‘Could this video have been edited? Could that Wu Tiancheng be a plant?’

Snapping out of his shock a moment later, these were the first doubts that surfaced in Lin Zichen’s mind.

After all, it was so far beyond common sense that it was hard to believe.

As if he knew what Lin Zichen was thinking, Liu Chuanwu, sitting across from him, smiled and said, “This is the original on-site recording, without any post-production. If you don’t believe it, I’ll keep challenging other High-Level Gene Fusers in the future and you’re welcome to watch live anytime.”

When he said this, Liu Chuanwu’s face was full of confidence.

Lin Zichen believed the video was real.

But soon another question arose in his heart and he asked Liu Chuanwu, “Since pureblood humans can kill Gene Fusers above their rank, why don’t you upload this video online so you can promote the Celestial Pavilion more effectively? We want to, but the authorities won’t allow it.”

“Why?”

“Because for pureblood humans who follow the body-tempering path, the current ceiling is Ordinary Level only, capped at Level 9 and we haven’t broken that shackle. The authorities think that even if you are unbeatable at the same level, if your Biological Level cannot rise, then there is no future and it isn’t worth promoting. They say to wait until pureblood humans can break through to Advanced, then they’ll consider it.”

At this point, Liu Chuanwu let out a cold laugh and said with clear disagreement, “But the problem is, if we don’t promote it a little and get more people involved, breakthroughs are hard to achieve. After all, quantitative change is the prerequisite for qualitative change.

Another point is that this research needs the participation and cooperation of geniuses to proceed as envisioned. But right now all the geniuses are choosing Gene Fusion and no one is joining this research. At this rate, we might still have no results by the time humanity goes extinct.”

The more Liu Chuanwu spoke, the more troubled he looked, with a trace of disappointment in his eyes—disappointment in the current authorities.

Lin Zichen felt it made sense.

Some research needs support first in order to produce results.

If you only support it after results appear, that’s unrealistic and shortsighted.

However, he didn’t really think the authorities were shortsighted.

He felt they must have another plan, something even better than pureblood humans.

Otherwise they would not de-prioritize the pureblood path like this.

Across from him, Liu Chuanwu continued, “Fifty years ago my Biological Level had already reached Ordinary Level 9. I was a hair’s breadth from evolving to Advanced, but I’ve been stuck for fifty years. I don’t think the research direction is wrong. I think my talent just isn’t high enough. If it were given to a peerless genius with a better body, they could definitely break the Ordinary shackle and evolve into an Advanced Being through Body-Tempering Techniques.”

Then Liu Chuanwu returned to the main point, “To be frank, what I want to say is that the Celestial Pavilion lacks everything except one thing—geniuses like you.”

‘Wait, fifty years? But you only look a little over fifty now. Were you Ordinary Level 9 as a toddler?’

Lin Zichen noticed something off and was suddenly filled with suspicion.

Seeing the doubt on Lin Zichen’s face, Liu Chuanwu knew what he was thinking.

He had already had this conversation more than a thousand times.

He quickly smiled and said, “Don’t be fooled by my appearance of being in my fifties or sixties. I’m actually nearly a hundred. The reason I can live this long with a pureblood human body while staying this youthful is Body-Tempering Techniques. If you don’t believe me, Wikipedia has my information. You can check my date of birth.”

If it could be checked, it had to be checked.

Lin Zichen unlocked his phone, opened Wikipedia and entered the words Shanhai University Martial Arts Academy Dean.

With one search, Liu Chuanwu’s personal information popped up.

Date of birth: March 1929.

It was 2024 now, which made him a ninety-five-year-old man.

‘Body-Tempering Techniques really can extend life. I wonder if Mom and Dad could practice them…’

That was Lin Zichen’s first thought.

He continued reading Liu Chuanwu’s profile.

In his youth, he was the eldest young master of a martial family.

His clan, the Liu Clan, had once been one of the top powers in Southern River Province.

However, when the era of Gene Fusion arrived, they didn’t adapt, refused Gene Fusion and the entire clan declined.

As for the eldest young master Liu Chuanwu, his family fell apart.

As for why, it was because he insisted on avoiding Gene Fusion, while his wife and children chose it.

