking, monitoring, and studying it, as that might offer an opportunity for the company itself to achieve its next technological breakthrough. In this era, the entire world was being driven forward under immense pressure. Living organisms sought breakthroughs within themselves, just as major corporations sought breakthroughs in technology. Chen Chuan knew this would not be easy. Just like a fighter advancing upward, without the backing of a complete system, one had to rely purely on personal talent and fortune. Still, as long as Chaoming could shatter its original biological shackles, that would already be impressive enough. He would not demand too much beyond that. Thus, he said, "Then we shall let nature take its course." Having seen Chaoming, Chen Chuan left the Winged Blade Company under Supervisor Zhuang's escort. Even after Chen Chuan got into the car, the supervisor remained standing there, smiling politely. Chen Chuan nodded in response, then told the driver, "Take me back to Wuyi." The armed motorcade slowly started up and drove toward Wuyi Academy. Watching the scenery stream backward outside the window, Chen Chuan reflected that Chaoming would only need a few more days before being released. That way, he could take it along when he returned to Yangzhi. After all, three months was neither too long nor too short, and keeping it by his side was the better choice. Upon returning to the academy, he went straight to his dormitory, logged onto the Wuyi platform, submitted his application for a teaching credential, and then walked into the training room. Yet barely half an hour had passed when a notification came through his boundary credential: his application submitted to the academy had already been approved, and he was asked to select a time for his assessment. "So fast?" Chen Chuan was somewhat surprised that a response had come so quickly after submission. A thought crossed his mind—it was likely due to his current status. He checked the available assessment times. Starting tomorrow, sessions were open every day at one o'clock and five o'clock over the next ten-day period. After brief consideration, he scheduled it for tomorrow afternoon, then resumed his cultivation for the day. The next day. After finishing his routine morning training, he rested for a short while and consumed several tubes of nutrition paste. When the time approached, he changed into clean clothes and stepped out, heading to the assessment site on the seventy-fifth floor. Upon arriving, he saw several people already waiting there. One of them surprised him slightly. Seeing Chen Chuan arrive, the man smiled and said, "Supervisor Chen." Chen Chuan said, "Assistant Ling. Are you in charge of this assessment?" Assistant Ling smiled. "Not me. Although I would very much like to test your current strength, Supervisor Chen, the academy has its rules and will only dispatch appropriate examiners." He gestured to his side. "The one in charge of the assessment today is Teacher Yang, here beside me." This was a slender male instructor around thirty years of age, with a slightly pointed chin. He took the initiative to greet Chen Chuan, "Supervisor Chen, I am Yang Jianying. I will be overseeing your assessment today." Chen Chuan replied politely, "Hello, Teacher Yang." Yang Jianying nodded with a smile. Although he was the evaluating instructor today, he felt uneasy facing Chen Chuan, for standing before him, he could clearly sense the disparity between them. Before coming, he had reviewed Chen Chuan's file. Many of the battle records had left him thoroughly shaken, especially that strike that had sliced the Ferris wheel apart not long ago. That was the genuine strength of a Disposal Bureau enforcement captain, belonging without question to a fighter who had mastered heart force. To tell the truth, in an assessment of someone like this, it was far from certain who was testing whom. But since the academy had assigned him the task, he could only bite the bullet and go through with it. Just by reading his aura, Chen Chuan could tell that this instructor was at the level of an ordinary third-limit fighter, roughly around the stage Wei Wusheng had occupied before unifying hardness and softness. In truth, his strength was fairly decent, but if this were an ordinary assessment, this instructor would likely be unable to draw out anything substantial. It was not that Chen Chuan looked down on him. When the disparity in fundamental physical attributes was too vast, the man had virtually no chance of posing any threat to him. At this moment, even if Chen Chuan stood still and let him strike, the man would hardly be able to inflict meaningful damage. Yet Assistant Ling had appeared here as well, which suggested the assessment might not be so straightforward. Assistant Ling smiled and said, "Supervisor Chen, this is an assessment, not a direct clash of combat, so please do not take it lightly." Turning toward the empty space ahead, he said, "Hongfu, please display the assessment contents to the two of them." Hongfu's voice rang out: "Right away." Neither Chen Chuan nor Teacher Yang had known the content or tasks of the assessment beforehand. Following Hongfu's voice, the information was transmitted to both of their boundary credentials. Teacher Yang glanced through it, and his heart stirred. He cast a look at Assistant Ling; this assessment could be said to play entirely to his strengths. If that was the case, he still had a real chance. He immediately turned back to Chen Chuan, a touch more confidence in his tone as he said, "Supervisor Chen, do you have any objections to the contents of this assessment? If not, shall we begin now?" Chen Chuan reviewed the details, his expression revealing nothing. He nodded and said, "Teacher Yang, no objections here." Teacher Yang said, "Good." Then he added, "Hongfu, switch the assessment environment." In an instant, everything around them began to transform. Their surroundings shifted into a dense, sprawling forest. The ambient light grew exceptionally dim as overhead foliage blocked out the sky, while beneath their feet lay a soft layer of humus. Only the occasional bird call and insect trill broke the silence. And simultaneously, Teacher Yang vanished from before Chen Chuan's eyes.