Chapter 68: Ability

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Ability

Ji Zhixing nodded.

He sat cross-legged, activating his Genetic Furnace to begin refining the genetic sample generated from the willow tree sapling.

"Seventy-three percent compatibility. That’s one percent higher than the one from the genetic repository," he thought. "This time, I should be able to achieve a one hundred percent perfect compatibility."

The Eight Trigrams Map within the Genetic Furnace slowly rotated, exuding a profound power as it continuously refined and harmonized the compatibility between the genetic sample and his Genetic Aperture.

Time passed minute by minute.

Ji Zhixing could clearly feel the compatibility increasing bit by bit. The light illuminating his empty Genetic Aperture grew brighter and more abundant.

Seventy-five percent... Eighty percent... Ninety percent...

The compatibility climbed steadily, but it got stuck at ninety-seven percent. The final three percent acted like a solid wall, completely halting the progress.

"This last step is the hardest," Ji Zhixing thought. "But... it won’t stop me!"

Ji Zhixing began pushing the Genetic Furnace to its absolute limits. In the next moment, the Eight Trigrams Map inside abruptly accelerated its rotation.

BUZZ!

A resonant sound, like a massive temple bell, chimed. The Eight Trigrams Map in the Genetic Furnace jolted violently. A surge of powerful energy burst forth, shattering the final barrier.

"One hundred percent!" he thought.

In that instant, Ji Zhixing’s empty Genetic Aperture was completely illuminated.

"Withdraw!"

With a thought, he didn’t hesitate to immediately absorb the willow tree genetic sample from the Genetic Furnace into his Genetic Aperture. Instantly, a profound and mystical sensation washed over his entire body. He could clearly sense that a brand-new power had emerged within him.

This was the power of the willow tree gene.

"I succeeded," Ji Zhixing thought.

He opened his eyes, feeling the newborn strength coursing through him. Then, he closed his eyes again, beginning to listen to the voice of the willow tree gene inside his body.

"Just as I expected," he thought. "As long as the compatibility reaches one hundred percent, I can clearly hear all the voices of the gene.

"The evolutionary pathways of the willow tree gene..."

Ji Zhixing listened carefully. He discovered that, much like the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene, the willow tree gene had numerous evolutionary paths. However, only one path could go the furthest.

"Willow tree gene—

"Mutated Five-Colored Willow Tree gene—

"Silent Thunder Five-Colored Willow Tree gene—

"Centennial Willow Tree Spirit gene—"

Ji Zhixing continued to listen. He realized that if he chose this specific evolutionary path, the willow tree gene could ultimately evolve into the Innate Willow Tree gene, and perhaps even the Great Dao Willow Tree gene.

"Very strong. When the willow tree gene reaches its final evolution, it shouldn’t be any weaker than the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene," he thought.

Ji Zhixing took a deep breath and kept his eyes closed, continuing to listen to the willow tree gene.

"I see. For the willow tree gene to evolve into the Five-Colored Willow Tree gene, I need to master three genetic abilities," he noted mentally. "Currently, the willow tree gene has two abilities. One is Rooting, and the other is Light Gathering."

Rooting.

Light Gathering.

These were both recovery-type abilities—one relied on the earth, the other on sunlight. They weren’t particularly powerful, but they were quite useful.

To evolve into the Five-Colored Willow Tree, he needed to develop Rooting into Root of the Earth and Light Gathering into Five-Colored Spiritual Light, and then supplement them with Basic Self-Healing.

Ji Zhixing muttered to himself in his heart, "Once I develop the Root of the Earth ability, I only need to stand on the ground to recover my Genetic Source Power anytime and anywhere.

"If I can develop Light Gathering into the Five-Colored Spiritual Light ability, I’ll even be able to absorb various elemental powers to restore myself and reduce the damage I take.

"In addition, I can convert the absorbed power into Five-Colored Spiritual Light. By activating the Five-Colored Spiritual Light, I can form a Protective Spiritual Light to increase my resistance to all kinds of elemental attributes and strengthen my physical defense."

Ji Zhixing’s eyes gleamed. Developing the Five-Colored Spiritual Light ability would require him to use a massive amount of Five Elements attribute genetic potions.

Back in Shihu Town, when Qi Xingzhou killed a genetic beast on the first day, he refined a bottle of Water Spirit potion. This Water Spirit potion was one type of Five Elements attribute genetic potion.

"This is pretty strong!" Ji Zhixing marveled.

He felt that both of the willow tree’s innate abilities would become incredibly powerful once developed. And highly practical, too.

"I have one million Genetic Coins right now. I need to think carefully about which ability to develop first," Ji Zhixing pondered.

Opening his eyes, he looked at Ren Pingzhi and the other two. "Alright, thanks for standing guard for me just now."

"It’s nothing," Zhao Hai waved his hand. "We agreed yesterday that we’re all on the same team from now on."

Ren Pingzhi and Feng Yan shared the same expression.

"Zhixing, what abilities did you get from fusing with the willow tree gene?" Ren Pingzhi couldn’t help but ask, seeing that Ji Zhixing was finished.

"One is Rooting, and the other is Light Gathering."

Ji Zhixing didn’t hide it. Neither of these abilities would do much to boost his current combat prowess anyway.

"Rooting? Light Gathering?"

The three of them nodded. Gaining these two abilities from a Tier 1 gene seemed pretty decent when paired with Ji Zhixing’s Staff Soldier Stone Monkey gene.

Chatting idly, the four of them resumed hunting genetic beasts in the wilderness. Soon, a day had passed.

