Chapter 22: Assessment
Chapter 22: Assessment
Huo Qingyao was now in a state of panic.
As one of the Three Ultimate Intelligent Goddesses of the Universe Human Alliance, the Wisdom Goddess possessed unparalleled authority.
Even the lofty Star Masters showed utmost respect to the three goddesses, never daring to display the slightest hint of impatience for fear of tarnishing their 'reputation' in the eyes of the goddesses.
Now that the Wisdom Goddess had personally descended into his main consciousness and issued a stern warning, Huo Qingyao felt as if the sky was falling.
"Ah?!"
Before Huo Qingyao could catch his breath, he heard a sharp intake of breath beside him, and when he turned, he saw Chu Shiyu's face had gone deathly pale.
Her level of fright was no less than his own.
"You also searched for Lin Yuan's information?" Huo Qingyao asked.
He then turned to the others and warned, "Whatever you do, don't try to look up Lin Yuan's personal information."
If even he, Huo Qingyao, had received a warning from the Wisdom Goddess for attempting to do so, then the others certainly wouldn't fare any better.
After all, they were all classmates, and their relationship wasn't so hostile that they would want to see each other get reprimanded by the goddess.
"Ah?" The girls looked at him blankly, not quite understanding.
Huo Qingyao briefly explained what had just happened to him.
"Then, what is Lin Yuan's background that his personal information is encrypted by the Wisdom Goddess herself?" Chu Shiyu asked, his expression turning grim as he realized the implications.
While it was true that in the era of the Universe Human Civilization, a citizen's personal information was considered private.
But all he had tried to do was find out why Lin Yuan's name had been removed from the conscription list, and yet the goddess had issued a warning.
This level of protection of personal information was usually reserved only for rare special talents or high-level citizens.
Could it be that Lin Yuan had connections to either of these groups?
"No matter his background, I've certainly lost face this time," Huo Qingyao said, his face reddening slightly.
Just a moment ago, he had proudly declared in front of everyone that he would ask his granduncle for help on Lin Yuan's behalf.
But it turned out that Lin Yuan didn't need his help at all, as his name had already been removed from the list.
"Zhao Qiwen, since you knew about Lin Yuan's exemption from conscription so early on, do you know anything else?" Chu Shiyu asked, as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him.
The others immediately perked up, their eyes falling on Zhao Qiwen.
Indeed, it had been Zhao Qiwen who first mentioned that Lin Yuan was no longer on the conscription list.
Apparently, she knew more than they did.
"I don't know much either," Zhao Qiwen shook her head, hesitating for a moment before continuing truthfully, "But a few days ago, I was working part-time at the sales office for the newly opened Shuiyue Residential District."
"I saw Lin Yuan there, and he directly purchased a residential unit," she added.
Upon hearing this, the group sucked in a breath of cold air.
Shuiyue Residential District was quite well-known, having garnered a lot of attention during its development with numerous advertisements.
It was a genuine high-end residential area, and the price of a single unit easily exceeded 10 million credits.
If Zhao Qiwen wasn't lying, then Lin Yuan was undoubtedly the richest student in their school.
Being able to casually spend tens of millions of credits was something even Chu Shiyu would find difficult to do unless he relied on his family's connections to borrow money.
It wasn't that the Chu family didn't have assets worth tens of millions, but rather that Chu Shiyu didn't have the authority to represent the family in such matters.
Huo Qingyao and Chu Shiyu exchanged glances, their expressions complicated.
The two of them had been rivals for the top spot in the class for three years, and they suspected that Lin Yuan had likely witnessed their competition.
Thinking about Lin Yuan's background, they imagined that he would find their rivalry as amusing as watching monkeys perform.
Zhao Qiwen glanced at the dejected Huo Qingyao and Chu Shiyu.
There was something else she hadn't mentioned—the way Manager Wang of the Shuiyue Sales Office had treated Lin Yuan with the utmost respect, as if he were a grandson greeting his grandfather.
