Gaunt crows perched on the chaotic tangle of power lines above the old apartment building, whose ground floor hosted various shops—ramen restaurants, 24-hour convenience stores, and neon signs for "Ankang Pharmacy" among others. The usually bustling area was now eerily quiet, cordoned off by the authorities.

Less than an hour after Elizabeth had called home, her family sent for her. A convoy arrived to pick her up from the apartment building. She packed her personal belongings, leaving the rest for the servants to handle.

Soon, she found herself comfortably seated in the back of a luxurious Gasperin-brand vehicle, being driven towards the affluent Citadel Hill district.

"Did they say anything?" she asked, turning to the only other person in the secluded rear seat—her old nanny.

As far back as Elizabeth could remember, the nanny had always looked the same: donned in a black and white nun's habit, an electronic cross hanging around her neck, her solemn face etched with deep wrinkles. Despite the ease of youth-restoring cosmetic procedures, the nanny's visage remained unchangingly aged over the years.

The nanny, also a transcendent being and Elizabeth's former teacher, knew what she sought to inquire.

"Sir and Madam wish for you to not worry too much. They suggest you rest for a while and then complete your studies at Liuguang University."

"Oh." Elizabeth muttered, suspecting that "rest" was code for house arrest.

As the car halted at a red light, the driver, carrying Elizabeth, followed traffic laws to the letter.

The entire block was sealed off? Elizabeth peered out at the desolate streets, finding the sight dull. The thought of being cut off from the transcendent world upon returning home made her feel suffocated.

Silently, she activated her transcendent program "Retrospection."

In an instant, her neural pathways accelerated, her blue irises dilating with emerging bloodshot lines.

"Retrospection" allowed her to experience residual echoes of past events in an area.

In just a few seconds, her consciousness entered a past illusion of this very intersection.

The scene shifted; she was still in a moving vehicle, not the stopped Gasperin, but a speeding yellow convertible, the rain shattered continuously by the headlights.

She was the driver, gripping the steering wheel, listening to raucous rock music, occasionally taking a drag of hallucinogenic smoke.

Suddenly, a flock of crows on the roadside took flight, their flapping wings sounding an ominous omen.

Intoxicated by the hallucinogenic haze, she felt herself soaring, flying into the rainy night...

The traffic light at the intersection was blood-red, and several figures were crossing the street, their faces a mix of astonishment and slow reaction.

Bang! A deafening thud, the convertible staggered but sped on.

Blood and limbs flew, staining the yellow hood and the wet ground red.

She was petrified, too shocked to hit the brakes...

A twisted human head flew through the air, landing squarely on the dashboard, wedged in front of the steering wheel, its dying nerves causing the eyes and lips to tremble. Those ruptured eyes stared at her, turning to ash.

The power pole teetered, the car swerved, and the windshield wipers scraped the blood with every swipe.

But even the pouring rain couldn't wash away the blood and flesh splattered all over the car's interior.

Elizabeth screamed silently, struggling to break free, feeling herself falling deeper into an abyss.

"Miss Elizabeth?" The nanny's stern voice pulled her from the vision.

The surroundings morphed back into the backseat of the Gasperin, Elizabeth pressing her aching forehead, her complexion deathly pale.

Shaken by the gruesome vision, her nerves, psyche, and personality were all trembling unstably.

"A serious accident occurred at this intersection not long ago."

Her usually clear voice was now hoarse, "Someone driving under the influence ran a red light and killed at least three people... The driver didn't stop, didn't call for help, we must catch them..."

"I'll inform the police about this, but as I've told you before, not just once."

The nanny's wrinkled old face was stern, "Miss Elizabeth, don't use Retrospection lightly or casually, especially when you're alone. Retrospection can drag you into hell at any moment, from which you may never return."

"I know. Often, not seeing is not ignorance, but fortune."

Elizabeth murmured the nanny's teachings, "But you were beside me this time..."

She felt sorrow for the accident and remembered the time when the nanny first introduced her to the transcendent world, various memories surfacing.

Back then, she was just a willful and ignorant little girl...

...

"In the olden days, every wizard had to study the Wizard's Codex to acquire magical power."

In a luxurious villa atop Citadel Hill, with a panoramic view of Lianguang City's glittering central district at night, Elizabeth sat eagerly in an elegant study, listening to the nanny's teachings.

