Chapter 118: Target: Cosmic Citizen

Lin Qing said no more, simply extending both hands; they suddenly shortened then lengthened, at times thick as a thigh, at times slender as an infant's, and the transformations occurred with extreme speed.

Seeing this, Tang Wanqiu could not help but murmur, "Truly, a state of the Self-Soothing Body at the instinctual level."

After mastering the Self-Soothing Body combat technique, one could indeed transform the body, but not so effortlessly and simply, nor could one transform the body in an instant.

"You have mastered the Self-Soothing Body combat technique for only about two months?" Tang Wanqiu could not help but ask.

"About that," Lin Qing nodded slightly. "After mastering the Self-Soothing Body, I feel this combat technique becomes smoother the more I cultivate it; unconsciously, I have reached the instinctual level."

Some combat technique geniuses recorded in the headquarters were exactly like this.

For ordinary people cultivating, it is about summarizing experience and patterns; as familiarity grows, progress also accelerates.

Geniuses familiarize themselves faster, possess higher comprehension, and their progress improvement is even more exaggerated.

Just like after he pre-filled the combat technique, why was the efficiency of filling in the process so high?

It was because he was already in a state of complete mastery; he did not need to summarize experience and patterns, so his efficiency was naturally at the peak level.

He was now pretending to be one of those combat technique geniuses with astonishing comprehension.

"Getting smoother and smoother?"

Tang Wanqiu realized, sighing with a "tsk tsk," "It seems your comprehension in combat techniques is even higher than I expected. Indeed... when you mastered the Self-Soothing Body so quickly back then, the signs were already beginning to show."

She could not help but scrutinize Lin Qing, exclaiming, "In terms of talent for combat techniques, you are worthy of comparison with the geniuses in the inner hall of the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall; I'm afraid only the direct disciples of the few elder-level figures in the inner hall surpass you in combat technique talent."

"Are there those with even higher combat technique talent in the inner hall?" Lin Qing asked curiously.

"Even the most dazzling geniuses will gradually fade when placed in a higher dimension or a larger scope."

Tang Wanqiu smiled. "A genius who reached the genetic weight level at only sixteen or seventeen and mastered a Primordial-level combat technique—dare you imagine it? A genius who becomes a Primordial Being before twenty, or even becomes a chairman-level figure of the Star Patrol Council, one whom the Wisdom Star Group sincerely invites—dare you imagine it?"

Lin Qing could not help but be stunned.

This... the gap seems a bit too large.

However, he had only truly begun cultivating for about half a year; he still has opportunities in the future.

"This is only within our Earth civilization; within the Wisdom Star people's civilization, there must be geniuses far more dazzling," Tang Wanqiu sighed softly.

Lin Qing listened silently, his desire to advance growing even stronger in his heart.

Although he had never been arrogant, understanding he still had a long road ahead, at this moment he also became even clearer that he still had a long way to go.

"In any case, having talent is a good thing; keep working hard."

Tang Wanqiu encouraged him with a calm expression, though her heart was extremely joyful.

Such combat technique geniuses are still very rare; even within the Patrol Headquarters, one might not find a second one.

How could she not be satisfied that her branch has such a genius?

She was merely afraid that young people, feeling their talent is high, would become arrogant and conceited, so she deliberately offered a few words of caution.

"However, the fact that you have completely mastered the Self-Soothing Body must be kept secret."

Tang Wanqiu instructed, "Except for me, do not tell anyone else; otherwise, once discovered by the Wisdom Star Group, it will be trouble."

"Wisdom Star Group?" Lin Qing feigned confusion.

"When the Wisdom Star Group discovers a genius on Earth, they will forcibly sign a indenture contract," Tang Wanqiu said with a slightly cold expression. "If you do not sign, you will not obtain those crucial resources, and the hope of achieving Divine Office or becoming Primordial will be very, very small."

Lin Qing raised his eyebrows slightly.

Is this the open scheme Chen Guang spoke of?

"What is Divine Office?" Lin Qing should not have heard this term, so naturally he had to show confusion at the appropriate time.

"Stellar Divine Office, an evolutionary path originating from the starry sky, is the quota I mentioned to you before."

Tang Wanqiu said, "Why do those elite patrols want to enter the branch? It is for a chance of appointment, a quota. When you reach the Two-Star Elite Patrol level, the headquarters will tell you as well."

Lin Qing realized.

He could not help but ask, "Patrol Envoy Tang mentioned before that this quota gives one a chance to avoid becoming livestock five years later?"

