Chapter 29

Ding Huan was still planning his path of cultivation.

In his previous life, he would have left Earth in two years aboard a Gene Alliance starship; there were eleven ships in total, and the one he was on naturally focused on genetic research.

According to the Gene Alliance's plan, this voyage was intended to last three years in space.

During those three years, they were to search for biological matter in outer space, collect the genes of such matter, and transmit signals via virtual frequency codes to seek out extraterrestrial civilizations.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan shook his head; these guys were just courting death.

If they truly found an extraterrestrial civilization like the Changyi Continent, Earth would be doomed.

The Changyi Continent would absolutely treat Earth as their backyard and throw everyone on Earth into mines to dig for primordial ore.

That is assuming the genetics of the Changyi Continent were only moderately developed; otherwise, all of humanity on Earth would be used for large-scale genetic experiments.

The Gene Alliance's fleet met with disaster one year after leaving Earth, when the ships collided with a black hole.

Ding Huan later learned that it was a wormhole; wormholes are difficult to describe accurately using current scientific terminology.

But by passing through a wormhole, it is possible to travel from one star system to another.

In other words, the straight-line distance between two star systems might be countless light-years, yet a wormhole could bypass that distance and arrive in an instant.

It is like an infinitely long wall; to get from one side to the other, you would normally have to travel a very long way around, but if you punch a hole through the wall, you arrive on the other side in the next moment.

A wormhole isn't exactly like that, but it can achieve a similar effect.

Once a ship enters a wormhole, even a Level 3 gene cultivator can only wait for death.

Not to mention that among the group from the Earth Gene Alliance, the strongest was likely only a Level 3 gene cultivator.

Ding Huan sighed; he survived only because he encountered a starship from the Changyi Continent after his ship disintegrated.

That captain was already a Level 9 gene cultivator; he was rescued before his ship completely fell apart, while no one else on board survived.

Although Ding Huan never met that captain again and had no status to even know the captain's name or background, he had always been deeply grateful to that starship captain.

As his thoughts returned to the present, Ding Huan discovered a problem.

If he wanted to leave Earth again, would he have to join that same Gene Alliance fleet? And would he have to ride on the ninth ship in that fleet?

That wasn't necessarily a viable plan; he only survived in his previous life because he had better luck.

If he left Earth again with the Gene Alliance fleet, even if he were on the ninth ship and encountered the wormhole a year later, would he definitely survive again?

One must know that in his previous life, everyone on the ninth ship died due to the ship's disintegration; he only survived because he was in the test chamber...

Right, the test chamber. If he were to go with the ship again this time, he would have to stay in the ship's genetic test chamber.

Ding Huan shook his head; the Gene Alliance ship would leave Earth in about two years, and even if he cultivated to a Level 4 gene cultivator, passing through a wormhole would still be a dead end.

But if he didn't follow the fleet, how could he get to the Changyi Continent?

Staying on Earth indefinitely was definitely not an option; Earth's spiritual energy of heaven and earth was insufficient for his cultivation.

While Ding Huan was still thinking about how to leave Earth, a burst of hurried footsteps passed by his side.

These were experts; Ding Huan immediately opened his eyes.

The two people who passed by were not gene cultivators, but at least they were internal strength martial artists. No, wait, one of them was at least a Yellow-level martial artist.

The two men passed through the business class car and rushed toward the front.

Only then did Ding Huan feel that something was wrong. Under normal circumstances, if the railway were damaged, maintenance crews would fix it quickly, usually in no more than twenty minutes.

Such incidents were far too common, yet it seemed nearly an hour had passed now.

Could it be genetic beasts?

It was common for genetic beasts to form hordes and block trains; these beasts possessed intelligence and would find ways to force a train to stop before attacking.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan stood up; he couldn't wait any longer.

If it really were a beast horde, his current strength might not be enough to break out.

"Sir, please remain in your seat; do not leave your seat for the time being," a flight attendant said proactively just as Ding Huan stood up.

Ding Huan was just about to ignore the attendant and leave, when he heard a series of gunshots, followed by the roaring sound of artillery.

Hearing this, Ding Huan didn't leave after all, but sat back down.

The sound of gunfire and artillery meant the military had arrived.

Even though nuclear weapons couldn't completely eliminate genetic beasts, as long as the genetic beasts hadn't formed a true horde, they were no match for modern weaponry.

The genetic beasts blocking the road likely hadn't formed a true horde; if they had, the windows would have already been swarming with them.

The reason he judged it wasn't a horde was that as the gunfire started, Ding Huan saw more genetic beasts outside the window, but they were all fleeing in different directions.

When a real genetic beast horde erupts, those beasts absolutely will not flee; they will charge toward their target like madmen.

Sure enough, just over ten minutes later, the gunfire became sparse until it disappeared entirely.

Another half an hour later, the train finally started moving.

Ding Huan sighed; he knew this was only the beginning.

Even though villages were being destroyed by genetic beasts left and right, in reality, a true horde had not yet formed.

The main reason was that the current number and level of genetic beasts were still within a controllable range; once the number of genetic beasts exploded and their levels continued to rise, the hordes would follow.

The genetic beasts that intercepted the train this time were driven away, and many were even killed, so a grudge had definitely been formed.

Genetically mutated beasts would also gradually develop higher intelligence; things like destroying railways to intercept trains were definitely planned.

Since a bunch of beasts were killed this time, more might erupt to intercept trains on this route next time.

