Chapter 87: First-Class Merit Exchange

First-class merit, no wonder it’s the dream achievement of countless inspectors in the Patrol Sector.

Just one first-class merit has already brought Lin Qing changes remarkable enough.

First, the combined bounty across all nations for Chu Tianyao—

Eight million six hundred fifty thousand!

That’s the bounty carried by an S-class wanted criminal.

Second, the municipal and district bureaus also awarded bonuses, totaling seventy thousand.

Almost a fortune.

For Lin Qing, many benefits couldn’t be bought with money—they could only be earned through merit or official rank.

Adding his previous one million plus in savings, his current balance has reached eight digits.

Most expenses requiring money are now covered by this tens of millions in savings.

He had no interest in luxury goods, high-end cars, or such things, so he wouldn’t waste money on them.

After all, nothing was more captivating than the changes brought by rising personal strength; the status and power from rank advancement were pleasures money could barely buy.

“The review for my inspector rank upgrade was approved immediately too.”

Lin Qing noticed the shift in honorifics in the patrol system’s message and nodded inwardly.

Since his strength was already evident and headquarters knew he’d mastered six combat techniques, he’d applied for the inspector rank exam a few days ago.

Once he confirmed mastery of all six Free Body combat techniques and completed the original Sunrise Training Method, his strength was sufficient—only first-class merit was missing to be promoted to “Inspector Chief.”

Now that the first-class merit was approved, his rank immediately upgraded to “Inspector Chief.”

He was the second Inspector Chief in Lin’an City!

Although Xu Qiu had sufficient strength, without enough second-class merit or a single first-class merit, he couldn’t be promoted to Inspector Chief.

“The privileges of an Inspector Chief aren’t few.”

Lin Qing opened the detailed notification from the patrol system, studied it for a while, and understood the changes.

The least useful was the twenty-thousand-yuan monthly salary.

Compared to other benefits, twenty thousand yuan was barely enough for daily expenses.

The most important was the internal channel benefits within the patrol system.

For example, he could now apply to headquarters for customized high-tech weapons, specially treated clothing materials, and exchange for “AT-series High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquid” and “Gene Optimization Agents,” both beneficial to the original Sunrise Training Method.

The former functioned identically to the previous sustained-release liquid, while the latter accelerated gene optimization by the second-tier energy.

Though he’d already reached perfection and didn’t need them, he still owed debts—these two agents would let him repay faster if he had enough.

“But they’re too expensive—I can’t afford many even with money.”

Lin Qing muttered helplessly to himself.

One set of AT-series High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquid cost one million five hundred fifty thousand; even the internal privilege price was one million one hundred thousand per set.

The Gene Optimization Agents were even more expensive!

Each vial increased the efficiency of gene optimization by the original Sunrise Training Method by one to two times.

Each vial cost two million six hundred thousand—even at internal privilege price.

With good luck, a dozen or so vials might suffice; with bad luck, dozens or even hundreds would be needed.

“At triple efficiency for the High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquid, I’d need 120 vials—that’s twelve sets, over ten million already.”

Lin Qing silently calculated his upcoming expenses: “The Gene Optimization Agents are even bigger—minimum tens of millions, and I don’t even know exactly how many I’ll need.”

It was too expensive.

Lin Qing suddenly felt the tens of millions sitting in his bank account weren’t nearly enough.

“I’ll have to take it slow,” Lin Qing breathed deeply.

With good luck, in one hundred and twenty days, he could repay the debt of completing the original Sunrise Training Method.

“Looking at the agents?”

Yuan Anping, the overall commander sitting beside him at the commendation ceremony, glanced over and whispered: “These can actually be paid for with merit points—one second-class merit equals a 60% discount coupon, as long as the single purchase doesn’t exceed three million.”

“Second-class merit?” Lin Qing immediately checked and confirmed it was true.

A 60% discount wasn’t too extreme.

“You don’t need to rush—gene awakening is still far off.”

Yuan Anping sat upright, pretending to listen to the leaders’ speeches while quietly chatting: “You can delay buying the Gene Optimization Agents—until your physical limits are reached, they won’t work.”

