Chapter 9: Genetic Equipment

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Genetic Equipment

"Ji Zhixing!"

Back at the school, after He Yanbing registered the genes chosen by all the students, she shot a cold glance at Ji Zhixing. "Come to my office!"

"Yes!"

Ji Zhixing nodded and followed He Yanbing into her office.

The office was small, furnished with a single desk and a few chairs. Several posters of genetic beasts hung on the walls. He Yanbing sat down behind the desk and took a sip of water from her cup, seemingly trying to calm her mood.

Ji Zhixing stood to the side, waiting quietly.

After a moment, she set the cup down and looked up at him. "You said you heard the voice of the gene within you. Tell me, what abilities do you need to develop in order to make your gene evolve?"

Ji Zhixing’s eyes lit up slightly at her words.

He knew that although his homeroom teacher always wore a frosty expression, she was actually quite warm-hearted. For her to ask this, she probably wanted to help him.

"It’s too difficult to develop the three abilities I need all by myself," Ji Zhixing pondered. "If Teacher He could help me apply for a subsidy from the school, it would be much easier."

He immediately spoke up. "Teacher He, if I want the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene to evolve into the Staff Soldier Stone Monkey, I need to develop three genetic abilities: Stone Skin, Gigantification, and Innate Staff Heart.

"Among them, both Stone Skin and Gigantification require genetic serums to develop.

"The Innate Staff Heart is a bit simpler. My compatibility with the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene is very high. I only need to master a Tier One Two-Star Staff Technique to develop it."

Innate Staff Heart was a passive genetic ability. Such passive abilities were generally referred to as genetic traits or genetic talents.

Under normal circumstances, this kind of genetic ability was incredibly difficult to develop, but his situation was anything but normal.

His compatibility with the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene was extremely high, making it much easier for him to develop various abilities compared to others. If someone else fused with the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene, they might not be able to awaken the Innate Staff Heart even if they mastered a Tier One Three-Star or even Four-Star staff technique.

Yet, he only needed to master a Tier One Two-Star Staff Technique. This was the undeniable advantage of high compatibility.

"Stone Skin, Gigantification, and Innate Staff Heart?" He Yanbing frowned slightly, repeating his words. "Are you sure that mastering a Tier One Two-Star Staff Technique will allow you to develop the Innate Staff Heart?"

"I’m sure!" Ji Zhixing said with absolute certainty.

This was the exact information he had received when he listened to the voice of his gene.

Aside from mastering genetic abilities, Genetic Cultivators could also practice various universal skills, with staff techniques being one of them. In this world, all types of skills—including genetic abilities—were not only separated by tiers but also varied in quality. This difference in quality was graded by a star system.

Theoretically, the highest quality a skill could reach was ten stars. However, that was purely theoretical. In reality, any ability that reached a five-star quality was already exceedingly rare.

He Yanbing pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "In that case, Stone Skin and the Innate Staff Heart are easier to handle. The genetic serum that allows a Genetic Cultivator to develop the Stone Skin ability isn’t too expensive on the market. But Gigantification..."

"A Gigantification genetic serum is far too expensive," she continued, looking at him after a brief pause. "It’s a rare ability-development serum.

"Tell you what, I’ll submit an application to the school and see if they can offer you some assistance." He Yanbing fell silent for a few seconds before letting out a soft sigh.

The resources Ji Zhixing needed were simply too precious, especially the Gigantification genetic serum.

If he had extraordinary talent—for example, if both of his gene apertures had fused with powerful Tier Two genes—the school would definitely provide a certain level of support. But for his very first gene aperture, he had stubbornly chosen a weak gene like the Three-inch Stone Monkey. She honestly wasn’t sure if the school would be willing to help.

"Wait here. I’m going to the principal’s office," He Yanbing said, standing up and heading for the door.

"Thank you, Teacher He," Ji Zhixing said hurriedly.

She waved her hand dismissively and pushed the door open to leave.

Ji Zhixing sat down on a chair in the office. "Teacher He really treats me well," he thought silently. "But will the school actually invest resources in a student who fused with a Tier One gene?"

He had no confidence in the outcome, but he was still deeply grateful that He Yanbing was willing to fight for him.

In the principal’s office.

