Chapter 107: Gene Optimization

Lin Qing had personally experienced the apocalypse of his previous life.

Global signals scrambled, the communication system collapsed, causing crime rates to skyrocket.

But the most terrifying thing was that special 'storm'; wherever the raging storm passed, even hiding indoors was useless. After some time, even if the body showed no external injuries, it would cause brain death.

Most people survived in the storm for only a very short time; they might die in just a few minutes, with no chance to escape.

This led to over 95% of humanity dying in the early stages of the apocalypse, a catastrophe that could be called extinction-level.

Only a very small number of people survived long enough, enduring for more than half an hour, barely managing to rush out of the storm.

Although there were people who were not afraid of the storm, they were, after all, as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Moreover, the storms raging across the globe at that time continued to grow stronger as time passed.

Lin Qing belonged to that rare category in his previous life; surviving in the storm for over two hours only left him unconscious for a moment afterwards, waking up with a severe headache.

Some leaders of large survivor enclaves were also such people; Lin Qing had met a few of them.

If not for this, even if Lin Qing could advance skills one by one, he would not have lived long.

But that terrifying storm, which raged for many years, was enough to make him never forget it.

In his previous life, his friends, parents, relatives, classmates... all his former bonds were buried in that terrifying storm.

And one of the sources of the apocalypse was actually on this island of the Patrol Headquarters?

"What's wrong?"

Chen Guang noticed that Lin Qing's state was a bit off.

"Nothing." Lin Qing took a deep breath and said, "You continue."

"According to Father's research, there were several sources that caused the storm outbreak in 2025, and the various high-energy radiations that appeared in 2045 came from these sources."

Chen Guang said, "The island where the Patrol Headquarters is located is the site of one of these high-energy radiation sources. Although the radiation has weakened significantly now, some residue remains. Living long-term in such a high-energy environment will also make the evolution speed faster."

Lin Qing fell silent for a moment and asked, "How did these sources appear?"

Chen Guang was somewhat surprised; she hadn't expected Lin Qing to care about this question first.

She said, "It remains a mystery to this day, but the high-levels of the Zhi Xing Group should know. Father once investigated the sources of these storms, but was banned by Zhi Xing. Moreover, the source on this island of the Patrol Headquarters has already been fully developed; it's unclear what the reason is."

"Zhi Xing Group?" Lin Qing frowned.

"Father once investigated and found that a spaceship in the style of the Zhi Xing people arrived on Earth a century ago."

Chen Guang said, "So Father also suspected that the situation appearing on Earth might be related to the Zhi Xing people. Back then, he also asked his adoptive father, Chu Hongjun."

She added, "Chu Hongjun said that those storms are suspected to be a modified high-energy field. If the soul is not strong enough, it cannot withstand it. Coincidentally... the civilization of the Zhi Xing people also seems to possess this kind of high-energy field."

Lin Qing fell silent.

That terrifying storm raged on Earth for a full twenty years, causing billions of deaths.

It was actually related to the Zhi Xing people? "I understand."

Lin Qing pushed these matters to the bottom of his heart and asked again, "Is there any remaining evolutionary radiation on the island?"

"In the past, the entire island should have been the covered area of the high-energy radiation source." Chen Guang said, "However, after full development, only a little bit remains left, which can probably increase your evolution speed by around 11%."

"11%?" Lin Qing nodded slightly.

At this moment, the phone suddenly rang.

On the caller ID was clearly a call from Tang Wanqiu, this Patrol Inspector.

He immediately answered, "Hello, Patrol Inspector Tang?"

"Lin Qing, have you arrived at the Headquarters yet?" Patrol Inspector Tang said with a smile, "When will you come to report to Branch 12?"

"I just arrived at the training branch."

Lin Qing said, "I still have room for improvement now. I haven't used the gene optimization benefits in the contract yet, so my plan is to wait a while before reporting to the branch. My strength isn't enough now; if I went, I'd probably just be a burden."

"That makes sense." Patrol Inspector Tang said, "I already submitted the application for you the day before yesterday, and the terms in the contract have been fulfilled. You can apply for any three types of gene optimization at any time."

"Thank you, Patrol Inspector Tang." Lin Qing immediately expressed his gratitude.

"It's a small matter."

Patrol Inspector Tang said, "Also, the energy stabilizer you contributed has been approved. The Special Merit will be issued soon; one Special Merit is enough for you to promote to a Two-Star Elite Patrol Officer."

