Chapter 86: Gene Awakening Probability

Inside the conference room.

“So far, based on multi-sensor data from three Ultra-Class patrol satellites, the satellite’s intelligent monitoring system has detected no suspicious targets fleeing beyond Lin’an City.”

“After patrol and Gongan forces sealed all key routes, every individual has been thoroughly verified—no anomalies found.”

“The city’s surrounding underground drainage system has also suffered no damage.”

“As for unknown underground passages… based on 3D modeling from GPR combined with MSM data, we’ve identified four unauthorized subterranean tunnels, two of which lead outside the city—patrol units and drones have been dispatched to seal them.”

“In summary, if the Original Research Institute truly conducted criminal operations within Lin’an City and dispatched personnel to assist Chu Tianyao… those individuals are still inside the city.”

On the conference table, the 3D holographic projection of Lin’an City shifted with the technician’s fingertips—zooming in and out, dissecting sections, rotating and tilting.

Around it sat fifteen patrol officers and relevant technical experts.

After listening in silence, Tang Wanqiu finally spoke: “So, the Original Research Institute’s personnel are still hiding somewhere within Lin’an City, correct?”

“Highly likely.”

A nearby technical expert adjusted his glasses. “But current underground space detection technology can accurately probe only about fifty meters deep. In short, if someone dug a tunnel deeper than fifty meters—and long enough, say, beyond the current detection boundary at 29°11′ N—it’s possible they escaped.”

Tang Wanqiu looked at him. “What’s the probability?”

“Very low,” the expert said. “Even if someone could silently construct a hundred-kilometer-long tunnel, the maintenance cost and difficulty would be absurdly high—unless it’s black tech from Zhixing.”

“That’s enough.”

Tang Wanqiu nodded slightly, then turned to the bearded man beside her, Gong Ming. “Connect the headquarters’ life detector to Lin’an’s 3D projection.”

“Yes.”

Gong Ming immediately wheeled over a device composed of silver-gray metal and black stripes, resembling a half-meter-tall sixteen-faced polyhedron.

Nearby experts stared, eyes gleaming.

This piece of technology far surpassed Earth’s civilization beyond the Urban Circle—so far beyond that even disassembling and analyzing it was nearly impossible, let alone replicating it.

Even within the Urban Circle, apart from Zhixing Group, only Dawn Group, which had imported it with extraterrestrial investment, could possibly possess such a device.

“This is the life detector provided by Dawn Group to headquarters. It releases numerous autonomous, invisible micro-sensors.”

Tang Wanqiu explained casually. “Combined with Lin’an’s map projection, it can precisely detect all life fields within the city—just filter out the anomalous ones.”

Even the less-educated patrol officers understood her meaning.

Most Original Research Institute personnel had undergone gene modification—their life fields were inherently stronger than ordinary people’s. And those who had successfully cultivated the methods also possessed anomalous life fields.

Such individuals were extremely rare, drastically narrowing the search scope.

Only because a patrol officer had been killed did headquarters deploy such a precious device.

“Begin.”

Tang Wanqiu swept her gaze across the room. “The three Senior Patrol Captains will lead you fifteen officers in a simultaneous search. Verify every suspicious target immediately.”

Lin Qing silently exhaled in relief.

Headquarters truly lived up to its reputation—it still had methods.

He had long wanted to eliminate those secretly monitoring him, but couldn’t expose Zhao Jiayi’s psychic awakening—otherwise, he couldn’t explain how he’d detected those hidden figures.

Fortunately, headquarters’ methods were powerful enough. Though not as clear as psychic scanning, they were sufficient to identify suspicious targets.

“Maintain communication at all times. Follow orders immediately.”

“Any resistance will be met with lethal force.”

“Then… operation begins.”

…

…

Under the leadership of the three Senior Patrol Captains, the operation proceeded more smoothly than expected.

All suspicious individuals were thoroughly verified; even the communications department cooperated fully, providing real-time device trajectory logs.

Unregistered individuals or criminals were temporarily detained; all who resisted were killed without exception.

What was this, a joke?

