Genes are sequenced with numerical grades such as 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on.
The path of cultivation for interstellar cultivators is the path of genetic evolution. By continuously improving the grade of one's genes, their life level draws closer to that of mythical beings.
In Earth's ancient era, primordial creatures roamed rampant, each a dominant force in the food chain—dinosaurs, giant apes, terror crocodiles...
Awakening a Tier 1 gene meant gaining power comparable to these primordial beings, standing at the top of the food chain.
Thus, if Tier 0 genes are the foundation of genetic evolution, known as basic genes, then Tier 1 genes are primordial genes.
But this still doesn't count as true transcendence.
What is transcendence?
Power and lifespan beyond ordinary humans!
Power alone isn't enough. Without an increase in lifespan, there's no essential leap in life level. No matter how strong—even if you could shatter a planet with one punch—a hundred years later, you'd be nothing but a pile of dust, meaningless.
So-called strength would be nothing but an illusion.
An ancient cultivation saying goes: "Cultivating life without cultivating nature is the first ailment of cultivation."
As a qualified interstellar cultivator, cultivating both life and nature—enhancing both power and lifespan—is the true method of cultivation that reaches the essence of life.
If Tier 1 genes mark the beginning of becoming a primordial overlord, Tier 2 genes are the starting point of the path to transcendence.
Once a person evolves Tier 2 genes, their lifespan surges, granting at least three hundred years—a threefold increase. Reaching this step makes them a genuine transcendent being.
Thus, Tier 2 genes are also called transcendent genes.
Feng Lin follows the mythical path, undoubtedly the path of Sun Wukong.
On a mythical path, each tier has a corresponding gene. With the Stone Monkey gene as Tier 1, what is the next Tier 2 gene to evolve?
Only by figuring out the path ahead can he continue cultivating.
Deducing a mythical path requires studying and analyzing myths, step by step, based on the growth experiences of mythical figures.
Myths guide the cultivation path, but deducing the path requires genetic potential.
For example, Feng Lin knows that Pangu, as the creator god in Chinese mythology, has an immensely powerful mythical path, but deducing the genetic evolution path requires astronomical amounts of potential.
He only knows the top of this path is the Pangu gene, but the genetic tree for evolving that gene—the formulas and combinations for each tier—he knows nothing about.
Deducing step by step from high to low and synthesizing along the way consumes far too much genetic potential; he simply can't afford it.
For Feng Lin, who awakened the Ape gene and Stone Fetus gene from the start, the Sun Wukong path was the only choice at the time, and also the best.
Perhaps later, when his life level is stronger, he can break free from the limitations of the Sun Wukong path and walk a freer path full of infinite possibilities.
But that's a matter for far in the future. For now, the urgent task is to walk the path before him, step by step, steadily, until he breaks free from the shackles of fate and gains the chance to choose freely.
Otherwise, all of this is nothing but delusion.
In myths, the sacred, immortals, and buddhas grow stronger with their experiences, and the mythical genes passed down also strengthen step by step.
Feng Lin's free genetic points are sufficient; he can add them anytime. But if he doesn't clarify the direction of evolution and rashly adds points, he'll only harm himself.
After all, genes have the rule of "no regrets after enhancement." He doesn't want to walk into a dead end of cultivation because of impatience.
Feng Lin begins to explore the next genetic evolution path.
For an ordinary person without guidance, it's hard to know how to proceed.
But the path of genetic cultivation follows myths.
Feng Lin knows ancient Earth myths; with this as a guide, he won't lose his way.
By choosing a path based on myths and then deducing possibilities through genetic equations and realizing them, combining both, Feng Lin can ensure he doesn't go astray, walking a brilliantly bright cultivation path.
After the Stone Monkey gene, what is the next gene on Sun Wukong's mythical path?
Feng Lin first guesses it's the Intelligent Stone Monkey gene, but he's unsure of the difference between Intelligent Stone Monkey and Stone Monkey.
He knows myths well, but only as recorded stories. Many real details have long been worn away by the river of time, requiring step-by-step exploration.
After all, he's not the real Sun Wukong; he can't know every detail of the true myth.
