Chapter 1 You Want to Spar?

"You want to spar?" Zhou Jing raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, the Superpower Bureau has training grounds. Let's wrestle!"

Xu Lingyun winked and looked eager to try.

He hadn't had his gene enhancement for very long, and he had excess energy he needed to burn off. His hands were itching for a chance to brawl and experience the thrill of superhuman power.

As luck would have it, Zhou Jing was also a physical enhancer, making them perfect for each other.

Although Zhou Jing’s physical stats were superior, Xu Lingyun figured that Zhou Jing had only awakened recently, so his control over his superpowers must be lacking.

Meanwhile, he had been exercising to improve his body control, and he was confident he was more experienced. Maybe he could even get an advantage.

In the process, they could both improve and explore combat techniques. Xu Lingyun felt that Zhou Jing was the best training partner.

"Alright, let's work out a bit."

Zhou Jing had no objections.

Unlike Xu Lingyun, he didn’t feel itchy after gaining supernatural powers… After all, he had been having a blast slashing up beasts in the Other World.

"Great! I've never seen Jingjing fight before. I want to watch!"

Li Xiaoyin cheered excitedly, then turned to Xu Lingyun and huffed:

"Jingjing just awakened. You can't bully him."

"...Just tell me to take a beating, then." Xu Lingyun rolled his eyes.

The three laughed and joked as they made their way to the combat area.

This area provided training grounds for superhumans to hone their abilities or spar with each other, with rows of combat rooms lined up.

As they arrived, the three unexpectedly ran into Zhao He.

Zhao He had just emerged from a combat room. When he saw them, he paused slightly, his gaze landing on Zhou Jing with a hint of surprise.

"Hi, we meet again." Zhou Jing greeted.

Although they hadn't chatted much, they could at least nod at each other.

Zhao He nodded casually, the movement slight.

He hadn't intended to respond to Zhou Jing, but after a glance at Li Xiaoyin and Xu Lingyun, he took the initiative to ask:

"Who are these two?"

"Oh, they're my friends."

"Mm, hello." Zhao He inclined his head.

Seeing this, Li Xiaoyin nudged Zhou Jing in the waist with her elbow, her tone teasing:

"Oh, you've made new friends so quickly."

"He and I were in the same batch of newly awakened people who passed the test. We chatted a bit."

Zhou Jing twitched his lips.

It might really have only been "a bit"...

Then, he spoke to Zhao He: "Have you been training here?"

"Just digesting after lunch."

Zhao He replied casually, then offered:

"Are your two friends superhumans? Since we've met, let's get acquainted. I'm Zhao He, an energy projection type. I can release high-pressure water waves. Potential rating: A-level."

"Got it! Your ability is to spray water!" Li Xiaoyin understood.

In her mind, releasing water waves was spraying water, controlling flames was spitting fire, and controlling lightning was spitting lightning. Simple and easy to understand.

Zhao He's expression turned impatient. He retorted: "What's your ability, then?"

Li Xiaoyin generously replied, "Oh, I'm Li Xiaoyin. I also have an energy projection ability. I can release shockwaves. Potential rating: 2S-level."

2S-level?!

Zhao He paused, a smile spreading across his face. He extended a hand. "Pleased to meet you."

Oblivious to Zhao He's subtle change in attitude, Li Xiaoyin shook his hand in a carefree manner.

Zhao He then turned to Xu Lingyun. "And this one..."

"Oh, just call me Xu Lingyun. I'm her assistant. I'm gene-enhanced." Xu Lingyun pointed at Li Xiaoyin.

"Pleased to meet you."

Zhao He nodded, then looked back at Li Xiaoyin and smiled.

"Are you here to train as well? How about you let me join you?"

Li Xiaoyin didn't answer. She turned to Zhou Jing and Xu Lingyun:

"What do you two say?"

"I don't mind." Xu Lingyun shrugged.

"Whatever."

Zhou Jing had no objections. It was just two muscleheads wrestling. No need to avoid people.

When he was still a socially awkward person, he wouldn’t want a stranger around when hanging out with friends, but he didn’t care much now. Although he wasn’t familiar with Zhao He, they were from the same batch of newbies. There was no harm in getting to know him.

That was probably the other party's goal as well. After becoming a superhuman, they wanted to meet more of their kind and expand their social circle.

As for Zhao He being somewhat indifferent to him, but enthusiastic toward Li Xiaoyin… Zhou Jing didn't mind.

People in society measured the value of relationships. There was nothing strange about it. He wasn't so high-minded that he couldn't tolerate that little bit of calculation.

However, their relationship would probably remain as acquaintances.

Zhao He had finished his training and planned to go back to rest, but now he wanted to socialize with the three, so he abandoned his original plan and followed them into a combat room.

