Chapter 24: Petrified Crab

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Petrified Crab

Inside Ji Zhixing’s genetic furnace lay another item—a small, transparent bottle.

It contained a pale blue liquid.

"Is this... a Source Power Genetic Potion?"

An uncontrollable surge of pleasant surprise welled up in Ji Zhixing’s heart. Source Power Genetic Potions could accelerate a Genetic Cultivator’s cultivation speed. This single bottle alone was worth a thousand genetic coins.

According to what he had learned, a Genetic Cultivator’s genetic furnace possessed extremely formidable capabilities. Upon refining a genetic potion, the furnace would automatically use the genetic beast’s bones and other tissues to forge a bottle to contain it. As for the exact principles behind the genetic furnace, no one knew to this day.

"Two Genetic Source Stones and a bottle of Source Power Genetic Potion!" Ji Zhixing thought silently. "This drop rate is a bit too high!

"But this is only my first time refining a genetic beast. The sample size is too small. I can’t be sure if it has anything to do with my genetic furnace’s uniqueness yet.

"I should be able to tell after refining a few more."

He opened his eyes.

"Zhixing, how did it go? Did anything drop?" Liu Qifan leaned in, asking expectantly.

"I had a bit more luck than you guys." Ji Zhixing didn’t hide it. He smiled, reached out, and retrieved the Source Power Genetic Potion.

This was the first time. If he continued to have such a high drop rate later on, he would definitely have to keep it a secret.

"Something actually dropped?"

"A Source Power Genetic Potion?"

"Not bad!"

The group’s eyes immediately lit up at the sight.

"Just pure luck," Ji Zhixing smiled. "Besides, I refined the Iron Feather Pheasant King. Compared to ordinary Iron-Feathered Pheasants, its drop rate is naturally higher."

The others nodded. This was all written in their textbooks, and their teachers had covered it. Certain special genetic beasts did indeed drop items more easily than ordinary ones.

"It’s a pity it’s not a genetic ability development potion or Genetic Equipment, otherwise you’d have struck it rich," Liu Qifan lamented.

"Those two items aren’t that easy to get," Zhang Haoceng shook his head. "We’re out here for five days. If even one of us manages to obtain a genetic ability development potion or Genetic Equipment, we can consider ourselves incredibly lucky."

"Don’t be too pessimistic," Zhao Qing walked over and said with a smile. "Who knows, maybe one of you will get lucky and obtain both.

"Ji Zhixing’s luck was quite good this time. Source Power Genetic Potions aren’t something that just drop on command, either.

"For now, though, I suggest you all take a break. Wait until your stamina and genetic source power are fully restored before continuing the hunt.

"After all, this is the wilderness. Even with me here, don’t let your guard down too much. It’s best to cultivate a habit of constant vigilance."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior. We’ll rest right now." Upon hearing this, the group felt a jolt of realization. They agreed and each found a spot to sit down and rest.

In truth, the others were relatively fine after dealing with the Iron-Feathered Pheasants. However, Ji Zhixing had single-handedly held off the Iron Feather Pheasant King, which had severely drained him. He found a flat rock to sit on, closing his eyes to rest while refining the Genetic Source Stone he had just acquired to replenish his depleted genetic source power.

About half an hour later, he had refined roughly a fifth of the Genetic Source Stone, finally restoring his genetic source power to its peak.

"Using Genetic Source Stones to recover source power is indeed faster than natural recovery, but it’s a bit of a luxury," Ji Zhixing thought silently. "This Genetic Source Stone of mine can be exchanged for fifty genetic coins, and I’ve already used up a fifth of it in just this short while."

He looked up and noticed that the others were also mostly done resting.

"Let’s go. We’ll continue," Ji Zhixing said, standing up.

But after setting off again, they quickly realized that finding genetic beasts had become much more difficult. They walked around for a while without encountering a single one.

"Strange," Liu Qifan muttered. "Weren’t there plenty of genetic beasts just a moment ago?"

