My Gene Evolves Infinitely

Extraordinary Gene – [Stone Skin]

Lu Yuan accessed the information about this Extraordinary Gene. Looking at it, he raised an eyebrow.

[Stone Skin], a battle skill of the Ash Stone Beetle, can create a layer of stone-like skin on the body’s surface, significantly boosting defence.

This Extraordinary Gene primarily enhances defence, with a secondary boost to strength.

Is it powerful? Considering it’s an Ordinary Quality Extraordinary Gene, it’s not particularly strong.

But its defence capabilities are notably robust.

Yet, Lu Yuan felt somewhat disappointed.

He had hoped for an attack-type Extraordinary Gene.

After all, his preferred path is the Assault Department, and Stone Skin leans more towards defence.

Looking at the Extraordinary Gene in his hand, his gaze flickered with indecision.

After a moment, he resolved himself and clenched his teeth.

“This will have to do.”

With his current strength, acquiring another Extraordinary Gene would be challenging. Who knows when the next opportunity will come?

Might as well encode it directly and boost his strength now.

Besides, his original plan required a Defensive Department Extraordinary Gene. As long as he continues to evolve, even an Ordinary Quality defensive gene can be elevated to the highest form.

Having made up his mind, Lu Yuan decided to begin encoding this Extraordinary Gene immediately.

After all, his current location was quite safe, unlikely to attract visitors.

Also, encoding an Ordinary Quality Extraordinary Gene is relatively simple, manageable even for an Apprentice Level Gene Warrior.

Unlike higher-quality genes, which, if not powerful enough, could result in fatal overloads during encoding.

Death from gene encoding is unlike any other; a failure means actual death in both the Land of Origin and the real world, without leaving a trace.

Even if it doesn’t result in death, incomplete encoding can leave residual traits of the gene’s original life form, which could be problematic.

For instance, growing a tail or adopting some unusual habits of the creature.

These were concerns Lu Yuan had read about in beginner guides on encoding Extraordinary Genes.

Confident in his research, Lu Yuan was prepared to go through with encoding this gene. He took a deep breath, gripped the white orb tightly, and squeezed.

In an instant, the orb shattered, and the strange filaments within transformed into a stream of light that merged into Lu Yuan’s body.

These filaments navigated through a white mist before integrating into his gene chain.

A blank segment in his awakened gene chain was ready; the filaments morphed and filled this gap, completing it.

As this happened, Lu Yuan felt his body crack and toughen, his muscles becoming denser.

With the physical transformation came intense pain, causing sweat to bead on his forehead.

“Damn it!”

He mentally cursed. Was this the ‘easy’ encoding of an Ordinary Quality Extraordinary Gene?

The pain was nearly unbearable!

The encoding process lasted an indeterminate time, filling the blank chain completely. Then, the remaining filaments began to fine-tune other areas of his gene chain, bringing more sharp pains.

This time, however, the pain was somewhat less intense.

Having been numbed by the initial agony, Lu Yuan now found the sensation almost pleasant. He wondered if something was wrong with him.

After some time, the adjustments to his other gene chains were complete.

Lu Yuan remained alert. One final step remained.

A piercing shriek echoed inside his mind.

Lu Yuan braced himself. This was the last step in encoding the Extraordinary Gene.

The apprehensive nature of the Extraordinary Gene had not completely dissipated.

At the final moment of encoding, the instinctive will of the life form began its last stand.

Only by completely erasing this instinctive resistance of this creature can the Extraordinary Gene be fully integrated into one’s body.

Those who fail to fully encode an Extraordinary Gene often lack the capability to completely erase the creature’s will.

If the will of the Extraordinary Gene’s original creature prevails, it might even erase the Gene Warrior’s will, leading to horrific mutations. Death would be the least of the consequences.

A battle of wills ensues, a fight to the death!

For a Gene Warrior, the path to power is fraught with peril.

Only by shedding blood can one traverse it.

The strength of a gene creature and the quality of the Extraordinary Gene are intertwined. An Ordinary Quality Extraordinary Gene naturally corresponds to an ordinary-level ferocious beast.

This is why even an Apprentice Level Gene Warrior can easily encode an Ordinary Quality Extraordinary Gene.

