"No need to be so careful. With your reaction speed, you can easily enter the state of unlocking the Fourth Stage of the Gene Lock before my attack reaches you. I just want to talk with you for a while," Luo Yinglong shook his head.

Zheng Zha gave a cold laugh. "What is there to talk about? If you want to fight, then fight! I don't have much time to chat here, and your two companions are rushing over. Are you hoping to stall until they arrive?" Luo Yinglong froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter, tears streaming down his face. As he laughed, he gasped out, "You're hilarious! Those two are just side players, mere backup. Don't mind them. Whether or not you can understand me, you truly are him? That aloof, cold, powerful demon would never say something like what you just said. He would welcome a crowd challenging him, attacking him. Relax. Before I fight you, I must repay a debt of gratitude!" "Repay a debt of gratitude?" Zheng Zha looked at the man before him, utterly bewildered, his gaze carrying a strange implication that instantly enraged Luo Yinglong, nearly causing him to lash out with a streak of cyan light.

Luo Yinglong took a deep breath and continued, "Damn it, don't test my patience! Let me finish. To be precise, I didn't receive the favor from you, but from your clone.

I don't know why, but the Gods Squad always has a majority of Caucasians, only one or two East Asians, and even fewer Black people, who are mixed-race. But let's leave that aside. After all, I rose through the ranks as a team captain, so those Caucasians didn't dare treat me poorly.

However, in that environment, the other East Asian mixed-race member and I inevitably suffered bullying until we encountered your clone. In the fight that ensued, he killed the two strongest Caucasians. One of them possessed a skill similar to mine; although the physical body could be destroyed, as long as the Zhenyuan remained, the teammate could recall it to the 'Main God' space for resurrection. Your clone controlled a terrifying black flame and easily incinerated that person's soul. I honestly thought I was doomed, but he spared me and even passed on a message, saying, 'There are already too few Chinese people surviving in the reincarnation worlds. It counts for something if even one powerful person can live on.' That's why I survived that battle." Luo Yinglong coughed. "Don't mistake me for a sentimental fool. A true man accepts what he owes. If you have a grudge, settle it; if you have a debt of gratitude, repay it. Given your clone's arrogant nature, he naturally disdained any repayment from me, and I had little to offer him anyway.

However, your true self right now is still quite weak. Regardless... I will repay this favor once, and after that, life and death are up to fate. We will each fight for our respective teams!" Saying this, Luo Yinglong glanced at the two team members approaching in a vehicle in the distance. He turned back to Zheng Zha and said, "Do you feel that even though unlocking the Fourth Stage of the Gene Lock is powerful, you can't control your own consciousness? The strongest person in my team has reached the initial final stage of unlocking the Fourth Stage, and he can already control his consciousness. I’ve also seen two people in the intermediate stage, one of whom was your clone—cough. Don't look at me being only at the Third Stage of the Gene Lock now; when it comes to actual combat strength, I am far stronger than you! Don't doubt that."

Zheng Zha asked strangely, "Are you here to show off your power? Just say what you need to say quickly!" As he spoke, he twitched his Hu Po Saber, ready to attack at any moment.

Luo Yinglong hastily coughed to cover his awkwardness and continued, "The initial stage of the Fourth Stage awakens over ninety percent of a person's dormant genes and then integrates the most powerful ones into one's own genome. This way, inherent skills, physical attributes, and attributes exchanged from the 'Main God' all receive massive reinforcement due to this gene completion. That is the principle of the Fourth Stage of the Gene Lock. But the crucial point is: which genes within your makeup are the most powerful? The single-cell genes from eons ago? Multi-cellular ones? Or those of reptiles or birds? What is the answer? It is the genes left behind by the Sages who created this 'Main God' space, or perhaps the genes left behind by the ancient enemies of early humanity!"

Zheng Zha shuddered. He was beginning to grasp what was happening and why the urge to slaughter all humans and the descendants of the Sages had surfaced when he unlocked the Fourth Stage. Luo Yinglong continued, "This is merely Adam's conjecture—one of the wise men on our team, a person with incredibly strong intellect. He believes the Sages won the ancient wars, but in reality, the Sages and humans evolved into completely different lifeforms. Different genes, different powers, different values. It's like altering the genes of a fish to turn it into an elephant; aside from its consciousness, it is entirely an elephant. Therefore, when the Sages had offspring with humans, they couldn't pass on their own genes, so they hid that portion within the dormant genes, only to be awakened by unlocking the Fourth Stage of the Gene Lock. But just like the Sages, the ancient enemies of humanity—certain humanoid creatures—also managed to hide their genes within human DNA. Uh, Adam calls this hidden inheritance 'trans-generational major inheritance,' which also only awakens upon unlocking the Fourth Stage."

