Chen Feng's Path

Buzz—

A ringing filled Chen Feng's ears. The entire world seemed to go dark in an instant, and when his eyes inadvertently turned toward the sun outside the window, he saw that the sun was actually green!

"What happened?"

Chen Feng took a long while to come back to his senses.

It took a full two minutes before Chen Feng recovered. Only then did he realize that, at some point, his mental power had been completely depleted!

On the Digitization Panel, his mental power had turned into a glaring red 0!

"My mental power ran out?"

Chen Feng gave a bitter smile.

He had only gone through the simplest first two steps. The most troublesome third step had not even begun! Gene production's dependence on mental power far exceeded Chen Feng's expectations.

He was certain.

He had just touched upon the threshold of the Strongest Gene. The formula he had improved himself, the gene perfectly produced by the Luck Aura, would definitely receive an epic enhancement! If he could truly produce that gene, he would surely gain rewards beyond anything he dared imagine!

But...

Mental power!

"Was my approach wrong?"

Chen Feng took a deep breath.

Mental power was the foundation of gene production.

Under normal circumstances, someone with Chen Feng's level of mental power would only dare research ordinary genes. However, with the Luck Aura assisting him, Chen Feng had swept through everything in his path, even solving the four-star Thunder Serpent Gene and five-star Gold Ant Gene. He had nearly forgotten about Divine Power Consumption!

Producing the Wood Bear Gene consumed 1 point of mental power.

Producing the Thunder Serpent Gene consumed 10 points of mental power.

Producing the Gold Ant Gene consumed 20 points of mental power.

And directly improving the Gold Ant Gene formula?

Chen Feng estimated that without more than 90 points of mental power, success would be impossible! Yet how much did he actually have? At most, only 32 points of mental power!

"My foundation is too weak."

Chen Feng could only smile bitterly.

Still, this was something he really needed to improve!

Increasing his mental power would bring enormous benefits to both gene production and his own strength. It would not delay Chen Feng for long. On the contrary, after his mental power increased, the speed at which he mastered formulas might improve even faster!

"I'll try it first!"

Chen Feng made his decision.

"Mental power..."

After pondering for a moment, Chen Feng took out the Gold Ant Gene Reagent he had just produced—one that stimulated the potential of the genes within the body and permanently increased mental power by 20 points.

According to what he knew, special reagents that permanently increased gene attributes could only be used once at each level. No matter what kind of gene attribute it was, once it had been increased, it could never be used again. Otherwise, excessive gene intake would lead to a psychotic breakdown.

He had originally intended to sell it, but now...

Chen Feng looked it up online. There were currently only three types of Mental Enhancement Reagent available across the entire trading community, and each one was extremely expensive.

Magic Rabbit Gene Reagent: permanently increased mental power by 8 points. Price: 80,000.

Blue Bat Gene Reagent: permanently increased mental power by 10 points. Price: 100,000.

Split Wing Gene Reagent: permanently increased mental power by 13 points. Price: 150,000.

"The best only gives 13 points."

Chen Feng fell into deep thought.

Mental power was the foundation of gene production. Since he intended to increase his mental power, he had to use the best. This Gold Ant Gene he had produced was practically tailor-made for him!

Whoosh!

Chen Feng drank it directly.

Buzz—

Mental energy surged.

Chen Feng felt his mind sharpen and his senses grow keen. His previously depleted mental power was directly restored to full during the process!

52 points of mental power!

"Let's try it."

Chen Feng attempted to enter the Multi-dimensional State.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Both the speed at which he constructed the Multi-dimensional World and the speed at which he searched for genes had increased considerably. The overall progress of the Gene Production Technique was twice as fast as before! His powerful mental power had improved Chen Feng in every aspect. Even his Wind Blade was a size larger than before.

"Is this the benefit of having strong mental power?"

Chen Feng was stunned.

He knew that increasing mental power brought a huge boost, but he had never imagined it could reach such an extent.

No wonder they said mental power was the foundation of gene production. Perhaps it was more than that—mental power was also the foundation of mental-type Gene Warriors!

Foundation...

Chen Feng pondered for a moment before making a decision. He had to increase his mental power!

There was no other reason. He was truly lacking in too many areas right now.

He lacked formulas, resources to push through advanced formulas, mental power, and combat strength!

Having just graduated high school and immediately entering the Gene New Talent Competition was ultimately too much of a stretch. It would be unbearably awkward if he failed during the competition because his mental power was insufficient. Only a rapid increase in mental power could make him stronger across the board! Only then could he master those twenty-star formulas faster!

Of course, there was also that Strongest Gene already within reach. What would the improved Strongest Gene from a five-star gene formula be like?

He was looking forward to it.

He even had a feeling that if the Strongest Gene he produced truly was one of a kind, it would definitely bring him enormous benefits. It might even secure all the resources needed for those twenty stars!

But...

How was he supposed to increase his mental power?

To create the Strongest Gene, he needed at least 90 points of mental power.

Chen Feng suddenly thought of Wang Yue. That guy had previously possessed only close to 30 points of mental power, not even as much as Chen Feng. Yet in barely half a month since graduation, he had advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching 80 points? In other words, Wang Yue had increased his mental power by 50 points in just half a month.

Even if his passive Gene Ability had granted him an extra 10 points, and even if the Max Stats five-star enhancement reagent he took was the same as Chen Feng's, where had the remaining 20 points come from?

