The Strongest Gene Chapter 1: The Magical World

Within the seldom-visited, dust-laden history section of the city library, a young man was engrossed in his search.

"No... still not here..."

The youngster's whispered disappointment was palpable.

He shook his head, closing the book with a sigh.

"Rustle!"

A sudden, sharp pain pierced his hand, drawing blood. A long cut appeared.

"This again..."

A bitter smile touched the youngster's lips. He had exercised extreme caution, yet a simple book page had managed to wound him. It wasn't entirely surprising; he was, in fact, quite accustomed to such misfortune.

His name was Chen Feng, a 22-year-old whose life had been shadowed by bad luck from birth. His first birthday nearly ended in tragedy, choking on milk. His mother passed away at three, his father at five. At ten, the welfare home he resided in went bankrupt, leading to a series of relocations. By the time he reached adulthood, a staggering 13 welfare homes had collapsed for various reasons after his arrival.

Beyond that, every venture outside his home invited disaster. His own incomplete records revealed 85 instances of being swindled, 36 car accidents, 76 encounters with thieves, 10 falls into sewers, and 15 dog bites. His survival to this day was nothing short of a miracle.

In comparison, the day's events were trivial.

His current objective was to locate the fabled "Fortune Artifact."

He didn't inherently believe in luck. However, his lifelong experiences had forced him to concede its existence, recognizing that what plagued him was not just misfortune, but *bad luck* itself. Consequently, since gaining awareness, he had delved into countless mythological records, seeking anything capable of altering one's fate!

Luck-changing beads, jade carp, four-leaf clovers...

He had pursued every symbol of good fortune, yet none had yielded results!

His persistent bad luck remained unchanged.

Then, one day, while examining materials left by his deceased father, he encountered a mention of the

It no longer mattered if the contents of the ancient book were plagiarized; the introductions on the Fate Stone itself were incredibly comprehensive. The Fate Stone: rumored to be an artifact capable of altering destiny. It was said that a power, unseen and unfelt yet influencing all existence, surpassed all ordinary forces. Its true nature remained unknown, but it was believed to be connected to luck, and the Fate Stone held the key to controlling it! 'It truly exists!' Chen Feng's mouth went dry with anticipation. As he read through the explanations, he turned the page, his eyes widening abruptly! Pictured on this page was the Fate Stone, and for the first time, Chen Feng gazed upon its actual form, leaving him utterly stunned. It was an object no bigger than a coin, adorned with peculiar engravings. 'This is the Fate Stone?' Chen Feng's voice trembled, not because of its appearance, but because of its identity. Chen Feng's somewhat shaky hand pulled at his collar, revealing the object he always wore around his neck. It was, in fact, the very Fate Stone described in the ancient text! 'How is this possible?' Chen Feng was astonished. He had been wearing the Fate Stone all this time? His archaeologist father had unearthed it long ago and gifted it to him at his birth, his father's sole remaining memento. Could this truly be the Fate Stone? If so, why had his life been plagued by such misfortune? Could it be a fake? Or perhaps a counterfeit created by his father? Bracing himself against the sudden shock, Chen Feng continued reading. The Fate Stone was said to possess immense power, but it was not easily wielded. Before its activation, it would ceaselessly absorb luck from its surroundings until it gathered sufficient power. Consequently, without the means to activate it, possessing the Fate Stone could spell disaster. 'Damn it!' Chen Feng couldn't help but curse aloud. Absorbing luck from its surroundings? A chill ran down his spine as he finally grasped the source of his perpetual bad luck! This Fate Stone, discovered by his father in an ancient tomb, had pilfered his fortune! 'This thing...' Chen Feng instinctively tried to remove it, but found himself unable to. It was the only keepsake from his father, his sole spiritual anchor, something he never took off. It was unbelievable that now, when he wished to remove it, he was completely incapable! 'Conventional methods won't work to take it off?' Chen Feng regained his composure and resumed reading. Once the Fate Stone was worn, it could not be removed. Only through its activation could its power be controlled. If you were unfortunate enough to obtain it, the only recourse was to activate it. The activation method was then provided on the subsequent page. Chen Feng examined it. The process didn't seem overly complex, requiring only the arrangement of a formation using his own blood, with the Fate Stone placed at its center. 'So simple?' Chen Feng frowned. Something felt amiss. However, the allure of ridding himself of this relentless bad luck was too powerful. He had dreamt of escaping his misfortune and living a normal life. 'I'll just give it a try.' Chen Feng removed his bandage. Drawing blood from his finger, he traced an intricate formation onto the wooden floor. With a solemn expression, Chen Feng lay face down on the floor and placed the Fate Stone in the center of the formation. 'Hum...' A strange radiance flashed. Chen Feng's mind jolted violently. Success! The blood formation transformed into a shimmering red light, and breathtaking luminescence emanated from the Fate Stone. In his excitement, Chen Feng noticed a line of small text appearing within the red light: 'Upon activation, the Fate Stone will absorb all surrounding luck to meet its operational energy requirements.' Not good! Chen Feng's complexion shifted dramatically. Absorbing all luck? That detail was absent from the cursed pirated book! The Fate Stone had not reached activation even after twenty years of absorbing luck. What would happen if it absorbed all the required luck instantaneously? He had no idea! Escape! Without a second thought, Chen Feng turned and bolted towards the exit. However, at that very moment within the library, the ground began to tremble violently! 'Bang!' 'Bang!' An earthquake! Before Chen Feng could escape, he was buried beneath falling debris. Darkness consumed his vision, and he lost consciousness. He could only vaguely recall a brilliant golden light flashing from the Fate Stone hanging around his neck. Nightfall. A news channel was broadcasting.