Xu Lingyun jumped to the middle of the arena and beckoned Zhou Jing. He grinned. "Come on, let me show you some love!"

—*Look at you, trying to die.*

Zhou Jing rolled his eyes.

He also walked to the middle of the arena, stood opposite Xu Lingyun, and looked around. "Want to pick a weapon? How about we grab a knife and go at it?"

Xu Lingyun was stunned. "Bro, are you that hardcore? It's just wrestling. Are you planning to beat me to a pulp?"

"You're right. Let's just go barehanded."

Zhou Jing loosened his arms. Although he hadn't chosen to inherit Jason's swordsmanship, he still preferred weapons.

"Then here I come!"

Xu Lingyun suddenly darted forward, his hands reaching for Zhou Jing's shoulders.

Zhou Jing took a step, lightly sidestepping the attack.

Whoosh!

Xu Lingyun charged six or seven steps before barely managing to stop. He turned around and pounced again, throwing a side kick.

The force was heavy, and the speed was fast. This kick was enough to split a person in two… but that was from the perspective of an ordinary person.

In Zhou Jing's eyes, Xu Lingyun's movements were clumsy, his strength scattered, and his speed felt like slow motion.

Having seen skilled hunters in the Other World, dealing with a newbie like Xu Lingyun, who hadn't even completely mastered his own body, felt like crossing an empty street in the early morning. No pressure at all.

"Here you go."

Zhou Jing reached out and intercepted Xu Lingyun's ankle, then stuck out his leg, directly tripping Xu Lingyun to the ground with ease.

Xu Lingyun scrambled to his feet, refusing to give up, and charged again.

Bang, bang, bang...

The two figures constantly crossed paths. Zhou Jing hardly moved from his original position, simply shifting his feet within a small range. Xu Lingyun, on the other hand, kept repeating the cycle of charging, falling, getting up, and charging again, slamming onto the floor a dozen times.

One looked like an unyielding hothead, the other like a calm and collected combat instructor, highlighting the one-sided beatdown.

"Wait!"

Xu Lingyun, battered and disheveled, got up once more, but didn't charge forward. His face was filled with shock and uncertainty.

"Didn't you just awaken? Why are you so skilled?"

He could accept being unable to defeat Zhou Jing, but this kind of effortless domination, like an adult playing with a child, was hard for him to understand.

Zhou Jing wasn't relying on his superior physique. Most of it was technical KOs, the force just right. Zhou Jing seemed to have a better grasp of his body than a gene warrior who had obtained superhuman strength a few days earlier.

If he remembered correctly, Zhou Jing used to be a gentle scholar, never getting into fights. How could he be so experienced?

"Talent, I guess. You're full of openings." Zhou Jing didn't explain. He casually spread his hands. "What do you say? Want to keep going?"

"No, no, I give up..."

Xu Lingyun was dejected.

He had originally thought it would be a passionate clash of fists, experiencing the power of superhuman bodies. He hadn't expected it to be a completely one-sided beating. There was no point in looking for trouble.

Li Xiaoyin, who had been watching from the side, exclaimed excitedly, "Jingjing, you're amazing! So good at fighting! I never knew!"

"I probably watch too many Superpower League matches. I like to mess around at home, and over time, I picked up some basic skills." Zhou Jing smiled.

"You're pretty good, indeed." Zhao He also chimed in.

He hadn't paid much attention to the low-level battle between two physical enhancement users, but he hadn't expected Zhou Jing to perform so effortlessly, like a seasoned warrior… at least, he was skilled to him.

Zhao He became slightly more attentive to Zhou Jing, adjusting his attitude to show a little friendliness.

But he couldn't be too enthusiastic. He felt that as an A-level potential ability user, there was no need to overly curry favor with a C-level potential pure physical enhancer.

Zhao He's eyes darted around. He looked at Li Xiaoyin and suggested, "I'm quite curious about your ability. How about we spar a bit?"

"Sure."

Li Xiaoyin agreed readily, not thinking too much about it.

The two went to the center of the arena. Seeing this, Zhou Jing and Xu Lingyun retreated to the side to make room.

Zhao He was eager to try. He proposed the sparring match because he felt a bit unconvinced, wanting to see just how the so-called 2S-level potential was better than his own.

He circled his hands, and a circle of light blue water flowed from his palms, rotating in the air along with the movement of his arms.

Whoosh, whoosh...

It spun round and round, the water flow growing larger and larger, gradually turning into a water vortex suspended in the air, circling his body. The high-speed flow emitted a hissing sound of pressure.

Li Xiaoyin, however, didn't move, standing in place.

"Be careful! My high-pressure water wave has incredible destructive power!"

Zhao He shouted softly and pushed forward with his hand.

Boom!

The water flow crashed down, spraying along his arm, turning into a thick high-pressure water jet, like a *qigong* blast!

