Chapter 15: Staff Shock

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Staff Shock

"Staff techniques?" Hearing this, the crowd turned to look at Ji Zhixing, their expressions laced with curiosity and confusion.

Ji Zhixing stepped out from the crowd, his expression calm.

"Have you successfully cultivated your staff techniques?" He Yanbing’s eyes lit up as she looked at him. Over the past few days, she couldn’t help but wonder if Ji Zhixing had been lying to her. After all, a seventy-two percent compatibility rate and immediately hearing the genetic resonance upon integration were impossible to verify. But now, if he had managed to achieve a certain level of mastery in staff techniques in just three short days, it would prove that he truly possessed talent in this area.

"You can see for yourself, Teacher He," Ji Zhixing said with a nod, walking over to the weapon rack at the edge of the training grounds.

The rack was lined with a variety of training weapons—sabers, swords, spears, and staffs. They were all made of ordinary materials, meant purely for practice. Since he was going to demonstrate his staff techniques, he naturally couldn’t use Genetic Equipment. Any technique executed with Genetic Equipment would rely on the item’s power, not his own.

He took a long staff from the rack and weighed it in his hands. It was a bit lighter than his black staff, but it would suffice.

"What’s going on?"

"Did Ji Zhixing cultivate staff techniques?"

"He only integrated his genes three days ago. Even if he did train in staff techniques, what could he have possibly achieved?"

The students exchanged bewildered glances and whispered among themselves. Huang Yu and Yu Zhirou were equally surprised, unsure of what Ji Zhixing was trying to pull.

"Alright, let’s see what you’ve got," He Yanbing said. A sense of anticipation swelled within her; if Ji Zhixing dared to demonstrate it publicly, he had to be confident in his progress.

"Yes!" Ji Zhixing gripped the staff and strode to the center of the training grounds. He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

He thought, "Three days of bitter training, repeating the motions a thousand, two thousand times... Now, it’s time to show my progress!"

He opened his eyes. The next moment, the long staff moved.

CHOP!

The staff swung high and cleaved down fiercely, carving a sharp arc through the air and kicking up a howling gale.

SWEEP!

The staff swung horizontally like an autumn gale sweeping away fallen leaves, striking with astonishing momentum.

THRUST!

The tip of the staff stabbed forward like a venomous snake darting from its hole, striking empty space with a muffled THUD.

"These staff techniques..." The watching teachers on the training ground all revealed expressions of utter astonishment.

The routine Ji Zhixing displayed lacked complex maneuvers; it consisted solely of the twelve fundamental stances of basic staff techniques. Yet, with every strike, the wind howled with staggering might. That wasn’t the sound of aimless flailing, but the sharp WHOOSH of raw power channeling through the staff and cutting the air. An ordinary person could never swing a staff like that.

"What’s going on? Don’t tell me he actually mastered the basic staff techniques?" one teacher asked.

"He really did!" another teacher nodded in disbelief. "To master basic staff techniques from scratch in just three days... even with the aid of Genetic Equipment, that is way too fast!"

A Tier One Gene Cultivator could only master Tier-One genetic abilities. However, even among Tier-One abilities, there were vast differences in power. Huang Yu’s Leopard Claw was a Tier-One, two-star ability, while his Leopard Speed and Purple Lightning were Tier-One, three-star abilities. Yu Zhirou’s Wind Blade and Light Body were also Tier-One, three-star abilities. For the rest of the class, most possessed only Tier-One, one-star abilities. Only a few reached the two-star level, such as Liu Qifan’s Iron Back. However, Iron Back was strictly defensive and only protected his spine, offering little advantage in actual combat. Now that Ji Zhixing had mastered basic staff techniques, his combat prowess was no longer inferior to the majority of his classmates.

"Does this kid actually have a natural talent for the staff?" The teachers found it hard to believe. Just three days—the speed was simply unprecedented.

"Teacher Sun, you wield a staff too. How long did it take you to master the basics?" a curious teacher asked.

"Two and a half years!" a dark-skinned, burly man replied, his face darkening further.

"It took you that long?" another teacher asked in disbelief.

"Heh!" Teacher Sun scoffed coldly. "Practicing basic staff techniques isn’t just about memorizing the forms. You have to be able to channel the vast majority of your bodily strength into the staff at a moment’s notice.

"Besides, when I trained back then, I didn’t have the luxury of Genetic Equipment to assist me."

Hearing this, the teachers’ gazes shifted as they looked at Ji Zhixing in an entirely new light.

"He actually did it?" He Yanbing, whose eyes hadn’t left Ji Zhixing, practically glowed with excitement.

CRACK!

Ji Zhixing continued his demonstration. With every swing, he could clearly feel the strength of his entire body being fully mobilized—from his legs to his waist, from his waist to his back, from his back to his arms, and finally channeling directly into the staff. Every move he executed drew upon the majority of his physical power, rendering each stance frighteningly lethal. It was leagues beyond mindlessly swinging a stick.

"Is this really basic staff technique?" someone muttered.

"How long has he been practicing? Three days?"

"That’s impossible, right? How could anyone reach this level in three days?"

The way everyone in the arena looked at Ji Zhixing completely shifted.

"Could this guy actually evolve the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene?" Huang Yu was equally stunned.

Basic staff techniques were universal genetic skills that anyone could train in. However, those without talent could practice for a lifetime and never master them. Even among the talented, he had never heard of anyone achieving mastery in such a staggeringly short time.

"It is unexpected," Yu Zhirou nodded, though she quickly shook her head. "But evolving a gene isn’t that simple." While she admitted Ji Zhixing had defied expectations, she still doubted he could evolve the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene. The odds were simply too insurmountable.

He Yanbing remained silent, but the joy in her eyes grew increasingly profound. She thought, "Three days to master basic staff techniques from zero. This proves he truly possesses natural talent with the staff. It’s entirely possible he could awaken the Innate Staff Heart."

Although she had previously applied for Genetic Equipment on his behalf, she had secretly been plagued by doubts. After all, choosing the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene sounded like utter madness. Now, witnessing his staff techniques with her own eyes, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Excellent!" As Ji Zhixing finished his demonstration, a delighted expression bloomed on He Yanbing’s face, and she praised him openly.

That single word of approval left everyone present stunned. He Yanbing was usually a woman of few words and even fewer expressions; it was incredibly rare to see her compliment someone so directly.

"Ji Zhixing, come to my office," He Yanbing instructed. "The rest of you will continue honing your genetic abilities under the guidance of the other teachers. You may also spar with one another to practice actual combat." She then glanced at the other faculty members. "I leave them in your capable hands."

"You’re too polite, Teacher He," the other teachers nodded in unison. They were there specifically to help; after all, student sparring matches required close supervision.

Having made the arrangements, He Yanbing turned and walked toward the training ground exit.

"Teacher," Ji Zhixing acknowledged. He stored the long staff back on the weapon rack and followed her out, leaving the crowd staring after him with complicated expressions.

He thought, "As expected, showing my true strength was the right move," a wave of anticipation welling up within him as he walked beside He Yanbing. "Teacher He calling me to her office definitely means she wants to ask about my staff techniques. I just wonder if the school will give me even more support..."