Zhou Chenghong, the principal of Yu City Third Middle School, was a man in his fifties with slightly graying hair and an authoritative countenance. Sitting behind his desk, he listened to He Yanbing’s report, his brows gradually furrowing.

"Teacher He, this student you’re talking about... is he the Ji Zhixing who awakened a dual-core gene aperture but chose to fuse with the 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. Moreover, he heard the voice of the gene right after fusing with it. This proves that his potential is actually immense.

"If the school could provide some resource support to help him develop his genetic abilities, he might truly be able to carve out an extraordinary path."

Zhou Chenghong shook his head. "Teacher He, you know as well as I do that the school’s resources are limited. A single bottle of Gigantification genetic serum costs one hundred thousand. That’s no small sum.

"If this student had fused with a powerful Tier Two gene, I would approve it without hesitation. But the Three-inch Stone Monkey? Even if he develops the Gigantification ability, how strong could he possibly get?

"Furthermore, can you even be certain he’s telling the truth?"

"But Principal, no matter how you look at it, he awakened a dual-core gene aperture! This kind of talent is one in a million. It would be an absolute tragedy to let it go to waste over resource issues!" He Yanbing argued fervently.

"A dual-core gene aperture is indeed rare." Zhou Chenghong sighed. "But his choice was simply too unwise. Teacher He, the school’s resources cannot be wasted on him."

"Principal—"

"Say no more." Zhou Chenghong waved his hand. "The school will not approve the Gigantification genetic serum, nor the Stone Skin genetic serum. If you really want to help him, you can apply to lend him a piece of Genetic Equipment from the school inventory.

"However, he can only borrow it for a maximum of one month. If he fails to develop the Innate Staff Heart within that month, the equipment will be confiscated."

"And if he does manage to develop the Innate Staff Heart?" He Yanbing’s eyes lit up.

"Then you can come find me again," Zhou Chenghong replied casually.

"Thank you, Principal!" He Yanbing quickly expressed her gratitude.

Zhou Chenghong waved his hand again, gesturing for her to leave.

"Innate Staff Heart?" After He Yanbing left, Zhou Chenghong took a sip of his tea. The only reason he had agreed to this compromise was out of respect for Teacher He.

As for Ji Zhixing, he truly didn’t think much of the boy’s prospects.

"Awakening a dual-core gene aperture, and a Tier Two one at that, yet choosing a weak gene like the Three-inch Stone Monkey..." Zhou Chenghong shook his head in disappointment.

Meanwhile, as He Yanbing returned to her office, she saw Ji Zhixing sitting quietly, waiting for her.

Seeing her enter, he quickly stood up. "Teacher He..."

She held up a hand to stop him.

"The school won’t approve the rest," He Yanbing said bluntly, hiding nothing. "I only managed to apply for a single piece of Genetic Equipment for you.

"You can go to the school’s armory and choose a piece of Genetic Equipment that contains a basic staff technique."

Genetic Equipment? Ji Zhixing’s eyes lit up.

After killing a genetic beast, a Genetic Cultivator could store its body in a genetic furnace for refinement. This refinement process had a chance of yielding various items, such as different types of genetic serums, Genetic Equipment, or even external genes that could grant a Genetic Cultivator additional genetic abilities.

"Thank you, Teacher He!" A warm feeling welled up in Ji Zhixing’s chest as he immediately voiced his gratitude.

"Don’t celebrate just yet." He Yanbing shook her head. "This Genetic Equipment is only a loan from the school. You can use it for exactly one month.

"If you can develop the Innate Staff Heart within this month and make rapid progress in your staff technique, I’ll figure out another way to help you.

"And if you can’t do that," she said, staring intently at Ji Zhixing, "then you will be a good student and fuse with a Tier Two gene instead. Understood?"

"Understood! Thank you, Teacher He!" Ji Zhixing immediately replied.

He Yanbing waved him off. "Alright, get out of here. Just looking at you annoys me. I’ve already registered everything with the school, so you can head straight to the armory and claim your equipment."

"Yes, ma’am!" Ji Zhixing bowed to her, turned around, and left the office.

Stepping out of the administrative building, the sunlight outside was slightly blinding. Ji Zhixing took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

"One month..." he vowed silently in his heart. "I must develop the Innate Staff Heart within one month!

"And the Staff Soldier Stone Monkey..."