Too difficult

"Something's off."

Chen Ye stirred inwardly. That rate of improvement...

Earlier, he had only given Ji Zhixing a casual glance and paid him little attention.

But now, Ji Zhixing's staff technique was clearly more practiced and natural than before.

And this time, Ji Zhixing clearly wasn't using gene equipment to assist him.

It felt like watching someone who had only just learned to walk suddenly break into a jog without anyone supporting them.

"What's wrong, Chen Ye?" The old man beside him, who had been chatting with someone, noticed his grandson's reaction and asked.

"Grandpa, do you know who that guy is? What gene did he fuse with?"

Chen Ye pointed at Ji Zhixing, who was practicing with his staff in the distance.

The old man followed his gaze and studied Ji Zhixing with narrowed eyes for a moment. "Oh, that boy. I've seen him a few times. He should live in Building Three. I heard he even awakened a second-order gene aperture."

"Why? Is something wrong with him?"

Chen Ye shook his head. "Nothing's wrong. He's just improving very quickly. He probably has some kind of staff technique gene talent."

"A staff technique talent?" The old man sounded surprised.

Chen Ye nodded, his gaze still resting on Ji Zhixing in the distance.

Among gene abilities, talents related to staff techniques were more sought after than ordinary abilities.

That was because a staff technique talent could allow a gene cultivator to master multiple staff techniques.

And each staff technique was effectively equivalent to a gene ability.

With that rate of improvement, I wonder what kind of second-order gene he fused with, Chen Ye thought.

Just then, Ji Zhixing stopped practicing in the clearing in the distance.

He leaned on his staff, panting lightly as beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks from his forehead. After resting for a moment, he looked up and happened to spot Chen Ye beneath the trees.

"That's..."

Ji Zhixing's gaze sharpened.

He knew that ugly face, with its crooked mouth and misaligned eyes, all too well.

"Chen Ye." Ji Zhixing recognized him immediately.

There were few people in the Rain-Listening Garden who didn't know Chen Ye, and he was no exception.

Having fused with a fourth-order Morning Star Rank gene, Chen Ye ranked among the outstanding members of the younger generation even across all of Rain City Base City.

Ji Zhixing's eyes flickered. He glanced at the sky, estimated that his mother would soon be getting off work, and, after a moment's thought, headed toward the shade.

"Hey, Chen Ye. You're back at the Rain-Listening Garden." Ji Zhixing greeted him with a smile.

Watching him approach, Chen Ye gave a slight nod. "You know me?"

"You're my idol," Ji Zhixing said with a smile. "Besides, there probably aren't many people in the Rain-Listening Garden who don't know you."

"Haha." Chen Ye laughed and waved a hand. "Forget all that idol stuff. We're neighbors. No need to be so formal."

He asked curiously, "I saw you practicing just now. Your staff technique is pretty good, and you awakened a second-order gene aperture, too. What gene did you fuse with?"

Sure enough, everyone asked that question.

Ji Zhixing didn't hide anything. "I did awaken a second-order gene aperture, but I fused with a first-order gene-the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene."

"A first-order gene? Three-Inch Stone Monkey?"

Chen Ye was stunned.

He had never even heard of that gene.

But the name alone told him it was a very weak one.

"Then your staff technique just now..." Chen Ye was puzzled.

Ji Zhixing had fused with such a weak gene, yet his staff technique was so fluid, and he was improving so quickly. It seemed contradictory.

"I place more importance on gene compatibility."

Ji Zhixing explained, "My compatibility with the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene is very high-seventy-two percent. I heard the gene's voice right after fusing with it."

"I'm practicing staff techniques to develop the Three-Inch Stone Monkey's latent innate staff heart talent."

"Also, the gene equipment my school lent me has helped me improve quickly."

"You could hear the gene's voice right after fusing with it? That's impressive!"

Chen Ye gave him a thumbs-up.

He couldn't agree with giving up a second-order gene for a weak first-order one just for compatibility, but he genuinely admired the decision.

And judging by Ji Zhixing's rate of improvement during his practice, he might really have a chance of developing the innate staff heart talent.

"Keep at it," Chen Ye encouraged him. "You've got to be a little crazy to make it. With that kind of resolve, you might reach even greater heights someday."

"Thanks," Ji Zhixing said with a smile. "But I only dared to try because I awakened dual gene apertures. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the courage."

