Chapter 118: Gathering the First Evolution Point, Assassination

Although Zhang Ran had not activated the Blood Boil ability, his attributes were still far superior to those of the Violent Giant Ape. Combined with the rapid assault granted by Blood Sprint, this allowed him to slay the Level Four mutated creature with a single stroke.

Beheaded by Zhang Ran’s sword, the Violent Giant Ape’s head flew high into the air under the force of the blood pressure within its body before landing off to the side with a dull thud. Fresh, searing blood gushed from the smooth, mirror-like stump of its neck like a fountain, splattering in every direction and staining the surrounding wasteland crimson.

“Thump!”

With a tremendous crash, the Violent Giant Ape’s limbs twitched and convulsed erratically. Its headless corpse collapsed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. At the same time, a stream of evolutionary energy surged from its body, crossed the intervening space, and entered Zhang Ran’s body.

“Slain a Level Four Violent Giant Ape. Evolution-point condensation increased by 0.97%. Current evolution-point condensation: 1.04 (0/3).”

“Slain a Level Four Violent Giant Ape. The body has been strengthened by evolutionary energy. Strength +0.004, Constitution +0.003, Agility +0.003, Spirit +0.002.”

The evolutionary energy entered Zhang Ran’s body and immediately split into two streams. The smaller portion was absorbed by his flesh, while the larger portion entered his spine and merged into the newly formed embryo of an evolution point. As the absorption process concluded, the chip’s notification sounded beside Zhang Ran’s ear.

“Only one percent evolution-point condensation. As expected, the path of evolution becomes increasingly difficult. It is like sailing against the current—one must never relax, not even for a moment!”

Hearing the chip’s notification, Zhang Ran could not help sighing inwardly.

As evolution continued, the human body’s attributes would grow increasingly powerful. At the same time, however, advancing even a single step further required ever greater quantities and higher qualities of evolutionary energy, barring many evolutionaries of insufficient strength from progressing any further.

As he pondered this, Zhang Ran arrived beside the Violent Giant Ape. Wielding the heavy Pojun sword, he cut away the materials on its body that possessed salvage value and gathered them up.

Like the Level Four Twin-Headed Demon-Pattern Hound, the materials from this Level Four Violent Giant Ape were not worth much. They were valued at only around four or five thousand Black Hawk Coins. Still, with the principle that even the smallest gain was worth having, Zhang Ran collected them before continuing on his way and resuming his hunt.

...

Two weeks later.

During those two weeks, Zhang Ran traveled by night and emerged by day, venturing into the wilderness to hunt various mutated creatures without pause.

Although Zhang Ran’s strength had already reached the peak of Level Five, he lacked a suitable weapon and did not yet possess a powerful offensive ability. Thus, while he could suppress Level Five mutated creatures, it was difficult for him to kill them.

Furthermore, Zhang Ran was worried that if he fought a Level Five mutated creature, the first-generation Pojun would be unable to withstand the battle and would be destroyed. Once he lost a weapon suited to his hand, his hunting efficiency would certainly decline. Therefore, he did not hunt Level Five mutated creatures, instead concentrating his efforts on Level Four ones.

Although Zhang Ran was strong enough to kill a Level Four mutated creature in fewer than ten moves, and could maintain his stamina through Blood Plunder, Level Four mutated creatures were not as common as cabbages, even in the frontier zone. They were relatively rare. Even with the chip’s assistance, he could generally locate only one every hour. Thus, although Zhang Ran’s advancement was smooth and effortless, it was not particularly swift.

After spending an entire week, Zhang Ran finally slew enough Level Four mutated creatures and accumulated sufficient evolutionary energy to successfully condense his first evolution point. By then, his four primary attributes had reached 11.983, 11.213, 10.721, and 10.597 points respectively.

At the same time, after advancing, Zhang Ran could openly sell the Level Four mutated-creature materials in his possession. His Black Hawk Coins consequently rose to one and a half million, bringing him close to having enough to forge the second-generation Pojun.

That day, Zhang Ran was still hunting in the frontier zone of the Black Hawk Company. Suddenly, a young, burly man emerged from the distant mist. He wore camouflage combat fatigues, carried a machete in one hand, and had a rifle slung across his back.

“The scent is unmistakable. So it really is you! Judging by the fact that you can hunt here, the information was somewhat inaccurate. But no matter. Go obediently to your death!”

Watching Zhang Ran from afar, the man suddenly twitched his nose. A bloodthirsty gleam appeared in his eyes. He then drew the machete from his back and charged furiously toward Zhang Ran.

“What’s going on? It really is me. Could someone have put a bounty on my head?”

Hearing the man’s words, Zhang Ran’s eyes revealed a trace of confusion. Nevertheless, he immediately drew Pojun and used the chip to inspect the man’s attributes.

“Name: Unnamed.”

“Age: Twenty-six.”

“Level: Level Five Scavenger (Level Five Evolutionary).”

“Ability: Unknown (Primary Domain: Combat).”

“Strength: 12.4.”

“Constitution: 11.4.”

“Agility: 10.6.”

“Spirit: 11.2.”

At Zhang Ran’s command, the chip began analyzing the man and soon displayed his data.

“Fortunately, he is only a Level Five evolutionary! With attributes like these, I have a very good chance of killing him instead!”

Looking at the assassin’s data, Zhang Ran’s heart settled. Although he had no idea whom he had offended or who had placed a bounty on him, his powerful strength gave him no reason to panic.

If a Level Six evolutionary had come to assassinate him, Zhang Ran would have had no choice but to flee. If he encountered a powerful Level Six evolutionary with a formidable ability, he might not even be able to escape successfully.

But that had not happened. The person standing before Zhang Ran was merely a Level Five evolutionary. Although he was among the stronger ones at that level, in terms of pure strength, he was not much stronger than Zhang Ran.

Looking at the evolutionary charging toward him with murderous intent, Zhang Ran smiled faintly and activated Blood Boil.

As Zhang Ran focused his thoughts, the third blood-flame-shaped rune on the Tree of Evolution within his sea of consciousness suddenly lit up, radiating waves of incomparably mystical energy.

Those waves entered Zhang Ran’s body. The pulse of his heart immediately accelerated, drawing in streams of blood and pumping out waves of boiling blood.

As the boiling blood coursed through Zhang Ran’s body, his physical attributes rose rapidly. His strength became abundant, and his spirit soared.

Carrying the heavy Pojun sword, Zhang Ran did not bother to speak. He strode forward to meet the assassin.

“Blazing Flame Saber Technique!”

The figures of the two men crossed in midair. A scorching red glow flashed across the machete in the assassin’s hand. With a sweep of his arm, he unleashed a blazing arc of fiery saber light that came crashing down toward Zhang Ran.