He was willing to let his family fall apart yet still persist in researching the pureblood path…

Seeing this, Lin Zichen felt a flicker of respect for Liu Chuanwu.

Not everyone has that kind of resolve.

Lin Zichen asked himself if, after marrying Shen Qinghan and having children, he would make the same choice in the same situation.

He thought he probably could not.

But that hypothetical would never happen.

Because Lin Zichen believed that in the same situation, Shen Qinghan would never leave him and would stay by his side to support his research.

That was the bond of childhood sweethearts who grew up together.

“Hm?”

Suddenly, in Liu Chuanwu’s relationship tab, Lin Zichen saw a surprising name.

Ex-wife: Yuan Dongzhi.

Son: Yuan Xusheng

Daughter: Yuan Xiaoyi

‘Yuan Dongzhi? Wasn’t that Qinghan’s temporary master? What a coincidence.’

Son Yuan Xusheng, daughter Yuan Xiaoyi—after the divorce they took their mother’s surname?

Liu Chuanwu was a bit pitiful…

Lin Zichen felt more and more respect for him.

Given the combat strength he showed in the video, if he had accepted Gene Fusion when young, he would at least be on the same level as Yuan Dongzhi now.

He wouldn’t have to win a fight against a university mentor covered in blood and then shout to the sky in excitement.

Nor would he have to run around recruiting students while being cursed every day.

‘Wait… Both Yuan Xusheng and Yuan Xiaoyi’s profile pictures were greyed out. Are they both dead?’

Lin Zichen wanted to tap in for details but held back out of respect since Liu Chuanwu was right there.

After Lin Zichen finished reading the page, Liu Chuanwu smiled and said, “Although I don’t look as young as Gene Fusers of my age, the fact that I’m nearly a hundred and still look like this is enough to prove the human body’s great potential and that the pureblood path has a future. And for that reason the Celestial Pavilion exists and so many dedicated people are willing to join to pioneer the evolution of pureblood humans.”

At this point, his tone suddenly turned solemn, “What is a ‘Celestial Being’? When people overcome the heavens, that is a Celestial Being. And the ‘people’ here means pureblood humans.”

Then his volume dropped back to normal, “The mainstream view now is that without Gene Fusion or Mechanical Modification, humans are capped at Ordinary Level 9. But in truth, it is Gene Fusion and Mechanical Modification that truly lock the ceiling. Gene Fusion takes from

Aberrant Beasts and you can never surpass the beasts you draw from, so there is no future, only survival for a while until we can no longer resist the invasion and humanity perishes. Mechanical Modification is the same. Know that many materials for modification also come from Aberrant Beasts. It still takes from beasts and can never surpass them.”

Feeling parched, Liu Chuanwu took a sip of sweet soup and continued, “The Celestial Pavilion isn’t against Gene Fusion or Mechanical Modification. We are against putting all our bets on them. I believe the right approach is to rely on those two to hold the front in the early stages, while we research other paths to prepare for the future. And developing the potential of pureblood humans is a path that deserves investment.”

After saying so much for so long, seeing that time was almost up, Liu Chuanwu finally laid his cards on the table, “Lin Zichen, I sincerely invite you to join the Celestial Pavilion and work for the future of humanity. I firmly believe you can become the first pureblood human to break the Ordinary shackle.”

At last the big promise was made.

‘Unfortunately, I felt nothing inside…’

Thinking that, Lin Zichen didn’t respond to the invitation but instead asked curiously, “You’ve been talking about Body-Tempering Techniques this whole time. What exactly are they?”

Hearing this, Liu Chuanwu thought Lin Zichen was interested in joining and he explained with a warm smile, “The Celestial Pavilion’s body-tempering method is the Blood-Tempering Art. It comes from an ancient ruin. As the name suggests, the Blood-Tempering Art uses one’s blood and vitality to temper the body, strengthening the flesh and enhancing combat strength.

The records say that at the highest realm, the Blood-Tempering Art can make the flesh holy, allow flight and earth-burrowing and shatter mountains and rivers with a punch. In today’s terms, it means tearing apart a steel behemoth with human hands. However, only pureblood humans can cultivate the Blood-Tempering Art.

