Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

Not all tree species on Earth are susceptible to fire. Some redwood species even attract lightning, starting fires that burn away competing low-lying trees and shrubs.

Given that, trying to burn a path through this Magic Forest with a single blaze was nothing but a pipe dream.

Before long, the flames would burn themselves out against the layers of fire-retardant foliage.

"Hey, handsome. Haven't seen you around. Where are you from?" With the business done, the group grew curious about the unfamiliar lone wolf.

"The Qingye Collection campsite," Su Chen said.

"Oh, that place has great scenery! It's really close to our Qixia District. My squad spotted it from a distance once. You guys looked like you were having a good time, so we just moved on," the sturdy man said with a hearty, carefree laugh.

The eastern edge of Dongfu City's forests bordered several suburban towns and a portion of the Qixia District.

In terms of distance, it really wasn't far.

"Oh, right..."

Speaking of which, the sturdy man remembered something important and pulled a flyer from his small pack, handing it to Su Chen.

"At six tonight, the creative park in Qixia District is hosting a night market. There's a social gathering inside, too. They're inviting all the powerful experts to come together. Besides sharing intel privately, you can also trade Runes. It ends at ten-thirty."

Su Chen took the flyer. Written on it were the words "First Annual Qixia Night Market: Mage's Night." Below that was a clear map with landmarks. If the roads were still intact, it would only be about a ten-minute drive.

As long as one was willing to travel through the forest, the distance was clearly manageable.

It also listed the registered vendors—25 in total, all of them certified.

Some sold solar panels, others sold generators, gasoline, and diesel. There was even a cake shop and an artisanal ice cream parlor.

The latter might seem absurd, but in these apocalyptic times, it was genuinely hard to find freshly made cake and ice cream.

Most people in the city could only eat dry rations. A cream cake that required refrigeration was an absolute luxury.

Having a stable power supply, refrigeration equipment, and access to fresh milk and sugar was, in its own way, a symbol of power.

And besides real-world goods, there were of course many Rune-related vendors.

There was a Huichun Hall selling self-developed healing Potions.

A Rune Workshop sold various Enchanted Items, like Thermos Lunch Boxes, Water Purification Bags, Aromatherapy Stones, homemade invisibility cloaks, and more.

A mining company sold all sorts of ore crystals.

'Interesting,' Su Chen thought.

This creative park was also the location Boss Xing Jingsong had mentioned several times. His younger brother's forge was located there, and he was one of the registered vendors for this night market.

Finally, the entrance fee was one essence of any kind, a way to filter out the ordinary people who just wanted to join the fun. Even some of the weaker individuals might not be willing to grit their teeth and pay.

"In case you didn't know, right in front of the creative park is an eastern Forward Base set up by the Combat Defense Department. It's very safe. If you wait a few more days to go, they might even have the long border wall completely built by then."

The deep-voiced Summoning Warlock looked at him as if he were a kid from the mountains, completely clueless about how good things were in the city.

News of the campsite's evacuation this morning had basically spread. As an outpost beyond Cyan Dragon Ridge, it had previously been a no-man's land.

Now, with the outbreak of the parasitic tide and the immense threat of death, that group had to be evacuated to the towns.

Su Chen remained impassive, seemingly paying no mind.

After a glance at his watch, he didn't linger for more pleasantries. With a simple farewell, he took his leave.

"Just let him be."

One of the women had been about to invite him to return to the city with them, but the tall, aloof, lone-wolf figure was already wreathed in Wind Fluff, soaring weightlessly and rapidly into the distance.

His speed was astonishing.

"Hmph..."

The Summoning Warlock couldn't help but frown. From his Thunderhawk's aerial view, the flying figure executed several long-distance leaps in succession, covering a distance far beyond what he himself was capable of.

'This guy is incredible!'

"Let's go!"

Seeing that it was almost four in the afternoon and knowing the return journey would take time, they began to head back.

「Over twenty minutes later.」

Just as they were navigating around a fissure and stepping into a dim patch of woods, a naked figure used Tunneling Shuttle to emerge from the trunk of a giant tree ahead. From a stagnant pool of water beside them, which should have been still, another naked figure suddenly burst out.

"This is..."

The sudden scene made their expressions change.

"The so-called 'reformed people'?"

They could clearly see that these bizarre figures blocking their path were all towering, at least 2.3 meters tall. A twisted human face was visible on each of their chests and lower abdomens.

Their lips moved silently, as if wailing in agony or transmitting some kind of hive-mind command.

Just as the squad prepared to fight, the ground behind them silently caved in. A third figure erupted from the earth, its body covered in heavy rock armor. A massive tentacle extending from its right arm began to swell and harden at the tip, forming a living warhammer.

"It's over! We're surrounded!"

At that moment, they realized they had walked into an elaborate trap. If they weren't mistaken, two more 'reformed people' were still hiding somewhere in this uncharted area.

The consciousness behind the Bloodthirsty Fungus had clearly developed a rudimentary intelligence and was starting to use cunning tactics.

...

「4:02 PM.」

As Su Chen was heading back, he felt a warm, squirming sensation from the Jade Pendant on his chest. A moment later, an archaic, primitive character sank into his skin, and a surge of energy flooded his mind and senses.

It seeped silently through his neural pathways like a gentle spring rain nurturing the earth.

'Subconscious abilities enhanced. Sea of Consciousness expanded. Sensory perception heightened.'

'Intelligence +2, Perception +3!'

Attributes: Power 18 / Physique 21 / Agility 18 / Intelligence 19 / Perception 20

The Soul Sand Ore Crystal had successfully been converted and fed back into him.

He stood in place and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he could clearly discern the paths of dust motes floating in the forest air. He could even perceive the exact frequency of a nearby beetle's wing beats.

Beyond the most direct improvement in visual clarity, it was as if his perception's frame rate had been boosted, making everything appear smoother and more continuous—a clear sign of enhanced dynamic vision.

And that was just his sight.

Without further experimentation, Su Chen took the lustrous Jade Lingzhi from his backpack and pressed it against the heirloom Jade Pendant on his chest. The pure Essence of Life within it was instantly devoured by the pendant.

The next moment, a sharp shriek burst from the Lingzhi as it sprayed out a hallucinogenic mist.

It was resisting.

It even tried to transform into a streak of cyan light and fly away.

But Su Chen had been prepared. With a mere thought, he suppressed it, his invisible Spirit Force Field locking down the Lingzhi and quelling all its struggles. He let it rapidly wither until it disintegrated into ash.

'This Lingzhi is a fungus, too. Had to be careful.'

He could confirm that a wisp of consciousness had indeed been gestating inside it. If he had been tempted to eat it earlier, there was no telling what kind of trouble would have followed.

With everything settled and calm, Su Chen immediately set off again, taking the opportunity to feel the changes in his senses. Half an hour later, he arrived back at the empty and peaceful campsite.

The only downside was that he hadn't managed to find any Fire Element essences along the way.

The good news was that Yan Ruoruo, who returned shortly after, made up for this disappointment.

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