Chapter Eight: Evolution of Black Iron

Fang Mu stared in astonishment.
The image remained frozen, unchanged for a long while.
“Could it be that this chip contains nothing but this picture?”
Fang Mu scratched his head and waited once more, but when nothing happened, disappointment washed over him and he shut it down.
He never expected that one of the two chips left behind by such a formidable figure would be nothing more than a simple image…
“There must be some hidden value—perhaps I just don’t understand it yet…”
After some thought, he speculated as much.
The spatial arsenal stretched over a hundred meters, yet within this vast space, there were no battlefield biomaterials, no weapons, no ammunition… only two chips.
Fang Mu found it hard to believe that one of the chips was merely a useless image.
He shook his head, removed it from the optical computer, and inserted the other chip…
“I hope this one contains something… something I can comprehend…”
The virtual screen turned white, then displayed the message: Reading chip contents.
After a brief moment, the screen revealed a luminous projection…
A glowing figure appeared, sitting cross-legged, and above his head were five massive black characters, strikingly prominent.
“Record of Primordial Energy Refinement”…
Boom!!!
With just a glance, Fang Mu felt as though thunder had exploded in his mind, nearly knocking him unconscious.
“This… this… could it be…”
He was utterly bewildered.
“Genetic Primordial Energy Cultivation Technique?”
He murmured in disbelief.
The Primordial Energy Cultivation Technique—the foundation of evolution, the true source of strength.
For three months, since entering the battlefield, Fang Mu had yearned, obsessed, and worried about nothing more than this Genetic Primordial Energy Cultivation Technique.
Logically, upon seeing it now, he should have been ecstatic and invigorated.
But in reality…
His expression was one of terror, more than joy; shock, more than exhilaration.
The reason was simple—it was far beyond his expectations.
“The core… not the genetic seed?!”
His scalp tingled and dizziness overwhelmed him!
What lay before him was too incredible.
Its value…
Unimaginable!
Even more precious than the spatial arsenal.
Or perhaps…

The spatial arsenal was simply incomparable to this!
He didn’t know how much time had passed before the horror and shock on his face slowly faded.
The next moment, unprecedented solemnity filled his eyes.
“This must never be revealed!”
He stared at the chip, then added after a moment…
“Never!”
He knew perfectly well what this meant.
If word got out, regardless of whether the terrifying enemy—the owner of the severed hand—would seek him out, the outcome for him would be singular…
Death.
Certain death!
Thinking about what this represented, Fang Mu felt his heart falter, as if suffocating.
“A severed hand still burns with black flame, restrained by golden rune chains… Could this be the cultivation technique he practiced himself?”
He shut his eyes tightly, recalling legends, and cold sweat soaked his body.
Yet beneath the sweat, excitement surged.
Irresistible excitement!
Even knowing it brought enormous trouble, he could not suppress his exhilaration.
It meant he had truly stumbled upon a great fortune!
A miraculous opportunity!
…
…
He didn’t know how long it took before he let out a long breath, suppressing the storm of thoughts in his heart.
He opened his eyes, his gaze burning as he fixed it on the virtual screen, studying it intently…
There was nothing to consider.
He had to cultivate!
Even if it brought immense trouble, he had to proceed!
Its value justified risking his life.
“So that’s how it works…”
His eyes brightened, and after a moment, he sat cross-legged on the ground, following the red dots and lines on the luminous figure to channel his meager genetic primordial energy…
At first, he had to constantly divide his attention between the red dots and lines on the projection, and his own feeble genetic primordial energy was difficult to tame and control.
But as he grew more familiar, unconsciously, he felt warmth spreading through his body.
Gradually, he drifted into a strange state, half awake and half dreaming…
…
…
It was a world of darkness. Fang Mu stood there, bewildered, unsure how he had arrived.

Suddenly, a beam of light descended. Fang Mu instinctively gazed at it.
He saw a strange luminous figure dancing in the air.
He was puzzled, unable to understand.
The luminous figure danced again and again, and unconsciously, Fang Mu followed its movements.
Then, he felt a scorching heat envelop his entire body.
It was as if every cell was burning…
In the real world, Fang Mu entered a state of deep meditation, sitting cross-legged. At some unknown point, his skin flushed red, as if a fire burned within him…
…
…
He didn’t know how much time had passed before he slowly awoke.
But upon waking, Fang Mu felt disoriented, glancing around in confusion…
When did he fall asleep in the living room?
He tried to stand up in a daze.
Suddenly, a series of crackling bone noises echoed as he rose. His whole body froze, but the next moment, an unprecedented comfort flooded through him.
Within him, a surge of indescribable power moved—power from his genes, from his cells!
It was genetic primordial energy!
Fang Mu finally realized.
Yes, he had just cultivated the “Record of Primordial Energy Refinement”… It was indeed the Genetic Primordial Energy Cultivation Technique!
Unable to help himself, he clenched his fist—crackling bone sounds erupted again, and an immense strength filled his body.
“My genetic primordial energy has reached this level? Am I… am I now a Black Iron-tier Evolver?!”
Fang Mu’s eyes widened as he sensed the power within.
“Hahaha…”
At last, he laughed with unrestrained joy.
An Evolver—from today onward, he too was an Evolver!
Though he had only advanced to the Black Iron-tier, the whole world seemed transformed!
He could clearly sense that his muscle fibers had become like strands of iron, far stronger than before. His bone density had reached a terrifying level, like refined steel.
His eyesight had always been good, but now, it was as if the world had shed a veil, becoming much clearer.
Fang Mu was deeply moved—eyes were the soul of a gunfighter!
Still caught up in his excitement, suddenly, his stomach rumbled loudly, and the next instant, an overwhelming hunger struck him.
“Hm? What’s this?”
Fang Mu was startled by the sudden hunger.