Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

Thanks to a major boost from the Olan People and the Undead Calamity, Dongfu City had benefited immensely from the daily city-wide settlement.

The quota of unlockable Teleportation Gates in the Rune Core had reached twenty-five.

The Rune Store also saw a wave of major new stock, including brand-new Potions that aided in the growth of flesh and blood.

Unlike previous Potions such as Body-Forging Potions and Barbaric Strength Potions, these new products were resistance agents with prerequisites for consumption.

For example, the ‘Lithification Essence Agent.’

It permanently increases bone density and skin tautness, while also strengthening one’s Power and Physique attributes.

However, only those with a certain degree of affinity for the Earth Element could consume it.

‘Water Element Resistance Agent.’

Permanently increases the Physique attribute by 2–3 points. The user’s bones and muscles gain extremely strong cushioning, automatically dissipating force like ripples in water when receiving blunt or concussive damage.

Currently, only five types of essence agents were stocked: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.

The prices for all of them were extremely high.

A single bottle cost one Lv7 Rune.

“Finally, there’s something to look forward to. At least we can slowly start to leave these weak bodies behind,” a Rune Caster said, invigorated.

The increase might seem small, but after accumulating several boosts, especially from the two class advancements, their physical condition had at least reached the level of a top-tier athlete from the old world.

However, compared to their astonishing individual damage output, this level of physical strength still wasn’t enough to matter.

“Fuck, that guy just chugged all five bottles. He’s so damn rich,” a sharp-eyed person suddenly exclaimed, noticing a tall, well-proportioned figure nearby nonchalantly finishing all five types of essence Potions.

That extravagant act was equivalent to blowing five Lv7 Runes.

When that cold, handsome face glanced over, the person instinctively lowered their head the moment their eyes met.

There was no helping it.

He couldn’t afford to provoke him.

These days, a young, wealthy individual also meant they were extremely powerful.

Rune Essence served two purposes: it granted people Elemental Power, and it also functioned as currency.

Wealth was equivalent to power.

What truly terrified him was the thought that this person might be a Five-Element Warlock.

Someone in the top hundred of the contribution leaderboard, at the very least. Definitely not to be trifled with.

‘It finally had an effect,’ Su Chen sighed to himself.

Roughly speaking, each bottle provided a +2 attribute transformation.

After chugging the five small bottles, he had gained a total of ‘+4 Power, +6 Physique.’

The return on investment was honestly mediocre.

But it was better than nothing.

Su Chen had more personal wealth than he knew what to do with, so he didn’t care about such a trivial expense.

He had come to visit the Rune Core alone this time.

Before he left, Ruoruo had only just gotten up to wash up at eleven o’clock after a long night. Compared to his own abundant stamina, she was clearly exhausted. With the world mission over, she had earned the right to sleep in.

Of course.

She had also wanted to visit the ruins of Oran City and Elemental City with him, but considering the risks involved in the round trip, the remotely deployed Teleportation Gate could easily be discovered and destroyed.

If the return trip became a problem, Su Chen could use his Time Hourglass to instantly teleport back to the city. However, this effect only altered his own Space-Time state, so he couldn’t bring anyone else with him.

For this reason,

Ruoruo and her camp’s main task for the day was to prospect for ore.

The Nether Sand Ore was part of the camp’s strategic reserve and couldn’t be touched. Forget about forging firearms and weapons; the two Magic Guide Hub Crystal Pillars alone required Spiritual Minerals for their energy supply.

As for the location for this prospecting, it was also clear: across the great river from the low-lying forest swamp. Once across, they would find a mountain range whose surface was covered in a vibrant, reddish-brown hue.

A week ago, Su Chen hadn’t possessed the ability to cross that great river.

Now, he was simply too busy to do it himself.

Too many high-priority matters were waiting for his attention.

The task of prospecting and excavation was naturally left to the personnel in the camp.

“Time to go.”

Su Chen didn’t plan on teleporting to the newly established key areas of the Rune Core to check things out.

The area around the Cultural Square was an absolute sea of people. With a constant stream of ore and lumber from various regions being transported to the crystal prism towers, the surrounding roads were choked with large summoned creatures and truck convoys. It had gotten so bad that an official broadcast had to warn idle personnel not to come and join the spectacle.

A crowd just meant trouble.

He couldn’t be bothered to add to the chaos.

Even though a Trial Tower had appeared among the new Rune structures, he wasn’t in a hurry to test it out, considering that the rewards were only officially settled once a week.

Soon.

Su Chen arrived at the edge of the Rune Core.

HUMMM!

As his consciousness interacted with it, a holographic, bird’s-eye view of the entire city materialized before him. Eighteen Teleport Anchor Points were displayed, both inside and outside the city.

Among them,

The coordinates of one anchor point were far removed from the city’s Southern Territory, appearing in a distant, unknown, and mysterious part of the Earth Realm.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Su Chen paid a single Rune Essence and chose to teleport.

…

「Southern Territory. A mountain hollow.」

Within a bamboo forest.

“All of you, be careful. We are now only fifteen kilometers from Oran City. The corps won’t look after you; you will bear the full consequences of your own actions,” a cold voice rang out, reminding everyone of the risks.

Even before Su Chen arrived, batches of people had already been teleporting in.

The Rune Core had no function to block others from using it.

Theoretically, even the Olan People could use it.

When the Priests first arrived, they discovered they could still purchase supplies from the Rune Store in Dongfu City. Only the defense towers, which were in an attack posture, had lost their neutrality; without any authorization protocols to stop them, they would relentlessly attack outsiders.

Meanwhile, some people from Dongfu City who hadn’t heard the broadcast warning saw a friendly Teleport Anchor Point appear in a distant location and, unable to restrain their curiosity, teleported over directly.