"Yes," Tang Wanqiu said. "Becoming a Primordial Being or achieving Stellar Divine Office places one in a completely different status; as long as you do not cause trouble, the Wisdom Star Group cannot do anything to you. At this point, you are safe from harm."

Chen Guang said, "Master, becoming a Primordial Being or achieving Stellar Divine Office is what the Universal Laws recognize as a 'Cosmic Citizen'."

Cosmic Citizen?

Lin Qing took a deep breath; a goal had already formed in his heart.

He was still unclear on how to become a Primordial Being.

But regarding Stellar Divine Office, he already has the Star-Transmitting Tower; as long as he walks step by step, the hope of achieving Stellar Divine Office is very great!

"Keep going."

Tang Wanqiu looked at Lin Qing and encouraged, "With your combat technique talent, if luck is on your side, there is still a certain hope of achieving Stellar Divine Office. Primordial Life places more emphasis on talent in evolution, so for you, the difficulty is actually higher."

Lin Qing said no more and immediately nodded slightly.

"I will accept these two research documents."

Tang Wanqiu glanced at the two files on the coffee table and said, "You need not worry about the points issue. I will give you one hundred units of Energy Stabilizer and one kilogram of the Second Source first. After using them up, ask me again. Anything exceeding the value of these two research documents, you may pre-draw from me first."

She scrutinized Lin Qing and said, "You already have four high-energy radiation third-level gene optimizations. Adding the original Chaoyang Practice's 10%, that makes 50%. Sky-Track Monarch bloodline; how many third-level abilities have you excavated?"

"Two," Lin Qing said.

"Very good."

Tang Wanqiu exclaimed, "After all, it is only a 【trace】 concentration of bloodline; generally, only one ability is excavated. Excavating two abilities is already very rare."

She could not help but smile. "Looking at it this way, you already have over a 70% chance of successful awakening."

"80%," Lin Qing corrected. "My initial test showed 11%."

He had not forgotten his gene awakening probability from when he first went for the test.

At the time of the test, he had just finished mastering the original Chaoyang Practice; logically, it should have been impossible to complete gene optimization that quickly.

At that time, he had gone for the test specifically to make the headquarters pay more attention to him.

"Oh? Over 80%?"

Tang Wanqiu's smile grew even brighter. "So, if you develop just one more Level-4 gene ability, your Gene Optimization Index will exceed 100%?"

"Yes." Lin Qing nodded slightly. "I plan to undergo Gene Awakening after developing a Level-4 gene ability."

"Excellent."

Tang Wanqiu couldn't help but praise him.

Now she found Lin Qing increasingly pleasing to look at, and more satisfied with her initial investment.

A combat technique genius with such a high probability of Gene Awakening.

Moreover, once subjected to the purification of Level-4 energy, even if you develop only one Level-4 gene ability, your chance of achieving Gene Restructuring will increase significantly.

At least, the Energy trial among the three major hurdles of Gene Restructuring is no longer difficult.

Once you pass the Will and Body trials, Gene Restructuring is guaranteed!

With better luck, your chance of attaining a Divine Office isn't small either.

How could she not be optimistic?

"By the way, you occasionally leave headquarters, right?" Tang Wanqiu suddenly smiled. "I'll lend you a big toy—it'll be safer and more convenient."

"A big toy?" Lin Qing asked, puzzled.

"Wait a moment."

Tang Wanqiu stood up and vanished from Lin Qing's sight in an instant.

Lin Qing was momentarily stunned.

Even with his eyesight, he could only catch a faint afterimage.

What speed was that?

"Master," Chen Guang's voice echoed in his mind. "Tang Wanqiu's speed just now was approximately 3.7 Ma He."

"That fast?" Lin Qing was secretly startled. "And no sound at all?"

Even after activating Divine Speed, without using Celestial Track coordinates, he could barely reach the speed of sound.

!.

Using Instant Light was naturally much faster, but it lasted less than 0.001 seconds and only in energy form.

Yet Tang Wanqiu moved casually at 3.7 Ma He?

Is this the power granted by a Starry Divine Office?

Lin Qing pondered silently.

At that moment, he saw a blur—Tang Wanqiu had returned before him, holding a pure black metal plate about the size of an infant's palm.

"Here you go." Tang Wanqiu handed him the black metal plate.

"What is this?" Lin Qing asked, puzzled.

"A big toy." Tang Wanqiu smiled. "An FT-series fighter."

"A fighter? FT-series?" Lin Qing was stunned.

This was a special fighter produced by Dawn Group, with a top flight speed of 9.2 Ma He!

That meant, from headquarters to Lin'an City—over twelve thousand kilometers—would take just over an hour!

As for its value?