Gene Fusers have impure blood containing impurities, so they cannot cultivate it. Cyborgs have incomplete bodies and vitality cannot circulate through the whole body, so they cannot cultivate it either. Besides the Blood-Tempering Art, other body-tempering methods unearthed from ruins can also only be cultivated by pureblood humans. That is why we believe pureblood humans have a future, while Gene Fusers and Cyborgs do not.”

He finished and asked again, “Lin Zichen, would you like to join us, cultivate the Blood-Tempering Art and walk the pureblood path?”

Lin Zichen declined tactfully, “I feel I still know too little about the pureblood path. Let me observe for now.”

Liu Chuanwu tried to persuade him again, “You could join for a year to try it out. If after a year it doesn’t suit you, you can still choose Gene Fusion. But once you choose Gene Fusion, your blood will no longer be pure and you won’t be able to cultivate the Blood-Tempering Art.”

“I’ll take my time and learn more,” Lin Zichen declined once more.

Liu Chuanwu persisted, “Truly, Lin Zichen, your bodily talent is so high that it would be a pity not to try the pureblood path. In our eyes, that provincial top scorer with 16% Gene Fusion Adaptability isn’t worth mentioning next to you, not even a single hair.

We believe the one with the top physical test data, you are the true provincial champion of Southern River Province. If you choose Gene Fusion and go head to head with her, you might not beat her. But if you choose the pureblood path, you will absolutely crush her later.”

As he said the last sentence, Liu Chuanwu unconsciously raised his voice a little.

Shen Qinghan felt deeply awkward.

She had sat there silently the entire time and provoked no one, yet she had been caught in the crossfire for no reason.

Lin Zichen didn’t know whether she felt awkward, but he knew Liu Chuanwu was about to feel very awkward.

“That provincial top scorer with 16% Gene Fusion Adaptability is her,” he said, pointing at Shen Qinghan.

Liu Chuanwu was stunned, then wanted to dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with embarrassment.

When the half-hour limit was up, Lin Zichen stood and smiled, “Thank you for the phone and the sweet soup. Our half hour is up and we have things to do, so we’ll be going.”

He finished and moved to leave with Shen Qinghan.

Liu Chuanwu panicked.

In years of recruitment, Lin Zichen was the first genius willing to talk this long.

He felt there was a chance and he didn’t want to give it up.

In his haste, he called out to the departing Lin Zichen, “Half a year, just join for half a year. Whatever benefits the Evolution Academy offers you, the Celestial Pavilion will give you double. No, double isn’t enough, we’ll give triple.”

Ordinary Evolution Academy students undergo their first Gene Fusion at the end of the first semester.

Half a year wouldn’t conflict, so he thought Lin Zichen would agree.

‘Triple?’

Lin Zichen’s eyes lit up.

He immediately turned back, sat down and said seriously, “You know I’ve always recognized the Celestial Pavilion’s ideals. I’ve decided to bring my talent to the Celestial Pavilion and contribute to the pureblood cause.”

Whether the Celestial Pavilion’s ideals were right, he wasn’t sure.

The only thing he was sure of was that with the biological attribute Survival of the Fittest, he didn’t need to take the Gene Fusion path.

Since the Celestial Pavilion promised triple benefits, there was no reason not to join.

Promising extended youth.

Seeing Lin Zichen decide to join, Liu Chuanwu couldn’t help but show a look of approval.

Then his heart bled.

Triple benefits for this kid would take a lot of funding.

He would have to swallow his pride and go raise money from rich ladies again.

He hoped this kid would deliver and bring some breakthrough progress in the next half year.

Otherwise it would be a crushing loss…

While Liu Chuanwu was thinking all that, Lin Zichen suddenly remembered an earlier question.

He looked at Liu Chuanwu and asked curiously, “By the way, I have a question. Do you know what the Source Site is?”

That was odd.

How did this kid know about the Source Site?

Liu Chuanwu felt puzzled but didn’t dwell on it.

He quickly answered, “It is a place regarded as the origin of life. All Aberrant Beasts on Earth today come from the Source Site.”