Chapter 699: A Checkup of Unimaginable Proportions

The researchers, beaming with excitement, assured Lu Xin that they would never cut him open – their tone as soothing as that used when coaxing a child.

Still uneasy, Lu Xin scrutinized his personalized physical examination plan multiple times. It outlined four major areas: physical health, mental magnitude, analysis of psychic ability, and psychological assessment, among others.

After reassuring himself that he wouldn’t be cut open – only a bit of blood drawn – Lu Xin mustered enough courage to sign the form.

The moment the confirmation document bearing Lu Xin’s personal signature was handed over, a burst of excited chatter erupted among the researchers.

Clutching that document felt almost like holding his university acceptance letter.

Some couldn’t help but get teary-eyed: “What’s the worst thing for a researcher?”

“It isn’t being stumped by problems, nor straying off the research path…”

“It’s having a live specimen right in front of you that holds answers to countless questions, a key to advancing research.”

“Yet, you never get a chance to actually work on it…”

“Imagine an 80-year-old bachelor finally meeting his dream girl –”

“Now, in our eyes, he is that dream girl…”

“…”

Facing the bubbling excitement of the researchers, Lu Xin couldn’t help feeling a shiver of dread.

Somehow, even though he had requested this himself, it felt as if he had just stepped right into a trap.

But remembering his mom’s advice, he resolved to calmly undergo the examination.

Only by truly understanding oneself can one improve.

By the book, this was one of the fastest proceedings since Qinggang was established.

A few similar efficient events mainly involved Doll-related cases.

When Qinggang’s researchers learned of Lu Xin’s request for the checkup, they unanimously approved it. Moreover, when Chen Jing from the Special Cleaning Department went to pick him up at the Second Satellite City, all the necessary testing preparations were already in place.

Yet, they now had to patiently wait…

After all, Lu Xin had been drinking, which could skew the test results.

Countless researchers gritted their teeth, “Who in broad daylight let him drink?”

“Do you know he’s stalling the progress of the entire world?”

“People like him deserve to be tossed into Group D and sliced up bit by bit…”

“…”

Meanwhile, Manager Liu, who was on the phone reporting to Vice President Xiao at the company, had no idea that he had recently become the object of such widespread disdain.

After nearly twenty-four hours, the tests officially began.

Considering Lu Xin’s special condition and the need for accurate data recording, the Qinggang researchers devised a detailed plan for him.

The first item was the routine physical examination.

It covered overall physical health, checking for any abnormalities, among other things.

This part went rather smoothly – Lu Xin simply had to lie still while they performed a CT scan, drew blood, listened to his heartbeat, and even had him squeezed into a large cylindrical copper chamber, illuminated repeatedly by red lights…

It was, admittedly, a bit awkward.

Before long, the results of the first examination were in…

Under the expectant and excited gazes of everyone, medical expert Pi Siwen carefully reviewed each of Lu Xin’s indicators, then rubbed his chin in thought and remarked with a troubled expression, “A textbook case of suboptimal health.”

“?”

The remark was met with confused stares.

“It’s the kind of state you often see in city dwellers – not exactly healthy but not overtly ill either…”

Doctor Pi Siwen explained earnestly, “This evaluation was conducted without him using his abilities. On the surface, he appears to be just an ordinary person – completely normal, even lacking in exceptional strength. Of course, we had to discount those anomalies encountered earlier, such as the irregular CT readings and the disrupted magnetic field…”

“Also, his cranial CT was a blur; the images showed nothing but tangled, eerie shadows.”

“When he uses his Spider-type ability, we expect a significant change in the numbers.”

“But that aspect already falls under our ability assessment.”

“…”

“This only deepens our curiosity…”

The researchers unanimously approved and prepared to proceed with further tests on Lu Xin.

These included estimating his mental magnitude, psychic ability analysis, and psychological state evaluation.

For the mental magnitude test, they employed Professor Bai’s three-point extrapolation method.

Every ability user, when pushing the limits of their mental power, imposes enormous strain on their brain, common sense, and emotions – sometimes to the point of losing control. Apart from madmen, no one dares to push an ability user to their absolute limit.

Lu Xin’s test used a simpler method.

He was placed in a room with walls entirely lined with reinforced glass, faced an instrument, and released a mental impact.

They had also prepped him extensively, having him engage in prolonged self-analysis and psychological preparation.

He only needed to exert roughly a third of his mental strength.

Lu Xin focused, and without alerting any rogue black particles, he managed a small mental shock.