A group of patrol officers acting in unison, backed by three terrifyingly powerful Senior Patrol Captains—this force could wipe out ten Yanhong Societies in a single night! And there was even a Patrol Envoy of unknown power overseeing everything!

Lin Qing had already had Zhao Jiayi scout them—he knew well that most of those suspected to be from the Original Research Institute were merely survivors of gene-mod experiments, only slightly stronger than ordinary people.

Only five or six had reached the Level 77 cultivation method threshold.

Even if they mastered a few combat techniques, they were useless against Senior Patrol Captains.

Still, some stubborn fighters did put up fierce resistance.

…

“Boom!!”

In the spacious corridor, two patrol officers flew backward out of the room simultaneously—the sound of shattering glass rang out as they broke through the windows and fled.

“Die!”

A roar echoed as a towering, muscular man burst out after them, each step cracking the marble floor.

At the same moment—

“Whoosh!”

A blurred black shadow suddenly appeared in the corridor, lunging toward the giant man while one hand glinted with metallic sheen—instantly becoming a blur, carving an arc of light.

In an instant, they passed each other.

The giant man froze in place, then slowly turned his neck—his head tumbled off.

The head rolled, blood spurted, and the headless body collapsed.

Lin Qing turned his head calmly to look.

The two patrol officers who had fled returned, their expressions relaxing.

“Didn’t expect this guy was so strong. Lucky you stepped in, Lin Captain—thanks.”

“Lin Captain killed him with one strike—he’s clearly got a Senior Captain’s strength.”

The two patrol officers hurriedly thanked Lin Qing.

“Nothing,” Lin Qing shook his head. “Continue your search.”

With his own strength—even half of it—he was still stronger than Xu Qiu.

The decapitated giant was at best the sixth or seventh strongest among Lin’an’s seventeen patrol officers—compared to him, he was far inferior.

The Senior Patrol Captain assigned to their team was the slender, sixteen-year-old prodigy, Shu Feiyu.

After the window-breaking commotion, this Senior Patrol Captain arrived immediately.

…

Under headquarters’ ruthless crackdown, aided by the life detector, within just three hours, all hundreds of suspicious individuals with anomalous life fields in Lin’an City had been verified.

Many refused inspection—some tried to flee, some resisted, some attempted suicide.

But all were futile.

The highest concentration of suspicious individuals was in Xiaoshan District.

Especially near Lin Qing’s home—it was like stumbling into a den of suspects, one hiding after another. But under headquarters’ efforts, the outcome was inevitable.

…

Three hours later.

“Operation officially concluded.”

Tang Wanqiu scanned each patrol officer. “All suspicious individuals are now under control. Hand over the aftermath to headquarters. You are dismissed.”

Lin Qing’s heart stirred.

Dismissed already? The number-one leader of Yanhong Society hadn’t been found!

Patrol Envoy Tang clearly knew the attacker on Xu Qiu was far too powerful—why stop investigating? That man was at least a Level 77 cultivator, equal to a Senior Patrol Captain, and had no chance to escape Lin’an—his life field should’ve been detected.

Yet he remained completely absent.

Where had he hidden?

Lin Qing immediately sensed something wrong: “Could it be… Patrol Envoy Tang is deliberately creating a diversion?”

Still, he asked nothing.

His current strength didn’t warrant involvement in the conflict between headquarters and the Original Research Institute.

At this moment, Lin Qing was already satisfied.

With all suspicious individuals in Lin’an City cleared—including Chu Tianyao—the order level had risen to an unprecedented height.

【Current Order Level: 5.7】

Days ago, due to the Original Research Institute’s presence and constant surveillance of him, the order level had dropped by 1.8 levels.

Today, not only had it fully recovered, but with Chu Tianyao eliminated and additional discoveries among the suspects…

That’s why the order level surged to 5.7.

The key was headquarters’ thorough sweep—far more ruthless than district patrols, leaving no suspicious individual unchecked.

“Just 4.3 more levels to reach the 10-level unlock condition…”

Lin Qing grew increasingly eager.

The first-class merit award would be issued within a week at the latest.

Then, he could freely learn all combat techniques in the training chamber, plus the three awakening methods—and the original “Zi Zai Shen” technique, accessible only with special merit authorization!…

After the patrol officers dispersed, only Tang Wanqiu and the three Senior Patrol Captains remained in the conference room.