“I see,” Lin Qing nodded slightly.

But inwardly, he muttered to himself.

His physical limits had already been maxed out at the time of the advance.

This couldn’t be detected by instruments, since everyone’s physical limits differed.

Instruments could only determine whether the original Sunrise Training Method was completed by measuring the energy level within the cells.

Including psychic probes and the life-detection device from headquarters—all operated on this principle.

They merely assessed strength based on different energy levels.

Once the original Sunrise Training Method was completed—even perfected—slight physical improvements wouldn’t raise the life field; this was the human limit.

“By the way, what’s your gene awakening probability?” Yuan Anping asked curiously in a low voice.

Lin Qing glanced at him, face calm: “Eleven percent.”

“That high?”

Yuan Anping couldn’t help but stare, murmuring in awe: “Born with such a high probability? Headquarters will prioritize you for any gene optimization benefits—you’re lucky.”

“Really?” Lin Qing feigned surprise.

Of course.

He’d known this long ago.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have deliberately tested his gene awakening probability shortly after breaking through the Sunrise Training Method.

He wanted headquarters to believe—

He naturally had over 10% chance of achieving gene awakening.

Earlier, while studying gene awakening cases, he’d discovered a pattern.

That was—

The higher the gene awakening probability, the more support and attention headquarters gave, especially if innate talent was high—they’d do everything to maximize the probability and minimize failure.

For those with inherently low probabilities, headquarters deemed it not worth wasting too many resources.

For example, someone with a 1% chance—headquarters might think increasing it from 30% to 40% made little difference; either way, risk remained.

Failure likelihood was high either way.

But someone with a 10% chance—if fully supported—might reach 60% or even 70%.

Success would be highly probable.

Compared to the other, ensuring higher-probability individuals succeeded consumed fewer resources overall.

So Lin Qing had taken the gene test early.

After only a short time training the original Sunrise Training Method, if headquarters learned his awakening probability was 11%, they’d assume it was innate. With their full support, even adding 40% to his probability would give him a 50% success rate.

Of course, Lin Qing intended to raise this probability as much as possible.

At least to 60%.

Because…

At 60% awakening probability, gene collapse and death would never occur—eliminating the risk of death.

Failure would only make the gene shackles stronger.

In short—

One failed awakening reduced probability by 5% to 20%.

Good luck meant only a 5% drop; bad luck meant a 20% drop—or even gene collapse and death.

…

After the commendation ceremony ended, Lin Qing had no interest in lingering—he headed straight for the district’s combat technique chamber.

The municipal bureau offered him the position of Deputy Commander at the city patrol bureau, suggesting a new office.

But Lin Qing had no interest.

In a few months, he’d be heading to patrol headquarters anyway.

For now, his focus was cultivation—where he trained didn’t matter. Besides, Zhao Jiayi and his cousin were at the Xiaoshan District branch—he suspected the Original Research Institute hadn’t given up, and being nearby made it easier to watch over them.

…

…

Inside the dim chamber.

“Lin Qing, every time I see you, you surprise me.”

The hoarse voice sighed: “I haven’t seen you in a while—you’ve already perfected the original Sunrise Training Method and become an Inspector Chief?”

Mastering the Free Body combat techniques didn’t surprise him.

After all, Lin Qing was a combat technique prodigy, and one technique was already at the instinctive level—mastering the entire series quickly was normal.

But the original Sunrise Training Method was different. Headquarters set a four-year limit precisely because its success depended heavily on luck—no one could predict when it would be completed.

“Just luck.”

Lin Qing smiled and asked: “Now that I’ve earned first-class merit, can I freely study them? The three awakening methods, and the original Free Body from the special-class merit privilege?”

“Yes,” the hoarse voice said. “Which one do you want to see first?”

He paused, then said, “Since you’ve already mastered the simplified series of techniques, you should now be able to memorize the original ‘Zi Zai Shen.’ You may as well start studying it early—even though you can’t practice it yet, immersing yourself in its spiritual essence now will benefit you.”

