A Leap Through the Ranks

"Cheng Qi, I knew you'd make it out alive!"

"I was just kidding!"

"But don't blame us, okay? You bastard were out cold for a whole forty-eight hours!"

Foolish Boy scratched his metal head with a metal finger and chuckled.

"Is that your excuse for cremating me?"

Cheng Qi sighed helplessly. "Still, I actually slept for forty-eight hours? That means the Gray Storm is almost over?"

"Ah!"

Xiao Qiong seemed to have spotted something unbelievable. Looking at Cheng Qi's face, she suddenly covered her mouth.

"Your eyes have changed!"

Foolish Boy reacted quickly too, finding a smooth piece of metal to use as a mirror and holding it in front of Cheng Qi.

Cheng Qi looked at his reflection, and his eyes suddenly widened.

Secret delight erupted inside him like a flash flood.

A pale blue ring glowed in each of his pupils, crystalline, noble, and deep.

In the society of today.

This meant status, respect-everything!

"I went from a natural human to an E-Level gene bearer?!"

Cheng Qi's eyes widened further. He pinched his thigh hard, afraid this was a dream that would vanish the next second.

As far as Cheng Qi knew.

An E-Level gene bearer was defined as someone whose genes were excellent overall, without any defects.

Their intelligence, physique, and personality were all outstanding. They could adapt to various environments and challenges, and achieve considerable success through their own efforts.

In other words, E-Level gene bearers were not earth-shattering superhumans. The definition was closer to the best among humanity.

Then... what's going on with my physical abilities?

Puzzled, Cheng Qi blinked instinctively.

That simple blink brought a sudden succession of images flashing through his mind.

A DNA double helix rotated quietly in the void, radiating a magnificent, mysterious glow.

At the same time, certain sections of that DNA kept breaking apart and recombining.

These images seemed to be memories from his time unconscious, slowly resurfacing now.

When Cheng Qi shook his head and opened his eyes again.

His entire body froze!

His eyes widened as far as they could, as though he had seen something utterly impossible.

In the mirror.

Another blue ring had actually appeared in his pupils.

Two rings!

Cheng Qi stared at his reflection, his mind reeling. "I jumped straight to D-Level genes!"

D-Level gene bearers displayed exceptional talents in specific areas, such as a profound understanding of a particular academic discipline, or a clear advantage in sports, music, or art!

D-Level gene bearers were also commonly known as those with elite genes.

They stood in the upper ranks of human civilization.

Conglomerate bosses, musicians, scientists, or powerful political heavyweights!

They could achieve success more easily than ordinary people, and gain power and status more readily.

This was also why higher-level gene bearers were so respected.

"Can a D-Level gene bearer really move as fast as I did just now?"

Cheng Qi was puzzled.

At that very moment, he felt slightly dizzy.

Images flashed through his mind again.

The magnificent DNA double helix shimmered, spinning faster and faster as more and more sections recombined!

Cheng Qi's brain felt painfully starved of oxygen, and he even began seeing double.

The sensation lasted almost a minute.

Only then did Cheng Qi's vision slowly clear, the objects before him gradually returning to normal.

At that instant, Cheng Qi felt as though lightning had struck him, and once again stood as still as a statue.

In the mirror, he saw... a third faint ring appearing in his pupils!

The ring slowly solidified from a hazy outline, gradually emitting a deep blue glow!

"I... jumped three levels?!"

Cheng Qi was dumbstruck. "I've become a C-Level gene bearer! C-Level! C... Level!"

C-Level genes were also known as exceptional genes.

These people often possessed outstanding talents in multiple fields. With effort and opportunity, they could potentially reach the very pinnacle of human power and status.

C-Level genes also marked a dividing line.

Starting at this level, a gene bearer's physique began undergoing a kind of transformation as it broke through the limits of DNA.

For example, they could gain greater strength, speed, endurance, and agility.

"No wonder I could move like that."

"It was because of the traits of C-Level genes!"

Cheng Qi found it unbelievable. "Then that means my future @￥@%￥...￥...&**..."

His speech suddenly became garbled.

He had abruptly discovered that large amounts of thick, black fluid were pouring from every pore in his body.

The same thing was happening in his mouth, which had already begun foaming.

"Purifying my body and marrow, huh..."

"Expelling impurities, huh..."

"What a tired old cliché..."

"Author, you #￥%%...&****!"

Almost every kind of system optimization shared one step: removing impurities.

It seemed to be an eternal truth: discard the old to establish the new, cleanse first and improve afterward!

Besides, Cheng Qi had not eaten any decent food for years.

Expired products and low-quality energy bars almost always contained impurities and harmful substances.

A large quantity of toxins had accumulated in his body, and now they were finally being cleared out all at once.

Using the shower system in the Earth Dragon King's expandable living quarters.

Cheng Qi enjoyed a comfortable, thoroughly cleansing shower.

The instant he stepped out of the shower.

He felt as though the clouds had parted to reveal the sunrise. His body was light as a feather, his spirits refreshed, and his mind clear.

Looking at himself in the mirror.

Cheng Qi discovered that his skin had become much fairer and smoother.

His features were also more sharply defined. Enhanced by the three blue rings, his eyes had grown deep and dark, conveying an indescribable air of nobility.

Although Cheng Qi had yet to undergo any systematic training and had not fully brought out the enhancements granted by his C-Level genes.

He could already faintly make out the contours of his muscles, like a sculpture beginning to take shape.

His chest, abs, and other muscle groups rose in subtle definition, handsome and supple, yet brimming with strength.

"I finally understand just how useless I used to be."

"And I finally understand why so many ordinary people give everything they have, do everything they can, and still can't escape the word 'mediocre.'"

"In the old era, people were born with genetic differences."

"And now, there's even such a thing as genetic science."

"Because the gap created by genes is an utterly insurmountable gulf!"

Cheng Qi felt clearheaded and full of energy. A brilliant gleam burst from his eyes. "This feels incredible."