Sum Nation.

No. 8 Sun City Base. This was one of Sum Nation's auxiliary cities, situated in the forward-middle sector beneath the dense, metallic sky. Viewed from high above, it and the other auxiliary city bases resembled tiny satellites, guarding and encircling Sum Nation proper.

Inside a bar—its sign featuring a large 'BK' and a seven-colored neon guitar—four or five people were gathered around a solid wood table. Despite the throbbing electronic music and occasional bursts of cheers and laughter from the background, the atmosphere at this particular table was noticeably oppressive and somber.

"We've all been friends for so many years. Surely there's nothing we can't discuss calmly?" a man with a crew cut said. Both his arms had a distinct metallic sheen, and light-blue energy bands occasionally rippled across their surface. As he spoke, he kept winking insistently at a girl with a cold expression across the table.

"Exactly," someone nearby chimed in, quietly nudging the girl's arm and whispering, "Gao Qing, say something... Can't you see Zhou Ling's face is as foul as shit?"

Gao Qing remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Actually, there's not much to say. Once the assessment ends, I'll take full responsibility for any disciplinary action. I truly handled this poorly. I apologize to Zhou Ling. Later... I will compensate you."

"Is this really about who takes the punishment or who compensates?" Zhou Ling, who had been sitting rigidly with a stony face, suddenly erupted. He shot up and yelled at Gao Qing, "What pisses me off is that you didn't discuss it with me beforehand! Whether it was secretly buying... or unilaterally changing the initial evaluation! Gao Qing! You're too arrogant and too selfish!"

"I'm sorry." Gao Qing apologized unequivocally, lowering her head.

Everyone at the table was stunned for a moment. Having known her for years, they were all too familiar with Gao Qing's temperament; she was the type to dig in her heels and argue to the bitter end, even when she knew she was wrong. When had they ever seen her apologize? And so readily, at that?

Even Zhou Ling was taken aback. Someone beside him tugged hard at his sleeve. "Hey, Zhou Ling, that was a bit much," the person murmured. "What's done is done. We're all friends here."

Zhou Ling looked somewhat embarrassed. Gao Qing's swift concession had, paradoxically, made him feel rather awkward.

"F-forget it." Zhou Ling sat back down, exhaled sharply, and said quickly, "Anyway, next time, you absolutely must discuss similar matters with me before making a decision."

"There won't be a next time." Gao Qing lifted her head and said calmly, "I've already submitted my application to transfer to the Star God Group…"

"What?!"

"Are you out of your mind?!"

Before Gao Qing could finish, Zhou Ling, who had just sat down, and the other White Bears instantly jumped to their feet, staring at her in utter shock.

"...I'm not crazy. I've thought this through completely. Before I leave, I'll take full responsibility for all disciplinary actions from this assessment, resign from my position in the White Bears, and join the Star God Group as an ordinary Yellow Bear member." Gao Qing finished what she had to say, her gaze shifting from Zhou Ling to the others. With a complex expression, she continued in a low voice, "I'm sorry, everyone. I know... I'm really not an easy person to get along with. All these years..."

"Shut up!" Zhou Ling cut Gao Qing off, his voice harsh and urgent, brow deeply furrowed. "I don't care what kind of crazy notion you've got! Go to the personnel department right now and withdraw your application. Quickly!"

"Yeah, Gao Qing," the man with the crew cut, who had earlier tried to mediate, couldn't help but add, "Do you have any idea how high the casualty rate is in the Star God Group? Besides, you haven't even undergone the New Martial transformation yet. Going there like this is no different from suicide!"

The two most dangerous departments in the Yellow Bears were the Secret God Group and the Star God Group. The former was the primary battlefield against the Evil God Sect, requiring operatives to delve deep into enemy territory; the missions regular field teams undertook on the surface to eliminate Evil God Sect disciples were mere skirmishes in comparison. The latter involved leaving the planet's surface and venturing into outer space.