Pure training?

He absolutely didn't believe it!

"There must be a faster way to increase mental power."

Chen Feng was certain.

Just then, Chen Feng's Wristband vibrated, and Mu Yuan's projection suddenly appeared.

"Hello, Mu Yuan."

Chen Feng smiled calmly.

"Long time no see."

Mu Yuan stared at Chen Feng with a resentful look. "I've been waiting for your reply. What gene did you choose in the end for your Beginner Producer certification last time? You ran off right after asking me. Did you ever consider Gemini's feelings?"

"Uh..."

Chen Feng wiped away imaginary sweat. He hadn't expected Mu Yuan to still be hung up on it.

"So, what gene did you choose in the end?"

Mu Yuan could not help asking curiously. He had held this question in for several days already.

"Thunder Serpent Gene."

Chen Feng answered truthfully.

"Of course..."

Mu Yuan's expression immediately stiffened. Looking as though he hated Chen Feng for failing to meet expectations, he said, "That's exactly what I was worried about, brother. How many times have I told you not to choose high-difficulty formulas? Do you think the Gene Production Association provides those high-difficulty formulas as a benefit?"

"It's a trap, brother!"

Mu Yuan beat his chest in anguish. "High-star F-Grade formulas are all worthless! The cost is too high, while the price is too low! Since they're only F-Grade, no one will buy them if you price them too high. Even if you invest massive resources to master the formula, you still won't earn much money! Tell me, isn't that a loss?"

"Do you know why?"

"Supply exceeds demand!"

"Gene Producers create large quantities of low-grade reagents as they advance, while the F-Grade gene stage is also the easiest stage for Gene Warriors to improve through. Anyone doing well has long since reached E-Class or D-Class. As for those doing poorly, how many of them have the money to buy four-star or five-star Gene Reagents? Am I right?"

"F-Grade is basically the bottom rung of society. The Gene Reagents in true demand are all at higher grades. Those people are the backbone of consumer spending."

"What you need to do is raise your production level as quickly as possible!"

Mu Yuan spoke earnestly. "Besides, with your unique talent, your success rate for producing One-Star and two-star genes should already be very high, right? Why touch four-star formulas? High-star formulas may have decent power, but their cost-effectiveness is far too low—not to mention that damned success rate..."

"But I made it."

Chen Feng shrugged.

"What use is making it... what?"

Mu Yuan's eyes abruptly widened. "You made it?"

"Yeah."

Chen Feng nodded.

"How is that possible?!"

Mu Yuan cried out. "That thing is absurdly difficult. I couldn't make one even after a month back then, and my dad hung me from a tree and beat me..."

Mu Yuan suddenly seemed to realize something and abruptly stopped.

At that moment, through the Light Screen, he saw the faintly amused look in Chen Feng's eyes and immediately looked embarrassed.

"Ahem."

"Well... I was overconfident back then too, so I chose the Thunder Serpent Gene Formula. That's why I didn't want you to repeat my mistakes. I didn't expect you to be this amazing. Sigh, if I'd had your talent back then, I could've told that Old Man off with style."

Mu Yuan said regretfully.

Chen Feng could not help but laugh. Just how much resentment did this guy have toward his father?

"Still, even if you managed to produce it by sheer luck, I wouldn't recommend continuing your push."

Mu Yuan lowered his voice. "Let me tell you some insider information. These high-star formulas were left behind by the older generation. Their materials are complicated, their success rates are low, and their cost-effectiveness is poor. Their research value far exceeds their practical value. I heard the Gene Association is researching ways to streamline these formulas, or even eliminate them altogether."

"Mm."

Chen Feng neither agreed nor disagreed.

He understood what Mu Yuan meant.

The usual method for Producers was to choose a large number of formulas with high profit margins to make their push. They could earn money while improving their production skills, and once they became Intermediate Producers or Advanced Producers, money would come pouring in. What a comfortable life that would be!

This was also the best choice for many grassroots Producers!

Chen Feng had initially tried the Wood Bear Gene. The Wood Bear Gene cost only 4,000 yuan to make, while a Max Stats version sold for 10,000 yuan—a profit margin of 150%! After mutation, it could sell for 20,000 yuan, bringing the profit margin to a staggering 500%! Many popular F-class formulas had even higher profit margins!

But was that really what Chen Feng needed?

Obviously not.

Why had he chosen high-star formulas?

To raise his star rating!

Was the Thunder Serpent Gene Formula cost-effective?

No!

Was the Golden Ant Gene Recipe cost-effective?

No!

Yet for Chen Feng, they were the most cost-effective options, because mastering those two formulas could raise his production level by nine star ratings!

Using the same amount of Luck Value, Chen Feng could only gain one star rating by pushing through a Wood Bear formula, but he could gain five by pushing through the Golden Ant Gene Recipe. Why would he not do it?

This was the path Chen Feng had chosen.

A simpler and more direct way to improve!

It was not that the Producer profession itself worked this way. Rather, because of the Luck Aura, Chen Feng had embarked from the very beginning on a path completely different from everyone else's!

Chen Feng could only appreciate Mu Yuan's good intentions.

Of course, Chen Feng could not help mischievously thinking, One Thunder Serpent Gene already scared you this badly. Would you freak out if you learned about the Golden Ant Gene? And if you found out I'm researching an even more terrifying five-star mutated formula—the Strongest Gene of F-class—would you piss yourself?