Chapter 100: The Opportunity for Exchange

The program's introduction explained that the lineage substance could drastically alter one's own DNA.

To put it simply, even a Level 1 novice—or any ordinary person—if transformed into a vampire, would inherit the vampire's innate defenses, magical resistance, life-stealing ability, and immortality. All of this comes from a single lineage.

Genes + Skills + Talents.

Thus, lineage is immensely powerful.

However, lineage is not without flaws or dangers. The transformation could fail. After all, you start as a human and become another species; with massive DNA mutations, conflicts could arise between the original genes and the new ones.

For example, some modifiers choose elemental light or holy power in their gene slots—such spiritual energies, when combined with vampirism, would allow one to experience the thrilling surge of holy and radiant energy unique to vampires.

Moreover, not being pure human blood restricts access to certain systems.

At least most cultivation techniques were developed based on the human body.

Take the spider lineage substance: after use, will one become a Spider-Man, a half-human half-spider queen figure, or will the spider genes overwhelm human DNA entirely, turning one into a monster? This cannot be determined before use.

If the gains outweigh the risks, Yan Luo wouldn't mind declaring, "I abandon humanity, JoJo!" But a mere spider lineage offers little expected benefit, so he certainly wouldn’t use it. Regardless, lineage is highly valuable.

As the Mercury spider disappeared, Cream Chocolate fell out. The nitrogen accelerator behind continued to eject and propel airflow, causing Ma to experience a "facial brake," scraping across the ruined grassland for dozens of meters before finally stopping in a pit.

Yan Luo hurried over to shut off the nitrogen accelerator.

At that moment, the program prompted: "Crystal core destroyed."

The largest pollution source in the contaminated zone had been eliminated.

On the high ground, Butcher and Cook lay sprawled on the ground, while Dong Qing sat wearily on a nearby step, his decapitation blade stabbed into the ground beside him, its blade battered. This battle had been grueling—five Martian creatures working in unison plus a crystal core capable of firing barrage attacks.

Many times, they teetered on the brink of death.

However, these warriors had witnessed the prowess of Level 5 Modifier Chen Beixue, specialized in support and healing. Even when death seemed imminent, she could pull you back in the next moment! Having such a woman nearby was like playing Diablo with a large purple health potion belt strapped on!

Even Dong Qing, who normally bristled at the sight of Chen Beixue’s chest, had to admit that during battle, having such a powerful healer backing you up was truly excellent.

Of course, a Level 5 healer isn’t invincible. Higher-level modifiers, especially those above Level 7, render her healing efforts insufficient. To put it simply, it’s like gaming: a healer’s single heal restoring 100 HP is formidable for those with tens of HP but too inefficient for those with thousands.

To exaggerate further, gods, immortals, and higher life forms have bodily structures different from humans—for instance, the Naaru in World of Warcraft are beings of light energy; how would water therapy even affect them?

Meanwhile, Huang Jiang, the commentator who had transcended human limits, finally emerged from the incubator. Today, he had lost countless clones.

Zhao Yulong activated the self-destruct mechanism inside his crystal core. Both the crystal core used as a barracks and the nine defense towers exploded, their debris along with the Pandora crystals growing on the grass dissipating into particles.

Countless light dots scattered, giving the scene an almost dreamlike quality.

This was the cleansing of the inner world’s pollution source; the outer world’s space-time was beginning to repair itself.

The battle-hardened Cream Chocolate bore the marks of bio-modification: its exoskeletal armor shattered into fragments, and among its ten legs, except for the original four, the six modified legs were withering and falling off. The red horn on its forehead dropped to the ground.

The horse had returned to its original form, but today’s events would undoubtedly leave a deep imprint in its memory.

Like the horse Chitu in the Honor of Kings game that once defeated the Overlord while serving as a mount.

Having experienced such a glorious moment, even death would bring no regrets.

Its equine life—without complaint or remorse!

Guan Yu’s sub-personality led the horse back to the convenience store, completing its mission: in this pollution zone equivalent to a Level 3 inner world, it successfully replaced the original self to participate in this mission, earning 2 gene points, and allowing Yan Luo to master the first nine forms of the Ten Directions Staff technique as if cheating.

This heroic soul vanished into light particles within the convenience store.

The blockade on the pollution zone had yet to be lifted temporarily. Now, the program was tallying the contributions of the modifiers who participated in this mission.

Dong Qing sat silently with a stern expression; Chen Beixue, exhausted from the heavy spiritual energy consumption of her spells, meditatively rested nearby; Huang Jiang, finally freed, chatted with Butcher and Cook.

"Didn't expect it to be this tough."

"The defense towers and the crystal—those energy projectiles were so annoying."

"That Level 1 guy was surprisingly strong. He became Er Ye... Is that a destiny talent or a skill?"

Butcher and Cook were in good spirits; the grievance of having lost a kill dissipated—it wasn’t a big deal. Without Yan Luo, this mission would never have ended within an hour. Now, with success, they earned 2 gene points and would receive a sum of biogenic energy based on their contributions.

"Rewards are being distributed..."

A prompt echoed in everyone’s mind.

"How much did you get?"

After the prompt, Huang Jiang eagerly asked—though this was somewhat taboo given their unfamiliarity. But Butcher and Cook, despite their fierce and chaotic evil aura, didn’t mind such matters.

Du Rong: "15,300 points."

Liu Xin: "11,000 points."

"I was just material in the incubator. Though my contribution wasn’t low, it’s still less than yours. I only have about 7,600 points," sighed Huang Jiang.

"How much did that Level 1 get?"

"Although he killed a few Martian creatures, he didn’t help take down the crystal like us, nor did he provide cloned soldiers like you. About 5 to 6 thousand, definitely not over 7,000."

"For a Level 1, that’s quite a windfall."

None of them realized that the horse Yan Luo rode could enter the inner world!

Inside the convenience store, Yan Luo checked the program’s extra values—rewards from the pollution zone amounted to a staggering 24,000 points!

"So much?"

Last time in the previous world, Yan Luo had fought hard, won six championships in debates, earned a hidden S rating, and the final tally was only 21,000 biogenic energy. This time, in less than an hour, he earned 3,000 more?

But then he quickly understood.

This pollution zone was comparable to a Level 3 inner world!

Moreover, he had taken down the Mercury spider, the strongest creature in the pollution zone.

All contributions were counted on Cream Chocolate.

"You have received an exchange opportunity related to the theme of this world."