Chapter 1: Extraordinary World

Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Extraordinary World

His head was splitting.

Ji Zhixing spent half a class period barely sorting through his surging, chaotic memories to confirm one thing: he had reincarnated. Moreover, this was a world of the supernatural. Previously, he had only received fragments of his past life’s memories. Now, he finally remembered everything.

Ji Zhixing sighed inwardly. "My memories are too chaotic. But at least I’ve figured out that this is a world of Genetic Cultivators."

He turned to look out the window. On the sports field, two students from another class were sparring fiercely under a teacher’s guidance.

A tall, skinny boy raised his right hand. Seven or eight blue vines covered in barbs tangled together to form a long whip, lashing out at his opponent with a sharp crack that tore through the air.

The other boy, sporting a buzz cut, let out a low growl. Pushing off the ground, he leapt diagonally like a large cat, instantly closing the distance by six or seven meters. But the moment he landed, blue frost condensed on the ground, causing him to stumble. In that fraction of a second of delay, the vine whip followed like a shadow, striking at him once again!

"Qi Xingzhou’s Blue Frost Ice Vine gene is seriously overpowered. I doubt any of the Genetic Cultivators in our school who have integrated Tier Two genes are a match for him."

"Shi Xiangyang’s Three-Eyed Tiger Cat gene isn’t weak either. It’s just a pity that it’s completely countered."

The two students sitting in the row ahead of him were leaning against the window, watching the match and clicking their tongues in awe. As Ji Zhixing listened to them, the recently fused memory fragments in his mind slowly pieced themselves together.

Everyone in this world had a chance to unlock their genetic acupoints. By integrating genes of a corresponding tier, they could gain special genetic abilities. Qi Xingzhou, the boy currently on the field, had unlocked a Tier Two genetic acupoint two years ago and integrated a Tier Two Blue Frost Ice Vine gene that had a relatively high compatibility with him.

"We have to go choose our genes tomorrow. I wonder which type I’ll have the highest compatibility with." The eyes of Luo Yongguang, who sat right in front of him, gleamed with anticipation.

"It’s useless. We both awakened Tier One Genetic Acupoints, so we can only integrate Tier One genes. It’ll be way too hard for us to achieve anything significant." Zhang Haoceng, who was half-bald but had trimmed the hair above his right ear into the shape of a stubborn donkey, turned to look at Ji Zhixing. "Out of everyone in our class, only Ji Zhixing and those other two who awakened Tier Two genetic acupoints might be able to catch up to Qi Xingzhou."

"I actually think that compared to the initial gene tier, having a high compatibility with the gene is just as important," Ji Zhixing said, withdrawing his gaze from the window.

"Exactly." Luo Yongguang nodded in agreement. "Both our textbooks and the teachers have said that if the compatibility is high enough, even low-tier genes can evolve into high-tier ones."

"Gene evolution? Heh." Zhang Haoceng shook his head disdainfully. "We shouldn’t even dream about that kind of stuff. Out of so many low-tier genes, how many actually end up evolving into high-tier ones?"

Ji Zhixing looked out the window again, choosing not to continue the conversation.

Over two thousand years ago, Blue Star had been very similar to his past life—a world driven by science and technology. Until one day, the world underwent a sudden, cataclysmic change.

Countless Alternate Spaces, both large and small, merged into Blue Star like bubbles, bringing with them violent energy tides and disruptions to the laws of reality. Soaked in this new energy, Blue Star’s native flora and fauna began to mutate wildly. Countless unheard-of new species were born out of thin air. Humanity, too, underwent a transformation during that upheaval, gaining the ability to unlock genetic acupoints and integrate genes.

Two millennia had passed since then. The sheer might of powerful Genetic Cultivators had reached a level akin to mythological legends.

For example, in their Xia Country, there were supreme experts who had integrated the Sea-covering Flood Dragon gene. Their draconic aura was vast and majestic, capable of overturning rivers and seas. In the West, there were also Saints who had integrated Angel genes. Their holy light shone universally, purifying everything it touched.

Not only did powerful Genetic Cultivators hold revered statuses, but they also possessed extraordinarily long lifespans that far exceeded those of ordinary people. Even today, Blue Star still housed ancient figures who had survived the cataclysm from two thousand years ago. Every single one of them wielded terrifying strength capable of moving mountains and filling seas.

