The three of them chatted briefly.

Soon, Liu Chuanwu went to his own lab to sleep.

After fighting all night without even a minute’s rest, if he didn’t catch up on sleep he felt he might suddenly drop dead.

Normally, with a physique on par with an Advanced Creature, he could go a week without sleep and still be full of energy.

But last night, Yuan Dongzhi had truly drained him to the bone.

One round after another—with a whole tier difference in Biological Level, he simply couldn’t withstand it.

The Dragon Girl might look prim and proper on the surface, but in private she was more wanton than anyone, a shocking contrast.

After Liu Chuanwu left, Lin Zichen sat on a nearby sofa and opened the mission listings on the school app.

Missions came in three types:

Those posted by the school.

Those posted by students.

Those posted externally.

Among these, the external ones were mostly posted by security bureaus and other official agencies and they were the most numerous.

Following the order, Lin Zichen first clicked into school‑posted missions.

He glanced at them: not many and all trivial chores.

Either helping the dean, or helping the academic director.

Rewards were mostly 1 credit, a few 2 credits.

Though the credits weren’t much, the low difficulty made them popular. As soon as they were posted, they were snatched up in seconds.

Lin Zichen wasn’t interested in such errands.

He looked briefly and backed out.

Next, he opened the student‑posted missions.

Mission: Seeking a female Gene Fuser sparring partner—preferably a beast‑eared girl, with fair skin, pretty looks and long legs.

Reward: 5 credits per month.

Opening it, Lin Zichen couldn’t help but laugh.

This was “sparring practice”? Heh—he didn’t want to burst that bubble.

Scrolling further, he saw more of the same.

Most were just excuses to make friends—kind of ridiculous.

He exited the student missions and opened the external mission listings.

Mission: Arrest a robbery gang—seven members, repeatedly looting aberrant‑beast meat convoys. Armed, no cyborgs, no gene fusers. Location: outskirts of Qianzhen City.

Reward: 30 credits.

…

Mission: Hunt an aberrant beast—Ordinary Tier 9, a Bloodthirsty Ichthyosaur, has attacked fishing boats multiple times. Location: Jinhai Bay, Changzhou City.

Reward: 200 credits.

...

Mission: Arrest an out‑of‑control female Gene Fuser—Catwoman, Ordinary Tier 6, fused with the Shadow Nightcat gene. Brutally killed multiple men. Target is frequently active in red‑light districts of Shanhai City.

Reward: 50 credits.

...

Mission: Arrest cultists of the “Divine Plant Cult”—Ordinary Tier 8, luring or coercing university students to join. Target is frequently active in Shanhai City.

Reward: 100 credits.

...

There were plenty of external missions and the credits were high.

Lin Zichen felt a thrill.

With these missions, he’d never have to worry about income again.

After browsing, it was time to accept one.

He wouldn’t consider anything far away—only nearby.

The Catwoman mission was just right, located in Shanhai City. He could take it.

As for the Divine Plant Cult mission, he could easily do it too, but there was no need.

The problem was the risk of retaliation.

The cults were organized. Unless you eradicated them completely, arresting one member meant vendetta and revenge.

Back in middle school, the security‑team captain who crossed the Rat God Cult was an example.

Lin Zichen had enough strength to protect himself—but not his ordinary family.

So missions targeting cultists could wait until his parents moved to live near Shan University.

After weighing it all, he decided on the Catwoman mission.

He planned to take care of it while home that weekend.

The only question was whether two days would be enough.

He might find her the first day, if lucky.

If unlucky, it could take a month.

Those 50 credits weren’t easy to earn.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t still be on the board.

“You took the Catwoman mission?”

Song Yuyan looked surprised, “For your first mission, you picked an Ordinary Tier 6 target? That’s too risky. Want me to go with you?”

Then she added, “I won’t take a share of the credits. Just buy me a meal afterward.”

Lin Zichen declined politely, “That’d be a waste of your time, Sister Yan—no need.”

If his Biological Level were Ordinary Tier 6, he’d have accepted her help.

But he was already Ordinary Tier 9. Facing a Catwoman of Tier 6 was like using a butcher’s cleaver to kill a chicken—effortless.

“Alright, but be careful. Don’t overdo it.”

