9: Another innate martial body

September 1st, Star Calendar 99783, was once again the annual Aptitude Census Day.

Compared to the scene a year ago at the District Seven Public Testing Center, which was packed with people and filled with anxiety, the "Qiming Hall," located in the Upper District of Haixuan City and dedicated to serving federal elites and their families, appeared quiet, orderly, and even possessed a touch of elegance.

Inside the hall, the lighting was soft and the environment private; every testing cubicle was equipped with top-tier equipment and professional staff.

Here, there was no crying or crowding, only the hushed conversations of parents and the gentle, professional guidance of the staff.

Chen Jun and Lin Wei sat on the soft waiting sofa with their second daughter, Chen Yao.

Chen Jun remained in simple casual clothes, his hair graying; he looked out of place among the extraordinary and well-dressed parents around him, but his gaze was calm, having long grown accustomed to this invisible barrier.

Lin Wei, however, was carefully dressed in a proper skirt, her face flushed with a mix of nervousness and anticipation, as she tightly held Chen Yao's small hand.

Five-year-old Chen Yao had inherited her mother's delicate features, but she possessed the same bright, spirited gaze as her older sister Chen Xi, along with an irrepressible liveliness. She curiously examined the ornate yet high-tech decorations around her, showing no signs of stage fright.

"Family No. 7, Chen Yao, please proceed to Testing Room No. 3." An elegant electronic voice sounded.

Chen Jun took a deep breath, patted his wife's hand, and took Chen Yao's hand to walk toward the testing room.

The process was much the same as last year, though the environment and equipment were worlds apart.

When the familiar low hum sounded again, and the soft blue beam enveloped Chen Yao, forming that circle of pure energy halo around her, Chen Jun's heart still couldn't help but beat violently, though he was able to maintain relative composure on his face.

The shock on the face of the senior engineer in charge of the test was no less than that of the staff member in District Seven last year.

He watched the energy spectrum, which was rapidly flowing and self-constructing on the screen, his fingers trembling slightly.

"Energy spontaneously gathering... spectrum purification... life field resonance... another Innate Martial Body! Another one!"

He exclaimed aloud, and despite his efforts to suppress it, his voice still drew the attention of staff in the neighboring rooms.

The news spread within the upper echelons of the "Qiming Hall" even faster than last year.

"Confirmed! Chen Yao, Aptitude assessment: Innate Martial Body!"

The moment the result came out, Lin Wei excitedly covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, and hugged her younger daughter tightly.

Chen Jun let out a long sigh of relief; the heavy stone in his heart regarding his second daughter's Aptitude finally fell, and he knew for certain that he truly had a System and it wasn't a hallucination. What followed, however, was a deeper worry.

Too conspicuous!

This was simply too conspicuous!

Two consecutive years, the same family, two daughters, both one-in-a-billion "Innate Martial Body" cases! This probability wasn't just a case of ancestors' graves emitting smoke; it was as if the ancestors' graves had erupted with cosmic energy rays!

"Mr. Chen, Ms. Lin, congratulations!"

A woman wearing the iconic silver-blue uniform of the Star Rail Group and exuding a capable air walked forward with a smile. Her shoulder insignia indicated that her position was not low.

"I am Zhao Qing, a commissioner from the Talent Management Department of the Star Rail Group's Zhiyuan Star branch. Regarding the training plan for Young Miss Chen Yao, our group hopes to include her in our top-tier 'Star Brilliance Plan,' just like Young Miss Chen Xi. Please rest assured, we will provide her with the best resources and guidance."

Her attitude was polite, even carrying a hint of eagerness, but deep in her eyes hid a trace of incredulous scrutiny.

Two consecutive Innate Martial Bodies coming from a family where both parents were F-level Mortal Bodies was, in itself, the greatest absurdity.

Chen Jun's internal alarm bells rang loudly, but he could only nod on the surface:

"Thank you, we trust the arrangements made by the Federation and Star Rail."

The development of events was without suspense.

Even because there was already the precedent of Chen Xi, the reception process for Chen Yao went even faster.

A few days later, Chen Yao was also sent to the "Young Talent Cultivation Center" of the Star Rail Group located in the capital circle of Zhiyuan Star to keep her sister, Chen Xi, company.

Star Rail Group, Zhiyuan Star Branch, top-floor office.

Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows lay the vast city skyline and the occasional passing interstellar starship.

The office interior was extremely futuristic, yet it exuded a cold majesty.

A figure stood before the window, posture as straight as a pine, wearing the well-tailored uniform of a high-ranking manager of the Star Rail Group. The insignia on her shoulder indicated her Planetary Level strength and the noble status of a branch head.

She appeared to be in her thirties, with a beautiful face that was as cold as frost, and eyes as sharp as a hawk's, as if she could see through everything.

Her name was Qin Qingxuan, the highest authority of the Star Rail Group on Zhiyuan Star, a woman known for her rigor, arrogance, and formidable strength.

At this moment, she was listening to a report from a younger woman behind her.

This woman was one of her prized students, and also the actual instructor currently in charge of the enlightenment class where Chen Xi and Chen Yao were located, Elementary War God Su Wan.

"Teacher, the adaptability of both Chen Xi and Chen Yao is excellent, and their progress is rapid, far exceeding other children of the same period, and even slightly superior to the growth templates of Innate Martial Bodies recorded in the database."

