Chapter 1: Awakening

It is rare to see impoverished individuals like Zhou Tianyu at such an early hour; most are scattered around, keeping their distance from the well-dressed crowd. They wear expressions of pallor, slightly bowing their heads, and occasionally glance up at the departure clock or the direction of the arriving train. Zhou Tianyu secretly holds a disdain for those in fine clothing. Typically, the jobs that people from the slums find in the city involve serving the genetically superior individuals of the urban area, allowing them to hold their heads high only in their presence. They adorn themselves in cheap, discarded items from the city’s street vendors—outdated suits, cosmetics, and perfumes—yet even these are beyond the financial reach of the average slum dweller.

Suddenly, a low sound entered his hearing, as if a group of people were whispering in a corner. He wanted to listen to something, yet he could not make out the words. He could even feel their gazes frequently observing him. This unprecedented sensation made him feel exceptionally oppressed and uncomfortable, a feeling he had never experienced even during life-and-death trials in the slums. It was as if he had become a laboratory mouse, helplessly allowing others to determine his fate. He felt an urge to vent, to scream loudly, to tear apart the time and space before him, everything and anything. This unprecedented sensation made him feel exceptionally oppressed and uncomfortable, a feeling he had never experienced even during life-and-death trials in the slums. It was as if he had become a laboratory mouse, helplessly allowing others to determine his fate. He felt an urge to vent, to scream loudly, to tear apart the time and space before him, everything and anything.

Indeed, indeed, I noticed early on that the people around him did not dare to approach him. When I was about to pull you all to go around, I suddenly felt a chill in my heart, and I grabbed Ah Mei but couldn't catch you. Ah Xue, you won't blame me, will you? Another younger girl looked anxiously at the profile of the girl named Ah Xue who was being supported.

The time of arrival at the station was 6:10. As it was just dawn, there were not many people waiting for the train. Most of them were ordinary citizens working in the city, dressed smartly and clearly better off than the average person. The expressions on their faces often bore a hint of arrogance. For those living in the lower-income areas of this era, finding a job in the city was a symbol of social superiority. Many looked at Zhou Tianyu, who appeared ordinary with unkempt hair and dressed in inexpensive clothing, with disdain and contempt, quickly glancing past him. These individuals generally stood together, deliberately maintaining a distance from the ordinary citizens.

At around 6:13, the train arrived at the station. As the train came to a stop, the well-dressed crowd rushed towards the train doors, while the common people waited silently. Only after everyone had boarded did they slowly approach the doors in an orderly manner. Zhou Tianyu reluctantly withdrew his gaze and followed the crowd onto the train

He did not come from a prominent family, as he was an orphan, lacking exceptional skills, and thus had no ambitions, nor did he possess superior genes. According to genetic assessments, he belonged to the category of inferior genetic humans. In this era, human reproductive planning is no longer merely about controlling population numbers; therefore, generally speaking, such individuals do not leave behind descendants, as their offspring would also be as unremarkable as they are, resenting themselves just as he once resented himself for coming into this world. In an age where basic needs are met, enjoying the minimum living guarantee provided by the Cosmic Alliance, he was merely a person who lived to eat and awaited death.

Zhou Tianyu, having regained consciousness, prepared to help her up, but this only caused her to retreat in terror, trembling uncontrollably. The moment from when the girl fell to when he scanned her and intended to assist her was merely a brief interval. Just as Zhou Tianyu was about to help her, he was suddenly pushed and stumbled forward by someone. Two girls, both possessing striking appearances, rushed out; they appeared to be classmates of hers, and the one who pushed him was a relatively tall girl.

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Zhou Tianyu silently watched as a girl helped her up, while another person gathered the scattered books. For the first time in his life, Zhou Tianyu felt a sense of guilt and unease. He opened his mouth several times to apologize but fell silent each time. It was only when she, with their assistance, staggered away and glanced back at him with a look of deep resentment that his mind exploded. He blurted out: "I'm sorry!"

He exuded a chilling aura that spread several meters around him on the street, causing passersby to steer clear, not daring to glance his way, hurrying past. They felt a sense of terror, as if confronted by a ferocious beast, and any hint of thought would evoke a feeling of being at the mercy of life and death. They had no doubt that if disturbed, he would choose his prey to devour. Zhou Tianyu's half-closed eyes, obscured by his hair, had turned blood red, his clenched fists revealing prominent veins, his body slightly trembling. Waves of turmoil surged in his mind, tumultuous and overwhelming, driving him to the brink of madness. The chilling aura surrounding Zhou Tianyu intensified rapidly, rising like a tornado, reaching the heavens in an instant.