"Dual gene apertures?"

This time, Chen Ye regarded Ji Zhixing more seriously.

They chatted about that for a while, and Chen Ye also asked about how things were going at Third Middle School.

He had graduated from Third Middle School himself and still felt a strong attachment to his alma mater.

As they spoke, Ji Zhixing caught sight of three familiar figures approaching in the distance.

They were his father, Ji Guodong, his mother, Zhang Yulan, and his younger sister, Ji Zhiyu.

All three had come home together.

Here they are! Ji Zhixing's heart stirred.

The very reason he had come over to greet Chen Ye was to wait for his parents to return and let them see him.

He turned to Chen Ye with a smile. "My parents are back. I'll be going now."

Chen Ye nodded. "Go ahead. We might see each other again before long."

Ji Zhixing paused, not understanding what Chen Ye meant. But he didn't dwell on it. He nodded and went to meet his parents and sister.

"Zhixing!"

Zhang Yulan had spotted her son talking to a young man from a distance. When she drew closer and realized it was Chen Ye, she was astonished.

"Zhixing, you know Chen Ye?" Zhang Yulan couldn't help asking.

"I didn't before," Ji Zhixing said. "I was practicing my staff technique just now, and he said I had a good talent, so we chatted for a bit."

"A good talent?"

Joy immediately appeared on Zhang Yulan's and Ji Guodong's faces.

Chen Ye was famous in the Rain-Listening Garden, a genius who had fused with a fourth-order Morning Star Rank gene. If he said their son had a good talent, it had to be true!

"Zhixing, what gene did you fuse with?" Zhang Yulan asked, full of anticipation.

Ji Guodong said nothing beside her, simply listening intently.

Ji Zhiyu also tilted her little face up to look at him.

Seeing their expectant gazes, Ji Zhixing felt a surge of complicated emotions.

"Mom, there's something I need to tell you." Ji Zhixing drew a deep breath. "I didn't fuse with a second-order gene. I fused with a first-order one."

The smile froze on Zhang Yulan's face.

"A first-order gene?" she murmured.

Ji Zhixing nodded and explained everything: why he had chosen the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene, his plans to develop its abilities, and his intention to evolve the gene.

After hearing him out, Zhang Yulan stood frozen.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Although she wasn't a gene cultivator, she knew that everyone fused with the highest-order gene they could. Yet her son...

Beside her, Ji Guodong's breathing quickened as well.

Ji Zhiyu stole a glance at her parents' faces, then lowered her head, not daring to speak.

"Mom, Dad," Ji Zhixing explained again, "you don't need to worry. I haven't told you before, but I awakened dual gene apertures."

"Think of this fusion with the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene as an experiment."

"If it doesn't work out, I'll fuse with a second-order gene after a while."

"Dual gene apertures?" Zhang Yulan looked slightly dazed.

"Yes." Ji Zhixing nodded.

As he spoke, he willed his second gene aperture to activate.

A hazy ring of light instantly appeared at his dantian, radiating a gentle glow.

"Besides, because of my talent, the school specifically lent me a piece of gene equipment to help me develop my gene abilities," Ji Zhixing continued.

With another thought, the Black Longstaff instantly emerged from within his body and appeared in his hand.

"So, Mom, Dad, you can rest easy."

Looking at the empty gene aperture at Ji Zhixing's dantian and the staff that had suddenly appeared in his hand, Ji Guodong and Zhang Yulan finally regained some of their spirits.

Dual gene apertures?

The school valued him?

That meant there was still hope!

Besides, Chen Ye had said their son was talented. Perhaps he really could evolve the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene.

"All right. Since you've chosen this path, keep going. It's just that we probably won't be able to help you much from here on," Ji Guodong said, patting Ji Zhixing's shoulder.

"Mom, Dad!" Warmth welled up in Ji Zhixing's heart. He nodded. "Don't worry. I won't disappoint you, and I won't keep you waiting too long."

"Chen Ye, you said that boy had a good talent. Does he really have a chance of evolving his gene?"

In the distance, Chen Ye's grandfather asked him.

"He does have a chance."

Chen Ye glanced at the elderly men and women around them and answered with a smile.

With so many people there, that was all he could say.

In theory, everyone had a chance of evolving their genes.

In reality, although he thought well of Ji Zhixing, he knew it was far too difficult.