"With such a huge commotion in the town, many genetic beasts have probably been put on high alert," Zhao Qing explained. "Some might have already fled the town entirely. Plus, with so many of you here, the number of genetic beasts killed wouldn’t be small."

Left with no other choice, the group could only search slowly, venturing deeper into the area.

As they walked, Ji Zhixing occasionally swung the Breaking Army Rod. Shattering Void, Earthshaker, Shocking Thunder... He tried over and over again, searching for that specific sensation. Sometimes, a swing of his rod would suddenly unleash a bit more power, but on the very next strike, it would revert to normal.

The others didn’t pay it any mind. Although Ji Zhixing’s strikes were occasionally more powerful, they assumed it was just a swing guided by the Breaking Army Rod itself. After all, the Breaking Army Rod was a piece of Genetic Equipment in its own right. It could guide the user in executing the Breaking Army Staff Technique, so it was completely normal for it to pack more power. No one believed that he could be so close to mastering the basics of the Eight Breaking Army Strikes in such a short amount of time.

After walking for a long time, the group’s eyes lit up. A genetic beast had finally appeared ahead.

"Look, there’s a leopard over there!"

It was a medium-sized leopard covered in yellowish-brown spots. Most conspicuously, a tuft of black fur grew on its forehead, faintly forming the shape of a capital ’I’. At this moment, the leopard was dragging a half-dead cyan wolf.

"Attack!"

The group charged forward together. Upon seeing them, the leopard was startled and immediately fled, leaving behind the half-dead cyan wolf. After mercifully putting the cyan wolf out of its misery, Zhang Haoceng refined it. Unfortunately, nothing dropped.

Time ticked by, and the group hunted down a few more genetic beasts. There was a brawny Monstrous Strength Wild Boar with two upward-curving tusks and immense power, as well as a Black-Horned Deer with long black antlers that could run at blinding speeds. None of these genetic beasts were particularly strong; they were all at the Tier One level. With the five of them cooperating, the beasts were swiftly dispatched. Only a few were too vigilant, fleeing the moment they spotted the group from afar, making them impossible to catch.

As evening approached and the sun began to set, the group checked the sky.

"It’s time to head back."

Exhausted, they had no choice but to end their day’s hunt and return to the convoy’s encampment. Many squads had already returned to the clearing, and the teachers were currently doing a headcount. Ji Zhixing and his team found a place to sit down and rest.

"We hunted over a dozen genetic beasts today in total," Ji Zhixing calculated silently. "I refined three of them.

"Aside from the Iron Feather Pheasant King, which dropped two large Genetic Source Stones and a bottle of Source Power Genetic Potion, the second and third ones only dropped two Genetic Source Stones each.

"But when ordinary Cultivators refine genetic beasts, they mostly just get a single guaranteed Genetic Source Stone. Only if they’re lucky might they get two, or perhaps something else.

"Yet, in my case, I manage to harvest two Genetic Source Stones every single time.

"The only thing that remains unclear is the drop rate for Genetic Equipment and genetic potions."

Just as he was deep in thought, Liu Qifan suddenly leaned in. "Zhixing, do you know what I just found out?"

Ji Zhixing paused. "What?"

"I just took a walk over there and overheard the guys from Huang Yu’s squad chatting." Liu Qifan pointed in Huang Yu’s direction. "They encountered Petrified Crabs today!"

"Petrified Crabs?" Ji Zhixing’s heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah!" Liu Qifan nodded. "I read about them in a book. When refined, this kind of genetic beast has a certain probability of dropping a genetic potion that can develop the Stone Skin ability!"

Ji Zhixing’s eyes lit up.

A Stone Skin genetic potion! The Stone Skin ability he needed to develop required exactly this kind of potion!

"Where did they encounter them?" Ji Zhixing asked immediately.

"Right by the edge of Shi Lake," Liu Qifan said. "However, Petrified Crabs aren’t very easy to kill. It’s best to use blunt weapons or long spears against them. If you hack at them with ordinary swords or sabers, the blades will chip after just a few strikes."