"You... you... person..." Because he was unprepared and was pushed aside, he cast a glance at the tall girl. Her eyes, still tinged with a lingering crimson, caused her to momentarily falter in her speech. Nevertheless, she continued awkwardly, "Next time... be more careful when walking." After saying this, she no longer dared to look at him

"It was my fault for reading too late last night, and I wasn't paying attention, so how could I blame you? Alright, let's not mention it anymore." A-Xue frequently furrowed her delicate brows, clearly still shaken from the fall. However, her mind was occupied with the image of that lonely and desolate boy from earlier. Who exactly was he? What kind of experiences could turn a boy of her age into someone so fierce and wolf-like? He must be a boy from the slums. Her kind-hearted nature could not bear the thought that inferior genes were denied the right to enter higher education, otherwise, he should be enjoying the same higher education as herself.

Get up, it's thundering, it's raining, bring in the clothes! This is a very famous film work by the classic movie mogul Stephen Chow. Due to sharing the same surname as Zhou Tianyu, it was adapted and modified by Zhou Tianyu to serve as an alarm sound. The absurd original sound instantly woke Zhou Tianyu from his beautiful dream

At present, the three women, each with their own thoughts, walked towards the academy in silence

It is fortunate that each carriage is independent; otherwise, Zhou Tianyu would definitely have "committed a crime" across carriages. The entire journey was spent in such tedious time, and finally, the train arrived at the station. The passengers on the train did not move, casting glances at Zhou Tianyu from the corners of their eyes. Only after Zhou Tianyu got off the train did the entire carriage erupt in a rush to disembark, keeping their distance from him.

Zhou Tianyu hummed along to pop music, slowly tapping his feet as he wobbled toward Times Square. Of course, he couldn't help but admire the beautiful women along the way, though he had restrained himself considerably. Unfortunately, the pace of life in the city was different from theirs, and few people were up so early, especially the city's beauties

Zhou Tianyu felt a sudden jolt, quickly dressed and washed up, then grabbed the identity card from the table and rushed out the door. The identity card integrates multiple functions, such as household registration, identity verification, bank card, and various civilian documents.

The consciousnesses that traversed the sky, after the momentum of Zhou Tianyu dissipated, silently searched a few times, greeted each other, and then scattered. However, they all reached an agreement to eliminate the defier before their power matured. Unfortunately, they would never have the opportunity again

Because those well-dressed individuals boarded the train first, they generally found no seats available and could only hold onto the handrails. Zhou Tianyu, upon boarding, remained oblivious as he boldly searched for beautiful women, fixating his malicious gaze on any attractive woman he spotted, his unreserved stare an invasion. They had no means to counter him, as federal law does not classify lewdness by mere eye contact as a crime; otherwise, Zhou Tianyu's actions would undoubtedly be condemned as a capital offense by everyone in the carriage, as even the male fellow citizens and commoners aboard looked down upon his behavior. They had no means to counter him, as federal law does not classify lewdness by mere eye contact as a crime; otherwise, Zhou Tianyu's actions would undoubtedly be condemned as a capital offense by everyone in the carriage, as even the male fellow citizens and commoners aboard looked down upon his behavior

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After three consecutive calls, Zhou Tianyu, who was lying motionless on the bed, finally shook his somewhat dazed head and shouted, "Got it, I'm getting up. Daitou, what are the plans for today?" Daitou is a mechanical servant that Zhou Tianyu salvaged from a second-hand market. At that time, it only had one head that was relatively intact. Zhou Tianyu installed it on the body of another mechanical servant that could not operate due to the aging of its core (the core is located in the head). The original servant's form, which resembled a small child, was clearly mismatched with Daitou's original body, resulting in a disproportionately large head, hence Zhou Tianyu referred to it as Daitou.

This morning at 8:00 AM at New City Times Square, the new virtual reality helmet "Genesis" will be on sale. The owner needs to catch the 6:15 AM maglev train. Big Head is not like an ordinary mechanical servant; the synthesized metallic voice of an ordinary mechanical servant lacks tonal variation, producing a harsh, lifeless electronic sound. In contrast, Big Head's voice is imbued with emotion, symbolizing intelligence. Zhou Tianyu found him and was infinitely delighted upon activation, exclaiming "My treasure!" 500 Galactic Federation Coins (hereafter referred to as Galactic Coins) is worth two months' worth of relief funds, making it a worthwhile investment.

Zhou Tianyu, a very ordinary name, stands at a height of 1.72 meters and has an unremarkable appearance. He is eighteen years old, born in the year 8345 of the interstellar calendar, in the place known as Earth. It is a peaceful era, a time when mechanical civilization is highly developed. In this age, routine labor is typically performed by intelligent robots, ensuring that from the moment of birth, one has a place to live and does not have to worry about food and clothing. However, there still exist class differences and wealth disparities characteristic of any social structure. It is a peaceful era, a time when mechanical civilization is highly developed. In this age, routine labor is typically performed by intelligent robots, ensuring that from the moment of birth, one has a place to live and does not have to worry about food and clothing. However, there still exist class differences and wealth disparities characteristic of any social structure.

He did not understand why, despite being in a bustling crowd, he felt a profound loneliness, a kind of solitude that was difficult to express to others. It was as if standing here for ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, or even ten thousand years, he would still only feel like a mere spectator. The activities of humanity failed to capture his attention; he merely observed everything with a silent demeanor.

