Choice

Ji Zhixing followed He Yanbing out of the training grounds and headed toward the office building.

"We won't go to the office. Give me that staff of yours," He Yanbing suddenly said as they reached the office building.

Ji Zhixing paused in surprise, but nodded anyway. With a thought, the Black Longstaff instantly emerged from his body and appeared in his hand.

He handed the staff to He Yanbing.

"Wait here." He Yanbing took the staff and glanced at it. "I'm going to the principal's office."

With that, she left with the staff, leaving Ji Zhixing alone.

Is Miss He... going to apply for better equipment for me? Ji Zhixing wondered as he watched her leave.

There are tier-one, two-star staff technique legacies online, but they're too difficult to learn. Gene equipment with a built-in tier-one, two-star staff technique would be an enormous help.

I mastered the Basic Staff Technique in just three days. There should be a decent chance of getting this application approved.

Ji Zhixing took a deep breath and suppressed his anticipation.

His gene furnace was different from everyone else's. Once he refined a piece of gene equipment, he could control it perfectly, which greatly helped him cultivate the general-purpose abilities built into it.

The principal's office.

Zhou Chenghong was reviewing documents. Hearing a knock, he said, "Come in," without looking up.

He Yanbing pushed open the door and entered.

"Principal." He Yanbing walked up to the desk.

Zhou Chenghong looked up. Seeing He Yanbing, he put down his pen. "Miss He, what is it?"

"It's about Ji Zhixing," He Yanbing said.

"Ji Zhixing?" Zhou Chenghong frowned slightly. "Him again?"

He Yanbing nodded. "During training today, I had the students demonstrate the gene abilities they'd mastered over the past three days. Ji Zhixing demonstrated his staff technique."

"Oh?" Zhou Chenghong showed some interest. "How well has he learned it?"

"In three days, starting from scratch, he's completely mastered the Basic Staff Technique," He Yanbing said.

Surprise flickered in Zhou Chenghong's eyes. "Three days? Are you serious?"

"Yes." He Yanbing nodded. "Not just me-the dozen or so teachers at the training grounds and every student in Class Two witnessed it."

Zhou Chenghong was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Then this Ji Zhixing really does have some talent for staff techniques."

"Yes, Principal." He Yanbing struck while the iron was hot. "When he said he could hear the voice of his gene and wanted to develop the innate staff heart talent, I had my doubts too."

"But mastering the Basic Staff Technique in three days proves that he really does have potential in this area."

"With more resources supporting him, he might actually be able to evolve his Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene."

After hearing He Yanbing out, Zhou Chenghong shook his head.

"Miss He, I understand what you mean," he said. "By your account, that Ji Zhixing certainly has talent for staff techniques."

"But you know how difficult gene evolution is. That alone doesn't prove he can evolve his gene."

He paused and looked at He Yanbing. "Most importantly, he doesn't have that much time left."

He Yanbing faltered slightly, then fell silent.

She knew what Zhou Chenghong meant.

Ji Zhixing would graduate from high school in a month.

Within that month, he needed to accomplish three things: develop his stone skin ability, develop his Gigantification ability, and develop his innate staff heart ability.

Only then would he have a chance of evolving his Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene into a Pikeman Stone Monkey Gene.

Only then would he qualify to pursue further studies at Gene University.

One month to develop three abilities and evolve his gene.

That was harder than climbing to heaven.

"The school's resources are available for use," Zhou Chenghong continued. "But only for students with a chance of entering Gene University."

"That way, once they enter university, our Third Middle School can receive resource rewards from the Education Bureau."

"The path Ji Zhixing chose is too difficult. There's no way he can enter Gene University a month from now."

"Under those circumstances, practically every resource the school invests in nurturing him will be a resource lost."

"You must understand that the school's resources are limited. Investing in him means reducing our investment in others. That would be unfair to them."

He Yanbing felt helpless.

Zhou Chenghong's words sounded lofty and righteous, but she knew the Education Bureau distributed vast quantities of resources every year, and only a portion ever went to the students.

Most of those resources simply vanished into thin air.

"Principal." He Yanbing took a deep breath. "If other resources are out of the question, surely I can apply for a piece of gene equipment with a built-in tier-one, two-star staff technique for him?"

Zhou Chenghong considered it for a moment, then nodded. "That's fine. He is one of our students, after all, and he has talent. We should still give him whatever support we can."

"But make this clear to him: he can use the equipment, but he must return it to the school before graduation."