She had been waiting for so long, and tonight, with her neural pathways deemed mature enough, she would become a transcendent being!

In a few days, at her coming-of-age party, she, a newly minted transcendent with hyper-speed talent, would surely be the brightest star of the evening.

Listening intently, Elizabeth interjected, "Like every martial arts master who gains skills from secret manuals."

"It could be said that way." The nanny glanced at the computer, the hyper-sense helmet, and other devices on the desk, then continued:

"In this new era, whether wizards or martial arts masters, they have all become transcendent professionals; and the Wizard's Codex, the martial arts manuals, have become transcendent neural programs.

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"Let's talk about transcendent professions, akin to different wizarding schools. There are many different transcendent professional systems in the world.

"Each professional system is a domain encompassing some of the world's defined occupations. Take the Hero profession system, for instance, mainly composed of police officers, firefighters, journalists, etc. Its trait is the willingness to sacrifice for the people, like a burning flame."

The nanny spoke at length since Elizabeth was already familiar with some transcendent knowledge.

Elizabeth listened with excitement, her eyes shining, "The Hero profession system is like the benevolent Enkidu, the eternal-seeking Gilgamesh, the fire-stealing Prometheus..."

"Miss." The nanny interrupted her, not wanting to delve into those distant and elusive origin myths.

Tonight wasn't about discussing the origins, history, and development of transcendent professions or the past and present of various powers.

Moreover, the nanny didn't know much about the many secrets, so she stopped short of elaborating further.

After Elizabeth fell silent, the nanny continued:

"Each profession system has many different transcendent programs.

"Each transcendent program is a unique ability.

"The number of neurons and brain capacity determines that a transcendent being can only install one transcendent program in their brain at each level. Uninstalling and reinstalling carries a heavy cost and often results in madness.

"So, you must make a good choice from the start. What program you install will determine what kind of transcendent you are: your abilities, what you pursue, and what you will become.

"Each transcendent being, one program per level, can install a total of four programs in the first four levels.

"These levels are: J-level, Q-level, K-level, A-level.

"Commonly referred to as: one-program transcendent, two-program transcendent, three-program transcendent, four-program transcendent.

"Each major level is divided into four sub-levels, from low to high: elementary, intermediate, advanced, special. The sub-level represents a transcendent's mastery and proficiency in that level's program, usually equivalent to their strength."

The nanny paused, "I am a four-program transcendent at the intermediate level within the Educator profession system."

"You're amazing, nanny." Elizabeth nodded, pride evident in her blue eyes.

It was rare enough for a person to become a one-program transcendent, let alone a four-program transcendent!

"Then there's the fifth program, which determines whether you become an Ace or a Joker."

The nanny went on, "Ace or Joker, both have different abilities, styles, and body modifications. You can simply understand it as one being positive, one negative, one light, one dark.

"The first four programs greatly influence the outcome. If you don't want to be caught off guard, you should consider it from the first program you install."

"Okay!" Elizabeth knew the nanny had taken the Joker route of the Educator profession system.

Once someone became a five-program transcendent, they were a force to be reckoned with.

"Miss, are you sure you want to choose the Hero profession system?"

The nanny asked solemnly. Today wasn't about discussing Aces and Jokers and beyond, but about Elizabeth's first program.

"The Seth Group's most advantageous profession system isn't the Hero system, which also won't be the dominant force of this era. Sir and Madam hope you choose the 'Blood Eater' profession system, which only core members of the New World Bank have..."

"I want to be an Ace Hero!" Elizabeth firmly objected, annoyed at the mention of the Blood Eater profession system.

She had said many times she didn't want to be a Blood Eater. What era's dominant force? Who decided that?

What was so great about the New World Bank? With so many transcendent profession systems available, she had set her sights on the Hero system from the start.

"Nanny, don't nag me!" Elizabeth pouted, "Otherwise, I'll become a Doll!"

The Doll profession system corresponded to occupations like male escorts, sacred prostitutes, and sex dolls—deemed lowly professions.

"Not even an Ace Doll, but a Joker Doll!" She added, which was certainly not the future her family wanted to see for her.

Ace Hero, Joker Doll, the two couldn't be more different.

Typically, the brave Ace Hero combats the evil Joker Doll!

There was no need to say which one to choose, right?

Sure enough, the nanny nodded and sighed, "Alright, but the path of a hero is never easy to walk.

