19: Graduation party, ex-lover and new love

Qin Lang rolled over and completely shut down his personal terminal.

His ears were finally clear.

All he wanted now was to quietly enjoy the comfort that came with “lying flat.”

Unfortunately, the tree desires stillness, but the wind keeps blowing.

Two days later.

Tiandu First Gene Academy held the most solemn Graduation Ceremony in its history.

The Principal stood on the high platform, beaming.

Holding his speech manuscript, his voice was passionate and echoed throughout the auditorium.

“...Our Academy has achieved unprecedented glorious results this year!”

“Not only did we produce eight Super Geniuses who were pre-admitted by the two top academies, Kunlun and Olympus, but we also saw the emergence of two Era Prodigies who Awoke the Mythical Gene!”

The Principal’s gaze specifically swept over two distinctly different directions in the audience.

“Student Qin Lang!”

“Student Feng Rui!”

“They are the pride of our First Academy! They are the future hope of the entire Yanhuang Alliance!”

He paused, seemingly feeling it wasn't enough, and specifically added a sentence.

“Student Qin Lang is especially noteworthy!”

“On a privately circulated Genius ranking list recently spread across the internet, insightful people overcame dissenting opinions and ranked Student Qin Lang’s ‘chaos green lotus’ Phenomenon as the undisputed number one!”

“What does this show?”

“It shows that heroes are not judged by their origins! The brilliance of a true Genius is something no one can conceal!”

The Principal directed a torrent of unstinting praise toward Qin Lang's direction.

Below the stage.

Feng Rui, sitting in another section, heard this and his handsome face instantly darkened.

He scoffed, letting out a disdainful “Tch.”

Of course, he had also seen that “unofficial list” that ranked Qin Lang first.

He scoffed at it!

In his opinion, that was just water army hired by that trash Qin Lang to toot his own horn!

On all official and mainstream media rankings, he, Feng Rui, was firmly ranked among the leaders, while Qin Lang couldn't even make it into the top hundred!

That was the truth!

The ceremony slowly drew to a close amid the students' deafening cheers.

Three years of academy life officially came to an end.

Everyone would say goodbye to the past and embark on a brand new journey in life.

“Qin Lang.”

A familiar voice sounded behind him.

Qin Lang turned around and saw Instructor Zhao, whose eyes were slightly red.

“Good kid.”

Instructor Zhao walked up and heavily slapped his shoulder with a large, cattail fan-like hand.

“You are a hundred times more formidable than your parents were back then!”

His voice carried a hint of imperceptible emotion.

“Their spirits in heaven will surely be immensely proud of you.”

Qin Lang felt a slight warmth in his heart.

He retrieved more than a dozen sealed tubes of high-purity bio-energy fluid from his spatial bag.

These were exactly the ones Instructor Zhao had forcefully given him earlier.

“Instructor Zhao, this...”

“What are you doing, kid!”

Instructor Zhao’s face instantly stiffened.

“If I tell you to take it, then take it! Why are you being polite with me!”

“But...”

“No buts!”

Instructor Zhao cut him off, let out a long sigh, and a trace of loneliness and unwillingness flashed in his eyes.

“My gene chain was severely injured years ago, and in this life... there is no hope of advancing further.”

“You are different.”

He stared intently at Qin Lang, his eyes full of anticipation.

“Use these resources wisely, grow quickly! Don’t disappoint me! And don’t disappoint your parents!”

...Night fell.

The Graduation Party was held as scheduled.

The entire campus was immersed in a complex mixture of sadness over parting and boundless anticipation for the future.

“Holy crap!”

“Brother Lang! Look over there quickly!”

Gao Meng’s loud voice suddenly broke the silence between the two.

Qin Lang looked in the direction he was pointing.

Under the lights not far away, two figures were walking intimately, arm in arm.

It was Feng Rui and Bai Qianqian.

Although the incident of him being angered to the point of vomiting blood a few days ago had spread throughout the campus, making Feng Rui a laughingstock.

Yet, in the eyes of many girls, he was still the unattainable Third Young Master of the Feng Family, the high branch they desperately wanted to cling to.

Bai Qianqian, at this moment, undoubtedly became the object of envy and jealousy for all the girls present.

She held her snow-white neck high, like a proud peacock, fully enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention, her face filled with vain satisfaction.

Gao Meng’s sharp tongue acted up again.

As if afraid others wouldn't hear him, he deliberately raised his voice and shouted a loud mockery.

