C4 They Were Humiliated!

After integrating the Silver Liquid Jade Worm King Soul Jade, Zhang Lieh pulled out the core of the Silver Liquid Jade Worm King and began to consume it, bite by bite. The substance had a rather pleasant texture, tasting akin to an oversized gummy candy.

Upon swallowing the last gummy, a voice from the void echoed in his mind: "You have consumed a Super Gene Creature. You have gained 10 Super Gene points."

Zhang Lieh was of Common Level Life.

Cultivation Method: Basic Cultivation Method - Ultimate

Gene Count: Basic Genes 20, Mutated Genes 0, Super Genes 10

Soul Jade: Silver Liquid Jade Worm King Soul Jade (Weapon Type)

The Silver Liquid Jade Worm King was a treasure trove of a Super Life, with every part valuable. The base housed an icehouse for storing Gene Creature meat and bones, functioning much like a storage room in a supermarket, preserving Gene Creature meat for later use. Zhang Lieh gathered everything and returned to the base.

Predictably, his actions were met with ridicule from his peers.

"Has the perennial bottom-dweller added the White Liquid Jade Worm Soft Core to the icehouse again?"

"While others store Gene Creature meat in the icehouse, he follows suit. But is that junk really worth a hundred points a month? What's he thinking?"

"If he had any sense, he wouldn't be at the bottom of the Genetic Rankings for ages."

Zhang Lieh remained unfazed. Even though renting the icehouse cost him a hundred points monthly, he wasn't bothered. He knew that once the potential of the Basic Cultivation Method was discovered, the White Liquid Jade Worm Soft Core stored in the icehouse would become an immense fortune. At the moment, he was contemplating whether to be the one to reveal this breakthrough.

Having brought back a wealth of knowledge from the future, he had sufficient bug core reserves once his training in the Basic Cultivation Method was complete. He had no intention of collecting more bug cores, rendering the breakthrough information valueless.

Trading worthless information for a fortune was an ideal exchange.

Yet, given his current power and network, he couldn't risk spreading the news himself, as it could bring unwanted complications. Clearly, he needed to give it more thought.

After securing the important White Liquid Jade Worm Soft Core, Zhang Lieh used ten points to rent the most affordable room at the base.

Given its low cost, the room's amenities were quite basic, akin to a fully enclosed prison cell with its own toilet.

Seated cross-legged on the bed, Zhang Lieh achieved the final breakthrough in his basic cultivation technique, paving the way for the next phase: training in Genetic Martial Arts.

Zhang Lieh had already prepared the method for this particular martial arts training.

The backstory of this method was quite extensive.

In short, in his past life, Zhang Lieh had gone to great lengths in the Third Realm to acquire a gene martial arts technique, a process fraught with life-threatening challenges.

Adding to his frustration, after all the effort and expense, he was unable to practice this gene martial art due to its initial water attribute, known as Fish Dragon Nine Changes.

At the time of acquisition, Zhang Lieh had been steeped in the Third Realm's fire-attributed techniques for years, making it impossible to directly practice this unique art.

He nearly had to start his cultivation from scratch, but after extensive verification, he realized that even starting over might not guarantee success with this peculiar technique, leading him to abandon the idea.

Despite this, he often lamented in his previous life that he hadn't encountered this technique sooner.

Ironically, in his new life, Zhang Lieh found himself with the chance to practice this very technique.

While not highly ranked, it was considered a rare and unparalleled technique due to its evolutionary potential.

The initial stage was comparable to a Common Level Life gene technique, which frankly was as common as goods found at a street market; anyone of some repute in the Void Realm could acquire it.

But as the technique advanced to the second level, it evolved into a lower-tier technique, and at Level Three, it became an intermediate technique...

With each advancement, the technique improved, culminating in the ultimate Nine Transformations. Theoretically, it could surpass the God Level Technique, transforming from fish to dragon and achieving the supreme state, hence the name Fish Dragon Nine Changes.

Naturally, the criteria for advancing this technique became increasingly demanding with each level.

In both his past and present lives, Zhang Lieh cherished the boundless potential for growth. Without hesitation, he began to practice the technique etched into his memory.

The primary purpose of the Universal Technique was to accumulate Genetic Origin Power within the body. Once Zhang Lieh shattered the technique's limits, the Genetic Origin Power within him could only be described as colossal.

At that moment, Zhang Lieh employed the technique to channel the Origin Power throughout his body. As he purified himself, he imprinted the gene code onto the Origin Power. After circulating for several cycles, a blue gene core materialized at his dantian.

The size of this blue gene core, comparable to a prayer bead, brought a smile to Zhang Lieh's face.

For most, an initial gene core would be no larger than a mung bean. Zhang Lieh's exceptional gene core was a testament to his breakthrough with the basic technique.

The size of the initial gene core significantly influenced both the enhancement of physical strength and the resonance with the Origin Power.

To master gene martial arts, one must inscribe them onto the gene core. The first tier of the technique, the most rudimentary, could only accommodate five gene martial arts techniques.

The water attribute was a perfect match for the Silver Liquid Jade Worm King Soul Jade. With the addition of water gene martial arts, its potency could increase three to fivefold.

The first tier of the Fish Dragon Nine Changes, known as the 'Fish Change,' granted two fundamental genetic abilities upon mastery. The first was dubbed Water Life.

Water Life encompassed the essential capabilities of aquatic life, such as breathing underwater and moving swiftly through it.