“Can’t practice it? Why?” Lin Qing asked in confusion.

“The original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ is generally meant for Gene-awakened individuals.”

The slightly hoarse voice said, “Gene-awakened people can control their own genes, adapting them to better suit the original ‘Zi Zai Shen,’ which is why they have a chance to master it. As for those who haven’t awakened…”

He said, “At the very least, you must reach the instinctive level with the simplified version, achieving sufficient alignment with the technique, before you stand any real chance of mastering it.”

Lin Qing pondered and asked, “Does reaching the instinctive level with the simplified version alter your genes?”

“Yes,” the hoarse voice replied. “Otherwise, how could your alignment with the technique keep improving?”

Lin Qing understood.

The mysterious energy does affect genes—though subtly, imperceptibly—but achieving the instinctive level in a technique normally takes years of persistent practice.

This long span of time is likely meant to allow genes to change gradually, becoming more aligned with the technique.

“So then…”

Lin Qing suddenly asked, “If the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ reaches the instinctive level, does it alter genes even more?”

“Significantly,” the hoarse voice said. “But almost only gene-awakened individuals can reach the instinctive level with the original ‘Zi Zai Shen.’ Before awakening, it’s virtually impossible.”

“Almost?” Lin Qing immediately caught the key word.

“There’s still a sliver of other possibility.”

The hoarse voice said, “If your genes undergo multiple optimizations tailored specifically to better suit the original ‘Zi Zai Shen,’ then yes, there’s a slim chance you could reach the instinctive level before awakening—but the odds are negligible.”

“Alright,” Lin Qing shook his head slightly.

You’d need multiple gene optimizations perfectly suited to ‘Zi Zai Shen’ just for that one-in-a-million chance.

Better to spend that time striving for gene awakening.

“Then I’ll start learning the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ technique,” Lin Qing said.

“Good.”

The next moment, the projection before him shifted, and the hoarse voice sighed, “You’re truly lucky—learning the original version of this technique at headquarters requires a Special-Class Merit reward.”

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

It was only because he was a technique prodigy that he’d been given this opportunity early.

The next instant, a strange image appeared before Lin Qing.

It was a star map.

Within it, the boundless cosmos stretched endlessly, countless celestial bodies revolving in motion. The overwhelming grandeur and vastness, though seemingly without pressure, instantly made him feel as insignificant as a speck of dust.

Upon closer inspection, Lin Qing realized the movements of these celestial bodies subtly echoed the spiritual imprints of the simplified Six Gates techniques.

Compared to this original spiritual visualization, the simplified version appeared crude and ordinary.

The grand, majestic motion of the stars, when reduced to six spiritual images, retained only faint traces of meaning—similar in nature, yet fundamentally different in the quality of the mysterious energy.

It wasn’t simulated electricity or wind—it was the true, primal, foundational power drawn directly from the stars. Though appearing singular and pure, the combined depth of the six simplified techniques’ spiritual images fell far short.

Moments later, the demonstration of the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ technique ended.

Lin Qing exhaled slowly and said, “It’s indeed difficult—the entry barrier must be very high.”

“No need to rush,”

the hoarse voice said. “The original technique is different—you can come back anytime to experience this spiritual visualization of ‘Zi Zai Shen.’ Gene breakthroughs aren’t merely physical phenomena; they’re deeply tied to your mental and spiritual state.”

Lin Qing nodded slightly. “Good—I thought I’d only get to view it once.”

“That would be too harsh,” the hoarse voice chuckled. “We wouldn’t let you see it now if that were the case.”

“There are three awakening methods left, right?” Lin Qing asked.

“Correct.”

The hoarse voice said, “But honestly, these three awakening methods are practically useless. We only allow First-Class Merit holders to study them out of curiosity—just to see if anything might work.”

“Practically useless?” Lin Qing wasn’t surprised.

“Take a look yourself.”

As the hoarse voice spoke, projections appeared on the three surrounding walls, each filled with dense, intricate text.

They were titled: [Gene Awakening Method], [Psychic Awakening Method], and [Authority Awakening Method].

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(End of chapter)