Chapter 21: Double Genetic Power, Flaming Meteor!

Chapter 21: Double Genetic Power, Flaming Meteor!

A tall, bald African War God Rank asked, "Deputy Commander, what's our plan? Are we really going to force the kill under a Legislator's nose?"

"If we can't find a better opening, we'll have to go in hard. We've already accepted the bounty—we can't back out now. We need to focus on surviving the Legislator's retaliation", replied another War God Rank with deep furrows carved into his buzzcut.

Their "Deputy Commander" was none other than Randolph, second-in-command of the Glorious Legion.

A Councilor-Class Champion standing two meters and twenty centimeters tall, the ironclad black man crushed the half-burned cigar in his fist as he declared, "We're seeing this through!"

The bounty offered by their employer was too valuable to abandon—it could transform their mercenary group into a full-fledged arms conglomerate. No high-ranking officer in the Legion could resist such an opportunity.

Randolph had already calculated solutions for his subordinates' concerns. "After eliminating the target, you two escape immediately. I'll draw fire. Once you're airborne back to Africa, the Jiang Clan Patriarch won't dare retaliate against our African base cities under the established rules."

"I'll throw the employer under the bus to divert their wrath, and our Commander will have Hong mediate the situation."

"Given Hong's temperament, he'll never allow us to be wiped out completely. Every Councilor-Class Champion is an irreplaceable force against the Beasts—nothing like unproven prodigies."

"With Hong and the Commander intervening, this matter will end there."

"At worst, I'll lose some face and pay compensation. The Jiang Clan Patriarch will redirect his anger toward our 'dear employer' anyway."

Randolph's words carried undeniable logic, calming his subordinates' unease. But they failed to notice the cold cruelty flashing in his eyes.

Compensation?

What better offering than two War God Ranks?

Hahahah! My foolish brother, once I've sacrificed your trusted subordinates, how many chips will you have left?

The Glorious Legion was about to welcome its new commander!

The thought set Randolph's blood ablaze. With Agate and a Class-9 (S-Rank) Alloy weapons production line, the Legion would reach its zenith under his leadership.

Meanwhile, the African squad packed their gear and headed southeast.

...

Midway to City 079, an unnamed town lay in ruins.

Two Legislator-ranked figures hovered above the battlefield, watching a lone figure clad in black armor cut through thousands of Beasts. A hundred Beast Lord-level creatures led the swarm against him.

The black-armored youth wielded a long spear like a shadow, piercing skulls with surgical precision. Ten Annihilation Throwing Daggers danced behind him, each impaling the Cerebral Domains of charging beasts.

"This is a Mentalist—strolling through carnage like a garden, slaying with mere thought", one Legislator observed.

Elder Jiang scoffed, "Zhe's clearly unique even among Mentalists!"

"True, but my nephew does have a heavy hand."

"Good! Earth has plenty of Beasts to kill. How many waves now?"

"Eleventh town, eighth major swarm—nearly ten thousand kills. At this rate, we'll reach City 079 after midnight."

Master Jiang referred specifically to swarms led by Peak Beast Lords.

"Father, look! Zhe's encountered the Peak Beast Lord Earthshaper Warg!"

"Hmph. Finally something interesting", Elder Jiang's eyes lit up. "These wolf-type Beasts may not match Silver Moon Ferocious Wolves, but their strength, defense, and near-sonic speed make them formidable. If Zhe doesn't use Mentalist techniques—"

His words died abruptly.

The four-meter-tall, seven-meter-long Earthshaper Warg lunged from twenty meters up, its rocky carapace gleaming.

Jiang Zhe stood firm. His ten daggers formed a crimson vortex, shredding minions around him. Gripping his spear, he unleashed his perfected Piercing Spear Art.

The spearhead flashed an elegant arc, deflecting the wolf's crushing paw with high-frequency vibrations. Before the beast could react, the spear pierced its throat, skewering upward into its Cerebral Domain. The wolf's eyes froze in shock before dimming forever.

Twisting the spear, Jiang Zhe hurled the corpse aside. The remaining Beasts scattered in terror.

As light points flowed into his chest, Jiang Zhe calculated, "Time to form the second star."

Above, Master Jiang whistled, "No wonder he insisted on challenging Lord-level monsters. Even Peak Beast Lords seem like pups to him."