“Yo! Isn’t this our Young Master Feng?”

“What? Such unique taste? Only picking up the goods others have discarded?”

“You really brought shame upon all you second-generation rich!”

These words accurately and intensely stung Bai Qianqian's nerves.

The triumphant smile on her face instantly froze, and her expression became extremely ugly.

Feng Rui’s steps also halted.

But instead of avoiding them, he pulled Bai Qianqian and walked straight toward Qin Lang and Gao Meng.

His face bore a morbid, vengeful pleasure.

“Qin Lang, I really must thank you properly.”

Feng Rui’s gaze passed over Gao Meng, looking triumphantly at Qin Lang.

“Thank you for being blind to a treasure like Qianqian and throwing her away.”

“It allowed me to pick up a great bargain.”

It turned out that after being repeatedly provoked by Qin Lang to the point of vomiting blood, Feng Rui reflected deeply and re-examined Bai Qianqian, who had actively thrown herself into his arms.

This scrutiny led to an unexpected discovery!

Bai Qianqian actually possessed an extremely rare “Innate Alluring Gene” within her body!

Although this gene didn't significantly boost frontal combat power, it offered unimaginable benefits for male-female Dual Cultivation!

This unexpected gain instantly diluted his obsession with Su Muyue.

In his view, this was simply compensation from the heavens!

Bai Qianqian nestled shyly into Feng Rui’s embrace, her body so soft it seemed boneless.

She lifted her eyes and looked at Qin Lang with the gaze of a victor, her eyes seeming to say:

Now, do you regret it?

However, the look of regret she had anticipated from Qin Lang did not appear.

Qin Lang’s expression was calm, like an ancient well, without even a ripple.

Instead, Gao Meng, standing nearby, his eyes darting around, immediately thought of a counter-strategy.

He let out a sneer.

“Innate Alluring Gene?”

“You make it sound so good, but isn't she just a natural Cauldron?”

“Bai Qianqian, I'm not criticizing you, but your judgment is really poor, isn't it?”

Gao Meng shook his head, his face full of pity.

“With so many broad roads available, why did you choose an incompetent guy like Feng Rui?”

Without waiting for the two to retort, he began his performance.

“Let me tell you, right in the Capital City, there's an older sister with the same gene as you.”

Gao Meng vividly fabricated a story.

“Her judgment, tsk tsk, she married directly into a top-tier wealthy clan guarded by a Six-Star Great Power!”

“It's only been a few short years, and guess what? She relied purely on Dual Cultivation to soar all the way from an ordinary person to the Third Tier!”

“That's what you call living a life of immortals!”

These words successfully caused Feng Rui's expression to turn gloomy.

And they made Bai Qianqian's eyes flicker.

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

Feng Rui angrily rebuked him.

“I'm spouting nonsense?”

Gao Meng sneered, then simply hid behind Qin Lang’s tall figure, poking his head out.

“Just because you're incompetent, you won't allow others to be capable?”

“If you have guts, take Bai Qianqian to the Capital City right now! Go find a Six-Star Great Power to be her patron!”

“Dare you? You don't have the capability!”

These words completely enraged Feng Rui.

The two immediately erupted into a fierce verbal battle.

Gao Meng fully utilized the advantage of his quick wit, and cleverly used Qin Lang as a shield, making Feng Rui yell in frustration, yet unable to do anything about him.

During this farce, no one noticed.

Bai Qianqian's hand, which was linked with Feng Rui's, had quietly and unconsciously slipped away.

The farce finally ended with the reprimands of an instructor.

Watching the backs of Feng Rui and Bai Qianqian as they left angrily, Gao Meng laughed triumphantly.

He predicted to Qin Lang.

“Brother Lang, believe it or not, these two will definitely break up in less than a day.”

“I've pointed out a ‘clear path’ for that gold-digger to climb to a higher branch.”

Gao Meng’s smile held a hint of cynicism from seeing through the ways of the world.

“Although for a girl like her with no background, that path is very likely to lead to the tragic end of becoming a mere plaything.”

“But, that is her own choice.”

After speaking, he turned his head and looked at Qin Lang with some concern.

“Brother Lang, you... you aren't still hung up on her, are you?”

Qin Lang calmly withdrew his gaze from the two retreating figures.

Ever since learning the truth about that encouraging note from back then.

Bai Qianqian had long become an insignificant stranger in his heart.