Time is a fickle thief, slipping away silently, impossible to grasp.
In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
During that time, Gao Teng had acquired ten abilities: [Pain Resistance], [Fire Resistance], [Poison Resistance], [Self-Healing], [Danger Perception], [Defense Enhancement], [Intelligence Enhancement], [Water Element Control], [Speed Enhancement], and [Body Doubling].
He meticulously tested each one. The first four—[Pain Resistance], [Fire Resistance], [Poison Resistance], and [Danger Perception]—were passive skills, automatically triggered without his intervention.
As the name suggests, [Pain Resistance] mitigates pain after injury. Being curious, Gao Teng once considered inserting a toothpick beneath his toenail and kicking a wall to see how it would feel. After trying it, he not only felt nothing but also found it oddly amusing.
With [Pain Resistance], his body had become almost numb, desensitized to pain.
[Fire Resistance] was straightforward—it made him immune to certain levels of fire damage. On the morning he gained this ability, he sprinkled cumin on his hand, held it over a gas stove for ten minutes, and emerged unscathed.
[Poison Resistance], as expected, made him immune to various poisons. To test it, Gao Teng strolled into a pesticide market, gulped down two bottles in front of stunned onlookers, and strutted out, spitting bubbles and leaving the crowd in awe, too afraid to approach.
[Danger Perception] was a unique skill, allowing him to sense impending threats. While Gao Teng saw its potential for future development, he had no immediate ideas on how to utilize it fully.
These passive abilities didn't drain energy; they simply fortified his body and served as extra layers of protection.
Next were the active abilities.
[Self-Healing] was arguably the most vital. By consuming energy, Gao Teng could rapidly heal wounds—the more severe the injury, the more energy required. He figured this ability would make him fearless in a fight. He imagined himself enhancing [Defense], [Speed], and [Body Doubling], charging head-on and exchanging blows without a second thought—after all, who wouldn't fear a fighter unafraid to risk his life?
These abilities formed a robust system that could elevate his combat prowess significantly.
As for [Intelligence Enhancement], Gao Teng found it rather useless. He already considered his intelligence to surpass that of 99% of the population—the remaining 1%, he believed, was just modesty on his part. On him, [Intelligence Enhancement] had no noticeable effect. If he could donate it, he would gladly do so. After all, being the only genius in a world of average minds was a burden.
Finally, there was [Water Element Control], an ability that felt almost as powerful as his telekinetic power. This ability further expanded his range of combat strategies, and Gao Teng began to envision himself becoming an invincible, all-around superhuman with no weaknesses.
After reflecting on his newfound powers, Gao Teng turned his attention to his physical training over the past ten days. His improvement was noticeable to everyone. He could now run 20 laps in significantly less time, and the grueling exercises no longer caused him as much pain. His physical fitness had reached new heights, which inspired his peers to push their limits too—carrying weights of 100, 200, and even 300 jin (roughly 50 to 150 kg).
Some trainees had shown remarkable progress. Fang Meng, in particular, could already touch Xue Dong's clothing during sparring. She was now carrying 350 jin (175 kg) during training, making her the standout among her peers—the strongest rising star of the group.
"It's been a pleasure training with all of you these past ten days," Xue Dong said one afternoon, holding a cardboard box as he addressed the group. "When you're older, you'll look back and realize these were the most meaningful ten days of your life. You'll think, 'If only I'd spent more time in special training, listening to the teachings of the great Teacher Xue, my life wouldn't feel so shallow.'"
The group exchanged awkward glances, but Xue Dong sighed deeply, his gaze softening with pity. His eyes flicked over them, though he spared Gao Teng from this look.
If there were two wise men in the world, Xue Dong believed it would be him and Gao Teng. With Gao Teng, he shared a like-minded smile.
"And now, let's applaud Gao Teng," Xue Dong announced. "In just ten days, his physical capabilities have multiplied. The potential of someone with an S-Class aptitude is truly terrifying."
The crowd obediently clapped, some more enthusiastically than others.
"Enough chit-chat," Xue Dong continued, shaking the cardboard box in his hands to draw everyone's attention. "You're probably wondering what's in here, aren't you? Well, let me explain. Inside this box are number cards."
A murmur ran through the group.
"I know, I know," Xue Dong interrupted their confusion. "You're wondering, 'What's the purpose of the number cards?' Good question. The answer is: quotas."
Everyone stared, waiting for him to explain further.
"You see, 130 interns joined this special training program. Only ten of you will become full members. There are 130 number cards in this box, but only ten have numbers written on them. The lucky ones who draw those numbered cards will earn a quota to join the Security Bureau."
The room erupted in disbelief.
"Calm down, groundhogs," Xue Dong said, waving them quiet. "I haven't finished explaining yet."
Everyone fell silent again, waiting for the rest of the explanation. Xue Dong took a long pause, glancing at the sky, then at the ground, before absentmindedly scratching his leg.
"Your CPU overheating?" Gao Teng quipped.
Xue Dong burst out laughing, giving Gao Teng a thumbs up. "Always quick on the draw, aren't you?"
Collecting himself, Xue Dong continued, "As I was saying, whoever draws a numbered card will need to face five challenges. If you succeed, you claim your spot—simple enough, right?"
Everyone nodded, understanding.
"But," Xue Dong added, "if you fail even one challenge, you're out. So think carefully before you make your move."
"Gao Teng, you go first," Xue Dong said, gesturing for him to draw.
It was obvious Xue Dong hoped Gao Teng would pull a blank card, giving the others a better shot at claiming a spot. Despite his hopes, Gao Teng drew a card with a bold "6" written on it.
Xue Dong's expression turned somber. "I'm not sure whether to call you lucky or unlucky," he said with a sigh.