Gene Equipment

"Ji Zhixing!"

Back at school, after registering everyone's chosen genes, He Yanbing gave Ji Zhixing a cold look. "Come to my office!"

"Yes!"

Ji Zhixing nodded and followed He Yanbing into her office.

The office was small, with a desk, a few chairs, and several Gene Beast posters on the walls. He Yanbing sat behind her desk and took a sip of water, seemingly trying to compose herself.

Ji Zhixing stood to one side and waited quietly.

After a moment, He Yanbing set down her cup and looked up at him. "You said you heard the voice of the genes inside you. Can you tell me what abilities you need to develop to make your genes evolve?"

Ji Zhixing's eyes brightened slightly.

He knew that despite his homeroom teacher's icy expression, she had always been cold on the outside and warm at heart. Perhaps she was asking because she wanted to help him.

The three abilities I need to develop will be too difficult to manage on my own, Ji Zhixing thought. If my teacher can get me some funding from the school, things will be much easier.

He immediately said, "Ma'am, to evolve the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene into a Staff Soldier Stone Monkey, I need to develop three gene abilities: Stone Skin, Gigantification, and Innate Staff Heart."

"Both Stone Skin and Gigantification require Gene Potions to develop."

"Innate Staff Heart is a little simpler. My compatibility with the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene is very high. I only need to master a First-Order Two-Star Staff Art to develop Innate Staff Heart."

Innate Staff Heart was a passive gene ability. Such passive abilities were generally also called gene traits or gene talents.

Under normal circumstances, these gene abilities were very difficult to develop.

But his circumstances were anything but normal.

His compatibility with the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene was so high that developing any of its abilities would be much easier for him than for others.

Someone else who fused with the Three-Inch Stone Monkey Gene might fail to develop Innate Staff Heart even after mastering a first-order three-star or even four-star staff art.

He only needed to master a First-Order Two-Star Staff Art.

That was the advantage of high compatibility.

"Stone Skin, Gigantification, and Innate Staff Heart?"

He Yanbing frowned slightly as she repeated the names. "Are you certain you can develop Innate Staff Heart by mastering a First-Order Two-Star Staff Art?"

"Absolutely!"

Ji Zhixing answered without a trace of hesitation.

This was information he had obtained while listening to the voice of his genes.

Besides mastering gene abilities, Gene Cultivators could also practice certain Universal Skills. Staff arts were one such skill.

In this world, skills of all kinds, including gene abilities, differed not only in level but also in quality.

Differences in quality were classified by star ratings.

In theory, a skill's quality could reach ten stars.

But that was only theoretical.

In reality, abilities with five-star quality were already extremely rare.

He Yanbing considered this for a moment, then said slowly, "In that case, Stone Skin and Innate Staff Heart will be easier to manage. Gene Potions that let Gene Cultivators develop Stone Skin aren't too expensive on the market, but Gigantification..."

She paused and looked at Ji Zhixing. "The Gigantification Gene Potion is far too expensive. It's a rare ability-development potion."

"Here's what we'll do. I'll put in a request with the school and see whether they can offer you some help." After a few seconds of silence, He Yanbing sighed softly.

The resources Ji Zhixing needed were too valuable.

Especially the Gigantification Gene Potion.

If Ji Zhixing had displayed exceptional talent-for instance, if he had fused powerful second-order genes into both his gene apertures-the school would certainly have offered him some support.

Yet he had chosen a weak gene like the Three-Inch Stone Monkey for his first gene aperture...

She really couldn't say whether the school would help.

"Wait here. I'll go to the principal's office." He Yanbing stood and headed outside.

Ji Zhixing quickly said, "Thank you, ma'am."

He Yanbing waved a hand and walked out through the door.

Ji Zhixing sat down on a chair in the office, lost in thought.

My teacher really does treat me well. But will the school invest resources in a student who fused with a first-order gene?

He wasn't sure.

Still, he was grateful that He Yanbing was willing to plead his case.

The principal's office.

The principal of Rain City No. 3 High School was named Zhou Chenghong. He was a middle-aged man in his fifties, with slightly graying hair and a stern face.