“I will. Thanks for caring.”

Then Lin Zichen frowned in puzzlement, “By the way, how did you know I took the Catwoman mission?”

“The mission page shows who accepted,” Song Yuyan explained.

Checking, Lin Zichen saw she was right. The Catwoman mission had 28 takers.

Twenty‑six were upperclassmen, only two were freshmen.

Aside from himself, another freshman had also accepted.

Ma Xiwei?

Her strength was at best Ordinary Tier 5. How did she dare to take it?

She must have helpers.

After all, as the Evolution Academy dean’s daughter, she had plenty of seniors ready to curry favor.

Lin Zichen thought about it for a moment, then went back to browsing the app.

Just browsing—he could only hold one mission at a time.

Half an hour later, his phone buzzed.

The app notified him that the ten jin of Living Dead Slug meat he’d ordered had arrived.

It was nearly noon.

He told Song Yuyan he was heading back to cook and left the institute.

Not far outside, he ran into an unwelcome guest.

A somewhat handsome young stranger.

Using Danger Perception, he sensed the man’s biological pressure—Ordinary Tier 7.

The youth had been leaning against a tree, idly playing on his phone. As soon as he saw Lin Zichen, he pocketed it and strode over.

Stopping in front of him, he demanded harshly, “Lin Zichen, what grudge do you have against Weiwei that you keep targeting her? You bruised her face in the Opening Trial, kicked her butt and now you’re even competing for the same external mission. Did Liu Chuanwu put you up to this? Picking on a girl? How about fighting me instead!”

The longer he spoke, the angrier he got. If not for school regulations, he probably would’ve attacked right there.

‘So this was Ma Xiwei’s lapdog? Or Ma Zhenhe’s eunuch?’

Lin Zichen asked, “Did Ma Xiwei send you, or Dean Ma?”

“Neither,” the youth said, “I came on my own. I just can’t stand you.”

“So?”

“Fight me if you dare!”

Lin Zichen ignored him and walked around.

Even in college, there were still brainless lapdogs like this.

“Stop right there!”

Seeing himself ignored, the youth grew enraged and reached for Lin Zichen’s shoulder.

Lin Zichen obliged by stopping.

Then, without a word, he spun and drove his fist straight into the boy’s slightly handsome face.

Bang!

With that sound, the youth dropped instantly, knocked out cold, his face visibly swelling by the second.

Without a backward glance, Lin Zichen headed for the dorms.

* * *

Zhongyuan Building 8, Dorm 603.

When Lin Zichen opened the door, Shen Qinghan was already in the kitchen cooking.

He stepped in and saw she’d already prepared two dishes, “Home so early today?” he asked.

“Only two classes this morning. I was back by ten. Trained for an hour, showered, then started cooking,” she said while finishing the last dish.

Soon the final dish was done.

They ate in the living room, chatting as they ate.

“Xiao Chen, the ten jin of Living Dead Slug meat you ordered last night was delivered. I put it in the fridge,” Shen Qinghan said.

“Got it.”

“Also, this afternoon at three in the gym, there’s a match between the Peak Ranking’s No. 9—a mechanical student—and No. 8, a gene fuser. The tutor said it’ll be a worthy duel and told our class to watch. Want to go together?”

“Sure, let’s watch.”

Then Lin Zichen added, “Oh—this morning at the institute, Dean Liu mentioned the school provides resettlement housing for the families of geniuses. As long as the conditions are met, parents can move here and even be given jobs. I plan to bring mine. Do you want to bring your parents too?”

“Really?” Shen Qinghan’s large watery eyes widened in disbelief.

Then her fine brows furrowed slightly, “But I’m not Freshman King—would I still qualify?”

“Your Gene Fusion Adaptability is 21%. Just mention it to your master. They’ll arrange it,” Lin Zichen said.

“That’s true.”

Shen Qinghan nodded, then grew excited, “I’ll ask right away. If they give me housing, I’ll have my parents move here too.”

She was very close to her family. Though she’d only been away a few days, she already missed them.

If they lived at the school, it’d be perfect.

Lin Zichen said evenly, “When the weekend comes, we’ll go home together and tell them.”

Shen Qinghan smiled sweetly, “Yes, let’s go this weekend.”