Lin Qing couldn't help but ask, "How long will it take to produce the energy stabilizer?"

"Probably ten days or half a month." Patrol Inspector Tang said, "You are the contributor; according to the rules, you can enjoy a free quota of one hundred points."

She also instructed, "However, even with the energy stabilizer, the energy of the Fourth Level isn't that easy to absorb. Gene Awakeners can only barely absorb the mildest kind of it. You must be careful."

"I understand." Lin Qing nodded slightly.

"Alright, come report to Branch 12 when you are ready."

Patrol Inspector Tang didn't say much more and ended the call.

"First, try all the Third Level gene optimizations that can be realized at the Headquarters."

Lin Qing thought to himself, "Tomorrow I can advance the Star Refining Art. After completing the Star Refining Art, I can try to excavate the Fourth Level gene ability of the Sky Orbit Monarch bloodline."

Without the energy stabilizer plus the Star Refining Art, he would have no way to excavate Fourth Level gene abilities.

Unless he signed a slave contract with the Zhi Xing Group.

Unfortunately, the connection between the Star Refining Art and Dr. Chu Hui is too deep. Once brought out, it would easily cause unnecessary suspicion. He could only wait and talk about it later.

The training branch of the Patrol Headquarters is divided into a residential area, a training area, and an office area.

The training center is in a building within the training area.

At this time, more than two hundred people had gathered at the training center: Yellow-skinned people, whites, blacks, from every nation and every ethnicity.

They were all newcomers from all over the world. They had once been outstanding Patrol Chiefs or Patrol Officers, but here they were all just new Patrol Officers.

Lin Qing initially felt there were too many people, but on second thought, this batch in the Jiangnan region of the country alone had eleven newcomers. With a global population of eight or nine billion, two hundred people really wasn't that many.

No wonder there were three residential buildings; there must be several hundred Patrol Officers in the training department.

No matter how minuscule the probability, on a global scale, vast groups will still emerge.

"Lin Qing, over here."

As Lin Qing walked into the training center, he saw Xu Qiu waving at him from afar.

Most of the new patrols didn't know each other; those who did stood in small clusters. It was quite rare for Lin Qing, Xu Qiu, and Yuan Anping, all three from the same city, to be together.

However, the thirty-plus new patrols from Huaxia stayed relatively close, gathering together as much as possible.

"So many people."

Yuan Anping surveyed the new recruits of various races around him and couldn't help but sigh.

"With eight point seven billion people globally, only this many emerge every half-year. It's not much," Lin Qing said casually.

"Xu Qiu, you have connections. Do you know the situation with this training department?" Yuan Anping said helplessly. "I'm a weak Awakened; I don't even know if I can make it through." Lin Qing pretended not to hear.

Xu Qiu glanced at him and said, "The training branch is for training. There are no competitions. The instructors are all one-star elite patrols. What are you worried about? As a gene Awakened, how is it possible you won't get one-star authority within three years?"

"I can't compete with the geniuses gathering from across the globe," Yuan Anping shook his head.

Hearing this, Lin Qing immediately felt it wasn't interesting anymore.

If the instructors might not even be stronger than him, he might as well cultivate on his own. The training center only trains new recruits to become one-star elite patrols; it held no real meaning for him to begin with.

"Xu Qiu, do you know how to cultivate on my own without attending the training?" Lin Qing asked.

"Approval from above, or recognition from an instructor, is enough," Xu Qiu said.

Lin Qing understood and said, "That's good."

At that moment, a middle-aged man with yellow skin walked onto the high platform of the training center. His gaze swept over the crowd below, and his voice spread through the speakers: "Silence."

He spoke in flawless, standard Chinese.

However, as patrols, mastering both Chinese and English is mandatory; this was already required in the patrol professional examination.

"I am Chen Ziyue, your chief instructor for this batch of new patrols."

The chief instructor said expressionlessly, "This batch of new patrols consists of 247 people, while the entire training branch has 789 new patrols in total."

"What you must do is obtain one-star authority as soon as possible."

His voice echoed throughout the training center.

"There are rewards for those who succeed first."

"Each semester lasts half a year. If you obtain one-star authority before the end of the first semester, the training branch will reward you with one hundred points."

"If you obtain two-star authority before the end of the first semester, you will receive one thousand points."