"Credit the Black God Suit too", Elder Jiang added. "It lets him unleash tenfold power without restraint."

...

At 11 PM, the trio finally reached City 079.

After settling into an abandoned seaside castle hotel, Elder Jiang reviewed intelligence reports and drafted a training plan.

"Initial Lord-tier: Kui Bull, Black-Scaled Xuan Turtle, Gold-Scaled Serpent, Jade-Horned Anvil Ram, Lion Mastiff Hound, Fire-Scaled Triple-Trident Boar. Mid-Tier Lords: Kui Bull, Azure-Backed Black-Clawed Crab. The list progresses from weakest to strongest. You may use Mental Energy during challenges. Complete them all—victory or defeat—and your wilderness training concludes."

Truthfully, he wouldn't have arranged this if Jiang Zhe hadn't insisted.

"Once back, we'll focus on physical enhancement. Your goal is rapid advancement to War God Rank. Then you can hunt Lord-level monsters freely in the wilderness."

Jiang Zhe nodded, accepting the plan. His family's cultivation methods aligned with mainstream practices—using treasures to boost cultivation after reaching certain martial understanding thresholds.

Blood Wine, Agate, Dragon Blood... all awaited Elder Jiang's arrangements.

One caveat: Earth's artificial treasures required careful timing. Too early, the body couldn't absorb them efficiently. Too late, their effects diminished.

Calculations showed Agate and Dragon Blood worked best at Warrior General Level.

No one seriously believed Dragon Blood could double physical strength even at Stronkaiser Tier?

A two-fold boost transforming Low War God to Mid War God, Mid to High Warrior? Such absurd Dragon Blood would only sell for 80 billion?

"I'll fetch some Kui Bulls. You two stay here", Elder Jiang said, flying toward the moonlit sea.

"Grandfather, stay safe!" Jiang Zhe called before retreating to his room with his uncle.

The first Three-Starred Chart materialized within his mind’s eye.

Silken threads of Refined Energy, born from Reciprocal Nourishment, flowed from the Consciousness Ocean to every corner of the body.

The intricate patterns carved into his chest began to radiate heat. Accumulated Light Points circled through the runes before merging into his frame.

These dual currents of energy intertwined, awakening latent functions within his cells and catalyzing a transformation of his genetic code.

Life Evolution had begun.

The second Stellar Node on his right shoulder, long shrouded in a faint, indistinct glow from prior cultivation sessions, now solidified as the final piece slotted into place.

Half an hour later, the process concluded.

The second Celestial Star solidified, achieving Mutual Illumination between the right shoulder and the first Stellar Node within the Cerebral Domain.

The two Nodes pulsed rhythmically, their flickering light spreading a peculiar resonance throughout his body.

Jiang Zhe could distinctly sense his cells dividing, his tissues undergoing Metamorphosis in unison. Yet the sensation was painless—akin to reclining in a hot spring, soothing and effortless.

"Feels almost like activating a program", Jiang Zhe mused inwardly.

Moments later, he clenched his fist experimentally, feeling the explosive power coiled within his muscles. A strange sensation of "expansion" washed over him.

This was the Double Life Gene threshold!

What did this mean practically?

To state the obvious: double physical strength, double mental energy intensity, double lifespan!

Even his measurable Punch Force had doubled.

Previously estimated at 11 tons, it now surged to 22 tons post-enhancement!

Such force, under normal circumstances, would place him mid-tier among Warrior Generals.

Combined with his 10x Power Amplification, this could peak at 220 tons of Punch Force—rivaling the baseline output of an average War God Rank expert.

Yet most astonishing was his mental energy intensity.

Previously, a single Annihilation Throwing Dagger carried 50 tons of impact force, placing him at the pinnacle of High Warrior Generals in mentalist prowess.

That remained unchanged.

But now, with his Genetic Tier doubled, the Dagger’s impact force had also doubled—to 100 tons!

This alone equaled the output of a novice Stronkaiser Tier mentalist!

If one judged solely by raw numbers, the Dagger’s force might seem inferior to his Punch Force, leading to the flawed conclusion that his mentalist cultivation lagged behind his martial prowess?

Absolutely not!

"I could simultaneously control ten Annihilation Daggers, striking from all directions at hypersonic speeds with instantaneous trajectory shifts. No matter how powerful a mid-tier War God Rank opponent’s force, their blade techniques or footwork, they’d perish in an instant!"