Under the intense pressure, the water jet's speed was astonishing, instantly covering the distance and about to hit the target.

Li Xiaoyin blinked and threw a punch.

Rumble!!

Like a thunderclap!

With her fist as the center, a pale white cone-shaped shockwave suddenly erupted, instantly shattering the high-pressure water jet, turning it into a rain of water!

The shockwave continued unabated, passing close to Zhao He, who was frozen in place.

Bang!!

A deafening explosion sounded behind him!

The entire room shook violently!

Zhao He turned his head stiffly.

Behind him, a circular pit filled with cracks had appeared in the high-strength wall of the combat room, which was made of special materials.

In the deepest area of the circular pit, the light from the neighboring room shone through.

"Glug..."

Zhao He's throat bobbed. A drop of cold sweat quietly slid down his temple.

He had tested it before. Using his high-pressure water cannon to attack the wall seemed to leave not even a mark...

If the shockwave had hit him just now, he would have been turned into dust!

"Ah, didn't control it well. Luckily, it missed." Li Xiaoyin said apologetically, "How about we spar again? I'll use less strength this time and let me feel your destructive power too."

"N-no need."

Zhao He forced a stiff smile, trying to stop his legs from shaking.

For a moment, he couldn't tell if Li Xiaoyin was being unintentional, or deliberately giving him a warning...

What kind of sparring was this? It was practically murder!

Damn it, he was careless!

He had just become a superhuman, and his bright future hadn't even started yet. He didn't want to die here!

At the edge of the room, Xu Lingyun patted Zhou Jing's shoulder, his tone world-weary:

"Bro, now you understand why I asked you to spar instead of Sister Yin, right? It's too damn scary! If she doesn't hold back, you're done for!"

"...Yeah, indeed."

Zhou Jing's mouth twitched, inwardly astonished.

He knew that Li Xiaoyin's ability was strong, but today he truly realized how terrifying it was.

Such a petite girl, yet the destructive power she possessed was so abnormal.

He strongly suspected that even with four or five rounds of Blood Boost, he wouldn't be able to withstand Li Xiaoyin's shockwave punch.

All roads lead to Rome, but some people are born there.

You really can't compare people. Other people's awakened talents were enough to overwhelm a large number of superhumans who had trained hard for many years...

—*2S-level potential, this buddy is a real big shot!*

Zhao He was severely demoralized. He forced himself to chat for a few words, exchanged contact information, and then excused himself to go back to his room to soothe his frightened little heart… and change his pants.

He had accidentally activated his "ability" in his crotch just now.

The three of them chatted in the combat room for a while, then also went back to rest.

Li Xiaoyin and Xu Lingyun simply used their identification to stay in the living area, respectively living in the rooms to the left and right of Zhou Jing's room, planning to stay with him for the next few days.

...

Over the next three days, Zhou Jing spent his time at the Superpower Bureau, signing several contracts.

Registered superhumans were subject to many restrictions. They had to promise not to use their abilities against ordinary people casually in their daily lives, not to use their abilities to commit illegal acts, and to have their abilities tested by the Superpower Bureau every few years to check on their progress.

There were also many benefits. There were various policy support in many areas, and corresponding subsidies for passing different levels of superhuman grading exams.

Currently, they had just registered and had not taken any level exams, so they were all probationary superhumans, with subsidies given based on their potential assessment.

His own C-level potential assessment entitled him to a monthly allowance of 6,200 Nassau, which he could receive without having to do anything.

This was enough to cover daily expenses and was comparable to the salary of some ordinary jobs. He was very satisfied with this decent level of income.

Zhou Jing took note of these clauses one by one, determined to be a law-abiding citizen.

The three days passed in a flash, and the registration procedures were finally completed. Everything went smoothly.

"Congratulations, you are now a registered superhuman."

Feng Feng smiled and handed Zhou Jing his newly minted superhuman certificate.

Black background with silver lettering, quite exquisite.

Zhou Jing took it and played with the certificate for a while before putting it away. He nodded.

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me, it's my job."

"Now that I'm registered, I'll have a slot for an assistant, right?" Zhou Jing asked.

"Yes, that's right. You can recommend candidates to us at any time."

Feng Feng confirmed this.

Zhou Jing nodded, planning to call Zhang Xiao later.

He thought for a moment, then asked, "I'm still a probationary superhuman, so what I need to do next is wait to take the grading exam, right?"

Feng Feng shook his head and explained,

"Not so fast. You must complete the most important step before you can take the grading exam... In fact, not just the grading exam, but even if you have any employment plans or future plans, you must wait until you have completed this step before you can implement them."

"What step?"

Zhou Jing was curious.

Hearing this, Feng Feng smiled:

"That is, to go to school!"