Most water gene techniques could achieve this, with the extent of the ability varying.

The second genetic ability was named Fire Devour, which, as implied, allowed one to consume flames. The technique's documentation suggested that at its pinnacle, one could become immune to or even absorb fire-based damage of the same tier, demonstrating its formidable power.

Being reborn, Zhang Lieh approached everything as if starting anew. His imprinting was swift, and in mere moments, a faint red fish appeared within the water-blue gene core.

The initial transformation in the Fish Dragon Nine Changes was the Swimming Fish Change. Once the imprinting process was complete, it was time to move on to the gene martial arts.

The gene martial arts and gene techniques were intricately linked. If the technique was aligned with the water element, then the martial art would also be water-based.

In his past life, Zhang Lieh's cultivation technique was fire-elemental, rendering his former martial arts unusable in this life. However, he couldn't let his fire-elemental martial arts go to waste.

Within the base, there was a platform for exchanging martial arts. One could trade martial skills for points or swap martial skills directly with others. It was rare for people to trade martial skills for points; the majority preferred to exchange skills directly.

Even the most modest rooms were equipped with internet access.

In his previous life, Zhang Lieh had mastered several martial arts, including the Flaming Art, Blazing Sword, Scorching Fist, and Explosive Flame Step, as well as higher-level martial arts acquired in the Third Realm: the Inferno Divine Armor and the Nine Nether Flame Slash.

These skills covered offense, defense, and evasion. There would be no issue selling the first three.

The latter two required careful consideration. The Inferno Divine Armor belonged to a renowned martial arts school, and releasing it now could lead to unnecessary complications.

The Nine Nether Flame Slash was Zhang Lieh's most cherished technique and his secret weapon. Moreover, subsequent transformations in the Fish Dragon Nine Changes hinted at a potential shift towards the fire element. Zhang Lieh would not share it unless absolutely necessary.

Upon accessing the trading platform, Zhang Lieh kept an eye out for water and fire martial arts exchanges and quickly found a match.

Soft Water Strength Transforming, a defensive gene martial art, was being offered in exchange for a fire sword technique.

After successfully imprinting the Blazing Sword and passing the system's verification, Zhang Lieh completed the trade with ease.

After further browsing with no additional trades, he decided to list the descriptions of the remaining three fire-element martial arts on the trading section.

All that was left to do was wait. The room, though small, provided sufficient space for him to practice his newly acquired Soft Water Strength Transforming.

This technique proved challenging, requiring the practitioner to embody the suppleness of water. Drawing upon his extensive experience from his past life, Zhang Lieh dedicated half a day to fully integrate and master it.

Armed with a new cultivation method and martial skill, Zhang Lieh was ready to leave the base to hunt Gene Creatures and expand his gene pool. But as he stepped out, he encountered someone he despised.

"Zhang Lieh! You've kept me waiting far too long!"

The one barring Zhang Lieh's exit was none other than Wang Xiaohua, his childhood friend who seemed to have been waiting for quite some time.

Zhang Lieh scowled and said, "Can't you be a little patient? Is it so hard to wait until the end of the month?"

Wang Xiaohua glared at him with venom in her eyes. "The house is one issue, but you slapping me is another. Don't think I'll let you off the hook that easily. Today, you either kneel and apologize at the base's entrance, or you're not going anywhere."

Just outside the base, Wang Xiaohua stood in Zhang Lieh's way, while a crowd gathered around, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Zhang Lieh barked, "Get out of my way! I don't have time for your childish games."

"What's this? A bottom-feeder from the Genetic Rankings acting all high and mighty? You think you're something special? I've got twenty points in my mutated gene now; I could crush you with just one finger."

With a resounding "smack," Zhang Lieh had no interest in further conversation. He slapped Wang Xiaohua, sending her flying, and then he nonchalantly walked away.

Twenty points in a mutant gene impressive? Zhang Lieh was currently the bearer of 10 points of Super Gene, a fact unknown to all the spectators.

The crowd at the base entrance was stunned after witnessing Wang Xiaohua being slapped away.

"Good heavens, the bottom-dweller Wang actually had the guts to strike first."

"Lord, the bottom-dweller Wang must have a death wish. With his skills, he's as good as dead."

Regaining her composure, Wang Xiaohua rose from the ground and lunged at Zhang Lieh like a rabid Hound.

"Zhang Lieh! You dare to strike me? I will rip you to shreds!"

Zhang Lieh's lips quirked up as Wang Xiaohua charged at him like a ferocious dog. He had just mastered a new martial skill and was looking for a test subject. It seemed Wang Xiaohua had volunteered herself for the role.

With the Soft Water Strength Transforming technique deployed, his hands swiftly morphed into a surge of water, executing moves with the grace of drifting clouds and flowing water—dragging, leading, pulling, and stroking with a gentle touch.

Bang!

Wang Xiaohua somersaulted over Zhang Lieh's head and landed face-first on the ground, akin to a dog nosediving into the dirt.

Startled, Zhang Lieh clapped his hands mockingly and cast a derisive glance at Wang Xiaohua before sauntering off with his hands nonchalantly tucked into his pockets.

It took Wang Xiaohua a while to regain her composure. She picked herself up off the ground, her face expressionless and her mouth caked with mud. She was utterly dumbfounded, unable to fathom how Wang, the very person she ridiculed daily for being at the bottom of the gene rankings, could possess such formidable combat strength.