Chapter 35

Ding Huan, still hiding in Penglu Mountain, did not know his name had already become famous in Puhai.

After tens of thousands of gene-monsters surged past him, Ding Huan finally let out a breath.

Just moments ago, he had accepted death as certain; with his current strength, the chance of surviving such a wave of tens of thousands of gene-monsters was extremely slim.

Fortunately, these gene-monsters were merely rampaging in groups, not targeting him.

Wait—that's odd. If these gene-monsters weren't targeting him, then who were they targeting?

The idea that gene-monsters rampaged in groups was merely Ding Huan's internal muttering; it clearly wasn't true.

Soon, Ding Huan's heart tightened again.

He recalled what had happened months ago when he traveled to Puhai—the high-speed train had been blocked by a group of gene-monsters, later resolved by the military.

Ding Huan knew that incident was not over.

The aftermath of that incident had not yet arrived, yet here were tens of thousands of gene-monsters bursting out of Penglu Mountain.

Despite Penglu Mountain's hundreds of kilometers of range, this area was entirely insufficient to sustain gene-monsters.

These gene-monsters bursting out of Penglu Mountain were seeking new habitats.

Ding Huan didn't need to think—he knew Luzhou City would be the first target.

Luzhou was a large city, yet its defenses were worse than those of the tiny Anhe County.

If tens of thousands of gene-monsters charged there, the consequences…

Ding Huan sighed and stepped out of the cave. He knew his current strength could not stop this from happening.

In his past life, he did not know how Luzhou City ultimately fared; after gaining some freedom, he only gathered information about himself and his father, Ding Baishan.

As for gene-monster surges, or the Blue Star's Top Ten Academies' recruitment, they were beyond his consideration.

Watching the direction the beast horde vanished, Ding Huan turned resolutely and charged deep into Penglu Mountain.

The Two-Horned Fire Lizard was also a mutated monster, but Ding Huan believed this lizard would never join the beast surge and flee Penglu Mountain.

The Two-Horned Fire Lizard carried bloodline of the divine beast Dragon; an ordinary level-three mutated gene-monster like a black ape could not command it or influence it.

Needless to say, this Two-Horned Fire Lizard had taken advantage of the beasts' departure to enter the depths of Penglu Mountain and claim territory.

Thus, for Ding Huan, this was also his opportunity.

…

The first examination item—the gene fusion rate test—took five full days.

Nearly two million candidates took the exam; only three hundred thousand passed the first round.

Many candidates had passed their own gene fusion rate tests, even scoring 80% during their personal assessments.

Yet upon reaching the actual examination site, they still failed to reach E-class.

The second round of examinations took place two days later.

When Qu Yi, Qu Fei, and Qu Jiuyi arrived at Tinghuan Hotel, they could not even get inside, let alone meet Ding Huan.

Everyone here came to see Ding Huan and Geng Qianxing; the crowd had surrounded the entire hotel so tightly not even a fly could get through.

"Little Yi, we probably won't be able to see Teacher Ding," Qu Jiuyi said, her eyes heavy.

Ding Huan was a training instructor at Yujiang University; three of Yujiang University's students achieved S-class scores.

Even if Ding Huan were merely a bystander, merely someone who had once taught those three students, he was now a person besieged by crowds.

Qu Yi remained silent; with this scene, meeting Ding Huan was absolutely impossible.

"Everyone, make way—I'm Teacher Ding's classmate," a clear voice rang out.

Everyone, including Qu Yi, turned around; the speaker was a beautiful woman.

"You're really Teacher Ding's classmate?" Those unable to push forward seized this as a lifeline.

If they couldn't find Teacher Ding, finding his classmate might still yield news about him.

Geng Qianxing was the main instructor; surely Teacher Ding, as the assistant, had some skill too.

When Luo Xinwei first learned Ding Huan was the tutor for Yujiang University's examinees, she merely thought he had incredible luck—landing on a powerful leg to cling to the moment he arrived at Yujiang University.

As for anything else, she hadn't given it a second thought, nor had she planned to speak with Ding Huan at all.

Upon learning that all three of Yujiang University's top students in the first round had S-class scores—and their tutor was Ding Huan—she instantly wanted to meet him.

Even, Luo Xinwei had considered: if she secured a recruitment slot for the Blue Star's Top Ten Academies next time, could she ask Ding Huan to speak to Professor Geng on her behalf, to arrange pre-exam training under him?

"Yes, I'm Luo Xinwei. I've been classmates with Ding Huan for four years—we're very good friends. Please let me through; I need to speak with Teacher Ding." The woman was Luo Xinwei.

Strictly speaking, she wasn't even a tutor. She had merely ingratiated herself with the lead instructor from Luoheshangwu University and secured a menial task.

In Luo Xinwei's mind, once she stood before Ding Huan, he would refuse her nothing.

In truth, she was slightly angry—Ding Huan's phone had been unreachable; if she could have reached him, why would she be stuck here squeezing?

