Chapter 17: Another One Left

"Ding Huan, how do you plan to train these four students?" As soon as the students left, Geng Qianxing asked eagerly.

He truly did not want Yujiang University to shut down; if even one student from Yujiang University passed this year's Blue Star Top Ten Colleges admissions, the school could continue.

"I need to make something, Teacher Geng. I'm going out—do you have a car?" Ding Huan needed to return to Qianluo Mountain to produce gene tests.

"Yes, yes—it's the gray Chi Tu parked outside the Gene Lab. From now on, just call me Qianxing or Lao Geng. Don't call me Teacher Geng; I'm not much older than you."

As Geng Qianxing spoke, he already pulled out the keys.

"Not bad—you've even got a Chi Tu." Ding Huan took the keys and smiled.

Geng Qianxing rubbed the back of his head, helplessly saying, "If my Endurance Gene can't be sold for profit, I'll be bankrupt soon."

"What's wrong?" Ding Huan looked at Geng Qianxing in confusion.

From Geng Qianxing's clothing, he could tell his family background was still quite good.

"You know about the new Sele Gene from Bai Yu Group, right? It's way too expensive—I reserved a dose for my mother." Geng Qianxing said.

Hearing this, Ding Huan shuddered and quickly said, "Little Geng…"

"Wait—I'm older than you. Call me Lao Geng, not Little Geng." Geng Qianxing immediately cut him off.

"Fine, I'll call you Little Geng—otherwise people will think I'm cursing you. Listen to me: you absolutely must not buy the Sele Gene. If you've already reserved it, cancel it right away."

At first, Geng Qianxing was puzzled by Ding Huan's first half—how was "Lao Geng" an insult? But when he heard Ding Huan say not to buy the Sele Gene, he immediately asked,

"Why not?"

Ding Huan spoke gravely, "Do you believe me?"

Geng Qianxing slapped his chest. "To be honest, since I entered gene science, the one person I've admired most is you. Even though you only gave me one piece of advice, I knew—you're far more capable than my supervisor."

"I've already decided: when my Endurance Gene goes on sale, you'll get your share."

"Good. Since you believe me, I'll tell you straight: the Sele Gene is flawed. This gene serum will explode soon."

"On the surface, its fusion rate is extremely high, but anyone who fuses this gene serum will die within months—and it'll be a gruesome death." Ding Huan's tone was serious.

"Ah…" Geng Qianxing froze, murmuring, "How could this happen…"

If someone else said this, he might not believe them.

But Ding Huan had a good impression of Geng Qianxing, so he added, "You're right to believe me."

"Ding Huan, I believe you—but so many people worldwide are lining up to buy the Sele Gene. How could it be flawed?"

Geng Qianxing wanted to believe Ding Huan, but the truth was, you couldn't even get this gene without connections.

He'd secured the serum, but only by calling in countless favors and spending nearly all his savings.

"Trust me. I'm going out now." Ding Huan patted Geng Qianxing's shoulder and left with the car keys.

Only after Ding Huan had been gone for a while did Geng Qianxing snap out of it. He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed, "Teacher Qin, did you get your Sele Gene yet?"

"Ah… don't take it under any circumstances—this gene has problems… What kind of problems? I don't know yet, but I'm certain it's not fake…"

Geng Qianxing decided to believe Ding Huan. He felt Ding Huan had no reason to lie to him. Moreover, Ding Huan was the most brilliant gene scientist he'd ever met—without exception.

In academic research, Geng Qianxing never believed that older meant stronger.

He himself was young, yet he didn't think he was weaker than those old professors at gene institutes. To Geng Qianxing, the entire Gene Science Academy was full of useless old men.

…

Just as Ding Huan returned home from Yujiang University, before even stepping inside, Huang Chengwei heard noise inside—many people were there.

"Chengcheng's back!" As Huang Chengwei opened the door, his mother Jin Ling greeted him with a bright smile.

"Chengwei, this is Professor Fu from Yanjing—come say hello." His father Huang Xinlan quickly added.

Huang Chengwei noticed his aunts and second uncle were also there. He hurried forward and greeted, "Hello, Professor Fu," then bowed to his aunts.

"Chengwei, you're lucky. Professor Fu will be staying in Heluo City for three months—you can train under him for three months."

Huang Chengwei's second uncle Huang Xinjian said with a broad smile.

His eldest aunt immediately chimed in, "Yes, the whole Huang family depends on you. If you get into one of the Blue Star Top Ten Colleges, not just our family but the entire Heluo City will be proud of you."

Huang Chengwei realized—they wanted him to train under Professor Fu before the exam?

"Dad, I already promised Teacher Geng and Teacher Ding I'd stay at Yujiang University for pre-exam training," Huang Chengwei quickly said.

