Chapter 12: Chapter Eleven: Merging Spirit Root Genes

Ding Huan said calmly, "You probably haven't fully understood what I said—I just explained that gene agents aren't just divided into high and low grades, but also into levels."

"I'd like to ask further," Geng Qianxing felt Ding Huan's tone didn't sound like he was pulling his leg.

Ding Huan said, "According to my understanding of gene agents, they aren't just level one—they also have level two, level three…"

"Each level of gene agent also varies in quality: low grade, medium grade, high grade, supreme grade."

"What do you mean by 'level' gene agents?" Geng Qianxing frowned—when had his gene knowledge become so lacking?

He knew gene cultivators had level one and level two—could gene agents also have level one and level two?

Ding Huan explained, "You just didn't know—the Gene Alliance only recently established the levels for gene agents. As for the grades of gene agents, they haven't been released yet, but I believe they'll come soon."

"By the way, you know that after gene fusion, cultivation is required, right?"

Geng Qianxing nodded, "Of course I know—the Gene Alliance and the Martial Alliance jointly developed gene cultivation methods, but these aren't accessible to ordinary people like us."

Geng Qianxing felt helpless inside—he'd heard of gene cultivation techniques, but they were too precious; someone like him would never get access to them.

Without gene cultivation methods, after fusing an alien gene, he could only become a gene adept, not a gene cultivator.

Thinking of this, Geng Qianxing suddenly understood: "Are you saying that if you have gene cultivation methods, once you reach level two as a gene cultivator, you can fuse a level two gene agent?"

Ding Huan nodded, "Yes. There should already be level two gene cultivators out there—even level three. That's why the Gene Alliance has classified gene agents by level."

"To fuse a level two gene agent, you must become a level two gene cultivator."

He said this because, when he was forced to leave Earth with the Gene Alliance fleet, he had encountered a powerful figure from the Gene Alliance.

At the time, he only felt the man's overwhelming pressure; after becoming a level four gene cultivator himself, he suspected the man he'd met on Earth was a level three gene cultivator.

"What about gene grades?"

"Do you know why many people who fuse mature genes end up with all sorts of problems—even death or bodily deformities?"

"Is it because the gene grade is too low?" Geng Qianxing seemed to grasp the meaning behind Ding Huan's words.

Ding Huan said, "Exactly. If all gene agents were supreme grade, fusion would rarely result in death or deformity."

Moreover, supreme-grade genes are extremely pure. After fusing a supreme-grade gene agent and then practicing gene cultivation, progress can be extremely rapid."

"I believe the Gene Alliance will soon establish grades based on gene agent purity."

Having wandered for two hundred years, Ding Huan had seen too many people.

Geng Qianxing was simple-minded, with solid gene knowledge—he was a good assistant, an undiscovered gem.

So he decided to share some crucial information with Geng Qianxing, hoping to win him over.

Geng Qianxing said nothing—he felt Ding Huan didn't seem like he was lying, yet Ding Huan's words sounded exactly like a con artist's.

He had always been just a mad gene researcher, but now Ding Huan's words forced him to confront reality.

Even if he had developed the endurance gene, even if no one could threaten him—what did it matter? He had no gene cultivation method.

"I say I have a better gene cultivation technique—even far superior to the Gene Alliance's best method—do you believe me?"

Geng Qianxing's mouth hung open—better than the Gene Alliance's cultivation method? And it was a gene cultivation technique?

Was he bluffing—or telling the truth?

Ding Huan chuckled, "Let me reveal another secret almost no one knows: do you believe the gods of Chinese legend are real?"

"I don't know if those named gods truly exist, but I suspect that if gene cultivation is pushed to its extreme, gods might very well be real."

Ding Huan spoke in shocking statements—these were indeed his own speculations.

Geng Qianxing snapped out of his silence and shock; Ding Huan's words brought him back to calm.

He realized he'd gone mad—listening so seriously to all this—and said dryly, "So you're saying gods can be achieved through the gene cultivation technique you described?"

Ding Huan paid no mind to Geng Qianxing's tone and continued,

"I'm not entirely certain yet, but I think if anyone still alive can transcend human limits and reach the Immortal tier, gene cultivation is the closest path to us."

After a pause, Ding Huan added, "But not every gene can be used for gene cultivation. Genes come in many types—only those who fuse a Spirit Root gene have a chance to cultivate."

Otherwise, one can only perform gene meditation to enhance strength, but that cannot achieve gene Foundation Establishment—ultimate achievement remains limited."

According to the knowledge I've acquired, the most precious gene in heaven and earth is the Spirit Root gene—this type is extremely difficult to research and develop."

"Besides Spirit Root genes, the most critical gene for enhancing oneself is the Skill gene—there are many such genes, including flight, earth-digging, defense, and so on."

Ding Huan knew these things not only from his two hundred years of wandering the universe, but mainly from the skin scroll that expanded his understanding of genes.

From that scroll, Ding Huan gained vast knowledge of genes and cultivation.

Through these, combined with his own deductions, he formed a rough prototype of gene cultivation.

"So according to you, the endurance gene I developed is a Skill gene?" Geng Qianxing thought Ding Huan was wasting his talent—if he didn't sell insurance, it'd be a crime. What a showman—line after line of nonsense.