"The J-level program of the Hero profession system, including both Ace and Joker variants, comprises 27 types that the New World Bank has mastered. The Seth family has the highest level of shared access, and all J-level programs are available. Miss Elizabeth, which one do you wish to choose?"

Elizabeth had an idea in mind, "I want the one that can uncover the truth and catch the bad guys, the Ace kind!"

"That would be the Ace route of detectives, journalists, and the like."

The nanny summarized and then pondered, "I recommend you choose from three programs.

"The first is called 'Retrospection,' which allows you to experience residual illusions of past events in an area.

"The second is 'Questioning Vision,' an ability to interrogate others and trigger event illusions through questioning.

"The third is 'Touch Vision,' the ability to trigger event illusions by touching specific objects, such as evidence."

Elizabeth clasped her hands tightly, wishing she could have all three J-level programs.

Unfortunately, even with her hyper-speed talent, she could only install one.

"Which do you recommend, nanny?" She asked, unable to decide.

"All three are excellent investigative abilities, complementing higher-level combat programs and also effective in the Mind Network. I recommend you install Touch Vision; it's the safest of the three."

"Then, nanny, is Retrospection the most dangerous? Crime scenes usually have the most clues, right?"

"Correct. Retrospection is the most dangerous, most draining, and hardest to master."

The nanny frowned, familiar with Miss Elizabeth's temperament. Seeing her eager look, the nanny knew she had made up her mind. But as a guide, the nanny wouldn't mislead due to bias and would only speak the truth.

"Miss, I know you won't heed my advice, but I still need to make it clear.

"Many who choose Retrospection end up regretting it. Precisely because it's dangerous, its practicality is actually the worst. Questioning Vision and Touch Vision are just 'I see illusions'; Retrospection is 'I experience illusions,' which can drag you into hell at any moment..."

The nanny hadn't finished speaking when she was interrupted by a bright young voice.

"Ace Hero Elizabeth-Sterling, my first program, Retrospection!"

Elizabeth raised her fist and shouted, drawing out the last word, mirroring her high leap.

She wanted the hardest, the most formidable—that was her style!

...

The traffic light turned green, and the Gasperin continued on its way.

These memories flashed through her mind, and Elizabeth covered her face in shame. She had been so naive back then.

"Miss Elizabeth, with your hyper-speed talent, the progress of your program is a bit slow," the nanny said, trying to comfort her.

A bit slow? Elizabeth almost rolled her eyes—it was a record-breaking slowness.

With her talent, she should have been a three-program transcendent by now if she hadn't run away from home. At the very least, a two-program transcendent. How could she still be just a high-level one-program transcendent, not even special?

But did she regret it? Not at all.

Although only a high-level one-program transcendent, she was truly a hero.

"Don't be impatient. Rest well for a while, and then catch up," the nanny advised. "You don't need to investigate the Mud Pond organ truck incident; the Mysteries Bureau has taken over and will thoroughly investigate."

"I know..." Elizabeth replied listlessly.

Every wizard needed magical potions to enhance their power, and every martial arts master needed natural treasures.

For them, the transcendent programmers, it was all about data packets composed of unique and rare data. Transcendents digested data, allowing their transcendent programs to process and learn, thus improving and advancing.

Her slow progress was due to the lack of Hero data packets over the past year.

Without her family's support and without street connections, nearly everyone treated her with a mix of respect and distance. Many who sided with her antics weren't even transcendents.

She had relied on accumulating her own experiences and converting them into data, which was naturally slow.

To break through to the special level and advance to a two-program transcendent required a good Hero data packet.

Becoming a two-program transcendent meant installing a second program...

Another program meant another transcendent ability, a completely different level of power.

"Miss, really, stop thinking about it for now," the nanny repeated, seeing through her thoughts, "Be the good girl."

Elizabeth pouted, having expected this. There was no chance of getting data packets upon returning home.

But she wasn't discouraged. On second thought, she almost laughed with joy.

Nanny, do you really think I care? Let's see if you can restrain me, if the Master will allow it?

The Master said he would give me data, to rest assured!

What kind of amazing data packets would it be?

Elizabeth leaned back comfortably, filled with anticipation and a sense of pride she wouldn't share with others.

The Master's level of power was beyond her comprehension, but she could speculate about what profession system he might be...

She glanced around, wondering if he could be a hero or perhaps an educator?

The more she thought about it, the more Elizabeth marveled at the Master's skill and mystery.