The Lv2 Pitch-Black Era, per the pollution model's deductions, divided into six stages: sense-gold, heart-gold, marrow-gold, blood-gold, lymph-gold, gland-gold.

Shen Cong now stood at the first stage — sense-gold.

Though, having once trained in the fog zone, his body had absorbed massive quantities of fog fungi, completing blood-gold's metallic gradation ahead of schedule.

"On the evolutionary track, I should still be able to hold my lead. Apart from a handful of evolved beasts with special conditions, no evolved person evolves faster than me. But that's still not enough. I need to be faster still — only that way can I keep suppressing other evolved people, keep my dominant position!"

A constant sense of crisis clung to Shen Cong, never quite dispersing, driving him ceaselessly forward.

And right now, this whole lake full of Vajra's blood filled him with real joy. Vajra's blood still worked on the Lv2 Pitch-Black Era — it could speed up his evolution.

"This lake of Vajra's blood is a priceless treasure."

"I'm staying here, absorbing it until I simply can't absorb any more."

"And only I get to absorb it. No one else is allowed anywhere near this place. Only once I truly can't take in any more does it become anyone else's turn."

Something capable of widening the evolutionary gap like this — Shen Cong hadn't the faintest inclination to share it with anyone.

If he hadn't already agreed to the trade terms beforehand — only taking what he personally needed — he'd absolutely have hauled off every last drop of Vajra's blood once he'd absorbed his fill, leaving nothing behind at all.

To stay ahead, to stay safe, Shen Cong didn't mind being selfish.

So long as he himself grew strong, what did it matter to him what happened to anyone else.

"The Great Vajra's absorption speed keeps climbing — already 5% of its volume has evolved into metal-steel. These past two days, it's nearly hit a full 1% absorption-evolution rate per day. At this rate of increase, today should manage roughly 1.2% of its volume, tomorrow 1.45%, the day after 1.77%…"

The absorption…