Chapter 69 - 67 Replacing the Memory Gene

Huacheng, Tianyun International Center. This place has direct flights to Daka. In the era dominated by Genetic Beasts, not many people chose to fly; aerial beasts were far more terrifying than those on land. However, this flight was guaranteed, as it was a direct route to the human corridor defense line. Only strong individuals and elites were passengers on this flight, and it certainly wouldn't allow any Genetic Beasts to interfere. Thus, each flight was escorted by two Hua Xia X99 fighter jets. When Fang Chong and Ai Xi arrived at Tianyun International Center with Da Han Yi Academy's Master Guo Qingrong, there were already over three hundred people gathered. The crowd included not only members from the Blue Star Ten Great Colleges but also the Genetic Alliance, Martial Arts Alliance, Security Department, Hua Xia Border Defense, and various civilian organizations. "Fang Chong!" Just as Fang Chong arrived, he heard someone calling him excitedly. Fang Chong turned around and saw Lv Zi. Laughing loudly, he walked over and clapped Lv Zi on the shoulder. "I knew you'd come." After speaking, Fang Chong instinctively looked around. "No need to look anymore, Li Wanran didn't come," Lv Zi knew what Fang Chong was looking for. Fang Chong snorted coldly, "This woman, I don't know her anymore." "Fang Chong, you're just too straightforward. If you don't know her, just keep it to yourself. Why say it out loud?" Lv Zi advised. Then, he felt that Fang Chong's strength seemed not weaker than his, perhaps even stronger. Fang Chong's cultivation level had always been slightly lower than his, but now he seemed to have become stronger. The lack of a follow-up Cultivation Technique had greatly affected him. But he himself lacked a Sequel Cultivation Technique, how could Fang Chong have one? "Fang Chong, what level are you now?" Lv Zi immediately asked. Fang Chong was about to reply with a laugh when a woman approached. Seeing this woman, Fang Chong swallowed the words he was about to say. The woman was Qin Qiang, the dean of Martial Vein Mountain Academy, the woman he despised the most. "Fang Chong, Lv Zi, long time no see," Qin Qiang greeted with a smile. As if he hadn't heard her, Fang Chong thought that he was now strong enough not to fear this woman. In that case, why bother upsetting himself? "Dean Qin," Lv Zi greeted her proactively. "It looks like both of you have received Master Ding Huan's true teachings. Wanran, being weaker, stayed back at the college. You two daring to go to the frontline is commendable," Qin Qiang spoke as if unaffected, still smiling. "Like little calves like you, many who go to the frontline don't return. You guys are really impressive." A male student from the Martial Vein Mountain Academy approached and chuckled mockingly. Seeing Fang Chong, just a student, daring to ignore the dean, he couldn't help but snark. "Who are you?" Fang Chong asked coldly. "I'm Yang Chongyan, a Second-Level gene cultivator only. If you'd like, we could have a fight," Yang Chongyan challenged provocatively. A Second-Level gene cultivator wanting to spar with him? Fang Chong looked at him incredulously. After the old dean had given him three energy stones and Ai Xi shared with him the experience of breaking into the Fourth-Level gene cultivator, he had now reached that level. Fang Chong doubted he needed to make a move; just a Wind Blade would suffice to take him down. "Chongyan, don't make trouble. We're going to the frontline to stop the Fierce Beasts. If we start infighting at the airport, we'll be a laughingstock," Qin Qiang reprimanded. "Yes, Dean," Yang Chongyan immediately replied respectfully. Fang Chong gave a thumbs up, "Impressive, a Second-Level gene cultivator; all the Fang Chongs combined wouldn't match you." "Fang Chong, let's step aside and talk," Lv Zi pulled Fang Chong aside. He was certain that Fang Chong was much stronger than Yang Chongyan, even stronger than him. Once they reached a corner, Lv Zi urgently asked, "Fang Chong, tell me, are you already a Fourth-Level gene cultivator?" Fang Chong nodded, "Yes, I'm a Fourth-Level gene cultivator now." "Ah, how did you get the subsequent Cultivation Technique? Did Master Ding Huan come?" Lv Zi became more anxious. Fang Chong patted Lv Zi's shoulder, "The Master didn't come. Before we chose the academy, I happened to meet Master Ding Huan, and he passed on the subsequent technique to me. And he told me, if I meet you, to pass it on to you." "Damn, why didn't you come to find me sooner?" Lv Zi fumed, as he would have already been a Fourth-Level gene cultivator if he had the technique earlier. "I invited you to join Da Han Yi Academy earlier, but you chose the Guardians. I intended to visit you later, but cultivation took all my time day and night, leaving no time to make the trip," Fang Chong explained. The truth was, if Lv Zi and Li Wanran had joined the Martial Vein Mountain, he wouldn't have mentioned passing on the Cultivation Technique today. Master Ding Huan had said it was up to him. Since he could decide, he would not teach someone like Li Wanran who turned against him. Lv Zi nodded, accepting Fang Chong's explanation as he himself was pressed for time due to cultivation. "Our flight is still a few hours away, teach it to me now," Lv Zi said anxiously. "Okay, I'll first teach