Chapter 116 – Promotion to Red Bear Today?

Gao Qing took the tablet from Lu Yuan’s hand and started browsing through it.

When she reached the section labeled “Dislikes,” which read “[Being watched, being spied on],” she suddenly looked up at him with a strange expression.

“Was this written just for us to see?”

“Yes.”

Lu Yuan met her gaze and nodded honestly.

“Actually, we haven’t really been monitoring you. The intelligence network in the Old City Circle is so outdated that we often can’t find useful information. Plus, many Evil Power fields frequently cause old technology to malfunction…”

Gao Qing sighed a couple of times and continued to look down at the tablet.

From Lu Yuan’s angle, he could just see her exceptionally full chest pressing against the edge of the table.

The thought of the modification suddenly came back to Lu Yuan’s mind, and he felt a surge of guilt.

Before… it was a misunderstanding about her.

The coffee on the table had already gone cold.

Lu Yuan had no desire to drink it. He tapped the edge of the coffee cup with a single finger, trying to release a bit of inner strength, and watched as the black coffee swirled into a small vortex in the delicate white porcelain cup.

A practice for boredom.

After a short while, Lu Yuan saw that Gao Qing had finished reading what he had filled out and was now filling out her own section.

Just like Gao Qing had been curious about what Lu Yuan was filling out, Lu Yuan was now curious to see how Gao Qing would fill out her section.

“Power Evaluation: Level C”

Lu Yuan saw that Gao Qing had filled in Level C for her power evaluation and couldn’t help but ask, “Is this based on my strength when I defeated the Rat Monster in the Cavern last time?”

“Yes.”

Gao Qing didn’t even look up.

“So, what level are you and Zhou Ling?”

Gao Qing lifted her head, thought for a moment, and replied, “Definitely higher than Level C.”

How is that any different from not saying anything?

Lu Yuan mentally grumbled.

In the Consciousness Space, he had fought Zhou Ling so many times and still couldn’t beat him. Zhou Ling’s strength was definitely greater than his.

But if Zhou Ling didn’t use all his high-tech weapons and fought barehanded…

Lu Yuan might actually have a chance to defeat him.

I have to admit, Cyborgs are really unfair. Pure martial artists are at a significant disadvantage compared to them.

It’s like we’re all playing the same game.

I can only rely on the attribute boosts I get from leveling up, while you can equip all sorts of top-tier gear.

“Would it be better if I used melee weapons?”

Lu Yuan pondered.

But Cyborgs primarily use ranged attacks. Unless it’s a forty-meter-long broadsword, having a weapon or not doesn’t seem to make much difference.

“Unless it’s a ranged weapon like a bow or crossbow!”

Lu Yuan suddenly thought of this and felt a new path slowly opening before him.

He didn’t know much about new martial arts.

But from his battles with Gao Qing in the Consciousness Space, it seemed she also relied on high-tech equipment. The only difference was whether the body accepted modifications.

Currently, Lu Yuan didn’t have access to these high-tech weapons, so he could only try to find a breakthrough with ancient martial arts and cold weapons for now.

“Shooting an arrow like a full moon, hitting a mech a thousand miles away with one shot…”

Lu Yuan imagined this scenario, and his eyes couldn’t help but light up.

He immediately considered whether he should visit an archery range and see if he could unlock a professional panel like “Archer.” If he could advance to “Ice Archer” later, that would be even better…

At this moment, he noticed that Gao Qing had almost finished filling out the form.

Under the power evaluation section, there was a field called potential assessment, and Lu Yuan saw that Gao Qing had also filled it in with a C.

“So my potential is only level C…”

Seeing two level C evaluations in a row made Lu Yuan, who was used to being a top student, feel a bit defeated.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Gao Qing looked up and said with a smirk, “Do you think your potential is high? Let me tell you, if Zhou Ling didn’t think you had potential and insisted on recruiting you, I wouldn’t have bothered to come here. C-level candidates like you are everywhere. It’s not like they’re rare or anything…”

“Isn’t Team Leader Gao exaggerating a bit?”

Lu Yuan looked at her blankly.

“Well… well…”

Gao Qing, feeling Lu Yuan’s gaze, looked away uncomfortably and murmured, “It… it might be a bit exaggerated… This evaluation is just an initial evaluation. Once you pass the new blood trial assessment, you’ll receive a more accurate final evaluation. It might be a bit higher than level C.”

Hopefully, not much higher.

Lu Yuan glanced at the section for the recommender at the bottom of the application form and saw Gao Qing’s name. He thought to himself.