Shuiyue Real Estate Group was a notorious asset crocodile, with its market reaching dozens of cities in the surrounding area.
Manager Wang himself had connections with several leaders in Dongning City, and yet he had acted so deferentially towards Lin Yuan.
Zhao Qiwen shuddered at the thought that she had been interacting daily with such a big shot for the past three years.
"What if..." Zhao Qiwen nibbled on her lower lip, her thoughts unknown.
"Lin Yuan actually has such a background?" Du Quan was stunned. He had known Lin Yuan for three years, yet at this moment, he felt as if he had never truly known him.
Evolutionary Association.
A black hovercar glided forward silently.
As the car came to a halt, Lin Yuan stepped out.
"Is this the Evolutionary Association?" Lin Yuan's heart stirred with curiosity at the sight before him.
Looming ahead was a gray skyscraper, remarkably understated, without even a sign indicating its name.
"Mr. Lin Yuan?" A young woman, dressed in a black skirt suit with a hemline that grazed her knees, revealing her slender, fair legs, approached with small steps and asked tentatively.
"Yes, it's me." Lin Yuan nodded.
"Please come with me, Mr. Lin."
Zhu Qianqian stole a glance at Lin Yuan and quickly walked ahead to lead the way.
She was the staff member who had failed to enter Lin Yuan's citizen ID number in time and had endured tremendous pressure because of this mistake. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she had been living in fear ever since.
Had she not received Lin Yuan's forgiveness, she would likely have been fired by her superior by now.
"Mr. Lin looks so young." Zhu Qianqian sneaked another glance at him as she walked ahead.
Following Zhu Qianqian, Lin Yuan entered the gray skyscraper and made his way to an elevator.
Stepping into the elevator, Zhu Qianqian stood beside Lin Yuan and explained, "Mr. Lin, before registering as an Evolver, you'll need to undergo an assessment, and the results will determine the rank on your Evolver certificate."
"I understand." Lin Yuan nodded.
The Evolver certificate would indicate one's specific rank.
And this rank could only be determined through a demonstration of strength.
Soon enough, the elevator doors opened on the twenty-second floor.
Ding! The elevator doors slid open to reveal several small rooms.
They were constructed from a dark golden alloy and arranged neatly in two rows.
"Mr. Lin's assessment room is right here." Zhu Qianqian led Lin Yuan to the very last room.
"The assessment will be conducted in this room?" Lin Yuan's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Yes and no." Zhu Qianqian nodded and then shook her head.
She pushed open the door, revealing a silver-white metal pod inside.
"This is a virtual world pod, Mr. Lin. Your assessment will take place within a virtual world." Zhu Qianqian offered an explanation without any hesitation.
"A virtual world assessment?" Lin Yuan surveyed the room.
"Of course." Zhu Qianqian smiled and said, "Powerful Evolvers can easily destroy cities and raze lands. Do you think we would allocate an entire planet just for their assessment?"
"Hence, Evolver assessments are usually conducted in virtual worlds." Zhu Qianqian paused for a moment before continuing, "Rest assured, Mr. Lin. Your strength within the virtual world will accurately reflect your true power outside of it."
"This is a virtual world pod. It will scan your entire body and create a perfect simulation of your physical self, which will then synchronize with your body in the virtual world."
"I see." Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
Indeed, the strength of Evolvers varied greatly. For weaker ones, such as those who hadn't entered a tier or were in the initial segments of the first tier, a simple plaza would suffice for their assessment.
But for stronger Evolvers, like Lin Yuan, a casual strike could reduce the gray skyscraper beneath their feet to rubble. And for even more powerful ones, ranging from the second to the fifth tier, how much resources would it take to assess their might?
Therefore, conducting the assessments in a virtual world was the most efficient approach.
Within the virtual world, everything was simulated, and even replicating an entire galaxy was not a difficult task.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