"And if I channeled Mid Warrior General strength through the Black God Suit with 10x amplification against a mid-tier War God Rank foe… who knows how that’d play out?"

…

"The bounty has been suspended. My third brother already issued a statement at the War God Palace."

"Thank you, but we’re not interested."

"Alright, hanging up now."

After ending the call, Master Jiang gazed at the moonlit night outside, unease gnawing at him. A prickling sensation crawled up his spine.

Sighing, he texted his father, Jiang Lie, then powered off his Communication Watch before softly calling out to the adjacent room.

"Xiao Zhe? Xiao Zhe?"

"Eh, Uncle, what’s up?" Jiang Zhe paused his experiment and hurried over.

"Come with me. We’re leaving—now! This place isn’t safe anymore!"

Jiang Zhe blinked, baffled.

What was happening?

What could threaten a Legislator, one of Earth’s highest authorities?

A King-Tier Beast siege?

Though puzzled, he moved swiftly, snatching his shield, Golden Mace, and Long Spear before leaping from the window beside his uncle.

Dropping silently behind his uncle, they hugged the shadows along the building’s edge, masking their trail.

Jiang Zhe suddenly understood—they were evading someone.

Over a kilometer from the abandoned castle hotel, Master Jiang finally spoke. "Xiao Zhe, someone might try to assassinate you. Stay sharp—use the Black God Suit to burrow underground if things turn dire."

After a brief silence, Jiang Zhe asked, "What caliber of assassin should I expect?"

He didn’t waste time on redundant questions like Who wants me dead? The Jiang Clan’s vast influence guaranteed irreconcilable enemies eager to eliminate its prodigy. If an attack came and he survived…

Well, retaliatory annihilation would be only natural.

Master Jiang’s voice darkened. "With Grandfather’s protection, anyone daring to strike would be led by at least a Legislator. The executioner will be a War God Rank—mid or high-tier!"

Jiang Zhe grunted in acknowledgment, already calculating. "A War God Rank? As long as they lack the Black God Suit, I’ll consider it a viable target."

Suddenly, Jiang Zhe stiffened, spotting an anomaly. He stared at his uncle’s broad back ahead.

Uncle… why are we circling this area?

You’re not leading me to safety—you’re stalling!

Testing the waters, he asked, "Did Grandfather know about this potential assassination beforehand?"

"He warned me first, which is why I broke through my cultivation. I sensed something off during that call earlier, so I messaged him immediately."

Jiang Zhe connected the dots instantly.

If this was a genuine assassination attempt, that phone call had been a trap to pinpoint their location.

Elder Jiang was 130 kilometers away in Huang County. At Stellar-Level speeds—kilometers per second—it would take Grandfather 2-3 minutes to arrive at full power.

So I’m bait?

Meanwhile, the Black Ops squad, having acquired Master Jiang’s coordinates via external intel, raced toward the coastal castle hotel. Deploying a portable radar mid-sprint, they scanned for martial artists nearby.

"Deputy Commander, we’ve got two targets four kilometers southeast—hovering within a kilometer of the objective. Likely our prey."

"Two? Who’s missing? Doesn’t matter—proceed. If Jiang Lie’s absent, this is our golden opportunity." Randolph barked, "Kazong, Yanpu—full speed ahead!"

Roaring, Randolph erupted skyward, his body engulfed in flames like a meteor streaking across the night.

Four kilometers? Ten seconds at most!

Two War God Rank experts bounded onto rooftops like giant grasshoppers, keeping pace with Randolph’s blazing trajectory.

The commotion stirred the city’s Beasts, their roars erupting in cacophony. Chaos erupted—but chaos favored the attackers.

Master Jiang couldn’t miss the thunderous approach of that "Flaming Meteor" hurtling toward them.

"Xiao Zhe—remember what I said. Stay alert!"

Before his voice faded, Master Jiang launched upward, the Yinglong Divine Armor shimmering with warm golden light as he collided head-on with the fiery projectile.

"Earth?"

"Jiang Lie—is this your special ability?"

"Hmm? No… you’re Master Jiang? I’ve seen you before. How are you also a Councilor Rank?!"

Randolph’s shout carried rising dread. The situation was slipping from his grasp.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end