Zhou Yi's profound silence didn't disrupt Professor Charles's calm enjoyment of the strained conversation. Instead, the Professor, with keen telepathic wisdom, deftly steered the topic toward a shared point of interest.
"Your abilities, Mr. Zhou, are undeniably potent. Are you interested in participating in a Systematic Power Assessment with us?"
"An assessment?" Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, his guard still up. "And Professor, please forgive my directness, but I'm fairly certain my power source isn't the X-Gene you're expecting."
Zhou Yi knew the truth intimately. Whatever celestial energies powered him were tied to his mysterious Transmigration, a factor far outside the boundaries of standard human evolution.
"Whether you possess the X-Gene or not is a technicality right now. What matters is that you are a super-powered individual," Charles countered, his smile warm and expansive. He extended a hand, pointing first to Zhou Yi's chest and then to himself. "In the eyes of baseline humanity, we are no longer 'them.' You, I, and everyone else in this world with extraordinary gifts—we stand on the same side of this dividing line."
Zhou Yi found this point impossible to refute. His life, and now Charisse's, was fundamentally defined by this separation. He paused, considering, then asked, "What exactly does this assessment entail?"
"Ah, for that, I believe Jean is better suited to explain the methodology," Professor Charles replied, shifting his wheelchair back slightly to give the striking red-haired woman the floor.
It was only then that Zhou Yi truly took the time to observe Jean Grey. She was more than just a beautiful woman; she exuded a sharp, intellectual aura. Her features were delicately sculpted, and her vibrant, shoulder-length red hair framed a graceful neck and fair skin.
Beneath a crisp white lab coat, a perfectly tailored women's suit hinted at a powerful physique and showcased a mysterious, capable femininity. She was, in short, a stunning and imposing beauty.
Jean Grey completely ignored the appreciative observation in Zhou Yi's gaze. To her, Zhou Yi, who was roughly seven years her junior, was merely an immature boy. She maintained a cool, poker face, addressing him with the detached professionalism of a scientist examining a sample.
"As is generally known, the primary mission of Xavier's School is to aid Mutants," Jean began, her tone measured. "The specific nature of Mutant emergence is highly complex. Even the Professor, with his powerful Psychic Divinity, can only detect Mutants who have already activated their X-Gene, and then only with the aid of specialized technology."
"For those who remain unawakened, even Charles is powerless to find them. If we cannot detect the unawakened, we are unable to proactively prevent tragic incidents. It's highly likely that by the time we find them, an irreversible tragedy has already occurred. This is why, for years, we have been intensely focused on researching the X-Gene, hoping to discover the law of its Awakening. In the process of seeking this law, we developed standardized methods for testing the scale and magnitude of activated abilities."
"And what does that have to do with me? I emphasize again, I am not a Mutant," Zhou Yi insisted. He wasn't entirely convinced by Jean's justification. He, a Transmigrator who remembered the future, knew that Charles's true psychic power—the legendary extent of his mental energy—was no joke, even without machines.
"The X-Gene is too singular for comprehensive study; we lack sufficient comparative subjects," Jean explained patiently, maintaining her severe expression.
"Henry [Beast] and I believe that having the genetic and power profiles of non-X-Gene ability users, such as yourself, would provide invaluable reference points to accelerate our research. Whether you are a Mutant or not, your willingness to participate is immensely helpful."
"We will not compel you to do anything. Every step is entirely at your discretion," she concluded, making it clear the choice was his.
Zhou Yi considered the proposition. He realized he still had only a vague understanding of his own powers. Since his Awakening, he could reliably manipulate Force Fields and Telekinesis, and his Super-Physique was constantly strengthening. But the true scope of his abilities—especially the solar aspects—remained a mystery. The chance to have his powers professionally cataloged and measured was, frankly, tempting.
However, Zhou Yi had no desire to become a guinea pig, recalling unfortunate fictional characters who traded their sanity for test results. One Charisse was enough family responsibility for him; he didn't need a fictional army of younger sisters.
But then his focus sharpened on the real threat. Charisse was now enrolled here. He remembered that the Xavier School had powerful enemies—the government's X-Factor, the militaristic organizations, and the rival Brotherhood of Mutants. His sister's unique, but currently unknown, abilities made her a potential target. As her older brother, he couldn't stand by. He needed information and leverage. His mission to use his own divine power to protect his family had not changed.
"I agree to the assessment," Zhou Yi stated, meeting Charles's gaze.
Professor Charles's already pleasant smile deepened with genuine satisfaction. This was a massive win for his cause and, as he correctly assessed, a beneficial opportunity for Zhou Yi to understand his own strength.
"My dear Mr. Zhou, I am delighted you've made a choice beneficial to both our parties," Charles said warmly, patting the arm of his wheelchair. "While I would love to observe, this magnificent machine beneath me, unfortunately, limits my travel. But I believe Jean's company will always be more stimulating than that of an old man like myself. And don't worry about your mother; we have plenty of time for her to rest until your return."
