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In the morning, the sky over Sea Blue Star was a deep blue.
"Preston returned to the Tianhe Prison Headquarters last night, even canceled Old Henry's dinner." Sea Emperor brought Guding a piece of information about Preston early in the morning.
"Is there any other news?" Guding was not concerned about Preston's information. According to what he said, the two of them had settled their grievances and had nothing to do with each other anymore. If the other party still insisted on keeping a close watch on him and his friends, he would have no choice but to send those video materials to the Federation Government's top officials, ruining his reputation completely.
"There's a piece of news you might be interested in, one that just came in early this morning and hasn't been verified." Sea Emperor's voice carried a hint of anticipation, "The message says that the ruler of the Feimei Universe Country secretly visited our Dragon Ascension Universe Country a few days ago. The two countries' rulers have initially discussed mutual opening up in recent days."
"Are you sure it's the Feimei Universe Country?" Guding was somewhat skeptical of this news. The Feimei Universe Country, unlike the Dragon Ascension Universe Country, was a top-tier, five-star-level cosmic country. Guding's Dragon Ascension Universe Country was merely a two-star-level cosmic country, with utterly unbalanced strength against the Feimei Universe Country. Typically, five-star cosmic countries rarely interacted with those below four-star, as they were the top overlords in the cosmic country hierarchy. With divine entities in their ranks, they held a powerful voice over any cosmic country below five-star level.
Cosmic countries like Dragon Ascension, usually existed by relying on three-star cosmic countries, which in turn relied on four-star cosmic countries. If Feimei Universe truly wanted to establish diplomacy, direct communication with a four-star cosmic country governing Dragon Ascension would suffice. For long-term cooperation, a four-star cosmic country granting governance over a couple of two-star cosmic countries would be normal.
A five-star cosmic country initiating a visit to a two-star cosmic country, such a thing had never been heard of.
"Is this information reliable?" Guding followed up with a question.
"Not sure, the permission levels for interactions between cosmic countries are too high, and I'm currently unable to infiltrate." This was the first time Sea Emperor admitted in front of Guding that there were things it couldn't do.
Guding was somewhat stunned upon hearing this. Ever since he met Sea Emperor, he had almost thought the other party was omnipotent. He finally realized there were things in this world Sea Emperor couldn't do.
"You should enhance your strength as soon as possible. The higher your genetic level, the more permissions you can activate. I estimated that as long as you reach the level of a Tenth-Order Gene Body, the Dragon Ascension Universe Country should hold no secrets for me." Sea Emperor's words left Guding speechless.
The Tenth-Order Gene Body seemed far too distant for Guding. Even for a powerhouse like Uncle Cain, with a bounty of billions, it was merely a Sixth Rank Gene Body. And a Sixth Rank Gene Body could secure a Federation Major position in the Dragon Ascension Universe Country.
Thinking of this made Guding somewhat depressed, "I still don't know when I'll break through to a Second Rank Genetic Body. Now, my Cell Index has reached 19 points, yet the genetic level hasn't broken through. Fortunately, practicing Extreme Body Technique daily enhances cells. Ordinary people usually have their genetic level break through once they surpass ten Cell Index points."
"Your genetic situation is somewhat special..." Sea Emperor seemed hesitant to speak.
"Do you know something?" Guding sensed from Sea Emperor's tone that it might know something about his genes.
"Your genes are in a locked state, and it's a double lock. One is the Genetic Lock you were born with, and the other is a Sealing Lock added deliberately by someone after birth." Sea Emperor detected Guding's anomaly right from the start, "Actually, the main reason I recognized you as my master was because of your genetic state."
"Being gene-locked, could it be a good thing?" Guding frowned slightly. He wasn't overly concerned about the Genetic Lock he was born with. What worried him was the postnatal Sealing Lock. He had only one relative, his dad. Likely, it was added by him. "Dad must have a reason for doing this... No matter, I'll find him and ask him face-to-face!"
"The congenital Genetic Lock only occurs in those with incredibly strong genes from birth. Usually, such individuals have divine ancestors. Once an inheritor displays a genetic atavism, inheriting certain traits of divine genes, they are born with this Genetic Lock. If it isn't actively broken before adulthood, the dormant terrifying force within the genes will not only shatter the Genetic Lock automatically but also cause Genetic Chain rupture, even leading to collapse. In such cases, the inheritor won't survive more than three days."
"And the postnatal genetic sealing, even in the Early Modern Times, was an extremely powerful technique. The practitioner, even if not a divine, must have strength almost equivalent to one." Sea Emperor continued explaining, "Postnatal genetic sealing was usually performed by elders to refine genetically awakened abilities in their progeny. The purpose was to ground them in training without overly relying on their special abilities, thus avoiding neglecting their cultivation. Such seals weren't typically very strong, dismantling automatically as soon as the progeny's strength surpassed the seal's capacity."
"So, even if my Cell Comprehensive Index exceeds 20 points, without unlocking the Genetic Lock, I still can't break through to a Second Rank Genetic Body, nor awaken any ability?" Guding frowned. If his genetic level remained unbroken, the time he took to awaken an ability would be forever postponed. Humans only have a certain probability of awakening a special ability when advancing their genetic level.
"If the Genetic Lock isn't lifted, you cannot advance to a Second Rank Genetic Body." Sea Emperor conclusively stated, "However, those born with a Genetic Lock will gain abilities with a hundred percent certainty once the genes are unlocked, and these abilities will be incredibly overpowering."
"Never mind for now, exercise first, then have breakfast." Guding got up from **, as morning jogging was something he did daily. Despite the negligible effects with his current cell strength, it was still a good habit. This habit was forced upon him by his dad in the past.
After heading out and jogging around for a while, Sea Emperor's voice suddenly rang out, "Guding, the news from this morning is true!"
"Which news?" Guding asked carelessly.
"The news of the Feimei Universe Country's ruler visiting. The Dragon Ascension King just issued a statement, formally opening the interstellar route to the Dragon Ascension Universe Country." Sea Emperor's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"In other words, Dragon Ascension's interstellar pirates won't need to bypass three three-star cosmic countries and a four-star cosmic country to directly enter the Cosmic Sea through the five-star route of the Feimei Universe Country?" Guding's eyes lit up after hearing this, "I've decided, I want to get an Eagle chicks and set off now!"
"Aren't you yet to graduate?" Sea Emperor reminded, sensing Guding might have forgotten something.
"Yeah, I'll go through the withdrawal procedures in a while." Guding gave an astonishing answer without hesitation. "The courses at the military academy are mostly done here. I had enough credits for graduation six months ago. I wasn't planning to attend the High-level Military Academy, so whether I have the diploma or not doesn't matter. If the new route hadn't opened, it wouldn't matter if I set off a few months late. After all, many have traveled the previous paths. But now with the new route open, I must set off immediately to explore this uncharted course, I can't fall behind others!"
(Uh, the update's late again... This chapter is a transitional one; I thought a lot while writing it, got stuck on words. Just saw Lonely Giant also tipped, the online literature circle is really small. But as a little unknown writer, most of the friendship with peers is only within the mind, not many have I actually met and dined with, Lonely Giant happens to be one. He's great, introduced me to Fenghuo Giant and Duan Qiaoju, you probably heard of his 'Endless Sword Armor,' and he also has a new book 'Eternal Demon Master' just launched, those who love fantasy must not miss it~~)
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