He sat behind his desk, his brow gradually furrowing as he listened to He Yanbing.

"Ms. He, is this student you're talking about Ji Zhixing, the one who awakened a twin-core gene aperture but chose to fuse with a Three-Inch Stone Monkey?" Zhou Chenghong asked.

"Yes, Principal." He Yanbing nodded. "Although he chose a weak gene, his compatibility is as high as seventy-two percent. And he heard the gene's voice immediately after fusing with it. That shows he actually has tremendous potential."

"If the school could provide some resources to help him develop his gene abilities, he might truly be able to forge a different path."

Zhou Chenghong shook his head. "Ms. He, you know the school's resources are limited. A single Gigantification Gene Potion costs a hundred thousand. That's no small sum."

"If this student had fused with a powerful second-order gene, I'd certainly approve it. But a Three-Inch Stone Monkey? Even if he develops Gigantification, how strong could it possibly become?"

"Besides, can you be sure he's telling the truth?"

"But Principal, no matter what, he awakened a twin-core gene aperture! That talent is one in ten thousand. It would be such a shame to let it go to waste because he lacks resources!" He Yanbing argued.

"A twin-core gene aperture is indeed rare." Zhou Chenghong sighed. "But his choice was far too unwise. Ms. He, we can't spend the school's resources on him."

"Principal..."

"That's enough." Zhou Chenghong waved a hand. "The school won't approve a Gigantification Gene Potion, or a Stone Skin Gene Potion either. If you truly want to help him, you can request a piece of gene equipment from the school for him to borrow."

"But he can only borrow it for a month at most. If he can't develop Innate Staff Heart within that month, the equipment will be taken back."

"And if he does develop Innate Staff Heart?" He Yanbing's eyes lit up.

"Then come see me again."

Zhou Chenghong said it offhandedly.

"Thank you, Principal!" He Yanbing hurriedly expressed her thanks.

Zhou Chenghong waved a hand, indicating that she could leave.

"Innate Staff Heart?"

After He Yanbing left, Zhou Chenghong took a sip of tea. He had only agreed out of consideration for her.

As for Ji Zhixing, he truly had little faith in him.

"He awakened a twin-core gene aperture, a second-order gene aperture at that, yet chose a weak gene like the Three-Inch Stone Monkey..."

Zhou Chenghong shook his head.

Meanwhile, He Yanbing returned to her office and found Ji Zhixing sitting there quietly, waiting for her.

When Ji Zhixing saw her enter, he quickly stood. "Ma'am..."

He Yanbing waved a hand.

"The school wouldn't approve anything else," He Yanbing said frankly, hiding nothing. "I only managed to get you a piece of gene equipment."

"You can go to the school's Equipment Vault and choose a piece of gene equipment with Basic Staff Technique."

Gene equipment?

Ji Zhixing's eyes lit up.

After killing a Gene Beast, a Gene Cultivator could place it into a gene furnace to refine it.

This refining process had a chance of producing all kinds of things.

Various Gene Potions, for example.

Or gene equipment.

There was even a chance of producing exogenous genes that could grant Gene Cultivators other gene abilities.

"Thank you, ma'am!"

Warmth welled up in Ji Zhixing's heart, and he immediately thanked her.

"Don't celebrate just yet." He Yanbing shook her head. "The school is lending you this piece of gene equipment. You can only use it for one month."

"If you can develop Innate Staff Heart within that month and make rapid progress with your staff technique, I'll try to find another way to help you."

"If you can't..."

She stared at Ji Zhixing. "Then do as you're told and fuse with a second-order gene. Understood?"

"Understood! Thank you, ma'am!"

Ji Zhixing answered at once.

He Yanbing waved a hand. "All right, go. Just looking at you makes me angry. I've already registered you with the school, so you can go straight there to collect the equipment."

"Yes!" Ji Zhixing bowed to He Yanbing, then turned and left the office.

Outside the office building, the sunlight was somewhat dazzling.

Ji Zhixing took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

One month... Ji Zhixing silently told himself. I have to develop Innate Staff Heart within one month!

And then, the Staff Soldier Stone Monkey...