Jean Grey stepped forward, her face still coolly professional. "Mr. Zhou Yi, please come with me."
Zhou Yi nodded, rose from his seat, and offered Charles a final, weighted look. "I truly hope you prove worthy of my trust, Professor." He then followed Jean Grey out of the office.
Professor Charles watched them go, his eyes as deep and serene as a calm lake, his composure absolute.
As they walked along the manicured campus paths, Zhou Yi took a moment to observe his surroundings. The Xavier School, an impressive expansion of the historic Xavier's Mansion, was clearly a state-of-the-art facility. Its academic resources rivaled major research universities, and thanks to the collective genius of its high-IQ Mutant faculty, its scientific capabilities were formidable.
The living environment was equally impressive: the timeless elegance of an ancient estate blended seamlessly with cutting-edge technology. It satisfied Zhou Yi's sensibilities, especially his semi-parental concern for Charisse.
As the guide, Jean Grey noticed Zhou Yi's impressed expression. As a senior Mutant and a prized student of Professor Charles, she felt an intense, possessive pride in the Academy. Zhou Yi's admiring gaze naturally pleased her, prompting her to shed some of her initial prejudice. She softened her severe expression and initiated conversation.
"The history of Xavier's School isn't long, but I believe it stands on par with any educational institution, wouldn't you agree?"
"Absolutely," Zhou Yi agreed with a smooth, disarming smile. "The campus is magnificent, and the teachers seem exceptional!" He then leaned in slightly, his tone shifting into a deliberate tease. "I wonder if this great female teacher might grace me with the honor of dinner sometime?"
Jean Grey's expression immediately frosted over. She stopped, staring down her nose at him, taking advantage of the few centimeters she held over him in height.
"I'm sorry, I have zero interest," she stated condescendingly. "Especially not in men whose bodies and minds are still clearly developing."
"Alright, Miss," Zhou Yi conceded, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I admit I may not currently meet your lofty requirements, but I believe my current age and rate of development suggest I'll quickly meet your standard."
"Yi Zhou, I am genuinely tempted to hit you with a gamma knife to test the thickness of your skin right now!" Jean Grey hissed, gritting her teeth. A powerful wave of Mental Energy surged from her, causing small pebbles on the path around them to lift and hover in the air.
"Seriously, after we finish this test, can we go out for dinner and a movie?" Zhou Yi pressed, closing the distance between them. The surging psychic field Jean had created offered virtually no resistance to the subconscious suppression exerted by Zhou Yi's inherently stronger Telekinesis.
Finding herself utterly unable to intimidate or shut down the rogue, flirting young man, Jean Grey could only stiffen her face and accelerate her pace toward the lab.
Zhou Yi shrugged good-naturedly and followed silently. He'd pushed the joke far enough; any further and Jean might truly lose her famous temper. He understood that a date with this magnificent Mutant beauty was probably off the table for now. He sighed internally—the mature older sisters of this world presented a far higher level of difficulty than the simple schoolgirls he remembered.
Thinking and walking, they quickly arrived at the high-security research wing of the Academy.
Jean Grey consciously avoided public areas, leading Zhou Yi directly to a heavily fortified laboratory entrance. She confirmed her identity by scanning her iris, keyed a complex code into the adjacent panel, and then quickly added another layer of security by psychically activating the access sequence. Finally, she spoke into a communication device.
"Ororo, it's Jean. The Professor wants me to bring someone through for a brief power assessment."
As Jean finished, the massive steel door before them split open along an X-shaped track, revealing a deep, dark passage beyond.
Seeing the layers of security, Zhou Yi couldn't help but comment, "I have to say, your security measures here are probably more complex than the President's personal bunker."
"Many entities target us Mutants in this world," Jean frowned slightly, leading the way. "Not just human governments, but also extreme elements within the Mutant community itself. We have to maintain this level of protection for the Academy's secrets and, more importantly, for the students."
Zhou Yi nodded. The Xavier School housed not just powerful individuals like Charles, but also vulnerable novices like Charisse, who couldn't even control their emerging powers. Without such serious security measures and contingency plans, he would have had to immediately pull Charisse out.
As they moved through the passage, Zhou Yi felt distinct rays of energy wash over him, indicating multiple sensory instruments were actively scanning. To demonstrate his harmless intentions, he intentionally relaxed his Telekinetic defense field, allowing the rays to penetrate him.
As the energy touched him, he distinctly felt a strange sensation, almost like being fed. The dormant activity of the Solar Divine Power within his body noticeably—if only slightly—increased.
Well, he mused, the tests were already yielding unexpected results even before they began. He sighed silently as he followed Jean Grey deeper into the secure heart of the laboratory. He wondered if this subtle power increase was a good thing or a terrible sign.