The three largest nations on the planet—the Distant Star Federation, Sum Country, and Havel—were all engaged in an extrasolar colonization race. This expansion had been painstakingly achieved, life by life, by organizations like the Yellow Bear's Star God Group. Compared to the vast and mysterious Starry Sky, an individual's strength was utterly insignificant. Too many entities existed in the Starry Sky that could effortlessly crush and devour a person.

"Don't worry. I've already completed my consciousness upload. And this month, I'll undergo the official full-body transformation..." Gao Qing paused, then emphasized, "I'm no longer planning to pursue the New Martial path."

"Uh..." The people at the table were all taken aback, momentarily speechless. They were all aware of Gao Qing's psychological reservations; she had hesitated for so long about even sacrificing a small number of her own organs for New Martial implants. Yet now, she was choosing a complete full-body transformation... It was clear her decision this time was truly resolute.

"You…!" Zhou Ling glared at Gao Qing, hesitated, then ground out through clenched teeth, "Are your days too comfortable, or what? Why are you so set on tormenting yourself out in space? Don't you know? Everyone in the Star God Group has their consciousnesses uploaded, but many still encounter unknown perils, and even their uploaded consciousnesses can be wiped out, gone forever, unable to be restored! I... I spoke too harshly to you just now. I apologize. Consider this us begging you, please stop this foolishness, won't you, Gao Qing? Our dear Miss Gao?"

"It's not because of you. I've come to understand things myself..." Gao Qing shook her head, just as she was about to explain further.

Suddenly, a hearty voice sounded near them.

"So, this is where you all were hiding? Took me quite a search to find you."

"Uh..."

Everyone at the table turned towards the voice, staring blankly at the man who had appeared beside them, seemingly out of nowhere. He was middle-aged, dressed in a Red Bear uniform. He carried himself with a composed air, and a short, rather prominent scar was visible on his firm, resolute face. His current smile, however, made him seem quite amiable.

"Sir Iron Edge!" Zhou Ling shot to his feet.

Gao Qing and the others also stood up, each greeting Luo Guoxiang.

Luo Guoxiang smiled and nodded to them. His gaze swept over the group before finally settling on Zhou Ling and Gao Qing. "It's too noisy in here," he said. "You two, come with me. I have something to discuss."

The expressions of the others tensed. They immediately thought of their earlier worries and instinctively glanced towards Zhou Ling and Gao Qing. Zhou Ling and Gao Qing also seemed to guess Luo Guoxiang's purpose. Their expressions flickered briefly, then they nodded and followed Luo Guoxiang out.

The three of them left the BK bar. They stopped at a somewhat secluded spot outside the bar street. Luo Guoxiang casually tossed a cigarette-pack-sized object to the ground at his feet. Upon landing, it emitted a blue light, quickly forming a semi-transparent barrier that enveloped the three of them.

Zhou Ling's expression grew solemn; he knew this was a necessary precaution before discussing important matters. Nine times out of ten, Sir Iron Edge had sought them out because of the new recruit assessment. Five days had passed since the assessment began; by his reckoning... it should be ending soon. The content, format, and schedule of this assessment were all confidential, so Zhou Ling wasn't clear on the details.

Gao Qing apparently shared Zhou Ling's suspicion, but her expression was calm, as though she were prepared to face an impending judgment.

"I just heard you're planning to apply for a transfer to the Star God Group?" Unexpectedly, Luo Guoxiang began by broaching a different topic with Gao Qing.

Gao Qing was surprised but nodded. "Yes, that is my intention."

"Then you probably won't be able to." Luo Guoxiang shook his head. "Supervisor Gold Bear from the Supervisory Group specifically requested you. The transfer order will likely come down tomorrow. Your application to the Star God Group should have been rejected by now."

"Er..." Gao Qing froze, completely stunned.

Zhou Ling was also dumbfounded.