you the cultivation technique for a Fourth-level gene cultivator. When we get to the front line, I'll teach you the rest." Fang Chong knew this was no joking matter; having more strength on the front line meant having a better chance of surviving. Lv Zi was overjoyed, as he was already at the Perfect Realm of a Third-level gene cultivator, just one step away from advancing to a Fourth-level gene cultivator. "Lv Zi, before I teach you the technique, I must remind you that you are not allowed to pass this technique to anyone else," Fang Chong said seriously. Lv Zi was stunned for a moment but then he understood Fang Chong's implication, which was to not pass the technique to Li Wanran. Fang Chong dared to say this probably because he had received Master Ding Huan's approval. Li Wanran appeared obedient usually, but her gratitude seemed very shallow. She would probably regret it once she understood this principle, but by then it might be too late. "I promise you," Lv Zi responded without hesitation. Indeed, Lv Zi had reached the Perfect Realm of a Third-level gene cultivator, and his foundation was profound. Fang Chong explained the cultivation methods and the breakthrough techniques of the Fourth-level gene cultivators to him. In just twenty minutes, Lv Zi had stepped into the ranks of a Fourth-level gene cultivator. "Haha, thanks! We'll join forces at the front line," Lv Zi exclaimed as he leapt up, the gloom in his heart sweeping away. "Good, I will have a surprise for you then," Fang Chong chuckled, planning to pass on his unique "One Yang Finger" technique to Lv Zi. ... Ding Huan returned to the lab, and Kong Dan had already left. The laboratory was exceptionally clean, even the small object in the corner had been cleaned by Kong Dan, and food and water had been freshly placed. Ding Huan placed the stone monkey on the table, lowered his Divine Will onto it, and at the same moment, a Wind Blade struck. The Wind Blade split the stone monkey's head accurately by one-third, revealing a dark brown color in Ding Huan's view. Ding Huan carefully extracted the fist-sized dark brown object from the stone monkey's head and then began the gene dissolution. Extracting memory genes from a stone monkey wasn't easy; who knew how many years the stone monkey had experienced, and whether its genes still existed was uncertain. Moreover, even if the genes could be extracted, whether they contained any part of the memories was also unknown. If extracting the stone monkey's memory genes was impossible, then to Ding Huan, it would be a meaningless task. In the gene extraction solution, Ding Huan made a delightful discovery quite quickly—the stone monkey's genes still existed and, moreover, the genome was quite intact. With the help of Divine Will, Ding Huan's gene extraction went even smoother. The descriptions of memory genes on Earth were not complete and fell several epochs behind Ding Huan's understanding of memory genes. Ding Huan could extract all memory genes completely and intact, and that's exactly what he was doing. After spending an entire five days, Ding Huan completely extracted the memory genes of the stone monkey and produced a genetic potion. Looking at the little creature languishing from hunger at his side, Ding Huan picked it up and placed it on the experimental table. Seemingly sensing danger, the little creature struggled constantly in Ding Huan's hands. Ding Huan patted its head, knocking the little creature unconscious. Then, he administered the genetic potion he had extracted into the mouth of the little creature. Gene fusion didn't need to be done in an unconscious state, but the gene potion Ding Huan had made was different. He had created a substitute memory gene potion; his intention wasn't to preserve the little creature's memories. By knocking the creature unconscious, the genetic potion could more easily devour its original memories and form new ones. This method could well be described as a rebirth. While the stone monkey's soul hadn't transferred to the little creature, Ding Huan believed that memories were more important than the soul. Moreover, whether the soul was related to the memory genes was still an open question. Half an hour later, the small creature lying on the table opened its eyes. Ding Huan could distinctly feel that the look in the creature's eyes was different from before; when it looked at Ding Huan, its eyes conveyed bewilderment and confusion. Then its gaze swept around, showing much more astuteness than before. It seemed the gene fusion went well; Ding Huan was very satisfied. "Stop looking, I saved you. You were as good as dead, and I revived you with my methods." Ding Huan believed that a species capable of preserving its genes for countless years, even remaining intact after turning into a stone monkey, was no simple being. The creature seemed to understand Ding Huan's words, and as it roughly adapted to its new body, it started to screech, then attempted to dash away. However, with a swift move of his hand, Ding Huan tossed the little creature back onto the experimental table and said indifferently, "I put in a tremendous effort to save you. It's fine if you don't feel grateful, but thinking of leaving after taking everything? You can leave, but you must tell me some things first, then you go your way and I'll go mine. Do you understand me?"