Over the course of the day, the group killed more than a dozen genetic beasts in this wilderness area. Ji Zhixing was allocated a few kills, but none yielded any loot. The same went for Ren Pingzhi and the others.

"Sigh, I wonder when I’ll finally refine a piece of Genetic Equipment," Ren Pingzhi sighed. "I’ve been out here training over a dozen times, and I haven’t even seen a single piece of Genetic Equipment yet."

"Tell me about it," Zhao Hai shook his head.

"Let’s go, it’s time to head back," Feng Yan said. "It’s getting dark, and the wilderness is too dangerous at night."

Ji Zhixing nodded. The four packed up their belongings and headed toward the base city.

By the time they returned to the city gates, the evening sun was already sinking in the west. However, just as they were about to enter the base city, Ji Zhixing’s expression suddenly froze. He saw several figures returning to the base city from another direction.

These people were precisely the members of Gu Zheng’s squad. Aside from Gu Zheng himself, there was Chen Wenjie, who used the Elf Bow; the female member of their squad, Han Shuang; and Jiang Chen, who wielded a great axe.

"Gu Zheng..." Ji Zhixing silently repeated the name in his heart.

Just as he noticed them, Gu Zheng’s group, who were also walking toward the base city, looked up and spotted them as well.

Among the group, Jiang Chen didn’t have much of a reaction. Unlike the others, he knew of Ji Zhixing’s existence but had no grudges against him. But the moment Gu Zheng and the other two saw Ji Zhixing, their expressions instantly changed.

"It’s him!"

"Ji Zhixing!"

"He actually didn’t die?"

Gu Zheng and the other two were shocked. After returning to the base city that day, they had asked around about Ji Zhixing. They had given up only after learning that he hadn’t returned for over ten days.

They assumed he had died in the wilderness. They never expected to run into him here today.

"Ji Zhixing! Look!" Next to Ji Zhixing, Ren Pingzhi suddenly tugged on his arm, pointing toward Gu Zheng’s direction. "That’s Gu Zheng! The genius from our Yu City Middle School who awakened a Tier 4 Genetic Aperture and fused with the Sword Feather Peacock gene!

"The people with him all fused with Tier 3 genes. Once they enter Yu City University, they’ll be directly assigned to the elite class.

"When Gu Zheng first enrolled, we even hung out together a bit. We’re on decent terms. What do you say? Should I introduce you?"

"No need. Let’s go," Ji Zhixing shook his head and prepared to leave.

"Ji Zhixing!"

Right at that moment, Gu Zheng marched over aggressively with his group in tow.

"Uh..."

Hearing Gu Zheng call Ji Zhixing’s name, Ren Pingzhi immediately looked stunned. The other two also looked at Ji Zhixing in surprise.

"Brother Gu, you guys know each other?" Ren Pingzhi asked curiously as Gu Zheng approached.

"Of course we do. He’s a piece of trash who stole something from me in the wild," Gu Zheng said coldly, glancing at Ren Pingzhi. "What, are you guys close with him? If you are his friends, then stay far away from me in the future."

"This..." Ren Pingzhi’s face turned pale.

Zhao Hai and Feng Yan also froze. Gu Zheng was a genius who had fused with a Tier 4 gene. They couldn’t afford to offend him.

Ji Zhixing watched the scene unfold without saying a word. He understood.

"B-Brother Gu," Zhao Hai tried to smooth things over. "Is there some sort of misunderstanding between you and Brother Ji? Brother Ji is also a student at Yu City University. He self-enrolled yesterday and was assigned to our dorm."

"Self-enrolled?" Gu Zheng’s expression stiffened upon hearing this, before he let out a cold sneer. "It seems you’ve already sold that Red Iron Ore. You’ve got quite the nerve!"

He was a little surprised that Ji Zhixing managed to evolve his gene and self-enroll into Yu City University. But that was it.

After all, he himself had fused with a Tier 4 gene. Even if Ji Zhixing evolved his gene, it was at most a Tier 2 gene. He still fell far short in comparison. Therefore, he still didn’t take Ji Zhixing seriously.

"Are you done talking?" Ji Zhixing spoke, his voice calm.

Gu Zheng narrowed his eyes.

Ji Zhixing stared back at him without avoiding his gaze. "You forced my classmate and me to act as bait, even attempting to kill us just so you could snatch the Red Iron Ore from the Two-Winged Thousand Steel Python’s nest. Who are you calling trash?

"In the end, I was the one who took the Red Iron Ore. You led your people to hunt me down all the way, yet you couldn’t catch me. And now, here I am standing before you. You call me trash, so what does that make you?"

Gu Zheng’s face darkened.

"Four people with a Tier 4 gene hunting down a guy with a Tier 1 gene, and yet I still walked away with the prize," Ji Zhixing shook his head. "If word of this got out, you’d probably be laughed to death."

Having said his piece, he stopped looking at Gu Zheng and turned to Ren Pingzhi and the other two. "Once school starts, I won’t team up with you guys anymore. I don’t want to drag you down with me."

With that, he strode through the city gates.

Behind him, Gu Zheng clenched his fists but ultimately didn’t make a move. He couldn’t fight at the entrance of the base city.

Ji Zhixing walked through the gates without looking back.

Gu Zheng.

The name swirled in his mind. A Tier 4 gene, the Sword Feather Peacock, the Genius Class. He was very strong.

But Ji Zhixing had the willow tree gene, the Staff Soldier Stone Monkey gene, and a Genetic Furnace unlike anyone else’s. Given enough time, he feared no one!

As if sensing the surging emotions in Ji Zhixing’s heart, the phantom of the Three-inch Stone Monkey within his Genetic Aperture vibrated slightly, faintly exuding an intense will to fight.