A golden meteor streaked across the sky, and Fang You was not surprised.
Given the probability of the Super Card Pool, drawing a Crimson-grade treasure was still difficult, but only getting three golden legends in ten consecutive draws was a bit too much.
Was he too unlucky, or was this card pool too predatory?
"At least some new items appeared. I hope they won't disappoint me."
Putting aside the items he already had and those of little value, Fang You started by examining the blue skill books.
His eyes brightened slightly.
This skill book, 'Wood of Growth,' was just as its name suggested. Its effect was to promote plant growth. Judging by its description, this skill was very poor in combat, possibly even inferior to its lower-tier skill, 'Growth Entanglement.'
No, far inferior.
Growth Entanglement was faster, and the plants it spawned were more resilient, while Wood of Growth seemed lacking.
But setting combat aside, Growth Entanglement was a forced growth, a growth that overdrawn life force. Once the rapidly grown plants lost their life energy supply, they would immediately wither.
This skill, when used for cultivation, couldn't be said to be bad; it was simply counterproductive.
Wood of Growth, however, was different. It was slow, it consumed a lot, it was difficult to master, and... despite all its flaws, it was an excellent production-type skill.
"Could Liu Shang's prayer have taken effect?"
"Perhaps I should ask her to pray next time and try to get a Crimson-grade treasure?"
With that thought, he didn't delay. He immediately put the skill book on the exchange list, exclusively for Liu Shang.
...
The coastal planting zone.
Liu Shang wiped the sweat from her brow. Although tired, she couldn't help but smile with pleasure as she looked at the thriving seedlings.
She lowered her head. Tucked beneath her clothes was a blue, teardrop-shaped uncanny artifact, radiating a faint glow.
"But even with this Angel's Tear, life energy is still far from enough! Almighty mentor, please think of a solution, otherwise, otherwise, this humble one will..."
After thinking for a long time, she still couldn't come up with anything. Suddenly, a 'ding' sounded in her mind.
New item in your followed exchange list~!
It was a skill book.
The advanced skill book, 'Wood of Growth.' Liu Shang directly skipped over the exorbitant exchange price and focused on the skill description.
Her face immediately bloomed into a smile.
"The mentor is indeed almighty."
"Alright, I'll make another wish. I hope the mentor can bring a large amount of life fluid next time, so my experiments won't be so constrained."
...
Seeing that Liu Shang had already learned the skill and exchanged for numerous practice opportunities, causing her skill proficiency to skyrocket...
Fang You withdrew his gaze with satisfaction.
A mature apostle not only had to work for their boss but also understand how to earn a salary to improve themselves and how to help their boss cultivate more workers.
Liu Shang had achieved this. Good.
He continued to examine the gacha treasures.
'Miracle Blueprint: Budding Tower'
'Description 1: The Budding Tower is a special building that requires an Awakener to control and input life energy. It can shoot out special Budding Arrows. Upon impact, these arrows grow into buds on the enemy, until the target is drained and consumed.'
'Description 2: Condensing the 'Budding Tower Building Seed' requires consuming 1000 uncanny crystals and investing the following materials during construction...'
'Note: The Budding Tower has a side effect. As time passes, the controller's body will gradually petrify until it merges into a part of the Budding Tower.'
"This petrification is likely a form of pollution erosion, much like most uncanny artifacts and uncanny items. Regardless of the side effect, it all boils down to increased pollution."
"And this increase can be slowly recovered over time, or aided by purification potions, tranquilizing potions, and so on."
Of course, this was only applicable when the pollution level was relatively low. If it was high? No hope, wait to die, goodbye.
In his opinion, the side effect of the Budding Tower could be mitigated by rotating controllers, staying within acceptable limits.
"It's a decent defensive structure, just a bit expensive to build."
"And the Root of Origin Water..."
He took out a drop and watched it hover in his palm, emitting a faint golden glow. A sudden craving arose within him – a craving to swallow this drop of Root of Origin Water directly.
This was not some tempting trap.
It was simply the craving of life's instinct. This was a drop that could aid potential growth and fundamental transformation. In layman's terms, Root of Origin Water could increase a person's potential.
But it seemed ineffective for him, Mentor Fang?
Fang You wasn't sure about his own potential level. He had no innate talent, or perhaps, his talent was to freely acquire the skills and abilities of his apostles?
His potential might be blue, or purple. It was likely not low, as the returns from his training and cultivation were always high, and his two dimensions seemed to increase endlessly without any bottleneck. This indicated that his potential would not be low.
He made a small attempt on the game panel.
'Ding!'
'Tip: Do you wish to use 'Root of Origin Water,' target: Savior of Destiny?'
'Tip: ...@%￥#, this treasure cannot take effect on 'Savior of Destiny.' Do you wish to continue using it?'
This treasure probably tasted good, Fang You licked his lips.
But of course, it had nothing to do with him.
"One drop of Root of Origin Water can allow a user with green or blue potential to raise their potential to purple and manifest a personal talent."
"However, it requires three drops of Root of Origin Water to elevate a genius with purple potential to the legendary Child of Destiny."
