Su Ze knew instantly that people from the mysterious organization had tracked Xu Sheng to his shop.
However, they had only been asking about him; they hadn't tried to take back the tier-four extract.
It seemed even the mysterious organization wasn't willing to clash with Evolutionary Technology over a single vial of tier-four extract.
After hanging up, Su Ze left the private room. The sky outside had already grown dark.
He went to the bathhouse's front desk and told the receptionist, "I'm going to be staying for a few days. Please extend my private room."
With that, he immediately paid twenty thousand.
"Oh, and have someone change the sheets for me," he added. "Also, I won't be needing any attendants."
"O-Okay, sir." The receptionist stared blankly for a moment before nodding quickly.
Su Ze turned, left the bathhouse, and hailed a cab to a Life Pharmaceutical branch.
Life Pharmaceutical had two branches in Heiyan City. Su Ze went to the one closer to him.
Unlike the Evolutionary Technology branches, Life Pharmaceutical's stores primarily dealt in various evolutionary medicines. Extracts and other strange items were just a side business, and they didn't sell many.
The Body Health Digestive Pills Su Ze wanted were one of Life Pharmaceutical's star products and the most expensive among similar medicines. But Su Ze wasn't short on cash. He bought seven or eight bottles at once, along with a few bottles of Strengthening Elixirs, and even registered for an anonymous Life Pharmaceutical membership card.
While getting the card, Su Ze struck up a conversation with the store manager, asking him for some information about Heiyan City.
Su Ze had just spent several million in one go, which made him a major client. The store manager was exceedingly respectful and answered all of his questions without reservation.
Half an hour later, Su Ze left Life Pharmaceutical, completely satisfied.
The information he'd gathered from the manager was all in preparation for leaving Mu Country. He could have just asked Xu Sheng, but he had to consider the possibility of betrayal. 'If Xu Sheng sells me out to the mysterious organization, I'll be in serious danger. You can never be too careful.'
Now, with the help of the medicine, he could completely digest the Rock Scorpion extract in two or three days and complete his first evolution. After that, he had to leave Mu Country as quickly as possible.
Su Ze's best option was to head to the neighboring Luofan Country. There was no other reason than its proximity.
The only thing separating Heiyan City and Luofan Country was the Black Rock Mountain Range.
Going to any other country would require leaving Heiyan City for another border city. Without a legal identity, the journey was bound to be difficult.
'To get to Luofan Country, I'd have to take the border highway. It's the official, secured road between the two nations, but the Zhao Family and the mysterious organization are surely watching for me to leave the country. Taking that road would be walking right into a trap!'
'So, if I want to get to Luofan Country, my only option is to cross the border illegally...'
Su Ze took a deep breath. Crossing illegally was also extremely dangerous. It meant he would have to traverse the Black Rock Mountain Range, a place teeming with beasts.
The Black Rock Mountain Range straddled the border between Mu Country and Luofan Country, an unavoidable obstacle.
'There are tier-three beasts in the Black Rock Mountain Range. They're rare, but running into one is a death sentence. There are also plenty of tier-two beasts, which are completely beyond my ability to handle.'
'I need to find a group to travel with...'
...
「Heiyan City. The suburbs.」
The foul-smelling old man who had once fought Zhang Fantie was now bowing respectfully, welcoming a figure completely shrouded in shadow.
The person stepped out of the shadows. He was a man of about thirty or forty with sharp, well-defined features, appearing both handsome and composed. However, the wildly-colored, spiky hairstyle completely ruined his aura.
If Su Ze were to see his face, he would have instantly recognized him as the mysterious man from Qinggu City who had made a deal with Zhao Lingxiao—the deal to kill Princess Zhuzhi.
"Mr. Fen," the foul-smelling old man said, bowing.
"Mr. Diao, have you found that kid from the Zhao Family?" Mr. Fen, the middle-aged man with the garish hairstyle, asked.
"Not yet," replied Mr. Diao, the foul-smelling old man. "But I've already had people stake out Black Rock Airport, the border highway, and other major thoroughfares. I've also had Spider begin a city-wide grid search of Heiyan City. He won't be able to hide for much longer."
Mr. Fen nodded. "You must find him. Every single Bloodline Crystal is critically important. We cannot afford any mistakes."
"I will do my utmost!" Mr. Diao said hurriedly. "One more thing. I've discovered that the Zhao Family is also searching for Zhao Lingxiao everywhere today. They've posted people at all the major transportation hubs. In fact, it was a Zhao Family goon who received a call this morning and then set out to capture Zhao Lingxiao. We were worried something might change, so we made our move early."
"I recall that Zhao Yuanyi has only one son. Why the sudden change of heart from the Zhao Family? Why do they want to capture him?"
Mr. Fen's brow furrowed. He scratched his multi-colored, spiky hair. "After I persuaded the Zhao family's kid to agree to our deal, I left Qinggu City immediately. The capitals of any country are forbidden territory for us; even I can't risk staying for long. It seems some interesting things happened after I left. A pity. Looks like I missed a good show."
Mr. Diao asked, "Should I send someone to Qinggu City to investigate?"
Mr. Fen nodded. "Go and arrange it."
...
「Two days later.」
Bihai Tangcheng Bathhouse.
To minimize the risk of being discovered, Su Ze had holed up in his private room at the bathhouse for two days, not once stepping outside. The staff brought all his meals and drinks directly to him.
After two days and nights of constantly taking the medicine, he had finally, completely digested the Rock Scorpion extract.
His physical fitness had improved yet again, and he had tuned his body to its absolute peak. He could finally begin his evolution.
HUUFF!
Su Ze let out a deep breath. Even though he felt his evolution was a sure thing, he couldn't help but feel nervous now that the moment had arrived.
Su Ze closed his eyes and lay back on the large bed. Unlike cultivation in novels, evolution didn't require sitting cross-legged. You just had to get comfortable; there were no posture requirements.
Once he found the most relaxing position, Su Ze focused on the evolutionary power within him. As a Mortal-level Life Form, his evolutionary power was colorless. It merely gave off a faint, transparent evolutionary glow, like an underpowered lightbulb.
Evolve!
At Su Ze's thought, the evolutionary power in his body began to circulate on its own. It flowed through him like blood, moving with an instinct that he didn't need to—and couldn't—control.
As it flowed, the evolutionary glow began to take on color, gradually turning a deep crimson.
A crimson evolutionary glow signified the Pupa Stage, achieved upon completing the first evolution. The evolutionary power inside Su Ze had transformed into that of the Pupa Stage.
But the evolution wasn't over. The crimson evolutionary power began to travel slowly through Su Ze's body. Everywhere it passed, his body underwent a metamorphosis under its influence.
From his skin to his blood, muscles, fat, and bones... it was a complete, all-encompassing metamorphosis. An evolution.
Every cell in Su Ze's body was being completely reborn, his very genes rewritten under the influence of the evolutionary power.
The evolutionary power lingered for an exceptionally long time when it reached his heart and brain, as if remodeling these two areas was a massive undertaking.
Finally, the evolutionary power completed its circuit and slowly faded back into Su Ze's body, disappearing from sight.
Su Ze's eyes snapped open. They shone with a brilliant light, as bright as the stars.
The evolution was complete!