Chapter 107: Gene Optimization

Lin Qing had personally experienced the apocalypse in his past life.

Global signals became chaotic, communication systems collapsed, and crime rates surged.

But the most terrifying thing was the special “storm”—wherever it raged, even hiding indoors offered no protection; over time, though the body showed no outward injury, the brain would die.

Most people survived only a few minutes in the storm, far too short to escape.

As a result, over 95% of humanity perished in the early days of the apocalypse, a truly extinction-level disaster.

Only a tiny fraction survived longer, enduring more than half an hour, barely enough to break through the storm.

Though a few were immune to the storm, they were exceedingly rare.

Moreover, the storm that ravaged the globe grew stronger over time.

In his past life, Lin Qing belonged to that rare group—he survived more than two hours in the storm, suffering only brief unconsciousness afterward and intense headaches upon waking.

Some leaders of large survivor enclaves were like this too; Lin Qing had met a few of them.

Without this, even if Lin Qing could pre-claim skills one by one, he wouldn’t have survived long.

But that terrifying storm, raging for years, was unforgettable.

In his past life, his friends, parents, relatives, classmates… all his attachments were buried in that terrifying storm.

And yet, one of the origins of the apocalypse was right here, on this island housing the Patrol Headquarters?

“What’s wrong?”

Chen Guang noticed Lin Qing’s unusual state.

“Nothing.” Lin Qing took a deep breath and said, “Go on.”

“According to my father’s research, there were multiple origins behind the 2025 storm outbreak, and the various high-energy radiations appearing in 2045 originated from these sources.”

Chen Guang said, “This island where the Patrol Headquarters stands is one of those high-energy radiation sources. Though the radiation has weakened considerably now, some residue remains; living long-term in such a high-energy environment accelerates evolution.”

Lin Qing fell silent for a moment, then asked, “How did these sources appear?”

Chen Guang was surprised—he hadn’t expected Lin Qing to care about this first.

She said, “It remains a mystery, but the upper echelons of Zhi Xing Group likely know. My father investigated these storm origins but was forbidden by Zhi Xing. Moreover, the source on this island has already been fully developed, and its cause is indiscernible.”

“Zhi Xing Group?” Lin Qing frowned.

“My father discovered that a spacecraft of Zhi Xing design had arrived on Earth over a century ago.”

Chen Guang said, “So he suspected Earth’s condition might be linked to the Zhi Xing people. He even asked his adoptive father, Chu Hongjun.”

She added, “Chu Hongjun said those storms resembled a modified high-energy field; if one’s soul isn’t strong enough, it cannot withstand them. Coincidentally… Zhi Xing civilization also seems to possess such high-energy fields.”

Lin Qing fell silent.

That terrifying storm raged across Earth for twenty years, killing billions.

And it was connected to the Zhi Xing people? “I understand.”

Lin Qing buried these thoughts deep within him and asked, “Are there still residual evolutionary radiations on the island?”

“Previously, the entire island was covered by the high-energy radiation source,” Chen Guang said. “But after development, only a trace remains—enough to boost your evolution speed by roughly 11%.”

“11%?” Lin Qing nodded slightly.

At that moment, his phone rang.

The caller ID showed Tang Wanqiu, the Patrol Inspector.

He answered immediately: “Hello, Inspector Tang?”

“Lin Qing, have you arrived at Headquarters?” Inspector Tang smiled. “When will you report to Division Twelve?”

“I’ve just arrived at the Training Division.”

Lin Qing said, “I still have room to improve. I haven’t used the gene optimization benefit in my contract yet, so I plan to delay reporting to the division until later—I’m not strong enough now, and going early would only be a burden.”

“That makes sense,” Inspector Tang said. “I already submitted your application two days ago. The contract terms have been fulfilled—you can apply for any three gene optimizations at any time.”

“Thank you, Inspector Tang,” Lin Qing said immediately.

“It’s nothing.”