"Luo classmate, is Ding Huan really Yujiang University's training instructor?" Qu Jiuyi asked.

Qu Jiuyi knew Ding Huan was Yujiang University's training instructor; hearing Luo Xinwei claimed to be his classmate, he sought to strike up a connection.

Luo Xinwei frowned slightly, then said, "Of course—he and I both graduated from Luoheshangwu University; he was assigned to Yujiang University as a tutor, and I was assigned to Luoheshangwu University as a tutor."

In truth, Ding Huan was assigned to Yujiang University as a tutor, and she was merely a tutor too.

"Yes, I can confirm. My tutors are Teacher Ding and Teacher Geng," another voice spoke up.

"Your tutors are Teacher Geng and Teacher Ding? What's your name?" a bald man asked in surprise.

"I…"

Huang Chengwei blushed; his tutors had indeed been Teacher Ding and Teacher Geng—but he had foolishly run away.

Under constant pressure from his family, he had gritted his teeth and come here, hoping for another chance at the Blue Star's Top Ten Academies exam.

"Enough with the bragging," someone sneered.

Luo Xinwei glanced dismissively at Huang Chengwei and pushed through the crowd.

After learning Luo Xinwei was Ding Huan's classmate, the crowd still parted a path—after all, no one wanted to offend a friend of Teacher Geng and Teacher Ding.

Seeing a path open, Qu Jiuyi hurriedly squeezed through after it.

He was an internal strength martial artist and easily followed Luo Xinwei to stand before Geng Qianxing and Yujiang University's president Tan Bei.

This was because Tan Bei and Geng Qianxing needed to accept interviews at the hotel, which is why they were stuck on the first floor of the lobby.

"President Tan, is Ding Huan here?" Luo Xinwei walked in and asked with a smile.

"Who are you?" Tan Bei looked at Luo Xinwei, then at Qu Jiuyi and the others behind her, puzzled.

Luo Xinwei explained, "I'm Luo Xinwei. I was Ding Huan's classmate at Luohé University of Martial Arts. After graduation, we were assigned to the same job—I ended up here, while Ding Huan came to Yujiang University."

Geng Qianxing quickly said, "Teacher Ding isn't here—he left suddenly for an urgent matter, and I don't even know where he went."

"Teacher Geng, I only hope you can train my child for one day. No—even half a day would do. Here's your payment…"

A woman who had squeezed in urgently spoke, then placed a leather suitcase before Geng Qianxing.

Without opening the suitcase, everyone knew it was filled entirely with cash.

Someone who could bring a suitcase full of cash here—and dare to publicly offer it to Geng Qianxing—was no ordinary person.

Some martial arts experts, seeing the man carrying the suitcase, guessed he might be a martial artist nearing the Yellow Rank.

Geng Qianxing was utterly helpless; Tan Bei was equally helpless.

Has it come to this? Delivering money openly in a crowd? Who taught you this?

But Tan Bei understood the parent—after all, there were only two days left before the second-round assessment.

If she didn't use this method to offer money, she had absolutely no chance.

Not even the chance to meet these two teachers.

The woman offering money truly thought this way: in two days, the second-round assessment would begin. Who knew if Teacher Geng would show up again after today? She had neither time nor opportunity.

"Teacher Geng, my child is willing to train under you—no matter how much money we have to pay, we're ready…"

It was as if a fuse had been lit; everyone began declaring they would offer even more money, even things other than money—they swore they could get them.

Tan Bei looked at the crowded mob, helplessly pressed his hand to his forehead—the interview could no longer continue.

He had always dreamed that Yujiang University would astonish everyone in this admissions assessment, but this was too astonishing—no, this was shocking the entire world.

As the crowd grew so thick no one could breathe, Geng Qianxing finally said, "Everyone, listen to me."

Hearing Geng Qianxing speak, the crowd finally fell silent.

Geng Qianxing took a deep breath, then stepped onto the coffee table and spoke loudly, "I understand your feelings, but I must tell you the truth.

Yujiang University trained three students, and indeed, all three achieved excellent results—I myself was deeply shocked and confused.

I swear to heaven, I had nothing to do with their training—all instruction came directly from Teacher Ding Huan."

"Teacher Ding Huan isn't here now. If he were here, he would surely step forward."

"Then where is Teacher Ding Huan?" Now that Geng Qianxing had sworn, everyone present turned to search for Ding Huan.

Geng Qianxing shouted, "Teacher Ding left suddenly for an urgent matter—I don't know when he'll return. If you want to find Teacher Ding Huan, wait until after the assessment and come to our university…"

After speaking, Geng Qianxing wiped sweat from his forehead—he could only follow Ding Huan's orders and pass the burden to Ding Huan, who wasn't here.

Hearing that Geng Qianxing wasn't the trainer—that the real trainer was Teacher Ding Huan, who wasn't here—the crowd slowly dispersed.

They didn't give up—they each used their own methods, preparing to find connections to Teacher Ding Huan through other channels and get their children trained.