Chapter 30

After the Gene Alliance's investigation went underground, Pu Hai Martial Arts Square resumed its usual bustle.

As candidates and accompanying personnel from around the globe arrived in succession, not only was Pu Hai Martial Arts Square packed, but the entire Pu Hai City was overflowing with people.

Ding Huan, however, did not leave his room for three consecutive days; when hungry, he ate simple rations, feeling he was on the verge of breaking through to Second-Grade Gene Cultivator.

Under the Zhou Tian circulation of the Luo Shi Jing, Ding Huan's entire body now seemed to have expanded by a full circle.

Inside Ding Huan, wave after wave of Qi continuously sought new breakthrough points.

Feeling his body was about to explode, Ding Huan had no other option but to frantically circulate the Luo Shi Jing.

At this moment he realized the cultivation method he practiced was extremely dangerous; the elder who created the Luo Shi Jing had surely never cultivated it himself—he had merely deduced it from experience.

"Boom!" A sudden explosion echoed from outside.

The Qi that had been trapped within Ding Huan found its outlet at this moment and instantly spread throughout his entire body.

The sensation of his body about to burst vanished instantly; a powerful sense of strength surged forth, and Ding Huan clearly felt the transformation in his body.

Had he just broken through to Second-Grade Gene Cultivator?

Ding Huan exhaled a long breath, sensing his lighter body and more refined senses—he knew for certain he had broken through to Second-Grade Gene Cultivator.

This cultivation method must have flaws; Ding Huan believed he needed to revise the Luo Shi Jing.

Otherwise, when he attempted to break through to Third-Grade or even Fourth-Grade Gene Cultivator, wouldn't he truly explode?

He had once reached Fourth-Grade Gene Cultivator; advancement was difficult, but never this lethal.

By the way, that explosion outside just now triggered his breakthrough—why did it sound like a rocket launcher?

Even upstairs, Ding Huan could hear distant waves of commotion.

Ding Huan hurried to the bathroom for a shower, then rushed out of the hotel.

"What happened?" Ding Huan asked the front desk.

The front desk clerk's eyes were filled with lingering fear as he quickly explained, "A gene-mutated ferocious beast charged toward Pu Hai Martial Arts Square and seized one of the candidates…"

A mutated beast dared come to a place like Pu Hai? And it kidnapped a candidate?

Ding Huan dashed outside immediately—the streets were packed with people. He quickly reached the Martial Arts Square, where nearly everyone was discussing the incident just now.

"How could a night owl appear in broad daylight and snatch a student?"

"Who knows? I heard the student was from Europe, with a gene fusion rate over ninety percent—he'd already fused a powerful alien gene. Had this not happened, he would have definitely entered one of the Top Ten Star Blue Academies."

Ding Huan hurried forward and asked, "Was the student eaten?"

"No, he was taken away."

"Didn't anyone rescue him?" Ding Huan was puzzled—he had clearly heard the sound of a rocket launcher.

"Of course a powerful cultivator acted—this is Pu Hai Martial Arts Square."

"Master Yan was the first to rush out—he leaped dozens of zhang into the air, aiming to seize the night owl, but just then another night owl attacked Master Yan…"

Ding Huan knew Master Yan—he was a martial cultivator who had consumed the mutated Qingtian Flower; he was surely at least a Land Grade cultivator now.

He had just broken through to Second-Grade Gene Cultivator—he was no match for Master Yan, but he wondered how long he could hold out against him?

It wasn't that Gene Cultivators were inherently weaker than Martial Cultivators; it was simply that Ding Huan still lacked powerful techniques or skills.

In his past life, though he became a Fourth-Grade Gene Cultivator, he was a penniless struggler—he spent nearly all his money buying Star Five, leaving nothing for gene techniques.

Besides, with his past-life physique, even if he had bought gene techniques, fusion would have been extremely difficult.

"What happened after that?" Ding Huan wanted to know if Master Yan had rescued the student.

The speaker shook his head. "No—the night owl that attacked Master Yan was strong. The moment Master Yan dodged, the one carrying the student flew away."

"After Master Yan landed from the air, someone immediately fired a rocket launcher—the shot hit the night owl's wing. Even so, the night owl still escaped. Look, there's a feather it dropped over there."

Ding Huan looked over and saw soldiers had cordoned off a spot near the square's perimeter.

Ding Huan knew this was only the beginning. In his past life, when he left Earth, the ferocious beasts had grown increasingly vicious.

Moreover, he had heard of several beast surges.

At the time, he was barely surviving himself—these beast surge incidents had nothing to do with him, so he just listened and forgot.

Now even owls dared appear in broad daylight at such a crowded place as Pu Hai Martial Arts Square—what about the wilds?

Thinking of the high-speed train he had once taken, ambushed by a horde of ferocious beasts, Ding Huan felt even more urgently that he must accelerate his power growth.

He had trained in the hotel for two months and finally broke through from First-Grade to Second-Grade Gene Cultivator—but this wasn't enough.