Inspector Tang said, “Also, your contribution of the energy stabilizer has been approved. The Special-Class Merit reward will be issued soon—one Special-Class Merit is enough to promote you to Second-Star Elite Patrol.”

Lin Qing asked, “How long until the energy stabilizer can be produced?”

“About ten days to half a month,” Inspector Tang said. “As the contributor, you’re entitled to a free quota of 100 points by regulation.”

She added, “But even with the energy stabilizer, absorbing Level-Four energy isn’t easy. Gene Awakeners can barely absorb only the mildest form—be careful.”

“I understand,” Lin Qing nodded slightly.

“Alright, report to Division Twelve once you’re ready.”

Inspector Tang ended the call without further words.

“First, try all third-level gene optimizations available at Headquarters.”

Lin Qing thought to himself, “Tomorrow I can pre-claim the Star Refining Art. After completing it, I can attempt to unlock the fourth-level gene ability of the Celestial Orb Sovereign bloodline.”

Without the energy stabilizer and the Star Refining Art, he couldn’t unlock the fourth-level gene ability.

Unless he signed a lifetime contract with Zhi Xing Group.

Unfortunately, the Star Refining Art was too closely tied to Dr. Chu Hui—revealing it would invite unnecessary suspicion. He’d have to wait.

…

The Training Division of the Patrol Headquarters consisted of residential, training, and administrative zones.

The Training Center was located in a building within the training zone.

At this moment, over two hundred people had gathered in the Training Center—East Asians, Caucasians, Africans, from every nation and ethnicity.

All were newcomers from around the world, once top Patrol Officers or Patrol Captains in their regions, but here they were merely new Patrol recruits.

Lin Qing initially thought the crowd was large, but then realized: even the Jiangnan region alone had eleven new recruits; with Earth’s population at eight to nine billion, two hundred people wasn’t much.

No wonder there were three residential buildings—there must be hundreds of Patrol recruits in the Training Division alone.

No matter how small the probability, when viewed on a global scale, it produces massive numbers.

“Lin Qing, over here!”

As Lin Qing entered the Training Center, he saw Xu Qiu waving at him from afar.

Most new recruits didn’t know each other; those who did stood in small groups. Lin Qing, Xu Qiu, and Yuan Anping all came from the same city—unusually rare.

Still, the thirty-odd new recruits from Huaxia clustered together as closely as possible.

“So many people.”

Yuan Anping surveyed the diverse faces of the newcomers and sighed.

“Eighty-seven billion people worldwide, and only this many emerge every six months—not many,” Lin Qing said casually.

“Xu Qiu, you’ve got connections. Do you know how this Training Division works?” Yuan Anping sighed helplessly. “I’m just a weak Awakener—I don’t even know if I’ll make it.” Lin Qing pretended not to hear.

Xu Qiu glanced at him and said, “The Training Division is for training, not competitions. The instructors are all First-Star Elite Patrols. What are you worried about? You’re a Gene Awakener—in three years, how could you fail to earn First-Star clearance?”

“I can’t compete with geniuses from around the world,” Yuan Anping shook his head.

After hearing this, Lin Qing found it utterly uninteresting.

Could the instructors be weaker than him? Then he’d train himself—the Training Center only turned new recruits into First-Star Elite Patrols, which meant nothing to him.

“Xu Qiu, how can one train independently without attending these sessions?” Lin Qing asked.

“Approval from above, or recognition from an instructor,” Xu Qiu said.

Lin Qing understood. “Good.”

At that moment, a middle-aged East Asian man stepped onto the training platform, scanned the crowd below, and spoke through the speakers: “Silence.”

He spoke fluent, precise Chinese.

But as Patrol members, fluency in both Chinese and English was mandatory—required even in the Patrol Professional Exam.

“I am your chief instructor, Chen Ziyue.”

The chief instructor spoke without expression: “There are 247 of you in this batch. The entire Training Division has 789 new recruits.”