Feng Lin only knows that on Sun Wukong's mythical path, there must be a tier for the Sun Wukong gene, Tier 0 includes the Ape gene and Stone Fetus gene, Tier 1 has the Stone Monkey gene, and nothing else.
So he first assumes the Tier 2 gene on the cultivation path is the Sun Wukong gene, then uses the Stone Monkey gene as a known parameter and begins solving.
The genetic equation remains unchanged; the potential doesn't budge, not decreasing at all.
Why is this?
Shouldn't deducing a genetic formula reduce genetic potential?
Feng Lin is a bit puzzled; this is the first time he's seen the genetic equation fail.
But calming down, he thinks: the genetic equation has always worked before; it can't be invalid this time.
That's not reasonable!
He has a guess.
It seems the Sun Wukong gene isn't a Tier 2 transcendent gene but a higher-tier gene.
The gap in gene tiers is too large to synthesize directly, so the genetic equation can't function.
As for the Sun Wukong gene's abilities, he'll have to explore that later.
Every myth is a path to godhood!
To explore the path, one must start with myths.
Sun Wukong's story shows his abilities growing stronger with his experiences.
Feng Lin recalls Sun Wukong's journey, remembering that before he worshipped Patriarch Bodhi as his master and received his name, he ruled over the monkeys as the Handsome Monkey King on Flower-Fruit Mountain.
The transcendent traits of his Handsome Monkey King period must also be inherited in his genes.
Could this Tier 2 primordial gene be the Handsome Monkey King gene?
Feng Lin then assumes the Tier 2 gene on Sun Wukong's path is the Handsome Monkey King gene, again using the Stone Monkey gene as a known parameter and begins solving.
But it's the same as before; the genetic equation doesn't move.
This indicates the genetic evolution still skips tiers; there's no direct synthesis formula.
The Handsome Monkey King gene is also above Tier 2 primordial genes, with lower-tier genes beneath it.
Feng Lin starts to sort through the Sun Wukong myth from the beginning.
The Stone Monkey emerges from stone, a natural spiritual being, the Intelligent Stone Monkey, inherently agile and perceptive, its eyes shooting golden light as it bows to the four directions, subduing the monkey troop to become the Handsome Monkey King. Then, seeking the way to immortality, it travels overseas, worships Patriarch Bodhi as its master, gains the name Sun Wukong... wreaks havoc in Heaven, proclaims itself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven...
As he keeps recalling, Feng Lin's mind becomes clearer.
Based on this mythical path deduction, the Handsome Monkey King gene is likely a Tier 3 gene, and the Sun Wukong gene is probably a Tier 4 or Tier 5 gene...
Then the Tier 2 gene can only be one thing: the Intelligent Stone Monkey gene he first thought of.
Why didn't he try that from the start?
Because isn't the Stone Monkey the same as the Intelligent Stone Monkey?
Feng Lin thought they were the same, just different names.
Now it seems they're not.
Myths only provide a general route, with many unknown secrets within.
Knowing myths only lets Feng Lin see the big picture, giving him a clear understanding of the path, but the details must be explored one by one.
Feng Lin begins to deduce, targeting the Intelligent Stone Monkey gene, using the Stone Monkey gene as a variable.
The nebula energy in the dantian of his human gene map immediately stirs.
There's hope!
Feng Lin feels a surge of joy; the decrease in genetic potential confirms that the Intelligent Stone Monkey gene is indeed the evolved form of the Stone Monkey gene.
Genetic potential -20%, -20%, -20%...
Genetic potential drains like a burst dam, rapidly decreasing by as much as 180%.
Feng Lin finds it a bit hard to bear. It seems the higher the gene tier, the more difficult deducing the evolution formula becomes, consuming more and more genetic potential.
He'll need to earn more genetic potential quickly in the future.
Finally, after genetic potential decreases by 320%, three nebulas collapse.
A clear genetic combination path appears before him.
There's only this one genetic formula, the sole one.
Feng Lin looks at it in surprise, his expression immediately turning odd.
Stone Monkey Gene 10 + Mind Gene 10 = Intelligent Stone Monkey Gene???
... ... ...