"This is..." Feng Lin's pupils contracted as he stared at the strange sight before him, utterly astonished.
In the empty, desolate void, a transparent figure stood before him, bathed in starlight—and it was unmistakably his own likeness.
Two conspicuous golden light clusters glowed within the figure's chest, like blazing suns hanging in the sky, dazzling and brilliant.
All around, dim silver specks were scattered densely, strewn across like a sky full of stars.
These specks flickered, some bright, some faint, forming the shape of a human silhouette.
A person had become a starry sky.
Above the figure's head floated a line of numbers.
Life Force: 0.4.
Those golden light clusters were...?
Feng Lin instinctively moved his consciousness toward them, and two lines of information naturally surfaced in his mind.
Ape Gene: 2 Stone Embryo Gene: 1
Could these be gene points? Was this some kind of ability to digitize the body?
In an instant, Feng Lin formed numerous conjectures. Comparing them to his own situation, he was certain.
Gene development was the cultivation of gene points, encompassing three aspects: awakening, enhancement, and evolution.
Gene awakening was the stage where a gene transitioned from a latent state to an active one.
Once a gene awakened, it would control the life elements of the body, generating new organs and abilities.
The human body was inherently incapable of wielding supernatural power, but mastering the flame gene allowed control over fire, mastering the ice gene allowed freezing water into ice...
However, this process wasn't instantaneous; it involved a gradual transformation—that was gene awakening.
When a gene was fully awakened, it meant the body had completely adapted to the awakened mythical gene and its own supernatural nature.
Next came gene enhancement, using specific cultivation methods to strengthen the gene and unlock its maximum potential.
Different genes could be enhanced different numbers of times.
The higher the grade, the more enhancements possible.
These two golden light clusters clearly represented the two mythical genes Feng Lin had awakened.
The Ape Gene had been enhanced twice, while the Stone Embryo Gene only once.
After gene enhancement was complete, gene evolution would begin.
Gene evolution was the process of combining two genes of the same grade to evolve into a higher-grade gene.
Once evolution was complete, a cultivator could advance to a higher realm.
So what were those silver specks?
Feng Lin probed with his consciousness, and countless pieces of information immediately popped up.
Muscle Gene: 0 Turtle Breath Gene: 0 Tiger Fang Gene: 0 ...
So these were all latent genes that hadn't awakened yet, lying dormant.
Feng Lin understood.
It turned out this was a map of the human genome.
The human genome was vast, like a sky full of stars; even the most advanced technology couldn't accurately map every single one.
But now, all of it was clearly laid out before Feng Lin.
This scene reminded him of a national treasure from ancient China—the bronze acupuncture figure.
Except where that figure marked acupoints and meridians, Feng Lin saw genes!
Genes were as numerous as stars, likely in the trillions. Staring intently, Feng Lin felt dizzy.
Though each was clearly visible, it was impossible to explore every single one.
His mind shifted, and in his lower abdomen's dantian, he saw clusters of nebulae swirling there—fourteen in total, radiant and shimmering, like clouds and mist, constantly flowing and changing.
Nearby, wisps of star-mist swirled, gradually converging as if forming new star clusters, though not yet fully coalesced.
The nebulae stretched into a continuous expanse, massive as a giant plate, supporting the entire starry sky.
Gene Potential: 1468%.
Feng Lin inexplicably understood what it meant.
In summary, this figure could digitize the human genome.
And Feng Lin's current data was:
"Name: Feng Lin Life Force: 0.4 Ape Gene: 2 Stone Embryo Gene: 1 Gene Potential: 1468%"
There were no messy attributes like strength, speed, or physique—only Life Force and genes.
Genes were the foundation of life, while Life Force was a comprehensive reflection of the body's state. Strength, speed, and physique were merely different manifestations of Life Force; their essence was the same.
As Life Force increased, these qualities would improve accordingly.
But this human genome map was more than that. As he probed repeatedly with his consciousness, a strange feeling arose in Feng Lin's heart—as if his mind had a mysterious connection with these gene points, as if he could control them.