You couldn't buy it with money—only those with Level-Three Elite Patrol authority could purchase it with points!

"I'm planning to replace mine soon anyway. You can have this one."

Tang Wanqiu said casually, "Don't refuse—it's just a loan. Level-Three Elite Patrols can usually afford one. I'm sure you'll reach that level soon enough. Lending it to you early doesn't matter."

Lin Qing sighed. "But I don't know how to fly it. Isn't this too valuable?"

"You don't need to fly it. The AI system handles unmanned operation better than any human."

Tang Wanqiu said, "It's for your safety. Some off-world smuggler factions are powerful—if they want to eliminate you, they'll blow up a commercial flight. A private fighter is far safer."

Lin Qing realized this was indeed dangerous.

Though at his current level, even a fall from tens of thousands of meters posed no threat—when air resistance balanced gravity, his descent speed was only a few dozen to under a hundred meters per second, and he wouldn't be injured hitting the ground.

But in midair, he was inflexible, forced to tread the air at high speed. If attacked, he'd be vulnerable.

So, after thinking it over, having a private fighter was indeed necessary.

"... Alright."

Lin Qing finally accepted the pure black metal card. "Thank you, Patrol Director Tang."

"Don't be so formal," Tang Wanqiu smiled. "Call me Chief. You're already destined to be part of my division."

"Understood, Chief." Lin Qing nodded.

"Alright, focus on your cultivation."

Tang Wanqiu smiled faintly. "If you need anything, call me anytime. One hundred doses of Energy Stabilizer and Second Source will reach you today."

After Lin Qing left, she sat on the sofa, gazing thoughtfully at the documents on the coffee table, a slow smile forming on her lips: "You strongly resist Zhixing Group? Good."

…

Lin Qing returned to his apartment's cultivation room, glanced at the black metal card in his hand, and couldn't help but feel moved.

This choice was certainly right.

Not only had his cultivation resources been resolved, but he'd even gained a high-tech fighter?

"Master."

A streak of light flew out, forming into Chen Guang—a emotionless angelic little girl. "Tang Wanqiu is almost certainly aligned with the Autonomy Faction."

"Oh?" Lin Qing looked at her.

"As division chief, even if you become her subordinate, she gains little from it."

Chen Guang said, "But her friendliness began precisely when you showed resistance to Zhixing Group. The United Faction may be wary of Zhixing Group, but still seeks fair coexistence. Only the Autonomy Faction resists Zhixing Group so fiercely—wishing to expel it entirely from Earth."

Lin Qing suddenly felt a stir in his heart and said, "The Original Research Institute of the Illuminati is also part of the Autonomous Faction, isn't it?"

"Of course," Chen Guang nodded and said, "And it is even an extreme faction within the Autonomous Faction."

Lin Qing spoke thoughtfully, "Last time, the Patrol Headquarters had already obtained that biological weapon from the underground research institute, yet it was snatched away by people from the Original Research Institute, and Tang Wanqiu even pretended to be severely injured. This... could it be intentional?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out."

Chen Guang nodded, "The high-ranking officials of the Patrol Headquarters each belong to different factions, and the Fuyong Sect should be the largest."

"After all, people love to take shortcuts," Lin Qing sighed. "Becoming a vassal of a powerful civilization ensures stable existence, and the high-ranking officials are likely all Universal Citizens, destined not to become livestock. No wonder those people think that way."

Chen Guang looked at him and said softly, "I can see that Master deeply despises the Wisdom Star Group, but at least one must become a Universal Citizen to protect oneself before such a colossal entity."

"I will not act rashly."

Lin Qing nodded slightly, "Besides, does my hatred matter? Without sufficient strength, am I not just at the mercy of others?"

"It is good that Master understands," Chen Guang said. "As long as Master can push open the first trial door of the Star-Transmitting Tower, pass the trial, and attain a Divine Office, it will not be difficult."

"Mm." Lin Qing showed a faint smile. "I still have a great deal of room for improvement."

The core gene ability of the Fourth Level, Gene Awakening, the Heart-Forging Method, the Endless Sky Spikes, the Six Movements of the Sinking Star... none of these had been advanced against yet.

Merely two hours later, one hundred energy stabilizers and one hundred portions of the Second Source had already been delivered into Lin Qing's hands.

And Lin Qing began his steady and uneventful life of repaying debts.

In the blink of an eye, twenty-five days had passed.

Lin Qing had already repaid the debt for one of the Fourth Level gene abilities. After preparing to advance against 'Wings of the Firmament', he would begin Gene Awakening.

By then, his strength would quickly rise to that of a true Three-Star Elite Patrol Officer!

(End of this chapter)