“Sign here.”

Gao Qing finished filling out the last section and handed the tablet to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan took it and quickly signed his name.

“Done.”

Gao Qing stared at Lu Yuan’s signature on the tablet, her eyes seemingly sparkling with some inexplicable light. However, she waved her hand at Lu Yuan and said, “There’s nothing more. When the new blood trial assessment starts, I’ll have someone notify you. You can leave now; I’m really busy. I have a pile of things to handle…”

Why are you rushing me out if you’re busy? Can’t I just sit here for a bit longer?

Lu Yuan felt a bit speechless and was about to get up and leave when he suddenly remembered something.

“By the way, there’s something I need to tell Team Leader Gao.”

“What is it?”

Gao Qing looked up at him.

Lu Yuan spoke seriously, “I suspect that there are still members of the Crow Deity sect active in the area where Zhou Ling and I encountered the Powerful Divine Servant.”

Gao Qing’s expression became serious. “How did you discover that?”

“I saw crows again in that area, ones that had been mutated by Evil Power.”

Hearing Lu Yuan’s response, Gao Qing’s expression relaxed, and she casually said, “Maybe it’s a leftover from before… Alright, I’ll have someone check it out later.”

Then, she suddenly changed the subject and said to Lu Yuan, “Usually, we handle such matters ourselves. You don’t need to worry about it. I suggest that if you have free time, you should focus on your martial arts practice and improve your strength. Don’t embarrass Zhou Ling and me by failing the new blood trial assessment.”

“…”

Lu Yuan was silent for a moment, then replied very earnestly, “Okay!”

Train!

I must train hard!

Today’s consciousness battle with the imaginary enemy will be you, Gao Qing. No one backs down, and we’ll fight till dawn!

Lu Yuan originally wanted to ask Gao Qing about Zhou Ling, but seeing her engrossed in her mobile phone, he decided not to bother.

He stood up and left his seat.

From beginning to end, Gao Qing didn’t lift her head to look at him, nor did she say goodbye.

Her fingers kept tapping on her phone, and the tablet where she had just filled out the application form was casually set aside.

It seemed she was truly busy, sparing time to have him fill out the application form amidst her hectic schedule.

As Lu Yuan’s figure disappeared on the second floor of the café, Gao Qing, who had been looking down at her phone, suddenly looked up. She quickly stood up and walked to the window facing the street.

When she saw Lu Yuan step out of the café into the bustling street, her previously tense expression slowly relaxed.

“Done!”

Gao Qing clenched her fist in triumph, her face beaming with undisguised joy.

She quickly returned to her seat, picked up the tablet where Lu Yuan had filled out his information, and made a few adjustments.

Mainly, she altered the “potential assessment” section, changing the C to something else.

Then, after hesitating for a long time at the recommender section, she finally…

Added Zhou Ling’s name.

“Whatever.”

Gao Qing sighed and muttered to herself, “Just hope he doesn’t come after me post-transformation. An S-level new blood reward is no small thing…”

After making these adjustments, she reviewed the entire application form and clicked upload.

Seeing the “Upload successful, added to the database” message, Gao Qing finally felt satisfied and breathed a sigh of relief.

This reward was as good as secured.

Even if Lu Yuan was later discovered by someone else from Yellow Bear, they couldn’t take this away.

Who would have thought that a couple of random tasks would land her an S-level new blood?

What luck.

Feeling good, Gao Qing casually picked up her mobile phone from the table.

She opened her chat app and clicked into the topmost group chat named—[Promotion to Red Bear today].

The group chat had dozens of members, all White Bear Guards who usually got along quite well.

As soon as she entered the chat, hundreds of new messages popped up.

Promotion to Red Bear Tomorrow: Damn, in such a tiny place, there were actually two divine servants hidden there. I almost got wiped out.

When Can I Get to Level B: 6661, how many retries?

Lao Wang’s Fists Are Rock Hard: Come on, it’s good enough you didn’t get wiped. Lao Zhou recently stepped on a Powerful Divine Servant, and his account got reset!

Handsomest in the Group (Zhou Ling): Life is hard, stop exposing me! I’m in the process of revival…

This Group Chat Has Been Disbanded by the Group Owner: The current Lao Zhou is not the same as the old Lao Zhou. The uploaded consciousness is never the original self. Farewell, Lao Zhou (knocks on wooden fish).

Handsomest in the Group (Zhou Ling): Shut up, no one would think you’re mute if you don’t speak!

Promotion to Red Bear Tomorrow: Luckily, I only lost one teammate, but both of my legs got blown up. Those 200 grams of Rainbow Steel inside are wasted (crying).

