PCJ – Chapter 738 Taking Precautions

Zhang Jiaohua had always found it strange—he had never met anyone else who possessed a spatial artifact like his cultivation map. As more and more people joined the Meishan Sect, even though the number of spiritual springs within the map increased along with his cultivation, Zhang knew that one day those springs would no longer be sufficient. When that time came, the development of the sect would inevitably be affected. And yet, the sect’s growth was essential for the future.

Zhang understood that one day, he would have to enter the Immortal Realm. At least for now, that seemed inevitable. When he advanced from the mid-stage of Refining Qi into Spirit to its peak, he felt this truth deeply. The higher his cultivation, the stronger the sense of urgency became. Perhaps only by breaking through to the Returning Spirit to Void stage and entering the Immortal Realm would he be able to pursue higher levels. Though he had never set foot there, the day Ling Mountain opened and spiritual energy spilled out from the portal, he had tasted its abundance. The Immortal Realm’s aura was unimaginably rich. No wonder cultivators of the Three Sacred Lands faced such powerful immortal beasts when they entered. If he could cultivate in such a saturated environment, the springs within his cultivation map would become even more plentiful, perhaps unlocking further realms within it.

Was there another path? Zhang did not know.

But for now, he didn’t need to worry. The spiritual springs were still adequate. Perhaps a new opportunity would arise. If cultivation and technology could be fused, might that open an entirely new path?

Good news soon arrived from Mei Qing’s side—their research had made preliminary progress. By altering genetic structures, they could enhance a person’s aptitude for cultivation. In other words, once this technology matured, the Meishan Sect could produce a whole generation of prodigies. Yet this also meant that the very concern Zhang had just worried about would soon become reality.

Zhang hurried to Mei Qing’s genetic research center.

Xu Xiaoting, who had been living at the Meishan Sect’s blessed land, rarely had the chance to see Zhang. Finally seeing him now, she felt shy, her cheeks flushed red.

“Xiaoting, why is your face so red? Are you hot?” Mei Qing teased deliberately. Anyone could see Xu Xiaoting’s feelings for Zhang.

“Yes… it’s a little hot,” Xu Xiaoting stammered, even more embarrassed. She wasn’t foolish—she knew she was being teased. Before she had feelings for Zhang, she could face him calmly, but ever since her heart had turned, she grew nervous every time she saw him.

Mei Qing didn’t continue teasing and quickly shifted the topic back to their research findings.

“Through studying the genomes of multiple cultivators, we’ve discovered that their genes continuously change in structure. We’ve summarized a simple evolutionary process.” Mei Qing pulled up an animation and continued, “Each stage here is a gene structure we recorded from cultivators. They constantly change, but always follow a clear trend. So we tried artificially leaping a person’s genetic structure from one stage to another. While it doesn’t instantly raise their cultivation to that stage, it does give an ordinary person the innate ability to cultivate. Xiaoting, explain our experimental results.”

Xu Xiaoting nodded. “We experimented on a group of volunteers with poor aptitude. Over a month, we guided their genetic structures to match those of cultivators at the early, middle, and late stages of Essence Refining into Qi. Then we had them practice. The results were astonishing. These people quickly entered the early stage of Essence Refining into Qi. Before, they had tried countless times and failed. Their aptitude clearly improved.”

“But wouldn’t such interference affect their cultivation potential later?” Zhang asked.

“They couldn’t even step onto the cultivation path before. Does potential still matter?” Mei Qing asked in confusion.

“Of course it matters. Turning ordinary people into cultivators isn’t our goal. Our resources are limited. We should focus them on those with the best aptitude. If we could raise their talent even further, they’d become true geniuses,” Zhang explained.

Only then did Mei Qing understand. “That will require deeper experiments.”

But such experiments were difficult. Few were willing to risk their long-term potential. Still, some volunteers appeared—many older rogue cultivators who hadn’t experienced a breakthrough in decades. With ordinary talent and little hope left, they seized the chance. Hearing of Mei Qing’s research, they eagerly signed up.

“If this medicine is perfected, how should we use it?” Mei Qing asked.

“Obviously, we’ll select the best candidates and give it to them,” Zhang Yuanbao said.

Selection! But this wasn’t something the Meishan Sect could do openly—not yet, at least.

“In fact, if we could construct an illusionary realm, people across the nation could unknowingly be tested. Then we’d draw the most talented into our sect. That way, we could make all of China’s geniuses our disciples,” the Mute suggested.

Zhang Yuanbao burst out laughing. “And where are you going to find such a realm? How will you drag all of China into it?”

“A game,” the Mute replied. “We could develop a game. Then they’d enter the realm on their own. We’ve actually been researching how to allow ordinary people—or even cultivators—to interact with divine sense. With that, we could build a virtual world where everyone enters with their consciousness. By collecting data, we could evaluate their talent.”

“And how can you be sure? Someone good at games doesn’t necessarily have great cultivation potential,” Zhang Yuanbao shook his head.

“You’re wrong,” Nie Tong countered. “Our latest studies show that divine sense does reflect a person’s innate aptitude. After analyzing over a hundred cultivators, we can evaluate talent from multiple angles.”

“Whoa—you’re talking about creating a fully immersive online game. That’s the kind of thing you only read about in novels. But if you actually build it, you really could draw in the entire country,” Qi Xia said excitedly. Back in university, he’d played plenty of games himself.