On the surface, the effect seemed a bit lacking. Back then, three Soul Orbs allowed Brother Black Blade to be promoted to Golden Black Blade, and Soul Orbs were a tier lower than Root of Origin Water.
But on the other hand, Soul Orbs were for a specific user, while Root of Origin Water could be used by anyone.
Overall, it was still...
Still lacking!
Just give me nine Soul Orbs of 3x3 instead!
Looking at the Root of Origin Water emitting a tempting 'fragrance' before him, Fang You fell into thought.
Who should he give it to?
Should he cultivate three new talents, or promote one Child of Destiny?
After a moment of thought, he chose the latter and already had someone in mind.
An Jianyou!
This was a decision made after careful consideration. It had nothing to do with Sister An being dark-haired and straight, a rich woman, or a good cook, but because... of Sister An's combat power!
"Compared to people with potential, the Ember currently needs high-end combat power more; it needs to make the strong stronger."
"And An Jianyou is the third strongest combatant in the Ember, besides this mentor and Brother Black Blade. Furthermore, in dealing with the uncanny and large numbers of enemies, Sister An is stronger than Brother Black Blade, far superior!"
Perhaps even stronger than him.
The accumulation of her mysterious power was proof! He had entered the fifth level of awakening earlier than Sister An, yet by today, he hadn't broken through to the sixth awakening, nor had An Jianyou. However, she was closer than him.
If An Jianyou's sixth awakening ritual didn't fail, she would very likely be the first King-tier of the sixth awakening in the Ember.
King of Humanity!
Allowing Sister An to evolve would yield higher returns. In the future, if there was more Root of Origin Water, it could be awarded as a reward to warriors within the Ember who made significant contributions.
...
...
Half a day later, An Jianyou, who had just returned to the secret realm base, showed a rare expression of surprise on her face.
"E-evolution?"
"But this is too precious! No, no..." She shook her head like a rattle drum. "Mentor, even if you can't use it, you can give it to Instructor Black Blade."
"Black Blade has his own fortune. Bestowing these three drops of Root of Origin Water upon you is the organization's decision."
"However, contribution points will be deducted. For a long time to come, you may be in debt."
She shook her head.
She didn't care about being in debt or not. She only cared about her mentor's intentions. Since her mentor said so, and Instructor Black Blade didn't need it, then...
"I'll take it!"
Hesitation was meaningless. Only by becoming stronger could she live up to her mentor's expectations and save this world!
She extended her hand, took the three golden drops from her mentor, and without hesitation, put them into her mouth.
As soon as they entered her mouth, they transformed into warm energy and flowed into her limbs and bones, warming her entire body and filling her with strength. It felt as though something indescribably profound was changing.
In Fang You's eyes, Sister An's black hair lifted, and the violet-blue light within her bright, large eyes became even more dazzling, as if containing a world.
Her skin became more lustrous, her black hair shone with health, and her entire being seemed imbued with wisps of divine charm.
Perfect! Flawless! Noble!
'Ding!'
'Tip: Destiny Apostle · An Jianyou's potential has advanced, her two dimensions have slightly increased, and her talent 'Eye of Insight' has been promoted to 'Eye of the Underworld.'
She didn't develop a second talent?
Could it be that Golden potential didn't necessarily possess dual talents, or was there another possibility of talent evolving directly?
He gazed at An Jianyou.
An Jianyou's skin flushed slightly.
Fang You: "?"
"Ahem, are there any changes in your body?"
She widened her eyes, took out a mirror to examine herself. The Underworld domain spread out from beneath her. It no longer seemed completely dark, though she couldn't explain the specific changes, but...
The two of them took a shortcut to the shallow layer of the uncanny realm.
Without lighting any lamps, they passed through the area shrouded by their domains, appearing as if invisible to the uncanny creatures.
Not only that,
"Mentor, look!"
The environment before them changed once again, much like when they had entered the shallow layer of the uncanny realm from Blue Star previously.
The gray mist deepened, and the towering buildings gradually faded, replaced by a vast underground space filled with eerie crystals.
This was...
"It's the Starfall Caverns!"
One of the currently explored areas in the deep layer of the uncanny realm!
After An Jianyou's evolution, she no longer needed to take the normal path; she could now enter deep layer areas through a shortcut?
A shortcut that bypassed the entrance!
The strategic significance... was immense.
However, the current primary mission was the Dawn Plan. After a brief exploration, the two of them quickly 'ascended,' returning to the shallow layer, and then back to Blue Star.
...
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
During this period, Sister An familiarized herself with her new talent and continued to level up, fulfilling a certain mentor's expectations by... breaking through to the sixth awakening!
Concurrently, or rather, slightly earlier, Xing Jinglei and Yiluoxi successively broke through to the fifth awakening.
They were the fourth and fifth leaders of the fifth awakening, following Black Blade.
The breakthrough, guided by 'Induction and Awakening,' was perfect. Even if there had been a slight pollution earlier, it vanished instantly, and their combat power surged to its peak.
But it was at this very moment,
Rumble——
The sky above Blue Star darkened.
Dark clouds pressed down, and waves surged.
The veil of gray mist, invisible to ordinary people, descended.