1: Sixteenth Coming of Age Ceremony

A hundred years ago, due to a nuclear war on Blue Star, an ancient restriction left on Blue Star was inadvertently broken. From then on, Blue Star underwent earth-shattering changes, and three living zones appeared.

The Pollution Zone, the Seed Zone, and the High Molecular Compound Zone.

“Now broadcasting a news flash: The Mars advance exploration team has successfully spent 108 days on Mars, which means humanity’s civilization level has further advanced to Level 0.93… The exploration team is the hero of our human race!”

Xu Jingzhe watched the broadcast on the television, his heart surging with emotion, fantasizing that one day he too could land on Mars.

“Knock knock knock…”

“Jingzhe, tidy up your clothes. Today is your coming-of-age ceremony, Aunt Wang… wishes you success, that you can enter the High Molecular Compound Zone and become the person you want to be.”

The knocking interrupted Xu Jingzhe, who was immersed in his fantasy. He composed himself and said, “Thank you, Aunt Wang.”

“Mm.” Aunt Wang, standing at the door, felt a hint of reluctance. In the orphanage, she liked Xu Jingzhe the most.

Although he was extremely ugly, he was sensible and well-behaved, causing no trouble.

When she was in a bad mood, this little pity would even come to comfort her.

A few changes of clothes and a dozen high-quality masks were placed in his backpack. He then pulled a sharp fruit knife from under his pillow and kept it close to his body.

Leaving the orphanage, he would likely never return.

Today, he was sixteen, the coming-of-age ceremony for sixteen-year-olds on Blue Star.

To put it nicely, it was a coming-of-age ceremony; in reality, it was a screening process, filtering out mediocre people, excellent people, and ‘trash.’

So, how were they screened?

A drop of blood was enough.

All values—appearance, height, weight, physical health, IQ, potential, etc.—would be displayed on the LCD screen.

If any single item failed, one could be eliminated.

Of course, there were exceptions: potential!

And of course, even more exceptional, if the machine malfunctioned.

Arriving at the sports field, many people were already waiting. Xu Jingzhe didn't want to get into trouble, so he stood alone at the very back of the crowd.

Even so, five people still walked over.

The leader had a bandage wrapped around his face, and his eyes held undisguised murderous intent.

“Heh heh…” He sneered, clenching his fists until they cracked, and came up to Xu Jingzhe, saying, “Hiding, huh? Why aren’t you hiding anymore? Did you think you could hide by staying in your doghouse and not coming out?”

“Today, I’ll let you know the price of provoking me, Wang Hu!”

Xu Jingzhe looked at the man in front of him, a hint of disgust in his eyes.

His name was Wang Hu, the bully of the Children’s Welfare Institute, known for bullying the weak and taking liberties with girls. Most people dared not provoke him.

It just so happened that day, Xu Jingzhe was fantasizing about the future in the small woods. Wang Hu and a few people with him dragged a young girl into the small woods, intending to commit indecent acts.

Originally, with Xu Jingzhe’s principle of minding his own business, he would have turned and left.

However, Wang Hu called out to Xu Jingzhe, saying he wanted Xu Jingzhe to have a taste, on the condition that he remove his mask and let his brothers see his peerless face.

Xu Jingzhe righteously refused. Just one? He wouldn't even consider taking off his mask.

Wang Hu moved, blocking Xu Jingzhe, implying that if he didn't follow Brother Hu's wishes today, things wouldn't end well.

Adhering to the principle of not causing trouble but not fearing it either, Xu Jingzhe unhesitatingly picked up a brick from the ground and slammed it hard onto Wang Hu’s face.

Then… he turned and ran.

He even left a parting remark: “Die, you turtle son!”

For the past few days, he had been having Aunt Wang bring him food, just afraid of being caught and beaten by Wang Hu.

But, what had to come still couldn't be avoided.

“Brother Hu, I’m sorry, I was wrong,” Xu Jingzhe said.

His right hand had already stealthily moved to his lower back.

This fruit knife was something he had prepared for self-defense, fearing he might become trash and enter the Pollution Zone.

“Go to hell!” Wang Hu raised his fist and smashed it towards Xu Jingzhe’s masked face.

He hated Xu Jingzhe to death in his heart, not only for ruining his good deed but also for disfiguring him and preventing him from getting the ‘Orphanage Flower’ Bai Lu.

Xu Jingzhe was not flustered by Wang Hu’s sudden attack. He had already tensed his nerves, his lips tightly pressed, and his right hand on the knife.

“Ah…” A heart-wrenching scream.

Wang Hu’s fist hit the fruit knife, bleeding profusely.

This scream attracted the attention of many people. Seeing Wang Hu clutching his hand and screaming, everyone secretly applauded.

That bastard finally received his just punishment.

“You, what are you standing there for? Get, get him, kill him!” Wang Hu’s face was contorted, his body trembling.

“Bro, Brother Hu, he, he has a knife,” one of them said fearfully.

Disarming with bare hands? They weren’t skilled enough for that; those were only scenes from TV.

“You, you…” Wang Hu gritted his teeth, and with stubborn willpower and endurance, he ignored his injured hand and kicked Xu Jingzhe’s chest.

This time, Xu Jingzhe was unprepared and was severely kicked in the chest.

Immediately, he felt his qi and blood surge, a sweet taste in his throat, and he fell to the ground.

“You bastard!” Wang Hu lunged forward, fiercely kicking Xu Jingzhe!

“Wang Hu!” Just then, a sharp shout came, and a male teacher quickly ran over.

He pulled back the nearly insane Wang Hu and helped up Xu Jingzhe, who was lying on the ground.

“What’s wrong with you two? Don’t you know today is the coming-of-age ceremony?”

“If anything goes wrong, can the two of you bear the responsibility?!”

The male teacher glanced at Wang Hu’s injured hand but didn't take him to the infirmary. There wasn't enough time; the bus wouldn't wait for anyone.

If one person missed the test, and the higher-ups blamed them, the entire orphanage would suffer.

On Blue Star, there were strict regulations: infants born, regardless of the reason for being abandoned by their families, must be raised by the children’s welfare institute until they are sixteen.

To participate in the sixteen-year-old coming-of-age ceremony.

They formed two lines: one for boys, one for girls.

Xu Jingzhe was the last in the boys’ line, and Wang Hu was the last in the girls’ line. He stared coldly at Xu Jingzhe, and the male teacher leading the group said nothing.

Once they were on the bus, nothing concerned him.

The boys and girls looked at the bus that would take them to the testing site, their eyes filled with hope and passion.

Like Xu Jingzhe, they all harbored a ‘dream’ of being able to enter the High Molecular Compound Zone, because there, Blue Star had the most advanced technology and best resources.

Go, youths, enter the High Molecular Compound Zone to live.

Go, youths, become members of the Star Advance Exploration Team.

Stepping onto the bus, the future was unknown, and each person would embark on an unpredictable life.

The automatic door opened, and everyone lined up to board the bus.

“Xu Jingzhe! You! Are! Good!” Before boarding, Wang Hu came up behind Xu Jingzhe, holding his bleeding hand, and said each word distinctly.

Xu Jingzhe looked back at him, but didn’t respond.

What good was a big fool who only knew how to bully people with force, even if he was chosen to go to the High Molecular Compound Zone?

The online forums said that the High Molecular Compound Zone also needed low-level service personnel.

Once on the bus, Xu Jingzhe sat by the window in the furthest corner. His mood had already calmed down.

He just quietly watched out the window. The tall buildings outside quickly receded, and the scenery before his eyes became increasingly blurred.

Forty minutes later, the bus stopped.