"How many?!"
"4,800 times."
Yan Ning repeated honestly.
Venerable Jinyu stared at him for a full three seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing. "Good! Good! My disciple, Jinyu's, really is extraordinary!"
He patted Yan Ning on the shoulder, his eyes full of approval. "You've actually turned disaster into a blessing. A 4,800-fold gene level is among the very best even for special life-forms!"
Yan Ning scratched his head and chuckled. "Then, Teacher, am I still considered a member of the human race?"
Venerable Jinyu's smile faded, and he said solemnly, "Though the Flame God Clan has defected from humanity, you weren't involved, and you've been out of contact the whole time. The Virtual Universe Company naturally won't hold it against you. Still, you'll need to state your position yourself."
Yan Ning nodded firmly.
"I wish to remain with the human race."
"Good!"
Venerable Jinyu laughed heartily.
Naturally, he didn't want his precious disciple getting involved with the Flame God Clan now. Relations between humanity and the Flame God Clan were extremely tense.
If not for that man... perhaps the Flame God Clan would already have ceased to exist.
It was as if he had suddenly remembered something.
Venerable Jinyu's smile vanished, and his expression grew more serious. "By the way, there's one more thing. The City Lord of Primal Chaos just sent word, asking you to go to the City Lord's Manor."
Yan Ning's heart skipped a beat. He had a guess as to why.
Was it because the commotion from his gene evolution had been so great, or because of his identity as a member of the Flame God Clan?
It was probably the former. After all, the increase in his gene level was simply too outrageous.
Venerable Jinyu seemed to see his concern. He smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. It's nothing bad."
Yan Ning's gaze shifted slightly. "What do you mean, Teacher...?"
Venerable Jinyu nodded. "Your gene level has now reached 4,800 times. Do you understand what that means? Even among special life-forms, that puts you among the very best! It's only natural that the City Lord of Primal Chaos would be interested in you. As long as you still consider yourself human, the City Lord won't do anything to you."
Yan Ning felt somewhat relieved, though he was still a little uneasy.
After all, the City Lord of Primal Chaos was one of humanity's most powerful Universe Masters. He controlled the Primal Universe, and his strength was unfathomable.
The thought of facing him made Yan Ning nervous.
"I understand, Teacher."
Yan Ning replied respectfully.
Venerable Jinyu patted him on the shoulder, his voice gentle. "Go. Remember, whatever the City Lord of Primal Chaos asks, just answer truthfully. With your talent, humanity's upper echelons will certainly take notice of you."
Yan Ning nodded, then turned and left the hall, heading toward the City Lord's Manor.
At the heart of Primal Chaos City, the City Lord's Manor rose majestically, surrounded by faint streams of chaos energy, as if it were one with the entire Primal Universe.
Yan Ning stood before the manor, his thoughts churning.
How would the City Lord of Primal Chaos regard him?
As a potential threat from the Flame God Clan, or as a future powerhouse of humanity?
As he pondered, the manor's gates opened soundlessly. A gentle voice, yet one imbued with supreme authority, echoed in his mind. "Come in."
Yan Ning steadied himself and stepped inside.
Within the manor, chaos energy swirled around a blurry figure seated upon a throne, as if resonating with the laws of the entire universe.
Even though he couldn't make out the figure's face, Yan Ning could feel its vast, star-sea-like pressure.
He bowed respectfully. "Human Yan Ning pays his respects to the City Lord!"
The City Lord of Primal Chaos fixed his gaze on him, as if he could see through everything.
After a moment, that voice sounded again. "A 4,800-fold gene level. Not bad."
The simple assessment made Yan Ning's heart jolt. As expected, nothing could be hidden from him. Yan Ning hadn't even said anything, yet the City Lord of Primal Chaos had seen it at a glance. In the Primal Universe, the City Lord of Primal Chaos was practically a god.
The City Lord of Primal Chaos continued, "Though the Flame God Clan has defected from humanity, you weren't involved, and your talent is exceptional. Humanity should cherish you."
Yan Ning felt somewhat relieved, but the City Lord of Primal Chaos's next words made him tense all over.
"However, your gene level has reached its current state. Would you tell me how that happened?"
Yan Ning repeated what he had told Venerable Jinyu earlier.
The City Lord of Primal Chaos didn't know whether it was true, but if Yan Ning didn't want to say, he wouldn't force him.
Whether out of consideration for Venerable Jinyu or because of Yan Ning's current standing.
After Yan Ning finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the hall. The chaos energy flowed slowly, as if time itself had slowed.
The City Lord of Primal Chaos's gaze remained deep, but the invisible pressure gradually receded.
"Since you've had your own encounter, then that is your opportunity."
The City Lord of Primal Chaos spoke calmly, yet with authority.
"Humanity won't force its members to reveal every secret. As long as your heart remains with the human race, that is enough."
Yan Ning felt a little more at ease and replied solemnly, "I have always been proud to be human."
The City Lord of Primal Chaos nodded slightly. "Very good."
He paused, then added, "Your gene level has reached 4,800 times. But as powerful as your genes are, true combat strength also depends on your comprehension of the laws, secret techniques, and treasures. You must not slack off."
"I understand."
Yan Ning replied respectfully.
"You may go."
The City Lord of Primal Chaos said mildly.
"Jinyu will arrange the next steps for you."
As he spoke, the chaos energy around them stirred faintly, as if signaling that the conversation was over.
Yan Ning bowed once more. "Thank you, City Lord."
Then he slowly withdrew from the hall. Only after leaving the City Lord's Manor did he let out a long breath. The battle armor on his back was soaked with cold sweat.
"As expected of the City Lord of Primal Chaos..."
Yan Ning reflected.
"In his presence, I could barely even summon the thought of resisting."
Still, things had gone much better than he had expected.
The City Lord of Primal Chaos hadn't probed into his secret. Instead, he had tacitly approved of Yan Ning's growth.
"It seems the value of a 4,800-fold gene level is even greater than I thought. Or perhaps the City Lord of Primal Chaos is more magnanimous than I imagined."
He looked up at the clearly visible laws of the universe above Primal Chaos City, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Now that humanity's upper echelons were willing to accept him, the path ahead was much clearer.
Become stronger!
With his talent, as long as he didn't fall along the way, becoming a Universe Venerable was almost certain. And perhaps... becoming a Universe Master wasn't out of reach either!
What's more, he had awakened a system!
He would have to study it carefully when he got back.
"I should go back and find Teacher first."
Yan Ning composed himself and flew toward Venerable Jinyu's palace.
Meanwhile, deep within the City Lord's Manor,
the City Lord of Primal Chaos remained seated on his throne.
To be honest, he was quite interested in Yan Ning.
After all, Yan Ning was the second being, after Yan Di, to surpass a hundredfold gene level.
He knew Yan Di very well. His gene level had definitely reached at least ten thousand times.
With all his treasures, his combat strength rivaled that of a fourth-tier Universe Master!
He was in a completely different league from the rest of the Flame God Clan.
And now Yan Ning had become the second!
He couldn't help but equate Yan Ning's potential with Yan Di's.
In other words, Yan Ning had a chance of becoming a Universe Master.
That was enough to make him take Yan Ning seriously.
Fortunately, for now, it seemed Yan Ning felt far more attached to humanity than to the Flame God Clan.
Before you continue