He Yanbing felt a weight lift from her heart. "Thank you, Principal!"

Zhou Chenghong waved a hand. "Go on."

He Yanbing left the principal's office and hurried back to the front of the office building, where she found Ji Zhixing.

"Miss He." Ji Zhixing hurried over to meet her.

"Come with me." Without elaborating, He Yanbing turned and walked away.

Ji Zhixing blinked. "Miss He, where are we going?"

"The Equipment Vault. We're getting you a replacement."

Ji Zhixing's heart leaped. "Thank you so much, Miss He," he said at once.

He Yanbing nodded without saying anything more.

Soon, the two arrived at the Equipment Vault.

It was the same small three-story building, with the same teacher on duty.

"Mr. Tian." He Yanbing walked inside and nodded to the teacher.

"Miss He." Mr. Tian greeted her with a smile, then glanced at Ji Zhixing beside her.

"I've brought Ji Zhixing to choose a piece of tier-one, two-star gene equipment." He Yanbing handed over the Black Longstaff. "I've already discussed it with the principal. Please take this Black Longstaff back and register it as returned, too."

"Sure, no problem." Mr. Tian took the staff, inspected it, and recorded its return before leading them into the storeroom.

The Equipment Vault was more spacious than Ji Zhixing had imagined. Rows of metal racks stood neatly aligned, holding all sorts of gene equipment.

There were sabers, swords, spears, shields, helmets, armor, bracers, shoes, necklaces, and more.

Beside each piece of equipment was a small label listing its name, tier, quality, and abilities.

Mr. Tian led them to a row of racks and stopped.

"Our school has limited resources. We only have three pieces of equipment with two-star staff techniques." He pointed at the three long staves before them. "They're all here."

Ji Zhixing looked up.

Three long staves lay side by side on the rack, each with a different design.

The first was pitch-black throughout, with a straight shaft covered in fine patterns. Faint dark-red spots were visible on its surface, like dried bloodstains.

Its label read Army-Breaking Staff, with a built-in tier-one, two-star Army-Breaking Staff Technique.

The second staff was pale blue, its shaft long and slender. Ripple-like patterns covered its surface, giving it a gentle, mellow appearance.

Its label read Tidehearing Staff, with a built-in tier-one, two-star Tide-Listening Staff Technique.

The third staff was earthen yellow, its shaft thick and heavy. It looked solid and sturdy, giving an impression of indestructibility.

Its label read Bedrock Staff, with a built-in tier-one, two-star Stonewall Staff Technique.

"These three staves offer three staff techniques," Mr. Tian explained. "The Army-Breaking Staff Technique emphasizes offense. It's fierce and overpowering, driving forward without retreat."

"The Tide-Listening Staff Technique produces the sound of tides with each strike, disrupting an opponent's concentration."

"The Stonewall Staff Technique emphasizes defense, turning defense into offense and standing steady as bedrock."

He looked at Ji Zhixing. "Take your pick."

Ji Zhixing stepped forward and carefully examined the three staves.

Three staff techniques... Which one should I choose?

He reached out and gently ran his hand over the three staves, sensing their auras.

My goal isn't to learn the most powerful staff technique. It's to develop the innate staff heart talent as soon as possible.

So I don't need the strongest Staff Technique, just the easiest to practice.

He raised his head and looked at Mr. Tian. "Sir, may I ask which of these three staff techniques is easiest to learn?"

Mr. Tian paused in surprise, then understood.

"The easiest?" He thought for a moment. "The Army-Breaking Staff Technique and the Stonewall Staff Technique are about the same. Both are fairly conventional. Just practice them step by step."

"The Tide-Listening Staff Technique is the hardest, because you have to match the rhythm of the tides. It demands more talent."

"If you just want to master a staff technique as quickly as possible, choose either Army-Breaking or Stonewall."

Ji Zhixing nodded and looked at the two staves again.

The Army-Breaking Staff Technique emphasized offense, fierce and overpowering.

The Stonewall Staff Technique emphasized defense, steady as bedrock.

On the Three-Inch Stone Monkey's evolution path, after it becomes a Staff Soldier Stone Monkey, repeated evolutions can eventually turn it into a Battle-Fighting Divine Monkey.

And just from the name, the Battle-Fighting Divine Monkey is clearly a type geared toward combat and offense.

If I want to follow that path, an offensive staff technique will definitely suit me better.

Ji Zhixing's gaze settled on the Army-Breaking Staff.