Chapter 18: Teaming Up

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Teaming Up

Ten days later.

On the training ground, Ji Zhixing held the Breaking Army Rod, practicing the Eight Breaking Army Strikes over and over again. Shattering Void, Earth Shaker, Startling Thunder... he forged ahead with indomitable will, invincible and unmatched. He repeated the moves form after form, time and time again.

Ji Zhixing stopped his movements and leaned on the long staff, panting slightly. He pondered, "I’ve practiced the Eight Breaking Army Strikes countless times. I know every form by heart and can execute them with my eyes closed. When holding the Breaking Army Rod, I can also feel the guidance of that army-breaking will, boosting the power of my technique far beyond a basic staff technique. But..."

He frowned, a wave of confusion rising in his heart. "As soon as I put down the Breaking Army Rod and switch to an ordinary long staff, I’m completely unable to integrate that will into my technique. Even if the moves are identical, and even if I exert force in the exact same way, the power is vastly diminished without that army-breaking will. It becomes no different from a basic staff technique. What exactly is missing?"

"Is it because my will isn’t resolute enough? Or is there a deviation in my understanding of the army-breaking will?" he wondered, shaking his head. He had no answer for now.

"Don’t overthink it." A burly, dark-faced man walked over. It was Teacher Sun, who also used a long staff as his weapon.

Teacher Sun’s full name was Sun Dajun, and he had fused with a Tier One Giant Mountain Boar Gene. However, through years of cultivation, he had mastered a basic staff technique, a basic fist technique, and a basic footwork technique. He had also mastered a Tier One Two-Star Staff Technique and a Tier One Two-Star Fist Technique. Coupled with his rich combat experience, he was more than qualified to be a teacher at the Third High School.

"When I first practiced the Boulder Staff Technique, it took me seven or eight years. I practiced day and night before I finally succeeded. How long have you been at it?" Sun Dajun shook his head. "It doesn’t matter how good your talent is; without at least a year of practice, you shouldn’t even think about mastering it."

He thought highly of Ji Zhixing. The boy was hardworking, polite, and genuinely gifted in staff techniques. However, a Tier One Two-Star Staff Technique wasn’t something that could be easily mastered just by having a bit of talent.

Sun Dajun continued, "Some say that cultivating general skills relies mainly on comprehension. But how could the majority of us possess such strong comprehension abilities? Back then, someone told me that to master the Boulder Staff Technique, I needed to comprehend the concept of being as steady as a boulder. They suggested I practice at the foot of a massive mountain or in an area filled with large rocks.

"I followed their advice for several months but gained absolutely nothing. In the end, I simply ground away at it for a few more years until I learned it through sheer persistence."

Ji Zhixing listened in silence. While he was moved by Sun Dajun’s perseverance, he remained noncommittal about the teacher’s philosophy. The books he had read contradicted Sun Dajun’s words. Since Sun Dajun was merely a Tier One Gene Cultivator, Ji Zhixing placed more trust in the texts.

"Staff techniques require comprehension," he thought silently. "The Eight Breaking Army Strikes were designed for the battlefield. If I want to comprehend the army-breaking will, engaging in real combat might be the only way to accelerate the process. I’ll just keep practicing for now. If it still doesn’t work, I’ll try again when we head out of the city to hunt genetic beasts!"

Meanwhile, the other students on the training ground were struggling with their respective cultivation. Ten days had passed, and yet not a single student in the class practicing general skills had truly mastered a basic technique. This included the male student who had fused with the Sword Arm Mantis Gene and possessed a Tier One Two-star Blade Talent.

Zhou Yuan, the boy with the Sword Arm Mantis Gene, wondered, "How the hell is Ji Zhixing practicing?"

Initially, he had secretly competed against Ji Zhixing, wanting to see who was better. But after ten days, his basic saber technique was still far from complete, and he couldn’t channel the majority of his full-body strength into his strikes.

"I have a Tier One Two-star Blade Talent..." Zhou Yuan thought, feeling stifled and frustrated. Because of his talent, He Yanbing had specially borrowed a long saber imbued with a basic saber technique from the school for him. He had been using that saber to aid his cultivation all these days, yet he still failed to master the basic technique.

Several days later.

Only one day remained before they were scheduled to head out of the city to hunt genetic beasts. The atmosphere on the training ground gradually grew tense.

"Zhixing, we’re teaming up for the genetic beast hunt tomorrow, right?" Liu Qifan walked over and asked.

"Of course," Ji Zhixing nodded.

He Yanbing had just announced that they would be hunting in teams of five. Every team would be led by a student hired by the school from Yu City Genetic University.

"Just the two of us isn’t enough. We need to find a few more." Liu Qifan looked around. "Why don’t you ask Huang Yu and Yu Zhirou?"

"Forget it. They’ll most likely team up with the students from other classes who fused with Tier Two genes." Ji Zhixing shook his head. He used to be close with Huang Yu and Yu Zhirou, but ever since the gene fusion, he hadn’t spoken to them much. Whenever they ran into each other, they would still exchange smiles and greetings, but that was the extent of it.

"Let’s invite Zhang Haoceng and Luo Yongguang," Ji Zhixing said, scanning their classmates.

Zhang Haoceng had ultimately chosen to fuse with the Wild Donkey King gene. Post-fusion, he gained two genetic abilities: Wild Donkey King’s Strength and Endurance. His deskmate, Luo Yongguang, had fused with the Wild Bull King gene and had been practicing with a large shield recently, making him a solid vanguard. The four of them were relatively familiar with each other and had decent abilities, making them a well-balanced team.

"Could I join you?"

A voice suddenly spoke from behind them. Ji Zhixing turned around and saw a female classmate. The girl, Xie Jia, was usually quite reserved. Ji Zhixing remembered she had fused with the Paralyzing Vine gene. By consuming her genetic source power, she could conjure vines to entangle enemies, complete with a paralyzing effect.

"Of course. We’re in need of crowd control," Ji Zhixing said, his eyes lighting up.

He then led Liu Qifan and Xie Jia over to Zhang Haoceng and Luo Yongguang. Unsurprisingly, after a brief discussion, the five of them finalized their team.

"You really hit the nail on the head," Liu Qifan suddenly said, pointing into the distance.

The group followed his gaze and saw Huang Yu gathered with several others, laughing and talking. They recognized the group—they were the students from Class Three and Class Four who had fused with Tier Two genes.

On the other side, Yu Zhirou was also gathered with a few students from Class One and Class Two. These students had also fused with Tier Two genes, including Qi Xingzhou, who had fused with the Blue Frost Ice Vine gene. When Ji Zhixing looked over, he noticed one of them had just finished cultivating and pulled out a vial of potion, chugging it down in one gulp.

"A Source Power Genetic Potion..." Ji Zhixing muttered, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes.

Genetic Cultivators could improve their cultivation base by practicing general Cultivation Techniques. However, these techniques were notoriously difficult to master. Most Genetic Cultivators relied on refining Source Power Genetic Potions to elevate their strength. A single vial of Source Power Genetic Potion was worth a thousand genetic coins. It was a perk provided by the school exclusively for the genius students, with each receiving three vials a day. Since he and Liu Qifan had only fused with Tier One genes, they naturally did not receive such benefits.

"I wonder if I’ll be able to forge a piece of Genetic Equipment or concoct a genetic potion in my Genetic Furnace to sell for money during tomorrow’s hunt," Ji Zhixing thought expectantly.