Just as Su Chen was showering, the family heirloom Jade Pendant around his neck began to formally return its nourishment.
Under the stream of water from the showerhead, a simple, ancient rune filled with a primal and distant aura instantly sank into his chest.
In an instant.
A vast and majestic surge of Life Energy gushed forth like a living spring, flowing through his meridians. Under this nourishing infusion, a subtle tremor echoed from deep within his bones, as if every inch of his muscles and bones was being reforged.
In the midst of this rebirth, a foul, dark-brown slime seeped out from the pores all over his body, only to be instantly washed away by the water streaming from above.
The pain lasted only for a moment before transforming into a warm current that spread comfort throughout his entire body.
A nascent power sparked to life within his countless cells. The small tree of Spiritual Energy in his Sea of Consciousness swayed in response, and a piece of information immediately flooded his mind.
’You have unlocked a Body Trait: Vitality Burst.’
[Vitality Burst]: Abundant Life Energy grants you Super-speed Regeneration, ample physical stamina, and a resilient will. It provides significant resistance to all abnormal internal conditions and, to a certain extent, extends your lifespan.
’Physique +9, Intelligence +2’!
A brand new, consolidated stat sheet appeared.
Body Attributes: Power 18 / Physique 30 / Agility 18 / Intelligence 21 / Perception 20
Body Trait: Vitality Burst
"I can even unlock Body Traits."
Su Chen couldn’t hide his pleasant surprise. This was a true metamorphosis of flesh and blood.
After looking into the details, he realized the regenerative healing power of this trait was even more absurd than a Lv5 Healing Skill. It allowed for the rapid regeneration of severed limbs and reconstruction of organs without the need for any external items like Runes.
The only drawback was that he would feel intense hunger after recovering and would need to consume a large amount of meat.
In addition, Vitality Burst also granted him a more abundant reserve of stamina. When he was on the verge of exhaustion, it could provide a massive boost to keep him going, which would undoubtedly be beneficial for prolonged combat.
The resilient will component was also impressive. With his mind and body in harmony, he could better resist fatigue and discomfort, mount a remarkably effective defense against mental intrusions, and even more easily enter a state of transcendent focus.
"Very nice."
Su Chen considered the life-extending effect and roughly calculated that if he could survive, he might just live to be over 150 years old.
Subconsciously, he assumed that he had awakened this formidable body trait because his Physique attribute had broken the 30-point mark.
’But after thinking about it carefully, that isn’t right.’
’Although my own Physique has already completely surpassed the theoretical limits of human potential... after all, the Physique of a top-tier special forces soldier or a high-altitude mountain guide would be 15 points at the absolute most. I’m crushing them by a huge margin.’
’But compared to demonic beasts like giant bears or colossal hippos, this level of physical fitness isn’t even in the same league. Yet, as abundant as their Life Force is, their cells don’t possess such an exaggerated regenerative ability.’
’They can only achieve rapid healing with the help of a Healing Skill.’
’Then the root of the matter can only be one thing: the unique properties bestowed by a Heavenly and Earthly Treasure like the Jade Lingzhi.’
’Good stuff!’
The rewards he reaped weren’t just high attributes; his flesh and blood had also metamorphosed to develop a brand new trait.
Besides, the conversion and feedback process hadn’t taken long this time. In terms of efficiency, it was a complete victory.
It’s just that Heavenly and Earthly Treasures like this were a matter of luck, not something one could actively seek out.
"Bloodthirsty Fungus... let’s see what you’ve got."
Su Chen’s eyes lit up. ’This fungus that spreads throughout the underground network should have an intimate knowledge of most of the treasures hidden down there.’
’In order to incubate and cultivate various modified bodies in its Flesh Mill, it must rely on favorable local conditions, or even directly extract the energy from Heavenly and Earthly Treasures to pour vast amounts of Life Energy into its nests.’
’In that case, if I can find one of its incubation bases and give the place a thorough dig, I’ll probably make a great find.’
Now, his motivation to hunt down the Bloodthirsty Fungus was even stronger.
Devouring and converting another Jade Lingzhi probably wouldn’t grant him a new body trait. However, as his attributes increased, the resources required for further conversion would also rise proportionally, which would certainly require the help of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
Besides, the "glass cannon Mage" limitation was truly unpleasant, and for a super-athletic genius like Su Chen, it was simply unbearable.
Without thinking too much about it, he lathered up a large handful of body wash and thoroughly cleaned himself. Five minutes later, when the water flow had dwindled to a trickle, he finally finished his shower.
Outside the door, Yan Ruoruo had clearly made her choice through her actions. She was lying on her back on the large bed in the RV, a single, thin sheet covering her body, perfectly outlining the stunning curves of her figure beneath.
To be honest, Su Chen had faced plenty of situations where women threw themselves at him.
But Yan Ruoruo was undoubtedly the most special one.
She wasn’t showing the slightest bit of flirtatiousness. Her actions stemmed purely from the most rational judgment, devoid of all emotion. In this perilous apocalypse, establishing a bond with him that went beyond friendship was undoubtedly in line with her survival instincts and prospects for the future.
It was just like Ruoruo’s initial opinion about the locked-room murderer: when facing a life-or-death threat, why wait passively for the other party to make a move in the dead of night? It was better to strike first.
But without witnesses or physical evidence, it would be impossible to gain the understanding of one’s family or even companions.
What if you killed the wrong person?
Everyone had received a higher education; it was better to wait passively, as that could absolve them of the guilt they would otherwise have to bear.
Now, Ruoruo clearly saw him as her greatest guarantee of safety, so it was better for her to take the initiative.
Especially since her teammates were all gone.
"Are you so sure I won’t just use you and leave?" Su Chen said, looking at the cold beauty on the bed, whose eyes were still closed.
"I asked Xue Yao some things about your past," Yan Ruoruo replied, her eyes still closed. She had clearly done her homework.

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