Handling it

The conversation between Ji Zhixing and He Yanbing drew the attention of quite a few students.

When they saw the ring of light at Ji Zhixing's dantian, they froze before breaking into an uproar.

"A twin-core gene aperture!" a girl from Ji Zhixing's class exclaimed. "Ji Zhixing actually awakened a twin-core gene aperture? How did he keep that under wraps? All this time, and he never breathed a word!"

"A twin-core gene aperture! That's a one-in-ten-thousand talent. Fuse two core genes, and you're practically unbeatable at the same tier!"

"Did you hear that?"

Another boy, wearing a Third Middle School uniform, stared wide-eyed. "Ji Zhixing fused a first-order gene? Didn't he awaken a second-order gene aperture?"

"What a waste! A twin-core gene aperture, and a second-order one at that, yet he fused a first-order gene-and a useless one like the Three-Inch Stone Monkey!"

"Exactly! What a waste! A twin-core gene aperture, squandered just like that!"

Comments rose from every direction.

Gaze after gaze settled on Ji Zhixing, some shocked, some envious, some confused, and some quietly shaking their heads in regret.

He Yanbing stared blankly at the ring of light at Ji Zhixing's dantian, speechless for a moment.

Only after a long pause did she take a deep breath and fix him with a conflicted look. "Your second gene aperture is also a second-order gene aperture?"

Ji Zhixing nodded. "Yes."

"Go!" He Yanbing pointed toward the second floor, raising her voice. "Get upstairs right now and bond with a second-order gene!"

Ji Zhixing sighed inwardly.

Just as I thought. Ms. He still won't let it go.

Seeing the exasperation on He Yanbing's face, he knew she wanted what was best for him.

But there really was nothing he could do.

After all, he had only awakened first-tier gene apertures. Fusing a second-order gene was simply impossible.

"Ma'am," Ji Zhixing said earnestly, "please let me wait a little longer. If my Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene can't evolve, I'll definitely fuse a second-order gene next time."

"Next time?" He Yanbing's chest heaved with anger. "So if your Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene does evolve, you intend to fuse another first-order gene next time?"

"Ma'am, when I was choosing a gene just now, my second gene aperture reacted to another gene too. Its compatibility was also above seventy percent."

After explaining, Ji Zhixing paused, then added, "And I've already heard the voice of my gene."

"What?"

He Yanbing froze.

Ji Zhixing said slowly, "I already know the next evolutionary path for the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene."

"Heard the voice of your gene?"

He Yanbing looked stunned.

The surrounding students began talking again.

"He heard his gene's voice already? Didn't he only just fuse it?"

"He must be lying, right? After my brother fused his gene, it took him a full three months to hear its voice for the first time!"

"High compatibility does let you hear a gene's voice sooner. Didn't he just say he had seventy-two percent compatibility with this gene?"

"But that's still way too fast! Hearing it right after fusion? How is that possible?"

Just then, a middle-aged man heard the commotion and walked over. "Ms. He, what's going on?" As he asked, he looked at Ji Zhixing.

He Yanbing took a deep breath.

She suppressed her emotions. "Ji Zhixing, you said you heard your gene's voice. Then what is your Three-Inch Stone Monkey's evolutionary path?"

Ji Zhixing did not conceal it. "Staff Soldier Stone Monkey."

"Staff Soldier Stone Monkey?"

Both He Yanbing and the middle-aged teacher froze.

The surrounding students exchanged bewildered looks.

The middle-aged teacher turned toward the metal platform in front of Ji Zhixing. The evolutionary paths displayed on its light screen were perfectly clear.

Three-Inch Stone Monkey King Gene, Stone Spirit Monkey Gene.

There was no such thing as a Staff Soldier Stone Monkey listed.

He Yanbing looked over too, her brows knitting slightly.

"Staff Soldier Stone Monkey? That's not on here," a student murmured.

"I've never heard of that gene either."

"Could he have misheard?"

He Yanbing looked at Ji Zhixing with doubt in her eyes. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Ji Zhixing met her gaze, his eyes resolute.

He Yanbing stared at him for a full three seconds. At last, she parted her lips, then sighed helplessly.

Her emotions were a tangled mess. A twin-core gene aperture, yet he just had to choose the hardest path. Evolving a weak gene like the Three-Inch Stone Monkey? Easier said than done!

But there was little more she could say.

Gene fusion was, after all, a cultivator's own choice.

As his teacher, she could guide him and offer advice, but she could not forcefully interfere.

"Fine." He Yanbing waved a hand, resignation in her voice. "As long as you've thought it through. Remember what you said. If the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene can't evolve, you must fuse a second-order gene next time."

Ji Zhixing felt relieved and nodded. "Thank you, ma'am."

The middle-aged teacher shook his head beside them, gave Ji Zhixing a somewhat regretful look, then turned and left.

Seeing that the spectacle was over, the surrounding students dispersed as well, though every so often someone still glanced back at Ji Zhixing and whispered about him.

A little over an hour later, all the students had finished choosing their genes.

Some were delighted, while others were disappointed.

Regardless, their gene-fusion trip had finally come to an end.

Everyone boarded the school buses and set off back to school.

On the bus, Huang Yu and Yu Zhirou squeezed in beside Ji Zhixing and sat down.

Huang Yu looked at Ji Zhixing with a conflicted expression. He opened his mouth but did not know what to say.

Although he and Yu Zhirou had been choosing genes upstairs when the incident happened on the first floor, they had heard about it afterward.

News that Ji Zhixing had awakened twin-core gene apertures and chosen the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene had long since spread to everyone who had come to select a gene.

"Zhixing..." Huang Yu finally managed to get the words out. "You really kept us in the dark! Twin-core gene apertures-that's huge, and you didn't say a word?"

"It was a big deal before, but after I chose the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene, it stopped being one," Ji Zhixing said naturally. "Who knows how many people are talking about me now, saying I've squandered my talent."

"And you can still stay this calm?"

Huang Yu looked baffled.

"Because I genuinely think gene compatibility matters more." Ji Zhixing looked at Huang Yu, his tone calm. "And I really did hear the voice of the gene inside me."

Huang Yu did not know what to say.

Gene compatibility certainly mattered, but the textbooks all said that if you could fuse a higher-grade gene, you should.

Now, unless Ji Zhixing fused a second-order gene into his second gene aperture, the gap between them would probably only keep widening.

The twin-core gene apertures are real, but the second-order gene apertures... Sitting a short distance away, Yu Zhirou glanced at Ji Zhixing without saying anything.

She kept feeling that Ji Zhixing would not be so foolish as to choose a first-order gene when he knew perfectly well that second-order genes were vastly stronger.

Unless the gene apertures he had awakened were not second-order at all.

If that was true, Ji Zhixing would probably never be able to catch up with her and Huang Yu.