Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

As for the threshold fee of one Essence...

The running joke outside was that it was a small donation toward the Safety Committee’s infrastructure fund—a way to indirectly contribute to the city wall.

Inside the cubicle, Su Chen quickly met his trading partner. The man had a round face, a bushy beard, and a sturdy build. He wore only a tactical vest, and the armor plate slotted inside pulsed with intense elemental fluctuations, a clear sign it had been enhanced through Enchantment.

"Man, you’re in great shape. Ever thought about joining our ’Brotherhood’?"

The man’s eyes lit up when he saw Su Chen, and his tone grew enthusiastic. The smooth, well-defined lines of his shoulders and back were clearly the result of years of training. However, noticing Su Chen’s indifferent expression and the tall, aloof beauty standing beside him, he quickly got the hint and dropped the off-topic chatter.

The trade proceeded as planned.

Su Chen successfully traded a single Lv4 Fire Wall Skill Rune for eight Water Element Essences and two portions of Spiritual Dust Sand.

The man across from him looked pained by the deal. After a moment’s hesitation, he still went through with the exchange.

Normally, a trade like this wouldn’t have been possible.

A single Lv4 Rune could be dismantled into one portion of Spiritual Dust Sand and two Lv3 Runes.

Spiritual Materials weren’t a dime a dozen; they were extremely scarce and even required for unlocking Professional Traits. A Lv4 Rune should never have been worth two portions of Spiritual Dust Sand, let alone with so many Essences thrown in.

But the situation had changed drastically. With the outbreak of the Parasite frenzy, Fire Element Runes were in high demand.

After all, what was fire if not a form of purification?

Everyone believed that the Bloodthirsty Fungus, the Mind-Confusing Fungus, and any other fungal spores would be vaporized by high temperatures.

As a result, the supply of High-Tier Fire Element Runes on the market plummeted. Compounded by the widespread panic, their bargaining power soared.

The young woman at the registration desk had specifically reminded Su Chen of this. ’From his perspective, that conclusion was both right and wrong. Fire was indeed highly effective against ordinary fungal swarms or Low-Tier Parasite Bodies.’

’But to think that same logic applied to the latest evolved forms was tantamount to suicide.’

’Who is this guy...?’

The moment the bushy-bearded man walked out of the cubicle, he noticed two more people waiting outside. They looked anxious, as if they were afraid someone else would get to Su Chen first.

Just like before, Su Chen traded a Lv3 Scorching Beam Rune, a Lv4 Fireball Technique Rune, and a Lv4 Fire Element Shield Rune for four portions of Spiritual Dust Sand and over thirty of the Essences he needed.

Having successfully traded away all his Fire Element Runes, he was finally able to upgrade two of his own.

His Water Mirror Refraction Rune, his very first, finally reached the Lv5 realm.

[Water Mirror Refraction] (Lv5): Generates a single, omni-resistant, spherical water mirror covering a six-meter radius. It reflects incoming attacks back at the attacker at 250% of their original speed.

A major new feature was its unlocked area of effect, allowing it to extend and cover nearby teammates.

...

[Healing Skill] (Lv5): Within a ten-meter range, rapidly heals a target’s severe injuries over 5 seconds. Any excess Life Energy will form a Life Shield.

Its casting range was still shorter than the Light Healing Skill, but a new mechanic compensated for this: even if the target had no injuries, it would still grant them a Life Shield.

Since Su Chen himself had only ever sustained minor scratches, he had rarely needed to use it on himself.

Regardless, it was a good start.

As for why the female receptionist was so attentive—aside from his good looks—it was more likely because the Runes he offered for trade were all Lv4. He had a considerable number of them, and he even possessed a Lv5 Earth Element Rune.

This was undoubtedly a testament to his formidable power.

However, they couldn’t be sure if he was representing a top-tier team or simply trading for himself.

Logically, it had to be the former.

But what if it wasn’t?

After all, the staff knew that the tall, handsome man’s female companion also had a significant trade of her own to make.

By the time Yan Ruoruo completed her transaction, it was already eight in the evening.

Su Chen waited patiently. In the main hall, beyond the hum of conversation, a public broadcast was playing an official radio announcement. A warning message came through.

"...Numerous sudden deaths have been reported within the city. The primary targets are High-Tier Rune Casters, including thirteen Professionals. The cause of death in all cases was having their heads hollowed out. Investigations by the Law Enforcement Team have detected high concentrations of Bloodthirsty Fungus spore residue on the bodies."

"All personnel are urged to remain vigilant. Do not be alone at night, and do not risk approaching the forest regions."

"According to the latest intelligence, the Bloodthirsty Fungus is now exhibiting a second evolutionary form. It is characterized by a central brain structure with three fungal cores and possesses at least twelve different types of High-Tier Rune Abilities."

"The Safety Committee has temporarily designated this second evolutionary form of the Bloodthirsty Fungus as the... Reformed Body, to distinguish it from the crudely stitched-together first form. Its Life Energy is highly condensed. Conventional Purification Skills have a minimal effect on it and can barely penetrate its surface."

"Now for a description of its other external features..."

At that moment, the entire hall erupted.

It was only late last night that the brutal and horrifying stitched-monster form of the Bloodthirsty Fungus was announced.

’Not even a full day had passed, and it had already reached a second evolutionary form?’

"Wait, did the broadcast just say conventional Purification Skills don’t work on it? Doesn’t that mean the screenings to get into the night market are useless?" someone asked in a daze.

The comment sent shockwaves through the crowd.

The so-called Reformed Bodies could already be lurking somewhere in the city. At this realization, the surrounding people startled, their eyes darting toward one another with a new and silent suspicion.

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