I Can Demonstrate My Staff Technique

"Well?" Liu Qifan smugly waved his wolf claws. "Impressive, right?"

Ji Zhixing nodded. "Pretty impressive."

"That was way too halfhearted." Liu Qifan rolled his eyes. "Once we get to school, we have to spar. I'll show you what I can really do!"

"What about you?" Liu Qifan retracted his wolf claws and asked curiously, "How's your staff training coming along? I heard you've been practicing in your neighborhood every day."

"Not bad," Ji Zhixing said.

"Not bad again?" Liu Qifan rolled his eyes. "Can't you say a little more?"

Ji Zhixing smiled without answering.

He was afraid of discouraging Liu Qifan.

Still, once I get to school, I'll have to show them my Basic Staff Technique.

Ji Zhixing sighed inwardly. The Black Longstaff the school lent me isn't much use to me anymore. I need to show them my worth and see if they'll lend me some better gene equipment.

After mastering the Basic Staff Technique, he could perform it with an ordinary wooden staff just as well, though he would lack the sense of being one with his weapon that the Black Longstaff provided.

The two chatted along the way and soon arrived at school.

Senior Class 5, Rain City No. 3 High School.

Over thirty students had gathered in the classroom, waiting for their teacher to arrive.

Ji Zhixing and Liu Qifan took their seats.

Ji Zhixing looked up and saw Huang Yu standing nearby, chatting and laughing with a few classmates, a confident smile on his face.

He had fused with a second-order lightning leopard gene.

On the other side of the room, Yu Zhirou sat quietly in her seat, her long hair falling over her shoulders, looking serene and composed. She had ultimately chosen to fuse with a second-order great wind bird gene.

Everyone else had fused with first-order genes.

There were tiger genes, giant strength turtle genes, black eagle genes...

All sorts of genes were represented.

"Let's wait. Once Ms. He gets here, she'll probably take us to the training grounds," Liu Qifan said quietly.

Ji Zhixing nodded without speaking.

Before long, He Yanbing entered the classroom.

She had changed into a fitted black training outfit. Her gaze swept over them. "Everyone, follow me."

With that, she turned and headed outside.

Everyone hurried after her and arrived at the training grounds.

The training grounds were spacious, with specially made tiles covering the floor and all sorts of training equipment arranged around the perimeter.

More than a dozen other teachers were already waiting there.

He Yanbing had everyone stand in a row, then began, "Starting today, the school will put you through two weeks of practical combat training."

"You've already fused with genes and gained gene abilities. But having an ability and knowing how to use it are two different things."

"Over these two weeks, the school will teach you how to fight, how to make the most of your strengths, and how to work with your teammates."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over them. "In two weeks, the school will take you outside the city to hunt gene beasts."

Her words immediately set off a flurry of discussion.

"Hunting outside the city?"

"Is it finally happening?"

"I don't think I'm mentally ready yet..."

Some were excited, their eyes shining.

Others looked frightened, their faces turning pale.

He Yanbing lowered her raised hand, signaling for silence.

"I know some of you are afraid," she said. "But remember, once you become a gene cultivator, dealing with gene beasts is inevitable."

"The sooner you face them, the sooner you'll adapt."

"Besides..." She looked at them, her tone softening a little. "You only have one month left in high school."

Everyone fell silent.

Yes, one month.

Those of them who had fused with first-order genes would graduate from high school in a month.

After that, they would all go their separate ways.

Only two people were exceptions.

Everyone looked at the two figures at the front of the group.

Huang Yu.

Yu Zhirou.

Both had fused with second-order genes and could continue their studies at the Gene University in Rain City Base.

In the future, those two would belong to a different world from their classmates who had fused with first-order genes.

At that thought, quite a few gazes turned toward Ji Zhixing.

"What a shame. Ji Zhixing could've joined those two, but he chose to fuse with a first-order gene."

"Chose to fuse with a first-order gene?"

"I think he probably awakened first-tier gene apertures in the first place-two of them, at that. Otherwise, why would he choose a first-order gene unless he was an idiot?"

Faint whispers drifted from around him.

Ji Zhixing heard them but remained completely unmoved.

It didn't matter if they guessed the truth.

His greatest hurdle had been his parents.

Now that he had gotten past that hurdle, all he needed to do was work hard to evolve his genes.

He Yanbing clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention back to her. "All right. Starting now, when I call your name, come forward one at a time and demonstrate the gene abilities you've mastered over the past three days."

"Let's see whether you've been slacking off."

She took out a booklet, ready to make notes.

"First, Huang Yu."

Huang Yu stepped forward and stood still.

He took a deep breath and abruptly activated his gene source energy.

Whoosh!

In the next instant, his figure flashed seven or eight meters away. He thrust out a hand, shaping it into a leopard claw that crackled with violet electricity, and swiped at the empty air.

"Second-order lightning leopard gene," Huang Yu said in a deep voice. "I've mastered three abilities: Leopard Speed, Leopard Claw, and violet lightning."

"He's so fast!"

Liu Qifan's expression shifted slightly as he watched Huang Yu's demonstration.

His Wolf Sprint was also a speed-based gene ability.

But it couldn't compare to Huang Yu's Leopard Speed at all.

He Yanbing nodded and noted it in her booklet. "Good. Keep working hard."

Huang Yu deactivated his abilities and stepped aside.

"Second, Yu Zhirou."

Yu Zhirou stepped forward and gently closed her eyes. A moment later, she waved her hand, sending a Wind Blade slashing ahead and carving ripples through the air.

Then she pushed off with her toes, leaped several meters forward, and landed lightly.

Her movements were completely unlike Huang Yu's sharp, aggressive motions.

"Second-order great wind bird gene," Yu Zhirou said softly. "I've only mastered Wind Blade and Light Body so far. I'm still not proficient with the other ability, Wind Envelopment."

He Yanbing's eyes lit up. "Very good. The great wind bird gene is an avian gene. Once you advance to the second order, you may gain the ability to fly."

Fusing with second-order genes merely gave Huang Yu and Yu Zhirou the potential to advance to the second order. Both still needed to cultivate before they could become second-order gene cultivators.

Even so, they had an enormous advantage over everyone else.

Unless the others could evolve their genes, they would remain at the first order for their entire lives.

"Next, Lu Yue!"

He Yanbing called another student forward.

At that, many people glanced at Ji Zhixing.

In the past, Ji Zhixing would certainly have been among the first three.

Ji Zhixing paid it no mind and waited quietly.

One after another, his classmates stepped forward. Liu Qifan also demonstrated his abilities.

Eventually, Ji Zhixing was the only person in the class who had yet to come forward.

"Ji Zhixing."

He Yanbing looked at him. "You fused with the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene. According to you, its only gene ability is stone heart. Since stone heart is a passive gene ability and difficult to demonstrate, I won't call you up."

His classmates paused briefly at her words, then looked at Ji Zhixing, some with sympathy and others with gloating amusement.

She won't call me up?

A thought stirred in Ji Zhixing's mind. That won't do! If I don't demonstrate my talent, how can I get the school to invest more in me?

"Ma'am, I can demonstrate my staff technique!"