Super Gene Ⅱ: Evolution

"I don't have anyone to recommend, Teacher Lou Ran. If there's nothing else, I should get going. The test is about to end," Lin Shen said as he got up, ready to leave.

Evil Qianchun, listening in, wanted to curse. The conditions offered by Lou Ran were the stuff of any student's dreams.

The treatment from Di Esi was unique within the academy. The standard of treatment was something every student longed for.

Moreover, there was one special recruitment slot, the value of which was immeasurable. Countless noble offspring from small tribes wanted to join the academy but couldn't. If this slot were for sale, it might not trade for a planet, but on those small tribes' planets, it would certainly fetch a city without a problem.

Lin Shen had actually refused such terms, and Evil Qianchun felt Lin Shen was almost committing a crime.

"Perform 'Inviting the Gentleman into the Jar' just once, and I'll give you a 'Reincarnation Ash'," said Lou Ran without stopping Lin Shen from leaving, just stating it flatly.

Yet her words made Lin Shen halt in his steps. He turned around, faced Lou Ran, extended his hand, and said, "Deal."

If he could choose, he would want to perform 'Inviting the Gentleman into the Jar' ten times, just for the chance to spend a night with Lou Ran.

This was clearly unrealistic, but as long as he showed Lou Ran he truly knew 'Inviting the Gentleman into the Jar,' there might eventually be some connection between them. Perhaps there would even be a chance to obtain the 'Fire Seed.'

Even without such an opportunity, the fact that a single performance of catching mud fish could earn him a 'Reincarnation Ash' was like a pie falling from the sky—a stroke of fortune that Lin Shen wouldn't refuse.

"Continue," Lou Ran said as she took out a 'Reincarnation Ash,' holding it between her fingers and flicking it out.

The 'Reincarnation Ash' flew not toward Lin Shen, and was still several meters away from him.

Lin Shen knew what Lou Ran meant. He reached out and caught it mid-air, and the 'Reincarnation Ash' eerily changed direction, getting sucked into the palm of his hand.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Teacher Lou Ran," Lin Shen said as he turned and left the meeting room.

"Indeed, it is 'Inviting the Gentleman into the Jar,'" Lou Ran sighed.

Evil Qianchun stood there dumbfounded, almost at a loss for thought.

He had studied for nearly two years, only just beginning to see some signs of progress, and he was still far from mastering it.

Yet Lin Shen could already use it with ease; Evil Qianchun couldn't help but wonder whether Lin Shen had mastered it before, or if he had just done so after seeing the theory Evil Qianchun had written on the blackboard.

If it was the latter, Evil Qianchun couldn't imagine how immense Lin Shen's talent truly was.

But if it was the former, how could it be so coincidental that he wrote about 'Inviting the Gentleman into the Jar' on the blackboard and Lin Shen had already practiced it before? That seemed too fortuitous.

"Let's go," Lou Ran said, realizing it was impossible to recruit Lin Shen into the academy. She had already suspected this outcome, which is why she hadn't made any promises to Helian Sheng.

She just felt regret that such a skill was mastered by Lin Shen. If Di Esi faced Lin Shen again in the future, they might not have the upper hand.

"The Celestial Race has picked up a huge bargain. No wonder Emperor Tianshu made him Dean of the Celestial Master Institute," Lou Ran mused, feeling she should warn Di Esi not to underestimate Lin Shen.

Lin Shen might not understand those rule-based strengths, and perhaps his insight was somewhat lacking, but with his current combat ability, it would not be easy for Di Esi to beat him.

"Teacher, you go ahead, I have some matters to attend to." After leaving the conference room, Evil Qianchun took his leave.

Lou Ran didn't mind, since Evil Qianchun hadn't mastered Inviting the Gentleman into the Jar, she had no intention of taking him as a disciple.

After Evil Qianchun left, he hurriedly walked toward where Lin Shen and the others were.

On a practice field, Wei Wufu and Di Esi were exchanging skills, and it was the first time for Di Esi to encounter someone whom he could not completely overpower in terms of skill.

Although there were some who could match him, none truly won with skill alone; most were like Tian Buluo, who practiced special techniques, not relying on experience and skillfulness derived from personal practice like Wei Wufu did.

The two men discussed intermittently and sparred from time to time; Wei Wufu's combat ability greatly astounded Di Esi. Their perceptions of skill and realm were highly compatible, making Di Esi feel as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"Time… has passed…" Wei Wufu checked the time, the test was nearly over, he had to return.

"Wei Wufu, consider staying at the institute to study. With your talent, you are destined to become immortal, you might even go further," Di Esi sincerely invited Wei Wufu to stay.

"I… follow… Lin Shen…" Wei Wufu said. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

"Lin Shen is indeed impressive, but he only has great innate abilities. His insight and vision are not as good as yours. He seems strong now, but he will suffer later on," Di Esi continued, "I know you are of the same race and you want to help him, but helping him doesn't necessitate being by his side. If you become stronger, you can help him more."

Wei Wufu gazed at Di Esi with a look of surprise, saying, "I… Lin Shen… is much better… you… are not… like him…"

Having said that, Wei Wufu no longer paid attention to Di Esi and turned away, leaving the practice field.

Di Esi stared blankly as Wei Wufu left, and after a moment, his eyes began to shine brighter, "You actually think you are much worse than Lin Shen, and even consider me inferior to him. Then I'll prove to you that I am stronger than him, and that you are not worse than him either. You only underestimate yourself because you've been with him for too long."

Wei Wufu was unaware that his words had completely triggered Di Esi's desire to fight Lin Shen.

Di Esi thought that Wei Wufu and Ouyang Yu, like others who followed Lin Shen from an early age, were impressed by Lin Shen's early display of powerful innate skills, so they developed the illusion of being inferior to Lin Shen after being by his side for so long.

In Di Esi's view, they were selling themselves short. After Peony Fairy's test, Di Esi could directly sense that Lin Shen's insight was not as good as that of Wei Wufu and Ouyang Yu.

Especially Wei Wufu, whom Di Esi saw as a natural martial arts prodigy, he didn't even believe himself to possess a better understanding of martial arts than Wei Wufu.

From Di Esi's perspective, he was helping Wei Wufu break free from a fate of being psychologically manipulated by others and helping him realize his true value.

"Such a gifted individual should not be controlled by others, he deserves a broader future," Di Esi thought resolutely, "The cage that binds you, let me help you break it."

Lin Shen, of course, had no idea that he had once again attracted unwarranted trouble; he even thought that, thanks to his relationship with Wei, Di Esi would probably not bother him anymore.