Let's try it!
Feng Lin's heart stirred, and he decisively attempted it, using his consciousness to pull three unrelated genes together.
A wisp of star-mist separated from the dantian nebulae and infused into them.
Gene Potential -15%.
The three gene points swelled and contracted, as if fed a potent tonic, undergoing wondrous changes, constantly combining into different sequences.
Ding, ding, ding...
Five consecutive sounds.
Lines of starlight connected the three gene points like circuits, pulling them toward five unknown gene points deep in the starry sky, forming a shape like a gene tree.
Airflow Gene 2 + Cloud Mist Gene 3 + Water Vapor Gene 1 = Frost Gene Airflow Gene 3 + Cloud Mist Gene 4 + Water Vapor Gene 4 = Rainstorm Gene Airflow Gene 4 + Cloud Mist Gene 2 + Water Vapor Gene 1 = Hurricane Gene Airflow Gene 2 + Cloud Mist Gene 5 + Water Vapor Gene 4 = Lightning Gene Airflow Gene 6 + Cloud Mist Gene 7 + Water Vapor Gene 5 = Wind Thunder Gene
Five formulas in a row!
Feng Lin was instantly stunned—he had derived five gene formulas at once!
Genes also had grades, divided by numbers into 0th grade, 1st grade, 2nd grade...
0 was the starting point of numbers, so 0th-grade genes were also called basic genes.
1 was the fundamental element of numbers; all numbers originated from 1, so 1st-grade genes were also called primal genes.
Each grade of gene had different abilities, complementing each other and combining to evolve into higher-grade genes.
0th-grade genes could synthesize 1st-grade genes, 1st-grade genes could synthesize 2nd-grade, and so on, ascending layer by layer...
This was the gene formula.
And when the formulas of each grade were combined, from bottom to top, they formed a tree-like gene map, called a gene tree. Since it also resembled a pyramid, some cultivators called it the gene pyramid.
Gene Technique = Gene Tree + Gene Formula + Gene Development.
The gene tree was the evolutionary path, guiding the overall direction of future cultivation. The gene formula was the method for synthesizing lower-grade genes into higher-grade ones.
Gene development was the fine-tuned method for tempering each individual gene.
From high to low, from macro to micro, covering every aspect—only a technique containing all three components was a complete gene technique.
...
Wind stirred, rain moved; water vapor meeting cold could form frost, converging could bring down rainstorms...
Airflow Gene, Cloud Mist Gene, and Water Vapor Gene were all 0th-grade basic genes capable of controlling weather. Their combination into Frost Gene and Rainstorm Gene—two 1st-grade primal genes—was already an open secret among interstellar humans.
But Feng Lin hadn't expected that under the simulation of these gene points, with different enhancement counts, three new formulas had been deduced.
Wind and clouds howling into hurricanes, rain clouds colliding into thunder, fierce winds and dense thunder...
Who would have thought these three most ordinary genes could synthesize three powerful genes: Hurricane, Lightning, and Wind Thunder?
These three gene formulas seemed incredible, yet they all followed natural laws—they couldn't be false.
"My god! Just selling these three gene formulas would be worth who knows how much!" Feng Lin's breathing quickened.
It wasn't that he lacked composure; it was that these gene formulas were too precious!
Gene formulas were a vital part of gene techniques. The emergence of a new formula often signaled the prototype of a new gene technique.
Knowledge was priceless!
And knowledge of cultivation was the most priceless of all.
Though they were just three basic formulas, Feng Lin knew that selling them would immediately net him a fortune in star coins.
Each gene formula was worth at least a million star coins. Together, they'd be enough to leave the family, buy a house in the city, and give his family a vastly more comfortable environment.
But unless absolutely necessary, Feng Lin wouldn't do it.
Gene formulas were too conspicuous—only the most顶尖 gene masters could create new ones.
Feng Lin wasn't even a cultivator yet; he lacked the strength to protect his secret and might even bring disaster upon himself, being devoured without a trace.