Unfortunately, Ding Huan knew his warnings would be useless.

Even if he warned someone, they wouldn't believe him, and even if they did and stopped this train, the genetic beasts would just shift their hatred elsewhere.

Until the leader of this small-scale genetic beast interception was killed, the outcome wouldn't change.

"Eh, is that you, Ding Huan?" A voice filled with surprise made Ding Huan open his eyes in astonishment.

Someone familiar was here? Ding Huan immediately realized it really was someone he knew, and he smiled, saying, "Long time no see, Liu Aimei."

The girl before him was none other than Liu Aimei, whom he had met at Qianluo Mountain. One could even say that he had saved her.

"Ding Huan, why are you here? Aren't you in Luohe?" Liu Aimei suddenly lowered her voice.

Ding Huan had a fairly good impression of Liu Aimei.

"I'm planning to travel around to clear my head, and I just happened to take this train. What about you? Did you just leave Luohe City today?"

Liu Aimei squatted down closer to Ding Huan and whispered, "Ding Huan, I was actually looking for you. Since I couldn't find you, I planned to go to Puhai."

"Looking for me?" Ding Huan looked at Liu Aimei in confusion; he didn't have much of a relationship with her, did he?

Back then, he hadn't even left any contact information; Liu Aimei should have known he wasn't very willing to associate with them.

Liu Aimei nodded and said with some shame, "After you left last time, we also left Qianluo Mountain, but Qiao Yi didn't manage to escape."

Ding Huan frowned and said, "No way, I remember there were two helicopters; weren't those to rescue Qiao Yi?"

Liu Aimei sighed, "Those helicopters were indeed to rescue Qiao Yi. Sigh, after Qiao Yi came out and didn't see me and Qin Yi, he must have panicked.

Just then, he heard the roar of the helicopters. Qiao Yi was probably too excited and rushed to the cave entrance, shouting at the helicopters..."

Hearing this, Ding Huan shook his head helplessly.

The vengeful nature of the Great Desolate Golden Ape meant that after storing its medicinal herbs, it would definitely come to lie in wait for anyone inside the cave.

Sure enough, Liu Aimei continued, "Qiao Yi didn't expect that the giant ape was still outside. After he reached the cave entrance, the giant ape grabbed him directly.

You should know what happened next; he met the same end as Bai Chuanqiang. Qiao Yi is dead; you must be careful recently and not expose yourself easily."

Ding Huan looked at Liu Aimei in confusion, "What the hell does that have to do with me?"

Liu Aimei whispered even more softly, "That Qiao Yi's background is not ordinary, and Bai Chuanqiang's family also has people in high places.

Qin Yi and I feel a bit guilty toward you, because after Qiao Yi died, we were called in for detailed questioning."

"What do you mean?" Ding Huan frowned.

Liu Aimei said apologetically, "The Qiao family repeatedly asked Qin Yi and me why Qiao Yi didn't escape with us.

I said I shouted for Qiao Yi, but after he ran into the cave, there was no news, and he didn't respond to me. The situation was urgent, so Qin Yi and I had no choice but to escape first."

Liu Aimei carefully glanced at Ding Huan, "Those people who questioned us were very capable; they still managed to find out..."

Ding Huan sneered and said, "Did they find out that you said you wanted to call Qiao Yi, but I wasn't willing to wait?"

Liu Aimei nodded and didn't speak this time.

After Qiao Yi was killed by the giant ape, she knew that Ding Huan had been right; if they had really gone to call Qiao Yi, none of them would have escaped.

"Was it you who said it, or Qin Yi?" Ding Huan asked calmly.

He was certain that if he had dared to wait even a little longer back then, his life would have been lost at Qianluo Mountain.

Qiao Yi had rushed into a cave over a hundred meters deep; he wouldn't have heard him even if he had called. Not to mention a minute, he wouldn't have been able to get out even in twenty minutes.

"It was Qin Yi who said it. In that situation, I'm afraid it would have been found out even if she hadn't said it." Liu Aimei didn't need to lower her voice; it was already very quiet.

"Did you go to Luohe City to warn me?" Ding Huan asked again.

"Yes, you don't know how terrifying the Qiao family is. I heard that the Yongtang Gene Company has shares from their family.

I went to Luohe City wanting to tell you to leave quickly, but I couldn't find you. I didn't expect to see you here." Liu Aimei breathed a sigh of relief; she had finally delivered the message.

"Alright, I understand, thank you. Also, let me give you a piece of advice: don't take this train in the future." Ding Huan thanked her.

Liu Aimei stood up, gave Ding Huan an apologetic look, and then turned to leave.

She didn't take Ding Huan's last sentence to heart, or rather, she didn't pay attention to it.

Ding Huan sneered inwardly; he was certain that Liu Aimei's movements in Luohe City had been monitored, only Liu Aimei herself didn't know it.

It was a good thing he hadn't left any contact information for Liu Aimei, otherwise, he would be on the run again.

So much time had passed since the Qianluo Mountain incident; the Qiao family and the people behind Bai Chuanqiang must have long since come to Luohe City to look for him.

It was just that he had been cultivating at Yujiang University and only went out once or twice.

The Qiao family didn't know his true identity and couldn't monitor all of Luohe City, which was why they hadn't found him yet.

When Liu Aimei came to Luohe, the Qiao family also hoped she could find him, but unfortunately, she couldn't find him either.

Since Liu Aimei couldn't find him, the Qiao family shouldn't be following her now that she was leaving Luohe City.