"I have to choose my gene tomorrow. What am I going to do?" Ji Zhixing’s thoughts churned in turmoil.

Such a magnificent world, where an individual’s immense power belonged solely to themselves, was exactly the kind of vision he had once dreamed of. Naturally, he yearned intensely to become a Genetic Cultivator and step onto the path of the supernatural.

However...

He sank his consciousness into his body.

Unlike the vast majority of people, within his field of perception, there were two genetic acupoints inside his body.

Dual genetic acupoints meant that, in theory, he could integrate two different genes, opening up far more possibilities for ability combinations. This was undoubtedly a fantastic thing, as well as an extremely rare phenomenon.

However, through his senses, he could tell that both of his genetic acupoints were only an inch in diameter. An inch-wide genetic acupoint was the clear, undeniable hallmark of a Tier One Genetic Acupoint.

"When I integrate my gene tomorrow, the lie I’ve been telling for two and a half years is going to be exposed," Ji Zhixing thought, his brows furrowing tightly.

Before fully awakening the wisdom of his past life, his current self had been an absolute bastard. Two and a half years ago, after awakening his genetic acupoints, he had publicly claimed to have awakened a Tier Two genetic acupoint just to secure more resources for himself. But in reality, just like Luo Yongguang and Zhang Haoceng, what he had actually awakened were Tier One Genetic Acupoints.

And now...

Two and a half years had passed. His genetic acupoints had stabilized, and he would soon be able to choose a gene for integration. This also meant that the lie he had been peddling for two and a half years was on the verge of being laid bare.

"Being mocked by my classmates is one thing," Ji Zhixing thought gloomily. "But how am I supposed to face my parents in this life?"

The faces of his current parents surfaced in his mind. Both were ordinary people who had never awakened genetic acupoints. Every penny they earned was won through hard, grueling labor. To help him speed up the stabilization of his genetic acupoints, they had taken out the majority of the family’s savings to buy him all sorts of supplements.

"How could my current self have been so insanely stupid?" Ji Zhixing felt a bitter taste in his mouth. "To tell a lie that was absolutely destined to be exposed...

"What do I do?

"Should I just go home and confess?"

Ji Zhixing was torn with agonizing indecision. He even suspected that before his past life’s memories awakened, he might have suffered from some sort of intellectual disability, or maybe he had been dropped on his head as a baby.

If his family were wealthy, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. The problem was that his family was dirt poor. In order to buy him various supplements to quickly stabilize his genetic acupoints for gene integration, almost all of the family’s money over the past two years had been spent on him.

He would rather take a severe beating. But he truly didn’t dare to imagine the look of disappointment, or even sheer despair, that would appear on the faces of his earnestly expectant parents when they learned the truth.

"Wait a minute..."

Just as Ji Zhixing’s mind was a chaotic mess and he was about to withdraw his consciousness from his body, he suddenly noticed a bizarre, unimaginable change occurring within his Genetic Furnace.

The Genetic Furnace was the Cultivator’s Dantian. Before integrating a gene, all Genetic Cultivators had to use their Genetic Furnace to refine their chosen gene before it could be absorbed into a genetic acupoint.

"What is this?

"An Eight Trigrams Map?

"Could this be related to that furnace I picked up right before I crossed over?"

Ji Zhixing discovered a strange pattern had surprisingly manifested inside his Genetic Furnace. The pattern was still incomplete, but he could still recognize it. He knew that this pattern was the exact same Eight Trigrams Map from the palm-sized furnace he had picked up right before his transmigration.

"What’s going on?

"Is my Genetic Furnace going to turn into the Eight Trigrams Furnace?

"Will it still be usable after this transformation?

"If it is, what kind of gene should I choose tomorrow?

"The Eight Trigrams Furnace and a monkey are practically a match made in heaven. I wonder what will happen if I choose a monkey-attribute gene tomorrow?"

In an instant, a multitude of absurd yet faintly expectant thoughts flashed through Ji Zhixing’s mind.

There was no doubt about it—the fact that he had been able to reincarnate into this wondrous world of genetic cultivation was ninety-nine percent related to that bizarre black furnace he had found before crossing over.

Right now, he could only pray that the changes brought about by this furnace were beneficial, and that they would help him overcome his current crisis.