Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

”They call this the ruins of a civilization.”

”It’s more like an underground tomb complex.”

Pang Peng and Yan Ziqian also hurried over.

Pang Peng was holding a somewhat rusty shield he had picked up from the rubble.

At this moment, Su Chen and Yan Ruoruo, who were walking straight ahead, didn’t turn back to join them. Instead, they were observing a perfectly preserved section of the dome.

Under the brilliant glow of the Lighting Skill, the domed ceiling not only reflected the light but also captured it, converging into a star map.

It was densely packed with stars, all clustered around a massive, brilliant Star Ring.

After gathering the light, the brilliant ring began to slowly rotate, its glow gradually intensifying.

”I don’t see any elemental orbits. If I’m not mistaken, this is the complete form of the Broken Star Ring,” Su Chen sighed. Every night, one could see the torn, pearl-like ring of stars in the sky.

It was deathly still and gray, not at all like this shining spectacle.

”The Star Ring, the Eight-armed Divine Emperor, and the flesh-and-blood evolution system—these elements are clearly connected,” said Yan Ruoruo.

There was reason to believe that when the era turned, the Broken Star Ring itself might be reborn.

”Cuneiform. These devolved cave dwellers look a bit like Sumerians.” Pang Peng walked over, holding a Light Storage Heavy Sword, his attention also quickly drawn to the celestial light projected from the star-covered dome.

Interestingly, the Sumerians have always been associated with extraterrestrial legends and genetic engineering, and they’ve always been labeled as visitors from beyond the stars.

Now, it all seemed to connect.

”Not necessarily. Other Mesopotamian civilizations also used cuneiform,” Yan Ziqian added precisely.

Just then, the brilliant Star Ring in the Star Map seemed to reach a critical point in its rotation. It suddenly split open, revealing a pitch-black fissure, and a thick, almost tangible red light poured out from it.

The crimson light transformed into billions of threads, pouring down onto the land, seeping into the stone coffins and saturating the statues.

Blood Tide of All Things!

This Illusion was like a future foretold by their ancestors, now made manifest.

When the epoch turns anew, the petrified and sealed bodies, like seeds buried for millennia, will once again sprout with life.

”This...”

The sudden change in the light display also created a degree of conscious Resonance, allowing the four of them to witness this depicted vision.

”It’s a shame a piece of the dome is broken. Otherwise, we could have seen more of the information it was trying to convey,” said Yan Ziqian.

However, the Resonance triggered by the Illusion seemed to have acted as a catalyst.

The air suddenly grew somewhat thick.

CRACK...

On the most well-preserved statue of a human figure, the gray stone shell began to show signs of flaking off.

Without another word, the entire group began to retreat, preparing for battle.

Under Su Chen’s Strong Thought Penetration Perception, a pulse of life blossomed within the once-dead shell. The next moment, a violent heartbeat, like the tolling of a great bell, shook the stone walls and sent dust raining down.

This reviving will was clearly in violent conflict with the Laws of the current world. Blood seeped from the cracks, and every drop that hit the ground evaporated into a wisp of green smoke.

”Ugh...”

A heart-rending groan erupted from deep within the stone shell. It was the being’s will, struggling and twisting in agony.

As large pieces of the stone shell fell away, a majestic figure, like something crafted by the gods, tumbled out onto the ground.

But in just an instant, his body began to rapidly shrivel. His muscles atrophied, and his bones issued cracking pops as if unable to bear the strain.

The age of Magic would not permit its birth.

But his mind was not yet extinguished.

”You...”

Realizing that he had not awakened to the new era he had anticipated, his Divine Thought swept over the figures of the four unfamiliar intruders.

With all hope turned to ash, a murderous intent erupted like an abyss.

Yan Ziqian, Pang Peng, and Yan Ruoruo instantly froze. It was as if they had been locked onto by an ancient apex predator, and even their breathing stopped.

Su Chen’s reaction was far milder, though his heart still skipped a beat. The instinctual threat made his blood boil with a strange excitement, yet his mind became crystal clear, entering a state of transcendent focus.

But this oppressive feeling only lasted for an instant...

The Reviver itself was suffering a terrible backlash. The Law’s suppression constricted it like a billion chains. Its Sea of Consciousness began to collapse, its memories started to fray, and its sanity teetered on the brink of shattering.

”Attack!”

The moment they could move again, the group acted without a shred of hesitation.

The first to strike was Su Chen. His hands moved at impossible speeds as he successfully chambered an Enchanted Bullet.

BOOM! A blinding, silver-white arc of electricity exploded from the muzzle, and a bullet, fully accelerated by electromagnetic force, shot toward the creature’s head.

Pang Peng let out a furious roar and immediately activated his Transformation Skill, rapidly changing into a giant bear over three meters tall, its body covered in a layer of Thorn Armor.

Yan Ziqian pulled a special vial from his pouch, which contained a deep purple liquid, and threw it at their opponent. Simultaneously, he cast a quick spell, causing roots to sprout from the ground and entangle the enemy.

Beside them, Yan Ruoruo also activated her Frenzy. Rapidly drawing her bowstring, she unleashed a continuous barrage of sharp Wind Split Arrows.

However...

A Wind Split Arrow grazed its shoulder blade but was deflected by a layer of bone-like scales that had spontaneously formed. The arrowhead snapped clean off, leaving only a dent behind.

The special chemical liquid, designed to induce rapid Wither, proved remarkably effective. It caused the creature’s skin to shrivel and wrinkle, and its muscle tissue began to lose elasticity. It even seemed to accelerate the rate at which its life force was draining away.

Su Chen’s shot struck the creature’s right eye with perfect accuracy. The eyeball exploded, but the bullet failed to penetrate its skull.