Ding Huan said indifferently, "Strictly speaking, the gene you developed is only one type among endurance genes."

"There are many categories of genes that enhance endurance—you've merely developed one of them, which is already remarkable."

"Genes that enhance strength, speed, endurance, flexibility, and agility are all called Quality genes."

"These genes are also extremely important—because to become a powerhouse, physical attributes matter just as much."

"In a few years, top martial artists will be flying everywhere—because of various gene enhancements."

"Humans who integrate these genes can't fly or tunnel through earth, but they can greatly boost their martial potential."

"Have you finished? If so, please leave—I need to get back to work." Geng Qianxing had no desire to continue talking to Ding Huan.

Ding Huan suddenly said, "The endurance gene you developed should already show signs of gene degradation at just 10% concentration, unable to stabilize, right?"

"You don't need to tell me—I wrote it down clearly." Geng Qianxing replied coldly.

On the notebook on his desk, the words "formation and degradation" were plainly recorded.

Ding Huan paid no attention to Geng Qianxing's attitude and continued,

"Every gene has stabilizing elements—gene composition is no exception. Just like Chinese medicine relies on sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy herbs, try adding the PT short-chain gene from Zhongxin grass."

"If you don't know what a PT short-chain gene is, look up last month's Luo Publishing's 'Complete Guide to PT Short-Chain Genes.'"

"By the way, you probably don't know what Zhongxin grass is—but Du Chong should know—he has a mutated variant of Zhongxin grass, and this herb is also described in the 'Complete Guide to PT Short-Chain Genes.'"

After saying this, Ding Huan turned and left; only when he reached the door did he turn back and say, "If you succeed, come find me—I'm conducting experiments in the next room."

Ding Huan entered the adjacent laboratory; he felt Yujiang University was truly beyond saving.

How secret and important is a gene laboratory?

Yet this gene laboratory had no management or guards at all—in other words, anyone could walk in and conduct gene experiments.

Something absurd and unbelievable had precisely occurred.

Aside from the Blood of Reincarnation, the materials for crafting a Wood-elemental gene spiritual root were not precious.

Ding Huan planned to first try with his own blood; if that failed, he would seek the blood of a gene beast.

Unlike Geng Qianxing, who hadn't even locked the door during his endurance gene research, Ding Huan locked the laboratory door the moment he entered.

First, he would eat something to fill his stomach—he didn't know how long this gene experiment would take, nor did he intend to go out for a meal.

…

Yujiang University was about to go bankrupt; even the coffee shop at its gate now had few customers.

But over the past few days, two men had been sitting inside the coffee shop constantly.

Both men were short; one had pale skin and looked refined and scholarly, while the other was fiercely intimidating—at least in appearance.

Their sole purpose was to watch the entrance of Yujiang University.

They had been watching for over a week; earlier, when almost no one came or went from Yujiang University, it hadn't been difficult.

But in recent days, more people had been entering and leaving Yujiang University, making their surveillance increasingly taxing.

"Donggu, haven't you noticed that the number of people entering Yujiang University has suddenly increased? We can't keep watching like this—if we slip up even slightly, we'll lose him."

The man with pale skin rubbed his aching eyes.

The man named Donggu stood up. "Let's go to where Ding Xiaotu lives—I refuse to believe a little grasshopper can escape anywhere."

"Going to his residence isn't wise," said the pale-skinned man, shaking his head.

Donggu snorted. "This broken school is about to shut down—what's wrong with that? Li Changqi, you're too timid."

Li Changqi shook his head. "It's not that I'm timid—it's that the Blue Star's Top Ten Academies' enrollment is about to begin."

Donggu opened his mouth, then remained silent for a long while before saying, "What does this have to do with Yujiang University? This school is doomed anyway."

"Besides, even if Yujiang University didn't collapse, it has nothing to do with the Blue Star's Top Ten Academies. How could a school like this even barely qualify?"

Li Changqi snorted, clearly disdainful of Donggu's ignorance, but still answered:

"The Blue Star's Top Ten Academies allocate enrollment quotas—not just anyone can participate. As a formal university, Yujiang University holds a certain number of these quotas."

Many students who can't qualify for the Blue Star's Top Ten Academies elsewhere, yet believe themselves talented, find ways to enroll at Yujiang University just to claim one of these slots."

Moreover, Yujiang University itself hopes to use this major competition to revive itself."

There was another point Li Changqi didn't even bother explaining to Donggu: even failing the Blue Star's Top Ten Academies' assessment greatly increased one's value—whether seeking employment or relocating elsewhere, it became a valuable asset.

Furthermore, those who participated in such elite academy assessments gained broader horizons and could even meet future big names.

"No wonder…"

Donggu finally understood: the people arriving at Yujiang University these days weren't just students from within hoping to take the Blue Star's Top Ten Academies' exam—they also included outsiders trying to transfer in temporarily to claim a quota.

"So we can't enter Ding Xiaotu's residence, but we can wait outside it—when Ding Xiaotu returns, we'll definitely catch him," said Li Changqi.

"Fine, that's the plan," Donggu nodded, agreeing with Li Changqi.

(That's all for today's update, friends—good night!)