Since the entire day was free time, students quickly spread out around the school.

Some roamed the campus in groups.

Some gathered to chat.

Some kept their heads down, playing on their phones.

Others flipped through the new textbooks to preview the content.

Shen Qinghan was one of the readers, diligently going over the textbooks and studying ahead.

Lin Zichen had already browsed them earlier and found much of the content things he had self-studied as a child, so he didn’t bother reading further. Instead, he played on his phone, scrolling through real-time news.

“Living up to expectations! The child prodigy who shocked the nation back then has now been guaranteed admission to Kyoto University, enrolled in the Evolution Academy and is expected to evolve into an advanced lifeform during university.”

“Heartbreaking! The genius mechanical girl, having undergone premature mechanical modifications before her body fully developed, is now suffering numerous physiological problems, with multiple deformed body parts, likely to live the rest of her life disabled.”

“Major news! Huawai Group has successfully cultivated a rare Tier 5 spirit plant, which may trigger a global boom in the spirit plant market.”

Lin Zichen skimmed the headlines and his eyes stopped on the second story about the mechanical genius girl.

After reading, his feelings were mixed.

Parents are supposed to be great.

But clearly, not everyone is fit to be a parent.

The parents of this mechanical genius girl, eager to market their daughter as a genius for money, completely disregarded her health and forced her through various mechanical modifications.

A disgrace as parents.

Even a disgrace as human beings.

Lin Zichen shook his head and stopped thinking about it, scrolling further.

After reading more than twenty headlines, he noticed a large number were about the Rat God Cult.

He counted and they made up nearly half.

Lin Zichen frowned.

Why so many stories about the Rat God Cult all of a sudden?

Did something happen?

With that doubt, he opened all the Rat God Cult stories to read.

It turned out that the city security headquarters had recently conducted a sweep, capturing many Rat God Cult believers.

All the related stories had been reported today.

But was it only the believers they caught?

What about the Rat King, worshiped as a god by the cult?

Was it caught?

Countless thoughts filled Lin Zichen’s mind as he kept scrolling.

After finishing the recommended stories, he searched for more himself.

But to his disappointment, the sweep operation was all bark and no bite—they had only arrested some believers. Not even a single giant aberrant rat had been caught.

After scrolling for a while more, he grew bored.

He put away his phone, stood up and left the classroom, planning to find a quiet corner to train rather than waste time.

After wandering around campus, he ended up in a small grove with no one around.

There was no one and no cameras, making it perfect as a secret training spot.

He moved a stone weighing over a hundred jin and began high-intensity weighted training.

[You are doing weighted push-ups, Vitality +2, arm muscle strength +2, chest muscle strength +2, push-up proficiency +1]

[You are doing weighted sit-ups, Vitality +2, abdominal muscle strength +2, sit-up proficiency +1]

[You are doing weighted squats, Vitality +2, leg muscle strength +2, squat proficiency +1…]

After some time, Lin Zichen finally finished training, drenched in sweat.

He was tired but satisfied, clearly feeling himself getting stronger.

‘Ordinary adult giant aberrant rats are Biological Level Tier 5. As long as I evolve one more level, I’ll surpass them…’

Thinking that, he got back down, set the heavy stone on his back and furiously started doing push-ups again.

[You did 300 weighted push-ups, Vitality +600, arm muscle strength +600, chest muscle strength +600, push-up proficiency +300]

After quickly finishing the set, Lin Zichen felt the time was about right. He wiped the sweat from his face and checked his phone.

The screen read 17:20. Almost time to leave school.

He also noticed three unread messages from Shen Qinghan.

15:12.

[Hanhan: Xiao Chen, where did you go? Why haven’t you come back yet?]

16:22.

[Hanhan: Where are you? (confused emoji)]

17:11.

[Hanhan: Xiao Chen, only 19 minutes until school ends. I’m waiting in the classroom. Come back to find me when you see this. Don’t go home alone.]

17:22.

[Zichen: I was training and didn’t check my phone. I’m coming back now.]

After replying, he put his phone away and returned to class.

As he entered, Li Chuxin noticed his sweaty state and asked curiously, “What were you doing? Why are you soaked in sweat?”

He Yu also asked, “Yeah, you were gone forever. Playing basketball? Soccer?”

Shen Qinghan handed Lin Zichen some tissues to wipe his face. She had wanted to wipe it for him herself, but with too many people watching, she was too shy.

Lin Zichen accepted the tissues, wiped his sweat and said honestly, “Nowhere special. I just got bored sitting in class and went outside to train.”

Li Chuxin looked at him with admiration, “Not only talented, but hardworking too. No wonder you’re the top scorer in our district.”

He Yu muttered, “Damn, sneaking off to train? That’s way too intense!”

His voice was loud enough to draw stares from nearby.

“Keep your voice down, He Yu,” Li Chuxin scolded, finding the Nanguan boy far too noisy, like a rooster crowing.

He Yu realized and quickly laughed awkwardly, “Sorry, sorry.”

Then the dismissal bell rang.

Students could finally go home.

Li Chuxin pulled three bags out of her backpack and handed them to her groupmates, “Here, one each for your uniforms.”

“Thanks.”

“Thank you, Chuxin.”

Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan smiled faintly as they accepted them.

He Yu, loud as ever said, “Whoa, you even thought ahead to bring bags for uniforms? Genius move!”

Li Chuxin just rolled her eyes at him.

Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan packed up, one eager to get home for dinner, the other to read more books.