He didn't know whether Geng Qianxing and the others had arrived yet.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan turned back to the hotel and called Geng Qianxing from the front desk.

"Ding Huan, where are you? We can't find you—we're at Ting Huan Hotel," came Geng Qianxing's urgent voice.

It made sense—only a few days remained before the Top Ten Star Blue Academies' examination; Geng Qianxing and the others would naturally come.

Ding Huan wasn't surprised that Geng Qianxing and the others were staying at Ting Huan Hotel.

The parents of these students had devoted nearly all their energy to their children's chances of entering the Top Ten Star Blue Academies—they had booked their accommodations long ago.

Ding Huan arrived at Ting Huan Hotel and saw Geng Qianxing from afar at the entrance.

"Teacher Ding…" As soon as Ding Huan entered the hotel, Fang Chong, Li Wanran, and Lü Zi rushed over, faces alight with delight.

"Not bad—you've all improved greatly," Ding Huan said, seeing at a glance that all three had made remarkable progress in three months.

"Thank you, Teacher Ding—if not for you, we wouldn't be here today," Li Wanran, more emotional, spoke with a slight tremor in her voice.

She was thrilled at the prospect of her fate changing—she had never once believed she had the ability to take the Top Ten Star Blue Academies' exam.

Ding Huan had altered her destiny—he had actually taught her only twice, less than a day total.

But in that single day, she believed her gains surpassed what others achieved in ten years.

"Yes, Teacher Ding—if not for you, there would be no Fang Chong today," Fang Chong was equally moved; he knew full well how rapidly his strength had grown.

"Huh!" Ding Huan's gaze fell on Lü Zi, and he let out a surprised exclamation.

Lü Zi had broken through within three months and become a true First-Grade Gene Cultivator—he had shown absolutely no signs of it before.

He himself had only just broken through to Level Two Gene Cultivator; this Lü Zi has remarkable talent.

"Teacher, you noticed." Lü Zi, though shy, spoke with uncontrolled emotion.

Ding Huan immediately realized Lü Zi had not told Geng Qianxing or the others about his breakthrough to Level One Gene Cultivator; he patted Lü Zi on the shoulder.

"Work hard and do your best in the exam."

He felt Lü Zi was somewhat calculating—even if he didn't tell his classmates, he should have informed Geng Qianxing after his breakthrough, since Geng Qianxing was his mentor.

If he hadn't noticed Lü Zi's breakthrough just now, would Lü Zi have told him voluntarily?

"Yes, Teacher Ding, rest assured—I will give my full performance in the exam." Lü Zi clenched his fist.

Ding Huan nodded, about to speak, when Geng Qianxing said:

"Ding Huan, let's take a few students to the Puhai Martial Arts Plaza to familiarize them, so they won't be nervous during the exam."

"By the way, you must have heard that a Night Owl just flew in here and carried off a genius student?"

"I just found out. Let's go to the Martial Arts Plaza first—everything else can wait." Ding Huan also planned to bring a few students to get acquainted with the venue.

That Qu Laozhi was also at this hotel; Ding Huan knew he couldn't kill Qu Laozhi now.

Not only would finding Qu Laozhi be difficult, but killing him would also affect Geng Qianxing and the others.

…

The Ten Blue Star Academies together admit only five hundred students.

Five hundred may sound like a lot, but each academy admits only fifty.

This isn't just recruitment within China—it's global recruitment.

That means your ability must rank among the top five hundred worldwide to have a chance at entering one of the Ten Blue Star Academies.

How many students take part in the Ten Blue Star Academies' admission exam each time?

Let me put it this way: the Puhai Martial Arts Plaza can hold six million people, and during the exam, it's packed everywhere.

How big is the Puhai Martial Arts Plaza? It's nearly 2.5 million square meters.

At this moment, ten massive signs stood around the Puhai Martial Arts Plaza, each bearing the name and introduction of one of the Ten Blue Star Academies.

"Teacher Ding, if I can get into the Great Han Yi Academy, I'll be satisfied." Li Wanran pointed to the last sign and sighed.

Of the Ten Blue Star Academies, four are from China: first-ranked Zhenyu Academy, fourth-ranked The Protectors, eighth-ranked Wumai Mountain Ground, and tenth-ranked Great Han Yi Academy.

This is mainly because Chinese martial arts are flourishing; for martial arts to rise, they must be rooted in China.

"Don't worry—you'll definitely pass." Ding Huan smiled. Although Li Wanran hadn't entered Level One Gene Cultivator, getting into the Great Han Yi Academy should still be within reach.

"Ding Huan, I think with your ability, landing a mentor position at one of the Ten Blue Star Academies would be effortless."

"You know, if you enter one of the Ten Blue Star Academies, the cultivation resources—tch tch…"

Geng Qianxing whispered to Ding Huan, then clucked his tongue in admiration.

After bringing several students to the Martial Arts Plaza this time, Ding Huan felt an uneasy discomfort.

Now, hearing Geng Qianxing's words, he suddenly broke into a cold sweat—he understood why he'd felt so uneasy.

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