I Want to Drop Out!

In the early morning, the sky over Deep Sea Star was a clear blue.

"Prisson returned to Tianhe Prison Headquarters last night. He even turned down Old Henry's dinner invitation." Sea Emperor brought Gu Ding news about Prisson first thing in the morning.

"Any other news?" Gu Ding did not care much about Prisson. As far as he was concerned, their grudges had been settled and they had nothing more to do with each other. If Prisson still insisted on targeting him and his friends, then he could only send those video files to the Federal Government's upper ranks and ruin Prisson completely.

"There's one piece of news that should interest you. It came in early this morning and hasn't been confirmed yet." There was a trace of anticipation in Sea Emperor's voice. "It says that the Fei Mei Universe Country Lord secretly visited our Long Teng Universe Country a few days ago. The two country lords have been holding preliminary discussions these past few days about opening up access between their nations."

"Are you sure it's the Fei Mei Universe Country?" Gu Ding found the news hard to believe. The Fei Mei Universe Country was not like the Long Teng Universe Country. It was a top-tier five-star Universe Country. The Long Teng Universe Country where Gu Ding lived was merely a two-star Universe Country, and the gap in strength between them was enormous. Generally speaking, five-star Universe Countries rarely dealt with those below four stars. They were the supreme overlords among Universe Countries. With gods stationed within them, they held overwhelming authority over every Universe Country below five stars.

Two-star Universe Countries like Long Teng usually existed under the protection of certain three-star Universe Countries. Three-star Universe Countries, in turn, existed under the protection of four-star Universe Countries. If the Fei Mei Universe Country truly wanted to establish diplomatic ties, it would have been enough to speak directly with the four-star Universe Country governing the Dragon Soaring Universe. To establish a long-term partnership, it was perfectly normal for a four-star Universe Country to hand over the jurisdiction of several two-star Universe Countries.

A five-star Universe Country taking the initiative to visit a two-star Universe Country was something Gu Ding had never heard of.

"Is this news reliable?" Gu Ding asked.

"I'm not sure. The access level for communications between Universe Countries is too high. I still can't break into it." This was the first time Sea Emperor had admitted in front of Gu Ding that there was something he could not do.

Gu Ding was a little stunned. Ever since meeting Sea Emperor, he had practically believed Sea Emperor to be omnipotent. Now, he finally knew there were things even Sea Emperor could not do.

"Improve your strength as quickly as possible. The higher your genetic level, the more permissions you can activate. I ran an estimate—once you reach the Tenth-Order Gene Body, the Long Teng Universe Country should hold no secrets from me." Sea Emperor's words left Gu Ding speechless.

A Tenth-Order Gene Body was far too distant for Gu Ding. Even someone like Uncle Kane, a powerhouse with a bounty of hundreds of millions, was only a Sixth-Order Gene Body. And a Sixth-Order Gene Body could already obtain the rank of Federal Colonel in the Long Teng Universe Country.

Thinking of that, Gu Ding felt a little depressed. "I still don't know when I'll break through to a Second-Order Gene Body. My Cell Comprehensive Index has already reached 19 points, but my genetic level still hasn't advanced. Luckily, practicing the Limitless Body Technique every day can strengthen my cells. Ordinary people usually break through once their Cell Comprehensive Index exceeds ten points."

"Your genetic condition is somewhat unusual..." Sea Emperor hesitated.

"Do you know something?" From Sea Emperor's tone, Gu Ding sensed that he seemed to know something about Gu Ding's genes.

"Your genes are in a sealed state, and there are two layers of seals. One is a Gene Lock you were born with, while the other is an artificial seal deliberately added later." Sea Emperor had detected Gu Ding's abnormality from the very beginning. "In fact, the main reason I acknowledged you as my master was because of this genetic condition."

"My genes are sealed. Is that a good thing?" Gu Ding frowned slightly. He had never paid much attention to the Gene Lock he had been born with. What concerned him was the artificial seal. Growing up, Old Dad had been his only family member, so Old Dad had most likely placed that seal on him as well. Old Dad must have had a reason... It's fine. Once I find him, I'll ask him face-to-face!