Su Wan reported respectfully,

"Especially Chen Xi; her sensitivity to energy perception is extremely high. Chen Yao, on the other hand, focuses more on the perfect control of physical strength. The two sisters also have different personalities; Chen Xi is more steady, and Chen Yao is more lively..."

Qin Qingxuan listened quietly, her gaze still fixed outside the window, her fingers unconsciously tapping gently on the window frame.

Su Wan finished her report, and the office fell into a brief silence.

Suddenly, Qin Qingxuan's cold voice sounded, devoid of any emotion:

"Has the Aptitude record of the parents in Wan'er's file been retrieved?"

Su Wan was taken aback for a moment, then immediately realized that her teacher was asking about Chen Xi and Chen Yao's parents.

Although she didn't understand the meaning, she quickly operated her personal light computer and projected the data into the air.

"It has been retrieved. Father, Chen Jun, 27 years old, Cosmic Energy Affinity F-level. Mother, Lin Wei, 26 years old, Cosmic Energy Affinity F-level. Both are ordinary people with no special background, originally residing in the shantytowns of the Seventh Immigration District. Because their eldest daughter, Chen Xi, was confirmed as an Innate Martial Body, they moved into a federal single-family villa in the Upper District a year ago."

"F-level... Mortal..."

Qin Qingxuan repeated this, her lips curling into a faint, almost mocking arc,

"Two F-level Mortals giving birth to an Innate Martial Body can be called a cosmic miracle. Although the probability is so low that it can be ignored, it is not entirely impossible."

She turned around, her cold eyes looking at Su Wan: "But two in a row? Both Innate Martial Bodies?"

Su Wan was instantly speechless, a fine layer of cold sweat breaking out on her back.

She had been completely immersed in the joy of gaining two peerless Genius students, and had completely overlooked this most fundamental and unreasonable point!

"This..."

Su Wan hesitated,

"Perhaps it is... a genetic mutation? Or perhaps both parents carry some extremely hidden, unrecorded, high-quality recessive gene?"

"Recessive gene?"

Qin Qingxuan chuckled, but there was no warmth in that laughter,

"What kind of recessive gene can stably and trans-generationally express an 'Innate Martial Body,' such a top-tier Aptitude? The Federal Gene Bank has been researching for thousands of years, and all known dominant and recessive gene fragments that can significantly affect Aptitude have been recorded. There is none that can guarantee the appearance of an Innate Martial Body, let alone appearing consecutively!"

She walked to the projection, her sharp gaze sweeping over the unremarkable photos and data of Chen Jun and Lin Wei.

"When things are abnormal, there must be a demon."

Qin Qingxuan's voice lowered, carrying an unquestionable assertion,

"The birth of these two children can by no means be explained by natural probability. Their father, that man named Chen Jun, must be hiding a secret."

She did not immediately issue any grand instructions for an investigation. At her position and level of strength, many things no longer required brute force. Alerting the enemy was the most foolish behavior.

"Wan'er,"

She instructed,

"As for this matter, just knowing it is enough. Do not reveal your suspicions to the outside. Treat Chen Xi and Chen Yao as always, or even better. They are valuable assets to the Group."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Su Wan hurriedly bowed.

"Additionally,"

Qin Qingxuan pondered for a moment, a flash of inscrutable light in her eyes,

"I remember the data shows they have a third daughter, named Chen Lu, who is four years old this year?"

"Yes, Teacher."

"Hmm."

Qin Qingxuan nodded slightly, said no more, and waved for Su Wan to withdraw.

The office door closed softly, leaving only Qin Qingxuan alone. She looked out the window again, her gaze seeming to pierce through layers of buildings, landing on that federal resettlement apartment in the Upper District.

"Chen Jun... F-level Mortal... such abnormal aging...?"

She whispered to herself,

"What exactly do you rely on? Is it some kind of undiscovered ancient relic? Or some kind of forbidden technology? Or... am I overthinking it, and it really is just luck that is heaven-defyingly good?"

She was silent for a moment, then pressed a secret communication button on her desk.

"'Shadow Shuttle',"

She whispered to the air,

"Target: Federal Apartment No. 7 in the Upper District, third daughter of residents Chen Jun and Lin Wei, Chen Lu. Mission: Non-contact life field resonance detection, obtain her energy affinity and preliminary data on Innate Aptitude. Requirement: Absolute stealth, must not alert any party, including the Federal Superpower Department. Send the data directly to me."

"Command confirmed."

After a emotionless, electronically synthesized voice responded, the communication was cut off.

Qin Qingxuan picked up a cup of clear tea from the table, took a light sip, and her eyes were deep.

She didn't need to know all the answers now. She only needed to first confirm whether that third daughter, Chen Lu, was equally extraordinary. If she was also...

Then, the secret on the Chen couple would be worth far more than imagined.

She must stay ahead of everyone else, and keep this secret, or rather, this couple, firmly under the control of the Star Rail Group, or rather, under the control of her, Qin Qingxuan.

A quiet, silent investigation targeting the Chen couple began on this calm afternoon.

And at this moment, Chen Jun was completely unaware of the impending prying eyes.

He was busy calculating his remaining [19 years] of life, and how to continue dealing with his wife's increasingly fervent demands for "having children," utterly frazzled...