The specially designed glass lab’s air soon began to warp dramatically as the instrument’s red light turned on.

It flashed three times, then stopped.

The researchers quickly gathered the data and assigned a dedicated analyst to review it.

“Around three thousand…”

The researchers, with quirky expressions and rubbing their stubbled chins, roughly estimated the data.

One exclaimed, “Too high?”

“No, too low…”

A researcher murmured, “For an ordinary person, a mental magnitude of three thousand is already high. If just one-third of his mental strength hits that level, his full capacity must be around ten thousand – a number so terrifying, it verges on monstrous proportions.”

“Studies have shown that even when an individual maintains a human form, they simply cannot withstand a mental magnitude above ten thousand.”

“That’s why many mysterious creatures in the forbidden zones have undergone drastic changes in form.”

“But in a single soldier, his value remains a rigid ten thousand – never exceeding, nor dipping below that line.”

“…”

“So, this data is within reason?”

“Absolutely.”

“But considering his past actions… tsk tsk…”

“…”

“…”

A group of researchers, still somewhat reluctant, filed the data away in a document pouch.

Whether it was the physical exam or the mental magnitude test, it was all just a starter – baseline data for the most important test to come. The process wrapped up quickly, within a few hours, along with the analysis. All the researchers were barely containing their anticipation for the third test…

The ability test.

This was the data point that every researcher cared most about – the true test.

It was akin to the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Lu Xin’s semi-public file labeled his ability as standard Spider-type, grudgingly placing him in the Second Stage.

The ability rating was merely “B-level.”

Yet even the female officer from the Second Security Hall, who had recently been getting chubbier, refused to believe the data.

Who had ever seen a B-level ability user act this frequently?

Not to mention, every time there was a major incident, he’d be out without fail and return on schedule – with no missing limbs, and surprisingly, a hearty appetite…

“…”

“…”

So, what exactly is Lu Xin’s ability? That was the burning question for Qinggang’s researchers.

Given the destructive nature of his previous missions, this test was set up at sea.

Qinggang deployed its own small fleet to carve out a vast testing area in the ocean, designating it as Lu Xin’s ability assessment base. Lu Xin, along with a group of key researchers, boarded a ship that spent three full days at sea before returning.

During that time, everyone in the Special Cleaning Department back in Qinggang waited with bated breath.

Some even used the opportunity to drum up support for Gecko:

“Look, your Captain has started requesting tests – aren’t you going to seize the chance to advance to the Second Stage?”

“Does it even work?”

Gecko immediately shot back, “Advancing to the Second Stage means you’d no longer be the one chanting ‘666’ by his side!”

“Do you really think the ‘666’ from the Second Stage would sound any louder than the first?”

The recruiter was momentarily at a loss for words.

One had to admit, Gecko did make a decent point…

“…”

“…”

Three days later, the secret ship stealthily returned to Qinggang.

Within ten minutes, a complete test report was placed on Professor Bai’s desk.

The entire office was evacuated except for Mr. Su and Minister Shen, who sat solemnly opposite him, their eyes filled with a trace of apprehension. Next to them, Chen Jing – clad in uniform and acting as secretary with a notebook – recorded every detail.

“According to Qinggang’s S-Level Confidentiality Protocol, only the three of us may view this full report.”

Professor Bai pressed a button on the remote control and the curtains began to descend automatically, shrouding the entire room.

He set the remote down and murmured, “Even Chen Jing is allowed to sit in on this only because she’s the direct subordinate to the single soldier in charge of work, and she’ll be collaborating with him extensively in the future.”

“So, are you ready to truly examine the single soldier’s file?”

“…”

“Not ready? And so what?”

Minister Shen snorted disdainfully, “This world never gives us a chance to be prepared.”

With that, he awkwardly glanced up at the sky and then tapped the table, saying, “Let’s begin!”

Mr. Su nodded, a confident, composed smile revealing his assured calm.

Professor Bai let out a quiet sigh, pulled out the documents from the file folder, and his eyes fell on the summary report:

Ability Categories:

Fear: Codename Father. Possesses what is known to be the strongest Pollution Ability. Power Level: Mental Overlord.

Twist: Codename Sister. Possesses the Spider-type ability. Power Level: Mental Overlord.

Theft: Codename Pale Hand. Possesses the ability to retrieve objects from a distance. Power Level: Unknown.

Unknown Mysterious Ability: Destruction. It annihilates every form of mental energy it touches – even physical objects.

Additionally: There are suspicions that the single soldier harbors another mysterious ability which has not yet been tested.