Stronger with Crimson Modifier

Hu Qi had gained a rough understanding of the world he now found himself in.

The technology in this world was quite advanced.

They had even begun interstellar immigration.

Mechanical limbs, AI companions, cybernetic neural networks, nanorobots—you name it, they had it.

However, despite the highly developed society and extremely advanced technology, only a small minority—the Upper Class—could enjoy its benefits.

Most ordinary people had lost their value as their jobs were replaced by AI.

Society was controlled by powerful corporations.

Ordinary people had lost their freedom, and the wealth gap was enormous.

They could only take on menial jobs, earning just enough to survive.

This situation only grew more severe as time went on.

It led to greater poverty, oppression, and chaos among the common people.

’What an incredibly warped and chaotic world,’ Hu Qi concluded in his heart.

As for more detailed information, such as whether an Extraordinary System existed in this world, or the whereabouts of the Dao Rhyme, he had no way of finding out.

After all, his perception was limited to this single room.

...

Rain pitter-pattered against the window.

The tip of the young Zhao Ying’s pen scraped softly across a sheet of rough, recycled paper.

It made a faint rustling sound that mingled with the rain outside.

Suddenly, her pen froze, leaving an abrupt streak on the manuscript paper.

She then reached over and pulled open her desk drawer, looking for an old draft.

Just then, something in the back of the drawer caught her eye.

It was a coin-sized Cross Medal, its metallic surface glinting faintly in the dimness of the drawer.

This wasn’t some priceless, rare treasure.

It was merely a common souvenir from the Holy Cross Church.

Anyone who wanted one was eligible to claim one for free.

She’d gotten one for free during a school event.

But she had tossed it in the drawer as soon as she got it.

Today, however, for some unknown reason, she found herself staring at the medal. On a strange impulse, she reached out, picked it up, and began to gently rub it in her palm.

The four ends of the Copper Cross Medal were carved with intricate patterns resembling intertwined vines and flames.

In the center was a bas-relief of the sun, its rays radiating outward in finely etched lines, symbolizing the supreme faith of the Holy Cross Church.

On the back of the medal was a line of small text: "Embers Unextinguished, The Great Sun Endures."

The cool touch of the medal slowly spread through her fingertips, and for some reason, her restless heart began to calm.

"Xiaoying, get the door."

Just then, her mother’s weary voice called from outside, shattering the room’s tranquility.

Zhao Ying looked up at the sound of her mother’s voice and answered instinctively.

She quickly slipped the Copper Cross Medal into her pocket, then stood and dragged her troublesome right leg toward the door.

Outside the door were her parents, who had just gotten off work.

Their clothes were soaked with rain, and their faces were etched with fatigue.

Zhao Ying thoughtfully took the shopping bag from her mother, went into the kitchen, and began to skillfully wash and chop vegetables.

Before long, several dishes were set on the dining table.

A few dishes, a mix of meat and vegetables, steamed on the table. The meat was synthetic, processed with spices, and the fish and shrimp were made from algae or other synthetic materials.

But in the impoverished Lower City District, this was already considered a luxurious dinner.

The rain continued to fall. Outside, neon lights refracted through the raindrops on the glass, casting blurry patterns of light and shadow.

A warm yellow light bathed the dining table. The three of them sat around it, the food already served. The steam slowly dissipated, yet no one picked up their chopsticks.

They were waiting for one more person to return.

That person was Zhao Ying’s older brother.

He attended a prestigious high school in the Lower City District and was usually so busy with his studies that he rarely came home.

Fortunately, he had confirmed he would be coming home, which was why the family had painstakingly prepared this meal in advance.

About ten minutes later, the sound of a key turning in the lock broke the silence.

The door swung open, and a young man stepped inside.

He bore a strong resemblance to Zhao Ying. It was her older brother, Zhao Yao.

At the sight of him, both his father and mother stood up.

Zhao Ying did as well.

Then, the family was finally complete, and they all sat down to eat.

Idle chatter soon filled the air around the dinner table.

Or more accurately, it was a constant stream of concerned questions from their parents, which Zhao Yao answered casually.

As for Zhao Ying, she just kept her eyes downcast, quietly eating her food as if she were invisible, shut off from the rest of the world.

"By the way, Xiaoyao, have the results from your Intentional Energy test come in yet?"

Their father, Zhao Tian, asked, suddenly remembering something.

"They’re out. I got an A-Level, Lower Class evaluation. Second in the entire school."

Zhao Yao smiled, a hint of pride in his voice.

He had every right to be proud.

The Intentional Energy test was the most important assessment in high school. It was a comprehensive evaluation of a person’s potential, covering a wide range of abilities including neural response, memory, and logical thinking.

The higher one’s Intentional Energy Level, the farther one could go in the future, whether as a Mechanical Source Master or a Mecha Master.

Intentional Energy Level was divided into five main levels—S, A, B, C, and D—each of which was further subdivided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Class.

Generally, most people only had a D-Level Intentional Energy Level. Zhao Yao’s evaluation of A-Level, Lower Class already marked him as an exceptionally rare genius.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!