Saying this, Luo Yinglong noticed Zheng Zha’s blank expression and sneered, "Is that all the breadth of mind you possess? Understand this: no matter how much you change, you are still you. I strongly disagree with the assertions of Song Tian and Adam. In their view, any descendant carrying the genes of the ancient enemies must be eradicated. For example, the reason you awakened is due to the genes of humanity's ancient foes, while Song Tian carries the genes of the true Sages. To hell with that! Do you actually want to wipe out humanity? The best outcome is to live freely upon returning to reality, or become a king or an enemy, or become as perverse as Zhao Zhuikong—just a twisted serial killer. Who would seriously think about exterminating the human race without reason?"

"A blade is always just a blade; what matters is the person wielding it. Genes are always just genes; no matter how powerful the strength or how fierce the killing intent, it is merely a tool in your hand!" As Luo Yinglong spoke these words, the foolish demeanor was gone; his face was serious, clearly revealing a strong individual with his own thoughts.

Luo Yinglong continued, "What I need to tell you is to try your best to overcome the hostile killing intent stemming from your genes. Because humanity's ancient enemies possessed instincts of frenzied slaughter. If you cannot overcome that violent killing intent, once you enter the intermediate level of the Gene Lock, it will be impossible to revert. You will be controlled by the consciousness within those genes. Look at that pervert surnamed Zhao—he couldn't change back! Back to the main point: this is the first thing I need to repay you for—do not be controlled by the Gene Lock! Let's hurry; those two fellows will be here soon."

Zheng Zha suddenly asked, "You were pretending before, weren't you? Pretending to be a simple-minded fool without any cunning. Why?"

Luo Yinglong gave a wry smile. "My success and failure are both due to Xiuzhen (cultivation). I am only at the Third Stage of the Gene Lock, yet I possess the heaven-defying skill of Xiuzhen. Given enough time, I might even be able to contend with the Sages. Perhaps you don't know, but based on the intelligence I gathered in the horror films, the death of the Sages is likely related to Xiuzhen. I'm not entirely certain of those speculations, but the point is, I possess this potential for infinite growth. If I had shown myself to be dominant or overly shrewd, how do you think the two figures, one intellectual and one martial, in my team would have treated me? I probably wouldn't have survived more than two or three horror films! After all, I am still slightly inferior to Song Tian right now, and if I die, my Zhenyuan will revert to Adam anyway. So, I have to slowly bide my time. Time is the most critical resource in Xiuzhen. Most of my reward points during missions have been used to exchange for time back in Shushan. If I hadn't smashed the cellphone under Adam's orders this time, I wouldn't dare speak to you so openly. Less idle talk. The second thing concerns the relationship between your strength and your current stage."

"This is actually quite easy to understand. In my terms from Xiuzhen, it boils down to whether you have achieved enlightenment. Often, during cultivation, the Zhenyuan power accumulates to a very high level, but because the Gene Lock stage is low, one cannot advance to the next level. You currently have the stage reached, but the leap between the Fourth Stage and the Second Stage of the Gene Lock is immensely difficult. What you currently lack is strength!" Luo Yinglong watched the two figures drawing nearer in the distance, urgently saying, "Unlocking the Fourth Stage of the Gene Lock is also known as the Subtle Control Stage (Ruwēi). Your consciousness can awaken and control your genes—this is internal Subtle Control. Externally, you can sense the slightest variation in every trace of force. For example, your previous move, smashing the Meteor Bell against the Ring Wraith, was the best manifestation of Subtle Control. In this state, a move that originally required one unit of force, when every thread of power is meticulously controlled in your hands, can manifest as a move of a hundred units of force. Do you understand? Your stage attainment is certainly sufficient, but your practical strength is still far too lacking. Strength relies on the most effective stage, Subtle Control, to create moves unique to yourself. When you can sense the trajectory of every single strand of force, creating your own moves will become effortless!"

"Then!" Two figures, one black and one white, landed behind Luo Yinglong, and he shouted loudly, "Fight, Zheng Zha!" He leaped forward.