“Your goal is to earn First-Star clearance as quickly as possible.”

His voice echoed through the Training Center.

“Early achievers receive rewards.”

“If you earn First-Star clearance before the end of the first semester, the Training Division awards you 100 points.”

“If you earn Second-Star clearance before the end of the first semester, you receive 1,000 points.”

“Or, if you earn Second-Star clearance before the end of the second semester, you receive 500 points.”

“After that, no further rewards.”

The chief instructor scanned the crowd. “Additionally, everyone begins with a pre-claimed 100 points. To earn extra points, you must complete monthly missions.”

Lin Qing’s interest stirred.

1,000 points for earning Second-Star clearance within the first semester? Clearly a special incentive system designed for geniuses.

The points Headquarters had allowed him to pre-claim were only 500.

Yet becoming a Second-Star Elite Patrol within six months of joining the Patrol Headquarters was indeed exceptional among this elite group.

Financial support was only natural.

“Six months… more than enough,” Lin Qing nodded inwardly.

For him, three third-level gene optimizations, plus pre-claiming the Star Refining Art, would be enough to unlock the fourth-level gene ability of the Celestial Orb Sovereign bloodline.

…

After the chief instructor finished speaking, new recruits were divided into classes—not by region, but by combat style.

After all, the core of new recruit training was combat technique; gene optimization was handled by machines and required no instruction.

Lin Qing, Yuan Anping, and Xu Qiu all practiced the Zizai Body technique and hailed from the same region, so they were naturally placed in the same class.

The instructor was a mixed-race woman with a high ponytail, her demeanor somewhat resembling Xu Qiu’s, yet even colder.

“I’m Erin.”

The female instructor said coldly: “This semester, I’ll be teaching you the Free Body Combat Method. My requirements are simple—you do exactly as I say, or find another instructor.”

She swept her gaze across them and said: “If you don’t want to be under my command, master the original Free Body Combat Method first. Understood?”

“Report, Instructor.”

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

Instructor Erin turned her head slightly and said: “Speak.”

Lin Qing didn’t hesitate and spoke directly: “I believe I can train on my own.”

“You?” Erin studied Lin Qing. As a gene-awakened individual, she could tell this young man had not yet awakened his genes.

In the entire Patrol Headquarters, only a handful of people had mastered the original Free Body Combat Method before gene awakening.

Especially not new patrol recruits.

She found it hard to believe and immediately frowned: “Prove it.”

Lin Qing said nothing more. He moved—silent and swift—and dissolved into a blurred phantom, stepping out of the formation.

Then he waved his arm; it stretched and twisted like a knotted rope.

The other new patrol recruits, all training in the Free Body series, couldn’t possibly fail to recognize it.

A wave of gasps erupted from the crowd.

“You…”

Instructor Erin stared at Lin Qing in shock.

People who mastered the original Free Body Combat Method before gene awakening were rare even in the Headquarters—and they usually awakened soon after.

Even she had only mastered it after gene awakening, when her genes shifted into a state better suited for Free Body training.

Could she really have stumbled upon such a combat genius? “I see. You don’t need to come anymore.”

Instructor Erin was straightforward: “Go to the Gene Optimization Zone on the 21st floor. Complete your gene optimization as soon as possible, earn enough merit, and try to secure a One-Star Permission by the end of your first semester.”

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

This was pure joy—no military training at all.

…

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

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

After passing triple verification—fingerprint, iris, and DNA—the supervisor hurried out to meet him.

“Lin Qing, right?”

The young man with a receding hairline extended his hand and shook Lin Qing’s. “I’ve seen your optimization benefits—you’re entitled to three free gene optimizations. Follow me.”

They walked down a corridor and entered an office. The supervisor handed Lin Qing a tablet. “Take your time choosing. If you have questions, just ask me.”

Lin Qing nodded slightly and began studying it carefully.

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)