Chapter 106: Utilizing the Magic Eye Specter's Spirit Crystal—Reflection and Growth

With a focused念动, a crystal roughly the size of a ping-pong ball but slightly larger and somewhat coarse around the edges suddenly materialized before Zhang Ran. On the surface of this crystal remained traces of blood and fragmented tissue from the Magic Eye Beast.

After extracting this spiritual crystal from the Magic Eye Beast, Zhang Ran took out a bucket of low-radiation water from his spatial box and proceeded to cleanse the crystal, removing the highly corrosive blood stains.

Once cleaned, the crystal before Zhang Ran appeared a translucent pale pink, its surface gleaming beautifully—a purified spiritual crystal of the Magic Eye Beast.

Although the Magic Eye Beast’s body was heavily irradiated, touching it would cause ordinary people to fall gravely ill or even die instantly. Yet, the spiritual crystal condensed in its brain was pure and flawless, almost free of any radiation. Zhang Ran couldn’t help but marvel at the mysterious laws governing this wasteland world.

Within the Black Hawk Corporation, a level 4 Magic Eye Beast's spiritual crystal could fetch about twenty thousand Black Hawk coins, far exceeding the usual price for similar level 4 mutant materials. The market selling price could reach as high as fifty thousand Black Hawk coins, and such crystals were notoriously hard to come by.

Neither Zhang Ran nor most ordinary evolvers would sell such treasures that could enhance their own strength. Instead, they kept them for personal use. Only the more powerful evolvers would sell off lower-tier spiritual crystals they found useless.

With a thought, Zhang Ran grasped the Magic Eye Beast’s spiritual crystal in his hand. Strangely, though its texture initially seemed very hard, within less than a minute of contact, its surface began to soften.

Like butter melting under intense heat, the crystal quickly transformed into a nearly transparent, extremely viscous liquid that seeped rapidly through Zhang Ran’s pores, entering his body.

As this sticky liquid entered, an intensely cool sensation immediately spread through Zhang Ran, then it flowed through his veins, releasing its energy essence completely and continuously reinforcing his body.

This energy followed three channels: about seventy percent surged toward Zhang Ran’s brain, strengthening his mental power; twenty percent flowed into his spine; the remaining ten percent merged into various parts of his body.

“Refining Magic Eye Beast spiritual crystal, absorbing evolutionary energy. Evolutionary point consolidation increased by 3.21%. Current progress: 17.64% (1/3).”

“Refining Magic Eye Beast spiritual crystal, physical qualities enhanced by evolutionary energy: Strength +0.003, Constitution +0.002, Agility +0.002, Spirit +0.051.”

About ten minutes later, Zhang Ran completed the refinement of the spiritual crystal. Simultaneously, the chip’s prompt tone sounded clearly in his ear.

“An increase of 0.05 in spirit attribute, not bad at all!”

Listening to the chip’s notification and feeling the more potent mental power within his recognition sea, a smile crept onto Zhang Ran’s face, his lips curling slightly.

Though Zhang Ran’s current abilities were focused on the Martial Domain, spirit attributes and mental power remained vitally important for an evolver specializing in combat. They enhanced observation skills, neural reaction speed, and combat effectiveness, making one stronger.

Moreover, for Zhang Ran, who possessed the “Tree of Evolution,” each level-up granted a new ability. Even though his present specialization was Martial Domain, future possibilities included acquiring abilities in the Spell Domain, Perception Domain, or Support Domain. Hence, mental power held even greater significance.

“This battle, though victorious, exposed my shortcomings! Even with my extensive combat experience before transmigration, this is the wasteland world—filled with wondrous powers. Past battle experience no longer offers the same advantage.”

“Besides, my combat power exceeds that of same-level mutants, so my level advancement is too rapid. Unlike other evolvers who grow stronger through life-and-death trials, my combat power hasn’t caught up with my level. This is not good. I must focus on training going forward.”

After refining the Magic Eye Beast spiritual crystal, Zhang Ran did not become complacent but reflected deeply on his battle with the beast.

As his physical qualities improved, so did his strength, but he realized his combat awareness lagged behind his bodily capabilities.

Understanding this was unfavorable, Zhang Ran knew that rapid growth sometimes bred superficial strength, detrimental to long-term development, especially in this perilous wasteland where power dictated survival.

Recognizing his flaws, Zhang Ran resolved to make changes. Fortunately, with his chip, he could continually engage in simulated battles to improve.

Additionally, he planned to dedicate a full week to extra physical training to better adapt to his body.

.....

One week later

During this week, Zhang Ran deliberately slowed his mutant hunting pace, spending more time mastering his body and sharpening his combat awareness.

Had he hunted at full speed, this week would have sufficed to condense his second evolutionary point and take a new step toward level 4 evolver status. Instead, his evolutionary energy consolidation reached only 92.33%, about 70% of the needed amount.

Though his evolutionary energy gain slowed, Zhang Ran’s investment in training yielded significant improvements in body control and combat awareness, boosting his strength by roughly ten percent.

Most importantly, he spent about six hours daily training in the simulated battle space, facing level 4 mutants in combat exercises.

Primarily, Zhang Ran trained against the Magic Eye Beast and the Tyrant. Compared to unfamiliar mutants, these two were easier to simulate realistically since he had fought them before.

After a week of training, if Zhang Ran faced the Magic Eye Beast again, he would no longer be so vulnerable. At the very least, he would avoid being hit by its Curse Technique and could dispatch it more effortlessly.

Satisfied with his progress, Zhang Ran prepared once more to venture deeper into the wilds to hunt level 4 mutants, test his combat gains, and advance further as a level 4 evolver.