Ultragenic Warlord

Chapter 330: The Refinement Ceremony

Li Feng grimaced in response. "You're right, Fang Yi—we can't back down now. I know that logically, but I'm still not used to not having the captain around."

"Indeed, but that's something we'll have to get used to too. The second realm is far larger than the first, and I expect we'll have to go separate ways for our own objectives frequently," Fang Yi concluded, and the others nodded in assent.

While they chatted, Sun Mengmeng and Sun Xiaowu finished preparing the superior-grade carcasses they had brought back with them and joined in the feast.

In just half an hour, they had gotten to a total of 145 superior gene fragments.

They felt the genetic energy in their bodies begin to swell, as well as a notification from the will of the world urging them to prepare for ascension.

[Attention! Attention! Your genetic energy is nearing the threshold of this realm. Please prepare for imminent transferral to the second realm.]

[Attention! Attention! Your genetic energy is nearing the threshold of this realm. Please prepare for imminent transferral to the second realm.]

[Attention! Attention! ...]

The hunters devoured the food on the table even more rapidly, knowing that they wouldn't be able to remain in the first realm for much longer.

Sun Mengmeng: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Black Sun (pinnacle)

Techniques: Flameburst Step (pinnacle), Lunarflame Shot (pinnacle), Baptism of Hellfire (pinnacle), Firefeather Wings (pinnacle)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 10

Soulshards: Embersoul Archer (superior), Firebird (superior), Ardorcrown Monkey (superior), Deepflame Beetle (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Li Feng: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Arclight Dragon's Imprint (pinnacle)

Techniques: Dragon's Triumph (pinnacle), Light's Bulwark (pinnacle), Daybreak (pinnacle)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 10

Soulshards: Lightborne Beetle (superior), Radiant Salamander (superior), Owl of Wisdom (superior), Prismscale Wyrm (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombaen Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Fang Yi: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Rondo of Wind and Storm (advanced)

Techniques: Heaven's Judgment (pinnacle), Wind's Spirit (pinnacle), Floating Clouds (pinnacle)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 10

Soulshards: Shadowcrest Serpent (superior), Stormward Albatross (superior), Runetiger (superior), Thunderflash Mantis (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Zhou Ying: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Avatar of the Fae (advanced)

Techniques: Storm of Leaves (pinnacle), Willow's Caress (pinnacle)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 10

Soulshards: Devil-Face Spider (superior), Forest Wolfman (superior), Butterfly of Decay (superior), Treeborn Leopard (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Sun Xiaowu: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Adamantine Aegis (advanced)

Techniques: Golden Divide (pinnacle), Goldenscale Palm (pinnacle), Blinding Flash (pinnacle)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 10

Soulshards: Gold-Limned Tiger (superior), Rampaging Rhinoceros (superior), Goldenhorn Beetle (superior), Iron Hog (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Yang Ze: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Ripples of Shattered Glass (pinnacle)

Techniques: The Boundless Blade (pinnacle), Fists of the Silent Sea (pinnacle), Mirrored Refraction (pinnacle)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 10

Soulshards: Tigershark (superior), Snapjaw Crocodile (superior), Deepsea Crab (superior), Windborne Eagle (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

As they looked over their status windows, they found themselves transported into an extradimensional space, each of them in a separate instance of it. The hunters of Team Zenith felt an extremely potent energy seeping into their bodies and combining with their own genetic energy.

[Attention! The refinement process is beginning. Please cooperate!]

[Attention! The refinement process...]

[Attention! ...]

The hunters felt as though they were in furnaces, that their bodies were right about to melt. Fortunately, Zhang Lie had warned them about what was going to happen, and the hunters were clearheaded enough to follow his command.

Each hunter began to flare their genetic energy in order to resist the refinement energy, causing the will of the world to send more warnings to them even as it increased the volume of energy directed their way.

As the frightening potency of the energy ravaged their bodies, the hunters of Team Zenith gritted their teeth and forced themselves to stand strong.

Their own genetic energy came in waves, sapping away the will of the world's energy. At the same time, they retrieved the parts of the shell of the disaster-grade lifeform which Zhang Lie had partitioned to them and began the process of forging their genetic armor, in an attempt to delay the ascension ceremony even further.

As time passed and the refinement energy accumulated in their bodies, even the prepared hunters of Team Zenith were unable to resist its strength. They were forced to conclude the ceremony, but the time it had taken them to do so was easily ten times that of other hunters.

In other words, they were able to absorb far more of that refinement energy than usual.

Covered in crystalline genetic armor, the hunters of Team Zenith found themselves transformed by the ceremony.

Fang Yi's genetic armor, in accordance with his dual-attunement framework, took on a translucent sheen of green and blue. From close up, one could almost hear the roaring of wind, the crackling of thunder.

Sun Mengmeng's armor glowed internally with red flame. She looked like a radiant, exquisite rose, burning with embers of a neverending flame.

Yang Ze's armor was crystal-clear, entirely colorless, free of any impurities or imperfections whatsoever.

Li Feng's armor felt like a paladin's raiment, one which gave off a sense of holiness and sanctity.

Sun Xiaowu's armor was covered in mysterious, golden runic inscriptions. His honed body, coupled with the golden armor and his sharp, steely genetic energy made him seem like a bastion that could never be destroyed.

Finally, Zhou Ying's armor took the form of a dress, gentle and flowing, one in which she could move entirely at ease. She looked like a goddess of nature, the energies of vitality, regrowth, and deep lore flowing through her.

[Your genetic energy has surpassed the threshold of the first realm. Please ascend to the second realm immediately!]

[Your genetic energy has surpassed...]

[Your genetic energy...]

Teleportation arrays formed around the six members of Team Zenith, and, according to plan, they each flared their genetic energy, tearing apart the half-formed teleportation array. They resisted the will of the world together and transmitted it their own will.

"Teleport us to Qi!"

The will of the world hesitated for a moment, shocked by the strength of the six hunters' response, then counterattacked with full force.

The hunters' extradimensional space began to warp, and they felt the pressure mounting on their bodies. Working together, however, the hunters managed to overcome the pressure long enough that the extradimensional space was what broke first, splintering like the glass of a broken window.

The members of Team Zenith found themselves back in the Stargleam settlement. Amidst a cacophony of notifications, they found tremendous energy gathering above them, and the walls of the suite in which they were located began to crack.

Recalling what had happened to Zhang Lie during his ascension ceremony, Fang Yi cried out, "We have to leave—follow me and head somewhere deserted!"

He smashed apart the wall in his hurry to leave, followed by the rest of the members of Team Zenith.