Chapter Fifty: The Peculiar Awakened

Yuya regarded Ye Chen across from her with a cold, elegant gaze and spoke slowly:
“You are the most unusual Awakened I have ever seen. Or rather, no Awakened so far has managed to reach your level.”
Hearing these words, Ye Chen’s body trembled slightly… Could she possibly know what I experienced in the world of consciousness?
This woman before him clearly knew a great deal about Awakeneds… She wouldn’t be easily deceived.
Yuya continued her explanation:
“The classification of Awakening levels was actually established by our Bureau of Transcendence—now the standard across the entire continent.
“The lowest is E-rank, then D, C, B, and A. The division of ranks is based on the Awakened’s Inner Value.
“For example, an Inner Value below one hundred is E-rank;
“One hundred to one thousand is D-rank;
“One thousand to ten thousand is C-rank;
“Ten thousand to one hundred thousand is B-rank;
“Anything above one hundred thousand is A-rank.”
As Ye Chen quietly committed this to memory, Yuya slid the final test report in front of him.
On it was a stark number: “57.”
It seemed to remind Ye Chen that, at best, he was currently the lowest rank of Awakened.
Yet Ye Chen was unfazed; his confidence came from knowing he could improve his rank continually by cultivating higher-level breathing techniques.
This number represented only the present, not the future.
Besides, just before he was about to be swallowed by the Abyss, his breathing rhythm had changed inexplicably.
Ye Chen guessed this was likely the next stage of the breathing technique.
Yuya had been watching his expression all along, and noticed that when he saw the number “57,” there was no shock or joy on his face—as if he had expected it all along.
She thought to herself… Judging by his reaction, the Inner Value of 57 must be accurate.
Anyone else would have reacted if the result was off—unless he was someone of deep concealment.
Yuya took a sip of coffee and continued:
“From the figure you just heard, you’ve probably realized that every advancement in rank comes with a huge leap in Inner Value.

“So, higher-ranked Awakened are exceedingly rare.
“They are immensely valuable talents, sought after by every major city.
“As for testing Inner Value, the most advanced method is the immersion you just underwent.
“The process involves injecting different types of testing reagents for precise measurement.”
Ye Chen nodded, beginning to understand, and asked,
“So when your brother asked me why I triggered the A-rank test, wasn’t that just because the wrong reagent was used?”
He felt the two across from him were making a big deal out of nothing—shouldn’t they just check the instruments instead of interrogating him so seriously?
Yuzhi, unable to hold back any longer, interjected,
“I’ve already arranged for the instruments to be inspected for faults.
“But you have to understand: if an E-rank Awakened is immersed in an A-rank reagent, within seconds they’d be reduced to a puddle of blood—nothing left at all.
“But here you are, sitting and talking to us. Are you even human?”
This explanation made cold sweat break out on Ye Chen’s back, draining the color from his face.
He understood what he had just gone through—he’d practically danced on the edge of death for several minutes.
And, as Yuzhi said, if not for the intervention in the world of consciousness, he’d probably have dissolved into a pool of blood, drained away with everything else.
The thought sent a chill through him.
“That’s why our testing device gradually increases the intensity.
“If the machine detects the subject has reached the limit, it automatically stops and calculates the exact Inner Value.
“But do you realize just how bizarre your test result is?
“The amount of reagent you used has never appeared in the Bureau’s database.
“The margin of error is off the charts!”
By the end, Yuzhi was so agitated he stood up, hands braced on the table, leaning forward, eyes burning into Ye Chen as if hoping to read the answer in his expression.
Yuya patted her brother’s arm, signaling him to calm down—he’d embarrassed himself enough already—it was better she handle this.
With a voice both magnetic and enticing, she said,
“So, my brother and I have a rather presumptuous request: we’d like you to cooperate with a few more rounds of testing, if you would…”
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. “I refuse!”

“The Bureau of Transcendence will pay you a subsidy of one hundred thousand, and I’ll add another hundred thousand myself,” Yuya said with casual generosity.
Yuzhi began to sense something was wrong and turned to look at his sister.
“…I think I still have to refuse…”
“How about this—I’ll give you a new identity.”
Yuya gazed into Ye Chen’s eyes, drew a white card bearing the Bureau’s insignia from her pocket, and slid it across the table.
“This card is a Bureau of Transcendence Trainee Researcher’s pass. It grants you the right to enter and exit both the inner and outer city at will.
“In a moment, I’ll have Yuanzi show you around the other floors—you’ll see the Bureau can provide you with many other useful resources.
“There are things you simply couldn’t afford on your current income.
“But if you cooperate with us for some harmless tests, I believe my brother will be generous enough to give you a discount—or even waive the fees entirely.
“Isn’t that right?”
She directed the last question to Yuzhi.
“Deal!”
Ye Chen still didn’t know the full value of being a Trainee Researcher, but just the privilege of free passage into the inner city made the card priceless.
Seeing him accept the card, Yuzhi was so excited he nearly hugged this precious test subject on the spot.
On Yuya’s frosty face, it was as if a spring breeze had passed—the seductive corners of her mouth curled into a beautiful arc, and a subtle, fleeting smile lit her cool eyes.
After Yuanzi, summoned to escort Ye Chen, led him out, Yuzhi asked in a deep voice,
“Yuya, do you see any way an E-rank Awakened could survive our A-rank reagent?”
“To date, we certainly can’t,” Yuya said, absentmindedly licking her lips.
“Either he’s an A-rank Awakened in disguise, but in my opinion, that’s highly unlikely.
“As you know, there are only a handful of A-rank Awakened on the entire continent—each one a peerless figure.
“Even if this young man had only just Awakened, he doesn’t possess the aura unique to A-rank.”
“So I’m more inclined to believe we’ve encountered an Awakened of extraordinary rarity—something seen perhaps only once in a century.”