When Can I Get to Level B: No worries, Lao Zhou’s legs didn’t get blown up, but he couldn’t recover the Rainbow Steel in them either (dog face) @Eldest Miss of the Gao Family.

Handsomest in the Group (Zhou Ling): …

The Eldest Miss of the Gao Family was Gao Qing. Seeing this mention, she couldn’t help but gnash her teeth, wanting to diss that “When Can I Get to Level B.”

But she was in a good mood now, so she let it slide.

Continuing to scroll, she suddenly saw a few people talking about bringing in new recruits, and her eyes lit up with interest.

…

Lao Wang’s Fists Are Rock Hard: Speaking of which, I got lucky on this mission. I found a new blood with a potential assessment at Level A and quickly brought them in.

When Can I Get to Level B: 666, say no more. Boss Wang, send a red packet. The reward for a Level A new blood is almost enough for you to get a new arm.

Lao Wang’s Fists Are Rock Hard: Yeah, I’ll finally be able to get that Titanium Steel Bone.

Handsomest in the Group (Zhou Ling): Haha, what a coincidence. I also found a new blood, also Level A, with an initial evaluation of A+.

Promotion to Red Bear Tomorrow: ???

When Can I Get to Level B: ???

This Group Chat Has Been Disbanded by the Group Owner: ???

Gao Qing couldn’t help but laugh when she saw this. Zhou Ling might be happy now, but when he finds out that her name is listed as the recommender and his reward gets halved, he’s probably going to cry.

And when he learns that Lu Yuan’s potential rating is actually level S, he’ll be overjoyed again.

Thinking about his rapidly changing expressions was quite amusing.

Lao Wang’s Fists Are Rock Hard: @Handsomest in the Group, congrats, brother. But you better lower the initial evaluation rating a bit. The new blood trial assessment system has changed recently.

Handsomest in the Group (Zhou Ling): ??? Why? When did it change? What’s the new system like?

Promotion to Red Bear Tomorrow: I heard about it too. It’s gotten insanely difficult.

When Can I Get to Level B: Tell us more.

Handsomest in the Group (Zhou Ling): Tell us more.

This Group Chat Has Been Disbanded by the Group Owner: Tell us more.

Gao Qing was also taken aback when she saw this. She quickly followed up with a “Tell us more.”

Then, a message popped up.

Lao Wang’s Fists Are Rock Hard: Because there were too many people deliberately giving high initial evaluations to boost the final evaluation scores, the rules for potential assessments and the new blood trial assessment format have been changed.

I haven’t figured out the specifics yet, but I heard it’s extremely tough.

Recently, Team Eight found a Fei Xiong level new blood with an initial evaluation of S-, but after the assessment, the final evaluation didn’t even reach Level A.

The team leader of Team Eight not only missed out on the reward but also had a quarter of their performance bonus deducted and had to write a report of tens of thousands of words. It was brutal.

Promotion to Red Bear Tomorrow: Yeah, if the initial rating is too high compared to the final evaluation, the recommender gets penalized directly! This time, the oversight group is serious.

Lao Wang’s Fists Are Rock Hard: Exactly. So, I gave this Level A new blood an initial evaluation of B-. Even if it drops to C in the end, I won’t be penalized. At worst, the reward will be smaller.

Handsomest in the Group (Zhou Ling): Damn, good thing I haven’t submitted the application form yet. I’ll change it to Level B too. Thanks, Lao Wang.

Lao Wang’s Fists Are Rock Hard: No problem.

…

Gao Qing couldn’t focus on the rest of the idle chat. She sat at her desk, staring blankly at her mobile phone for a long time.

The potential assessment system has changed?

The new blood trial content has also changed?

If the initial evaluation and final evaluation results differ too much, bonuses will be deducted, and there will be penalties and reports to write?

Why didn’t anyone tell her?

She had given Lu Yuan an initial potential assessment rating of… S+!!!

She even intentionally reported one level higher!

“Retract! Quickly retract!”

Gao Qing snapped out of it and hurriedly grabbed her tablet to make changes.

After a while, she sat at her desk, looking like she was about to cry.

This is bad. Now, she’ll end up losing more than she gained…

Footnote:

1. 666(666): 666″ is a popular term in Chinese internet culture used to express admiration or praise, similar to “cool” or “awesome” in English. The pronunciation of the number combination “liùliùliù” in Chinese sounds catchy, so people often use “666” in online chats or games to indicate that someone has done something very well or performed exceptionally.