"Alternatively, if you obtain two-star authority before the end of the second semester, you can still be rewarded with five hundred points."

"Beyond that, there are no rewards whatsoever."

The chief instructor swept his gaze across the crowd. "In addition, everyone can initially advance one hundred points. If you wish to obtain extra point rewards, you can only do so through monthly work missions."

Lin Qing's heart stirred involuntarily.

Obtaining two-star authority before the end of the first semester yields one thousand points? It seems this is a special reward system designed specifically to cultivate geniuses.

Previously, the headquarters only allowed him to advance five hundred points.

However, becoming a two-star elite patrol within half a year of joining the Patrol Headquarters is indeed worthy of being called the standout among this batch of elites.

It is normal to have sponsorship.

"Half a year... more than enough," Lin Qing nodded inwardly.

For him, three third-tier gene optimizations had already been confirmed; advancing the Star Refining Art and unlocking the fourth-tier ability of the Sky-Track Monarch bloodline would be sufficient.

After the chief instructor finished speaking, the new patrols from various regions were divided into classes. However, the division was not primarily by region, but by combat technique priority.

After all, the key to new recruit training is combat technique; gene optimization is a matter for machinery and equipment, so there is no need for instruction there.

Lin Qing, Yuan Anping, and Xu Qiu all practiced the Free Body combat technique and came from the same region, so naturally, they were assigned to the same class.

The instructor was a mixed-race woman with a high ponytail. She looked somewhat similar in temperament to Xu Qiu, but was far more cold.

"My name is Erin."

The female instructor said coldly, "This semester, I am responsible for teaching you about the Free Body combat technique. My requirement is simple... I tell you how to train, and you must execute it strictly. Otherwise, find someone else."

She swept her gaze across them and said, "If you do not wish to be under my command, then master the original 'Free Body' combat technique first. Is everyone clear?"

"Report to the instructor."

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from the ranks.

The female instructor, Erin, turned her head slightly to look and said, "Speak."

Not wasting time, Lin Qing spoke directly, "I believe I should be able to cultivate on my own."

"You?" Erin sized up Lin Qing. With the senses of a gene Awakened, she could judge that this young man before her had not yet undergone gene awakening.

Within the entire Patrol Headquarters, there were only a few who had mastered the original combat technique before gene awakening.

Let alone new patrols.

She found it hard to believe and immediately frowned slightly, saying, "Prove it."

Lin Qing said no more. His body moved, and silently, he transformed into a blurred phantom, detaching himself from the ranks.

Then, with a wave of his hand, his arm instantly stretched and twisted, as if knotted like a twisted dough stick.

The surrounding new patrols all cultivated the Free Body series; how could they fail to recognize it?

A chorus of exclamations immediately rose from the crowd.

"You..."

Instructor Erin looked at Lin Qing in surprise.

Those who mastered the original 'Free Body' before gene awakening were rare even in the headquarters, and they would undergo gene awakening very soon.

Even she had only mastered this original combat technique because, due to gene awakening, she could control her genes to change into a state better suited and easier for cultivating 'Free Body'.

She actually happened to meet someone with this kind of combat genius? "I get it. You don't need to come anymore."

Instructor Ailin was equally direct: "You can go check out the Genetic Optimization Zone on the 21st floor. Complete your genetic optimization early, accumulate enough merit, and try to earn a First-Class Permission within your first semester."

Lin Qing nodded, glancing at Yuan Anping and Xu Qiu with a smile, then left amid the admiring and envious gazes of the new recruits.

This was practically like having no military training at all.

……

After leaving the training center, Lin Qing made his way straight to the Genetic Optimization Zone on the 21st floor.

Since it relied mostly on AI control, there was only one supervisor here.

After passing triple verification—fingerprint, iris, and DNA—the supervisor of the Genetic Optimization Zone stepped out quickly.

"Lin Qing, right?"

The young man with a receding hairline extended his hand and shook Lin Qing's, smiling: "I've seen your optimization benefits—you can apply for three free genetic optimizations, correct? Come with me."

The two walked down a corridor and entered an office, where the supervisor handed Lin Qing a tablet and said, "Take your time choosing. If you have any questions, just ask me."

Lin Qing nodded slightly and immediately examined it closely.

After a while, he looked up at the supervisor and asked, "Can the Bloodline Evolution Method be used to cultivate multiple bloodlines simultaneously?"

(End of Chapter)