“We didn’t find him.”

Tang Wanqiu frowned slightly. “It seems he either escaped Lin’an City, or is hiding somewhere capable of shielding his life field.”

“Such a device exists?” Ou Yangze couldn’t help asking.

Tang Wanqiu said calmly, “Spears and shields have always coexisted since ancient times; if there are life detectors, there must also be devices to shield and conceal.”

“Director,” Gong Ming said softly, “there are still many missing persons in Lin’an City whose whereabouts remain unknown, even their remains unidentifiable. But even in genetic modification experiments, some always survive.”

“Perhaps these people are hidden somewhere in Lin’an City.”

Tang Wanqiu mused, “The Original Research Institute’s goal is ultimately genetic modification, not murder. Yet not a single one can be found—that’s strange. A group of people vanishes mysteriously; they must still need sustenance.”

Gong Ming nodded slightly and said, “Perhaps a large-scale specialized shield device?”

“Then we can only wait patiently,” Tang Wanqiu said. “Such a large-scale shield device consumes enormous power. Starting today, compile statistics on the city’s total electricity usage. Once we detect an anomaly, pinpoint its location, and immediately seize the chance to search.”

“Understood,” Gong Ming said. “We must make the Original Research Institute realize we haven’t actually left—only then will they grow anxious and keep the shield active.”

Tang Wanqiu nodded slightly. “Don’t worry. When I just said the operation was over, anyone with sense would know something’s off—they’ll surely guess I plan to investigate secretly.”

…

After this major operation ended, life seemed to return to calm, and Lin’an City became more peaceful than ever before.

But those with insight could guess this was merely the stillness before the storm.

Lin Qing watched as the combat technique “Yi” neared completion, yet he did not rush to learn the next technique in the Divine Transformation series.

After all, he only needed to wait for the First-Class Merit to be awarded, and he could then enter the Combat Technique Vault to claim its great rewards.

“Perfect time to check my gene awakening progress.”

That day, after Lin Qing donated blood at the branch office, his sample was sent to the testing center.

Soon, the genetic test report was ready.

Looking at the report in his hand, Lin Qing received a simple result.

“An 11% probability of successful gene awakening?”

Lin Qing nodded inwardly. “Eleven percent? That’s quite high. It seems practicing the original Morning Practice to its limit optimized my genes, raising the gene awakening probability by roughly ten percent.”

According to the description of the original Morning Practice—

Once practiced to its ultimate limit, it increases gene awakening probability by ten percent.

In other words, had he never practiced the original Morning Practice, his awakening probability might have been under one percent!

Surveys show that for Earth humans, using third-tier mysterious energy to trigger gene awakening has an average success rate of only 0.6% to 0.9%.

Only a few are born with a gene awakening probability above ten percent.

According to statistics, the highest recorded gene awakening probability globally is 37%, and there’s only one such case.

Meanwhile, the extraterrestrial civilization of Zhixing Group appears to have everyone as a gene awakener.

The gap is far too vast.

According to theory, the greatest strength of a gene awakener is the ability to control their own genes, adapting them to different environments and evolving unique advantages.

As long as energy supply is sufficient, one can alter their own genes, gaining bonuses when practicing combat techniques.

“Eleven percent… I’ve got a lot of work ahead.”

Lin Qing sighed slightly, “An 11% success rate—if I fail, I risk gene collapse and death, or worse, my gene shackles become even stronger, making breakthroughs harder. I must wait until I have sufficient certainty before attempting…”

So, he could only hope for the headquarters’ gene optimization benefits.

…

Days passed one by one.

Before long, it was time for the city bureau’s citywide commendation ceremony.

After Lin Qing gave his speech, he sat in the audience, idly scrolling through his phone, occasionally refreshing the patrol backend data, hoping the First-Class Merit would be approved soon.

Suddenly—

The patrol system sent him a new message.

【Dear Patrol Chief Lin Qing, you have a new merit update. Please check.】

“The First-Class Merit—it’s finally here!”

Lin Qing’s eyes lit up.

(End of Chapter)