Hearing this, Huang Xinlan's face darkened.

"Chengwei, what nonsense are you talking about? Training at Yujiang University? Do you think this spot is easy to get?"

"Even though you've been at Yujiang University before, this spot for the Blue Star Top Ten Colleges exam was obtained only after our family used nearly all our connections and…"

Remembering outsiders were present, Huang Xinlan swallowed the word "money."

Huang Chengwei felt torn. He knew training under Professor Fu would be better than under Teacher Ding and Teacher Geng—but he'd promised Teacher Ding.

Was this asking him to break his word?

Huang Chengwei was troubled. He knew even if training under Professor Fu was better, he still couldn't get into any of the Blue Star Top Ten Colleges.

If he was going to fail anyway, why break his promise?

Jin Ling, who had never scolded Huang Chengwei before, rushed over and grabbed his ear.

"Huang Chengwei, how dare you make such a big decision on your own?"

Second uncle Huang Xinjian walked over and patted Huang Chengwei's shoulder gently. "Chengwei, this isn't a small matter."

"Professor Fu only came to Heluo City once in a while, and this time seven people from Heluo are training under him. Without his favor, we wouldn't even have this chance."

Huang Chengwei fell silent. He knew how hard-won his spot truly was.

…

Just as night fell, Ding Huan returned to Yujiang University.

Borrowing Geng Qianxing's car, and now that he was a Level One Gene Cultivator, he had far fewer concerns.

In just half a day at Qianluo Mountain, he collected over a hundred kinds of herbs.

Whether needed or not, whether potentially useful in the future—anything Ding Huan saw, he gathered every single plant without exception.

During this time, he only encountered two relatively ordinary gene monsters, which sensed that Ding Huan was not to be trifled with and actively avoided him.

What disappointed Ding Huan was that he did not see the Great Wilderness Golden Monkey; had he seen it, he would have tested how great the power gap was between himself and the Great Wilderness Golden Monkey.

Not seeing the Great Wilderness Golden Monkey, Ding Huan would not go searching for it either.

With his current Level One Gene Cultivator strength, searching for the Great Wilderness Golden Monkey was still a bit too early.

Upon returning, Ding Huan quickly ate something and went to the gene laboratory; he needed to brew several gene potions.

This was not about brewing spirit-root genes; with Ding Huan's methods, he completed the gene potion production in just four hours.

……

After cultivating all night, when Ding Huan opened his eyes the next day, he felt his entire body brimming with energy.

Ding Huan himself marveled: having a gene spirit root was truly powerful. In his past life, even during gene meditation, he had to ensure sufficient sleep.

Gene meditation differed from cultivating the Luo Shi Jing—it consumed energy, whereas the Luo Shi Jing replenished energy and enhanced strength during cultivation.

"Teacher Ding is here." When Ding Huan arrived at the classroom after breakfast, Geng Qianxing had already come.

Ding Huan handed the car keys to Geng Qianxing and said with a smile, "Why didn't Huang Chengwei come?"

Yesterday, four students—Fang Chong, Li Wanran, and Lü Zi—had come, but Huang Chengwei was nowhere to be seen.

Geng Qianxing sighed, but Fang Chong sitting below spoke up,

"Teacher Ding, Huang Chengwei called me yesterday. His family insisted he go elsewhere for pre-exam training. He was too embarrassed to tell you himself, so he asked me to relay it—he said he's sorry to Teacher Geng and Teacher Ding."

Ding Huan immediately understood: Huang Chengwei's family clearly believed that staying at Yujiang University for pre-exam training made it impossible to pass the Blue Star Top Ten Academies' entrance exams.

He sighed and said, "Didn't your families also urge you to leave? Why are you still here?"

Lü Zi, who had always been shy, suddenly spoke up,

"Teacher Ding, this is how I see it: no matter where we train, our chances of entering one of the Blue Star Top Ten Academies are extremely slim.

If that's the case, we might as well stay here."

Fang Chong and Li Wanran both nodded; their families had also urged them to leave.

But they said, no matter where you train, can you really pass into one of the Blue Star Top Ten Academies?

Their reason for taking this exam was not to pass into the Blue Star Top Ten Academies, but to broaden their horizons and enhance their resumes.

In the future, when seeking employment or applying to other martial academies, just saying "I took the Blue Star Top Ten Academies' entrance exam" instantly raises your status by one level.

If your exam results are decent, it becomes even more of an honor.

Ding Huan said slowly, "I can't guarantee you'll pass with one hundred percent certainty, but I'm certain that studying here gives you a better chance than anywhere else.

And let me be upfront—if you change your mind, you can leave now. Once I begin training you, there's no turning back.

As for Huang Chengwei, he hasn't wronged us—he's wronged himself."

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