After all, if a Gene Warrior can’t defeat even an ordinary beast, death might be preferable.

Lu Yuan’s Extraordinary Gene is of Ordinary Quality, [Stone Skin], naturally associated with the Ordinary Quality Ash Stone Beetle.

The instant the familiar shriek of the Ash Stone Beetle echoed, Lu Yuan’s consciousness blurred. When he came to, he found himself enveloped in white mist.

Behind him stretched his towering gene chain.

Before him, the mist swirled, and a half-meter-tall Ash Stone Beetle appeared.

The beetle’s eyes were crazed as it screamed.

Its instinct told it that defeat meant total annihilation.

Even a cornered rat will bite the cat; what more of a ferocious beast?

In this moment, the Ash Stone Beetle descended into utter madness.

As soon as its’ will was materialized, it charged at Lu Yuan’s will.

Lu Yuan remained expressionless.

His will embodied the strength of the encoded Extraordinary Gene.

Although not fully encoded yet, the power was reduced, but against an ordinary Ash Stone Beetle, even unencoded, he could defeat it—how much more so now?

Moreover…

Lu Yuan’s right hand opened, and the phantom of the Beetle Claw sword by his gene chain vanished, reappearing in his grasp.

His will strengthened once more.

Genetic Armament, even as a will, was usable.

Facing the charging Ash Stone Beetle, Lu Yuan grasped the sword with both hands and swung forcefully.

A slash of dark light, and the will of the Ash Stone Beetle was cleaved in two.

Lu Yuan didn’t stop there. He continued slashing, thoroughly shattering the beetle’s will.

The fragments of the beetle dissipated into light, merging into the gene chain behind Lu Yuan.

A profoundly comforting warmth spread throughout his body.

This was the essence of the creature’s sublimation.

Only after encoding an Extraordinary Gene does one truly become a Gene Warrior. This transformation elevates one from the mortal to the extraordinary!

Lu Yuan’s will returned to his body. He closed his eyes, savouring the moment of elevation, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

The encoding of the Extraordinary Gene was complete.

Lu Yuan clenched his hands, feeling his skin becoming tougher, his bones, muscles, and blood vessels all undergoing significant changes.

He extracted the black light alloy sword and lightly wiped his finger across the blade, unscathed.

Applying more force, still no mark remained.

Only when using considerable strength did his finger skin tear slightly, leaving a minor wound.

Lu Yuan looked at the slight wound, pleased.

Now, his defences were even stronger than those of an ordinary Ash Stone Beetle.

Not only that, Lu Yuan could also feel his strength had significantly increased.

The level of enhancement was similar to that provided by the Beetle Claw.

Yet, remember that the Extraordinary Gene is just of Ordinary Quality, while the Beetle Claw is an Elite Quality Genetic Armament.

The fact that their enhancements are comparable speaks volumes about the difference in potential.

Moreover, encoding the Extraordinary Gene brought an intrinsic enhancement, unlike the external boost provided by Genetic Armament.

Moreover, Lu Yuan’s inner spiritual energy surged, white lights flickered, and a greyish-white stone skin formed over his body surface.

Battle Skill – [Stone Skin]

Lu Yuan clenched his fists and slammed them together.

Bang!

A dull thud, like stone colliding, echoed.

Lu Yuan punched the stone column behind him.

Bang!

The column cracked with a web-like fissure, but Lu Yuan felt no pain.

He then took the black light alloy sword and slashed at his arm.

Clang clang clang!

Only slight white marks appeared on the greyish-white skin of his arm, and Lu Yuan felt nothing.

This defence is incredibly strong!

Lu Yuan was ecstatic.

This was a massive upgrade!

Fortunately, he hadn’t given up on that treasure chest. He’d fought hard for it, otherwise, reaching this level of ability might have taken who knows how long.

With his current strength, killing Ash Stone Beetles was no challenge at all.

He could easily obtain Spirit Crystals to temper his gene chain.

The rate of improvement was astonishing!

But it wasn’t over yet.

The most important moment had arrived.

Lu Yuan looked at the azure blue cube encircling his gene chain, his lips curling into a smile.

Evolution!

He was about to evolve the encoded Stone Skin Extraordinary Gene!

This evolution would be the ultimate reward from his latest adventure!