Gene modules can be freely combined!
Feng Lin grew more convinced the more he thought about it. This was entirely feasible.
Although the virtual universe was simulated from the real world, it wasn’t bound by the fundamental laws of the real universe. It offered a degree of freedom utterly unattainable in reality—gene modules could be freely assembled and disassembled.
With this, Feng Lin could fully leverage the Gene Equation to deduce gene formulas, freely combining genes. This way, he could experience the essence of different genetic evolution paths and deepen his understanding of mythical genes.
Gene Potential +8%.
At that moment, Feng Lin noticed that his original body’s gene potential had also increased. Though the gain was small, it was better than nothing.
Even though the gene modules he used were virtual, the physical sensations were real. This counted as cultivation, so his potential grew.
Realizing this, Feng Lin understood the deeper design behind the Gene Hunting Grounds. It allowed people to battle alien races while grasping the brutality of racial conflict, cultivating combativeness and courage for the sake of training. At the same time, it enabled free gene combination, helping individuals find the genetic evolution path best suited to them.
Whoever designed these Gene Battlefields was undoubtedly a person of great wisdom.
The Gene Hunting Grounds weren’t limited to the desert environment. Different environments housed different races, each dropping distinct genes.
Feng Lin checked the map of the hunting grounds and initiated a teleport. His figure flickered and vanished from the spot, reappearing on another patch of land.
A dense jungle stretched before him—lush grass, thriving trees, like a primeval forest steeped in a wild, ancient aura.
“Intruding alien race detected. Entering the secret forest—die!” A strange ripple stirred in the air, and a muffled voice echoed from all directions.
Thump, thump, thump!
The earth burst open as massive tree roots shot out from underground like venomous snakes, coiling around like octopus tentacles.
Sandstorm!
Feng Lin clasped his hands together.
Whoosh—!
A gale howled.
A sandstorm over ten meters tall erupted, roaring past. Its fierce winds swept up the thick vines, sending them flying wildly.
But Feng Lin frowned. The sandstorm’s power had diminished.
He sensed it—the sandstorm’s strength was influenced by the environment. The desert greatly amplified the ability, while the forest resisted wind and sand, severely weakening it.
Boom, boom, boom!
The forest shifted.
Feng Lin looked up in surprise and saw a group of massive trees rising from the ground.
Yes, rising!
The trees split open with two dark, hollow holes and a crack, resembling eyes and a mouth. Their roots twisted together to form legs, standing upright like humans—they were treants.
Their wrinkled, fierce faces tilted skyward, roaring with earth-shaking sound waves.
Arms as thick as stone pillars lifted high and slammed down, shaking the ground and making Feng Lin unsteady.
Countless treants extended their branches like pythons, covered in sticky, foul-smelling sap—clearly highly toxic.
Feng Lin dodged to the side, clenching his fists. Sand gathered in his palms, forming an eighteen-foot spear, while a layer of golden armor clad his body again.
But unlike the slightly illusory sand spear and armor from before, the Sandstorm Gene granted stronger control over sand. This time, they were solid as reality, almost tangible.
The spear and armor were also wrapped in swirling gales, howling sharply, as sharp as invisible wind blades cutting through everything.
Feng Lin moved swiftly, dodging relentlessly while sweeping his spear. He spun it into dazzling patterns, leaving deep gashes on the treants with unmatched sharpness.
The treants roared in pain, oozing green liquid like blood.
But as plant-type beings, their life force was naturally immense. The wounds healed at a visible rate.
Though few in number, each treant possessed immense strength and the ability to manipulate plants, making them formidable.
If the insect swarms earlier were like common mobs in a game—numerous but individually weak—these treants were elite monsters!
Feng Lin didn’t confront them head-on. Instead, he leaped around like a flea, bouncing across the treants’ bodies. His spear struck fiercely, dealing repeated heavy damage.
The treants roared in frustration. Their massive bodies moved sluggishly, unable to catch Feng Lin’s elusive form.
Helpless, they bellowed until their injuries accumulated. One by one, they collapsed, dissolving into data and revealing three entirely different gene modules.
Plant Gene 3, Vitality Gene 2, Toughness Gene 3.
Feng Lin stored these gene modules in his system backpack and checked their info.
“Gene: Plant Gene Grade: Medium Basic Gene Ability: Basic plant manipulation”
…
“Gene: Vitality Gene Grade: High Basic Gene Ability: Enhances life activity, remarkable recovery”
…
“Gene: Toughness Gene Grade: Medium Basic Gene Ability: Strengthens body, resilient and hard to damage”
…
The Gene Equation within Feng Lin activated spontaneously, consuming 56% of his gene potential and yielding new formulas.
Plant Gene 3 + Vitality Gene 2 = Tree Gene Plant Gene 2 + Vitality Gene 1 + Toughness Gene 4 = Vine Gene Plant Gene 5 + Vitality Gene 3 + Toughness Gene 2 = Giant Tree Gene Plant Gene 6 + Vitality Gene 8 + Toughness Gene 3 = Ancient Tree Gene Plant Gene 9 + Vitality Gene 10 + Toughness Gene 8 = Treant Gene
Five gene formulas in a row.
For others, unaware of so many formulas, they could only pick a relatively decent one from limited options.
But Feng Lin was different. If he chose, he’d pick the best.
The Sandstorm Gene, though a primitive gene, still far surpassed lower-tier basic genes in power, even in an unfavorable environment.
Feng Lin didn’t equip the primitive genes dropped by the treants. Instead, he used the Sandstorm Gene’s might to crush them.
Soon, he gathered enough basic gene modules to evolve a new primitive gene.
Feng Lin removed the Sandstorm Gene and stored it. Then he equipped Plant Gene 9, Vitality Gene 10, and Toughness Gene 8, finally synthesizing the Treant Gene module. It transformed into a data stream, reshaping his entire body.
This was another gene module, displaying a tiny, lively treant that kept wriggling as if alive.
Feng Lin felt the strange changes in his body. He swelled to over three meters tall, his skin turning dry and tough. He became a treant, covered in hard bark like thick armor, and his strength skyrocketed.
Checking the data, Feng Lin found his virtual body’s vitality had broken through the 10 mark, reaching 11.8—the life level of a true interstellar cultivator.
“Gene modules really can be freely combined!” Confirming his hypothesis, Feng Lin continued experimenting endlessly, having a blast.
The Gene Hunting Grounds were like game dungeons, with varying difficulty levels: Novice, Elite, Expert, Master, Hell, Abyss… and many more.
The higher the difficulty, the greater the combat power and cultivation required.
Feng Lin didn’t rush into higher-level dungeons. Instead, he kept farming basic genes in simple ones, testing various gene combinations and grasping the essence of genetic evolution.
Airflow Gene 6 + Cloud Gene 7 + Water Vapor Gene 5 = Storm Gene Water Current Gene 8 + Ice Gene 7 + Wind Gust Gene 3 = Blizzard Gene Flame Gene 9 + Rock Gene 7 = Magma Gene …
One by one, he tested the evolution formulas for high-level primitive genes. Feng Lin grew more insightful about genetic cultivation, gaining new understandings. His gene potential surged steadily, small yet rapid.
Gene Potential +8%, +8%, +8%…
Soon, his gene potential reached 582%, nearing 600%, granting him 6 free gene points.
But what Feng Lin didn’t know was that as he frequently roamed various Gene Hunting Ground dungeons, racking up kills, his combat data was recorded by the system.
His score appeared on a novice dungeon leaderboard, climbing like a rocket, gradually catching the attention of observant eyes.