Ultragene Warlord

Chapter 281: Forced Transferral

The fourth transformation of [Ninecarp Transformation], the dragonturtle, gave off a sense of overwhelming authority, a large part of which emanated from the tablets on its back.

The fifth transformation's qilin possessed a type of genetic energy that seemed to go against all the tenets of usual frameworks.
The energy took the form of a burning pyre, but Zhang Lie knew that, despite its exterior appearance, it was actually an evolution of his water-attuned genetic energy.

The effects of [Ninecarp Transformation], Zhang Lie's most prized possession, had gone beyond his wildest imagination.
He now had five types of genetic energy at his disposal. 

A dual-attunement framework like [Rondo of Wind and Storm] was already an extremely rare existence.
As far as Zhang Lie was aware, there were sage-grade frameworks accessible in higher realms that were triple-attunement, but Zhang Lie's [Ninecarp Transformation] was already at five attunements despite only being at the level of a peak-grade framework.

Zhang Lie had wondered whether it was really the case that [Ninecarp Transformation] would ultimately give him access to nine elemental attunements at its limit; he wondered no more.
He marshaled the energy of his genetic core to surround his body and the disaster-grade lifeform's exterior shell.

As the refinement energy entered the mix, it looked as though Zhang Lie suddenly became wrapped up in a seven-colored cocoon.
Within the cocoon, Zhang Lie began to infuse genetic energy into the disaster-grade lifeform's exterior shell, combining it with all sorts of precious materials that he had amassed for this very purpose.

As befitting its original form, this would be a suit of crystalline armor.
While Zhang Lie had established a form for the armor, it had yet to solidify.
The next step was the final, and most complicated, step: to meld this suit of armor with his genetic core so that it would fully become part of his body.

The cocoon of energy surrounding Zhang Lie dissipated as the bulk of the energy, along with the genetic armor, melded with Zhang Lie's body.

[The refinement process has concluded.
Congratulations on advancing to the second realm!]

The moment Zhang Lie's genetic armor was wholly incorporated into his body, the will of the world rang out in his mind, and Zhang Lie's data automatically appeared for his inspection.

Zhang Lie: a peak-grade lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv.
MAX, Ninecarp Transformation, Fifth Form: Qilin

Techniques: Rippling Walk (pinnacle), Three-Wave Crescendo (pinnacle), Calm Waters (advanced), Fists of the Silent Sea (pinnacle), The Boundless Blade (pinnacle), Eclipse (advanced), One Punch (novice), Ninesoul Dragonblade (novice)

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

Soulshards: White Grub (superior), Galewolf (mutated), Blood Ant (superior), Potbellied Toad (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (superior), Eternalspring Cocoon (superior), Forest Wolfman (superior), Flamewing (superior), Runic Salamander (superior), Moonlight Wyrm (peak)

A…
peak-grade lifeform?! Zhang Lie was shocked by the very first line alone.

The will of the world had categorized him as a peak-grade lifeform! In principle, the first realm of the dimensional world should only have been able to produce superior-grade lifeforms, so those hunters that ascended to the second realm would be at most the equivalent of superior-grade lifeforms.

The moonlight wyrm and its ilk were exceptions, but, it seemed, so was Zhang Lie.

[Because your status exceeds the threshold of the first realm, you are unable to return to the first realm.
Congratulations on entering the second realm!]

The next notification, however, hit him like a bucket of cold water.
There was far too much he still had to do in the first realm—his sister had just entered the dimensional world, and he hadn't been prepared for any of this!

Zhang Lie's original intention of acquiring disaster gene fragments had found him barely surviving with his life, then forcibly expelled from the first world.

[Teleportation commencing in ten seconds.]

[Ten, nine, …]

“Wait! I refuse!”

A miracle happened.
The will of the world, which had never responded to any lifeform before, rejected Zhang Lie's request. 

[Unacceptable.
Your existence has already wounded the first realm.
Please obey the laws of the dimensional world and advance.]

The extradimensional space around him began to melt away.
He felt as though he was being forcibly expelled, but the will of the world seemed to be unusually weak.
The feeling of expulsion was strong, but not entirely irresistible, and Zhang Lie certainly didn't intend on being expelled against his will.

Pitch-black genetic energy exploded from his body, destroying the extradimensional space.
Zhang Lie's surroundings changed in the flash of an eye.