Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

When Su Chen first came across the hidden shop, he had also seen a Bronze Summoning Book. Unfortunately, because the building was damaged, he couldn’t purchase it.

Now, however, he had picked up an upgraded version: a Silver Summoning Book.

Typically, Summoning Element Runes, much like Spirit Element Runes, can’t be enchanted onto equipment for use.

The former involves Soul Contracts, while the latter is deeply bound and coupled with the human Sea of Consciousness.

’This summoning book, however, solves this Soul Binding problem.’

Su Chen put it away for now. As it turned out, he actually had a few Lv5 and Lv6 summoning-type Runes among his collection.

This, along with the Binder’s Belt, were both excellent and useful Rune items.

Additionally,

the only item left in the hidden shop, the Moonlight Concealing Clothing, valued at a high price of 68 Rune Essence, was also snatched up by Su Chen without hesitation.

A single Lv3 Rune was equivalent to 12 Rune Essence.

As a big spender, he didn’t feel the slightest pang of regret as he bought out the remaining piece of equipment and a Great Life Potion.

[Moonlight Concealing Clothing]:

①: For 15-50 seconds, completely erases all traces of the wearer’s existence in the physical dimension, allowing them to drift and tunnel through the dark side of the Moon. After initiating an attack, the wearer’s form can seamlessly return to its concealed state while leaving an aggressive moon-shadow afterimage at their original position.

②: The wearer gains a permanent 35% movement speed bonus.

’Two properties. The first effect alone is like an enhanced version of Invisibility Skill Lv7, comparable to Lv8 at the very least.’

Su Chen assessed.

Interestingly, according to the information conveyed by the item, the ”dark side of the Moon” wasn’t the physical far side of a celestial body. Instead, it was a dimensional rift woven from the collective subconscious, the lingering echoes of an ancient Moon God, and tides of Spiritual Ability.

’But where is the Moon in this new world?’

After so many nights, besides the magnificent star trails, the Broken Star Ring, and a host of scattered stars, he had never seen a satellite resembling the Moon.

Judging by the Moon God’s Authority, it seemed to be related to Spiritual Ability.

Yet, neither the previous Age of Flesh and Blood nor the current Age of Magic rejected this Spiritual Energy.

As for this Moon God, there was no telling where it had gone.

”This is for you.”

Su Chen handed the Moonlight Concealing Clothing directly to Ruoruo. The garment resembled a light, flowing ladies’ shawl, something a grown man like him could obviously not wear.

As his second-in-command in battle and his designated scout, he certainly wouldn’t mistreat Yan Ruoruo. Besides, he himself had no shortage of escape methods.

His Elementalization, which let him ignore damage of the same Element, and the phase-superposition effect of his Aurora Flash were more than enough.

Yan Ruoruo didn’t say much, only nodding lightly. ”Thank you.”

The moment her fingertips touched the shawl, the Moonlight Concealing Clothing seemed to come to life, automatically molding to the curve of her shoulders and neck, as if a crescent moon had been draped over them.

Instantly, her aura gained an even more elusive, cold, and distant quality.

”Not bad, it looks great,” Su Chen said admiringly.

The overall cut was form-fitting yet unrestrictive, preserving the shoulder and arm flexibility an archer would need.

”My little cloak...”

Watching from afar, Ji Xiaoyue was so dismayed she could have cried. She and her companions had been the ones to discover the hidden structure, but with limited Rune Essence on hand, they had only bought a few urgently needed pieces of equipment and Empowerment Potions.

As an elite member of the Ghost Assault Team, Ji Xiaoyue herself had Invisibility Skill Lv7, so the Moonlight Concealing Clothing hadn’t been a high priority for her.

But watching a handsome man give the ladies’ shawl to a cold and aloof beauty still made her heart ache with bitterness.

Just like that, the beautiful little shawl had vanished into thin air.

Aside from the group they had confronted at the start, there were others of unclear allegiance, each showing off their own special skills. Some transformed into butterflies and floated over silently, while others used invisibility to get close and make a quick purchase. It was clear they had no intention of getting into a silent standoff; they simply took what they wanted and left.

It was lucky that the Moonlight Concealing Clothing had even been left behind at all.

Of course, Su Chen hadn’t forgotten her team’s contribution.

A handful of five High-Tier Runes, held by invisible Telekinesis, rose from the corpses and floated lightly toward the masked figure on the distant hillside.

Ruoruo collected the rest of the items and the Spirit Marrow Crystals.

As for the Earth Envoy he had slain by himself, it had dropped a pile of Earth Element Runes. The most notable ones were Gravity Skill, Lv6 Dust Storm Skill, Earthquake Wave, and two Lv5 Runes with unknown effects.

To be honest, despite their seemingly bulky, sturdy, and defense-oriented nature, Earth Element Runes had quite a few useful and lethal offensive options.

’That’s enough.’

Su Chen consumed and absorbed the Gravity Skill Rune. After supplementing it with Spirit Marrow Crystals and Spiritual Dust Sand, he officially raised it to Lv7.

The Dual Vector Force Field unlocked at this stage was extremely useful.

And since it was bound to his primary Core Authority, he was also able to unlock its Lv8 effect.

Beyond a general enhancement, the skill evolved to unlock four independent gravity vector axes, allowing him to create a Multi-Vector Force Field.

On top of that, an incredible new property was also unlocked.

’Gravity Anchor’!

[Gravity Anchor]: When cast, it drives a gravity anchor into a target, locking it to a specific spatial coordinate. An anchored target cannot be displaced, teleport, or transcend the physical plane.

’Nice.’

Su Chen was inwardly delighted. This was a powerful crowd-control skill that was practically a trump card.

’At least the next time I see that blonde woman, she won’t be able to rely on her extraordinary Invisibility Skill to slip into a dimensional rift.’

’I finally have another counter.’

HUM!

With a slight stirring of his will, he decided to give it a small test. Three leaves drifting on the wind suddenly froze, becoming as motionless as dried specimens pinned to a painted landscape.

The next second, under the instantaneous pull of the Multi-Vector Force Field, the three leaves immediately disintegrated into fine dust.