"Only those born with exceptionally powerful genes possess innate Gene Locks. Usually, such people have ancestors with beings as powerful as gods. Once an inheritor undergoes genetic atavism and inherits certain traits from divine genes, they will be born with this Gene Lock. If they do not actively break it before adulthood, then after they become adults, the terrifying power hidden in their genes will not only shatter the Gene Lock automatically, but also cause their genetic chains to break or even collapse. In that case, the inheritor will die beyond treatment within three days."

"As for artificial genetic seals, they were also an extremely powerful method during the Near Ancient Era." Sea Emperor continued, "Even if the person who cast one was not a god, their strength was probably infinitely close to that of a god. Artificial genetic seals are usually placed by elders on descendants who have awakened powerful genetic abilities. The purpose is to make them cultivate diligently and steadily, preventing them from relying too heavily on their special abilities and neglecting training. Such seals generally are not very powerful. Once the descendant's strength exceeds the seal's capacity, it will automatically be undone."

"So even if my Cell Comprehensive Index exceeds points, as long as the Gene Lock isn't removed, I still won't be able to break through to a Second-Order Gene Body? And I'll remain unable to awaken an ability?" Gu Ding frowned. If his genetic level could not advance, then the time when he awakened an ability would keep being delayed. Humans only had a certain chance of awakening special abilities when their genetic level advanced.

"If the Gene Lock isn't removed, it will be impossible for you to advance to a Second-Order Gene Body." Sea Emperor gave a definite answer. "However, people born with Gene Locks have a one hundred percent chance of gaining an ability once their genes are unlocked, and that ability will be incredibly powerful."

"I won't think about that for now. Morning exercise first, then breakfast." Gu Ding climbed out of bed. Morning runs were something he did every day. Although such exercise had almost no effect at his current cellular strength, it was still a good habit. And it was a habit Old Dad had forced him to develop.

After leaving home and jogging a lap, Sea Emperor's voice suddenly rang out. "Gu Ding, that news from this morning is true!"

"Which news?" Gu Ding asked absentmindedly.

"The news about the Fei Mei Universe Country Lord's visit. The Long Teng Country Lord has just issued a statement. The Fei Mei Universe Country has officially opened an Interstellar Route to the Long Teng Universe Country." There was a hint of excitement in Sea Emperor's voice.

"So that means Long Teng's Interstellar Pirates won't need to bypass three three-star Universe Countries and one four-star Universe Country anymore. They can enter the Universe Sea directly through the Fei Mei Universe Country's Five-Star Route?" Gu Ding's eyes lit up. "I've decided. I'm buying a Young Eagle and setting off right away!"

"Haven't you graduated yet?" Sea Emperor reminded him, feeling that Gu Ding seemed to have forgotten something.

"Mm. I'll go handle the withdrawal paperwork later." Gu Ding gave a shocking answer without the slightest hesitation. "The military academy's courses are basically over anyway. I already earned enough credits to graduate half a year ago. And I never planned to go to the Advanced Military Academy, so it doesn't matter whether I get that diploma or not. If the New Trade Route hadn't opened, it wouldn't have mattered if I left a few months later. After all, plenty of people had already traveled the routes ahead. But now that the New Trade Route has opened, I have to set out immediately and explore this new route that nobody has traveled before. I can't fall behind anyone else!"

(Ugh, the update is late again... This chapter serves as a transition, and I considered a lot while writing it, so I got a little stuck. I just saw that Brother Lonely also sent a reward. This writing circle really isn't that big, but as a small-time nobody, most of my friends in the circle are only acquaintances online. There aren't many I've actually met and eaten with, and Brother Lonely happens to be one of them. He's a great person. He introduced me to Brother Beacon and Brother Broken Bridge. Everyone has probably heard of his "Endless Sword Armor." Also, he recently started a new book, "Peerless Demon Master." Fantasy readers shouldn't miss it~~)