"It seems you haven't received the news yet." Luo Guoxiang glanced at the two of them, a peculiar expression—perhaps a mix of envy and profound reflection—emerging on his face. He began, "The results of the new recruit trial assessment are out... No, to be precise, the final evaluation for the new recruit you recommended is out. Little Qing, you were noticed by Supervisor Hu from our Supervisory Group; consider it a recommender's reward. And Little Zhou... you're even luckier. You've been directly promoted to a three-star Red Bear and have caught the eye of 'Uranium Light Knife' Song Cong. Sir Song Cong of the Uranium Light Knife is one of the most renowned 'Godslayer Generals' in the Secret God Group. He never takes anyone below A-rank under his command. You've skyrocketed this time; your future is limitless..."

"Ah....."

Luo Guoxiang's words left Gao Qing and Zhou Ling with their mouths agape, speechless for a long moment. Their minds buzzed, as if two giant golden eggs had suddenly fallen from the sky and knocked them silly.

The crucial point was... they had no idea where these golden eggs had come from.

They knew about the new recruit assessment. They also knew about the rewards for recommending new recruits. But when these two things were put together, they just couldn't make sense of it.

"Didn't you give Lu Yuan an initial evaluation of S+?" Zhou Ling asked Gao Qing, his expression utterly bewildered.

Gao Qing, equally muddled, mumbled, "Yes, it was S+."

"Then how could....."

A sudden realization struck both of them, and an incredible thought surfaced.

Zhou Ling blurted out instinctively, "Don't tell me... Lu Yuan actually got an S+ final evaluation in this assessment?!"

Gao Qing was so shocked by this thought that she couldn't utter a word.

"Not quite," Luo Guoxiang said, shaking his head.

"See? I knew it. That kid is amazing, sure, but not *that* outrageously so..." Zhou Ling heaved a sigh of relief, only for confusion to cloud his features once more. "If it wasn't an S+ final evaluation, then how could there be such an extravagant recommender's reward?"

At this point, they heard Luo Guoxiang say in an unhurried tone, "What I mean is, your S+ estimate was too low. The new recruit you recommended, Lu Yuan, in what is widely acknowledged as the most difficult new recruit trial assessment in the history of the Yellow Bears, obtained the highest final evaluation a new recruit has ever received in Yellow Bear history—SSS+! A Six-Winged Divine Blood Flying Bear! He has also caught the attention of a top-tier figure. You two have the merit of discovering talent, so..."

Luo Guoxiang said a great deal more, but from the moment Gao Qing and Zhou Ling heard the terms "SSS+," "Six-Winged Divine Blood Flying Bear," they couldn't process another word. These phrases, linked with the name "Lu Yuan," became countless great hammers, pounding their minds into a chaotic buzz. Their thoughts scattered, and the scene before their eyes seemed to waver, becoming unreal and detached....

.....

"Sigh!"

Inside the bar, several White Bears sat together, drinking in glum silence.

"Old Zhou and Little Gao are really in for it this time. Sir Iron Edge definitely came to deliver their punishment..." someone lamented.

"Well, who asked Little Gao to give such a high preliminary evaluation without discussing it with Old Zhou? To be fair, Little Gao was indeed in the wrong on this one."

"Alright, alright. Little Gao is already set on going to the Star God Group. We should focus on how to talk her out of it later."

"True....."

As they were chatting, a figure suddenly rushed into the bar like a gust of wind, stopping before them.

"Little... Little Gao?!" Several White Bears, recognizing the newcomer, paused in surprise. "Where's Old Zhou?" one of them asked. "Why didn't Old Zhou come with you?"

Gao Qing, looking exceptionally grave, said urgently, "I'll explain later. Right now, does anyone have an adrenaline shot? Quick! I need to use it...."

"What happened? Why do you need an adrenaline shot? Who's injured?"

"It's Zhou Ling." Gao Qing replied with a helpless air. "Something must have gone wrong with his modification upgrade this time. He just... couldn't take it... and fainted again."

"......"

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