Chapter Seventy-Four: The Path to Advancement
Rental Apartment.
Fang Mu exhaled deeply and opened his eyes.
His condition had never been better.
His senses had sharpened further, his muscles were full, brimming with explosive power; he could even feel the hardness of his muscles surpassing what he'd known before.
With a slight exertion, his muscles became as hard as iron!
No doubt, his weight had also increased significantly.
"As expected, the Gene Primal Energy has once again surged. Now, when I use 'Blazing Fire,' I can probably activate it more than thirty-six times!"
The effect of the second bottle of gene serum wasn't as drastic as the first, but it still increased his 'Blazing Fire' capacity by ten uses!
More crucially...
Fang Mu sensed that this was still not the limit!
"This 'Gene Divine Refinement Record' truly is astonishing!" Fang Mu marveled.
The total amount of Gene Primal Energy was terrifying!
Although its quality was still that of a common Black Iron class, the quantity... it exceeded expectations by a wide margin!
In other words, his endurance far surpassed that of ordinary Black Iron class evolvers.
Perhaps even Bronze class wouldn't last as long!
And this was only at the Black Iron level...
If he reached Bronze, or even Silver...
What would happen then?
Fang Mu was exhilarated, and stood up abruptly.
"I'll buy two more bottles and see where the limit of the Gene Divine Refinement Record truly lies!"
Without further hesitation, he headed out.
...
Once again, Fang Mu arrived at the DPSK Mall and went straight to the third floor.
This time, he didn't choose 'Gene Leap,' but instead went to another gene pharmacy.
The price of the E-series gene enhancement serum was the same, so another one million three hundred thousand was spent...
Fang Mu's wealth shrank again, leaving him with just over a million...
Is there anything more fleeting than spending money like water?
But such investment was worthwhile; after two more bottles, Fang Mu's strength multiplied!
Though the main improvement was in endurance, rather than explosive power or damage ceiling.
But as a lone wolf, endurance was an essential attribute. It allowed him greater margin for error on the battlefield.
More importantly...
"The characteristic of the Gene Divine Refinement Record is astonishing. Once Gene Primal Energy is depleted, it drives one to crave even human corpses... The more Gene Primal Energy I possess, the less likely I am to fall into that crazed state!"
Fang Mu hadn't forgotten the moment when he nearly drooled over Chang Le and the others' bodies.
Without delay, he returned to his rental apartment, swallowed another bottle, and sat cross-legged on the floor once more...
...
...
An hour passed in a blur.
Both bottles of gene serum were now inside Fang Mu.
His strength soared again.
"Sixty rounds of 'Blazing Fire'!"
Fang Mu's eyes shone as he felt the surging Gene Primal Energy within.
His physical strength had reached a critical point; every muscle fiber was now solid to the extreme, a mere exertion turning them as hard as steel.
His reaction speed had improved markedly. Though he couldn't quantify by how many times... he felt his mind entering a state of unprecedented clarity and agility; thoughts bursting forth with every movement. The sensation was exquisite...
And now, Fang Mu finally sensed...
His Gene Primal Energy had reached its limit.
Sixty rounds of 'Blazing Fire' was his cap!
To go any further, he'd have to break through to Bronze class.
Fang Mu was content, yet reflective.
No wonder they say, "The scholar starves, the warrior thrives."
The path of evolution was no different.
With powerful enough resources, one could achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Without the gene serum, it would have taken him at least half a year to reach this level.
And only if he consumed Bronze-class creature flesh daily!
But now, Bronze-class flesh no longer sufficed. He had reached the bottleneck all evolvers must face.
Only life-and-death combat, frequent and intense adrenaline surges, could drive a leap in evolution, allowing him to become a Bronze-class evolver...
This made Fang Mu frown slightly.
Because now, the greatest problem for Gunfighters had arrived...
The fighting style of a Gunfighter destined them to be the hardest class to advance among evolvers!
Ultra-long-range, one-shot kills—each battle measured in seconds, even milliseconds!
Even if adrenaline surged at the moment of firing... it was merely a catalyst, requiring frequent and intense stimulation.
A momentary surge was limited in effect.
And at Fang Mu's current strength...
Hunting ordinary Bronze-class creatures probably wouldn't even quicken his pulse.
Only slaying Silver-class creatures could excite him.
But Silver-class battlefield creatures...
Fang Mu’s eyes filled with hesitation.
Though his Gene Primal Energy limit, physique, and reaction speed had improved greatly, facing Silver-class battlefield creatures might still be beyond him.
Their genetic vitality was terrifying.
Even with the D-series sniper to barely break their defenses, his Gene Primal Energy’s quality was still only Black Iron.
Could he really kill them?
That remained uncertain!
And if his attack proved ineffective, he doubted his ability to escape a Silver-class creature’s pursuit.
So...
Was there a way to get the best of both worlds?
A way to avoid Silver-class creatures, yet prolong combat, and stimulate his adrenaline frequently and continuously...
Hmm?
Suddenly, Fang Mu paused, narrowing his eyes.
"Long-range combat, one-shot kills, so the adrenaline output is very low. If so... why must it be at range?"
He pondered, his eyes growing brighter.
Other Gunfighters chose long-range because they had no other option.
They fused with 'Gunfighting Technique.'
Its hallmark was overwhelming attack power, but with enormous consumption!
Especially at the Black Iron level; after a few shots, they would go limp, lacking endurance.
Melee fighters were different; their fused 'Gene Combat Techniques' generally lasted much longer!
For example, Heavy Blade’s ‘Iron Body.’ Berserker Blade’s ‘Swift Step.’ Boxer’s ‘Monster Strength’...
They were called 'Gene Combat Techniques,' but in truth, they granted a state.
Allowing them to fight up close with battlefield creatures.
Naturally, their adrenaline would spike continuously, making advancement easier...
But Fang Mu’s situation was completely different from an ordinary Black Iron Gunfighter!
His physical strength and reaction speed, thanks to training with the 'Primal Energy Divine Refinement Record,' already surpassed the Black Iron norm, approaching Bronze level!
More importantly... his 'Gunfighting Technique' could be used sixty times!
Sixty times!
A fundamental difference!
So...
"I could actually choose close combat?"
Fang Mu’s mind spun rapidly, contemplating this possibility.
The more he considered it, the more it seemed an excellent fit for his current state!
Physical strength and reaction speed not inferior to ordinary Bronze-class, the power to kill instantly...
Close combat?
Fang Mu’s thoughts raced, his eyes shining, licking his lips...
It seemed...
It really might work.