Zhou Tianyu, completely unaware, was scrutinizing the men and women around him, his gaze lingering particularly on the slender and beautiful women. He scanned them back and forth, precisely estimating their measurements in his mind. Upon seeing a beautiful woman, his eyes would light up, and he would openly express his admiration with a series of clicks of his tongue. Whenever a young and attractive girl caught his attention, she would instantly feel uncomfortable, as if Zhou Tianyu's eyes were capable of seeing through her, rendering any lingerie she wore ineffective against his piercing gaze. They would glare at the oblivious Zhou Tianyu with resentment, silently cursing him with disdain on their faces, and then hurriedly cover their prominent features with small bags or newspapers, trying to move out of his line of sight.

In the slums, the lives of civilians without self-protection can only become increasingly difficult, ultimately leading them to choose "comfort" like most impoverished individuals struggling to survive. Although comfort is a special privilege enjoyed by every member of the inferior genetic group, it is still despised and looked down upon by the inferior genetic group itself

The louder the noise became in Times Square, the more the crowd swelled, bustling with people of all ages and genders. Yet, in Zhou Tianyu's heart, there was an increasing stillness; the various clamor seemed to drift away from him, and the sounds in his ears grew fainter. Strangely, if a needle were to drop beside him at that moment, it would be distinctly audible, creating an odd contrast. This was a capability Zhou Tianyu had developed after turning eighteen, a phenomenon he could not quite name. To this day, he could only refer to this state of ability as the "Awakening State." This state could only manifest when he felt profoundly lonely, or when his energy was stimulated or exceptionally focused. However, when he searched for it attentively, it would suddenly vanish.

"A-Xue, that person's eyes are so terrifying. When I was next to him just now, my heart kept pounding non-stop, especially when he looked at me that way later; I almost suffocated. I still don't know how I had the courage to say such things in front of him." The tall and beautiful girl said, patting her chest, still feeling a lingering fear.

This was merely a brief interlude in the crowd; in an instant, the crowd had returned to its orderly state, with people coming and going as before. However, he still noticed the resentful and reproachful glances of the two young girls beside her as they turned around.

However, the clamor of the city is relentless, day and night, with the incessant electronic holographic advertisements and the various hovering vehicles whizzing by. Zhou Tianyu, who lives in the slums, cannot afford to take a taxi and can only choose the streets based on the shortest route provided by the app.

Zhou Tianyu grew up in such an environment. Even when other children were still in their days of crying, his eyes, which initially harbored hatred and animosity, had already become calm and indifferent, devoid of any emotion, much like the crystal eyes of early robots. As he gradually grew older, his once tranquil eyes, which resembled still waters, became filled with a deep-seated mockery and disdain for the societal structure. However, this sentiment was concealed very deeply on the outside.

In front of him, a female student wearing large glasses, dressed simply, and with her hair tied in a ponytail, fell to the ground, her books scattered everywhere. Her fair and slender legs were marred by a deep crimson bruise on her knee from the scrape. Her petite body trembled slightly, and the thick lenses of her glasses could not conceal her strikingly bright large eyes. Her plain clothing did not hide her well-developed and gracefully curved figure. Beneath the large glasses was a delicate small mouth, and the half-exposed beautiful face was captivating enough to leave one spellbound. It was undeniable that without the large glasses, she would possess an extraordinarily beautiful visage. She wore a look of loneliness, helplessness, and pity that evoked sympathy. Under the scanning gaze of Zhou Tianyu's malicious eyes, it became clear in an instant that before him stood an exceptionally beautiful young girl.

This demographic typically does not reside alongside individuals with superior genes. It is unclear when their living areas came to be referred to as slums, as they are largely unable to contribute to the nation and thus lack the luxurious living guarantees afforded to those with superior genes. However, this does not mean they do not yearn for opulent villas, fine wines, and tender veal steaks. Their unfulfilled desires have turned the slums into a veritable cradle of vice, where fighting, brawling, sexual assault, drug use, prostitution, and contract killings occur daily, embodying the dark nature of their environment. The inequality between inferior and superior gene groups is reminiscent of ancient racial discrimination, as inferior gene groups still face a series of unequal laws in this advanced historical era, including the death penalty, maximum prison sentences, and even exile.

His chilling aura awakened many powerful beings within a radius of one hundred miles. They were all astonished. The power of the "Heaven-Defying One" had awakened, and they shared a common feeling in their hearts. They began to emit subtle spiritual senses to search for him. Zhou Tianyu's momentum continued to grow and surge, spreading violently above the Nine Heavens like a nuclear explosion. He was already on the brink of eruption when suddenly a crisp scream disturbed him. His heart was startled awake, and the chaotic aura instantly split from his body. The chilling aura, having lost its source, immediately vanished without a trace. In the brief moment from the explosion to the powerful beings' spiritual senses tracking him, they merely sensed it without having the time to pursue, and he had already disappeared without a trace.