"This evening at 6:00 PM, a localized tremor struck the city. The library’s structural integrity failed, resulting in one fatality. Preliminary investigations by relevant authorities suggest a potential link to substandard construction practices..."

***

A void of darkness consumed his vision.

A surge of primordial chaos flooded his consciousness.

After a considerable duration.

Chen Feng’s awareness slowly returned, and he opened his eyes. The previously indistinct surroundings gradually sharpened, though an pervasive darkness remained. A peculiar, acrid odor permeated the air.

"Where am I?"

Chen Feng questioned, a sense of bewilderment washing over him.

An inky blackness claimed his environment, and only the faint, intermittent glow from his wristband offered a sliver of illumination, confirming his location within a cave. In every direction available to his sight, only darkness persisted.

"Strange, I thought I had perished?"

A wave of shock surged through Chen Feng.

Glancing at the subtle luminescence on his wristband and perceiving memories that were not his own, a sudden realization dawned upon him.

He had undergone transmigration!

In his previous existence, he had delved into various mythologies and, naturally, consumed a vast number of novels. Recalling the blinding golden light just before his demise, he had a rudimentary understanding. The Fate Stone, by drawing in all fortune, had triggered an earthquake. Yet, the successful activation of the Fate Stone had, paradoxically, allowed him to narrowly escape death and arrive in this new realm.

"I'm alive!"

Exhilaration coursed through Chen Feng.

His joy was understandable, as the oppressive burden of his ill fortune had finally lifted. But what kind of world was this? At this precise moment, the memories of the body's original inhabitant fully surfaced.

As Chen Feng absorbed these recollections, he was immediately struck by astonishment.

This world bore resemblances to Earth, yet it was fundamentally different. Following a monumental leap in genetic research, the entire planet had entered the age of genes. Humanity had not only unlocked their inherent potential but could also integrate their own genes with those of genetically altered life forms. Nearly every individual now possessed the capacity for genetic abilities!

Some leveraged these extraordinary powers for labor, ascending to become titans of industry. Others, through gene fusion, acquired formidable combat prowess, earning them the designation of genetic warriors.

The world’s paradigm underwent a seismic shift.

The advent of genetic abilities propelled the global society into an era of rapid advancement.

Moreover, this world's circumstances diverged significantly from Earth's, where humanity was compelled to seek resources on distant celestial bodies due to dwindling supplies.

The continent, the very planet itself, represented humanity’s most profound treasure! This world was graced with its own moon and sun. It was a place remarkably akin to Earth, albeit on a vastly grander scale. The planet's size dwarfed Earth's by an immeasurable factor, and its continent spanned an area more than ten thousand times greater.

Resources were in no short supply here!

This was largely due to the fact that, to date, only 18% of the continent had been developed!

Despite humanity possessing technological capabilities sufficient for effortless space travel, numerous regions on this planet remained terra incognita, places humans dared not tread!

Consider, for instance, the Primordial Icefield of the Extreme North!

Legend had it that this desolate expanse was influenced by an unknown force, causing time itself to nearly stagnate. Those who ventured within were supposedly trapped forever, unable to depart! The Genetic Union once dispatched a small contingent of genetic warriors, only for them to vanish without a trace.

Or take, for example, the Volcano of Skyburn Summit!

Whispers spoke of an ancient, slumbering mutated beast residing there, a creature capable of draining an entire river with a single draught. From that day forward, the area became a forbidden zone for humankind.

Similar perilous locales were scattered throughout the land.

This was a world fraught with danger. Yet, it was also a realm of profound wonder!

A cascade of dazzling lights flickered in Chen Feng’s eyes.

This world was even more enthralling than his wildest imaginings!

Furthermore...

This was merely a fraction of its reality.

According to the original owner's embedded memories, the phenomenal gene era had also given rise to an astonishing array of advanced technological marvels.

Some individuals, through relentless gene fusions, achieved unparalleled combat strength. Others, by continuously merging genes, unlocked esoteric genetic abilities!

Take, for example, Luo Yuan, the founder of Stormtech, the planet's premier technology conglomerate.

His unique ability was digitization. This power allowed its wielder to manifest a mysterious capability to meticulously track their genetic and spiritual states; it could even extrapolate an individual's potential techniques based on their muscle memory. Initially scorned by many due to its non-combative nature, Luo Yuan's gene was nonetheless remarkable.

Through years of dedicated experimentation, Luo Yuan managed to isolate and refine a recondite and potent energy. This refined essence was then ingeniously integrated into a wrist-worn device, accessible to all, ultimately solidifying his legacy as a generational legend!

Simply by activating the wristband, individuals could gain detailed insight into their own physiological and mental condition.