Feng Lin didn't stop. He quickly experimented further.
Under his conscious manipulation, the silver gene specks constantly combined, and more gene formulas were deduced.
Flame Gene 7 + Rock Gene 3 = Magma Gene Muscle Gene 5 + Hormone Gene 1 + Protein Gene 3 = Fitness Gene Fish Skin Gene 3 + Breath Gene 5 + Diving Gene 3 = Amphibious Gene ...
One formula after another was derived, and he also began attempting reverse deduction.
Given a known higher-grade gene, find its synthesis formula.
Swift Travel Gene = Muscle Gene 2 + Speed Gene 6 + Airflow Gene 3 Fire Eye Gene = Flame Gene 3 + Vision Gene 5 Giant Gene = Bone Gene 3 + Muscle Gene 3 + Growth Gene 5 + Hormone Gene 3 ...
New formulas were deduced rapidly, and Gene Potential was quickly consumed, dropping by another 30. Feng Lin gradually grasped the general function of this ability.
This might be an ability born from his soul's time-travel mutation. Its effect was beyond imagination, somewhat like a mathematical equation.
Yes, this was a Gene Equation!
Similar to mathematical equations, it could derive and solve.
Genes became variables in the Gene Equation. By consuming Gene Potential, he could calculate results or, given a known higher-grade gene, reverse-engineer the gene combination.
Gene Equation—that was my ability!
Feng Lin made his judgment.
For him, the Gene Equation's capability went even further.
If someone else had this ability, they might only deduce gene formulas.
Every myth was a path to godhood.
But myths only pointed the direction of cultivation; the specific steps of each stage still required repeated exploration.
Feng Lin knew all the ancient Earth myths. With his understanding of myths and the deductive power of the Gene Equation, he might be able to deduce every mythical cultivation path.
That was the Gene Equation's greatest value to him.
If he truly achieved that, just imagine what it would mean?
He might be able to...
Become a god?
Of course, the prerequisite was sufficient Gene Potential.
Though the Gene Equation was powerful, it wasn't unrestrained—it consumed Gene Potential.
At this rate of consumption, he estimated he'd run out after a few dozen more deductions.
But where Gene Potential came from, Feng Lin didn't yet know.
Right!
Feng Lin's eyes lit up, recalling something he'd overlooked.
Since that's the case, why not deduce my next path?
Everyone said no gene formula could combine the Ape Gene and Stone Embryo Gene into a higher-grade gene—that he was already crippled, with no path forward.
Since this Gene Equation could derive all kinds of new formulas, maybe it could also find a way to evolve the Ape Gene and Stone Embryo Gene.
Worth a try!
Feng Lin's heart raced. If this worked, his seemingly hopeless cultivation path would suddenly open up.
As the ancient poem said, "Where hills and streams end and there seems no road beyond, amidst shading willows and blooming flowers another village appears."
Wasn't this exactly that situation?
Under the immense computational power of the Gene Equation, even a dead end could become a grand thoroughfare.
Act on the thought.
Feng Lin knew this was his only chance. He used his consciousness to begin fusing the genes.
Gene Potential -10%, -10%, -10%...
Gene Potential drained like a breached dam, rapidly decreasing, soon dropping by over 60%.
But the derivation of the new gene formula was strangely slow.
The Ape Gene and Stone Embryo Gene kept combining, yet they clashed, like fire and water, utterly incompatible.
"Can I really not walk the path of cultivation?" Feng Lin grew anxious.
Having finally arrived in this magnificent world, if his path ended here, how could he accept it?
No, he would never give up!
Feng Lin went all in, continuing to inject Gene Potential.
Finally, after Gene Potential dropped by 360%, four nebulae collapsed.
A brand-new gene combination path appeared before him, unique and unparalleled.
Only this one gene formula—the only one.
Feng Lin looked over in surprise, and his expression instantly turned incredibly strange—shock, ecstasy, daze... a mix of emotions beyond measure.
Ape Gene 10 + Stone Embryo Gene 10 = Stone Monkey Gene???