“Lin Zichen, 100.”

The moment those words were spoken, the classroom fell silent.

It was as if the Earth had stopped spinning.

As if time itself had paused.

Everyone turned to stone statues, frozen in disbelief.

It wasn’t until Lin Zichen rose from his seat and walked to the podium to collect his paper that the class came alive again, bursting with shouts of shock, “100 points! He really scored 100! How is that even possible?!”

“Unbelievable! Totally unbelievable!”

“Even the two prodigies from Nanguan City were beaten. Lin Zichen is insane, the pride of Shanhai!”

They were completely beaten…

Hearing those words stung badly for Lu Gang and Wang Shujie.

Especially Wang Shujie. His face turned green.

From childhood, even in prodigy-filled Nanguan City, he had always been the center of admiration, a Heaven’s Proud Son admired by his peers.

Yet here, in this backwater Shanhai City, in the very first exam of the term, he was crushed.

For someone with such pride and superiority, it was unbearable.

On the other side, He Yu also looked sour.

He had thought his 88 would secure third place and the 333-yuan prize.

But Lin Zichen’s perfect score pushed him out of the top three.

He felt embarrassed, like a clown after boasting he’d treat the group with his winnings.

On stage, Lin Zichen ignored the gasps, calmly collected his paper from Cai Yuanfei.

Cai handed it over with a broad smile, “Zichen, your written test scores were always excellent, but I never imagined you’d be this good, surpassing even Lu Gang and Wang Shujie.”

“Teacher Cai flatters me.”

“No, not at all.” Cai chuckled, “Zichen, as a martial artist, you mustn’t be too modest. Show some arrogance—it gives you blood and spirit and helps you improve.”

“You’re right, Teacher Cai.” Lin Zichen nodded, then asked, “So when will the first-place prize of 888 yuan be sent?”

Cai laughed, “After I finish announcing everyone’s scores. I’ll transfer the money directly to the class group.”

“I see, Teacher Cai.” Lin Zichen returned to his seat.

As soon as he sat, Shen Qinghan spun around, “Xiao Chen, you really scored full marks, that’s amazing!”

“Come on, let me see your paper. I want to know how you did it.”

Her voice was curious and urgent as she eyed the paper in his hand.

Lin Zichen smiled and handed it over.

He Yu and Li Chuxin immediately crowded in too, eager to see how a perfect score was done.

* * *

An hour later, Gene Fusion teacher Liu Deren entered with graded papers.

He strode to the podium and smiled, “Thanks to the other teachers, your Gene Fusion exams are now fully graded.”

“Teacher, hand them out,” Wang Shujie pressed.

Having been outshined in Mechanical Modification, he was desperate to win back face with Gene Fusion.

Liu Deren laughed, “Patience. I’ll call names with scores. Come up when called.”

He began reading names one by one.

Most had failed.

Lu Gang scored 81, Wang Shujie 83—barely above the excellence line.

But the most watched, Lin Zichen, stunned everyone again with another perfect score.

Two straight perfect scores!

Even in the brutally hard Gene Fusion exam, where most had failed!

Such heaven-defying results shattered their idea of what a prodigy was.

This wasn’t a prodigy. This was a genius god.

Wang Shujie refused to accept it, accusing Liu Deren of leaking answers.

He said the exam was too hard for anyone to ace—it must have been rigged.

But Liu Deren immediately denied it.

He said he had written all the questions himself. The answers couldn’t be found online. Cheating was impossible.

Wang Shujie fell silent.

Seeing him silenced, He Yu felt smug and muttered to Lin Zichen, “They’re pathetic. Lose and then cry about cheating? What a disgrace to Nanguan City.”

“Exactly, he’s got no class. Ugly people always cause the most trouble!” Li Chuxin sneered.

Hearing their gossip, timid Shen Qinghan whispered, “Don’t, someone might overhear.”

He Yu dismissed her, “Who cares? He accused Zichen first. I’ll insult him if I want. What, he’ll hit me?”

Li Chuxin huffed, “Right! Wang Shujie deserves curses. Just cursing isn’t enough—I’ll even stick pins in a doll of him tonight!”

“Wha—pins in a doll?” Shen Qinghan was shocked.

Seeing her go too far, Lin Zichen couldn’t hold back, “Chuxin, cursing is enough. Don’t go making dolls.”

“Fine, no dolls then.”

She ignored Shen Qinghan’s pleas but obeyed her dream man Lin Zichen.

Meanwhile, Liu Deren kept reading scores.

At last, he called the final paper.

“Shen Qinghan, 78.”

She blinked, then her hands trembled with excitement.

Seventy-eight!

Only behind Lin Zichen, Wang Shujie, Lu Gang and He Yu.

Top five in the class!

“My god, Hanhan, how did you score that high?!” Li Chuxin was stunned, thinking she misheard.

He Yu wasn’t surprised, “What’s so strange? Look at her childhood sweetheart. With Zichen as her study partner, of course she’s strong.”

The whole class turned to Shen Qinghan, astonished she scored so high on Gene Fusion.

After all, she had only just scraped a pass in Mechanical Modification.

Feeling all the surprised and disbelieving eyes on her, Shen Qinghan happily walked to the podium to collect her paper.

Inside, she thought how lucky she was to have Xiao Chen as her childhood companion, guiding her through books on Aberrant Beasts all these years. Without him, she’d never have done this well.